NEHU FUTURITY BY DR ,TIM LOVELL

January 29, 2008

THE FUTURITY RACE

OF

THE NORTH OF ENGLAND HOMING UNION

Dr. TIM LOVEL

The territory of the NEHU is a difficult area in which to organise a pigeon race that is fair to all. It extends for over 100 miles from the Scottish border down the east coast of Northumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire almost to Whitby, and is 30-40 miles wide from the sea up to the foothills of the Pennines. Three great rivers, the Tyne the Wear and the Tees, intersect it, each with a city at or near the mouth. Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesborough with their adjacent towns and large villages make up a big majority of the population of both humans and pigeons.

Scattered further inland are the towns such as Hexham, Bishop Auckland and Darlington, and the big villages which each once had their own coal mine, now long gone but originally the reason for the village being built, and at the centre of all, the jewel, the fair city of Durham itself. The great Cathedral stands proud on its high rock, 7/8 surrounded by the river, while the houses, shops and University Colleges cluster respectfully below.

All this contains the hot bed of pigeon racing which the Union encompasses. Although the number of clubs – around 300 – and of fanciers – nearly 6000 – are fewer than 30 years ago, the competition is as fierce and as unrelenting as ever. Both rivalries and friendships flourish, the pigeons get better, velocities faster and tighter together.

Flying is organised by the four racing organisations. The UNC is easily the largest, running all down the east coast, but not far inland. The WDA occupies the western zone, and the smaller DC and NNA lie between the two big ones like nuts in a nut cracker. So when the Union wanted to organise a young bird race for all members there was long deliberation on how to give all members a fair crack of the whip. Obviously wind direction on the day would play a part, and could not be planned for. We resolved not to have a due South to North line of flight because it so often favours the shorter flyers. One member of the organisation committee suggested Stranraer as the release point, even thought the Pennine Hills would be encountered en route. We think he was joking.

Eventually Stratford upon Avon was chosen, with the race to be held on August bank Holiday Monday in 2006. Rings at £10 each went like hot cakes, both to Union members and also to pigeon men outside the area who would ring their young birds and send them for auction. The prizes won from this were divided 50/50 to the breeder and the flyer.

The result in 2006 surpassed our wildest expectation. Over £37,000 was available for prize money, and the next year this rose to £47,254, split into 30 prizes. In both years the wind was a South West, so understandably the winners tended to be on the east side. For this reason in 2008 the Management Committee of the Union instructed the sub committee which organises the race to offer Sectional prizes as well as the open prizes.

We talked long on how to do this, dividing the territory by latitude and longitude, by roads, by rivers, and eventually decided to use the existing section of the UNC (but splitting section 1a and 1b), the WDA and the DC. The NNA goes into Section 1b. Hopefully this will give all members something to fly for in their area, as well as honour and glory and money in the Open event.

The Breeder/Buyer part of the race promises to be even bigger, with more young pigeons being sent in for auction. For this reason there will be 4 sales this year. All are on Wednesdays starting at 7pm. The dates are as follows …

12 March - Forest Hill

19 March – Winlaton

2 April – Fishburn

9 April – Stockton on Tees

We will not take young birds that are too young, or so strong that they may be difficult to settle in their new loft, or are paper pedigrees without the bird. If sent by Amtrak they should arrive at least 24 hours before the sale to this address

Mr M Brennan

Unit 17 Borough Road Industrial Estate

DarlingtonDL1 1TF

So there we have it, for the third year easily the richest race ever flown into the North of England, and one of the richest anywhere in the country. “The best thing that has happened in this area for many years” one fancier said recently. Another improvement is that this year we shall be conveyed by the brand new air-conditioned transporter of the NFC, which must be better for our birds in the the heat of summer. It also avoids clashing with any other race that may occur on that day.

We hope that many pigeon men and ladies all over Britain will want their pigeons to take part by buying rings and sending the young birds to be flown by some of the most dedicated and professional fanciers to be found anywhere.

Give it a try and see whether your pigeons can match up to what we have here; you can be certain that they will be regularly and fairly tested against the cream of the crop of 2008.

Rings at £10 each are selling well, and are available from NEHU at 58 Ennerdale Road, Walker Dene, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 $DG

01912625440

January 30, 2008

are there 6000 fanciers in nehu ? or is that unc ? [which i presume can have rpra members].

REDCHEQHEN · January 30, 2008

are there 6000 fanciers in nehu ? or is that unc ? [which i presume can have rpra members].

He is referring to the NEHU

some members fly under RPRA rules as well as NEHU rules

Anyone can buy the Futurity rings - and put birds in the breeder/buyer sales - but the birds have to be flown by NEHU members

January 30, 2008

so. the nehu has 6ooo members of which some are also rpra members. the unc is geographical area from which members of both/either can fly from. sorry to be thick but i'm fascinated by the unc (it has to be the best in the country .....doesn't it?)

'THICK CYCLE'

January 31, 2008

so. the nehu has 6ooo members of which some are also rpra members. the unc is geographical area from which members of both/either can fly from. sorry to be thick but i'm fascinated by the unc (it has to be the best in the country .....doesn't it?)
'THICK CYCLE'

The north east is full of top organisations not just the UNC. The WDA is quite a competive organisation as well. I'd go as far to say that pigeon racing up here is at a different level from other parts of the country. Its a dying sport now but in its heyday up here it was huge.

I'd love to fly in the UNC but where I'm located in Durham doesn't suit it