THE CARLISLE NATIONAL

The race marking at The Salisbury livestock market. Salisbury for the Carlisle National our second north road race of the season went well with no problems and all competing members were in a happy and jovial mood, which is usually the case, the 1120 birds were soon marked and loaded onto our transporter. 

Un-be known to our members we were informed on the Monday prior to the race marking that we could meet with a problem at the Carlisle racecourse due to a big show being held there on the weekend of our intended race but having chatted to the show organiser at Carlisle it was felt that we should be alright to liberate there, but just in case and to be ready for any un foreseen problem and with the help of Linda at The Redding’s distances were acquired for Shap which would have meant the birds flying about 20/25 mile less, my thanks to Steve Young for his help in pointing us to Shap, but as it turned out when our transporter arrived at the racecourse at Carlisle our Convoyer Pete Wilcox after speaking with the show organiser on site a nice spot was found away from all that was going on and the birds settled down well.

With weekend forecast looking very good indeed it was on the cards for a good race.

Saturday dawned and Pete after conferring with our weather man Steve Appleby cut the strings and the 1120 birds were soon on their way heading due south, there was no wind reported at the lib site, but the birds would meet a south east wind on route and as it turned out this wind picked up in force as the birds made their way south plus the heat of the day was another obstacle the birds had to overcome and possibly that is why the race was quite patchy some members getting them really well and others were looking to time in their first bird much later in the day.

Now onto the race itself and as always whatever the race and whatever the distance or weather there are always good performances to report on and this race certainly threw up it’s fair share, you can note the number of yearlings that were timed and will eventually finish well up in the finalised result. The velocities shown are only approximate and may possibly change as may the positions given, especially where velocities are so close, we will soon see when all the clock paperwork is in and checked. My grateful thanks go out to all those that I called on to go and verify the leading birds in each section and open.

Nigel Templar of Bristol who is having a cracking season so far leads the field  in this one by timing in three beauties all yearlings at 11.59.01, 11.59.11 and 12.02.15 to probably take 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd section C and 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Open with velocities of 1173, 1172 and 1163 flying 239 mile.

The first pigeon timed by Nigel is a dark pied Vandenabeele yearling cock named “Dark Star” flown on w/hood who has been racing really well this season having previously taken 6^th open in the C.S.C.F.C Penkridge race, 5^th Hexham with the W of E. Combine also 5^th sec Leicester in the S.W.Lerwick club and 2^nd sec, 12^th open Wakefield also in the S.W.Lerwick club, he has also taken a 1^st prize in the local club. Both parents come from Steve Foster of Lancashire and were purchased jointly by Nigel and Chris Balson of Bristol.  

The second bird in the clock is a Vandenbeele x a John Gerrard hen, this cock has also raced very well already this season having taken 1^st sec, 17^th open Leicester with the S.W.Lerwick club and 13^th sec, 13^th open Wakefield in the Lerwick club. The sire of this one is a w/hood cock bred by club mate Alan Jones, the dam was bred and gifted to Nigel by John Gerrard.

Third bird in the clock was Nigel’s C.S.C.F.C winner “North Star” a grizzle silver shadow Van Loon bred by Nigel from Ponderosa stock. Apart from winning the Classic this cock has also taken 12^th open and 15^th open.

Nigel has had an exceptional season so far this year having taken a 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th open with the Classic from Penkridge, 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th West of England Combine plus other Combine positions, he has also taken five 1sts in his club a first five places in the south west section of the S.W.Lerwick club plus other minor positions.

Whatever Nigel is doing, he should bottle it, and make a fortune? I have always said that when a loft is on song the fancier could fly a budgie and win with it.

On the day of the race Nigel expected the birds to be a bit quicker going on the combine times from Melton Mowbray but Stuart Wilcox who was in the garden with Nigel said that with the wind as it was they should take six hours, but he was proved wrong as they did it in 5hours 59 minutes.

Nigel races all his birds on the w/hood system to a 32 ft x 8 ft loft with three 8ft section for the w/hood with twelve boxes in each but they are rarely filled as on average Nigel starts off with about thirty cocks. Feed here is for the first 3 to 4 days they get a measured tablespoon of beyers wal zoojtens basic mixture morning and night they then go on to versele laga w/hood mix slowly increasing the portions then on Thursday evening as much as they can eat.

Nigel adds herbots zell oxygen on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the feedhe also uses Henk De Weerd products if and when he thinks they are required. Well I did say that Nigel should bottle his method but here you a part of it straight from the horses mouth so to speak.

