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Well here we are,competing in the last of our Old bird classic races of this season.it doesn’t seem five minutes since we were all looking forward and preparing our pigeons for the forthcoming National Flying Club races.We have enjoyed some excellent races with fantastic performances put up in every Section.The weather,as usual,played a significant part in determining where the Open winners were,but there were exceptional Section wins and positions in all of our 12 Sections.There were birds flying very long distances and on the wing for many hours,and it seems that distance is no barrier any longer as our members prepare their entrys with every care and planning.First and foremost,these winning pigeons are bred for the distance and the best of their respective strains.These birds are not pets,but are athletes and are fed and given appropriate nutrition supplements to ensure that they are at the peak of form when entered.All season is spent on their preparation.This is why our sport is unique.No other sport gives us opportunity to selective breed our stock. In no other sport does the owner breed,raise,train and race their charges.In all other livestock disciplines there are breeders, separate trainers and racers.The fact is we carry out all of these functions ourselves and love it all.This is our sport,our hobby and when it all comes together and you spot your arrival folding up and trapping from over 400 mls,you get a feeling unlike any other.That bird has flown it’s heart out to home because you bred it,you prepared it and gave it all it required to complete the task.How proud you are at this moment.This is what it’s all about,why we keep racing pigeons.This race from Saintes is going to be a steady affair as when I looked at the weather for the whole of England it was plain that the wind was going to play a big part in the race.There are going to be a couple of isolated showers about but these should not have any affect on the convoy.The wind though,is given as North West veering to Westerly approx 15 MPH but on occasions as much as 35MPH.Obviously only the very fittest birds will face this wind.I would normally forecast that the winner will be on the Eastern side of the country but given the extraordinary performances put up by our members in previous races the Open winner could be anywhere.I will however,say that I believe that an excellent performance may be put up in Sec.K or L.
We’ll see.
On to the actual race now.
1. Spoke to Terry Scholley Friday morning and was informed that the weather for Saturday looked promising being North to North West wind over land and sea with good visability throughout. It was arranged to speak again at 05.45am Saturday morning.
2. Spoke to Trevor Cracknell Friday afternoon, they expect to arrive at Saintes at 15.30pm (BST) the weather conditions were wet in Nothern France,with steady improvement as they headed South. I Informed Trevor that I had arranged to speak with Mr Scholley at 05.45am and following a brief discussion we agreed subject to the weather report the birds will be liberated at approx 06.00am Saturday.
3. Rang Terry Scholley at 05.45am and was informed that there was radiation fog on the line of flight and it would be advisable to defer the liberation.
4. Rang Trevor Cracknell and was informed that the current weather is broken cloud and light winds with no sun.
5.Rang Trevor again at 06.15am and was informed that the sun was rising.
6.Trevor rang at 06.25am And I was informed that the sun was up and everything was in order for a liberation.
7.Rang Terry Scholley with this information and was informed that the radiation fog has receded and a liberation would be advisable as the forecast in the immediate future would be no better.
8.Rang Trevor and following a brief discussion it was decided to liberate.
9.Trevor rang to say the birds 06.45am in a light west north west wind and they cleared immediately.
10. Many thanks to all concerned.
Paul Clements.
Race Advisor
Mark had his usual fine race with fair returns.Flying 394 mls,mark timed two birds together and another 1 minute later which is excellent flying by any standards.Anyone who knows Mark will testify that this man lives and breathes pigeons.he has had another phenomenal season in Classic racing.Members will remember that for a time Mark was winning 1st Open Tarbes only to be beaten into 2nd Open by that fantastic bird into Yorkshire owned by Shackleton and Son and now named Pennine heights.
