THE LAMBALLE YOUNG BIRD NATIONAL

The British Barcelona Club’s last National race of the season held from Lamballe saw a very good entry of 2300 birds especially when one takes on board the losses from the earlier races that most fanciers have incurred during the past  weeks going by the comments made to me prior to our race marking day.

The race marking for this young bird national went really well, as always, with all birds being race marked in good time by our very efficient marking team to whom we owe a great deal also our thanks go to the lads that carry the panniers and load the transporter all being part of a super team that other organisations would be more than pleased to have, and more so when one realises that they are all volunteers receiving no pay just being more than happy to help and work for the club, so to you all, I pass on the grateful thanks of all of our membership for doing such a grand job in not only this race but in all of our races held this year, you are all very special people as without your help freely given and turning up come rain or shine where would we be? Also to all the lads that have been called upon to go and verify leading section birds throughout the season and not asking for any expenses that may have been incurred, you too have been marvellous,  and last but by no means the least our chief convoyer Pete Willcox and Chris King and our weather guru Steve Appleby for providing the club with excellent service and doing your best for the club under a very trying season, weather wise.

Also to you the members who have competed in our nationals this year thanks for the grand support that you have shown to me and Hazel and for being so patient at the race markings when being in the inevitable queue that do form on such race marking days, no moans just friendly banter, you too are great and to you all our thanks from the club for all of your support given throughout the season.

I can not praise everyone too highly you have all been marvellous, but there again I have said that many times before that is why The British Barcelona Club is so different from any other specialist club and so very special to the members therein.

Now on to the race itself and what a long weekend it turned out to be for everyone concerned, the weather was crazy to put it mildly and headaches for everyone was the norm as to when we would be able to get the birds away, when the weather was good at the home end it was bad at the race point and when the weather was good at the race point it was bad at the home end, that is the situation that we were faced with on each of the days that we held.

It was never an option to bring the birds back into this country for unlike other organisations we had competing members all along the south coast from Kent to Cornwall and we always do our best to give members the race that they have prepared their birds for and of course paid for.

Steve Appleby’s weather report which accompanies this report shows just exactly what we were up against so when we eventually got the birds away at 11.00 hours with no wind at the site our convoyer and weather man were of a mind that we should have had a fair race but I am so sorry to say that is not how it turned out as we all now know.

Sadly only eleven birds were timed on the day, five of them being timed onto the mainland the others were onto the Channel Isle.

It was not much better on the days that followed as we were informed by phone of only 127 birds being verified as making it home in race time suffice to say that a number of other birds did make it home but were outside the cut off of 220ypm, the other downer for me personally was that no birds made it up into section E the furthest flying competitors.

In all my years of dealing with races from all distances young and old I would not want to experience a race like this one ever again it was heartbreaking for me and no doubt for every one else involved, one can only hope that the majority of the Lamballe entry will eventually make it home.

Roger Lowe of Reading. Berkshire leads the field to take 1^st section D, 1^st  Open timing in his blue pied hen named “Conimix Dream” at 18.18 flying 218 miles for a vel of 879 this young hen was having her third race all from over the channel where she has been very consistent taking 11^th section, 25^th open CSCFC Guernsey and the week prior to this one was 17^th sec, 108^th open NFC Fourgers.

The breeding of this young hen is pure Walt Zootjen being of the Conimix lines, hence her name, her sire is Conimix Prince which is owned by Peter Fox of the syndicate lofts who generously let Roger borrow him at the start of the season to mate to a direct hen Walt Zoontjen from Conimix King both grandsires being full brothers.

Roger has done very little club racing this year as Classic and National racing has been given priority. One hundred youngsters were bred with most being put on the darkness system and very little training is given once the season is under way.

Roger Lowe is a very successful fancier who has put up many outstanding performances in not only this season but for a number of years so this performance comes as no surprise having won many top honours with our club as well as elsewhere, a hard working fancier who certainly puts in the time and effort with his birds and is thus rewarded, Roger was 1^st & 2^nd sec, and 2^nd & 3^rd open in our baby race last year so has gone one better this time around to the delight of many who are close to him.

Roger would like to thank the many fanciers and friends who have rang to congratulate him on his fine win this is fully endorsed by  

The officials and members of the club who extend their heartiest congratulations to Roger and Conimix Dream on his wonderful performance in winning this Lamballe young bird National.

Ian Crammond and Nigel Langstaff of Fontwell. West Sussex comes next to take 1^st sec G, 2^nd Open timing in their blue Vandenabeele hen which is off direct M. & D. Evans bloodines at 17.21 flying 184 miles for a vel of 853.

This young hen is bred from a son of Shadow and Ebony and a daughter of Beneton and Devon all top birds in the M & D Evans lofts.

As a darkness youngster this one has been well trained and regularly raced having previously taken 49^th open LSECC Guernsey, she has also taken 5^th open in the Brighton 5-bird Guernsey gold ring race, so was well tuned for this one.

The Crammond and Langstaff partnership also timed in two other birds the next morning dropping together at 07.45 both of whom could not have been too far away on the night to take probable 3^rd & 4^th sec G, 6^th & 7^th open with vels of 528. Three timed and all well up in the result from their entry of five.

The first of these was again a blue hen of the M. & D. Evans Vandenabeele lines being a son of National Fideel and Belle when mated to a daughter of Benson and Royal Blue. This one had previously taken 3^rd south coast fed and 6^th Brighton 5-bird gold ring race from Guernsey.    

The third bird to be timed was a chequered hen which was bred from direct stock purchased in 2003 from Peter Van Osch the Dutch ace the dam being a direct daughter of Peter’s Asduif 43 the best pigeon in Holland in 1993, 94 and 95.

