National Bulletin
Saintes 2002 Grand National Review
Report by Les.J.Parkinson & Catherine Cooper
The NFC race from Saintes saw and entry of just short of 4,000 that were unfortunately
held over due to poor weather on the Saturday. However they were up at 6.10am on Sunday
morning with the first bird reported being on the Isle of White, but as we know with the
National the times keep coming in and the result can quite easily change from one hour to
the next.
Our President called in on the Sec’s for this race to see how the system works
and I am told that he tested the waters off the North East coast but I would think someone
was pulling my leg on that one. Being a Southerner and all that warm weather down there I
should think the North seas would be too much for our Bill.! The fanciers who I have been
talking to were surprised at the time it took the pigeons and feel that the pigeons must
have encountered something along the way. However as with any race the longer flying
sections saw a limited number reach home on the night but they arrived in good condition
with the verifications starting early next morning.
Probable 1st Sect 1st Open Saintes NFC
1st Section. G. 1st Open is won by Ron Davies of Bristol and thanks to John Taylor for
gathering the information, John is also going to get me a few photos and further info for
a future Bulletin. Ron clocked a yearling Blue Hen now named “Bristol Blue” at
4.42pm to gain this top result. Ron was not expecting the birds so quickly and it was his
wife Sandra who noticed the hen desperately trying to get back to her 12 day old eggs.
Saintes National has always been a good race for Ron as in 2000 he was 4th open and the
year before 22nd open so it was third time lucky. Over 12 x 1sts have been won in the old
bird racing during the last season. The winner was paired in February and reared a single
youngster and has only been sitting round’s of egg’s since. She raced from
Guernsey, Picauville, Messac, Nantes and two weeks before the National Saintes with the
Bristol Fed where she took 10hrs to be 2nd club. The breeding is based on Ron’s own
family of Janssen Van Den Bosche with a Wildersmeerch cross from Barry MeNicholas. Feeding
is a good widowhood mix supplied by Nigel Templer. The racing lofts are made up of a 24ft
loft with two sections on widowhood and one natural. Ron is a dedicated fancier and to
achieve his goal the winner was trained every day from the coast 55mls the week before
basketing. Ron started the season with 15 widowhood cocks and 7prs of naturals and very
few have been lost. “Bristol Blue” arrived in great condition and credit must go
to the convoyers. We must not forget Ron’s wife Sandra always plays an active part
with cleaning out and clocking when Ron’s is away and is therefore a great help.
Probable 1st Section A
1st Section. A. J. Palmer of Brighton who unfortunately we were unable to contact, so
why not send some info and a couple of photos for a future Bulletin.
Probable 1st Section B
1st Section. B. goes to Eric Wiltshire from the Isle of Wight with a Blue hen bred
from a Luc Geerinckx cock and a Romani Janssen hen. This has been a good steady hen who in
prior to this race flew Cholet, Nantes, Exeter & Saintes. The build up for this race
was 100mls on the 6th July then a slow build up which her feeding. She was trained
everyday from 12mls until the 16th July, she was then left to run together. Eric has had a
fair season with 1st 2nd 3rd Exeter. 1st Picauville. 1st 3rd Cholet. 1st & 6th Cholet.
1st Messac. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Tiverton. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Cholet. 3rd Bergerac. 1st 2nd
3rd 4th Exeter followed by 1st 2nd 3rd from the same race point. Eric said “In all I
feel that I have had a good old bird season at East Cowes FC, the old birds have been
coming well for me.”
Probable 1st Section C
1st Section. C. is won by a regular partnership on the National scene Staddon Bros
with a Dark Cheq ylg hen known as “Perrott Dot”. She was sent to this Saintes
race on the partnerships celibate hen system and has flown consistently. Her sire is a
Velvet Dark Cheq Camphius Janssen bred by the Ponderosa Stub and is sire of several
winners. The Dam is a Dark Cheq Hen “Pauline” a daughter of “Champion
Perrott Pau” 1st Section 1st Open CSCFC Bergerac, 1st Section 3rd Open BBC Bordeaux
Nat, she is dam of numerous winners. “Perrott Paul” is a g.son of Frank
Tasker’s “Filmstar”. The partnership are very proud of the fact that this
is their 17 x 1st section in the NFC. The performances of the Bros go on and on and one
wonders how long they can continue to take so many top honours year after year, well done.
