The AGM will be held on Wednesday 05th February 2025 at 19.30pm in the Sportsman.
Any members that shall be using clocks instead of ETS please bring to this meeting for testing.
Regards
Keith
1.The objectives of the club:
The club was formed as a non-profit making organisation in October 2010. Its aims being to promote national pigeon racing across the North East of England.
Any persons are eligible to fly in the club providing their racing loft is sited within the boundary of Section N of the National Flying Club (NFC). In accordance with the rules of the NFC members must also be affiliated to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) before competing in NFC events. Members affiliated but not paid up cannot vote on Sportsman club business.
Applicants name, address telephone number and email address.
The applicant has been given and read a copy of these rules, supports the objectives of the club and agrees to be bound by the rules immediately upon admission to membership.
The applicant consents to the holding of relevant data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Chairperson-who chairs all General and Annual General Meetings (AGM).
Secretary-who is responsible for maintaining the books including Members Register(containing the names and contact details of every member which they supply) and the taking of all minutes at all General and Annual General Meetings.
Treasurer-who ensures that the financial affairs of the club are kept in good order. That Annual accounts and a financial report are prepared and submitted to the members for the AGM.
Responsibility for the day to day running rests with the EC. and has the following powers and responsibilities:
(a)Taking action to resolve any emergency situations, (b)Preparation of the AGM outlining both current and possible future activities and annexing the Annual Accounts and Treasurer’s financial report.
The membership subscription is £20 for each calendar year and must be paid by the end of February. Future levels of subscriptions may only be changed by a resolution passed at the AGM.
Membership is automatically continued each year unless:-
the member resigns in writing, by email or text to the Secretary before the AGM or,
the member fails to pay the annual subscription by the end of February when the member will be treated as having resigned.
Any member who is in serious or persistent breach of the club rules which in the opinion of the EC bring the reputation of the club into disrepute may face disciplinary action including expulsion from the club.
All rights and interests in the club and its property cease immediately on termination of membership by resignation, expulsion and death.
(a)The treasurers Report, and the annual accounts for the previous year ending the 15th December and its approval.
(b)Consideration of the Executive Annual report.
Election of Committee Officials and
Resolution of any proposals submitted for consideration.
At any time the EC can call for the Secretary to arrange a Special Meeting if requested by 5 members or more. In granting the request all members to be given 14 days’ notice of the meeting along with brief details behind the request. Minutes of the meeting will be taken and made available to the members.
Resolutions and all other decisions at all General, EC and any committee meeting are passed and made if so voted by a majority of those members present and eligible to vote when it is taken. Voting is at the discretion of the Chair and can be taken by a show of hands or by ballot. Proxies are not allowed.
The club may be dissolved by a resolution passed by strictly more than 50% of the members present when the vote is taken and at least 50% of the total membership is present at the time of voting.
In the event of the club being dissolved and once all outstanding liabilities are discharged any funds left remaining to be donated to a charity of the members choosing.
Dear Members,
On Wednesday 14th August we held a special meeting to discuss the way forward for the Sportsman FC, following on from our AGM held on Wednesday 21st February 2024 when due to there being no takers for the official positions it was decided rather than fold the club we should put it into mothballs until end of the season this was agreed.
At this Special meeting we can report that volunteers came forward and help keep the Sportsman FC running.
Tom Cuthbertson took on the Chairman’s position
Keith Hutchinson took on the Secretary’s position and
Bob McKie agreed to keep the Treasurer’s position it was also proposed that
Jeff Walton be made Honorary Vice President for his services to the Sportsman FC.
This concluded the special meeting and the AGM will be held at the Sportsman FC on Wednesday 05th February 2025 a full agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting.
Looking forward to 2025 I can confirm that basketing will be at Sheffield but we have arrangements in place for members to have their pigeons gathered at the Sportsman Toft Hill the evening prior to basketing at Sheffield and they will be transported there.
If you have any questions please contact me at the contacts below.
Yours in Sport
Keith
Mobile 07505560247
Members of the Sportsman attended their AGM on Wednesday the 21st. Chairman Jeff Walton welcomed the members before the balance sheet was discussed and accepted. There were 4 resignations which were accepted meaning we moved into 2024 with 28 members.
Both the Chairman and Secretary had already given notice that they would be stepping down but unfortunately no members expressed interest in taking on either role. After a long discussion it was unanimously agreed that the club would be “mothballed” for the 2024 season. A meeting/social evening would be arranged for the end of October when the way forward would be reviewed. Subs for 2024 would be waived, the website would continue to operate and the Club RPRA Membership would continue. The meeting was then closed.
Listed below is the final details of our race sponsors for the 2023 NFC race programme:
20/5/23 Fougeres, Owen Shaw Trophies £100.
3/6/23 Messac, Formula1 Lofts £500 Voucher.
17/6/23 Nort-sur-Erdre, Paul Stobbs £100.
30/6/23 Pau, Alan Dixon £100.
22/7/23 Sigogne, Steve Swainstone, SS SEEDS £100 Voucher.
2/9/23 Vire old bird National. Mrs Carol Walker £50.
2/9/23 Vire young bird National. Mrs Carol Walker £50.
In addition our good friends at Vanrobaey Feeds in Belgium will for the 8th consecutive year sponsor our race winners in the first five Nationals. They will receive 2 Bags of their new Revolution Sport Pro Mix along with Tubs of Super Grit Mix and Supplements.
On behalf of our members I wish to thank all our Sponsors for their generous support.
Dear All, sponsorship deals agreed so far for 2022.
Vanrobaeys - All race winners will receive 2 bags of corn and range of supplements including a 10 kilo tub of Grit
1st National - Owen Shaw Trophies £100 to race winner.
