THE BORDEAUX NATIONAL

The British Barcelona Club’s last old bird race of a very indifferent and certainly difficult season was held from the town of Bordeaux in southern France and with a best entry ever of over 1600 birds it was hoped that all competitors would experience a good race, the weather conditions at the time as we all know was that of the Bahamas very hot and clammy not the kind of weather we normally experience although it is our summer such is our climate, it was over 100 degrees at Bordeaux.

Not having seen the weather forecast for France on the Friday evening it came as a complete shock to hear from our convoyer Pete Willcox that he had experienced really bad weather over night at Bordeaux with thunder and lightning and very heavy rain this continuing until late Saturday morning so there was no chance of a liberation that would allow time for birds to make our mainland on the day.

Sunday dawned to much better weather, clear blue skies and no wind at the lib site so Pete cut the strings at 06.00 hours and the convoy of birds made light work of clearing the area and heading northwards the birds meeting a light north west wind veering westerly on route, so it was hoped that a good race would be the outcome and that is how it turned out with over 150 verified calls being received on the day with three birds making it up into section E the furthest recorded was flying 566 miles, with SIX of our seven possible section winners in the first 20 of the open one can only say it was a good and fair race and every competitor was in with a chance, but as is always the case from whatever race or distance there were some members who were not so lucky having a bit of a wait for their first arrival especially to the lofts situated on the west side of the country.

My thanks go to all our race markers who made light work of the entry and also to the members who were in the inevitable queue all were in good spirits entering into a jovial banter when coming to me with their race sheets, just super, BBC members are really a grand bunch. Can I also pass on my grateful thanks to all who I called upon to go and verify the leading birds and I hope they won’t mind me singling out a Mr. Nightingale who went and verified the leading bird into section A only to arrive back home to find one of his own in the loft.

Awards to be added to those mentioned in the club hand book have been received from Paul O’Leary of PBO Solutions who will be presenting a lap top computer to the race winner and further prizes of his well known Loft Mate to the next nine members in the result providing they have not already won a loftmate.

Our grateful thanks to you Paul for your continued support to our club.

Velocities shown are only approximate and may alter as may positions when clock paperwork is dealt with.

Our BBC man of 2005 Derek Reid of Weybridge. Surrey leads the field having  timed in two beauties at 16.10 and 16.35 to probably take 1^st and 2^nd section G, 1^st and 2^nd Open, what a super achievement! 

The first bird timed is a dark cheq 2y/o w/hood cock named “Wim” making an approx vel of 1289 flying 447 Miles doing just under 44 mph.

This one was paired up on the 3^rd March allowed to rear two babies and was then separated, he was then given three training flights in April and then put on the w/hood system after which he was given three inland races in the local club then sent to Wadebridge 200 miles with the SMT Combine and again two weeks later with the SMT Combine from Truro being Derek’s fifth bird.

He was then sent to Messac with us and then left in readiness for this one putting in such a wonderful performance.

The G/Sire of this one is Boris 1^st sec, 4^th open Palamos

The sire was bred for stock from Derek’s 4^th open in the 1999 Palamos National when paired to a G/Dtr of Invincible Spirit bred by Louella Stud.

The dam was bred from the foundation pair of the Wim Muller pigeons who sired the 4^th open Palamos and G/Sire and G/Dam of 1^st open Palamos.

The second bird timed is a 4y/o dark cheq w/hood cock called “Black Jack” this one is doing an approx vel of 1239.

The sire is a direct son of the No.1 pair of Wim Muller bred by the Ponderosa Stud and the dam is a G/Dtr of Black Giant a champion Van Wanroy also bred by the Ponderosa Stud.

This cock timed has always been a very consistent racer for as a 2y/o he was the second bird from Fourgeres, 2^nd BBC Nantes, Ist NFC Nantes, 2^nd NFC Pau and the second bird NFC Saintes, then last season he was given three inland races and then sent on to our San Sebastian where again he was the second bird to the loft taking 6^th sec, 47^th open.

This year he returned injured from his first race from Kingsdown his crop being badly cut open Derek’s wife Elaine was given the task of looking after him for two weeks putting savlon cream on to his crop twice a day after which it was well healed and then on the 24^th June he was sent to Messac with the SMT Combine being the fourth bird to the loft, he was then rested with this Bordeaux National in mind and hasn’t he rewarded both Derek and Elaine with this performance after such a bad injury, a truly super bird of so much courage.

All birds here are fed on Versa laga plus mixtures with Gem Thepax on the corn when they return from a race, Gem Impact is given in the water three times a week during the racing season.    