Probable 1st Section D
1st Section. D. Henry Franks of Tiverton, Devon, timed a yearling hen on her 5th
channel race of the season to win 1st section D, probable 10th open. She had previously
flown Messac twice, Nantes, and three weeks ago she was at Saintes where she won 2nd club
- beaten by a loft mate. She is a Van den Bosch, her grand dam was 1st sect Pontorson NFC
and her sire has always been stock, from P Canham of Norwich. Henry has a small garden
loft and started the season with 16 old birds all flown on the roundabout system.
Probable 1st Section E
1st Section. E. D. Reid from Weybridge in Surrey and thanks to Mrs Reid for her help.
This is a Blue w/h cock that is a double g.son of “De Rappe” from Louella. The
original Brasspenning pairing have now produced 20 winners including 4th open YB and 4th
Nantes both with the BBC. The information on this one is limited because of work
commitments but Mrs Reid is going to have a word and maybe in the next few weeks we will
be able to enlighten you more on this winner.
Probable 1st Section F
1st Section. F. goes to the ever present partnership of Crowley & Green who are
far from being strangers to the big race results. In fact this is the third time in the
last four races from Saintes with the NFC that they have topped the section which is good
going at this level of competition. The section winner is a Dark Cheq ylg cock bred from a
stock pair given to them by Brian Leadbeatter & Sons of Rugley who are well know for
their excellent performances at the highest level. This is from the FVW lines and this is
the first time that Anna & Richard have raced them in the old bird races so the
results are showing early. It sounds as if these lofts really test the birds because this
cock has had six channel races this season and three weeks ago was 2nd fed at Cholet. The
partnership are having another good season with many excellent results including being 2nd
at San Sebastian a few weeks ago to the very likeable Stan Dangerfield.
Probable 1st Section H
1st Section. H. was won by twins Robert & Peter Montila with a 4yo Pencil w/f w/h
cock that was also 5th section Saintes in 2000 and is not a flash in the pan having been
amongst the prize winners on many occasion’s. The build up has been Falaise with the
club then into Nantes National and then Saintes. This is the third time that Robert &
Peter have won the section at Saintes and have also won it at Nantes which highlights just
how good their pigeons are. The sire is a double g.son of the legendary “Pest”
of Geoff Kirkland and this is not his first good performance from France having already
won from Bergerac. The dam is an Alfons Bauwens that raced well both inland and from
across the channel. The p/ship have a a great season with the UBI in the channel races and
from what I can gather from these rather quiet lads is that they are more than pleased.
Probable 1st Section I
1st Section. I. Sees another good performance for the pigeons of Trevor Durrows who
took the rubber off a Cheq w/f Verheye cock. This is from the Oude Merckx/Rainbow lines
with the sire having won well all along the line and was 9th open Bergerac before going to
stock having won app £4,000 in National racing. The dam has always been a stock hen being
bred from a very good Verheye cock that won well in National racing. Trevor likes to
compete in all the National evens but also likes to support the local clubs as much as
possible and to achieve this has a very good silent partner in his wife who helps out a
great deal with the pigeons.
Probable 1st Section J
1st Section. J. is won with one from the old winning lines of the Busschaert family
for David Ellams and comes out of the “Little Black” & “Pluto”
lines of Brian Campion and Turner Bros. David said that he has always been pleased with
this family because they are a good all round hard working family. David is pleased after
a hard year when many pigeons have been lost by fanciers from all over the Country, these
loses will take a few years to get back because there are many good pigeons not in their
lofts. In fact David pointed out that he has lost more this year than in the previous four
or five put together and like the rest of us David cannot understand why. David started in
1971 with the Newcombe pigeons before moving onto the Busschaerts through working with
Brian Campion. The section winner is a Blue w/f cock that has previously won 11th section
Nantes 140th Open NFC. 5th section BBC Nantes and now this result. He also flew the two
Belgium races in 2001 from Herstal where he finished 4th sec 170th Open and Bruges 11th
section.
