Before I begin my section report for the National Flying Club first race from Sennen Cove, I would like to say that although most members are lamenting the lack of channel racing this season, the real casualties in this terrible situation are in Section Q. Those members in Cornwall have not entered their birds to race in the National Flying Club from Sennen Cove due to the short distances involved. They have paid their membership fees just the same as everyone else and I respect them tremendously for accepting the democratic decision to race from their back door, in order for the rest of us to take part in a National race. The Committee appreciate it has not been ideal and truly hope that we can see their names on the race results from Guernsey in the near future, with the hope that our Channel racing can resume as soon as possible, for the enjoyment of all our members.

Section A

Four of the first five positions in the section went to the winning loft of Darren & Josh May

with Fred Hall in Worthing splitting them in second place with a two year old widowhood cock of Jackson & Andrew x Syndicate lofts breeding, which is a previous a winner of 1st Coutances Premier 100 club and a consistent pigeon scoring in the Brighton & Worthing 5-bird club.

I had asked Darren to send me a full and detailed report which he did as follows; “Firstly, we would like to say a big well done to all of the winners. We race under Mr & Mrs May & Son, also know as May Pigeons Racing and Breeding Centre. We are the partnership of Darren, Sarah and Josh May. We had an absolutely fantastic race with great returns and a fantastic team performance. All of our team were raced on roundabout widowhood and were only given 1 race prior to this race. Our 1^st Section A winner, now named “Speed Demon” is a direct son of “Broer Gebroken” x “Maisie”. “Speed Demon” is winner of 1^st Section A NFC, 6^th Federation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap) and 20^th Open NFC.

“Broer Gebroken” is a grandson of the famous “Pitbull”. “Broer Gebroken” is winner of 4^th Federation 878 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap) and is sire to 1^st Section A NFC, 20^th Open NFC, 4^thFederation 1816 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 6^th Federation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 11^th Federation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap).

“Maisie” is a granddaughter of May Pigeons super breeder “Last Pitbull”, who is a son of the famous “Pitbull”. “Maisie” is winner of 3^rd Federation 558 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 3^rd SE Section CSCFC, 4^th Section A NFC, 12^thFederation 1300 birds, 40^th Open NFC. "Maisie” is dam to 1^st Section A NFC, 20^th Open NFC, 4^th Federation 1816 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 6^th Federation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 11^thFederation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap). Our 3^rd Section A winner is a direct daughter of “Olympic Sarah’s Jul” x a daughter of super breeders “Last Pitbull” x “Lady Tornado” This hen is now winner of 3^rd Section A NFC, 10^th Combine 2020, 10^th Federation 1577 birds and 39^th Open NFC. “Olympic Sarah’s Jul” is winner of: 2^nd Olympiad UK 2018/19, 1^st Federation 1360 birds, 1^stFederation 747 birds, 1^st Federation 562 birds, 1^st Federation 650 birds, 3^rd Federation 1212 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 6^thFederation 844 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 8^th Federation 897 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap). “Olympic Sarah’s Jul” is sire to winners of: 1^stFederation 632 birds, 1^st Federation 318 birds, 2^nd Federation 1955 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 3^rd Section A NFC, 3^rd Federation 1955 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 4^thFederation 1783 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 4^th Federation 314 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 4^th Federation 602 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 39^th Open NFC. Our 4^th Section A winner is “Maisie” who is the dam to our 1^st Section A winner “Speed Demon” in this same race. She is bred by our partnership loft, Yves De Wit of Mechelen, Belgium. “Maisie” is a granddaughter of May Pigeons super breeder “Last Pitbull”, who is a son of the famous “Pitbull”. “Maisie” is winner of 3^rd Federation 558 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 3^rd SE Section CSCFC, 4^th Section A NFC, 12^thFederation 1300 birds, 40^th Open NFC. "Maisie” is dam to 1^st Section A NFC, 20^th Open NFC, 4^th Federation 1816 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 6^th Federation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap), 11^thFederation 1362 birds (Beaten by loft mates on the trap). Our 5^th Section A winner is bred by our partnership loft, Yves De Wit of Mechelen, Belgium. She is a direct daughter of “Kleine Witte” x “Het Super”, “Kleine Witte” is an inbred grandson of the world famous “Pitbull”.