On the same weekend however,mark enjoyed a dream International result winning 1st International hens and 1st International yearlings.As members only phone in their first bird,many will not realise that Mark Gilbert will in fact be 1st,2nd & 4th Open from Saintes with a lot more top positions besides.This is National racing at it’s best and I make no apology for publicising these results.Here in his own words are details of Marks birds. My First Open pigeon is a yearling cheq cock and is a most reliable racer for me.As a YB he gained 4th Open in the Mad Hatters Open race from Guernsey,10th Open TNFC and 
39th Open TNFC in the two YB National races.Then sent to Tours in Geoff Coopers Open race and won 11th Open.he was 2nd club Wincanton 80 mls two weeks ago and now 1st Open Saintes.Only a yearling he must be a real champion in the making.Sire is from Drum & Jerry from Syndicate lofts whilst the Dam is daughter of Lazer Gun of Marcel Sanger.
My Second Open timed with the 1st Open is another yearling Cheq Cock and was my most consistent young bird last year.Sire is Dutchmaster from Syndicate Lofts and the Dam is Golden Gaby from M&D Evans.
My Third timer 1 minute later and probable 4th Open is also a yearling and has previously won 1st in the Federation £1000 Open race,also 1st club Wincanton 2 weeks ago.Sire is son of Golden Gaby,M&D Evans whilst the Dam is daughter of Vandenabeeles Lover Boy.I had a great race with regular arrivals all of which should feature high in the Open result.One thing I did notice though is that the first three arrivals especially were tired and this is unusual with my birds.It may be down to the stiff wind that they had to fly against.
1ST SECTION A
CRAMMOND & LANGSTAFF
FONTWELL. WEST SUSSEX.
Probable 1st sect A 5th open is Crammond&Langstaff of Fontwell. The partnership clocked a blue Kees Bosua widowhood cock bred down from their No.1 pair this cock was fancied for the Messac Nat where the partnership took the first four in the open but he came late in the day with a smashed up keel so he was rested and then eventually put back into training to prepare for this race, this cock has scored in the NFC before from Alencon where he was also 5th open and 2nd sect. The partnership have one more old bird race next week with the BBC from Bordeaux then they can start seriously with the young birds, Ian and Nigel have been very pleased with the results this season after their late start to the season. They would like to pass on their congratulations to the winner Mark Gilbert on an outstanding old bird season. Thanks Nigel
1ST SECTION B
R& V OcCONNELL
POOLE. DORSET
This is a piece on Ron and Vince McConnell of Poole.
"This pigeon is a Hartog from my good friend John Gerard (this is what he tells me). I had a bad start to the season - my birds were hawked 4 times in early training and 1 lost 10 birds and had 5 back injured. I train from two opposite ways, east and west as I live right on the coast in Poole. As I only fly 32 birds you can imagine the lost and injured birds affected my team badly.
This bird had a lucky start to the season and this was his 5th race this season and was racing widowhood. He has been slowly improving and 2 weeks ago in our Club he was 4th Club, 21st Fed, from 101 miles. As I fly down the road from Harry Redknapp on the coast my birds have to come over my house or give everyone overfly, but that's life as they say.
I sent 8 birds to this race as I think these races between 250-350 miles are good true races as for the reasons above (wind). I got 4 on the day and 2 next morning.
I would like to thank my parents who take my birds to all the marking stations for me, Mr King (Frome) for doing a great job and always being helpful, Also John Gerard and Staun Stockley who gave the old birds a toss on Tuesday to liven them up and we wait for hom to get a loft again."
Regards
Steve Travers
1ST SECTION C IS JOHN HALSTEAD of Gillingham in Dorset.