Probable 1st Section K
1st Section. K. is won with a very game performance by a Blue w/h cock racing to the
lofts of Peter Hagland flying a distance of nearly 531mls on his fourth channel race this
year. This cock is no stranger to the longer races having won Le Ferte Bernard as a ylg
and was also 2nd Alecon which all go towards Peter being h/p in the Midland South Road
Classic. Peter also clocked a good pooled pigeon in the MNFC Bergerac 596mls 14hrs 17mins
on the wing making this a good double. The sire of this winner is also a winner having
topped the fed proving to be a good buy at a breeder/buyer from Stuart Pitman. The dam is
an Andre Berte Janssen bred by Ray Bloor of Rossington. Peter was telling me that this
cock has been boiling and is in a loft with another cock where he has been dominating.
Peter put his hen in on Wednesday night and then on Thursday morning put in another cock
making three cocks and one hen, this fired him up even more and proved a good move.
Probable 1st Section L
1st Section. L. sees a good Blue Dordin hen of Derek Lawton’s gain another top
prize having already won 2nd sec 108th Open over 9,000 birds in the 2002 Nantes National
and has also won 2nd club 8th fed Mangotsfield, 1st Audlem 600ml club Nantes. Derek races
his pigeons for most of the season on the roundabout but they had been paired up for the
longer races and this hen was sent sitting 10 days. Derek was telling me that when she
returned she was in excellent condition and even having a big gap in her wing after
casting in the basket still made good on the day. She is bred from the nest mate to 1st
Sec Bordeaux, 1st club 6th fed 13th Comb Niort when paired to a hen that was 2nd Audlem
600ml club in a channel race. The breeding goes back to the Le Producer/Stan Biss Dordins.
She was prepared for this race with 4 x 30ml single up tosses while Derek was training the
young birds.
This report was hard work because of the holdover and we can only apologies to anyone
for any information that may have been missed along the way. Further information will be
added to the Bulletins as and when it is received, if you are a section of open winner in
any of the national FC races why not drop me a line with photos and info.. Nice to hear
that Fred Sharman is once again attending the marking station after his recent spell of
ill health, we all wish him well. Doreen called to say that there is still a prize to be
collected for the Saintes marking day, the ticket is Blue number 283 with the security
number being AH 46079. Thanks to Catherine Cooper for her help with this report, it’s
not easy after a holdover.
Probable 2nd Open and 1st Section F.
The 2nd time - 2nd open and 1st section - Not only the fancier but also the same bird
- What a fantastic pigeon. Paul Kendal from Wantage is nearly there again with
‘Morning Glory’ he arrived at 7.30am. Paul is married to Helen and they are a
smashing couple and deserve the accolades that this performance will heap on them. He is a
carpenter /builder and they live in a lovely place. Paul spends many an hour walking the
downs with their black Labrador dog. Beware this dog does not like visitors. But enough of
the idyllic conversations back to the pigeon. He is a 5 year old widowhood cock a g.son of
Holloway Boy’ which won the NFC Pau for Paul in 1992. The dam is out of a Daughter of
‘Jane’ (Geoff Cooper) He arrived at 7.20am for his 2nd spot in 2000 and was sent
to San Sebastian in 2001 being 82nd open. Paul had intended to retire him to stock but
decided to go for the diploma for three times in 1st 100, which he believes has only been
done about 15 times before. This bird deserves not just a diploma but a special place in
the NFC archives. For the analysts he was prepared for the race with a Club Picauville,
Classic Picauville, BBC Nantes, and the NFC Nantes.
Probable 3rd Open and 1st Section E
Kenny Hine, a stalwart of the NFC committee, takes this spot. He tells me it is now
about 14 years since he was first elected. Having retired 12 months ago to spend more time
with his wife Lillian and his birds (in that order he tells me) it seems to be paying off.
The birds are mainly natural but he has been experimenting with widowhood for the last
three years. His stock is mainly of Titmuss and Fear Brothers origin with the odd
introduction of a good bird from outside. The one that scored however is one of six
youngsters brought in from Tony Hayward of Sandhurst origin to implement the middle
distance team. Kenny has all his sights on Palamos and Pau and all his team are geared up
for these races. The bird was then in with the team stood the pace and seemed to like it.
