The British Barcelona Club’s last National race of the season was thankfully held from Lamballe much to the delight of all concerned as earlier it did look as though DEFRA were not going to climb down and let us go over the channel.

A very good entry of just over 2000 birds was very pleasing to see, especially as other big races were being held on the same weekend and as we all know there are only so many birds to go around, and more so with the seven day quarantine restriction being in force, as this certainly curtails members from sending birds that were in an overseas race the previous week.

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 expences that may have been incurred, you too have been marvellous, and last but by no means the least our convoyer Pete Willcox, our driver and our weather guru Steve Appleby for providing the club with excellent service and giving us some really good racing throughout the season.

Also to you the members who have competed in our nationals this year many thanks for the grand support that you have shown to me and Hazel. I also thank you all 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, so there you have it, 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.  With a delayed liberation due to some mist patches taking longer to clear than hoped the strings were eventually cut at 09.15 the birds clearing the site well and heading homewards into a light north east wind.

Although returns were not that spectacular, some members failing to time an arrival, possibly due to the cold north east winds that were prevailing, we did as always, have some very good performances achieved over 300 mile on the day.

Steve Appleby’s weather report accompanies this report so it shows the conditions the birds had to endure.

Four section winners in the probable first seven of the result with a fifth section winner coming in the probable first twenty, proved that all competitors were in with a chance of timing in a good bird.

 

Brian and Keith Haggett of Highbridge. Somerset lead the field to take probable 1^st section C, 1^st  Open timing in their blue cock named “Christine’s Choice” at 14.08.54 flying 191miles to make an amended velocity of 1147.

Keith, Brian’s dad has been in pigeons for most of his life born into it in fact and was only away from the birds when doing his National Service. Flying as a boy in the Huntspill & District Pigeon Club back in 1948.  Brian came into the sport flying in his own right in 1975 as a young lad and did quite well from the start, winning a 2^nd open with the then South of England North Road Flying Club and as soon as Brian became interested in the opposite sex a father and son partnership was formed to make life easier.  This partnership became successful from the start doing better than average in their club and also topping the West of England Combine on more than six occasions sometimes with over 8,000 birds competing, although to do this they admit there had to be some east in the wind as their small back garden loft approx 30 feet long with four sections is a westerly positioned loft.

The majority of the youngsters were hatched about the 24^th February as was the bird timed and put on the darkness system when weaned until the 1^st June they were then flown to the perch.

Birds were purchased from Bert Hession & Son of Blackpool in 1990 and were kept pure until recently when it was decided to make a cross. The sire is out of a blue cock of the Pouw Brothers lines from a bird called Golden Balls a gold mine breeder for B. McNicholas and a blue hen of the Bert Hession lines of Jonge Staff, Vosse Wittekop and Tienneke. The dam being bred down from the Bert Hession birds.

All young birds here have had good training up to the 30 mile mark until the third race then no training is given relying on excersize sessions twice a day at 07.30am and again at 15.30pm when they fly for about 30 to 45 minutes each time and as soon as the birds land they are fed back into the loft not being allowed to hang about outside.  Birds are fed on a mixture of Willsbridge young bird high protein and a young bird economy mix which is purchased from Mike Merrit of Bridgwater, the birds are also treated for canker every four weeks and an iron tonic is given to the birds every Wednesday.  This probable winner now named “Christine’s Choice”

after Brian’s mum who wanted to pool it, she must have a very good eye and we all know mum knows best.    

The officials and members of the club extend their heartiest congratulations to both Brian and Keith, not forgetting Christine’s Choice on their wonderful performance in winning this Lamballe Young Bird National.

 

Lynne and Jim Peters of Weymouth. Dorset are in to take probable 1^st sec B,

2^nd Open timing in their Jos Soontjens blue hen at 12.59.56 flying 146 miles for an amended vel of 1146.

This young hen was sent sitting on four eggs and previously to this race she has been raced on the north route up to Stratford then turned for this Lamballe National.