Nigel would like to thank his wife Nicky for all the help that she gives to him especially by looking after the stock birds.   

In my time as Secretary with the club this feat in taking 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd open in one of our National races as only been accomplished once before and that was by the partnership of Crowley and Green of Compton Bassett who took 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd open in our 1999 Bordeaux National.

The Officials and membership of the BBC extend Congratulations to Nigel Templer on his marvellous performance in not only winning The British Barcelona Club’s Carlisle National but by taking 2^nd and 3^rd open as well.

Roger and Joan Brown of Kidderminster. Worcestershire are in next to take probable 4^th sec C, 4^th open. Timing in their yearling dark cheq hen flown on the w/hood system at 10.25 flying 174 miles for a vel of 1154.

This hen is bred from their No2 stock pair which have been responsible for producing many open and National position winners for the Brown’s over a number of years, this stock pair originated from Ray Forbes and a Mr.Lilley both from the north of the country.

As a young bird this hen was sent with The Severn Valley Federation as a trainer and this year her first race was in our Ingleton National last time round.

Roger and Joan also timed in a second bird at 10.39 for an approx vel of 1096 which could also see them take 15^th sec C, 20^th open.

Roger and Joan thank the convoying team for the care of their birds while on the transporter as they arrived home in excellent condition.

Probable 5th section C, 5^th open we have Janet Wilcox of Radstock who timed in her yearling dark cheq hen at 12.19 flying 248 miles vel 1152.

This one flew eight races to St. Malo as a y/b and has flown every race to Hexham in the combine this season being flown un-mated but she did have several boy friends at hand when basketed for this race.

Although she has never been in the clock before she was well spotted by race marker Billy Woods at the marking informing Janet and Ken that the un-pooled yearling hen will be your first bird and how right he was, well done Billy and as always Ken and Janet send their thanks to all concerned for a good race.

This one is bred from a Desmet Mathis x Van De Pol from a pair of birds that has bred prize winners for several years. Sire Desmet Mathis is from Geoff Kirkland also the Dam is Demet Mathis x Chris Van De Pol also bred by Geoff Kirkland.

In for probable 6^th sec C, 6^th open is Arthur and Gillian Ind of Swindon. Wiltshire who timed in his yearling blue cock at 12.00 flying 235 miles for a vel of 1147 being a  Jos Soontjens that was bred from Arthur’s No1 stock pair which are responsible for many club and section winners over the years.

As a youngster this one was trained and raced inland coming steady but has shown nothing special, however this year having been turned from the south to the north to compete in the BBC and after training flights as far as Worcester he has been raced with The Wiltshire Continental showing some potential by taking 50^th sec, 55^th open against the wind, he was then entered for our Ingleton National and put up another good performance by taking 7^th sec, 14^th open.

Two weeks prior to this one he has been rested, he was then flown early Thursday morning got in and fed and watered and shown to his hen before basketing for Salisbury. The Ind’s have another big race planned for him, a case of strike while the iron is hot!

Probable 7th sec C, 7^th open is Phil Newton of Weston-Super-Mare. Somerset who timed in his yearling cheq hen at 12.17 for a vel of 1129 flying 242 miles  

This one was 11^th club Hexhan 251 miles the week prior to this race where she  was sent sitting 12 days.

She was a consistent bird as a youngster being a G/Daughter of Phil’s NFC Certificate of Merit winner and a G/Son of a 1^st sec, 3^rd open in our blue riband Palmos National.

Bryan Woods of Shaftesbury. Dorset is next in line to take probable

1^st section B, 8^th open clocking at 13.00 flying 268 miles vel 1123

Bryan’s timer is a 5y/o blue cheq cock which is a full brother to Bryan’s Nantes Classic winner being bred from a Rinus Laban cock when mated to his own family. A good and consistent bird in all his previous races and this year he has had three races from the north then on in to Carlisle.

Flown on the celibate system as after their first mating they are then separated and the cocks do not see their hens again until after the season ends.

Feed here is a general mixture but Bryan does like to give his birds the sunflower and hemp seeds as an extra.

8^th sec C, 9^th open is the partnership of Richard Green & Anna Crowley of Compton Bassett. Wiltshire who timed in their 2y/o dark cheq a Harry Brakele hen flown on the R/About system at 12.15 for an approx vel of 1122 flying 239 miles. These Brakele pigeons have been coming really well for the partnership as they timed in three other pigeons close up to probable take 12^th sec, 13^th open vel 1103;  14^th sec, 18^th open vel 1099 and 24^th sec, 32^nd open vel 1087.  