The Reid’s send their very best to myself and Hazel and also to Pete our convoyer for all the hard work put in, in what has been a difficult year. Derek also sends his congratulations to Mick Parish on his grand performance and hopes that he will still be sitting with them at the Big Night of the BBC’S presentation dinner.     

The Officials and membership of the BBC extend their Congratulations to Derek Reid and his two birds “Wim” and “Black Jack” on once again producing a marvellous performance in not only winning The 2006 British Barcelona Club’s Bordeaux National but in taking 2nd open as well.

Mick Parish of Great Burstead. Essex is next in line to take probable 1^st and 2^nd sec D, 3^rd and 5^th open clocking at 17.04 and 17.10 flying 465 miles approx vels of 1234 and 1223.

The first bird timed was a 3y/o blue cock named “Missed It” As a yearling late bred and still carrying four nest flights he was found on the loft on the second day from San Sebastian 580 miles after Mick returned from the our Palamos race marking down in Salisbury.

Preparation for this Bordeaux National a race from Clermont as a trainer approx 180 miles as he was intended to go to Palamos, a big disappointment, along with the rest of the two year olds and older.

The breeding is from the late Bill Stephenson being a G/son of Mick’s 3^rd sec, 12^th open Palamos 2003, the dam is featured on both sides of his pedigree being a winner of 3^rd sec Pau for Bill and purchased at his bereavement sale for the princely sum of £12, money well spent!

The second bird timed is a 3y/o blue hen named “Beauty” and her preparation exactly the same one 180 mile trainer, as Mick does not believe in giving them too much work before the longer type races.

On her sires side she is a cousin to John’s Boy 1^st Blue Riband Palamos National and on the dams side she is of Eric Cannon breeding.

The birds here are a combination of British Long Distance lines blended together by Mick and are fed on hopper fed tick beans and are called in with a bit of mixture. Birds are given hormoform when breeding and apart from the annual jab that we all have to do Mick uses no treatments whatsoever and has not done so for the past 15 years. No young bird racing is done but as yearlings they all have to fly the equivilant of Bordeaux distance to keep their perch.

Mick is very proud to be the only member of the club to have timed in on the winning day from the last three races of our Palamos Blue Riband National and rightly so. Mick sends his congratulations to Derek and Elaine on their fine win.

Probable 1^st and 2^nd sec A, 4^th and 10^th open are M/M. Betteridge of Portsmouth. Hampshire who timed in two really good birds at 15.45 and 15.55 that could see them end up with 1^st and 2^nd sec A, 4^th and 10^th open with approx vels of 1229 and 1208 flying 408 miles.

Sue and Mick’s first in the clock was a 2y/o cheq cock which was sent feeding a 14 day baby and this one was bred from their very good producer the 63 cock a fed topper himself as well as sisre to many fed winners, bloodines of this one is Buschaert from the late Danny Challis of Wimborne who was a good friend of mine and Arnie Silverwood.

Their second bird was a 4y/o cheq hen that was gifted to them as an egg by Tony Quinn of Portsmouth of the Alfons Bauwen cross the old Netherlands cock which was reported but never had a reply from the owner, a G/Son was a fed winner this year and a son won an overseas channel race this year also, this hen was specifically kept on form for this race.

Feed here is the Van Robaeys corn which they purchase from John Zerafa, Mick and Sue would like to thank Bomber Mellis for encouraging them to give channel racing ago as it was the best move that they have made as many successes have come their way since.

Lou Severe of Chichester had his first a 4 y/o blue cheq hen in the clock at 15.51 approx vel 1221 flying 410 miles which could see him take 3^rd sec G, 6^th open. The second bird that he timed at 15.59 was a 3y/o blue cheq pied hen that could end up with 5^th sec G, 12^th open approx vel 1204 two super hens with performances to match who were both sent sitting about four to five weeks on eggs, yes I did say four/five weeks, these hens were sent on 10/14 day eggs to our Messac and have been sitting them ever since.

The second bird has been the more consistent of the two having previously had six races leading up to this one. Both hens were bred by Graham Mathews of Fareham from his Delbar family.

Probable 3^rd sec D, 7^th open is Don Pembroke of Reading. Berkshire who timed in his 2 y/o cheq hen at 16.58 flying 455 miles approx vel 1217 having been sent sitting about a week.

She has been bred from a sire of Don’s old family of the Janssen base when mated to a Peter Fox pigeon and the dam is from Starbal & Son of Holland

She has had five inland races up to 150 miles and one channel race prior to this one. Feed here is by way of a w/hood and a breeding mix all mixed together with some linseed and peanuts given as a treat.

Ian Crammond and Nigel Langstaff of Fontwell. West Sussex are in there to probably take 4^th sec G, 8^th open as they had their one in the clock a 5y/o blue cheq cock at 15.56 approx vel 1215 flying 411miles.

