Sponsored by FERGUS WILSON

Report by Cameron Stansfield & Les Parkinson of www.elimarpigeons.com

Derek Human’s National winner, now named ‘Any Distance’. She also won a Certificate of Merit in the process and this was the NINTH time she has been clocked in NFC races. What a hen!

Following a one-day holdover the NFC Tarbes Grand National birds were liberated into a light and variable wind at 11am last Saturday. With the well-documented poor weather prevailing over parts of central and northern France, the Channel and most parts of England, this was perhaps a surprise to some but as the race unfolded it was clear that it was going to be a great success. There have been many fine performances put up this 2007 season but none have been better than the performance of the NFC’s race controller, Brian Long, in getting this one right when an error of judgment on his part could have led to a disaster. We know the pressure was on and it was a worrying time for Brian but his early starts and diligence certainly paid off.

This race, following the pattern of the earlier National races of 2007, also attracted some healthy sponsorship, on this occasion from Fergus Wilson (former National winning fancier and now a property tycoon); Cropper & Naum Construction Ltd., Sponsor of 1st Section D - £100; Richard Howey, sponsor of 1st Section H – Photograph of Winner; W. A. Gough & Son, sponsor of 1st Section L - £100; TiPES, Sponsor of 1st Open - TIPES Electronic Clock System.

The birdage breakdown by marking station was: Alveley -196 birds/48 members; Ash - 525/86; Ashby - 208/35; Bell Inn - 654/96; Crewe - 432/124; Exeter- 183/53; Frome - 511/108; G Shelford - 558/104; Sheffield- 210/53. Race Totals - 3,477/707.

With the birds roosting in France at the end of the first day, it was a question of whether the rain would move away sufficiently early on the second morning to allow the fittest and most motivated birds to be on their way early. It did and at eleven minutes past six the National winner was home.

The honour of winning 1st Section B (by 133ypm), 1st Open, flying 540 miles, goes to Derek Human of Petersfield, who has been trying to win the greatest prize on the calendar ever since he started with pigeons 53 years ago. Derek timed a beautiful 5y chequer hen now named ‘Any Distance’, who was sent feeding a 9-day old youngster. She is of Cattrysse lines being out of a pair of yearlings that had been raced to Lamballe, whilst both her grandmother and grandfather have been good racers and breeders. ‘Any Distance’ went to the first NFC race, then she was around about 21st in the hard CSCFC Cholet race. She was fed Willsbridge Irish Mix, Red Band and a bit of Hormoform. Gemthrapax was added to the corn once a week but the birds get nothing in the water – it is simply changed twice a day, especially if it is warm. This hen is an outstanding National winner bearing in mind the race suited the longer fliers. She was has now won a NFC Certificate of Merit for being in the first 100 of the Open 3 times (what a way to do it!), and she has won other positions including 18th Open Old Hens Chale. Indeed this is the NINTH time she has been clocked in NFC races.

Derek Human.

Derek himself is a previous winner of BBC Nantes, CSCFC Lamballe and Avranches and has had 4 x 2nds but this is the one that he was after with his small team. As mentioned, the winner is a Cattrysse and Derek was saying that in the 70s and early 80s, he used to set Les Davenport’s clock and verify his pigeons. Les told him that if he kept trying, he too would one day win this race. Furthermore, Les gave him 6 young birds, which is from where his family mainly originates from. His hen was in absolutely immaculate condition and may now be sent to NFC Saintes. He said he is very impressed with the new transporters and added that he has always found our secretary, Sid, very obliging, whether it has been during a race or outside of the race period. Derek would also like to thank the Lion Brewery marking station markers who are very efficient and geared up properly to do the job. Throughout our conversation he kept saying that he is over the moon now that his dream has come true. Sportingly, he is to donate the youngster his National winner was racing home to to the NFC online auction, which can be accessed via www.elimarpigeons.com. Well done Derek on your fantastic performance. You and your hen join the list of some of the great names of the sport to have won this special race.

The home of the National winner.