He went to a 400-mile with the BICC and then the next week with the NFC Nantes and had 9
hours. Kenny is not much on the paperwork side as he keeps pigeons for the joy of race
days. Although grateful for his 3rd spot he was as pleased with his second arrival
‘Charville Kathy’ it is her 3rd time at the distance being his 1st arrival in
2000 from Pau and from San Sebastian in 2001. She has two out of three in the 1st 100 for
the diploma.
Probable 1st Section A
We now go down to the South coast and to Brighton. The lofts of Peter and Leon
McMahon. Peter originally hails from London moving to Brighton when he was 14. He became
friendly with a school friend who kept pigeons and from there his interest never stopped.
Racing from his current place started in 87. He is grateful to his wife Teresa who even
though she has no real interest, lets out the birds when he cannot because of work. The
pigeon is a slatey 2-year-old on widowhood. As a side issue Peter hopper feeds his
widowers and never breaks them down. To continue - he is bred down from a cock, which was
from the Ponderosa and via Kenny Abbott. Whilst mentioning Kenny he would like to tell him
‘thanks for the encouragement and help over the years.’ The cock has the Janseen
Merx Cock in the pedigree. Which was paired to a Verhey hen owned by Reg Sarre from
Blackpool. The cock is a nightmare in the loft he wants to fight all in sight and will try
and claim any nest box, which takes his fancy. This year he has had some real work. To the
BICC one week the next LSECC Le Ferte Bernard the next, then BICC, then LSECC Tours, then
after a weeks rest NFC Nantes, then next to BICC Bruges and so to Pau.
Probable 1st Section C
Alfie James from Poole fills this spot with a 2-year-old cock on widowhood. He is Jim
Smith Wildermerche via Louella. He was one of six he bought in as youngsters. These were
for the distance as all his others are Van Reets. He has noticed that on normal days the
Van Reets are well in front but when it gets tougher the Wildermerches catch them up.
Alfie is a retired docker married to Doreen with two sons neither of who showed any
interest in the pigeons. Alfie was up and out at 5am waiting but ‘sods law’
meant that he was not looking when the pigeon dropped at 9.10am.
Probable 1st Section D
Down towards the West Country and ‘Hawk Country’ at Exeter we find Richard
and Malcolm Wellington. With west in the wind the performance is excellent - timing in at
11.30 am. The partnership is Richard the son and his father Malcolm. Malcolm the father
and his father before him are the pigeon fancier lines. He hopes that Jordan his
5-year-old son will continue. He has a loft of his own and Richard has just weaned 6
youngsters, which are now his sons ‘race team’. The birds are flown roundabout,
which means that no training is necessary. 3 times 10 miles at the start of the season is
all they get. Why? The answer is the hawks. They have a pair of peregrines in the church
tower with a web cam for the kids to view. Do they ever show the pigeons being torn apart
for feeding the young? The pigeon is a 6-year-old prepared all year for this race. He has
been ‘over the water’ 19 times being 97th open Classic Pau. On that occasion he
had a stopped clock and had to cycle 5 miles to Paul Pyms to time in. (The children had
the car). He wants to say a thank-you to the girls still at home, his wife Martina and
daughters Karraleigh and Gemma for their support. He realises as we all do the patience
our partners have to have with a pigeon fancier. He has now attained one ambition (section
from Pau) He next two are to time in race time from Palamos and to win NFC.
Probable 1st Section G
1st section G goes to Dave Rivers with a pigeon bred out of a pair of Van Geels from
Louella that were later lost off the loft. This pigeon has had quite an unsettled life
because Dave was telling me that he has moved a few times and this section winner has
flown to four different lofts, that’s how he has kept himself fit Dave. Dave is no
stranger to competitive races having won 4th & 10th Open Pau in the CSCFC. 8th Pau
NFC. 1st & 2nd Bergerac in the Amal. Last season he finished around the top 50 in the
San Sebastian race. There are only 12prs kept to race on the Natural system, Dave has
tried widowhood but prefers to race them natural. A mark of a good man is knowing how far
he can push the pigeons and in Dave’s case he can do just that because not only has
he done it on the south but also on the North route. He has successfully raced to 550mls
up in the far North and Pau to the South which cannot be easy.