This one has been a consistent bird for the partnership over the past three years always one to rely on, this performance is carrying on the great run of form that the loft has experienced  since our Lamballe last season.  

This cock is a son of their now retired best racing cock Norbert Norman who has won £900 in the 2003 Pau National.  Seven out of their nine entries were home on the day and this partnership have also said what super condition the birds were in on their arrival home.   

Ernest Smith and Darren Baker of Swindon. Wiltshire are in for probable 1^st Section C, 9^th open timing in their one a 4y/o cheq w/hood cock at 17.12 approx vel 1211 flying 462 miles.

This one is Janssen Van den Berg cross the E. Smith old family having always been a consistent bird for the partnership winning many minor prizes. He was sent to Pau last season where he was in the first ioo of the open in the CSCFC.

His half sister is also a BICC winner for Eric Isley of Wantage. Prior to this race this cock has had every inland race then went on to Messac as a good opener for this Bordeaux National. This performance has topped a fantastic season for the partnership as they have dominated their local club Watchfield in The Vale winning the majority of the inland races.  

Mel and Sue King of Blandford Forum. Dorset the husband and wife partnership lead the field in section B timing in their “Stourcrest Oedipus” a Vandenabeele 2y/o blue pied cock at 16.07 flying 416 miles to record an approx vel of 1207 which could probably take 11^th open.

Stourcrest Oedipus is a nest brother to their very good Stourcrest Odysseus which was 3^rd sec, 15^th open in our Carlisle national earlier this year.

Bred from a son of Solitaire 1st open MNFC La Ferte Bernard for M & D Evans. Stourcrest Oedipus a widowhood cock arrived back to the loft in wonderful condition, as fresh as a daisy, which the King’s say is a credit to the convoyer and driver.

Bert Shepherd of Woodmancote. West Sussex is in for probable 3^rd sec A, 13^th open clocking in his Ko Nipious 2y/o at 16.06 approx vel 1197 flying 412 miles. This one has previously taken 6^th sec, 51^st open NFC Messac, 2^nd club Cholet and 54^th sec NFC Tarbes and this year he has only had the one race from Fourgers before this one.

KO Nipious family that Bert has, were bought at the K & M Kippax sale back in 1978 and Bert feels that they are the best birds that he has ever purchased.

From the ten entered Bert timed in seven with and the other three were there on the day so sends a big thank you to all those involved for a very good race.  

Tony Leggatt of Havant. Hampshire should end up with probable 4^th sec A, 14^th open with his 4y/o mealy pied cock flown on the R/About system timed at 16.06 approx vel 1196 flying 412 miles. Tony should also end up with 6^th sec A, 19^th open with the second bird timed at 16.14 approx vel 1181.

The first bird as a y/b it was sent to Guernsey then on to Bordeaux as a yearling, then Pau in 2004 last year it was sent to both Tarbes and Bordeaux and was to be a candidate for Palamos this year, but as we all now know it was not to be.

So it was prepared by going to Stratford upon Avon, Ingleton then on to Truro and Messac being the second bird to the loft. This cock has been bred down from two really top birds the sire having won the following positions 5^th sec, 18^th open Sennen Cove y/b, 16^th sec, 245^th open Saintes 2002, 4^th sec, 24^th open Saintes 2003, 38^th sec, 135^th open Nantes 2004 the dams performances are 14^th open Lamballe y/b, 20^th sec, 85^th open Sennen Cove and again 27^th sec, 102^nd open Sennen Cove both in 2001, 16^th sec, 165^th open Pau 13^th sec, 63^rd open Bordeaux and 102^nd open Nantes all in 2002, 10^th sec, 18^th open Nantes, 3^rd sec, 227 open Saintes and 15^th sec, 184^th open Saintes all in 2003 and finally 4^th sec, 6^th open San Sebastian in 2004.

The second bird timed is a yearling dark pied cock also on the R/About and was bred by Tony Cripps of Portsmouth Fareham. This one has been a very consistent bird having already flown Ingleton, Carlisle Yeleverton, Truro and Messac this year. Tony has had nine on the day from the 12 that he entered.

As with all Palamos minded people Tony hopes that we do get our Blue Riband National from Palamos on come next season and so say all of us. Tony sends his best to both Derek and Mick and say’s sorry it was not Palamos.     

Morris and Joan Hendy of Bristol comes next timing in their 2 y/o blue cock at 17.23 flying 462 miles for an approx vel of 1191 to take probable 2nd section A, 15^th Open.