Bert Shepherd of Emsworth, flying 529 miles, once again wins 1st Section A in the Grand National, this time with a 4y dark chequer cock. He is a Ko Nipius down from Ken & Marjorie Kippax birds which were purchased in 1978. His sire is ‘Jake’, winner of 2nd Club 18th Open Seaton South Coast Fed, 1st Exeter, 3rd Club 10th Open South Coast Fed, 17th South East Combine Bergerac, 40th Section Palamos BBC. He is closely related to Bert’s pigeons which won top positions in the Tarbes 2005 race. A previous winner of 9th Section A 25th Open BBC Bordeaux, 10th Section Nantes NFC, 14th Section 68th open BBC Messac, he is raced on widowhood and this year he has only had Cholet NFC and Fougeres NFC. He was fed a widowhood mix followed by a seed mix, with Twister Oil and beer yeast on the corn, and as with all birds at this loft, was fed individually in his boxes. The team have to fly one hour am and pm and only get the odd training toss if Bert thinks they are lacking a bit. They have nothing in the water at all and are only wormed once per year. Bert had 15 out of 20 home by 11.50am with 9 in the clock, the last being at 9.24am, and he said they were all in perfect condition. His winner may now go to NFC Saintes.

Bert Sheppard.

F & J Halstead of Kington Magna win 1st Section C, making this their ninth NFC section win but the first one at this distance of 548 miles. This 2004-bred blue pied Van Den Bosche/Grondelaar widowhood cock has been a consistent performer, particularly over the last 2 seasons, and his performances suggested a longer distance might be to his liking. In 2006 he was flown north and started with 3rd Club from Stratford; he was then 7th Section 51st Open BBC Carlisle from 1,120 birds and when the Channel became viable again, he was switched round to take 244th Open from BBC Messac, 1,781 birds. This season he was the loft’s first timer from BBC Poitiers winning 12th Section (316 birds) 62nd Open 1,563 birds from 329 miles. Prepared with this race in mind, he tucked into at least a dozen peanuts per day for the final 8 days before basketing. The nestmate to this section winner was donated to the Glastonbury Breeder/Buyer sale in 2004 and was purchased by R & J Wickham of Street, and in the Littlehampton race she won 1st West of England Combine, beating 5,200 pigeons. The dam of this pair of winners is the full sister to John’s ace performers in the mid nineties, Tenee and Rocketman, winners of 20 firsts, from the brilliant pair Holmshaw and Perfection. She also bred a fed winner in 2001 from 1,924 birds. The sire was purchased at the Shirland Breeder/Buyer sale in 2001 (which he won) and was bred by the ace North East partnership of Graham, Gilchrist & Brennan from their Van Den Bosche/Jan Grondelaar bloodlines. He has sired several club winners and the combine winner and now 1st Section NFC.

John Halstead.

We now move to the report from Andy Cridland on the probable winner of Section D, flying 551 miles, none other than Brian ‘Ringo’ Parkhouse, no stranger to section wins over the last 10 years. Andy writes: ‘Although Ringo has had somewhat of a lean time by his very own high standards (I can assure you he has still been thereabouts), you cannot keep a good ‘un down long. This section win to add to a long list, happens to be a bit of a family affair, regards the birds. Ringo’s winner, a 7y Staf Van Reet, medium-sized, apple-bodied, with a super racer/breeder eye, comes from birds purchased from Brownlee & Ward. He is a very consistent cock, who although enjoying his first section win, has never been far away. This cock is also the sire of the probable 2nd Section D for Andy Cridland. Add to that Ringo’s second timer, probable 4th Section D, is a sister to the winner, and it is, as I said, a family affair. What a family! Ringo’s management system is all so simple: feed, water, train, but train hard. No additives here guys! He has used the many Picauville races this year to sharpen his team and he timed 6 out of 10 on the day, great flying in the strong south-west wind. He would like to thank the NFC for the excellent condition of the birds on return. Well done Ringo.’

Brian Parkhouse.

George & Maureen Bates of Gravesend in Kent, flying 566 miles, win 1st Section E with a 4y silver mealy cock, which was nice to hear as when I spoke to George after a section success last year he was enthusing about his team of silver mealies that he expected big things of. On the one side he is a grandson of Lennox, a Jan Aarden who was 1st Section 16th Open San Sebastian and on the hen’s side he goes back to Fear Bros’ Latin. George was saying that the first 5 birds he timed were all of similar breeding to this. The section winner scored out of NFC Sennen Cove last year and Tarbes the year before, and is one of those you can rely on. When he dropped from Cholet, George’s brother remarked that he looked so well he must have just come out of the loft, which augured well for this tilt at Tarbes. George feeds a mix put together for him by Brian Wall at Gem, which is heavy in maize but also has 30% peas. The birds get one eggcup full of the mix and one eggcup full of cribs maize in preparation for the races. They are on this same mix all the time and they also get 5 peanuts each time. A few weeks ago, George was telling me about his pigeon which waited for any peanuts to be spilt onto the floor of the loft from other nest boxes. Well, this is the pigeon who collected those extra peanuts. George had 8 of his 10 when I spoke to him on the winning day and his winner may now go back to BICC Tarbes. He said that he is pleased to see Derek Human win because he works his socks off for the sport so many congratulations go to Derek from George & Maureen.

