San Sebastian - Verified Early Times Report

The San Sebastian National race marking on the Tuesday evening of the very good entry of 1100 birds went really well with a jovial atmosphere amongst those members competing and our dedicated team of volunteer race markers soon got to grips with their task and all birds were race marked well inside the allowed time in this our first ever evening race marking.

Our transporter boarded the ferry at Plymouth around the lunch time on Wednesday for the 18 hour crossing to Santander leaving only a short road journey to San Sebastian arriving before lunch on the Thursday, but I am afraid to say that is where every thing went against us.

Our chief convoyer Pete Willcox stated it was very overcast with misty drizzle with not a glimpse of the sun but keeping in constant touch with our weather guru Steve Appleby, see his report and satellite picture, Pete and his assistant Chris King had to endure not being able to liberate until Sunday 13^th finally cutting the strings at 05.55 hours with all the birds heading straight in a North westerly direction, this did give our convoyers concern as they kept a watchful eye to see if they would turn and come back over them but this they never did.      

Although north was in the wind, it was hoped as it always is, that birds would make the mainland on the day, but alas this was not to be, the first arrivals being timed on the Monday showing that the gallant birds that were timed had a very hard slog against the wind nigh on all the way to their home lofts.

Positions are only probable and velocities shown below are only approximate and may alter with clock variations etc.

New members to the club having only their second race with us Rod and Marilyn Verney of Aylesbury. Buckinghamshire timed in their only entry a 4y/o dark cheq cock now named “ Dark Lad” which was sent sitting 10 day eggs at 09.02 flying 587 miles recording a vel of 857 to take 1^st sec D,  1^st Open.

Dark Lad was the furthest flying bird on the winning day

The breeding of this cock goes back to Dr Iley of the up north combine lines as birds from him were gifted to Rod’s cousin Colin Hale formerly of the Rickmansworth & Gt. Missenden clubs.

Rod took an interest in pigeons when he was 12 going to watch his cousin’s Derek Smith’s birds return from the races,  he then started to race his own birds at the early age of 14 competing in the Wendover Invitation club but had to finish with the birds some six years later due to his work taking him away to Brighton and it was not until the year 2000 that he got the bug again, erecting a small back garden loft and joining the Great Missenden club.

Helped a great deal by another cousin Colin Hale, for which Rod and Marilyn are very grateful, they only keep a small team. The cock timed was sent to Fourgeres prior to this one and had flown Nantes and Pau Nationals in 2002 and Saintes combine, Saintes and Pau nationals last year.

Feed here is Rod’s own blend of mixture with peanuts given as a treat mostly on the birds return from training and racing.

On behalf of the Officials and membership of The British Barcelona Club we extend our Congratulations to Rod and Marilyn on their marvelous win.

Dudley Lever of Alton. Hampshire comes next taking 1^st sec A,  2^nd Open with his 4y/o cheq hen now named “Fortunately” timed at 08.36 flying 539 miles vel 804.

Dudley also started in pigeons at an early age, 12 to be exact, and kept faith with them even when other types of birds came calling, now that is dedication as most of us who started early in life amongst the doos took time out when birds of the opposite sex came a calling.

Dudley specialising in the long distance type races could not manage without the help of his wife Sue and daughters Emma and Marie, although Marie has more of an interest that Emma.

Marie is also the one who names the birds especially the pretty ones so it is fortunate that the bird timed was a boring type and had not been named, until now that is, as it would have been a bit embarrassing to have been named brie cheese or smokey bacon.

Fortunately flew Pau as a 2y/o Dax as a 3y/o without setting the thames alight, this year however she has come to the fore taking 111^th open Falaise and 40^th sec, 435^th open B.B.C Nantes.

Sent to this one sitting 10 day eggs having dropped her first flight being full of distance winning lines as she was bred from a half brother to Roger Chant’s 1^st open Pau and the dam is full of the Ian Benstead bloodlines being a full sister to a 2^nd open San Sebastian and 18^th open Dax bird.

Dudley also timed in another two on the winning day at 13.29 and 14.26

In for 2^nd & 4^th sec A, 3^rd & 7^th Open is Tony Leggatt of Havant. Hampshire who timed his first of three on the day a 2 y/o blue cheq hen named “Bouquet” at 09.10 flying 522 miles vel 757.

Bouquet is bred down from Tony’s black cock 9^th open Palamos of the Southwell based family when mated to a gift bird from Jack & Joyce Randall from their marvelous and now very famous “Lady Jane” six times in the result from Palamos/Barcelona Nationals.

