Dennis Wall (Racing pigeon fancier) - who am I ?

Hatched in 1929, obtained my first pigeons in 1946 and commenced racing in the 1947 young bird season    with the Norwich City Flying Club winning 3^rd Romford – 1^st Croydon – 5^th Guildford and 8^th Winchester.During my membership of the Norwich City Flying Club I held the positions of clock setter, and secretary, taking over from the then secretary Arthur Cogman when he took over the appointment of loft manager to Louis Massarella at Charley – Leicester. This was the start of many years of my being at the forefront of pigeon racing administration in this area.I have been a member of the now defunct British Berlin Flying Club where I took 7^th section – 7^th open from Twente (Almelo) and 13^th section from Hanover, in the 1950's with Red (Jurion) cock  NU50A8810.I have been a member of the National Flying Club where I took 38^th section from Luxembourg also in the 1950's (with Blue Hen NU47G7888) and have competed at all their racepoints, including Pau with Blue Chequer hen (RP46N494) .I have been a member of the Midland National Flying Club with no successes.I was also a member of the NRCC for one season, entered one pigeon at Lerwick and clocked on the morning of the second day. The same Blue chequer hen RP52NX1201 was then sent south to Bordeaux ten days later and clocked, out of the prizes, completing over 1,000 miles in a short space of time. I claimed it could be done and felt I had to prove it.In the late 1940's and the 1950's I held my own in local club and federation racing with a team of Lulham Jurions, obtained from the late Ben Whittaker of Norwich, (Landlord of the ‘Sportsman' Public House in Barrack Street – one time headquarters of the East Anglian Federation) probably the most successful family of pigeons that I have owned.In 1957 I won the young bird average in the Norwich City Flying Club with a very small team of youngsters.In 1957 a hen of a different category took my eye and also my concentration and I fell for her wonderful charms, resulting in us getting married in June 1958. Due to circumstances the pigeons had to go, only briefly, only a matter of a couple of years, but in that short time the strain of Jurions had almost disappeared and I had to settle for second best and restarted with Heinz 57 at Spencer Street in Norwich.  I acquired a few Jurion's in the late 1970's, early 1980's, two from the late “Senny” Mossop of Frizington, Cumbria and two from Glover of Ravenstone, near Leicester, and still retain the bloodline.In the ensuing years I joined the North Norwich Flying Club (having been a founder member) when it turned south and at varying times held the position of secretary, and chairman. And, also introduced the first computerized race result facility. Also, during this period I formed the Norwich Championship Club, a club that is still going strong under the leadership of Mick Green. I also set the wheels in motion, as secretary, for the formation of the “East of England Pigeon Spectacular”.Again, I also formed the Norwich Continental Flying Club, another club still going strong until its demise in 2003..I also formed the Norwich Nomination Club which later became the Norwich & District Pigeon Racing Club, now defunct.I joined the British International Championship Club in 2002, a club of which I have become very fond due to it's friendly approach and where entering your pigeons has been made very easy and uncomplicated and reasonably priced.I had earlier entered Blue cock GB93J81158 in one of their open races from Perpignan, arriving just out of race time.This Blue cock (Jurion) successfully negotiated the channel on 32 occasions, going down at Brive on his 33^rd attempt. I entered his son Blue chequer GB96Z90665 in the 2002 Dax International race, again arriving just out of race time.This same pigeon was the first pigeon clocked in Norfolk in the 2003 BICC race from Tours, crossing the channel for the 25^th time, having also flown Brive and 2 races from Belgium including Brugge (at 7yo now retired) a Jurion x Meuleman, the Dam - Blue Chequer hen GB94K44499 being bred by Ron Rouse of Kessingland and donated to a Gorleston sale.In 1975 I was elected to the Appeals committee of the East Midland Region of the RPRA,  but didn't stay very long.For one season I became the president of the Norfolk & Suffolk South Road Championship Club, but at the end of the season I was suffering from severe heart problems necessitating hospitalization and was unable to attend the AGM, so denied the opportunity to be possibly re-elected for a second term.  Myself and the late Doodles Lambert formed the Mile Cross Midweek Club, from where I won 1^st & 2^nd from Gainsborough in 1978. A good club while it lasted.At various times I have also been club delegate to the East Anglian Federation where for a period I was their transport manager, negotiating the purchase of the then “Queen of the Road” transporter trailer from YMRF at Bridlington in 1971, also club delegate to the  East Coast Federation and the Norfolk & Suffolk SRCC. As can be seen I have hardly ever been out of administration during my 58 years association with the sport.In 1992 I became a scribe and feature writer for the newly founded Pigeon SPORT pigeon paper.   In 1995 I was appointed main organizer for their Pigeon SPORT exhibition held at Harrogate in November of 1995.   I remained a regular correspondent until the demise of the paper in 2002.   In the 1960's I was a scribe for the Racing Pigeon writing under the pen name of Breckland.   I have at times also written articles for the Australian Racing Pigeon Journal.For a short period I was in partnership with Geoff Payne and his nephew Barney Moore and we raced successfully as Payne, Moore & Wall being known locally as “The Three Musketeers”. But as is often the case you get the yearn to fly on your own again, and eventually we all went our separate ways, very amicably. Geoff and I having remained firm friends until he went to that big loft in the sky in January 2004. Sadly, Barney Moore was taken from us in 1994 and the sport is much the poorer for his untimely passing. It is nice to see his wife Janet and son Peter keep the flag flying and I am sure Barney would be proud of their racing achievements.When the North Norwich Flying Club again decided to race the north road, those who resisted the change regrouped and formed the Norwich Premier South Road Flying Club, a club of which I quickly became a member and have remained so ever since, again holding the offices of secretary, treasurer and chairman and was honored at the end of 2002 to be made an honorary life member. A position of which I am very proud.Moving on a few years and Grant Hart (now residing in Lincolnshire) and Graham Bates of Bacton-on-Sea assisted me in forming Pigeon Publicity Promotions and I became the first secretary, a position I held for six years, overseeing the rise and rise of it's popularity as the promoter of very successful open races.Now, a new challenge, and one I relish, as Co-ordinating Administrator of Independent Pigeon Race Results that produces twin-county ( Norfolk and Suffolk ) race results for those competing in the BICC .  Norfolk and Suffolk are terribly difficult areas to fly into, especially from the south, being bordered by the North sea to the north of Norfolk along the Wash coast and from thereon down the east coast along the length of Norfolk and Suffolk . With the prevailing wind from the east blowing directly off the cold North sea during the early and mid part of the season makes for a drop in velocities the further the pigeons have to fly, coupled with the fact that, being a mainly rural area, pigeon fanciers in general, and more so BICC members, are sparsely spread out over a large area.  Many fanciers from this area have attempted National racing over the years, many have become disillusioned and disheartened after a short period without attaining any worthwhile results, combined with poor returns, and have called it a day. How to combat this fait accompli situation has been this writers challenge for some time. Giving Norfolk and Suffolk fanciers the opportunity to compete at local level, in addition to section and open competition appeared to be the answer. How to do this without forming a separate local club with all the problems of administration, rules etc; etc,  and at the same time to include every member of the national club was the challenge. The result, Independent Pigeon Race Results was formed, providing the simple answer of extracting Norfolk and Suffolk members of the BICC's details from within the BICC's official results. Collating these into a local result and including columns showing east section and open positions. Separate diplomas could be issued, sponsors could be sought, and publicity could be provided via the building of an internet website. Why the BICC ?  This being the only National club catering for members who wish to have the opportunity to compete at International level in all the International races!   What better than to have one club that caters for all challenges up to the ultimate distance ? What is more, we now have Lift Off!     We said it could be done, and now we're doing it.

Dennis Wall.