Maureen & George Bates.

Leading the way in Section F, flying 575 miles, are the partnership of Anna Crowley & Richard Green who were amongst the many who resigned from the National Flying Club last year. Having concentrated on racing with the CSCFC, BBC and BICC this season, they found they missed the thrill of racing with the National and decided to rejoin last week. They were delighted to time a 2y cheq hen to take the section honours. She was a gift bird bred for them by their old friend Jack ‘The Lad’ Robinson of Marlborough from his Eric Fox stock. She is flown on a jealously based roundabout system and had previously flown BICC Falaise, CSCFC Fougeres and Cholet before being re-paired, given several 30 mile tosses whilst sitting and sent to Tarbes sitting 12 days. Richard and Anna would also like to congratulate Ernie Smith and Darren Baker on their marvellous performance in winning the BBC Palamos race on the same day and apologise for spoiling the party by pipping them for 1st place in the section from Tarbes.

Crowley & Green.

Brian Sheppard of Trowbridge, flying 569 miles, sent 2 and clocked the 2 within 23 minutes of each other, his first bird being good enough to give him yet another Section G win (no surprise there then!). This bird is a 2y red grizzle cock bred out of a daughter of ‘The Red Barcelona’ when he was paired to a daughter of 1st National Narbonne and was a gift from Brian Long. The other side of the pedigree is Brian’s old Truman Dicken lines that come down through ‘Bartholomew’ and ‘Mrs BB’ and also Fred Griffin’s red hen ‘Langley’. Brian, who is now 72, began racing as a 10 year old, and nowadays he gets help from his good friend Kevin Emery. He feeds Gerry Plus and Superstar Plus, gives fresh grit every day and treats for canker two days each month. His section winner, who was on widowhood, flew to the coast as a youngster, then as a yearling flew Fraserburgh on the north before being turned around when the ban was lifted to fly St Malo and Saintes on the south. This year he has had 3 channel races with the NFC then into Tarbes. This is the first time he has scored and he returned in ‘absolutely excellent’ condition, so much so that Brian is thinking of sending him to the Tarbes International. Brian was saying that 2nd Section to him was Chris House who has been the one to beat of late because he has been flying so well having won two sections this year with the BBC and CSCFC. He said Chris is one of the up and coming stars. Brian added that he is indebted to Brian Long because the class of pigeon that he has had from him has been the very best.

Brian Sheppard with Chris Howse and Kevin Emery holding 1st, 2nd & 6th Section G. Photo by Robert Brown.

Richard Beaumont of Great Yarmouth, flying 649 miles, wins 1st Section H with a 6y widowhood cock, the lines being Eddy & Ronny Verboven Brothers in Belgium. This pigeon was 1st East Anglian Fed, 2nd East Anglian Classic Montlucon in 2005, and this year was 6th East of England CC Etampes. This was always going to be this cock’s last race so naturally he has now been retired. Fed on Gerry Plus Versele-Laga and Gem supplements, he was in very good condition on arrival and had lost little bodyweight. This success follows on from Richard’s 38th Open Fougeres NFC earlier this season. He has been a fancier for ten years and his ambition is just to keep winning. Richard would like to thank Clayton Oxborough and Keith Harris for their support and his fellow club members for their congratulations. His returns were 100%. A terrific performance.

Richard Beaumont.

C. Leadbeater & Sons of Rugeley win 1st Section I flying 664 miles. Brian and his brothers clocked a 3y widowhood chequer cock who was bred by the Padfield Family, the sire being their great racer Albert and the dam being a hen the Leadbeaters loaned to the Padfields specifically to pair to Albert. She is a full sister to their champion cock ‘48’ who was 5 times in the first ten of the MNFC. This pairing was decided on at a presentation that they were at 4 years ago so it’s lovely to see a long term plan coming off. Their section winner flew a couple of land races at the start of the season then Cholet and Picauville and Brian remarked that prior to Tarbes this cock was exercising well and even staying out on his own. He has been in the clock a few times but not been the first pigeon and he had never had a night out, always arriving fresh from his races. When he arrived from Tarbes he landed on the loft and then struck off again, did a few circles and then went in. He was in very good condition and Brian said that in his opinion you cannot get them any better than they come out of the National transporter, adding you get what you pay for. He is undecided where to send him next as he does not want to throw him away so he will look how he is moulting in the wing. This loft had 6 out of 7 in good time and their immediate aim is to try and win the Section in the upcoming Saintes National. They would like to extend their congratulations to the race controller and convoyer, who got it right.