This is John’s fourteenth NFC Section win and incredibly 3 of these section wins have been taken by this 5 yr old chequer cock named Nyland Arrow. When John lived in Abbots Bromley in The Midlands he had a very good Busschaert cock called The Dorset Dart who won six firsts including twice 1st Federation, and was featured on one of John’s range of DVDs entitled Preparing Pigeons to Win Races. Mated with a very good Vandenabeele hen (down from M&D Evans bloodlines) The Dorset Dart was sire to Nyland Arrow bred in 2006. In this year Arrow won 1st Section from Chale in the YB National and also won 1st Section NFC Gold Ring. In 2008, raced on widowhood Arrow again won 1st Section NFC Alencon (207 miles). Two more firsts from Fougeres in the Gillingham club were sandwiched between and then this season Arrow started well with 60th Open BICC Falaise (174 miles) 1855 birds. However from the very hard NFC Cholet on the 4th June he returned the next morning with obvious signs of a hawks talons around his neck and shoulders. The bird was given time to recover and just given daily exercise around the loft morning and evening and then after a break of 5 weeks was entered for the Dorset Federation Carenten race on the 9th July. Arrow romped home to take 1st Club and 1st Federation 769 birds, by 19 y.p.m. With almost another fortnights rest (except loft exercise) Arrow was the lofts fancied entry for the Saintes race and this time pulled well clear to achieve his 3rd National Section win and his eighth first prize. The Halstead loft has been in terrific form recently with a 1st and 2nd Open from Palamos and Barcelona and all these performances have been achieved with fewer than 20 widowhood cocks.
1ST SECTION D
FACER AND SON
PLYMOUTH
Thanks for your kind comments 4190 was bred from two yearlings now lost
but the grand parents on the sire are Bricoux gift bird from Frank
Burley from Cornwall x a gift pigeon from double Welsh National winner Wyn
Jenkins on the dam side Van Wanroy another gift from Jed Carr in
Teignmouth x a bird from Richard Boylin who now liuves in France.This bird was bought in a charity auction by my Stepmum. The pigeons are fed on Gem corn,Irish also some hemp is used as a conditioner. Peanuts are given, Aviform in water.The bird has had 3 National races only,homing on the day once 2 weeks ago.The winner went to Lamballe in a Help for Heroes race from 150mls homing in 12 hours. .Training has been stopped for old birds as the hawk problem in the area is now very severe with many losses and injuries. Old birds are let out with young birds twice a day all birds flying well around the loft.The Section winner was homing to 4 day
old baby which seemed to finally pull a performance out of him.He arrived with the young birds training from Honiton and it took a while to sink in he was home.As I walked down the garden it dawned on me it was a Saintes pigeon.He arrived tired but soon recovered.Once clocked I spent a couple of hours waiting for Section times to come in. Luckily no one beat us so panic over .Other National performances are 13th Section Tarbes 2007 6th Section Poitiers 2010 111th Open 13th Section Saintes 2010 and 9th Section Cholet 2011. I would like to thank Mr & Mrs Wilkinson for all their help and hard work also for Plymouth pigeon fanciers Dave Murphy for all the gift birds.John and Jill for the photo and Bob Brown for taking the birds to the
marking station and all the Plymouth boys for their best wishes.These birds have to work hard to compete in the Nationals coming into the South West of England.Many thanks Mark & Des.
1ST SECTION F
SMITH & BAKER
SWINDON.
3yr old widowhood cock!
This cock has been very consistent to the loft
Scoring well in both National & Classic racing. His sire is from our own family of Jannsens which we have had since 1986!!
The Dam is bred by Mr & Mrs Henley from Bristol district
from there Saintes National winner!! We would also like to say congratulations to Mark Gilbert on another fantastic performance!!
Ernie Smith & Darren Baker
1ST SECTION G
K EMERY
TROWBRIDGE. WILTS.
The Section Winner is a Blue Pencil Pied cock bred in 2009 & sent on widowhood.previously he won 2nd Section G TNFC from Messac,and has flown every National race since a YB. Sire is from Bruce McCallister whilst the Dam is a daughter of National 2 from Jos Thone crossed with Son Of Lucas a Gaby Vandenabeele.This hen bred by the Late,Great Brian Long.I would like to Thank Bruce McCallister very much as he loans fantastic stock birds to me.Also I wish to Thank my friend and near neighbour Brian Shepherd who also loans me his best birds.Brian has taught me a great deal about pigeon racing with nothing held back,and I have learnt more in the last 3 years than I did in the last 20.
