Dagenham Marking Station Article 5

Wiley · June 30, 2020

Dagenham South Road Marking Station

Another week, brings another BICC race from St Philbert roughly around 284 miles and another race in the Thames and Northern and Eastern Counties from Honiton roughly 145 miles.

The week as usual started with a weather report, and for both races it was strobgly predicted that they would both be fairly quick races. As the days passed it seems the weather man was highly unpredictable and as the weekend got closer and closer on the Thursday the Thames made the decision to post-pone marking for 24 hours.

Also on the Thursday, the BICC was marking for the St Philbert race, a new race point for the BICC. I have to say Joe House, and his team of workers are doing a fantastic job, and the whole process seems to get smoother and smoother with each race.

In regards to the BICC Saturday morning came and a held over was announced for the 8, 000 plus birds. However, news had broke that for the second race running the BICC had escapees. A bromley crates flap had fallen in, and 18 pigeons where released, which luckily belonged to the one fancier, in the bigger scheme of things. Consequently, this did cause a massive talking point in our whatsapp group, facebook, and the fancy in general.

As many will know the dagenham marking station have been awaiting for our club crates to arrive, and good ole Terry Bentham, finally was able to drop them off to us on Saturday evening ready for marking.

So for many of our ex- north road fanciers the race from Honiton, would mark the furthest their birds have been so far on the south, and many were keen to race from the race point as it gives us, westerly fanciers in the thames some actual distance to work with, as i have said before the Littlehamptons, are far to short especially for the fanciers this side of the convoy. Considering most fanciers westerly and easterly of the convoy train to the coast, I would like to think the Thames in future season could consider looking for a slightly further alternative.

Michael Waller, took alot of the older fanciers and younger fanciers back to some blasts from the past this week, reliving some custom house and canning town days. Some great moments was brought into the conversation as well as some memorable but unfortunately passed friends such as Billy Jasper, Johnny Gill, Jimmy 'The Horse' Edridge, Bill Thompson, Micky 'Bunter' Martin and Micky 'Busby' Hardy.

Sunday came and the breaking news was that St. Philbert birds were released at 8.30am, in a west south westerly wind, and going dead westerly in the channel. Many predicted a very quick race, but as my good friend Duncan Goodchild states, no channel race is an easy race.

Taking 1st, 2nd and 4th from St Philbert was the partnership of Alfie Gadsdon and son Ryan, flying just over 284 miles. 1st to the loft was a natural Blue Pied hen sent sitting eggs, being a direct daughter of the partnerships London North Road hall of fame winner when paired to a Bill Walsh and Derek Walsh gift hen from the lines of Extreme of Marcel Wouters, provisionally the pigeon is sitting in 27th Open and 14th East Section. 2nd was a yearling Chequer Pied natural hen, sent on a chipping youngsters, who was kindly bred by John Chipperfield for the partnership. 4th Club was again a natural yearling Chequer Cock sent sitting, he is from Mark Bulled Son Of Legacy when paired to a daughter of Darran McFaddens Megans Lad and Razors Girl.

3rd club was the very hard working team of Andrew Foster and Lee Finan. Who clocked a yearling blue pied widowhood cock, who I believe was broken out from Lee's previous address.

Those that sent to the BICC, generally had a good race with all members of our marking station having good returns on the evening.

I was unable to make the Saturday marking for the thames so I must thank Lee finan and Andrew Foster, who went above and beyond to help me out and get my birds picked up and marked for the race. Lee is also becoming a dab hand at setting the ETS system, which is new to all members but we are starting to get a sway of more and members buying and looking to buy the unikon system.

A big part of the banter within the group is the T-Shirts and slogans the King of Scotland wears up the marking station. Lee Finan, had bought the King Alan Cook a new shirt, asking 'Where was the ring scheme?'. If you know please send answers on a post card...

As i needed to collect ny clock from Lee and Andrew, I met them round Dale Bagge loft to watch the North road race with the West Essex Federation from from Huntingdon. Dale had a very good race in his club the Dagenham Invitation and took home the red card.

The Thames race from Honiton was up at 10am, and many thought they Biccs and Thames birds potentially could come at the same time or there or there abouts.

1st and 2nd Club was Terry Green. Terry timed his good blue cock who has now won the marking station 2 x times aswell as a hostbof other performance as previously mentioned in another article. This 4 year old cock has truly switched on, on the south and has a 3rd and 18th open to his credit. Inpressively with this weeks performance, racing against the wind. He was a good pigeon on the north and is proving so to be on the south too. Terrys second pigeon is named Popcorn name given to him by fellow club member Ardy Santos. Popcorn is a Gaston Van de wouwer from Bobby Harris stock of Barking.

3rd marking station from Honiton was George Metcam. George is another grafter in the club and truly deserves everyrhing he gets. Georges pigeon is a grandaughter of Lobar Rose 1st BICC Perpignan , of Ron Elliott of Chadwell Heath.

4th marking station is the inform loft of Tony Giordomania, otherwise known as Taxi Tony. Tony timed a 2 year old blue cock of the heinz 57 variety, who has been very consistent pigeon so far on the north and south.

The races are now coming thick and fast on the south now something, many of the ex north roaders have never experienced. The weekend of the 11th July our members have a choice of potentially 3 races if they choose to send to all 3, the Bicc at poitiers, the ubi at falaise and the thames from littlehampton. So if you like the sound of an adventure something new and the possibility of multiple races per week, have a good think the south road might be

for you...

Sayonara for now

Grasshopper

:drinking-coffee-200: