Peterborough & District Federation of Homing Societies

News

Important

The Federation will commence the racing season on 19/04/25 with  its first race. Secretaries will shortly recieve a email from the Fed Secretaries informing how to get a Gathering License, it is imperative that clubs get this in place at least 7 days before the 19/04/25 to comply with Bird Flu protocol. Please do not ignore

Race Program 2025

This has now been revised due to not being allowed to go to Driffield on 12/07/25

Bird Flu Updates

New Cases in England

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at the following premises. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared surrounding each of the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in other captive birds at a premises near Fownhope, North Herefordshire, Herefordshire (AIV 2025/23). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared around the premises. The affected birds on the premises will be humanely culled.

Case Updates in England

Following the successful completion of disease control activity and surveillance in the zones surrounding the following premises, the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that it formed becomes a surveillance zone surrounding each of the premises:

Following the successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone around the following premises, the 10km surveillance zone has been revoked in:

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity is in force across the UK. In addition, mandatory housing for kept birds is in force across the unitary authorities of the East Riding of Yorkshire, the unitary authority of York, the City of Kingston upon Hull and all districts in Cheshire, Herefordshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Shropshire Suffolk and Worcestershire to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.

All bird keepers in the AIPZ with mandatory housing must keep their birds housed to protect them from bird flu. This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks and just a few birds in a backyard flock. These housing and biosecurity measures are to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.

The Code of Practice for Racing Pigeons states: “When housing measures are in force as part of an AIPZ, birds will only be allowed out for exercise for up to one hour once each day. If the loft is not within a protection or surveillance zone, you may train birds as a single loft but must not mix birds from other lofts unless you have met the requirements of the general licence (this would constitute a gathering and must be notified to the APHA 7 days in advance and comply will all the requirements of the relevant bird gatherings General Licence). You must not have an open loft that allows the birds to freely come and go, which would increase the chance of wild birds entering your loft and contaminating it.”

The updated General Licence for Bird Gatherings may be seen here.

Interactive Map

Keepers can check if they are in a bird flu disease control zone using the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map. Further information on the measures that apply in the zones can be found in Defra’s Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England guidance and the zone declaration available via the notifiable disease case finder. Disease control zones will remain in place until all disease control and surveillance activities in the zones have been successfully completed and there are no suspect cases are under investigation in the zones.

Keepers must keep a close watch on their birds and kept mammals (including pets) for any signs of disease, and seek prompt advice from a vet if they have any concerns. You can find further information on how to spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds and how to keep other pets, such as cats and dogs, safe from bird flu.

Clinical signs indicative of infection with an avian influenza virus must be reported in England to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact to the local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

All bird keepers must register their poultry and other captive birds (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines), even if only kept as pets. Registered keepers will receive regular updates and guidance to help protect their birds from avian influenza. In addition, anyone can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service for the latest information on updated risk levels, guidance and new cases in Great Britain regardless of whether they keep birds.

In Great Britain members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping Defra and APHA understand, the risk to different species groups of wild birds, the risk posed to poultry & other captive birds and the risk of overspill into mammals.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Do not touch any dead or sick wild birds you find. The Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The latest information and guidance on bird flu can be found at gov.uk/birdflu

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20/02/25: New Cases in England

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in commercial poultry at the following premises. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared around each premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in other captive birds at a fourth premises near Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/20). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared surrounding the premises (effective from 20:45 on 18 February 2024). The affected birds on the premises will be humanely culled.

Case Updates in England

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17/02/25: New Case in England

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in other captive birds at a premises near Snettisham, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk (AIV 2025/18). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared surrounding the premises (effective from 17:00 on the 16 February 2025). The affected birds on the premises will be humanely culled.

Case Update in England

Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around a premises near Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire (AIV 2025/02), the 3km protection zone has ended and the area that formed the protection zone becomes a surveillance zone (effective from 15.30 on 14 February 2025)

Northern Ireland

Suspect case of notifiable Avian Influenza found in commercial poultry premises, County Tyrone | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

  • A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been established, from 19:00 on the 15 February 2025, around a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone following preliminary positive results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
  • The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). The TCZ comprises a 3km TCZ-A and a 10km TCZ-B.  The TCZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km and 10km zones can be accessed here.

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10/02/25: New Cases in England

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at the following premises. A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been declared surrounding each of the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is also in place across all of England, Wales and Scotland. In addition, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing and biosecurity measures is in place across North Yorkshire, an area in Shropshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, the City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

[Individual case updates before this date have been removed to keep the length of this article down]

Extra Race A(not in Averages

Malton Any Age

Posting Results

post

When posting your results in please weigh the envelope as a standard first class stamp may not be enough, thanks

Bubwith 15th April

Bubwith Sat 15/4/17 At 0715 we are sitting waiting for the Up North Combime, West Durham Amal and Durham Combine to vacate the Newark area, I therefore do not see a liberation until 1000AM at the earliest. Weather is still very good at the racepoint and I am pleased to inform that we have a very good turnout for the first race, updates will also be on Facebook

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT FEDERATION OF HOMING SOCIETIES

President: C D Upsall

A Delegates Meeting will be held at 8.00 pm on Monday 17th October 2016 at Moulton Harrox Sports & Social Club, Broad Lane, Moulton, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE12 6PN.

