The hen featured is ‘Friendship’ bred raced and owned by Rik Hermans, Pulle , Belgium and she is not only one of the best racing hens of recent years in Belgium but she is becoming a World Breeder. One of her children is our HERO COCK that has had a a profound influence on Dean Cartmell and many others results in this country. I understand another daughter owned by Tim Atkins bred his Section I winner also in last weeks NFC Guernsey and we must not forget Stuart Wilcox’s three Super Sisters all grandchildren of Friendship that are racing out of their skins in Bristol.
It is not only in the UK but all over continental Europe and Japan where the Friendship blood is proving the best. Many famous fanciers like Florian Hendrix, and Rik’s current super young team are all based around her golden DNA.
I was delighted to speak with Dixie Dean Cartmell this week from Worcester reporting on a fantastic few weeks of racing.
On 30th April the Heart of England Federation Race was from Purbeck when 103 members sent 1711 birds. Deans team performance was 1st,3rd,4th,5th,6th Club and 2nd,6th,7th,8th an 9th Fed.
Second Fed was bred from Deans top breeding son of BRAVE (Nieuwe Rossi x Eenoogske) x LITTLE STAR (Daughter Di Caprio). This cock has now bred 14 x 1st Club winners. Dam of second Fed was a granddaughter of HANNIBAAL x 790 (Drum x Agent Starling) via Stuart Inett.
Sixth Fed was from a Rik Hermans Cock direct from GUUS when he was coupled to a daughter of the legendry BUBBLES bred by Ad Schaerlaeckens , owned by G and S Verkerk and dam of many champions amongst others BULLDOZER their basic breeder. Mother of sixth Fed is the Mother of Deans’ 1st Midlands National Flying Club from Carentan against 4,440 birds in 2019 being a daughter of HERO bred by Rik Hermans from Propere 42 (Full brother to Propere Rik) x Friendship.
Eighth Fed was off the good Brave and Little Star cock paired to a full sister to his MNFC Winner from a son of AMULET x SISTER SPHINX with a daughter of HERO x STARDUST.

Hero a son of Friendship bred by Rik Hermans and sire of Deans MNFC Vire winner plus a multitude of Federation winners first and second generation.

‘STARDUST’ Top breeding hen.
A Son Propere 10 x Stardust (Tim Atkin) Bred:
Muitple Fed Top ten including 12 x 1st winners
1st Sect. I NFC Fougeres ’20 against 580 birds
A Son of Hero x Stardust (When paired to dtr.Amulet)
(Dean Cartmell) Bred:
1st MNFC YB National Vire 2019 4440 birds
A previous three times winner.
A Son Max with Stardust (Wentworth Lofts) Bred:
1st RPRA Hot Spot 4 Winner in 2019 against 646 birds
Hannibal x Stardust Bred ‘Amulet’ G.Sire of:
(For Paul Weams)
‘Chunky’s Pride’ 1st BBC YB National 2019 Fougeres
10th Open CSCFC YB Classic Guernsey 2019
‘Chunkys Gold’ 1st Watchfield Gold Ring Race
(Via Shaun Stockley)
1st WOESRC Bedhampton 1563 b
‘Amulet’ is grandsire to 1st RPRA One Loft Race Final 2020 winning £25,000 for Chapelford Lofts
Paul Smith Syndicate (Via Hibbert Brothers)
G.Sire of:
33rd Final Race SAMDPR
2019 against 2,531 birds
A Daughter of Max x Stardust owned by Micky Collins and paired to his DONKERE LEO bred the famous ALANS LAD of Scott Whitehouse currently one of the strongest breeders in the midlands whos offspring reportedly are winners of over 60 x 1st prizes in very hot competition.
Ninth Fed was bred off the sire of Deans MNFC winner and is a son of Amulet and Sister Sphinx when he was paired to a daughter of Propere Rik x Perfect Lady a daughter of Mario x Simply Perfect (Drum x Agent Starling).

This is Amulet who is a truly top class breeder at every level. His sire is HANNIBAAL our famous old base breeding son of Van Dyck’s Kannibaal when paired to the extraordinary STARDUST a world class daughter of Di Caprio raced by Heremans Ceusters and owned by Van Dyck.

Sister Sphinx bred by Rik Hermans and again one of our very to breeding hens of the last few years. With AMULET she bred the sire of Dean Cartmell’s MNFC Vire winner and many more classic, National and One Loft Race winners.
Saturday 21st May saw the Heart of England Federation Race from Purbeck when 107 members sent 1624 birds. Deans team performance was 1st,2nd,3rd Club and 1st,2nd,3rd Fed.
First Fed winner was of Stuart Inett’s MATADOR COCK (son of Matador from Drum x Agent Starling) when paired to a daughter of Thompson Brothers of UNC Fame QUEEN JEAN lines and the mother is off a son of CHICO (Hannibaal x Genie) with a sister of Rik Hermans CHARLENE coupled with a daughter of MARIO x SUNDAY GIRL.
Second Fed was off a son of the renowned Thompson Brothers Golden Pair that Dean has flown exceptionally well with when he was paired to the Mother of his 1st Midlands National Flying Club from Carentan against 4,440 birds in 2019 being a daughter of HERO bred by Rik Hermans from Propere 42 (Full brother to Propere Rik) x Friendship.
Third Fed was a gift bird to Dean from Hoyles/Pratt/Pratt past MNFC winners themselves from their SAGAN lines.
Saturday 21st May also was the NFC Guernsey race when 607 members sent 6531 birds. Dean scored 2nd Section J from a very good entry of 810 birds sent by 76 members with the same cock that was 9th Fed Purbeck a few weeks ago. He is also a past fist Fed winner himself, so very capable indeed. He is bred off the sire of Deans MNFC winner and is a son of Amulet and Sister Sphinx when he was paired to a daughter of Propere Rik x Perfect Lady a daughter of Mario x Simply Perfect (Drum x Agent Starling).
Many congratulations indeed Dean, and I am sure it wont be long before another chat.