In for 2^nd sec G, 3^rd open are Tony and Carol Welch of Chichester. West Sussex who had their one a blue chequer in the clock at 17.42 flying 181 miles for a vel of 795.

This one has had every inland race this being it’s first time over the channel.

The breeding is down from a cock from Ian Crammond stock when mated to their old family lines of their very good Barcelona Hen.

They also had a second bird at 10.16 next day to record a vel of 417

John Gordon of Southampton. Hampshire is in for 1^st sec A, 4^th open having his light chequered hen in the clock at 18.53 flying 176 miles for a vel of 657.

The sire of this one is from Bob McDonald of Fraserburgh being 100% Ko Nipius. This cock has been  specially selected by Bob for John’s stock loft.

The dam is an inbred Sion from Van De Poel & Family of Belgium bought at their auction in Blackpool last year.

This was the fourth time across the channel for this one having previously flown two Guernsey and a Fourgeres.

All young birds here are reared the Gem economic high protein mix plus green peas they are then raced on a Gem mixy blob mix plus Beyers double U with extra maize added near race days.

Roger Goble of Havant. Hampshire is in to take 2^nd sec A, 5^th open with his chequered hen which was in the clock at 18.59 flying 178 miles for a vel of 655.

This one has been bred down from a long line of the old families of the Norman Southwell and Ronnie Mitcheison lines and a Van Bruanne of Albert Bennett was also introduced in 1986 and has blended in well.

Combine wins as well many other very good performances have been achieved.

The sire’s son was timed on the day from Bergerac as a yearling and has since been retired to stock.

The G/Sire flew Bergerac twice on the day plus won 11^th open CSCFC Rennes, 1^st sec NFC Nantes.

The dam a Van Bruanne has always been stock.

A second bird was timed by Roger the next day at 14.27  

Mr & Mrs George Gelder & Family of Elstead. Surrey are in for 5^th sec G, 8^th open clocking their chequered pied cock next morning at 09.47 for a vel of 487 flying 204 miles.

George being sec of the Solent Fed only decided at the last minute so to speak to have a go in this one for being a sec he does not have much time to race himself but with this one in mind he then set to to train the birds from Littlehampton every day the week before Lamballe and has been rewarded with this good position.

This young cock was one of six purchased from the Louella Stud of the Jan Aarden Int. lines.

Kidby & Daughter of Compton. Berkshire are there for 2^nd sec D, 9^th open  clocking in their light cheq hen at 10.39 for a vel of 485 flying 217 miles.

No information to hand on this one at the time of going to press.

Kelvin Legg & Marie Hardy of Portsmouth. Hampshire clocking their smokey blue cock a Jan Aarden bred down from stock purchased from Ronnie Chandler of Portsmouth at 08.21 next day get in to take probable 3^rd sec A, 10^th open for a vel of 476 flying 176 miles.

This is the fourth time of asking from over the channel for this one plus it has had a number of inland races as well so naturally was their top bird and well fancied.

Ist sec C.I is Paul Davies of St. Clement. Jersey who leads the islands with his chequered pied cock a Jan Aarden cross Janssen clocked at 14.34 flying 54 miles vel 449.

This one was sent sitting 10 day eggs and was well up to the task having had six St. Malo races with his local club.

The sire is a direct import and the dam was bred from direct imports which has previously won 1^st sec CI, 36^th open BBC Nantes in 2003 and ten firsts in the Jersey Flying Society, so this is a case of a section winner breeding a section winner.

1^st section C is Graham Clift of Tirley. Gloucestershire who had his Janssen/Van De ebeele blue hen in the clock at 13.26 next day for an approx vel of 443 flying 241 miles.

This one was bred from a pair of birds that Graham purchased from the entire clearance sale of Tony Carter of Basinstoke, the sire and dam have won three firsts and the G/dam was 2^nd Welsh National and has bred a Welsh National winner, the G/sire has won ten firsts and two 1^st in the fed.

This young cock has raced the entire Severn Valley race programme to date being very consistent.

Grahams youngsters are darkness babies bred during Jan/Feb and have performed well for him in his local club being in the przes every week.and have taken several fed cards to boot.

60 youngsters were bred and have been trained twice a week from around the 30 mil;e mark.

Feed here is by way of Bamfords corn and Gem products for rearing as the development of his birds is outstanding and Graham has never experienced wet droppings, the main families that are housed her are Van Breeman, Van Koppen and Mike Staddon.  

1^st Section B are Mark & Julie Gower of Fordingbridge. Hampshire are in there once again to win section B for the second year running having timed their blue hen at 10.11 second day for a vel of 404 flying 175 miles.

The blue hen is a M. & D. Evans Vandenabeele bred from two yearlings. The dam was 1^st sec from our Lamballe last year, again a section winner breeding a section winner, but sadly after rearing the two youngsters the dam had to be put down, the other youngster of the nest has gone on to take 1^st in the Salisbury and 1^st breeder buyer.

Raced on the darkness system it has had two 64 mile races and one from 81 miles with the Wiltshire fed on the west route.

All youngsters are trained twice weekly from any direction subject to Mark’s work and of course the weather.

See list of early verified times for all of the other gallant birds timed.

To A.E. James (Willsbridge Corn) Bristol for once again sponsoring all the corn that has been used in all of our National races this year and last but by no means least to you the members our thanks for showing to the club the support that you have during the season with your race entries, race specials, buying rings, pigeon draw tkts and basket sponsorships you have all done this special club and yourselves proud.

The next event on the agenda to look forward to is the Friday Fun Night and our Gala Presentation Dinner at Bournemouth on November 18^th/19^th .

JIM HOOPER