With an entry of over 2600 birds entered by just under a third of the membership, with entries coming in from all parts of the British Isle and Eire the race marking for our first race of the season The St. Nazaire National held at The livestock market in Salisbury. Wiltshire went much smoother than we had visualised and although there was the inevitable queue, at times quite long, the competing members were very patient and accepted that the officials were doing there best and with a good team of unpaid volunteers manning the marking tables, for which we are eternally grateful, where would we be without them, we soon had all birds race marked, fed and settled into the club panniers. It is a big task to race mark all birds at only one station but it is only this race and possibly the baby race where patience by all concerned is required and our members, I am pleased to say, have that in abundance.  

As this is a new site approximately six miles less than our intended race from Nantes, to be used by our organisation, it was a case of what would we find when our transporter arrived, Chief Convoyer Pete Willcox informed me that the site was the tarmac car park of a rugby club and as it was their close season there were no toilet or water facilities available at the site which was a shame as Pete said it is a good lib site as he soon found when releasing our convoy of birds at 06.45 hours they cleared the area really well and with a light helping southerly wind which was due to change to south west on route sometimes freshening we all hoped that a good race would ensue with good returns for all competitors.

Other organisations that may be contemplating using St Nazaire in the future should now be aware of the above information, so it will down to them if they use it or not.

With the forecasted wind it was on the cards that a fast race would be the outcome and that is how it has turned out to be with a number of velocities above the 1500ypm and as always with a fast race, quite a number of members so we are informed got caught with their pants down, some finding birds on or in their lofts.

Well over 300 calls were received on the day verifying first birds and it did not take too long before we had calls from our further flying members up there in section E right up into Lancashire and Yorkshire with some timing in all their entries.

The west that was in the wind did not help the Irish cause as no birds have been recorded up to the time of going to press.

Please note the early time approx velocities shown may change as due to it being a fast race, seconds on clocks, can make a big difference, so bear this in mind when studying the early times list also this does not allow for possible second birds timed unless they are shown.

Derek Britton of Fareham Hampshire leads the field timing in his yearling cheq cock now named “Hazel’s Favourite” at 10.31.49 for an amended vel of 1955 doing just under 67mph flying 252 miles to take probable 1st section A, 1st Open.

This cock was sent calling his hen to nest, as a y/b this winner was only raced to Guernsey 114 miles and this year he has been trained 30mls twice then sent to Picauville twice then on into Fourgers 173mls taking 2^nd club, 86^th Fed in a north wind the week prior to this one.

The sire and dam of this cock was gifted to Derek by our club President Pete Willcox bred from birds that he had had from Chris Gordon of Old Snydale. Yorkshire.    

Feed here is by way of Derek’s own mixture consisting of brown and white peas, beans, Barley and wheat.

When this one arrived Derek was doing some gardening and it was his wife Hazel who called to Derek to tell him there was a bird on the loft, it then flew off and after about a minute it dropped and was timed.

This is the fastest ever recorded winning velocity in the B.B.C so Derek can lay claim to that as well as taking our first and possibly our last race from St. Nazaire due to lack of facilities.

On behalf of the officials and membership of The British Barcelona Club

I extend all our heartiest congratulations to Derek on a truly wonderful achievement in winning the 2005 St. Nazaire National.

In for probable 1^st section G, 2^nd Open we have Joe and Vera Langbridge of Sidlesham. West Sussex who timed in their 2 y/o blue cock “Sidlesham Saphire” at 10.30,38 for an amended vel of 1953 flying 250 miles.

Saphire is bred down from a long line of channel winners for the Langbridge’s and Mickey Reading of Morden. Surrey who was the originator of the family, which are known locally as the “London blow home Bergerac family”.   

Sahire is closely related to five Bergerac winners and both parents have taken positions from Bergerac.

John Eveleigh of Bosham Hants recently paid a visit to the lofts prior to this race and Saphire was thrust into his hands with Joe saying “make a note of his number as I will win something big with this cock”

It is Joe and Vera’s Saphire wedding anniversary this Saturday the 28^th May (45 years) and as the ring number of their good bird ends with 45 it has been decided to call their bird “Sidlesham Saphire” which is quite apt and certainly befits the occasion of their anniversary so on behalf of the BBC can I offer our congratulations on their performance and also their forthcoming anniversary.

Melvyn Wiggins and his sons Matt & Stuart of Portsmouth. Hampshire clocked in two good birds the first a 2y/o cheq pied hen sent just starting to look at her cock bird at 10.32.51 knocking up an amended vel of 1951 and the second a yearling dark pied hen in at 10.33 for an amended vel of 1949 Flying 252 miles to take probable 2^nd & 3^rd section A, 3^rd & 4^th Open 

The first bird named “Budgies Pride” was bred from a warrior hen given to the lads by Budgie Crathorne & Len Parrott of The Kiln Lofts, Benfleet. Essex. The sire a Jan Aarden was purchased from the Natural breeding station of Belgium in 2003.