This one has been racing on the w/hood system but was paired for this one and sent sitting 10 days, previously to this race the cock has had six races down to Sennen Cove about 160 miles then in to Bordeaux. The sire is their Saintes National winner and the dam are both bred down from the Van den Bosch stock from Ken Darlington of Barry. South Wales.

Morris and Joan timed in four of their six entries on the day.

John Tyerman of Bracklesham Bay. West Sussex had his one a yearling dark cheq pied cock in the clock at 15.59 approx vel 1190 to probably take 5^th sec A, 16^th open flying 405 miles.

This one was raced north to Clay cross as a y/b and this season back on the north he has won a 3^rd club after which he was turned south and has flown Guernsey and Fourgers.

He contains the bloodlines of Decimal Lady 2^nd open Bordeaux and Rainbow Lady 1^st open St. Joan De Luz.

The dam was also a very consistent racer taking 16^th open LSECC Pau on the winning day. John timed in six of his eight entries on the day and say’s that all of them arrived home in excellent condition. 

Fred Bloor & Son of Charlton Mackrell. Somerset had their one “DE46” a 3y/o blue cheq cock in at 16.47 approx vel 1187 flying 436 miles to probably take 3^rd sec C, 17^th open.

This one has already been across the channel five times improving on each occasion by scoring in the last two. This cock which is bred in the purple is unbelievably quiet in the loft and is always difficult to gauge his form he believes intelligent pigeons can become quiet when coming to maximum form.

His sire is one of Fred’s five on the night from Bordeaux team having been 7^th open and has flown Pau twice being from a brother of Olympic Gold 1^st open Pau.

The dam is a stock hen from “My Barcelona” 703 miles and four times Pau including 4^th open and is from the oldest lines in the loft going back to the “Great Niort” hen only bird on the day 501 miles into Lancashire. Fred timed in six of his eight entries.

Probable 4^th section D, 18^th open we have R. J. Goddard & Son Dave of Reading. Berkshire who timed in his yearling red cheq cock at 17.14 flying 453 miles approx vel 1185.

As a y/b this one flew Exeter and Gurnsey and this season Dave has just tossed this one from Bristol about 70 mile then four tosses from about 20 mile and then in, making this race its first race and only the sixth time in a basket.

This cock is a half brother to Dave’s Spanish Diploma winner R.J. The dam being the last bird that Alex Geddes bred for Dave which was Dave’s own stock that Alex had. Dave timed in four out of four sent. His second bird in at 19.28 is the dam of the first bird timed.

There were only three timed into section E on the day and they were to 

M/M. Alan Shore of Hankelow. Cheshire who claims probable 1^st sec E, 20^th open timing in his “Old Joe” a blue cock at 20.07 approx vel 1177 flying 566 miles, the furthest flying bird on the winning day. All birds here were flown on the w/hood system the cocks having been sent to all the inland races in the local club Audlem H.S. Old Joe took 3^rd club Kingsdown. Old Joe went on to Messac with the Midland Continental Championship Club where he was 9^th sec, 74^th open so was ready for this Bordeaux National. Old Joe’s brother was also sent to Bordeaux and was timed early on the second day. The sire and dam are two dutch pigeons which Alan purchased in a sale.

Feed here is the widowers are broken down and fed depurative after each race until the Wednesday and then ther are given Versele Laga Gerry Plus as much as they want then all are topped up with a few peanuts.   

2^nd sec E is David Ellams of Telford who timed in at 20.47 and 20.58 approx vels of 1081 and 1068 flying 545 miles.

The furthest flying bird timed on the second day at the time of going to press was to Alan Parker of Downham. Lancashire having two at 09.25 and 09.40 flying 626 miles.

Raymond McMonagle of St. Ouen. Jersey takes the Channel Isle section with his yearling mealy cock in at 14.12 approx vel 1109 flying 310 miles.

This bird has flown as a y/b five St. Malo’s and this year it has had one to St. Malo then into our Messac National taking just over 4 hours and then on into this one being sent sitting 14 days. The sire is a direct import Jan Aarden and the dam is also a Jan Aarden both being bred by Paul Davies of St Clement.

Raymond started with a new loft in 2004 and would like to thank friends Paul Davies, Louis Periera and Paul Osborne for all their help in getting him started again.  

It has turned out to be quite a good race overall with a number of members timing in more than the one bird as can be seen above, those situated more northerly and westerly experienced an harder fly but some still managed to get birds on the day and in good time, on the whole not too bad an end to a very indifferent old bird season.

Next race the Lamballe Young Bird National September 9^th or it could be from Sennen Cove if Defra puts their nose in and stops overseas racing for the babies. Do not forget this race incorporates the Annual Gold Ring Scheme with a tidy sum of money up for grabs, so Keep Smiling

JIM HOOPER