Probable 1st Section H
1st section H goes to one of the legends in the sport S.G.Biss otherwise known as Jim
who is no stranger to the leader board when it comes to the longer races. I have only
spoken to Jim a couple of times and he has some very strong views on the sport that I
shall take on board for a future article. For this race Jim clocked a Blue cock known as
“Emboli” who was bred in 1998 and flew San Sebastian last year and has also been
to Pau before. Jim faxed me through the pedigree of this section winner and for those who
follow pedigree breeding you can see and appreciate just how well this one is bred. The
breeding takes in such pigeons as “Cubit” 1st Grand National. “Lama”
twice 1st National Marsailles. “Titan” 7th National Pau. “Vend” 1st
National FC Pau and probably the best breeder ever owned by Jim. “Favori” whose
National and International performances are legendary. I would liked to have added more on
this breeding but space and time are always limited on these reports. However I must say
that when it comes to distance racing the pedigrees do not get much better than this
section winner.
Probable 1st Section I
1st section .I. sees the ever present Brian Deacon at the top of the list a place that
he has been used to being for quite some time. Brian took the rubber off a Light Blue
Chequer Hen sent sitting a nest of small youngsters and her cock starting to show her his
attentions. This is from the old Pol Bostyn lines that Brian had some years ago and later
sent a team of them down to Fred Bloor which were blended into his own Gits family. This
has proven very successful and they have produced many top pigeons. This section winner is
also aunt to 1st section 3rd open San Sebastian. This is the time of year when Brian
really enjoys his racing because the longer races are the ones that he strives for and no
one can deny the fact that he is never far away and achieves his goal with ease.
Probable 1st Section J
The Fowler family lead the way in section J, the family being brothers Anthony and
Paul with dad Roy doing the jobs that they don’t want to do, or that’s the way
it sounds and not forgetting her in doors who does all the brewing. Anyway this section
winner is a Cheq w/h cock from the Jim Biss Julian Mattjys pigeons so they are no
strangers to the longer races. They have only had these pigeons for about three years so
are well pleased with the early results shown. The preparation was a trip to the Nantes
National where he had 12hrs on the wing and by the way this is the p/ships first attempt
at this race point and Anthony said that it was “Most definitely worth it”. The
lads were waiting for the pigeons from the Moorlands sprint race and as they were dropping
this one followed so it was a quick change of loft and into the clock. They have had a
good season and in the seven inland races the lowest that they have been is 16th against
as many as 4,000 plus birds. I shall be compiling a full report on this winning team over
the next few weeks so keep an eye out to see if you can latch onto a winning system.
We mention good performances early in the article, this is one such performance, Brian
Denny flying 738mls is 1st section K probable 5th Open. This addition to his many wins is
with a 6yo Dark Cock called “Tuff Nut” because the harder it gets the better he
comes. On the sire’s side the breeding is down from “Dark Peron” a top
racing and stock cock of the past for Brian. Then on the dams side we have the Van Bruanes
that are known for keeping up when it gets to the longer events. Brian has never shyed
away from sending this cock have been to the following distances in the years mentioned.
As a 2yo 470 & 573mls. 3yo 2 x 470mls and 573mls. 4yo 412-470-573mls. 5yo with the F
& M only went to San Sebastian and as a 6yo he has had three inland race then into
412mls before going to Pau. Brian was telling me that he has now retired this cock to the
stock loft even though he does like them to race in their 7th year. Michael Spencer is
another who is no stranger to the winners enclosure in these races having added 1st sec L
and a top 30 position for this race. This is with a 5yo sent sitting 6 day old youngsters.
He has had great success in the Lancs & Yorks Cont with the following, 15th Nantes,
4th San Sebastian, 4th Nantes. He is a g.son of “Border Duke” who had seven
National prizes and a full brother to “Border Prince” 1st NFC Nantes. The sires
side saw 12th Nantes, 3rd Pau and 3rd Saintes to win the ave in the Lancs & Yorks club
and on the dams side there is 1st & 6th WESRC Dax over 500mls. Michael was saying that
he sent this cock to the Nantes NFC and feels that it put him right for this race where he
is pooled to £50 section and £10 open. An added bonus is that he is also entered into
the Single Bird Greater Distance club and is closely related to the cock that won the
section in 97. I have quite a bit of other info on these pigeons that I shall use in
future articles. Well done to all the winners in what turned out to be a hard race after
the pigeons have had so many tail winds during the season.
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
