|
| |
SENNEN COVE YOUNG BIRD NATIONAL
The British Barcelona Club’s last National race of the season was, due to the
defra restrictions, held from Sennen Cove down there on the leg in Cornwall, saw
a very good entry of 1800 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, our driver Mike 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, both weather wise and the forced upon us defra
regulations and restrictions.
Also to you the members who have competed in our nationals this year thanks for
the grand support that you have shown to the club also 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 and more so this year with the avian
flu virus giving us all a load of problems regards our racing programme, albeit
we did have some racing and although the race birdage totals were down on past
years we did manage to give out the guaranteed prize money as promised in our
hand book, 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 it self and what a good weekend it turned out to be weather
wise. The weather was crazy a week prior to the race to put it mildly what with
down heavy downpours and very strong westerly winds everywhere and headaches
were starting to appear but on the day of the race marking it was like a summers
day and come the Saturday it was clear blue skies being reported mostly all over
especially down in the southern parts of the country and apart from the east to
south east winds being forecasted we all knew that there would be no problems
regarding a liberation.
Chief convoyer Pete Willcox rang to say it was really beautiful at the lib site
and the birds had been liberated at 08.15 hours but there was a fresh easterly
wind also saying that the birds would pick up on a light south east wind on
route, so from that point it was on the cards that a steady race would be the
outcome rather that a fast one for as we all know birds do not particularly like
flying when the winds are easterly and do not forget these are babies and some
are showing the signs of the moult and not in peak condition feather wise but
having said that there were many good performances achieved.
Steve Appleby’s weather report accompanies this report so it shows just exactly
what we the birds had to endure.
Nick Goss of Devises. Wiltshire leads the field to take probable 1st section C,
1st Open timing in his black hen named “Black Widow” his top of the sheet pooled
all the way including all noms at 12.53 flying 182 miles for an approx vel of
1152. this young hen is bred from an Ebony Arden crossed with an hen from Chris
Howse from his Bergerac Classic winner Wind Up, she is called Black Widow as her
cock was killed in the field behind the loft just the day before basketing she
also laid her first egg that evening.
Previously she had a 1st two weeks earlier from Truro and Nick had great
confidence in that she would be really trying and when she homed it was clear
that there was only one thing on her mind as she went straight into the loft and
onto her egg, Nick says it is a great shame that she will not be able to hatch
it herself, but he will make sure the culprit is accounted for.
Nick timed in a second bird at 13.02 for an approx vel of 1116 to probable take
4th section C, 4th open and one is a Warren Foster x a Chris Gordon bird that
was purchased at one of our Annual BBC young bird sales. Now havnt I told you
all so often many a good bird is purchased at our annual sale.
The birds here are fed on Versa laga sport extra with Osmonds products.
Nick’s Grandfather used their products for cattle and they are still using them
eighty years on. Nick uses very little medication, good breeding breeds
vitality, canker is the one exception.
Nick also says that he feels wood shavings are by far the best material to use
in the race panniers as this ensures both comfort and warmth. He also goes on to
say that the condition of the birds returning the BBC races is noticeably
improved and as a farmer and stockman he sees this method as far more welfare
friendly, more so than metal crates.
The officials and members of the club extend their heartiest congratulations to
Nick and Black Widow on their wonderful performance in winning this Sennen Cove
young bird National.
Geoff Bracey of Bristol. South Gloucestershire comes next to take probable 2nd
sec C, 2nd Open timing in his cheq hen at 12.34 flying 167 miles for an approx
vel of 1141.
Geoff also timed in a number of other birds the best of them being in at 12.56,
12.57, 1301 and 13.04 for approx vels of 1051, 1048, 1033 and 1022 and these may
finish well up in the finalised open result. Sixteen birds were in by 14.00
hours.
All birds timed are from the Spangle, Fear Brothers and Reg Venner lines that
have been blended together over the years to form a super distance family that
have proved so successful for Geoff and his dad Eddie up to and including many
good performances from our blue riband Palamos National.
Due to continued bad health Eddie has stepped aside and Geoff is now fully in
control of the birds except that Geoff would like to thank dad Eddie for feeding
the birds when he is not able to, due to work commitments.
Geoff had an house move earlier in the season so no old bird racing was done but
he has now made up for that, as the youngsters have performed really well for
him for apart from the above performances they have already taken 3rd Yelverton,
3rd Exeter, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Kingsdown, 1st, 4th and and 5th Kingsdown, 1st
Exeter and 8th Newton Abbott plus 12th Bristol federation Yelverton and 3rd, 6th
and 15th Fed Exeter.
