National Bulletin
Nantes 2002 Grand National Review - Report by Les.J.Parkinson &
Clive Merrills.
The Racing Pigeon Nantes National turned out to be a difficult race which was the case
with most organisations on the day, this even included land races.
The birdage figures for this race are, Section. A. 528. B 1094. C 328. D. 487. E2174.
F. 527. G. 1432. H. 599. I. 564. J. 1037. K. 537. L. 841 making a grand total of 10,148
which I believe is the best since 1994. Many channel races are seeing bigger birdage this
season probably due to the excess birds after limited channel racing last season. With
this Nantes race the committee have to be pleased based on the fact that it is not a
sprint race with the vast majority of members flying in excess of 300mls. Congratulations
must go to all section winners and for those who follow the National results there are
more often the same names around the top of each section. It is also nice to see new names
coming onto the National scene and we hope that they continue to show their enthusiasm in
future races with the club. Sid tells us that the probable Car winner is Dave Johnson of
Southampton that is obviously due to verifications. There were approximately 1150 first
birds verified. Race controller Ray Barrington and his team had their work cut out in
getting the birds away but with the numbers verified and the fact that many reported 100%
returns on the day the decision to liberate was justified. However the longer flying
pigeons did encounter some bad weather which was reflected in the winning velocities.
The NFC had 7 keyboards manned for this race and the girls felt that it was like a
walk in the park (they must be paid too much Sid), the new computer system is proving a
good buy. The NFC now have probably the best computerised system for pigeon racing in the
UK if not the world. Everyone is pleased and are now processing far quicker, far more
efficient and most importantly more accurate than ever before. It’s great to see that
the club are moving forward and Sid tells me that there are still area’s where he can
improve the efficiency of the present systems.
MEL & SUE KING WITH ‘STOURCREST EROS’ BEAT ENGLAND TO THE
HATRICK.
The provisional winners of the Nantes National are once again Mel and Sue King from
Blandford Forum in Dorset. This is their 3rd National win having won previously
in 1987 and 1988 from Nantes. They obviously also lead section C. This year’s winner
a two year old blue chequer cock, has no relation to the previous winning pigeons, as the
old family has been replaced with mainly those from Gaby Vandenabeele from Belgium. These
are not direct but via M & D Evans of Whitely Bridge.
They have won the Midlands National twice with this family. Some Van Reets
are also kept. Mel and Sue have a family, which has all flown the nest none having taken
up the sport. They start the year with 36 widowhood cocks and 16 pairs of stock birds,
breeding between 50 and 80 youngsters. The couple is a true partnership sharing most of
the duties but having their own speciality. Note from author. How often of late have I
spoken to fanciers who have scored to be told that the name Mr and Mrs, or where there is
a lady involved, to be told the partnership is equal. This dedication and equal
partnership obviously leads to success. Sue’s
duties are mainly to bring on the young birds and to see to any training that the birds
need. This is rare as once racing starts it is only if the birds have had to miss a
weekend racing that the basket is needed. The
racing system is basic widowhood with no frills. The hens waiting when the cocks come
home. They sent 12 to the race and had 9 on the day with another two early next morning.
The leading bird arrived in heavy drizzle followed a few minutes later by another, which
will feature in the 1st half dozen. This
year they had 4 in the 1st 70 in the BBC Nantes and were 57th open
in the Central Southern Classic from Picauville. Just to illustrate the quality of the
birds and the excellence of the fanciers in last years Herstal NFC race you will recall
that one bird stood out from the result flying into Dorset and an hour ahead of anything
else in the area. You guess Mel and Sue King. Once again class pigeons and class fanciers
succeed. (Apart from that both are smashing people)
To start the sections with section A seems appropriate.
This is led by Bert Shepherd from Emsworth. Bert is now 62 and retired and hoping to
devote more time and energy into his racing. The pigeon is named ‘Lennox’ and is
100 % K O Nipious bred down from stock from Ken and Marjorie Kippax. His start in pigeons
was at the age of eight when his uncle bought him one from a street market for his
birthday. Since then almost without a break he has kept them in between building homes for
his family and his other breeding passion with Fallabelia Horses from Argentina. (Don’t tell them who won the match they may
kick you next time) Now in retirement he has taken to gardening, has koi carp and a
parrot. He flies mainly widowhood but is trying some hens on widowhood to the nest box for
the first time. He has had successes at Pau with the BICC being 1st British one
year and 2nd British with same bird the year after. He tried Palamos last year
sending four and with three home in race time. Long distance is his passion
The Section B leader and probable 2nd open is
Dave Johnson from Sholing. Dave has a teenage son from a previous relationship. He admits
to being a family man aged 45 years and a late starter in the children department with his
wife Julie they have two; Katie aged 4 and Ella 8 months. They have named the yearling
blue cock ‘ THE HOLIDAY COCK’. If as looks likely they win the car they will go
on a holiday in it. Dave was born in the NorthEast and still has many connections up
there. The family of pigeons was obtained from friend John Adam from Stokesley
(Middlesborough). Dave is a plumber by trade and stresses he not one of the cowboy ones
but time served and accredited.