Being out of Lynne and Jim’s very good Soontjens pair Tranquility Blue and Tranquility Success, 4^th open Vains Classic and 1^st open Messac Classic.  

 

Mel and Sue King of Blandford Forum. Dorset come in for probable 2nd sec B, 3^rd open having their “Stourcrest Apollo” a blue cock in the clock at 13.36.58 flying 164 miles for an amended vel of 1102.

This one is bred from a G/Son of one of their original M.&D. Evans Gaby Vandenabeele birds “Stourcrest Agamemnon” sire to many winners including 3^rd open BBC Bordeaux National and G/Sire to two 1^st open winners with the CSCFC. Dam of Apollo is a full sister to “Stourcrest Eros” 1^st open NFC Nantes.

All young birds here are raced on Versa Laga young bird mix with Gem G10 pellets added also electrolytes is given via the water for returning race birds and multi vitamins are given in the middle of each week, otherwise it is only clean water before them with grits and pickblocks supplied for their needs.

All first round young birds go on the darkness system from weaning to the 1^st week in June the second round youngsters from the stock birds go into a separate section and left natural.  Both teams of youngsters are only excersized once a day until the old bird racing is finished and then it is twice a day plus the nessesary training as and when required. Mel and Sue, you will be running out of the Stourcrest names if you carry on at the rate you are going with your successes.         

 

Kevin and Chris White of Weymouth. Dorset are in for probable 3rd sec B, 4^th open having their blue cheq hen in the clock at 13.12.46 flying 148 miles for an amended vel of 1100.4

This hen has been trained from all directions leading up to The CSCFC Guernsey Classic race two weeks ago, where she was the second bird to the loft.

The sire of this one is Flor Engels that they purchased direct from Geoff Kirkland. This pigeon is bred from a BICC National winner and was bred down from a bird called The Gambler which has sired nine different federation winners.  The dam of the one timed is a Leo Van Rijn being a sister to Steve Williams of Weymouth BBC 2004 Nantes National winner which was purchased at The CSCFC late bred sale.

5 out of the seven sent were timed on the day.

  

Rod Berry and Eric Matthews of New Milton. Hampshire are in to take probable 1^st sec A, 5^th open with their blue hen which was in the clock at 13.36.09 flying 163 miles for an amended vel of 1100.2

September last year Eric with his daughter Angie Berry and her husband Rod decided to move down from London to New Milton uniting themselves with many friends who had previously made the exodus to the south coast from London.

Bringing only a small team with them, their young bird successes in this their first year, can only be described as phenomenal.

The youngster timed has already taken 6^th open CSCFC Guernsey, the sire is 12y/o Merlin 1^st club Tours only bird on the day, 1^st club Nantes and 3^rd Combine Bergerac when there were only 9 birds on the day.     

The dam is a Janssen laying machine from the Gem Lines of Wall, Lunt & Green and with Merlin has proved to be a good pairing having previously bred a 1^st fed, 5^th combine Falaise.  Rod is cheekily referred to as Eric’s loft manager by the London Boys.

Martin and Claire Norman of Mannor Lofts Southampton had their first in the clock at 14.02 flying 176 miles for an approx vel of 1084 to probably take 2^nd sec A.

Tony Cowan of Southampton may come in for 3^rd sec A having his first in at 14.01 flying 173 miles approx vel 1070

 

Eric Higginbottom of Sandhurst. Berkshire is in for probable 1^st sec G, 7^th open clocking his “Young Bliksem” a Vandenabeele blue cock at 14.57.09 for an approx vel of 1096 flying 212 miles.

This one is a G/Son of Vandenabeele No1 Stock cock Bliksem when mated to Sernande on the sires side, dam was a daughter of Witden Turbo, when mated to a daughter of Bliksem.  He was one of several pigeons sent to Eric from Bill Hague of Doncaster to be raced in National clubs. 