My family is 90% behind me and my Wife Lisa is a great help in exercising and feeding the birds as I work long hours away from home.If not for my Wife I could not keep pigeons.All birds fed on Verselaga Super Widowhood with some seed.
They all get peanuts daily but for some reason the Section winner will not eat them.He does like seed though!!
1ST SECTION H
CRICK & SON
STOPFOLD. HERTS
Colin timed a 6 yr old Janssen cock which also won 1st club 2nd Inter Countys Federation from Kingsdown on 21-5-11.
Usually flown on widowhood the cock was paired up towards the end of the club racing programme and was sent to Saintes sitting week old young birds.Colin timed another at 2015 and two more second morning.Colin has been 2nd Section TNFC Fougheres and 2nd Section TNFC Nantes this season too and this well deserved 1st Section really puts the icing on the cake for 2011.
1ST SECTION I
THE REDFERN FAMILY
DERBY
Timed a 2 yr old Mealy hen sent sitting eggs overdue and slipped a 1 day old yb before basketing which she took to straight away.She is paired to a tippler as we lost her mate earlier in the season.I am partners with my Wife Sue and have been involved with pigeons all my life,as was my Father Sam before me,and his Father before him.My Father was one of the most knowledgable fanciers I have ever met.I still recall his teachings whilst waiting for our birds.I went into partnership with Hollywood film producer Jack Clayton in 1973,racing in Marlow Bucks.Raced in partners with my Father before moving to Bromborough on the Wirral,then started our husband and wife partnership in 2000 when we moved to Derby.
We were racing a team of Heinz 57 then!!
All birds flown on Natural and only normally compete in NFC races.We use our local club Etwall RPC for training only.In fact,we have only had a clock set in the club once,and that was Messac2011 where we finished 1st,2nd,& 4th.
Our Section winner has had 4 short races in 2011,then into Fougheres and Messac where she came steady but not clocked,.As a yearling she went to Carentan and was reported in Telford from Messac before going to Saintes club race where she was home on 2nd day to win in club but not clocked as no clock set.Finally she went to St Malo OB National and was 5th Section and 133rd Open.
As a YB she had 2 short races coming second day from both before going to Cherbourg with 102 club and was 4th 2 bird club and 5th club.Bred from a good Red Cock that flew Tarbes 671 mls 3 times in race time winning 25th Section and 32nd Section. The RC in turn was bred from a Mealy Hen bred by my good friend Joe Raeburn of Melksham and a cock purchased from Mick Burdon of Uttoxeter,and was of Eric Fox breeding.The section winners dam bred by Paul & Lynda Todd of Derby.
It is very nice seeing that the National Flying club committee members providing 1st Open and 3 Section winners,besides a 2nd Section too.We would like to congratulate Mark Gilbert on a fine win after coming so close from Tarbes,also Nigel Laycock on his superb performance up in Doncaster when there was a strong NNW wind blowing all afternoon in the Midlands.Finally we would like to thank Keith Bush at Nottingham clock station and all my family,namely my Wife Sue,children Jane and Paul and not least my Mother-in-law Joan who accompanys us all to Sheffield for all TNFC marking for all of their help and support over the years.
1ST SECTION J
A JONES
STOURBRIDGE. W.MIDLANDS
My winner of the Section is a De Keyser x Cattrysse who only appears to come to life for this race. 2010 saw him 9th Section 120th Open, this year he has just flown steadily, fourteen days previous he was 4th Club Niort but a long way behind the leading birds. However the hours on the wing certainly did him no harm and he was nominated bird at the time of basketing.
I fly just my cock birds on widowhood and although my friends are constantly pointing out the number of good hens timed at the distance its a method I prefere and overall they do not appear to perform to badly. My birds for the previous three seasons have been mated approx mid February, allowed to sit 7 to 8 days then parted. They are then re-paired 14 days before the first race whereby the yearlings are raced for two weeks on eggs. All the team are then separated and placed on widowhood. My yearlings will probably receive five races on the land with the older cocks having two or three before their first cross channel race.