2nd National - Formula 1 Lofts (John Gladwin) Pair of birds for stock to the value of £500 or a kit of 6x 2023 young birds for racing.
3rd National - Paul Stobbs £100 to race winner.
4th National - Alan Dixon will sponsor winner if Pau is flown £100.
5th National - SS Seeds £100 Voucher to race winner.
6th & 7th Nationals - Young bird/Old Cocks & Hens Tumley Lofts £150 Vouchers to race winners.
Phil Gardner - Respiro -san - Dry to be finalised.
There are still a couple of other possibilities being followed up!
Regarding the Annual Phone-in sale we have 25 excellent lots pledged and the detailed advert for the BHW/Club Website is near completion with the target dates for sale being from 7/4/22 to 14/4/22
Regards
Bob
I can confirm that we have received your cheque for £4500.00 on behalf of the Sportsman Flying Club. I have attached a letter of acknowledgement for you to share with your membership and post in your club headquarters if you wanted to. I have also sent an email to the British Homing World magazine, which I have copied you in. Hopefully they will continue to support you in future fundraising initiatives! Thank you again for all your incredible support and for truly going above and beyond your initial £2000 target!
If there’s anything else I can help with, please let me know.
All the best,
Eurydice Dupré
Events & Community Assistant
Prostate Cancer Research
Thank you so much for your email and for your updates on the online Pigeon Auction. A huge congratulations on raising an incredible £4500 through the auction for Prostate Cancer Research. What a fantastic total! I read the article on your website and particularly liked the final paragraph - “The generosity of Pigeon Fanciers should never be underestimated and is much undervalued. This auction is just another example of their unstinting kindness and good will which makes you so proud of our Sport.” The kindness and good from the Sportsman Flying Club is so appreciated by the whole PCR team. We are so grateful for your support and generosity. All the money raised will go towards our patient-focused and impact-driven research into new treatments for prostate cancer, with the aim of creating a world where people are free from the impact of the disease.
Amy Russell
Events and Community Manager
Prostate Cancer Research
This was the final race in this year’s NFC race card. A couple of months ago the race was being eagerly talked about especially for young birds. However, in what for many in the Northeast has been a most challenging season due to heavy losses many fanciers were forced to shut up shop and finish racing early. This had a significant impact on race entry levels.
Our regular readers will know that in the past Sportsman club members have put up some excellent Open performances in both events. The loft of McSween & Sexton from Sunderland always prepares a small team of darkie young birds with this race in mind. And in the Old hens race we have seen some sterling performances by Driver, Dawson & Dawson from Greenside as well as John Best & Son from Stockton. However, when it came to marking night at Toft Hill on Wednesday the 1st September birds for both races were sparse with only 7 members entering 31 Old Hens and 6 entering 36 Young birds. Club Pooling was brisk along with excellent Sponsorship Prizes for individual race winners from James & Vicky Cook at Tumley Lofts (£150 Vouchers for each) and Vanrobaey Feeds prizes of bags of corn and a range of their products.
Due to poor weather conditions over the weekend across Guernsey the Race Controller and Convoyer had to hold their nerve and wait for suitable conditions. It was not until Monday the 6th that they could liberate at 10am into a beautiful sky with a light northeast wind in the channel that turned to light southeast on the mainland. Our members knew that after 5 nights in the crates this would be tough yet eagerly watched the race progress on the NFC website and some early excellent performances in several Sections was encouraging. None more so in Section K where there were some excellent performances giving hope that we could with luck see birds reaching the Northeast on the day. Unfortunately, after an anxious wait it wasn’t to be and when hours of darkness kicked in no birds had arrived in the Section. This was bitterly disappointing, so alarms were set for an early morning rise at which time the prevailing conditions provided a more positive feeling. Just after 7am, word filtered through that Allan & Carol Walker, at Stockton flying 352 miles had timed 2 Old Hens recording velocities of 918 & 913ypm to take 1st and 2nd Sportsman, Section N. & 202nd & 205th Open. Later, they timed another 3birds to be 5th 6th & 8th Section. Mick Lilley and Son at Hartlepool flying 364 miles timed 3 of their 6 entries to claim 3rd 4th & 9th Section, with McSween & Sexton taking 7th place. As the day progressed the heat became quite extreme, it was therefore no surprise after a difficult first day coupled with the heat of day 2 no young birds made it into the Northeast within race time. This was most disappointing as this the first time in years that the Sportsman had not recorded young birds in race time.
So that’s it for another season of national racing which has seen a mixed bag of outcomes due to the lack of distance. Let’s hope this resolves itself before 2022 and we can get back across the channel but don’t get carried away with the over optimism of many officials as there remains some tough negotiations to be navigated before we see the desired outcome.
Everyone you talk to has their own theories as to why the losses have been heavy and widespread but equally puzzling is why so few are being reported or making it home under their own steam. Because of this and the general uncertainty about future Continental racing many fanciers are in a quandary about whether to carry on racing. Many I think will simply knuckle down and will scale back on the size of their distance team and bring in some sprint/middle distance blood and enjoy whatever racing there is. Unfortunately, there are a few fanciers who love the Continental races and aren’t interested in sprinting who may decide to leave the sport completely if channel racing is not restored and would be a big loss.
The Sportsman annual presentation night will take place on Wednesday the 20th October. Because of lingering concerns about Covid this will be a low-key event but still a welcome social night for our members with a small buffet and plenty of Real Ale for those who enjoy a pint or two.
Barrie who is one of our founder members has been absent for most of the season through ill health. We understand he is making steady improvement and look forward to him being fighting fit and back in the saddle for next season.
Well, that wraps racing reports up for this season, but we will keep you up to date with Sportsman FC business/events as we go through the close season.
