American Independence Day

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American Independence Day, July 4th, and we, the UNC membership had 2 races to fly, if you so wished that is. One was the yearling’s only race from out of Eastbourne, the other was from out of Andrezel, situated in the middle of France. The weather was kind to us, for both races went ahead without any bother whatsoever, Eastbourne being up at 07.15am, with the 3’849 birds at Andrezel being on there way at 05.30am.

With the Eastbourne leading pigeons doing just over 1600 YPM, and returns being good, it was hoped that the Andrezel pigeons would do as well, but obviously not as fast. The first droppers were flying about the 440 miles mark from out of Andrezel, Eastbourne first droppers were on the 260 miles mark. Appleton and Longstaffe of Teesside, was the first overall to time from Andrezel, just over the 9 hour mark, velocity of 1448 for 448 miles, so it looked like a good race was on the cards, and it was. Right throughout the UNC area, birds arrived in good style, but one was to arrive that much better than all, and that one was to race home to the well know Sunderland loft belonging to the Woodruffe Bros.

This is a loft that has stood the test of time, winning well for over the last 30/40 years, in fact this UNC topping win follows on from a 1st UNC in 1983, a 1st UNC win in 1996, and now a 1st UNC win in 2009. In between these famous wins, this loft has gone on winning club and fed races, along with the averages that go with these wins, like it was easy, which it certainly is not! I recently headed up to the Sunderland area, to take in a 4 x loft visit, with the first one on the schedule being that of Albert, Fred and Dave Woodruffe. I met Albert shortly after 08.00am, this was at the new loft site, for after 40 plus years, and highly successful ones at that, they have to leave the old site, as the land is set to be developed.

I’m sure when they close the gate at that site for the last time, I’m sure the lads will have a tear in their eyes, for this place will have been like a second home to them, and will have plenty of memories for them to take with them. The new site, which is till being sorted, is situated close to the lofts of Evans and son, and this will surely make for very interesting racing come race day, and there are others on this site, that are serious players as well mind you. It has been hard work for the lads over the last few months, for as well as flying the OB’s out at the old site, they have had to head up to where they are now, to try to get things in order there.

So with the YB’s being flown from the new site, 4 × 1st feds being won there already, and some of the OB’s being brought up to try to break them off, they have just 2 months to do this, the lads have, and are still being well stretched. The new site has yet to have a stock section erected, but what I saw on this visit shows that they are getting on with it, and everything will be surely set next year, to follow on the continued success of the last 30 or so years. Improvements to the old loft, costing quite a bit of money was undertaken, this was before they were told they had to move, which took them by surprise, but move they have to. They ordered lofts from Tranter Lofts, have had them delivered, and even now, Albert told me that in spite of being well pleased with the lofts, and the service, one or 2 things are planned to build into the lofts, to make the team perform to its very high standards. The team on the whole, is mainly Busschaert, going back many years to the likes of Joe Shuttleworth, Ned Cheesemond, George Busschaert himself, and Joe Larkins lines.

These lines were added to with further introductions from the likes of Laws and Marr, Maid Marion Lofts, Barry Intin, and Martin Ali, all these blood-lines have played a part, and still are, in this lofts success. More recently they have brought birds in from Alf Hawthorn of Westerhope, and Graham, Gilchrist and Brennan, birds bred from their top pigeons, which have been tested, and bred from. Not all the brothers have brought in get to stay, for if they don’t perform, out they go. All the team is put together about mid January, stock and racers, but only if the weather is suitable, and only after they have had a ‘dummy run’.

They will run the chosen pairs together for a short while, just to make sure they take to each other. Albert said there is nothing worse that putting 2 birds together, leaving them thinking they have took to each other, only to find later, the hen, or the maybe the cock, in a right state after fighting. Stock eggs get floated under racers that they don’t want YB’s from, and most of the youngsters are raced on the darkness system, paired if they so wish, but some Naturals are given just 2 races up to the 140 miles mark, and then stopped. The OB’s and the YB’s are well trained, they also work well around the lofts, consequently the feed is nearly always a strong one. They may get a light’ish sort of feed on return from a race, but then it’s the mixture of 2 or 3 name brand feeds that is used. Birds going to the longer races, the bean content is upped, as by the time they get to France, about 340 miles from Lillers, the team has had plenty of work, and so the body needs replenishing says Albert. The health is one of the most important things in this game, so as well as rotating a canker treatment of different brands every 3 weeks or so, Kev Winter may be called upon, if they think its needed.

They usually have an idea which of the OB team is going to the channel races, this as the season starts, but Albert said that sometimes, something comes into form that you didn’t really have an eye on, and so you may have to have a rethink. Flexibility says Albert, yes, you must have your methods and your ideas of just what you want to do, and not do, but sometimes these just may have to be bent a bit, especially if ‘bending a bit’ gets you a result! Birds going to their chosen specific race, their mate’s get stopped, for having their mate at home, is all important says Albert. A couple of things Albert was quite adamant about, is regular times for exercising etc for the birds, and he believes in dryness, and plenty of fresh air within the lofts walls.

He put forward to me that if say, he thought the weather was not good enough to get the birds out at the regular time, or trained or whatever, and they didn’t go out, if the weather then broke, he would still not let them out. He would still feed the birds at the same time, even if the birds had not got out at all. Because the birds, are for the most part flown on Roundabout, he found that they usually had a good wing for the longer races. After racing, the OB’s are repaired, which they then allow them to chip out a youngster, which is then disposed of, after about 10 days, then they go down again before they are then split. This year’s UNC winner, named Brave-heart because of the William Wallace of Cork connection, their good friend giving them the sire of the winner, via Sheldon Leonard of Arklow. That sire being from Sheldon’s exceptional Champion Ice Man. The dam is from the Boldon partnership of Graham, Gilchrist and Brennan, being a daughter of their UNC winner Haley. Top class lines breeding a top class winner. He flew well as a yearling, taking at least 2 good turns, so he was looked upon as something to think about for this season, so was paired up, and sent sitting 10 day eggs at Andrezel. On a velocity of 1483, he got himself nearly 20YPM clear of the 2nd UNC pigeon, and the Robinson & son team should be well pleased with their pigeons performance. So in spite of a far from great welcome to their present site, we’ll leave that for now, the youngsters have set the bar at a good height with 4 × 1st feds. The OB’s did OK, in spite of all that was going on around them.

As I’ve already stated, Albert, Fred and Dave have been stretched. I’m sure this team, and Albert says it is a team, Fred and Dave do put the time in with the birds, and the team, the pigeons that is, will go on to do the winning, just as always. I’m sure mam and dad, dad who was the start of the Woodruffe Bros partnership, the lads coming together after their fathers death, and Ann, the mother who had always supported her family, and the lads desires to fly their pigeons, will be looking down well pleased with the outcome. An end of an era at the old place, a sale because of very few losses with the youngsters will be held shortly, and then the next chapter in the Woodruffe Bros story will continue next season, at the new site. Don’t bet against it being a successful one. Albert said to put in thanks to all those that have helped the lads over the years. To many to mention by name, but he said they would know who they are. Thank you, and good luck Albert, Fred and Dave, AKA as the Woodruffe bros.