HANDBOOK UPDATE
Hello members,
I am sure that there will be some of you wondering when will the handbook be arriving, this is where we are at the moment, after a very difficult month of March collating the handbook and getting all the adverts in and then the proof reading finally approved we were confronted with the forced shutdown of companies due to the covid-19 pandemic.

We have now found a printer to do the printing and the handbooks will be started after the Easter break, I am told that this work will be carried out by the printer himself, due to staff having to be furloughed and will take about two/three weeks and I am hopeful you will start receiving your handbooks by the second week in May.

The handbook will only be sent out to members who have paid their subscriptions, so to members who have overlooked their subscription payment this is a polite reminder.

Tony Whitehurst-President

PRESIDENTS REPORT NUMBER 3

The committee meeting was held at the ‘Clock’ Shardlow on Sunday 16^th February, first task was to have the committee photo taken by Chris Sutton unfortunately due to the terrible weather and flooding  and some of the committee unable to attend, the team photo will be a bit short of bodies this year. I would personally like to thank Chris for braving the elements and doing a great job.    

Computer Programme: The Club is now using the TPRS programme which is available from the RPRA and our secretary and treasurer have had training sessions with a very capable young man Joe Gravil who is helping them to understand the foibles of the programme, it is planned to simulate some races before the main events start and iron out any problems that might occur.          

Chale YB & Old Hen Races: These races were confirmed and the price of birdage at Chale will be £3 for both YB’s and Old Hens. Discussing the way forward with the Old Hens race and the fact that the last time they were held there were less than 200 birds entered it was also accepted that the Old Hens race would be an Open race only and there would be four prizes paid out 40%, 30%, 20% & 10%. The set up of the race and prize money distribution will be reviewed at the September committee meeting. Hours of darkness at Chale will be 20.18 to 06.00                                                         

Yearling Races: The committee were happy to support an extra race this year and these will be flown from Carentan, Fougeres, Nort-sur-Erdre and Vire  prize money will be the same as 2019.         

Presentation evening 2020: The presentation has been confirmed and will be at the Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 14^th November 2020, accommodation can be booked at the Hilton Garden Inn, Doncaster Racecourse booking details will be in the handbook.                                                              

Marking Stations: The marking stations at ‘Seven Lakes’ N. Lincs and Kings Lynn have closed and finding suitable venues is proving difficult, I can report we have secured a venue at Barton-upon-Humber and are looking for members to run the station, we are looking for a suitable venue in the Doncaster area which is proving difficult and if any member out there knows of somewhere that might be suitable please get in touch with me or Jon Dodd.                                                                         

Treasurers Report: Mark gave a detailed report and the Club is now in a sound financial position with over 80 new members, 60,000 rings sold and twenty school memberships and the Club will give a trophy to the school with the  best average in the, Carentan, Fougeres, Nort-sur-Erdre & Vire. He also proposed that the Club give a minimum £1000 per race as extra prize money which the committee endorsed.                                                                                                                                         

Sponsorship: The committee would like to thank COUNTRYWIDE CORN who have provided one ton of corn for the past fifteen years to feed the pigeons at the race points and  will be doing so again this year, I can also add they have donated £200 to the ‘Yearling Classic Races’.

John Murray has increased his sponsorship to three ‘iPigeon’ clocks to be competed for in the BAMFORDS TOP FLIGHT NATIONAL-CARENTAN; COUNTRYWIDE CORN NATIONAL- FOUGERES & DON McKAY MEMORIAL NATIONAL- CARENTAN YB’s, entry will be a £2 unlimited nomination, thank you John.

There has been a Special prize nominated by Tony Byrne from the ‘BARCELONA ONE LOFT RACE’ the prize is a team of FOUR FULLY ACTIVATED PIGEONS to enter the Barcelona racing at his loft next year 2021. The prize will be won by the outright winner of the Bordeaux race from the three participating Clubs, British International Championship Club, The Welsh South Road National Club and the Midlands National Flying Club.                                                                                                                            

Good luck in 2020

Tony Whitehurst                  

Please take a look at the new sections map bellow:

MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

AGM HELD SUNDAY 12^TH JANUARY 2020 AT THE ‘CLOCK’ SHARDLOW

The meeting started at 1-00pm and the minutes of the 2019 meeting were read and passed as a true record with no matters arising. Tim Mourne our accountant gave a review of the balance sheet and commended the Club and the treasurer for the steps taken to turn around the losses of the previous two years to one of a modest profit, however he warned against complacency and the Club should always be looking to operate in the most efficient way.

Resignations, there were 144 resignations which were accepted with regret on the plus side we have had 40 new members.

