Saturday 22nd of April saw the six clubs in the town muster the highest send so far this year when a grand total of 1732 birds where liberated at Oakham a distance of approximately 140 miles, there was a slight delay to the start due to some heavy rain showers early morning but these cleared away to allow the birds to be set free into a north west wind at 10.05am

Mostlofts expected the birds to arrive around the 1.00pm and the birds didn’t disappoint arriving just be for that with the Hartlepool HS loft of father and son Ian & Dave Maddison having an absolute dream race by timing the winner, a yearling Blue Hen at 12.57pm to record a velocity of 1453 yards per minute to not only win the club but also the Hartlepool Federation, not satisfied with that the partnership timed another four birds in two minutes to win 2nd, 5th, 7th & 8th Federation and winning the next four positions in the club for a clean sweep of the top places in the highly competitive HS, Ian & Dave timed another three bird also to figure in the first thirty of the federation to make it a race to remember.

Over at the Brierton lane allotments John & Terry Chapman continue to dominate things in the Belle Vue HS by taking the first two position in the club timing at 12.54pm two previous winners to record velocities of 1441 which were good enough to take 3rd & 4th positions in the federation result, Keith & Darren Heatley record 1425 which is good enough for 12th place in the federation result John & Terry time another two quick uns to win 4th & 5th club.

Staying at Brierton in the Owton Manor HS yours truly along with brother Tom & Wayne Mckenna take top spot with a two year old blue cock on 1434 which in turn takes 6th place in the federation result. Graham Campbell & Kevin Hall just get their beaks in front of two timings from Steve Leslie all three birds recoding 1422 being split by a fraction of a second these birds winning 13th 14th & 15th federation respectfully, Jones & Sons take the last card place on 1414 to win 17th fed.

At Chester Road allotments in the Supporters HS Bobby Smith again leads the way with a timing 1.00pm to record 1409 to just pip club secretary Brian Noble who records 1407 and these birds lay in 25th & 26th places in the fed results Brian second bird is good enough for 3rd place in the club while John Hart takes 4th place.

Its business as usual at the Burn Valley allotments in the Stranton HS where Bob Trowsdale & helper Davie Dodds take 1st & 2nd club timing at 12.59pm and record velocities of 1406 & 1405 to win 27th & 28th places in the fed result. Terry Atkinson has to be content with 3rd & 4th places while club secretary Lew Hubbert is 5th .

Back at Chester Road in the West End Stevie Addison has a great race taking 1st 2nd 4th & 5th club his first arrival timing at 1.03pm for a velocity of 1388, club secretary John Weatherill splits Stevie’s timings winning 3rd place.

Best of luck to all for the coming race this week and don’t forget the sponsored race coming up From Rivenhall kindly sponsored by Bobby Collins its only 10p to enter a bird for a chance to win a hundred quid and as they say “You got to be in it to win it”.

Dave Geach

Secretary.