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On behalf of the National Flying Club we wish to convey our sincere condolences to the family of one of our keenest members,Namely Carlo Napolitano,Her Majesty The Queens loft manager who sadly passed away recently.Always a keen competitor on behalf of Queen Elizabeth 2,our hearts go out to his wife,Judy and her family at this sad time,RIP Friend.
Weather and Race Advisers report for Fougeres by Paul Clements, Race Advisor.
1.Spoke to Trevor Cracknell and Terry Scholley on Friday (convoyer & weather forcaster) and arranged to speak with Mr Scholey at 7.00am on Saturday for a weather report and Mr Cracknell shortly after.
2.Spoke with Mr Scholley at 7.00am and was informed that there were light south east winds in France changing to south west over England with a wind speed of approx 13mph. with good visability inland and fog and mist on both the English and French borders and this would abate as the sun rose.
3. Spoke with Mr Cracknell and informed him of the report I had received from Mr Scholley and I would ring him back when the mist and fog had lifted.
At that time the sun was up at the liberation site.
4.From approx 7.15am I carried out a line of flight analysis speaking to various fanciers at approx 20 mile intervals and by the time I spoke to the fancier on the south coast I was informed that the fog & mist was lifting.
5.Analyised the current weather situation with the aid of X C weather and BBC weather and I was of the opinion that the conditions were good enough to liberate.
6.Spoke with Mr Cracknell and it was decided that the birds would be liberated at 8.30 am.
7.Spoke to Mr Cracknell at approx 8.35 am to be informed that the birds had been liberated at 8.30 am as agreed in a south east wind with sun out and the birds headed home almost immeadiately.
8.Spoke with Mr Barkel at approx 8.40 am and informed him of the liberation.
I have had several phone calls from fanciers from all parts of the country wanting to know why we had not liberated before 8.30 am. The answer is verry simple given the prevailing weather conditions ie Wind direction,wind speed, fog on borders etc I believe we were right to liberate when we did as the subsequent results indicate.
Many thanks to everybody for your help and a special thanks go to Mr Scholley and Mr Cracknell.
Regards.
Paul Clements
Race Advisor.
Well National Flying Club members,the first of our Classic races was flown on Saturday May 21st and what a race it was too.Returns were excellent with just the odd bird missing at night. This was to be expected though as it was a very fast race and some of the less experienced birds simply overflew their loft. Most of the members that were spoken to by me however were full of praise for the condition of their birds on return and in addition,the missing birds were,in the main,on the loft next day.
There were a great many phoned in verifications and at one point,so many members were ringing in that the phone lines could not cope. The website also could not take so many inputs and went down for a very short time,due to sheer volume of calls.
Looking at the weather and changing wind directions,the further the birds flew,the faster they got.This is borne out by Section winning velocitys in the South reaching around mid 1500 to mid 1600 ypm,the Sections further North velocitys were up to mid 1700ypm,and the Section where the Open winners were had velocitys up to 1800 + ypm.
1ST SECTION L and 1ST OPEN is Tom Jackson of Preston Lancs the winner is a 3year old Busschaert Blue cock.Raced on RABT this cock has previously won 1st Mangotsfield,1st Portland,1st Niort 523 miles and 13.5 hours on the wing.In addition has won many other prizes.
Left: Joe Dorning verifying the winner Tom Jackson of Preston. Right: The winning pigeon.
The Busschaert lines are the main lines in this loft,responsible for many many winners and all originate from Wilkinson of Toft Hill over in County Durham.
SECTION A was won by Mr D Fry who timed a 3 year old De Klak Blue cock flown on widowhood.Sire bred by Roger Lowe from Reading and Dam from Mr Wake of Havant.This bird actually races only North Rd and was 3rd club Newark a week ago, switching routes for the National and wins first section.
SECTION B was won by Mr J Attwell from Salisbury who timed a yearling red ch cock sent on 7 day eggs.This cock has been a steady racer but the loft is on form as Mr Attrill was 1st 2nd 3rd 4th BBC 2011,and also 2nd 3rd 4th CSCFC.The last performances even more remarkable when you consider that he failed to verify his 1st arrival and so lost 1st place.