“Het Super” is a direct daughter of “Kleine 454” who is fenomenal breeder and seen in many winning sprint lines all over the world. “Het Super” is responsible for many winners for Yves De Wit, ourselves and others.

Section B

Bill Edwards kindly sent me the following report: Taking premier position in Section B is a new name to many, Steve Hale from Havant.

Steve has been around pigeons for several years but only started back racing on his own last year with youngsters off local fanciers and good friends, Nigel Easton and Jason Bowen.

The Ch cock that has won the section is a Nigel Easton yearling. Nigel told Steve that they are fast pigeons that he brought in directly from Belgium a few years ago but Nigel has no interest in flying South. He re-kindled Steve’s interest after a 20 year break and he set out to prove to him that his birds can also win on the South route and he just hopes that we can get back to racing from across the water soon. Steve has named his pigeon, “Joanne’s Lad” after he lost his sister to Cancer a few years ago at a young age and this win is dedicated to her, God Bless

Second section is the ever consistent Mark Drackett also from Havant, who would like to congratulate all the winners.

Mark’s prize winner is a very consistent two year old widowhood cock that is always there or there about and is bred down from his old family of Jansen’s which he purchased from Brian Keegan of Hollywood lofts many years ago. Third was Jason Ross who is no stranger to the prizes and he said; Firstly I would like to congratulate all the winners, especially fellow club member Steve Hale on winning section B only sending 4 birds.

Also well done to the NFC team on finding a window to liberate which turned out to be a good decision. My 3rd section B winner is a Vandenabeele from my original family purchased at Tony Carter’s clearance sale. She was raced on roundabout. On writing this I have 23/25 and one reported in Cumbria. Fourth is the very successful Father and Son partnership of Kevin and John Zarafa who have enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2021 season, being in the top of the results in most of the big races. They would like to congratulate the overall winner and all the section winners. Their first bird, a two year old widowhood hen is a result of some joint breeding, the Sire being Steve Harris’s BICC Falaise winner and her Dam is Kev and John’s “Eastern Angel”, 1^st Open NFC Fougeres winner 2017. Bred for the Job. Fifth place is Colin “Scrubbs” Harvey with a two year old roundabout hen bred by lifelong friend and former NFC President, Bill Harris of Elton.

The hen raced from across the channel last year and has had every race in the Premier 100 club this season. Her sire was from Richard Herron & Son of Sunderland and the Dam, from Paul Dalton of Liverpool.   

Section C

Winning section C Marg & Lawrence Cowley clocked one of Marg’s roundabout hens, a two year old  bred by Paul Dolan in St. Helens from his Top Dog family.

 She has always been a consistent hen, being second back in her two other West Country races.  She is a half sister to one of Marg’s other hens ’86 who is the dam of two fed winners and the fed gold ring winner, who was also 10^th Section, 10^th open on phone times in the BICC from Truro, 5400 birds.  All birds are fed Countrywide corn.  They are flying a team of 10 in all the West Country races, with the rest flying North. Lawrence said that without Marg’s help, they we would not be able to do what they do. “Thank you Marg”. In second and third place was Paul Stoodley with a three year old Lindeluf bred by himself followed by a Roland Janssen cock bird Yearling also bred by Paul out of his Massarella lines. 

Mike Staddon in Crewkerne was fourth section with John Halstead in fifth place with a 2 year old Blue Kees Bosua widowhood cock having his third race.

This bird has really stepped up this season on his 2020 performances of 3rd club 13th Fed Yelverton 1156 birds and 2nd club Truro beaten by a loft mate. From Wadebridge  with the BBC in his first race of 2021 he was 13th Open from 1585 birds then a fortnight later was 333rd Open BICC Truro from 5345 birds. His Grandsire, who is responsible for several club, fed and section winners was provided by John Gerard and is from Sierra & Figo Star, whilst the Dam’s line is through the Crammond & Langstaff number one Kees Bosua pair.

Section D

Taking first and third in section D was Bob Brown in Efford who asked for another 500 miles to be added to his distance of 73 miles for Sennon Cove as he is locally renowned for his table top antics, when winning from the likes of Pau and Tarbes, so sorry Bob, the truth is out, you are a sprinter now.