Bouquet has been a very cosistant bird for Tony having won 15^th London & South East Combine Falaise as a Y/B, 23^rd sec, 58^th open Bordeaux as a yearling,  and now 2^nd sec, 3^rd open San Sebastian.

Tony’s second bird a 4y/o blue pied hen named “Wisteria” was timed at 09.51 recording a vel of 732.3

This one is bred down from Tony’s blue cock also of the Southwell based family four times Palamos and a cheq hen that has been 18^th & 19^th open Palamos.

Witeria has also been a very consistant bird having taken 146^th open B.B.C Lamblle as a y/b,  102^nd open N.F.C Sennen Cove and 87^th open B.B.C. Sennen 2001;  102^nd open N.F.C Nantes, 63^rd open B.B.C Bordeaux and 165^th open N.F.C Pau 2002 and last year she was 18^th open B.B.C Nantes, 227^th open N.F.C Saintes and 184^th open N.F.C Saintes/Pau.

Tony’s third arrival was timed at 18.20 vel 521.

George Wood of Ventnor Isle of Wight is in to take 3^rd sec A, 4^th Open with his 2 y/o blue cock in at 08.55 flying 503 miles vel 739.

This one was bred for George by Phil Hayball of West Parley and has previously taken 74^th sec, 233^rd open B.B.C Bordeaux 2003.

Bred down from A.H. Bennett’s Longmead Hermes 1^st open Pau and Champion Andre a van braune.  Doesn’t like to say much our George as one can tell from the info given.

Andy Parsons of Broken Cross Ford. Wiltshire claims the 1^st sec B, 5^th Open positions with his 2 y/o dark hen of the Cannon/Spencer lines timed at 10.23 vel 733 flying 536 miles.

This hen is closely related to some of Andy’s top Dax and Pau birds that have been so successful for him at these racepoints.

Being un-raced until this year this dark hen has been trained very hard and has already flown Picauville and Messac on the celebate system.

Andy timed in his second arrival at 12.20 vel 672 to take 3^rd sec B, 29^th Open and his third bird was timed at 14.38 vel 612.  Andy is another one who is not forthcoming with the words.

Geoff Snelling of Aldershot. Hampshire is there to take 1^st sec G, 6^th Open 

clocking his 2 y/o blue cheq pied hen at 10.23 vel 732.4 flying 549 miles.

As a yearling this hen was 107^th open LSECC Tours and this year should be in the result from the LSECC La Ferte Bernard race and has taken 9^th sec, 478^th open B.B.C Nantes.

The sire of this one is inbred from George Burgess from a son of 3^rd open NFC Pau when mated to a daughter of 1^st open NFC Pau.

The Dam has scored from Pau and Alecon and is from a blue cock bred from Jacques Catteen’s famous hen Jacqueline 2 1sts and a 3^rd national hens when mated to a blue cheq hen bred by Peter Titmuss from his Bernadette 1^st International hens from Lourdes.

Stuart Jack of Tisbury. Wiltshire comes next to take 2^nd sec B, 8^th Open with his 2 y/o grizzle cock in at 10.33 vel 725 flying 534 miles           

Stuart’s bird is bred down from stock obtained from E. Cannon and Bill Woods of Shaftesbury being down from Bill’s old grizzle cock a bird that has been most successful for him. Worth a pint that plug Bill, I can wait?

Stuart trains his birds regularly from about the 30 mile stage and has taken his birds with him for a toss when visiting the one and only Jed Jackson down in Worthing.

The grizzle cock timed has been to Picauville and Messac prior to this one so was up for it. Feed here is by way of Versele Laga mixed with a w/h corn with extra maize added.

The father and son partnership of Terry & Lee Austin of Portsmouth. Hampshire have their bird a yearling dark cock in the clock at 10.02 vel 719 flying 518 miles to take 5^th sec A, 9^th Open.     

Their cock was bred from a pair of birds that was purchased from Stan (Jim)  Biss and has had six races, his last prior to this one was from La Ferte Bernard and rested to be made ready, being sent sitting 7 day eggs.

Terry and Lee have expressed their thanks to all concerned at the B.B.C and to everyone who have congratulated them on their good bird and success.

Tony Baker of West Huntspill. Somerset is in for 1^st sec C, 10^th Open having his 3 y/o cheq hen in at 11.26 vel 711 flying 546 miles.

This good one for Tony was bred from a pair of birds from John McClaren of Fareham.