AGENDA

  1. Attendance
  1. Apologies
  1. Minutes of last Delegates Meeting (11th July 2016)
  1. To pass and confirm all Old and Young Bird Races for 2016
  1. To pass and confirm all Average and Trophy Winners for 2016
  1. Presentation of Trophies
  1. Date of Annual General Meeting – Monday 30th January 2017
  1. Date of propositions for Annual General Meeting to Fed Secretary by Friday 22nd December 2016 – this includes any Race Programmes for 2017 that will be voted for at the Delegates Meeting following immediately after the A.G.M.
  1. Any other Business

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Bring all Trophies to the meeting on 17th October in order that engraving can be arranged – the attached sheets indicate the Trophy Winners for 2015 for ease of reference.  The highlighted/shaded areas indicate that I have already received the Trophy.

At the time of issuing this Agenda (2nd October) if your Club has not forwarded all outstanding payments for 2016 Racing then copies will be enclosed with this Agenda.  Please arrange to pay all outstanding monies promptly.  If you have any issue in relation to these invoices please contact Fed. Secretary without delay.

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PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT FEDERATION

Trophy and Average Winners 2015
Old Bird Average All Old Birds T. Winterton (1194)
“Newling” Old Bird Average Next Section Highest OB Average Upsall & Grandson (1182)
Young Bird Average All Young Birds D. Perry (1385)
“Newling” Young Bird Average Next Section Highest YB Average G. Fielding (1237)
Combined Average All Races Upsall & Grandson (1219)
Long Distance Average Fraserburgh/Thurso/Lerwick I & S Rich
“Hinch” Trophy Thurso/Lerwick Average I & S Rich (878)
“Jeff Pick” Trophy Next Section Highest Thurso/Lerwick Average Moore & Ransome (802)
Platt Cup OB Average (up to & including Berwick) Mr & Mrs D. Evans
Lerwick Cup Lerwick Winner I & S Rich
Thurso Cup Thurso Winner M. James
Fraserburgh Championship Fraserburgh Winner M. Bishop & Son
Perth Cup Perth Winner Mr & Mrs D. Evans
Berwick Old Bird Cup Berwick OB Winner D. Perry 
“Mat Bland” Berwick YB Cup Berwick YB Winner R. Knight & Sons
“Mary Bland” Berwick YB Cup Next Section Highest Berwick YB J. Lensen
“Bernard Woodfield” Memorial T. Winterton 
Hovenden Home Trophy Race before Berwick YB R. Knight & Sons
F C Skoulding Memorial Trophy Berwick OB Winner – SE Section Only M. Bishop & Son – NO TROPHY FOUND
Jack Bateman Trophy NW Section 2015 (Berwick OB) Mr & Mrs T F Welby
Barrett Rose Bowl Best Bird Performance I & S Rich (Lerwick) GB11X35847
D Allen Novice Trophy Nominations to be received Belinda Corby
NW Section
OB Average Not Won
YB Average C. Pearson (1065)
Combined Av Not Won
Lerwick Not Won
Thurso Mr & Mrs W. Brennan
Berwick YB C. Pearson 
NE Section
OB Average Upsall & Grandson (1182)
YB Average D. Perry (1385)
Combined Av Upsall & Grandson (1219)
Lerwick E. Lee
Thurso D. Page
Berwick YB R. Knight & Sons – NO TROPHY FOUND
E Section
OB Average T. Winterton (1194)
YB Average Not Won
Combined Av Not Won
Lerwick T. Winterton 
Thurso T. Winterton
Berwick YB J. Lensen
SE Section
OB Average Not Won
YB Average F C Skoulding & Son (1206)
Combined Av Not Won
Lerwick I & S Rich
Thurso M. James
Berwick YB Moore & Ransome
SW Section
OB Average K. Conkey (961)
YB Average G. Fielding (1237)
Combined Av Not Won
Lerwick GV & W Britton
Thurso D. Bird & Daughter
Berwick YB G. Fielding 

Bubwith

Liberated at 8:45am light variable wind

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Berwick

Libertated Sunday 08:30 hrs

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Whitle Bay

Birds Liberated at 10:00am Fresh north Wind

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Seaham Harbour

Birds liberated at 08:00 hrs in a south west wind, Good Luck

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PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES

As agreed at the half yearly meeting, we will be joining the NRCC at their “Day of the Champions” at Springfields, Spalding on Saturday 5th December 2015 where the trophy presentation for our Federation will take place.  Further details will be advised when known, but for now please make a note of the date and make the effort to come along and support your Organisation

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TROPHY RECALL

Would all Club Secretaries please check with their members and advise the Federation Secretary the number of trophies you have and the race for which they were flown for, if known.