The Leadbeaters of Rugeley.

Two brothers who have been racing together for 53 years, George & Graham Dudley of Stoke-on-Trent, flying 687 miles, win 1st Section J with a 4y chequer pied cock racing on widowhood, this being the first time they have tried the system. He is a Jan Aarden x van der Wegan, one side of the breeding being through a pigeon given to them by Tony Roberts. He has not won before; as a 2y he came from Saintes at teatime on the Monday and last year from Saintes he came on the day. Tarbes was his 6th race of 2007, the others being two Mangotsfields, Wincanton, NFC Fougeres and NFC Cholet. He arrived from Tarbes looking brilliant but had evidently been through some heavy showers. They will probably leave him at home for the rest of the season but there is an outside chance he will go to NFC Saintes. The brothers mix their own corn made up of maize, beans (they get a hopper of them but don’t seem to eat many), wheat, rice, sunflower, hemp and rape, and they also give peanuts. Electrolytes and malt vinegar are occasionally added to the water and the birds are treated for worms, cocci and canker. Some of the brothers’ other top performances have been 1st Section 29th Open NFC Saintes, 2nd Section 5th Open NFC Saintes, 3rd Open MNFC Nantes and 3rd Open Angouleme. From Tarbes they sent 3 and had 2 home by 10.27am.

Brian Denney of Strensall near York once again wins 1st Section K and in so doing is once again 5th Open in the Grand National, remarkable flying at 748 miles. Fittingly, his timer is a grandson of Tuff Nutt, his other winner of 5th Open. He is also a grandson of Classic Lad, who won 1st Northern Classic Saintes 573 miles. Brian’s next two in the clock were his brothers followed by a half brother who was 2nd Section last year at Bordeaux. The parents are still in the stock loft so Brian said that he should be alright for a year or two - with a bit of luck! The winning pigeon is a 2y dark pied cock flown on widowhood and fed Versele Laga Gerry Plus and Superstar Plus, Hormoform, peanuts and hemp. Nothing at all goes in the water but they are cankered about once per month for two days. It had not scored before and had had four inland races to 180mls then Fougeres and Cholet with the National and then this race, which is his last outing for this season. When I spoke to Brian it was still relatively early on the winning day and he had 14 out of 20 home, and he said they were all in brilliant nick. It has always been Brian’s overriding ambition to win 1st Open Grand National but one only needs to get a map out to see how much against the odds that would be. A fancier for 45 years, it goes without saying that he is one of the finest fliers this country has ever produced. Brian would like to acknowledge the role of the transporter, the race controller and convoyer in helping to produce an excellent race under tricky weather conditions.

Thelma & Brian Denney.

Brian and son Stephen Scott of Clitheroe in Section L, flying 743 miles, put up a fantastic performance to be runners-up to Derek Human. They clocked a 7y blue hen who had been raced on roundabout during the land programme but was allowed her cock in the lead up to this. She is a cross bred Mollins x Braspenning, out of a cock called Reject. She was raced as a young bird then for the next 3 seasons was a w/h hen so was never raced. A friend told Brian that he had some good hens so they started to be raced in 2004 when this hen she was raced to the coast. In 05 she was 10th Club Messac and in 06 her best performance was 10th Section 338th Open Bordeaux finishing 3rd Lancs and Borders Championship Club. This year she had 4 inland races then Lessay in the club where she was the 7th bird to the loft. After that she was trained with the young birds to Manchester, then two weeks prior to going to the National she was singled up from Crewe twice. She was fed Bamfords w/h mix, with Naturaline in the water and multivits, and plenty of peanuts were added once the team were on the Channel. She was half-way up on her first flight at basketing and Brian said she was in superb condition on arrival and could have gone on. Local fancier Harry Lofthouse was there and he too didn’t believe the pigeon had been so far. She is finished now and being pensioned off. Brian said she has done enough for them so that is that. He also said that he is a big believer that you can go to the well once too often. A fancier for over 30 years, he is made up to have won Section L. He has always like his Channel races as these are what give him a buzz and he said with this as a reward he couldn’t ask for anything else. He also said that if you keep sending the day will come when yours are in the right condition and the results will come your way. Like so many of the fanciers we spoke to, Brian was well and truly thrilled with this excellent result and he would like to thank all those who have contacted him with congratulations on this performance, especially his own club members.

Brian Scott with pigeon ‘Jory’ and his grandchildren Rory (aged 5) and Jodie (aged 20 months).

Congratulations to everyone who clocked good birds in this race.