Bob has a small back yard set up and when Gill & John McClements visited him on one of the hottest days of the year so far, the loft was in full shade, birds were out flitting around, enjoying a typical relaxed Sunday morning. His 1st bird was a two year old hen bred by local fancier, Karl Page when Bob bought some YBs from Karl to inject a bit of speed into his team. She had flown a couple of inland races with Devon South Road Fed prior to Sennen Cove and flew the channel as far as Messac last year. His two year old hen taking third section is off a Stichelbaut from Nick Harvey's 2nd Open Palamos winner when  crossed with one of Bob's best breeding hens from Massarella. She had two NFC channel races last year and both hens were sent on the natural system, sitting eggs. The stock is paired up in February and racers in March, Bob does not race young birds at all but trains them up in twos from about 60 miles. Mr Brown plays an active role in the club, part of the transport committee, usually transports to the first race and rallies members round to help clean the crates, he is a real character in the club. Andrew Mabin was second section with his 2019 NFC Ace Pigeon which has been a really consistent bird with many top 10 section positions in the NFC from Sennen cove to Tarbes! Fourth was Mr H Franks in Tiverton with a Lambrecht grizzle hen bread by Tony Osborne in Birmingham. She has been a very good racer in the club and also from Messac and Nort-sur-Erdre 225 miles with NFC last year. Well done to Bobby brown for winning 1st section D. Fifth was Smith & Percival from Barnstaple and Neil Smith said he is grandson of  “The Gypsy” a Soontjen bred by Paul Stobbs. His dam is also a Soontjen again bred by Nigel Laycock which has bred him three club winners this year with one being a full sister to his fifth section winner.

Section E

Mark Gilbert in Windsor had an outstanding day taking the first six in the section and he said that For the second week running his section winner in national races was bred by his good friend Les Green.

Les bred him 34 youngsters in 2019 and they have raced exceptionally well for him. In second and third position where some middle distance birds brought in for a racing with the fourth, fifth and sixth being from his own sprint family. Mark would like to say a big thank you to Les Green for the birds and his methods.  

Section F

First section F Sennen Cove 1 was Kieron Marcham with a threeyear old widowhood cock bred by Mr and Mrs D Beasley and L Oglesby out of stock they purchased from Brian Murray. The sire of this cock is of Jansen/ Koopmen lines and is grandson of Brian’s “Combine Cock” and the dam is a Jansen based hen bred from one of Brian’s best breeding cocks “Bold Bertie”both parents have bred multiple national and open winners. This partnership breedsKieron roughly 10 youngsters a year to test alongside my own team of birds and they only send out the best,so it is a privilege for him to be able to race them on their behalf. Kieron has previously won 7th Open National Flying club from Messac with a pigeon bred by them aswell, so he has his fingers crossed for a 1st Open win in years to come. Well done Kieron.

Second and third was J. J. Schoeman from Andover. Fourth place went to David Clark in Reading and fifth was Steve Hughes from Swindon.

Section G

The Bristol lads in section G really had a great day taking the first 19 in the open result and 34 in the top 50. First section and the overall winner was Steve Moseley who was reported in in the winner’s article.

Second place was Mr & Mrs G & M Wile & S Lias who are another famous set of fanciers who fly out of the Hartcliffe in Bristol.

Garth and son in law Steve are committed National and Classic fanciers and always tough to beat on fast races. There first pigeon they timed has a proper bit of Bristol Fashion about it. The sire is a son of Brian Milkins “Teds Lad” who won 1^st Open NFC Cholet, Brian was a member of the Towers and inspired are club to compete the way we do. The dam was bred by Nigel Templar, top class national flyer and our landlord from his Gerrit Lahuis. Steve and Gareth enjoyed a fantastic race timing 4 early pigeons on 1463, 1451, 1441 and 1432. Their second pigeon on the clock was bred from a daughter of Stuart Wilcox “Specail K” a direct son of Koen Minderhoud’s Geeloger and Beau a daughter of the King of Rekkem from Frans Zwols. The sire was one of Brian Milkins favourite old stock cocks from Pearson & Dransfield. Their other two early timers were both Van Dyck based from Brian Milkins x Nigel Templar’s Gerrit Lahuis lines and Teds Lad blood.  It is great to see local Bristol fanciers do so well in National races with local Bristol bred pigeons. Richard Whiteside was third section with Scott Whittle in fourth place.

