MIke Lycett wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 11:04 am
Meee.JPG
The above comments were made by Andy on the topic "Not Needed" - that topic is now locked so I can't reply there
That being the case, as there's certain details being hurled in my direction I do need the opportunity to shall we say "clarify" a few things
If you aren't interested click away now. If you are, get comfy. I'm an IT man and I can't help but be thorough, it's in my nature
Firstly I ask was the performance of say "Queen Mary" winning 1st NFC Tarbes for Darran McFaddan any less because he raced as D & D McFaddan and not himself? I think not
Was the performance of "Pennine Heights" for Brian Shackleton winning 1st NFC Tarbes any less because he never raced in his own name? I think not
John Staddon has achieved a lot of success as Staddon Bros and D & J Staddon. Are they devalued because he wasn't in his own name? I think not
The partnership of Mrs C.Lycett & Son was created in the 1970's when Mum and one of my brothers flew with her (Can't remember if it was Dave or Ken - I was only a kid at the time)
In the 1980's it was still Mrs Lycett & Son and it was Ken and Mum in name and me operating as a very Junior partner
The big turning point was 1988. I left school at 18 having done my A levels and started earning
Ken had bought a round of YB from George Litherland in 1988 and when I started earning I "bought myself" into the partnership by buying 6-7 pairs of Stock from Hodgkiss & Potts
These Meuleman Janssen were blended into the Van Den Bosche to create a formidable team of pigeons
It was here that the partnership became Mrs C Lycett & Sons (with me now a partner)
Ken and I worked at the same place and we devised a Shift pattern that allowed us to be on opposite shifts - thus meaning either him or me was always with the birds
No one else as involved, we split the work, the costs etc straight down the middle
Success was immediate and when I think back to the team of cocks we had in 1992-1993 we took those cocks anywhere and could compete (and beat) anyone
1st 9,813 birds, 2nd 9,592 birds, 2nd 9,531 birds, 1st 6,811, 1st 3,035 birds (from Nantes) etc.. You get the gist
In 1996 Ken decided he'd had enough and left the partnership. He kept the stock loft and Stock birds and I kept the racing lofts and everything in it
Both of us were happy.
In 1996 thus the partnership became Mrs C Lycett & Son (this was Me and Mum)
Not long after this Nan died and that rendered Dad's partnership obsolete as the house was sold where he raced
Dad then lent a hand to me whenever work meant I couldn't manage the birds properly (shift-worker)
Dad was a great channel flier, but I was a sprinter, so the regime was very different
If I wasn't there the feed was made up , the exact amount required, the necessary water etc
We were running the MNFC at the time and as the Press Officer I was seeing great lofts on a regular basis
In 1998 I went to M & D Evans and was impressed with this new family the Vandenabeeles
I bought 6 pairs for Stock (which I received in 1999) and ordered some YB to race in 2000 (in case there were teething problems with the new Stock)
Again, success was immediate. Within 4 weeks these Gaby's had won 1st Brereton Banks's Classic and 1st Staffordshire Moorlands Gold Ring
Both winners collected around £1000 each
Success continued at a great rate winning RPRA Awards in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005
In 2005 we were West Midlands Region Sprint Champions and 2nd National Ace RPRA Sprint Champions with my "Houdini" cock - He was bred from a pair of Verkerk's I'd bought to act as a cross to the Gaby's
In 2006 we won the NMCC by 10 min and just as things were getting better and better and better in 2007 Dad fell ill
We never realised it, but he was soon to be diagnosed with Leukemia and he was unable to help me with the birds when I wasn't there
Mum had never been into the lofts, and her support was more of an emotional one rather than what she did inside the loft
That being the case I decided that we'd bring the racing lofts to a close as I couldn't manage them on my own (Mum played no active part inside the lofts)
The 2007 Entire Clearance was what I class as "my birds"
I ran the lofts, I paid for all the corn, all the supplements
Whatever birds came onto the garden was my choice alone and I paid for them alone
Whatever left the garden was my choice.
The pairings and the way we raced was all me
It's a measure of the esteem that our birds were held and our name that the Sale was breathtaking.
Even now I've not seen a sale where the average price of a pigeon was so high
When the money came in, even though I'd ran the lofts 100% financially since 1996 I gave Mum 1/3rd and Dad a 1/3rd
Come 2010 and Dad's health was better and the leukemia under control
Aged 74 he missed the birds. He'd had them since he was 15.
He asked me to source 4 pairs for him and so I did as I was still in touch with the major buyers from the Entire Clearance Sale
2011 saw him start to compete as Mr & Mrs Lycett and in 2012 "Champion Eddy" was born
In 2013 for the 2nd time the Lycett's were West Midlands Region Sprint Champions
"Eddy" went on to win 11 x 1st Clubs (ave 400 a race) and 5 x 1st Fed (ave 2,500 a race)
As years went on Dad's legs started to play up and so the lads stepped in to help
Ken, Dave and I would all be at the lofts sorting out what needed to be done
Ken and Dave "largely" ran the lofts as they were both retired and I was still working
However, any treatments etc that were administered was always done by me (and so was their purchase)
Any Stock coming in was done by me alone, and anything leaving the garden was down to me alone
In 2020 Dad passed and we decided to run the 2020 as best we could before packing up
In the 1st race after Dad died we won 1st Federation 1,900 birds by almost 2 minutes
We said we'd look at the channel more (for Dad) as it was his passion
The NMCC drug tested us after our performances from Carentan and Fougeres (obviously came back clean)
I remember we were 2nd, 5th and 6th Carentan and 3rd Fougeres
That brings to an end the "racing lofts" of the Lycett's
During all this time I've had great friends who've often called me asking for advice/opinions
Some (like Phil Bourke) I help on a daily basis and he's now won 40-odd 1st's since I started helping him
4 years ago he was maybe averaging 1 win a season.
If you'd like the numbers of Gary Gordon, Matt Wright, Phil Bourke, Lee Painter or several others who ask my advice please do let me know
They'll be only to happy to oblige. You only need ask them 1 question
"Do you value the assistance given to you by Mike Lycett?"
Thanks for your interest in my partnertship
I've never raced "in my own name". Why would I need to?
If I can be of further assistance please do ask and I'll happily oblige (same goes to anyone reading this)