PRESS REPORT by Ron 'Croddy' Crook. Press Officer.

Into my first bulletin for the 2009 season. With all the doom and glum around at the moment I am sure everybody can’t wait to get into their racing. I am certainly looking forward to doing the Press work for the NFC, on that note on race weekends any information about the race from the Sections and Race Winners would be much appreciated. Just phone or email at any time.

We had a email from our Chairman Mick McGrevy, to say that he is more than willing to answer any queries that members may have and has no objections to any member who wants to phone him, his phone No. is 01709893549, as he said it is far better than going to print with something that can be sorted with a phone call.

PLEASE NOTE: Subs are now £21.00 and Rings are £4.00 per 10.

Results of Propositions for Season 2009

GENERAL RULES

No of Propositions 8: No of Voters 629: Declared Void 8

1) M.Mcgrevy & Co., ROTHERHAM

General Rule 4. Delete "Members Annual Subscription shall be £20.00" and insert "There will be

an automatic increase in the membership subscription every year of 5% rounded down to the

nearest 25p. The committee would have the right not to increase if they saw fit"

Committee Note! The Committee find this proposition favourable and in the best interest of the club.

Result: For 371 – Against 243 – Abstain 7.

 

2) Sharman & Kneller, CAMBRIDGE

General Rule 4. Delete "£3.50", and insert "£4.00".

Committee Note! The Committee find this proposition favourable and in the best interest of the club

Result: For 370 – Against 243 – Abstain 8.

 

RACING RULES

 

3) Mr & Mrs J. B. Langbridge, Nr. CHICHESTER.

Racing Rule 10. Add the following: - "G) All members must complete part b of the entry form in full, listing

all birds, with pools indicated as per rule 22"

Committee Note! The Committee are against this proposition and find it unfavourable and feel it would cause

fundamental problems to the club, creating more work at making stations re ETS users.

Result: For 102 – Against 499 – Abstain 20.

 

4) Mr & Mrs Rattledge & Dtr, BOSTON.

Delete Racing Rule 11 and replace with "Members may have their clocks set and checked at local

clubs.

Result: For 379 – Against 225 – Abstain 17

 

5) Sharman & Kneller, CAMBRIDGE

Racing Rule 16. Delete "3 days" and insert "5 days"

Committee Note! The Committee find this proposition essential and a must for the correct administration

of races and correct distribution of baskets.

Result: For 520 – Against 93 – Abstain 8.

 

6) Sharman & Kneller, CAMBRIDGE

Racing Rule 35. Delete "£5" each and insert, "£6 "each

Result: For 179 – Against 399 – Abstain 43.

 

 

CLOCK RULES

 

7) Mr & Mrs Rattledge & Dtr, BOSTON.

Delete Clock Rule 11 in its entirety

Committee Note! The Committee find this proposition unfavourable

Result: For 60 – Against 531 – Abstain 30.

 

8) Mr & Mrs Rattledge & Dtr, BOSTON

Delete Clock Rule 15 in its entirety

Result: For 174 – Against 373 – Abstain 74

On to the other points of interest Paul Pym is our Chief Convoyer for the 2009 season, I asked Paul to give us an insight about himself, below is Paul’s reply:-

(A Soft Southern takes on the Hardest NFC job – Chief Convoyer!!)

My name is Paul Pym. I come from Exeter in Devon. I have a lovely wife and four children, two girls and two boys.

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, someone left a pigeon at my house in Topsham, (Nr Exeter), it belonged to a pigeon fancier called Bob Irish. This pigeon gave me a disease which is still going on some 48 years later.

Mr Bob Irish very kindly helped me get on my way in the pigeon sport. Some of the best pigeons and times were spent in the company of Bob. Seeing many good birds arrive from 400 and 500 mile races.

In those days my club used to fly in the Devon Federation, about 2,500 birds some weeks. I can clearly remember early one Saturday morning about 9 o’clock, going over to Bob’s house, we would walk down to our local churchyard where you could look out over the wall across the estuary towards Haldon Hill. He was racing from Warwick – about 130 miles, a young bird race. In my home town of Topsham there were 14 members and in the Western Counties Flying Club there were 50 members.

The 14 members used to put "two-an-six" in the pot and the winner took all the money. Bob had sent a nice team of young birds, about 15-20. He looked over the wall to see which way the wind was blowing over Haldon Hill, then he looked up at the church tower weather vane and said "Paul Iam going to win the race today." He then told me the colour and ring number of the bird. That evening at the clock station Bob was first club with the bird that he had told me about, which also won first federation as well.

By now you must be wondering what this has to do with me convoying the birds for The National Flying Club. Well, I learnt a lot from Bob about how to look after the birds. Since those long gone days I have convoyed or helped North and South, East to West clubs, some time or another. I have done every job from secretary to clock setter, for the big clubs – BBC, SSCFC, NFC, 15 years convoying over channel for the Devon and Cornwall Continental Flying Club, also many open races as well.

When I was asked if I would like to apply for the Chief Convoyers job for the NFC I was shocked to say the least, there are so many great convoyers in GB today, that it took me a long time to decide if I would be able to take on the job and all the flack that goes with it. Being on the committee of the NFC plus OIC of Exeter marking station, you always hear pigeon fanciers blaming the clock setters, the basketing members, committee members, but most stick is given to the chief convoyer, because the wind is wrong, the birds didn’t get enough water or food, "my birds were too low in the rack". Well my skin is very tough and my going out suit has a dart board on the back! So I am up for the job! There is one more thing – I cannot remember any NFC race winner complaining about anything.

I was very shocked to be told I was the new Chief Convoyer for the NFC. I will try my very best to look after all the birds sent in the NFC transporter this year, to the best of my ability

When I was told that I had the job of Chief Convoyer, the first person I rang up, with a limp in my throat was my 86 year old friend – Bob Irish.

Two other very important people are Paul’s back-up team that’s the Deputy Convoyer Simon Peart with Trevor Cracknell the Reserve Convoyer, three men that will always put our birds best interest first.

The National Flying Club 2009 Handbook is well on its way and Paul Naum says, "The price we have for printing is excellent as we all know the handbook is the envy of all clubs in the U.K... The sponsorship for the handbook is also going great guns

One of our newer making stations at Didcot Football Club has turned out to be a success, you can have a good pint and there is plenty of food on tap, there is also plenty of parking.

The numbers have been going up by the race it has got the same type of atmosphere as the old Reading Market Station had so if you want good service then this is the place to go to have your birds basketed. Eamon Kelly is the Marking Station Foreman and he would like to thank Eddie Quinton; Malcolm Butler; Mr & Mrs Crawford; Alan Webber; Peter Gilbert; Eric Ilsey; Phil Bagnell; and Gordon Seeney for all their help in making this station a pleasure to go to.

If any of the other Marking Stations would like to send me some info on their stations please do so.

Ron Crook

"Croddy"

Your Press Officer

Tel: 01491 613477

Email: roncrook@virgin.net