SECTION C winner was L & J Peters from Weymouth in Dorset.Again I have been unable to contact these fanciers.There is no telephone number on their entry sheet and their phone is ex-directory.
SECTION D winner was G Chappell from Bude.This fancier timed a 5 year old Blue Cock wearing an old ring,and was sent sitting 10 days eggs,Bred from Mr Steele from Manchester and in his own words is a Heinz 57.This may well be but it didn’t stop this fine cock winning his Section.Mr Chappell timed two more shortly after this bird and these were bred from Jim Emerton.
SECTION E were the partnership of Mr&Mrs Maybe of Virginia Water in Hants.They timed a 2 yr old Blue Cock flown on widowhood and is of Ludo Van Toyan a Beligian fancier breeding.and Janssen X Soontjen on the other side.This cock was 1st bird to the loft in last weeks CSCFC and was 5th Combine Carentan two weeks ago.This loft sent two and the other was home 15 minutes after their Section winner.
SECTION F winner was Cosmin Talas from Oxford who timed a son of Miracle cock and Super hen paired to a daughter of 2 National winners in Holland namely Jackie and Nellecke.Section winner is full brother to Cosmins 1st section BICC 2009,and half brother to 17 th Open BICC Poitiers.
SECTION G won by a very well known fancier Stuart Wilcox from Bristol.Stuart timed a 2 yr old widower called Eddie after their 7 month old son.Breeding of this cock is Franz Zwols X Van Dyck and is a born racer.Winner of 1st Minstead,1st Littlehampton,2nd Portsmouth and 5th Eastbourne.also 9th,11th and 13th WOESRC.
His sire is Little Blue winner of 6 x 1sts,and bird of the year 2007.!st,3rd,9th WOESRC
Blood will out won’t it.
SECTION H winner is Mr Crick from Stopfold.Winner is an 08 Janssen cock raced on widowhood and has won previously 1st two weeks ago,3rd club Carentan and 2nd Combine in 2009.Another fine racer.
SECTION I was won by G & S Daykin & Son from Carlton/Nottingham.
SECTION J won by McGraw,Clegg & Preece from Stoke on Trent up ther in the Potteries.Timing a yearling Cheq Hen of Vandenabeele X Van Reet paired to a Van Reet X Nuewelaerts sent RABT.Apologies if the last name spelt wrongly.Dam has bred 2nd Sec,2nd Open MNFC & 1st Sec 1st Open yrling Nat too.This hen was 4th club 31st federation last week and was top of the partners sheet this race.Unusually they did not pool this week although really fancied they have so many National races coming up they saved their money.The are regretting this now of course.
SECTION K winner was Mr Adshead from Selby Yorkshire but have no details as yet on this fanciers winning bird.
The longest flying member timing in today at a distance of 473 miles is Neville Daly timing at 18-09-19
Up in the North East of England in a town called Ashington.Older members will remember that this Geordie mining town was the home of two of footballs greatest brothers,namely Bobbie & Jackie Charlton who both played many times for England.Some of you will also know that the uncle of the two brothers was none other than Jackie Milburn,a legend for Newcastle and England.
It seems that they can fly pigeons up there too as look at the time this bird spent on the wing to home all on its own to his proud owner.
One the West side of the country,we have Alan Astin from Carnforth flying 408 mls and timing at 15-31. Very well done to these and many more fanciers conditioning their birds to put up these fine performances.
That is it then, details of winning birds in our first National race of 2011. The race was a resounding success with excellent returns.
Now we look forward to THE SPECIAL ONE! This of course is the Nantes National regarded by many fanciers as very dear to their hearts.The very best of luck to all members.Look forward to reporting on this race and speaking to Section winners and of course the winner of the coveerted 1st Open.
Geoff Blackhall
NFC Press Officer.
Tel. No. 0151 356 8204
Mobile 07891 831831
E-mail: anne@blackhall69.orangehome.co.uk
