MESSAC NATIONAL FLOWN 16th May
2,333 Birds liberated 0935 hours into a strong south west wind

Had 2,333 birds away from 317 lofts, but one or two members looked at the weather forecast and decided to leave them on their perches. Marking at Salisbury presented Richard Green with a test of his ability as an organiser and it all went very smoothly. To make it more testing the Cattle Market organisers housed everything “round the back” instead of in their usual place in the main foyer, yet it still went smoothly. Good organisation, that’s what ! ETS marking teams under Ingrid & Tony Jurd for the BBC, with Nigel Rigiani as ‘Superman’ quietly dealt with their electronics, and the old traditional rubber jobs did their bit under the capable hands of a team headed by Clive Rogers, another led by Jim Hooper from Wales with the Irish lads, Phil Smith and his pal. Then Richard & Ann Spooner from Stafford, and yours truly with Gordon & Pat Emm and Richard and Anna of the famed Crowley & Green partnership showing promise. The club’ officials were very pleased at the response for volunteer markers, even turning some away, and waiting was reduced to the shortest times ever. The usual old faithfuls managed the lugging in and out of baskets, empty and full in turn, quietly and efficiently. Paul Kenny handling the little ones from the queue, while Brian Adamson, Richard Blackburn, Allan Follows, Adrian and Derek Human hurled the big baskets round like confetti. Very impressive! If there’s anyone I haven’t mentioned I shall grovel suitably next time I see you, but I’m getting old and a bit forgetful now and again.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of Tony Kane and Ken Smith liberation was effected on Saturday morning at 0935, excellent returns and the first three timers all made over 2,000ypm

with Mark Gilbert leading the field on 2050. I wasn’t surprised when Mark told me that the winner is a pure de Weerdt, sired by “Raldo” from the 4^th International Perpignan winner, out of a daughter of Emiel, 1^st International Bordeaux/Dax winner, and is thus a half brother of both “Nightflight” winner of 1^st NFC Saintes, and “Southfield Pau” winner of 1^st BICC Pau. Mark is the 44-y-o owner of a successful Freighting business and has been in the Fancy now since the age of 12. You could say he was a bit “keen” I suppose.

Mark Gilbert Messac National Winner 2009

Mark Gilbert 1st Open

Close on his heels at 2036 were Mr/Mrs Peter Wells of Dunstable, a name to be counted on for the last 40 years to my knowledge. Peter told me his winner was bred by Terry Hayley, a close friend who flies one hell of a pigeon. The bird is a Yearling BPC and looks like making a name for himself if he keeps this up..

Mr & Mrs Wells 2nd Open

3rd Open were Mr/Mrs Carrick of Chesham in Bucks on 2006ypm, but their phone was not working, it just kicked out as soon as it stopped ringing, all three of these fliers being in Sect D.

First Sect A were Patrick Harris 1999 and 4th Open, I tried ringing Patrick at 08 o’clock on the Sunday morning for details, only to find him at a Car Boot sale, but I did manage to disturb his son Ryan’s lie-in. Pat came home before ten and called to give me the gen on his Section winner, a Yearling Red C flown on Roundabout, bred down from one of two cocks he purchased in Lier Market, details unknown, when paired to a Honeysuckle hen off the 05 Tarbes 1st Sect B winner, Mike Whiffen’s old family. Pat feeds Gem corn (clever lad) and had all 16 of his Ylg team home by teatime.

P Harris 1st Sec A, 4th Open

Patrick Harris 1st Sec A 4th Open

62-y-o Tony Leggatt’s Red Hen dropped right on the loft as the Maestro was weeding and watching. Believe me he moved fast ! She was on 1990 (5th Open) and at that speed belied her origins which lay in the old Norman Southwell (Chivers) X George Stubbs bloodlines.	Father & Son Terry & Lee Austin’s 2-y-o Janssen hen doing 1987 is provisionally 6th Open, and she was bred down from Wall, Lunt & Green stock which the partners brought in a couple of years ago. I think they like the breed now! These three fliers came from Cosham, Havant and Portsmouth respectively, so it looks like they split up as they dropped.
Tony Leggart 2nd Sec

1st Sect B had Pip Waters of Salisbury in the top spot.

P Waters 1st Sec B 8th Open

Pipper Waters 1st Sec B 8th Open

Mike White & Son Steve of Bournemouth were 2nd Sect, and their winner was a 4-y-o Van Loon X Van Reet off a family they have been cultivating since 1993. It seems to be working fine. These lads are Plasterers by trade and no doubt will be getting plastered to celebrate.

M White & Son

Mike White & Son

Brian Crutcher of Poole was 3rd Sect, Pete Hollard was a shade slow in trapping so came 4th Sect.

Sect C had old hands Ernie Smith and Darren Baker in front, with S & S Bridges High Littleton 2nd and BBC Secy’s Crowley & Green 3rd. Richard says he was very pleased to find 43 out of 45 on their perches at nightfall, and the 44th dropped in the next day.

Ernie Smith and Darren Baker 1st Sec C

Ernie Smith & Darren Baker 1st Sec C

Crowley & Green 3rd Sec C

Richard says he was very pleased to find 43 out of 45 on their perches at nightfall, and the 44th dropped in the next day.

Sect E had yet another Ace, Dave Ellams of Telford in the chair, Vel 1890, with a 6-y-o Busschaert DCC of his old family, kept since ’81, and bred down from birds via Brian Campion and Turner. Dave is another Plasterer so the patience these lads learn in their trade serves them well in pigeons.

Dave Ellams 1st Sec E

Dave was nine minutes in front of neighbour E.Jones, and 65-y-o Richard Spooner of Stafford in 3rd place. His 4-y-o Delbar is a seasoned performer and came in like a rocket says Richard. Now he has retired from his wholesale Pet Products business he finds more time for the birds, and it obviously pays dividends.

Sect G had the first three all from Chichester, with Robin Parker top of the bunch with a 3-y-o Janssen based BCC. Robin is an Operating Theatre Porter and doesn’t have a lot of time to spend on the birds, so doesn’t breed till after the racing season and does not fly YBs. His winner won 1st Club 38th SC Fed the week before going to Messac, and this was Robin’s first race with the BBC since 1994 when he packed up for a while. T&C Welch were 2nd Sect and Mr/Mrs Joe.Langbridge 3rd, all doing over a mile a minute.

Channel Islanders didn’t match the gallop as their leaders were all under the 1700 mark, with Richard.Mauger (pronounced “Major”) of St Sampsons 1st, This bird was a gift from ex-BBC President Pete Wilcox, a Jan Arden that won a couple of races last year. Richard is no stranger to BBC Prize lists, having topped the Club before. W.Healey was 2nd in Jersey, but I couldn’t find a phone number for him, while Paul Mauger (Richard’s son) also in St Sampsons was 3rd. The race leaders obviously filled their sails over the next 100 miles of open water crossing the Channel.

Richard Mauger on left 1st Section 'H' BBC Messac 2009, Centre is Paul's son Mason, Paul Mauger on right 3rd Section 'H'