Up North Combine

The Up North Combine is an amalgamation of pigeon racing clubs and federations founded in 1905. Headquarters are located in Greatham, Hartlepool, and the radius of serving federations go from Staithes (south) to Berwick (north). The combine is governed by the North of England Homing Union(NEHU). They organise the annual Mighty Up North Combine race from Lille.[1][2] The race is Britain's largest and has been called "the world's greatest".[3][4]

The organisation was featured in a 1969 documentary, Time on the Wing, made by Turners Film Productions for Vaux Breweries on pigeon fancying and pigeon racing in the North East of England. This showed officials and convoy organisers discuss arrangements for the trip to the Vaux-Usher International Gold Tankard Pigeon Race which involved the transport of some 19,000 birds.[5]

Tommy Newton of the Houghton Federation was the owner of the winner of the first race from Lille they organised in 2000, the first winner from that club since 1938.[6]

Officials
  • President/Chairman: Mr J.Thompson
  • Senior Vice President: Mr C Rowson
  • Vice presidents: Mr J Luke, Mr T Young, Mr M Elliot, Mr T Callen, Mr D Geach
  • Secretary: Mrs P. Grange
  • Convoyer: Mr S. Profitt[7]

List of affiliated federations

Border Federation
Coquetdale Federation
East Celeveland Federation
Gateshead Federation
Hartlepool Federation
Hetton Federation
Houghton Federation
Mid Tyne Federation

Middlesbrough Federation
Newcastle West Federation
North East Counties Federation
North Yorkshire Federation
Northumberland Premier Federation
Shotton & Trimdon Federation

Ferryhill & District South East Durham Federation
South Shields Federation
Sunderland & District Federation
Sunderland Premier Federation
Teesside Federation
Tees Valley Federation
Tynemouth Federation
Wansbeck Federation

Members

As of 2017 the combine had 23 Federations affiliated, 120 clubs affiliated and 2614 members.

References
  1. "Up North Combine Lille Winner (1961)". East Cleveland Image Archive. 1961. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. "FORTY SEVEN YEARS OF SUSTAINED SUCCESS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL". Pigeon Botanicals. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. Hornall, Thomas (8 April 2016). "Pigeon-fancier left house-bound for three years set to fill the skies with his prized birds again". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  4. "A top flight pigeon fan". Teesside Live. 5 July 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  5. "Time on the Wing". Yorkshire Film Archive. 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. "Bobby's the lad to fly home with the honours". Sunderland Echo. 3 January 2000. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. "Up north combine Reims result". UK Pigeon Racing. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
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