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I asked the members a number of question about themselves and of course their birds. All were asked the same and they responded by giving me the questionaire back. Here is what they said! More to be added soon.
Gavin and Mick Finlow
This is a father and Son partnership starting in 1986. A friend gave them 8 young birds to start off with. They keep Van De Weyer, Jannessen, Busschaert and Van Reet's. They race using the widowhood system. The keep on average 40 birds. Their main highlights was winning their first race plus Father and Son talks while waiting for the birds to come home!
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Ken Hadfield
Ken started in the sport in 1958 with young birds in the Macclesfield Central Club. His principles strains kept are Jannsens, Busschaerets and Cattrese. From 1958 to 1990 Ken raced on the Natural system, he is now on the widowhood. He keeps about 20 birds for racing and 20 for breeding. His main highlights in the past have been 1st 1958 last young bird race. Two 2nds from Rennes in Macclesfield Flying Club. His has also won cards in most channel races. Finally a 1st Cheltenham. Ken says he enjoys carrying out any duties to help the club.
Bernard Carolan
Bernard like many youngsters developed an interest while at school but the pigeons went when he was between the age of 16-17. Although his interest always remained it took him a long time to come back into the sport - he always intended to have a go at racing the channel! His principle strains kept are Joe Shore of Comberbach with some Eric Fox of Bakewell which have been recently bought in. He races on the roundabout and natural system keeping between 30-40 old bird racers and 6 stock birds. I asked Bernard what his main highlights have been in his racing performances they are as follows, 1995 2nd club, 15th Three Counties Combine-Sartilly 7906 birds-1st Old bird season 1st ever channel race! Brilliant! 1999 1st Club, 2nd Cheshire Combine-Sartilly 1st red card with gift bird from club member Joe Mountfort. 2001 1st club Brugge 21st NW Section MNFC, 1st Club Herstall 55th NW section MNFC, winning channel average, channel points, old bird verages and MNFC diploma what a great year Bernard! Bernard goes on to say that with no family background at all in pigeons he was the greenest new starter imaginable. He says that help from club members was readily available and luckily he had encouragement straight away as his Joe Shore stock birds bred youngsters well capable of flying the channel. Work and family commitments mean that he does not race young birds but since he is only really interested in the water races he does not mind waiting for them to be mature enough to go over. They are well trained as youngsters and it is in his aim to get them across at least once as yearlings. He says that after that if they are in his opinion fit enough and there's channel race -they go! His long term aim is to have birds to perform at National level in the long events, but it will be a few years yet before he has the time to have a full hearted crack at it!
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