This was “Budgies Pride” first race of the year owing to her having been hawked five weeks ago.

The second bird a yearling dark pied hen now named “George’s Dream” was bred by Melvyn’s brother Barry from the team that he has blended together over the years. She was 8^th section, 29^th open BBC Lamballe last season    

She too was also looking to her mate having just come back from a bad toss due to a hawk strike, both hens were given two Bournemouth tosses during the week prior to going to this St. Nazaire National also they have had had other training tosses of around 30mls with Reg Faithful.  Feed is Gem’s Super Red which is given all year round.

Ron Dodd of Chichester. West Sussex had his 3y/o mealy clock which was

sent on the R/About system at 10.30 for an amended vel of 1931 flying 247 miles to probably take 2^nd section G, 5^th Open

This mealy is bred down from the late Eric Cannon of Goldaming and Colin Puddephatt of Crawley Sussex, It’s one wing and head is blue and the rest of the body is a mealy but that as not stopped him being a consistent pigeon for Ron, as in his last four races it has been Ron’s first bird to the loft winning minor positions.

Ron only started racing three years ago since moving from Cranley to Selsey/Chichester where he raced very successfully and naturally, as we all know, it takes time for the birds to acclimatise to any new location but it is starting to happen for Ron now.  

When training Ron takes them wherever he is going, be it north south east or west as he is a hard task master. The feed here is mainly beans peas and maize and some small seed.

Robbie Hooper of Poole. Dorset timed his 2y/o w/hood blue cock “Shotgun” in torrential rain at 10.24.13 to probable win 1^st Section B, 6^th Open with an amended vel of 1918 Flying 238 miles.

Robbie being Chairman of the CSCFC and  also secretary of the Upton pigeon club certainly does more than his share in putting something back into the sport so no one can envy him his success.  

Shotgun got his name as he returned from a channel race with a gun pellet injury to his wing.

This cock was bred for Robbie by his good friend Dick Clark of Thirsk. Yorkshire out of his No.1 stock pair.  Flown very lightly as a y/b but was put to the task as a yearling competing from five channel races up to his injury,  this race was his second of the current season.  All of Robbie’s eight entries were back in the loft by 13.30hours.

Martin & Clare Norman of Mannor Lofts Southampton. Hampshire had their yearling dark Pied w/hood cock in at 10.46.29 for an approx vel of 1865 flying 255 miles to probably take 4^th section A, 7^th Open.

Mannor Lofts is an anagram of their name and is used due to Martin’s brother and his wife also racing their own pigeons, so as to stop any confusion.

The pigeon timed is a Van Loon and is a g/son of John & Mike Staddons Perrott Darkie who Martin and Clare were lucky to purchase from them with a nice hen that had already bred winners.

Last season the lofts of Martin and Clare were broken into and their stock birds were stolen but the few Van Loons that they have left are still breeding the goods as they won 1^st prize in The Wiltshire Continental Open from Picauville just recently.

In for probable 5^th section A, 8^th Open are Bartlett & Jones also of Southampton had his one a 2y/o cheq cock in the clock at 10.47.50 for an amended vel of 1854 flying 255 miles

Sent to this race driving to nest as all birds are paired for the National and Classic races as Rob is a natural flyer at heart, all race birds are fed on Rob’s own mixture made up from Versel Laga, Van Robayes, Willsbridge and Beyers plus Aviform products. Birds are always being tested for any problems and the microscope is regularly used for checks to droppings etc.

Robbie Jones and the late Fred Bartlett are definitely no strangers to success as they have won over 125 1^st prizes racing east, south and west with the percentage of their wins being taken by hens.

All young birds here must go across the channel at least three times with some going across as many as six times as the cock timed in this race did.

The cock timed was bred by Martin & Jayne Mitchell of Woodlands Farm Stud and gifted to Rob as one of a kit of youngsters sent down to him with the hope of winning a National, the breeding is V.D. Beela/Carrera and has turned out to be one of Rob’s main cocks being a multiple winner of six firsts. He has also taken 2^nd section, 12^th Open Lamballe.

This cock will be Rob’s number two choice for the NFC race next week.

There to probably win 1^st section D, 9^th Open are James and Peter Parker of Beenham. Berkshire who timed in their 2y/o blue hen at 11.21.26 for an amended vel of 1849 flying 290 miles

The sire of this one was donated in the Save the Children Charity sale by The Bellchambers down from Bert Hession Van Reet Family and the dam was from the Baxter & Dtr family of Van Reets.

The blue hen timed was 3^rd club, 31^st Solent fed three weeks prior to this one.

Roland Gillett of Southampton comes next timing in his yearling blue cock        sent on the R/About system at 10.49 for an amended vel of 1841 flying 255 miles to probably take 6^th section A, 10^th Open.