The second bird timed so I am informed wasted sixteen minutes before going in as
a hawk attack on the trap had done its damage.
Youngsters here are all flown to the perch and are hopper fed on Wheat, Barley
and Beans.
In for probable 3rd sec C, 3rd open is Chris Harding of Bristol. South
Gloustershire who had his one a dark chequer cock a Clive Lister Vandenabeele
crossed with a Tony Mardon Rene Neuwlaart which was sent sitting 12 day old
youngsters in the clock at 12.49 flying 174 miles for an approx vel of 1121.
This youngster was sent to Truro the week prior to this one with the Bristol Fed
taking 2nd fed and 1st club and has also won other cards.
Chris has also taken 1st and 2nd in the Mangotsfield Invitation club for the
last three weeks, taking fed positions as well.
Birds here are reared on the darkness system and this no doubt helped in this
race due to their fine feather condition which is always helpful especially in
an east wind. Birds are trained every day from about the 15 mile mark by Chris
Ellam.
Chris sends his thanks to Chris Ellam and to Fred Ball his loft helper for their
help this season.
Chris is a firm believer in natural immunity and only uses vitamins on return
from a race as the birds have just clean and fresh water at all other times.
Ron Davis of Bristol. Avon is in for probable 5th sec C, 5th open having his
cheq hen in the clock at 12.36 flying 164 miles for an amended vel of 1112.
Ron also timed in other birds at 12.48, 12.59 and 13.00 for vels of 1063, 1019
and 1016.
The first one timed is a Janssen x Van Den Bosch the sire of which has won over
£1,000.
The second in the clock has already taken 7th in the Hartcliffe open from
Yelverton and was bred from stock of R.E.Taylor & Sons by Les Nicholls.
The third bird timed by Ron is a Belg bred by Luc Van Hoecke and this one has
already taken a 1st club 7th Bristol fed.
Stuart Sheffield of Old Windsor. Berkshire is in to take probable 1st sec D,
6th open with his dark chequered hen which was in the clock at 14.43 flying 240
miles for an approx vel of 1090.
This youngster is a half De Wert x Elsaker from club mate and friend Mark
Gilbert and with this good performance of flying into the easterly wind it lends
to being something just that bit special.
Stuart sent 10 and had 7 of them on the day. Stuart is also probable 1st, 3rd
and 4th in the L. & S.E.C. classic race from Yelverton so he has definitely had
a very good weekend and states that when he does put in the necessary effort
with his birds it often pays off with a reasonable result.
Stuart is a member of the strong Windsor RPC which boasts a host of many
National, Classic and combine winners so to be highest prize winner in that club
like he has, then that is no mean feat.
Chris Howse of Devises. Wiltshire is in for probable 6th sec C, 7th open
clocking his dark cheq hen at 13.11 for an approx vel of 1082 flying 182 miles.
This hen is a Busschaert x Janssen and was sent sitting a five day old youngster
her sire is one of Chris’s best w/hood cocks and the dam who was only raced as a
young bird but did fly the channel six times.
About 100 young birds are bred and are raced right through to the end of the
season being regularly trained by Chris’s good friend Chris Lester with D.
Parsons who Chris sends thanks for coming and vaccinating all of his stock.
Chris sends his congratulations to Nick on his fine National win.
Derek Reid of Weybridge. Surrey is there once again to take probably 1st sec G,
8th open clocking in his blue hen named Lola at 14.57 for an approx vel of 1078
flying 246 miles. Derek has previously won his section from our Ingleton and
Bordeaux Nationals this year making a super treble.
This one was having her sixth race on the bounce although not showing any real
potential she most certainly was very fit. This race proved to be a hard on for
Derek as he had only 5 birds on the day from the 16 entered.
Because Derek’s main interest as we all should know by now is long distance
racing he does not bother with the darkness system and Lola had just three
flights to go. The sire of this hen is Derek’s best inland cock who has won
seven firsts winning over £400 in pool money in the local club, being from his
old Smit Van Winkle family obtained from Brian Clayburn of South Yorkshire and
is a cousin to Derek’s St Nazaire national winner.
The dam is a Braspenning Janssen from Louella Stud, The Braspennings have been a
brilliant cross to his Janssen family with over 20 individual 1st prizewinners
including 1st sec, 4th open BBC Rennes national which was Derek’s very first
race with our grand club.