Scott would like to say well done to my club mate Steve Moseley on winning the race. The bird he clocked first is from their Syndicate Lofts lines. On its Sire side it is made up of Amulet Hannibal lines and Rick Hermans Beautfly. The dam Leon of Johan Donkers and Anabelle of Leo Hermans . This pair has already bread two winners and have also won the Bristol fed. Fifth and seventh was NFC Committee rep for the section Stuart Wilcox from Bristol.

First in the clock was a two year old cheq cock who was bred by Dutch friends Martin and Buck De Kruijf from Woerden in Holland, this cock bird has always given his all and won 1^st Club 1^st Bristol Fed Truro 1820 birds two weeks previous, he contains a mix of Martin and Bucks Leo Heremans, Steve Smits and Karel Leanen lines. His second bird is a two year cock that has been consistent and has recently started to get his act together. His sire is “771” which has won 3 x 1^st plus 4^th, 20^th and 25^th Open WoESRC and is a direct son of Albi, a son of Albert Derwa’s De Zoon 11 x 1^st and Beau, bred by Frans Zwols, a direct dtr of the King of Rekkem. The dam is a direct daughter Special K a son of Koen Minderhoud’s Geeloger 3 x 1^st NPO when paired to Beauty Chipo, dam of Glider 19^th and 30^th Open NFC direct from Chips and the Golden Hen. The cocks and hens are flown on a separate widowhood systems and fed on Beyers and Country Wide Corns. Stuart would just like to add that it has been a special couple of weeks for all the fanciers who fly out of the Hartcliffe Inn and who have stuck with the south road. We are proud of what our clubs stand for and the competition we have amongst the fanciers of South Bristol. I’m sure I echo the feeling of all of the Towers & Harctcliffe members when I thank sectaries Martin Yandel and Nigel Templar, also Nicky Templar our land-lady who provides the clubs with outstanding facilities. A massive well done to Steve (Mosseralla), Steve and Garth, Scot and Wally, Alan and Joe Palmer, a great bunch of friends and fanciers alike. Only saddened as our old mentor Brian Milkins isn’t around to enjoy it but so fitting that so much of his blood is still doing the business in his memory.

Section H

Winning section H is Hubert Walker from Newark once again with a yearling hen, bred from an Ian Stafford/Marshall stock cock which was paired to a Rocket hen from our good friend Jack Walker.

She is also closely related to one of their other section winners. Second was Ron and Angie Auker in Brandon, Suffolk.

They timed a two year old blue cock bred from a pair purchased at Blackpool Charity auction in 2018. The Cock coming from John Halstead out of his best long distance stock and the Hen from Brian Holland Flying Dutchman lofts bred from GW & P Macaloney and Mark Bulled. Their bird was sent sitting 14 days and has had two races this season with one being BICC Truro 288 miles. He is flown natural and as a yearling he flew MNFC Vire and BICC Falaise. Third was Des Owens in Newport Pagnell with a two year old cock that was flown celibate before being paired and sent sitting eight days at basketing. His sire is a son of 2nd open Tarbes CSCFC for Andy Parsons of Salisbury and his dam is a daughter of a section winner from SNFC Falaise from his former partner John Clark of Airdrie. Des timed four birds from six in what he thought was a stiff race for birds on the east side of the country. Graham Pugsley in Spalding was forth with a four year old hen that has flown consistently and been to Le Mans three times. Her breeding is of the old Joe Shore, Northwich blood that consistently flew Lerwick for him for 20 years crossed with birds from Mr & Mrs George Bates of Gravesend. He did not see her coming but just saw her drop out of the north east. Fifth was Mr G Perkins in Rushton.

Section I

Mark Williamson won first and third section I in Ashbourne Derbyshire.

He clocked a three-year-old cheq pied hen and daughter of his very good stock pair “The Butlers Son” bred by Gaby Vandenabeele and “Chequer Vivian” bred by H & EJ Eijerkamp. This pair have now bred section winners in both the MNFC and NFC, plus several 2^nd and 3^rd sections, plus two federation winners. His second bird clocked for third section is a four year old sister from the same pair and who has previously been 2^nd section in the MNFC and has won several good federation prizes. In second place was Lourens Londt in Cannock with a cock bred on one side out of his own family of birds.