Dave Wyatt & Mervyn Gray of Nailsea. had their 2 y/o Jan Aarden cheq W/F w/hood cock in the clock at 12.12 flying 236 mile vel 1116 to take probable 10^th sec, 11^th open.

This cock was bred from a pair of stock birds purchased from Louis Masseralla and although he has been a steady racer he is earmarked for future distance races. Prior to this race he has taken 6^th club from Stratford in their local club.

Bruce Mytton of Worcester should end up with probable 11^th sec C, 12^th open with his yearling blue cock timed at 10.58 vel 1108 flying 187 miles.

This cock is ¾ Boechx x ¼ Probor USA, the week prior to going to this one he was sent to Rotherham taking 8^th club and in this race he beat his sire, the sire being Bruce’s 3^rd bird in the clock in this race.

For the last two weeks the birds here have been on the R/About system and are fed on Gem & Teurlings corn.

Bruce also timed in a second bird at 11.02 vel 1095.3 to probably take 17^th sec C, 23^rd open and a third in the clock at 11.03 vel 1093.4 to probably take 18^th sec, 24^th open. I don’t know if many of you out there will recall the fact that Bruce won our Carlisle Y/B National back in 1983, the last time we were forced to go north due at the time to the paramixo virus outbreak.  

Jim and Lynne Peters of Weymouth. Dorset  have their one a 2 y/o Rene Nauwelaerts from the tranquility lofts in at 13.52 flying 454 miles for a vel of 1102 to probably take 2^nd sec B, 14^th open

This cock has taken many positions up to 2^nd federation on the north road while his nest sister is a dorset fed winner from Fourgers.

Flying to an empty box as his hen fell foul of an hawk a couple of weeks ago but he was shown an hen prior to basketing for Carlisle.  

Mel & Sue King of Blandford Forum. Dorset timed in their “Stourcrest Odysseus” a 2y/o blue cock vandenabelle from their national winning family at 13.27 for a vel of 1102 flying 280 miles to take probable 3rd sec B, 15^th open.

They also timed in “Stourcrest Thetis” another sharp one 35 seconds later to take probable 4^th sec B, 17^th open vel 1100, this one was 12^th sec, 76^th open in our Bordeaux National last year and is a full brother to their “Stourcrest Typhon” who was 3^rd open same race.

Chris Harding of Bristol had his first in the clock a 3y/o chequered hen, raced on the natural system being sent sitting 17 day pot eggs, at 12.07 vel 1101 flying 230 miles to probable take 13^th sec C, 16^th open.

This hen as a y/b won 2^nd sec, 2^nd open in our Lamballe National also winning the Gold Ring Scheme. Raced south again as a yearling and as a 2y/o winning several prizes and this year turning north with the W.E.S.R.Combine.

2006 performances are 2^nd club Stratford, 18^th combine;  3^rd club Derby, 35^th combine and 2^nd club Stratford 2.

The sire of this hen is Travine Rigole which was purchased from Les Parkinson the dam is Renne Newearlt Tony Marsden lines.

Steve and Elaine Hole & Son, Sam of Shifnal. Shropshire are in for probable 1^st sec E, 19^th open clocking their 4y/o dark white flighted cock at 10.05 flying 152 miles for a vel of 1098.

This cock was gifted to the Hole’s by Malcolm Hope of Hadley, Telford and is a Tuplin Barker always thereabouts on a hard day, he is responsible for winning them the old bird average in their local club being the only bird home on the day from Nantes to their loft taking 2^nd club. He was being prepared for Palamos   last year but on a short training toss came home with a huge cut in his chest and naturally it was then rested and did not race again that year. This year he has been given some light training and then entered in our last race from Ingleton where it took 5^th sec, 62^nd open. Feed here is by way of a mixture of Ruby Gold with expert lighter food given earlier in the week, Natraherb is given in the water twice a week to keep the birds in tip top condition.

Steve would like to dedicate this performance to his hard working wife Elaine for always seeing to the birds needs she even does the cleaning out, my word what a super lady.

Probable 1^st sec A, 21^st open are the partnership of Rod and Linda Rann & Son, Andrew of Newport, Isle of Wight who timed in their blue cheq pied hen a 2y/o at 13.53 for a vel of 1095.8 flying 294 Miles to 10 day eggs.