This one is bred down from a Cattrysse cock from Bill Zabroki of Bognor Regis and a Kenyon/Jan Aarden hen from Bill Treggonning of Glynneath

Roland is very grateful to the two Bills.

Feed here is by way of the Versele Laga Superstar

The dam of Roland’s good bird was 2^nd club from Fourges the weekend prior to this race Roland also won the race so the loft is definitely on form.

In for probable 1^st section C, 11^th Open we have Janet Wilcox of Radstock. Banes who had her 4y/o cheq hen in the clock at 11.11.14 for an amended vel of 1832 flying 277 miles.

This hen is flown on the r/about system being quite consistent having taken minor positions right through to 222^nd open NFC Pau.

She is very inbred from the small Busschaert family which originated from a pair purchased for £36 from the Louella stud in 1983 with a daughter of Firefly introduced in 1985.

Birds from these have won from every race point up to Pau, the original cock of the pair survives still and flying out at the age of 22 years he was a winner every year up to the age of nine in combine and classic races.

This was the hen’s fifth race having flown St. Malo on the previous Monday Janet and Ken thank the convoying team for such a grand race.

This gives us SIX section winners in the first eleven of the provisional Open result.

Derek Human of Petersfield. Hampshire has his one in the clock at 10.59 for an approx vel of 1826 flying 263 miles to probably take 7^th section A, 12^th Open         

Bryan Woods of Shaftesbury. Dorset got his in at 10.55 for an approx vel of 1815 flying 257 miles to probably take 2^nd section B, 13^th Open

Probable 8^th section A, 14^th open is Tony Leggatt of Havant. Hampshire in at 10.53 for an approx vel of 1804 flying 254 miles

Paul Stevens of Midsomer Norton. Banes had one at 11.17 for an approx vel of 1794 flying 277 miles Paul could finish up with 2^nd section C, 15^th Open.

P.B. Davey of Southampton is in for probable 10^th section A, 16^th Open timing in at 10.54 for an approx vel of 1782 flying 252 miles

Probable 3^rd section B, 17^th Open are M/M. Waldock of Stoke Trister.

Somerset who timed in at 11.05 for an approx vel of 1769 flying 261 miles.

Taking probable 3^rd section G, 18^th Open is Derek Reid of Weybridge. Surrey clocking at 11.40 for an approx vel of 1755 flying 294 miles

Alan & Miss P. Tullett of Pyrford. Surrey had their one in at 11.37 for an approx vel of 1750 flying 290 miles to probably take 4^th section G, 19^th Open

MM. Cowley of Dorchester. Dorset had one in at 10.47 for an approx vel of 1747 flying 240 miles taking probably 4^th section B, 20^th Open

Winning section E we have John Barnett & Daughter of Telford Shropshire who timed in their 3y/o cheq cock at 13.18 for an amended vel of 1681 flying 375 miles.

This one was not raced as a y/b and only trained as a yearling with that seasons y/b’s. Raced to Nantes as a 2y/o and this season he has had two inland races then into this one being a half brother to 26^th open NFC Saintes,  156^th open NFC Saintes/Pau and 30^th open MNFC Bergerac. He is also a cousin to two NFC section winners

In for probable 2^nd section E are M/M. Geoff Kirkland of Longsdon. Staffordshire who timed in at 14.09 for an approx vel of 1592 flying 401 miles

Probable  3^rd section E, is Eddie Eblet of Sheffield. South Yorkshire clocking at 14.37 flying 421 miles for an approx vel of 1572.

Early times show M/M. Alan Shore of Hankelow. Cheshire in at 14.21 for an approx vel of 1529 flying 396 miles, so could be in for probable 4^th section E.

The channel Isle section winner is Laurence Le Ruez of St. Peter. Jersey who timed his 2y/o cheq hen at 10.13 approx vel 1144 flying 135 miles

The sire of this one is kept for stock being a Jan Aarden/Hansenne The dam is a Jan Aarden bred by Donald Webb of Redruth. Cornwall from the M/M. Woodward strain of Jan Aardens.

This game hen as already taken a 1^st from Angers in a head wind

Probable 2^nd CI, is Mick Maurice on the Isle of Alderney timing at 14.31 approx vel 639 flying 169 miles.

Probable 3^rd CI, is Paul Davies of St. Clement. Jersey in at 13.04 approx vel 618 flying 133 miles

Probable 4^th is Kevin Johnsone of St. Helier. Jersey having his one at 14.52 flying 132 miles approx vel 478.

The Basket Sponsorship prize of £100 was won by Chadwick & Harrison of Weaverham. Cheshire with basket No.43

The Station Raffle was won by Tkt No.117 on the back of which was the name Vince.

My thanks to all who were called upon to verify the leading birds and also those who have helped with the photographs and reports for the members who were so successful .   

Next Race The San Sebastian National June 10th