His mother had previously won the NFC section in 2014 and the sire is on loan to him by Arthur Jones in section J. Fourth was Leon Prince in Cheadle with a yearling cheq hen . Her breeding is R&B Smith crossed with his old Rene Nauwelaert based family and she has a few minor prizes. Fifth was Steve Walton in Solihull with a two year old dark chequer hen of Vink bloodlines flown on the roundabout system.

Section J

Martin Williams of Tarrington had a great race taking first, second and fifth positions.

In third was  Graham Clift in Tirley who would like to congratulate club mate Martin plus all the other section winners.

His yearling cock is the son of his 26th Open NFC Sigogne in 2019 and his grandsire is a brother to Southfield Junior, 1st BICC Pau for Mark Gilbert. His dam is a two year old hen in the race team from children of Champion Starlight when paired to a son of Tuff Nut and daughter of Melissa. Graham races his birds on the chaos system and he usually breeds from them prior to racing and retain a few. They are then separated and raced right through to 600+ miles and he does not repair them until after racing is finished. In fourth place was K P & M Fitzpatrick in Tewkesbury.

Section K

“Lesleys Lady” won section K for Paul Mantle of Mantle Bros & Sons in Buxton.

He is pictured with his son Spencer and two nephews Kyle and Jayden. You can see how much they enjoyed the race and their hen, bred by M Steele in Gateshead has now won 1^st sect K, 1^st Fed, 1^st section Marlborough, 1^st Club Blandford and 1^st club Marlborough this season alone.

Her sire is a Van Den Bulk x Houben and her dam is also a Van Den Bulk bred by Bob Fenech.1^st Sect K NFC Sennen Cove. Second to them was Jepson Bennett & Leach in Bolsover with a hen which was a late bred in September 2018 from a good hen they had gifted to them from Pete Caterwood of Chesterfield from his Northern Bound pigeon via Nigel Laycock. They bought the sire from Doncaster show which is a Gabby. Their hen was flown on total widowhood this season and been a consistent hen up too press. Barry Reid in Brighouse was third and said that his birds came home in great condition and a credit to the Convoyers.

He timed a blue hen which wen t straight to her mate and began performing. She was set up for this race with a 35 mile toss the day before basketing and is a home-bred, very reliable hen, raced on the roundabout and always there.  Her best performance to date was 7^th Section K 53^rd open Sigogne 551 miles, NFC. Her sire is from a Des Coulter Cock when paired to a direct daughter of Willy Van Berendonck’s Belgian National winner and her Dam is out of a cock bred by O’Hara & Woodward, out of their race team which won the NFC Section L averages a few years back when paired to a R & B Smith hen.  These Smith pigeons have turned out some outstanding birds for me and for several other fanciers winning club, Feds and National, merit and regional awards.  On the night he had five from ten entered with four coming the next morning and his Dad had four from four. 

They’re all going back so let’s see how that race pans out. Phil Rawson and Bruce Towers were fourth section

with Kevin Heeley, Dave Allen & M Lambert in fifth. They timed a  yearling hen which flew as a young bird in the NFC Coutances and as their other birds she is bred out of pigeons that have flown the NFC.  Her dam has flown well for them and has also scored in the NFC. They would like to thank Chairman Paul Naum as it's not easy being in the chair in these times. 

Section L

Roger Sutton of Astbury Lofts in Congleton was first and fifth section L and said "Sennen proved quite a stiff test for section L members.  The birds came along the S.W peninsular towards Bristol then up country. My straight line distance of 260 miles would take them out across the Irish sea, then through the Welsh hills, so they actually fly 300 miles plus into Cheshire, Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester. Returns were generally good with plenty of day birds, some next morning and not many missing. My 1st section is a two year old widowhood cock sired by my own National Family paired to an exchange hen bred by the Wilson/Iddon partnership. This year he has flown all club inland races and the Midland National Holmsey the week prior, being 1st back to my loft." Ged Unsworth & Son from Widnes in Cheshire were second section with a blue pied cock that came against the odds and bred from a pigeon on loan (sire) from a good friend Robbie Thomas from the Wirral.

It's dam is again from the same family of Leo Herman's this time with another of Terry Kirmans pigeon, Gayboy . The dam of this cock also bred a cock for Stuart Knowles placing with 5 firsts and topping the combine. Wolfenden & Pollastretti from Wythenshaw were third with Dean Knox in Oldham fourth.