The sire of my winner is from original base pair of Roland de Keyser's purchased from Frank Sheader , they are responsible for numerous good channel birds at all levels. The dam I purchased from Colin Lloyd of Cannock and is a full sister to his Champion Hazel. My birds have been fed on Garvo corn all year, however in the final few days before the marking I increased the Maize content by further third and this appeared to give my birds a lift. Once again I would like to thank all the officials involved with the race especially the marking team at Alveley who do such a great job.
1ST SECTION K
N.LAYCOCK.
DONCASTER.
Saturday 23rd July I will remember forever, my hen aptly 
named “Wishing on a Star” after flying 14 hours 17minutes and 51 seconds won 1st Section K with a Velocity of 1124 ypm. Star is a medium sized Chequer pied Hen that you would think was hollow she is so light. A character in the loft, pinching nesting material from other pairs and when split from her cock constantly flies at the door to get back to her mate. Her sire is from my Eric Limburg family being a direct son of my top son of “Black Opium” I named “I’m Spartacus”. This cock is responsible for winners throughout the country. Stars dam was one of my direct Herman Van Helmond pigeons that are based on the old JanAardens going back to 1952. This hen has bred some good birds for myself and others through to 615 miles.
Saintes with the N.F.C. was the race I had targeted Star for from day one of the season, although her preparation was not as planned due to her health not being quite how I wanted . I had her checked by the vets who found nothing and so I decided to take matters into my own hands as I thought it was a fungal problem which she was treated for. From that day she started to blossom and a few weeks later flew the race of her life. My birds over the last 11 years have had no racing as youngsters, so as yearlings they have had to learn and become street wise to the stress put on them in National racing. Star had one channel race in 2009 and was well up the result. In 2010 she went to St Malo 354 miles finishing 16th Sec K with a velocity 1186 ypm. She then went to Poitiers 494 miles and was 5th Sec K doing 1055 ypm only 20 birds on the day in Sec K of which I had three. This year 2011 she had all the inland races up to Poole before going to the first race with the Northern Classic from Carenton. She then fell short of the condition I wanted and missed out racing and training right up to the Tuesday before basketing. I gave her a 45 mile toss then into Saintes. On arrival home she was in good order, a testament to how well they are looked after in transit with the N.F.C..
A big well done to all the section winners, and congratulations to Mark Gilbert on his win. Thank-you so much to the many friends and fanciers who contacted me just to say well done, much appreciated. I would also like to give a big thank you to my family for their support and my good friend Ken Haigh who is always sat there with me on the big days and believes so much in my capabilities at racing pigeons
1ST SECTION L
GREEN & HILSON
BURY. LANCS
NAMES: - KEN GREEN & GEORGE HILSON
1st PIGEON ( BOBBY } GBO8F15051
BREED KO NIPIUS / JAN ARDEN DECENDING FROM THE OLD LINES OF THE LATE KEN KIPPAX
THE LOFT HAS KEPT AND RACED THESE LINES SINCE 1980 WITH A FEW ADDITIONS IN RECENT YEARS WITH 2 COCKS FROM THE NATIONAL WINNING LOFT OF CRAMMAND & LANGSTAFF. THE SIRE OF BOBBY IS BRED DOWN FROM A SON OF TOMSING A 1st NATIONAL ACE WINNING PIGEON, THE DAM OF BOBBY IS A FULL SISTER TO TWO NORTH WEST GRAND NATIONAL CHANNEL WINNERS AND A 1st LANCASHIRE COMBINE WINNER FOR US WHICH HAS NEVER RACED ALWAYS STOCK.