About 20 racing birds are kept and this is the 1st
year he has tried widowhood. Today he paired all the birds up and now says it is the time
for the hens to show what they are worth. In his words ‘Now is the time for the
ladies to have a go’. For the record the breeding is Soojens. The sire is from a full
brother to the ‘Docherty Cock’ - 1st Up North Combine 28,000 birds,
and the dam is a half sister to the ‘Docherty Cock’
Onto Section D, with an old friend Paul Pym from Exmouth
way, leading the field. Paul flies in partnership with his wife Marilyn and Alan Hunter.
Paul has been out of the circuit for about 18 months due to moving house. He has always been one of those who ‘do things’,
secretary of this, organiser of that etc. He currently convoys for the Devon and Cornwall
Continental Club, helps at the NFC marking station and until recently ran clock stations
for the Classic and National.
The story behind this success is this. Paul ran a futurity
singleYB race from his loft last YB season and ended up with 6 birds, which either were
bought in or nobody wanted after the race. These are the only birds he has to race. He
sent five to this race. The one, which leads the section, was one he bought for the
futurity at a sale in Devon last spring. He has the birds on roundabout and noticed that
one of the hens was really ready for pairing so he put it with the cock at 6.30am on
marking day. In his words ‘ Both went mental in the nest box’. The pigeon homed very high and in from the sea with
another NFC bird, which sat out and dried off as at the time is was heavy drizzle.
Next is section E which is being led by Brian Keegan from
Sandhurst. He flies keeping his old partnership name, which he had when his father Robert
was alive. He has been up there with the best
for the last two or three years and asks that Sharron is mentioned. Without her he would
never be abkle to compete, as he would forget to send in his entries. He has set his
sights on the Nationals and Classics with his family of Janssens. This makes it one step
closer. The pigeon in this race is a
two-year-old light chequer on widowhood. Previously the same pigeon was 1st BBO
Federation (5000 plus birds) and had scored about 8 first in the club. The sire is ‘Slatey Reject’ gifted to him
by Herman Beverdam to whom he extends his thanks. The dam is a daughter of ‘Gemma’
1st open NIPA. Brian wants a thank you to all that helped at Farnborough
Marking. It went well with only a few delays. (Note
from author - I had to get this information off him in a hurry as Tony and Averil Hayward
were round with the Champers)
Mr and Mrs Wheatley lead section F , from Stoford, or to be
less formal Ray and Joyce. This is North East of Salisbury. Ray has been plagued with
heart trouble for many years and has undergone two major operations. The last was at the
turn of the year and he only came out about a month ago. This meant that Joyce had to take
on all the responsibility of the birds. (Well done Joyce)
Two other he wants to mention for their help. Sam Wilson and Julie from
Marlborough who were always on hand to help. The Wheatleys are from Hertfordshire moving
out to the sticks about 10 years ago. They
keep Janssens and fly 24 widowhood cocks and have 6 pairs of stock birds. Finally how
about this for perseverance by the pigeon. As a yearling hawked in the wing loosing most
secondaries on one wing and as a two year old hawked again loosing his tail. This year has
so far been lucky and won his last race with the Wilts and District Continental Club from
Picauville.
Sec. G. sees Ken Hillier take top spot for the first time, having said that he has
been close a time or two. The pigeons are based on the FVW lines that he purchased in 1985
and has since seen some good results through to Pau. This particular winner is a g.son of
a pigeon called “The Old Man” who was 1st sec 7th Open Pau
with the Classic and was also 11th NFC Pau the following year. The section
winner is a Blue Cheq cock inbred to “The Old Man” and raced on the w/h, he has
lost a few prizes through bad trapping but luck was on his side in this race. Ken works a
shift pattern and at times finds it hard doing the right thing with the pigeons and he
pointed out that his wife is one in a million and he could not race the pigeons without
her. There are a team of 17 w/h cocks and he does not entertain any other way of racing,
nothing is made too complicated. Ken did say that this cock had been attacked by a hawk as
a ylg so missed a season, then there was the foot and mouth of last year which prevented
the usual channel events. This year he has done the job by being a first p/winner prior to
this section win. By coincidence a half brother was also attacked by a hawk and is a
winner of 5th sec 72nd open Pau and 224th Open Nantes.