As a y/b this hen was 3^rd Plymouth, 1^st Plymouth, 10^th West of England Combine.

As a yearling she went through to Saintes 400 miles. She was un-raced in 2003 due to Tony moving house and this year she has had two races from Fareham and Littlehampton then prepared for this one having a few short spins and then entered sent sitting 15 day eggs.

In for 4^th Sec B are the partnership of Cottrell, Richmond & Son of Wimborne. Dorset who timed in at 13.11 vel 625 flying 517 miles this one could finish up with 48^th open

This partnership timed in a second arrival at 15.05 vel 579.

2^nd sec C, 12^th open we have Robin Avis of Bath. Somerset who had his one a 3 y/o cheq cock in at 12.04 vel 707 flying 558 miles  

3^rd sec C, 22^nd open are the M/M. Horner partnership of Chipping Sodbury. Bristol who clocked their 2 y/o blue w/f hen at 13.06 vel 688 flying 567 miles

4^th sec C, 43^rd open is Wilf Reed of Monmouth. Monmouthshire having his a 3 y/o blue hen in at 15.58 vel 635 flying 586 miles.

2^nd sec D, 35^th Open is Dave Hawthorne of Tadley. Hampshire who timed in his blue cheq cock a top of the sheet bird at 13.26 vel 663 flying 554 miles. Dave asked me to pass on his thanks to the convoyers for the marvelous condition in which his bird has returned from such a hard race and the time spent in the basket proving to him that they had been well looked after.

3^rd sec D, 61^st open are M/M. Webber & Son of Abingdon. Oxfordshire who had their single entry a 5 y/o mosaic cock in at 16.50 vel 606 flying 576 miles.

4^th sec D, 79^th open is Joe Flurry of Reading. Berkshire clocking in his 3 y/o cheq cock at 18.31 vel 559 flying 564 miles

At the time of going to press we have Keith Bush of Cossall. Nottinghamshire in for probable 1^st sec E having timed in his 2 y/o red hen at 07.27 Tuesday vel 551 flying 668 miles which is at the time of writing this report the furthest flying bird in race time and the only bird recorded into sec E so far.

2^nd & 4^th sec G, 11^th & 18^th open we have Doug Gatland of Reigate. Surrey who was clocking at 11.42 & 12.12 for vels of 710 and 695 flying 552 miles.

Doug’s first was a 3 y/o blue cheq cock.

In for 3^rd sec G, 13^th open is Alan Mark of Sanderstead. Surrey clocking one a 3 y/o blue cheq hen his top of the sheet at 12.19 vel 702 flying 560 miles 

1^st & 4^th sec CI we have Richard Mauger of St. Sampsons. Guernsey who timed in at 08.58 and 11.02 for vels of 623 and 565 flying 426 miles.

The first was a 3 y/o cheq hen bred down from Richards best Delbar cock when mated to a gift bird from Pete Willcox via Geoff Cooper lines.

It was prepared by having a few St. Malo trainers and then B.B.C Nantes prior to going being flown on the R/About system.

2^nd sec CI we have Paul Mauger of St. Sampsons. Guernsey in at 10.26 vel 581 flying 426 miles.

3^rd sec CI is A. & R. Phillips of Castel. Guernsey who had their one in at 10.38 vel 574 flying 425 miles.

Nigel Rigiani of Porton. Wiltshire is in at 11.28 and 11.38 vels 701 and 696.7 to probably take 6^th & 8^th sec A, 14^th & 16^th open flying 539 miles

Biss & Waite of Whitchurch. Hampshire are in at 11.56 vel 699 flying 549 miles may take 7^th sec A, 15^th open

Rowland Gillett of Southampton. Hampshire comes next for probable 9^th sec A, 17^th open clocking at 11.04 vel 696.1 flying 525 miles  

Les Kidd of New Milton. Hampshire has his first of three in the clock at 10.39 vel 694 flying 514 miles to probably take 10^th sec A, 19^th open

Les also timed at 10.48 and 11.06 vels 689 and 680

Calum Edmiston of Horley. Surrey who comes in for probable 5^th sec G, 20^th open clocking his top of the sheet at 12.10 vel 691 flying 548 miles 

Calum also timed in other birds at 12.32, 14.00 and 14.36 for vels of 680, 641 and 626.   

Next race is our big one The Blue Riband Palamos National come and give it a go and we shall then see you all at the race marking on the 28^th June.

Keep smiling as I am sure you will if you time in a bird/s from Palamos