The one timed was having only it’s second race having previously gone to Guernsey with CSCFC. Eric passes on his grateful thanks to Bill Hague for the pigeons that he let him have and to Tony Cribbs of Portsmouth for helping with the training of the birds. The young lad in the photograph is a neighbours son and is Eric’s big buddy Benjamin.

Mike Armitage of Ash. Surrey could be in for probable 2^nd sec G clocking at 15.15 flying 208 miles approx vel 1019 with

David Farr of Bognor Regis West Sussex having his one at 14.28 flying 180 miles approx vel 1014 to probably take 3^rd sec G.

  

Mr. & Mrs Carrick & Son of Chesham. Buckinghamshire are in to take probably 1^st sec D, 15^th open clocking in their blue w/f hen named “Lady Olga” at 15.45 for an approx vel of 1081 flying 239 miles.

This bird named after Mick’s mother who passed away in March this year is a pure J. Jongedijk and has already taken 1^st club, 4^th fed flying in the Boxmoor club.

A quick second bird a blue Sootjen hen was timed in at 15.46 for an approx vel of 1078 and should take probable 2^nd sec D, this one is bred from the Dave Allport of Darlington lines.  Both birds timed were sent sitting overdue (24 days) and have been fed on Olympiad corn with Elite Enzymix given on a Thursday.  Mick who has had a very good season in club and Classic racing trains from all different points, making them use their heads right from the start.

Gary Inkley of Hillingdon. Middlesex has his first in the clock at 15.35 flying 231 miles and could end up taking 3^rd sec D approx vel 1072.    

 

Davenport & Roberts of Chirk. Nr. Wrexham timed in two nice ones at 18.20 and 18.22 for approx vels of 1000 and 996 flying 309 miles to probably take 1^st and 2^nd sec E.

Darren and Chris’s first bird was bred by Cameron Stansfield, the sire being from the best of John Wills BICC International winning lines and the dam was bred by George Jones of Sweeney Mountain being out of a pair from Brian Denney.

This young cock was sent with his hen due to lay her second egg.  In the early part of the season the cocks and hens were flown out separately all week and allowed together on Fridays being put together a fortnight before this race they were then trained 40/60 miles three days a week, these birds were fed Versele Laga Gerry Plus and Energy Plus, Ray Ingram’s herbal tonic is also given via water, which they say has brought their birds into super form and that is shown by having already taken 1^st and 2^nd Chester Two Bird.       

The second bird timed in from Lamballe was also a cock and was treated the same as their first sent sitting five days.  The sire of this one was bred by The Padfield Family being a G/Son of Albert, the dam is a Hybreght, a daughter of the £1,000 pair. This pair has also bred their 2^nd sec, 14^th open NFC Fourgeres in 2005.

Two more were also timed on the night wthe last of which was timed in at 20.01 right on the point of darkness.

Graham Baker of Shifnal. Shropshire had his first of five on the day in at 17.48 flying 285 miles approx vel 978 to probably take 3^rd sec E. All birds timed here are closely related to Graham’s champion Meritman a certificate of Merit winner in the NFC.    

 

Mr. & Mrs A. & D. Hodge of Cullompton. Devon timing in at 13.46 flying 169 mile with an approx vel of 1098 are in for probable 2^nd sec C.

Terry Williams of Pilton. Somerset had his one in at 14.14 flying 186 mile approx vel 1095 should take probable 3^rd sec C.    

At the time of going to press I am sorry to say no birds have been timed into sec F

 

The next event on the agenda to look forward to is our Gala Presentation Dinner at The Wessex Hotel in Bournemouth on November 17^th.

We do have a few tickets for sale for our Presentation dinner apart from the ones that have been held back for the Lamballe Young Bird National, these tickets will be sold strictly on a first come first served basis. Also if any member out there is still holding club trophies they are reminded to return them to the Sec’s as soon as possible.

JIM HOOPER