OUR 2nd PIGEON { TYSON ) GBO6N77145
THIS IS TYSONS FOURTH TIME ON THE TROT AT SAINTES IN THE NATIONAL AND HAS BEEN TIMED IN ON ALL FOUR OCCASIONS A SUPER EXCEPTIONAL COCK HIS SIRE IS ANOTHER BROTHER OF TOMSING HIS DAM IS A 1997 KO NIPIUS OFF THE KEN KIPPAX OLD LINES WHICH HAS BRED MANY WINNING CHANNEL BIRDS FOR US AND OTHERS
ON TIMING OUR 3rd BIRD AT 22:01 Hrs WE FELT IT ROUNDED OFF A GOOD STEADY YEAR OF THE OLD BIRD SEASON AND WERE DELIGHTED THAT WE WERE LEADING OUR SECTION AND MUST ONCE AGAIN PAY MANY THANKS TO IAN CRAMMOND & NIGEL LANGSTAFF
PS KEN IS HOLDING BOBBY
GEORGE HOLDING TYSON
This report gives me great pleasure as this partnership has been 2nd Section TNFC on 3 occasions this season alone.In fact from one National flying club race this year when there weren’t many home in the area,and shorter flyers struggling to record an arrival,these fanciers had 11 in the clock.Fantastic or what!!
Ken was telling me that on the day of the race,time was getting on and evening was closing in.George noticed that smoke was coming from a near allotment.George climbed up and stood on the YB loft to get a better view,and look at that smoke,thaty wind has turned into the North East.As he said it,their first bird screamed over Georges head within inches,half a turn and landed at the loft.The partners had other arrivals on the night which is no mean feat at 548 mls,and one actually arrived almost in the dark,and stood on the platform peering into the loft because he couldn’t see into the darkness.
The 1st sec winner was actually bred in the partners very good and long standing friend Bob Yellings originally from the North East and moved to this area at the age of 19.Sadly bob is no longer with us but was a great friend.George lent a hen to Bob,and duly bred a yb which was given back to George.This turned out to be this Section winner which is aptly named Bobby.
If Bob is looking down he will be so pleased I’ll bet.
Looking at the early arrival list I can see many familier names.Names such as Crammond&Langstaff,Janet Wilcox,Roger Lowe,P Ayling,J Halstead,B Milkins,Peter Hagland,Roger Sutton,M Bullard,Shackleton & Son,Brian Denny,Brian Wall,T&J Davies of RPRA one-loft fame,Philip Burford who is a good friend and past winner of the Welsh Grand National from Thurso,etc.etc.all excellent flyers in their own right,and many previous winners of TNFC.One member I must give a special mention to though is Blackett & Son from way up in Up North Combine land,in Bishop Auckland in fact,who timed a very game bird flying 616 mls into that wind and timed second day.This shows everyone in that area that it can be done and good winning birds can be timed at these extreme distances.Very well done to everyone who timed birds in this tiring race.I wish to thank Paul Clements the race advisor for keeping me supplied with the latest weather forecasts each race,also Sid Barkel our fantastic secretary for all of his help this season. Paul Naum too for all of his advice in assisting me in my new job as The National Flying Club Press Officer.
Thanks also are due to the help received from our committee members,and last,but by no means least,many,many thanks to our Open and Section winners for providing all of the information which I requested to publicise their winning birds.Just talking to them was a pleasure and re-living the moments when their winning bird arrived.
I have really enjoyed my role as Press Officer and hope that members have enjoyed reading my articles and finding them interesting.We look forward to our National Classic Young bird races now.I look forward to reporting on these too and calling the winning birds owners for details.
One more item.I have received phone calls from members who have missed our Scottish friends flying with us this season.We do know that you have in Scotland had some really hard races and losses so we can understand you not entering with us.The very best of luck to all of our Scottish members and we look forward to you again competing.
Geoff Blackhall, Press Officer
The National Flying Club.
50 Elm Grove, Whitby
Ellesmere Port, CH66 2PT
Tel. No. 0151 356 8204
Mobile 07891 831831
E-Mail: anne@blackhall69.orangehome.co.uk