Bred from Jim Biss stock she was mated on the Ist March (St David’s Day for us Welsh) and flown natural, she has had two Stratford races with the Solent Federation and then on into our Ingleton National taking 72^nd open, she was then rested for a week and then put to Clay Cross with the Southampton & District North Road Federation.

Ex Cold Stream Guardsman of the 1^st Battalion Brian Milkins of Bristol is in there to take probable 16^th sec C, 22^nd open as he had his first one a yearling buschaert blue cheq hen at 12.24 vel 1095.6 flying 239 miles, this hen was timed in the y/b National last year and was bred for Brian by his very good friend Mike Oakley also of Bristol.

Brian’s second bird a Luc Van Loecke also a year blue cheq hen was timed in at 12.31 for a vel of 1076. 

In for probable 19^th sec C, 25^th open we have Hughie Eades of Street. Somerset who timed in his 2y/o Janssen x Sticklebaut at 12.56 vel 1093.1 flying 258 miles.  This one has won prizes in his local club and the S.W of England Lerwick club in races to Berwick 323 miles. Hughie also timed in a second bird a Busschaert at 12.59 that has scored at all distances to Fraserburgh and others were timed to this loft at 13.13, 13.27 and 13.29.

Central Southern Classic Flying Club Secretary Clive Merrills of Bampton. Oxfordshire is in to take probable 1^st section D, 48^th open clocking his yearling blue cheq hen at 12.10 for a vel of 1058 flying 222 miles.

In common with most flying club secretaries Clive seems to spend more time looking after other people than he does seeing to his own birds and having moved house about five years ago Clive started with fresh birds of the De Weerdt family that he acquired from Guy Reed of the Witney & Reed partnership Isle of Wight. He has been less than energetic in sending to only about ten races over that time, his birds are therefore relatively untried, but this year he vowed to change and find out what his birds are made of and decided to enter as many races as possible then along came the dreaded A1 and as his own fed stayed south he had to change his thoughts. He could see no point in racing 150 mile week after week so the training was done from the north and he sent all his loft of birds to his own first Classic dropping only two and the rest were sent here to Carlisle they will then go onto Perth and finally Thurso.

Having said that most of the stock are De Weerdt the blue cheq clocked is a Jan Aarden given to Clive by Guy Reed when he was paired to a daughter from a pairing of a half brother of the CSCFC Pau winner “Court Out” and a Geoff and Cath Cooper hen, she was not raced as a y/b having had only one previous race as stated above.

Probable 1^st Section G, 97^th open is Alisdair Muir of Arbinger Hammer. Surrey who timed in his 3 y/o blue pied hen at 13.56 flying 272 miles vel 1005.

This hen is a half sister to Alisdair’s 2^nd open BICC Dax Hen of 2003. Her full brother was 8^th centre section BICC Tours last season in a very tough race.

She is also a G/Dtr of his LSECC Bordeaux winner and of his LSECC Pau winner. This was her second race on the north route having come at 6.00am on the second morning from our last National Ingleton.

Probable 2^nd sec E, 27^th open is Marco Wilson of Cleethorpes N,E, Lincolshire who timed in his dark yearling cock racing natural at 10.01 vel 1091 flying 149 miles.

Bred by John Beckinsdale of Wales direct from a son of a Van Camp of Bevel from a son of Turbo, this cock was raced south as a y/b taking a 3^rd and a 4^th prize up to 200 miles from Portland.

This year he has taken 3^rd club and 3^rd section and has flown as far as Fraserburgh in readiness for a tilt at Lerwick.

I give a mention to this pigeon of Marco’s as to break away from the pack like he must have done and then fly into the wind to reach Cleethorpes on the east coast of Lincolnshire was no mean feat, a good performance that is well worth recognising.

Our next race is our Messac National on Saturday 1^st July basketing on Thursday 29^th June between 10.00am and 1.00pm.

The General Manager of The Royal Pigeon Racing Association will be in attendance to pick out the winning tickets in our Magnificent Dozen Pigeon Draw straight after the race marking is completed. Have you sent in your counterfoils yet? if not please do so before the 28^th June.

Please note – After Messac it is planned to go to then go onto Bordeaux on the 22^nd July, see page 12 in your hand book for all details etc.

We are still hoping with further negotiations being held with defra that our Blue Riband Palamos National can still go ahead albeit at a later date than normal.   Watch out for a possible advert in the BHW and the RP, our information line or this website.