At this point the president declared all official positions be vacant and following the voting the Club officials are; President Mr A Whitehurst; Senior Vice Presidents Mr G Spooner & Mr N Bridgewater; Chairman Mr A Ewart; Vice Chairman Mr G Daykin; Vice Presidents Mr J Dodd, Mr G Daykin, Mr J Gilbert, Mr A Ewart, Mr J Turner, Mr M Williamson & Mr P Harrison; Transport Committee Mr J Dodd, Mr J Gilbert & Mr G Daykin; Race Secretary Mr J Dodd; Treasurer Mr M Williamson; Committee Mr M Middleton, Mr M Fitzpatrick, Mr J Woof, Mr A Seymour, Mr G Jakings , Mr S Mellor Life Vice-President,  Mr Dave Hemsworth has stepped down from the committee due to his ongoing health problems and he felt he could not give 100%, his contribution and service was commended by the committee and it was proposed and accepted he be made a Life Vice president along with Mr Norman Bridgewater recognising his outstanding service to the Club. The result of the postal ballot is as follows, Proposition 1. Carried 53 for 1 against; Proposition 2 Carried 53 for 1 against; Proposition 3 Carried 50 for 3 against 1 abstain; Proposition 4 Carried 49 for 3 against 2 abstain; Proposition 5 Carried 50 for 3 against 1 abstain; Proposition 6 Failed 9 for 43 against 2 abstain; Proposition 7 Failed 5 for 47 against 2 abstain.

That concluded the AGM and a Committee Meeting followed

The minutes were read and accepted as a true record;

Race dates 2020; On Saturday 4^th Jan. I was contacted by a NFC committee member who told me our two Clubs could be looking at a financial disaster as  our race dates clashed on the first three races which included the proposed joint liberation race. We would also be clashing with two other continental Clubs and a combine, and he asked if we could have a look the dates to see if we could come up with an alternative. Jon Dodd and myself spoke at length and made a proposal to the NFC to put the joint liberation race back one week and the MNFC would put their first two races back one week which would solve the clashing problem. The NFC have informed us they could not support our proposal as it could interfere with the basketting for their longest race. The outcome is that there will be no joint liberation race in 2020 but hopefully the Clubs can look at it again next year. The committee after much discussion and in the best interests of the Club and members voted to put our race dates back by one week. The races dates are now as follows;

Race 1 Carentan                                       Saturday 30^th May 2020    Entry fee £3.75 per bird                                                                                                     

Race 2 Fougeres                                       Saturday 13^th June 2020    Entry fee £3.75 per bird                                                                                                   

Race 3 Nort-sur-Erdre                              Saturday 27^th June 2020    Entry fee £4.25 per bird                                                                                            

Race 4  Bordeaux                                       Saturday 18^th July 2020     Entry fee £5.50 per bird                                                                                          

Race 5  Vire                                                  Saturday 18^th July 2020    Entry fee £3.75 per bird                                                                                       

Race 6   Chale YB & old hens                     Saturday 22^nd August 2020  Entry fee £3.00 per bird                                                                                  

Race 7   Carentan YB & old hens               Saturday 12^th September 2020  Entry fee £3.75 per bird                   

Old Hen Races; With the return of the Old Hen races and not knowing how they will be supported, the last time they were flown there was less than 200 entered it was passed the races will be for Open prizes & Open Pools only, there will be four Open prizes paid out, 40%, 30%, 20% & 10%.     These races will be reviewed at the season.

The committee also set the race dates for 2021 and they are as follows,

Race 1 on Saturday 29^th May 2021; Race 2 on Saturday 12^th June 2021; Race 3 on Saturday 26^th June 2021; Races 4 & 5 on Saturday 17^th July 2021; Race 6 YB on Saturday 21^st August; Race  7 YB on Saturday 11^th September 2021

Computer & Website; the Club have been meeting Peter Humphries and Viv Oliver to identify the problems and the fact we need the services of a website manager and to this end we have secured the services of Joe GravIl who I’m sure will be a great help to the Club, I cannot give you more details as it is all way above my head.

Marking Stations; Kings Lynn, Seven Lakes Country Park, North Lincoln and Bolton stations are no longer available, but there will be a new station near Doncaster at the Bentley Working Mens Club with Chris Espris in charge and a new station at the Angel Inn, Shaw Road, Royton, Oldam OL2 6DY, Chris Ryan will be in charge. We are also looking for a suitable venue in the Grimsby area and if there is anyone out there who could help, it would be appreciated.                                                                                                                                  

Tony Whitehurst, President