Derek sends his grateful thanks to the Hayes Pigeon Club for setting his clock
and for putting up with his late arrival whenever he is competing in a national
plus he says the guiness is very cheap as well.
Les Nicholls of Bristol. Avon clocking in his blue hen a Staf Van Reet at 12.46
for an amended vel of 1069.18 to probably take 7th sec C, 9th open flying 164
miles.
This good performance by Les will no doubt perk him up a bit has he has not been
doing so well of late and that is just not like Les as he usually flies a very
good bird.
Dave Fox of Stroud. Gloucestershire timed in his blue chequered hen a Camphuis
Janssen from Ray Ashley of Telford crossed with a hen bred from a pair of birds
loaned to Dave by Steve Bennett of Bristol at 13.28 flying 189 miles approx vel
1063.
This hen timed which was sent flying to the perch is bred from a sister of Foxy
Lady Dave’s Ingleton and her preparation for this one was being well trained
from Salisbury Plain and Shaftesbury about 50 miles and has already flown from
Wincanton, Kingsdown and Exeter with the Severn Valley fed. The Young birds here
are fed Junior UK and beans.
This hen timed was put in the Severn Valley breeder/buyer sale and as Dave could
not be at the sale he arranged for our very own Karen James of Garden Cottage to
buy it back for him, now there’s forsight for you.
Probable 9th sec C, 11th open is Anna Crowley and Richard Green of Compton
Bassett. Wiltshire who had their Robert Venus Supercrack blue cock in the clock
at 13.29 for an approx vel of 1062 flying 189 miles, sent sitting 14 days to do
the trick.
This one was bred by the up and coming Chris Lester of Marlborough and purchased
at the Wiltshire Continental Breeder/Buyer sale.
Richard and Anna are very sorry to learn that Arthur and Gillian Ind of Swindon
will be leaving our grand sport because of pigeon fanciers lung, this news is
also a shock to me and sad to hear.
The Trussler Brothers of West Molesey. Surrey come next to take probable 2nd
Section D, 12th open having their one a blue cheq pied cock in at 15.12 for an
approx vel of 1059 flying 251 miles.
This cock was bred early and put on the darkness system and as been well trained
down to the coast as they do with all of their birds. This cock was given two
short races and then held back for this Sennen Cove national as it was a B rung
bird and therefore in the club’s Gold Ring Scheme.
The sire of this one was bred for stock from a M/M. Romani hen, the dam was bred
from a pair of birds that were bred by Dick Vandenburge and purchased at
Blackpool so a good mating has been proved.
Feeding here is quite simply put as good clean corn and with the past successes
that have come the way of this partnership one can not argue with that.
Roger J Lowe of Reading. Berkshire having his one in the clock at 14.48 approx
vel 1026 flying 229 miles this could see him take 3rd section D.
R.E. Taylor & Sons, John and Nigel of Bristol. Avon are in with their first of
many a blue hen at 12.49.09 for an amended vel of 1056.3 Flying 164 miles to
take probable 11th sec C, 13th open.
This partnership also timed in the following early birds at 12.49.15, 12.49.19,
12.49.24, 12.49.29, 12.50, 12.58, 13.03 and 13.09 for vels of 1055.9, 1055.6,
1055.34, 1055.32, 1051.07, 1021.5, 1003.3 now that is some clocking by any ones
standards and now that we know these times it does make a mockery of our early
time result as all of them will finish well up in the finalised open result.
The first six all dropped together and strangely says John they all came from
the north. 30 birds were sent all being on the darkness system but were only put
on it in May/June all of them being bred from birds that were mated in mid
January and are a mixture of youngsters from the stock birds and their racing
team.
These youngsters were being trained from Portland Bill in readiness for the
channel, but as you now all know this did not materialise, so the birds were
switched and trained from the south west twice a week from about 30 miles and
have been racing in the Hartcliffe SRC, of which John is their secretary, as
preparation for this one and hasn’t it paid dividends for this partnership .
Birds here are fed a mixture chicken wheat, Barley and maple peas.
Hofton & Son, Ivan of Gloucester. Gloucestershire had their one a cheq hen
flying to the perch at 13.44 for an approx vel of 1046 flying 195 miles.