Arrangements will then need to be made to return the trophies to either myself, Carl Upsall or Paul Newbold in order that we can verify them and arrange for them to be engraved for the 2014 and 2015 season prior to them being presented on 5th December 2015.

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Sunday 23rd August

Whitby Liberated at 07:00 hrs

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Saturday 15th August

Birds liberated at Whitby at 12-15 West wind, good luck.

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Saurday 1st August Bubwith

Bubwith Young Birds liberated 10:30am South West Wind

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Sundy 19th

Thurso hold over

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Saturday 18th July

Great Driffield birds liberated at 09:00hrs  in a south west wind.

Thurso is a hold over

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Half Yearly Meeting

A half-yearly Meeting will take place on Thursday 6th August 2015

At 8pm at Moulton Harrox Sports & Social Society,

Broad Lane, Moulton, PE12 6PN

A G E N D A

  • Federation Finances
  • Berwick Races
  • Bubwith race after NRCC Berwick
  • Federation Dinner & Presentation Evening
  • Any other urgent business
  • Print Agenda

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Whitley Bay 11th July

Birds liberated at 07:30hrs South West Wind

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Seaham Harbour 4th July

The birds were liberated at 13:15hrs in a fresh SW wind , good luck

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Whitby 27th June

Pigeons liberated at -7:30hrs light west wind

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Berwick

The birds were liberated at 07:15hrs

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Fraserburgh 15th June

Birds were liberated at 06:30 hrs

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Berwick 20th June

Don’t forget this is also the ‘Yearling Race’. Any age birds can be sent this year and yearlings can be nomad at an extra 50 pence per bird

By Clicking here Berwick Yearling Nomination Form – 20.06.15-2 you can print off your ‘Berwick yearling Non Entry Form’

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Saturday 6th June Whitley Bay

Pigeons were liberated at 07:30 hrs

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Saturday 30th May Great Driffield

Pigeons were liberated at 09:00hrs in a light westerly wind.

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21st May 2015 Seaham Harbour

The Birds have been liberated at 11:00am in a light east south east wind, varying on route

10th May Whitley Bay

Birds liberated at 07:50 hrs in a south west wind

7th May

Marking moved 24 hrs.

Marking for Whitley bay has been moved back 24 hours.

rain

2nd May Seaham Harbour

The birds were liberated at Seaham Harbour at 07:00 Hrs in an East Wind

Good luck.

25th April Malton

The birds were liberated at 09:00hrs at Malton in a SW wind.

Good luck.

18th April Driffield

Birds liberated at 12 noon in an east, north, east wind.

Good Luck

2015 Racing Season – Instructions to Clubs

1) Collection of Entries – The small transporter will start collection from Ely at 6.00pm, and collect from Chatteris, March, Peterborough and Sutton Bridge en-route to Spalding. Spalding and Swineshead clubs will be loaded at Spalding. Cambridge club to go to Ely,  Clenchwarton to go to Sutton Bridge. Mervyn Greatrix will collect the northern clubs, picking Alford, and the Skegness clubs up at the Spilsby layby,  and both Boston clubs at the docks at Boston en-route to Spalding. Lincoln to arrange collection point at Newark with Carl Upsall 07957 817703. Small vehicle mobile Terry Mortimer on 07943 209385, Mervyn mobile 07836 684835.

2) Master Timer strikes will take place between 5.00pm and 5.30pm by calling 01733 322424 ( Friday and Saturday).

Birdage costs – all races up to Whitley Bay – 70p per pigeon. Berwick £1.85, Perth & Fraserburgh £2.50, Thurso £3.50, Lerwick £6.00, Berwick YB £1.85, Duplications from NRCC 27p and holdover charge at 15p per bird per day (Fed races only).

3) Enclosed are your current list of members, showing their Federation computer number. You MUST include these numbers on your results, even if you have to write them on by hand! This can be ignored this year, as they have already been sent.

4) You will have been given crate cards for completion each week. These should always be handed to the driver of your collection vehicle. Don’t put them in the envelope with your entry forms please.

5) We will revert to weekly invoices for birdage to keep a more accurate record.

6) You will have also been given crate tickets to complete and tie to the crate fronts if you have seriously low numbers in any crate. Birdage per crate 18 to Perth, 16 for Thurso, and 14 for Lerwick. ‘you must adhere to these numbers, thank you!

7) Any queries please ask!

Aldona Andrew (Secretary)