Sec. H. David MacGuire takes top honours in section H after clocking a 97 bred Blue
cock that ha flown very well through his career and is an honest pigeon that David is
pleased to own. He is known as “Fat Boy Slim” (the pigeon not David) because he
is always overweight, having said that it has not stopped him getting in amongst the
winners over the years. David sent four to this race and when he went to the club three
were in the clock with the other being at home when he returned. The breeding is through a
94 Janssen slatey cock that flew San Sebastian last year and the dam is a Blue w/f Tom
Larkins hen. David sends the pigeons every week to either the club or specialist races,
they are not left at home, they are racers and treated as such. In fact this cock went to
the Classic race three weeks prior to this Nantes race. This is only a small team of cocks
raced to a 16th loft and fed on Versele Laga Geri Plus. I was pleased to hear
David say that the National is going the right way with the new secretary and the future
for the club looks good.
Sec. I. The Marcellis are more often than not know as sprinters but in the case of
Trevor Durrows he saw them as a channel pigeon. Those views came good when one from this
family flew consistently well and was duly sent to this race to finish 1st
section I. The sire is our of “Bleke” with the dam being from the “Kline
Gust” lines of Hofkens. These are all raced on the w/h and although Trevor is keen on
the National events he still takes a keen interest and likes to support the local clubs. I
asked Trevor whether he raced any other system, he pointed out that due to his full time
work commitments he only uses the one system and does not race the hens at all. The
feeding system was of interest because Trevor does not set the feed to a system but
believes that you must feed to the way the pigeons are at the time, corns used are Versele
laga, Turbo and the new Diet high fat mix of Scheemaecker. Like all good fanciers Trevor
is always trying to improve and for this race he sent a mixture of new blood and the old
lines, the newer blood being the Marcellis that paid off. A point to add on the winner is
that as a ylg he was raced odd to a loft where a few spares were housed but was so
consistent Trevor moved him into the race team for the 2002 season where has been in the
clock on several occasion’s.
Sec. J. Dave Carter from Broseley in Shropshire clocked a Janssen cock from the Robert
Venus lines to lead this section. Dave purchased a team late breds direct from the Venus
lofts in 1989 and they have produced many good pigeons. This winner is a g.son of his 94
MNFC winner from Saintes and at 4yo has been one of those pigeons that races a bit erratic
but generally comes good when it matters. Last season this cock was 26th
section Brugges and a winner of several club cards. This is proving to be a good family of
pigeons that have bred club, fed, combine and National winners for Dave. The w/h loft is
32ft and only houses 32 cocks giving plenty of room for all, there is also a small team of
hens that are also raced on the w/h and paired to older cocks. Dave was telling me that
the hens are left with the darkness youngsters and they do not pair up and more
importantly do not moult. Like all section winners I am hoping that Dave will be sending
me info on these pigeons and the racing system for the National Bulletins in due course.
Sec. K. Saw H & W Hopkinson of Worksop lead the way with a 98 bred Blue cock from
the Claude Hetrue lines when crossed with the VDB. Pigeons have been in this family since
before the Great War and are responsible for the formation of the present local club.
Going back to the section winner known as “Lucky” which is a Stichlebaut from
the Hetru lines when crossed into the VDB pigeons. These pigeons are raced on the natural
and the hens are more often than not the best of the bunch that are made up of 18prs
racers which are more than the lofts generally house. It is always nice to talk to the
back garden fanciers and at 72yrs is still enjoying the racing.
Sec. L. was won by Warren Robertson who is no stranger to the National list having
been 2nd section 4th open Saintes then the following year 1st
section L 7th Open from the same point also 1st Lancs Combine with
“Dark Destroyer”. This is a 3yo Dark Cock raced on the w/h and has won 3rd
Vire, 4th Messac 1st Yeovil that was two weeks prior to this
National event and is a g.son of “Dark Destroyer”. The breeding is Delbar of the
J.L. Roberts lines when crossed into the Cattrysse lines of Les Davenport. This winner is
of medium size, apple bodied and a strong back which is what Warren looks for in his
channel winning pigeons. At this time of the year these pigeons are broken down on a
fortnightly basis and are raced on Bucktons w/h mixture. Warren called in to see us on the
Monday prior to this race and when talking to him you get the impression that he knows
what he wants and how to get the best out of the pigeons, no messing about just straight
forward work. I wonder if he will call again before the next National race.
I would like to see a few reports dropping through the letterbox in future weeks on
the winners accompanied by a few photo’s, remember you are racing your pigeons
against the best competition in the UK so why not give full credit to your birds via the
National Bulletins.
The committee wish to relay their best wishes to Fred Sharman who is in hospital at
the moment and wish him a speedy recovery.
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