To probably take 19th sec C, a second bird was timed at 13.46
This one has already taken 3rd club from Portland and has flown Chale twice and
is bred from birds obtained from Stan Dangerfield being a G/Dtr of Stan’s San
Sebastian winner. Ivan timed in four from his six entries with one coming late
in the night on the day and the last of them was home early next day.
Fred Reed & Sons of Basingstoke. Hampshire are in to take probable 1st sec A
timing in their one a blue hen at 14.23 for an approx vel of 1042 flying 217
miles.
No information to hand on this one at the time of going to press, which is a
shame.
Legg & Hardy of Portsmouth. Hampshire are in for probable 2nd sec A timing in
their dark cheq cock at 14.16 for an approx vel of 1023 flying 209 miles and
Bomber Mellis also of Portsmouth. Hampshire could be in to take 3rd section A
clocking his cheq hen at 14.21 approx vel 1013 flying 210 miles.
Alan and Cynthia Shore of Hankelow. Cheshire who timed in their cheq hen named
“Our Honour” at 15.11 approx vel 1035 flying 244 miles to take 1st sec E once
again as they have previously won their section from Messac and Bordeaux this
year and like Derek Reid above a super winning treble.
This hen has been raced most weeks in the club with little training and was
flying to the perch. On her sires side she is a G/Dtr of Danny Boy NFC
Certificate of Merit winner three times Pau 33rd open, 27th open and 150th open.
The parents and G/Parents are always at stock. Her dam is out of a Van hee from
John Barnett of Telford crossed with a Tommy Hulme of Sandbach distance pigeons.
Young birds here are fed Verselle Laga Y/B UK with diet mix and Gerry plus.
As Alan usually brings in the birds from the Cheshire area to all of our race
markings at Salisbury he most certainly does deserve the successes he has
achieved. They also timed in a second bird at 09.55 next morning.
M/M. Shaw of Shavington. Cheshire timed in three birds at 16.14, 16.18 and 17.08
for approx vels of 916, 908 and 823 flying 249 miles to probably take 2nd, 3rd
and 4th section E.
The first pigeon timed was a Belg blue hen direct from Taveirne – Rigole and was
sent flying to a three day old youngster.
The second bird in the clock was a pencil pied cock was also of the Taveirne –
Rigole blood bred from their racing cocks and the third bird timed was a red
Janssen hen which topped section J in the NFC and this one was bred by Richard
Windsor from R. Windsor & Sons.
Frank and John Halstead of Kington Magna. Dorset are in at 12.49 with their dark
cheq hen for an amended vel of 1026.7 flying 159 miles
This hen was 49th open CSCFC Ramsgate flying 168 miles the week prior to this
one so has flown the from one side of the country to the other in consecutive
weeks, that is certainly one to ponder on.
She is bred from a half brother half sister mating with the sire being Ashley
who was 17th section NFC Pau as a yearling and 8th sec, 63rd open in our San
Sebastian National followed by 5th sec NFC Dax and this year he was 1st club on
the north from Derby 138 miles and was earmarked as a strong candidate for
Palamos. His sire is a son of Turban Jim Biss 2nd National Pau and his dam came
from Ernie Deacon. The mother of the young dark hen also flew Pau as a yearling
and is from a son of Jim Biss NFC Pau winner Vend with the same Ernie Deacon
hen.
This youngster was prepared using the darkness system that John has perfected
over the last ten years six birds were entered for this race and five were timed
in.
Their second bird timed a Gaby Vandenabeele was in at 12.59 vel 989.5 and is
down from M.&D. Evans stock and this one to was racing the week prior to take
48th open CSCFC Ramsgate. This loft has certainly hit form these past three
weeks having had a section win in the old hens in the CSCFC and NFC and also a
section win with the young birds in the NFC and in their local club Gillingham
they had three land together to take the first three positions. John is well
known for his range of videos and DVD’s.
M/M. Mark Gower of Fordingbridge. Hampshire who by timing in their blue cock at
13.31 approx vel 1023 flying 183 miles could end up with 2nd section B.
Mel and Sue King of Blandford Forum. Dorset are there once again clocking in
their blue cheq pied hen at 13.03 approx vel 1009 to probably take 3rd section
B.
The next event on the agenda to look forward to is the Friday Fun Night and our
Gala Presentation Dinner at Bournemouth on November 17th/18th .
Due to no Blue Riband Palamos National this year we do have a few tickets for
sale for our Presentation dinner apart from the ones that are held over for the
Sennen Cove race, these tickets will be sold strictly on a first come first
served basis.
JIM HOOPER
|
