National Bulletin
17th May, 2002 Bulletin
President Bill Harris has once again been in touch with the following. "The NFC
race programme is now not far away and I send my and the committee’s best wishes to
all competitors. I know what it’s like on race days, all the rumours circulating
about who the winner is. I can’t stop the rumours but it is my intention to notify
the outright winner and all section winners as soon after the race as I can. This maybe on
the Sunday or Monday but as soon as we are confident as to the outcome then I shall be on
the phone. I would like to mention that if anybody has any problems regarding the club
then in the first instance they should contact their section representative. If for any
reason they are unable to do this then they can contact myself or the secretary Sid
Barkel. We will listen to the problem and if it can’t be resolved over the phone then
please put it in writing and I can assure you it will be dealt with by the committee at
the earliest opportunity. I intend to visit some of the marking stations during the season
and if anybody would like information about the club or wants to air a grievance then
please come up and have a chat.
I recently visited Mr Ernie Deacon of Horndean ( 2000 NFC Pau National winner) and he
has lent me some old NFC certificates. The certificates were awarded to Mr. George Scadden
of Portsmouth in 1908 who won 25th and 49th prizes from Mirande, 508
miles recording a velocity of 804 ypm with 883 birds competing winning £11 10s. The
second certificate was for the same race point this time in 1910. In this race Mr. Scadden
won 2nd prize from 878 birds velocity being 676ypm winning a fantastic £25 3s.
Both certificates were signed by John W. Logan (Vice President) and A.H.Osman Secretary.
The club would be interested if anybody has any older certificates. Maybe your parents or
grandparents won some NFC prizes and you still have the certificate. If so the club would
like to borrow them or have them reproduced to include them on the NFC stand at this years
shows. You will notice in the NFC handbook that some marking stations have changed their
times, can I ask all competitors to make themselves aware of the alterations and ensure
they arrive in good time to have their birds marked. Please see Racing rule 10(a) of the
2002 handbook"
By sheer coincidence on the subject of the Jubilee I received the following letter
from Mr Frerris of Bristol. "I am writing to you with the Jubilee celebrations in
mind, you may find this article of some interest to you and the fancy. In 1977 the
National Flying Club to celebrate the Jubilee awarded all section winners in the Nantes
National a Silver Medal and in that race I was lucky to win one, also taking 9th
Open 9,243 birds. After his success in this race I named him "Jubilant" a
wonderful racing pigeon for me. It turned out to be a very hard race that year and they
were liberated in an East Wind with the first 8 birds all being into Cornwall. My pigeon
doing 886ypm and for his performance he also won a South West Region award. His bloodlines
were containing the "Boeyken" strain from Mr Tom Dawson of Chesterfield who
bought these pigeons into the Country many years ago from Belgium, many of them were Dark
and Dark Pied’s. These were a wonderful family winning in many parts of the Country
with Ray Ormond of Hartlepool topping the Up North Combine etc. As I started earlier
"Jubilant" was a wonderful race cock being sent to the Nantes National five
seasons and on four out of these races was never out of the first hundred open arcing
against 8 to 10,000 birds. His results in the Nantes National are 1976 29th
sec, 32nd area 91st Open 10,049 birds. 1977 1st sec 1st
area 9th open 9243 birds. 1978 9th sec 53rd open 8659
birds. 1980 1st sec 47th open 10,557 birds. as can be seen he won
the section twice with vels from 886ypm to 1451ypm. He has also won in club, fed, Combine
and 2B races and was always raced on the natural system.
Looking to the new season I think it is about time we added a little more on last
seasons racing, in this case from Don Salt of Cheltenham. This is from the San Sebastian
race where he was 1st sec 4th open with a 3yo Dark Cheq Hen
"Dark Gem". Her sire was bred by his brother Tony from Cheadle Staffs and is a
Busschaert/Janssen. The dam is his old distance family that heave been winning in fed,
Combine and National’s with 5 RPRA Region outstanding distance awards in Alton
Staffs. Having moved to Cheltenham in 1997 the pigeons have proved themselves by winning
the fed channel ave in the Severn valley Fed. "Dark Gem" started the season
racing on the roundabout had two Exeter races at 199mls, one Truro 173mls. She was then
paired up and sent sitting 8 days at time of basketing. One thing about these lofts is
that Don keeps all his stock at his son Adam’s Home at Alton in Staffs, whether that
can be a benefit is another matter. Dan has about 30yb’s and they are all bred at the
stock lofts, the racing loft is 20ft x 6ft. In the photo Don is holding "Dark
Gem" also "Dark Gemie" 6th section 42nd Open Saintes
2000.
The new season is nearly upon us and if you are one of the fanciers who have achieved
your goal why not send me the information with a few photos, after all if you have won in
the National FC you have entered a race open to every fancier in the UK.
Les.J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10
ONJ. Tel/Fax: 01606 836036. ljohnp@elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
web-site www.elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