DeanI started racing in 2016 with a small team of 20 young birds. His first young bird race was from Stafford and he won 1st club 1st fed 1st amal but his goal was to always compete in the NFC so in 2019 he became a member flying a team of yearlings, and has since built his family of distance pigeons over the last four years. The first NFC race from Sennen Cove turned out to be a tough race with his first pigeon being a yearling hen bred from the stock loft. This family of pigeons have also bred 1st Lancashire Nantes 2 bird plus fed and amal positions and the last bird of the day came at 9.45pm. He said it was amazing to see them coming so late at night in a tough race with a good team performance.

Section N

Jeff Walton kindly sent me the following write up on a fantastic performance by Tony Lyons flying 364 miles from Sennen Cove. “He clocked five birds, from his ten entries on the evening of the first day to win 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 6th Section N.

His section winner, is a two year old Red Cock flying 9 hours 21 minutes 30 seconds on the wing. Ten minutes later a three year old hen was clocked to take 2nd section. One hour later, just after 9:30pm Tony clocked two birds within a minute and so had the first four. He clocked his fifth bird at 10:14pm, 25 minutes after the clocks closed to secure 6th Section.

His family of birds are a blend of Brian Denney/Marrten Vinkenbork stock and are raced celebrate. In fifth section Jeff & Matthew Walton of Coxhoe timed their seven year old hen, “722” at 10:08pm, flying 366 miles. She was their single entry to the race sent sitting 12 days on eggs and is from their Jos Thone’ stock with a touch of Ron Strong’s of Hexham. She has several section positions in the first ten, including 2nd Fougeres. Jeff Walton was 5th section.

Section O

Another great performance by one of the longer flyers was Dave Travis taking first, second, fourth and fifth section O.

This race was a uplift after losing most of his racers in the winter due to paratyphoid and he would like to thank Ian Parsons for his help in stopping the infection. The Section winner has been a consistent bird and on arrival she had obviously been through rain. She was sent sitting twelve days and was bred by Roy & Christine Nicholson who were top flyers but now just keep them for their own enjoyment. She is out of John Crowders Vandevelde bloodlines x their own family.  The 2nd 4th 5th 7th sect birds have all flown channel races with the NFC up to 600 miles and are all Nigel Corwoods Southwell bloodlines which will fly the distance and will never give up. Dave only has a team of ten old birds and to time five of his six entries was very satisfying. My thanks to the NFC officials for getting everyone racing again. FA Wilson in Kendal was third section.

Section P

Many thanks once again to Kevin Foster for collating all the section P report. Colin Fagg and Linda Nicholas nr Sittingbourne lead in section P and also fourth & fifth.

They are on a rich vein of form having topped the Kent Premier fed two weeks prior to this race and came close to winning the section in the BICC Truro race but made no mistake in this one. This is a twice NFC winning partnership also topped the Hens national race in the BICC last September. Colin said his two year old cock timed first is bred from a pair of direct Wim De Troy birds that his youngest son Adam purchased in 2015. They have bred them winners in the past, especially when the going gets a bit tough. They ended up with 22 from 30 with 16 on the day , the late ones appear to have struggled but after a bit of TLC are looking a lot brighter the following evening. Well done to all the winners and thanks to all the effort behind the scenes to get us up and running with national racing.

Second and third was P Jackson and son from Bromley, another previous national winning loft which is always in and around the leading pigeons in most races.

Lee timed a cheq pied hen raced on the jealousy system having her third race of the season. She is bred down from the same sire who is Grandson of his 1st NFC Fougeres and makes her a half sister  on the sires side to his 2020 Thames North East Counties futurity winner, winning £4000 on a very hard day from Guernsey. Her dam is a daughter of 4th NFC Guernsey 22nd NFC St Malo, 12th NFC Fougeres. A pedigree steeped in performance at National level. His second pigeon is also a two year old cheq pied hen who is a granddaughter to his ace performer Black Jack. On the dams side she is closely related to the first pigeon through 1st NFC Fougeres. Both pigeons were suited by a good working day. Lee clocked 10 out of 20 on a very difficult day, and sent 3 yearlings including last year’s futurity winner who arrived on Tuesday he felt blessed to get her back Sixth is John Cowlin from Hullbridge following up on the blitz in the yb national races last year by timing a 2yo  cock which has scored before in the Thames.

He is a Formula 1 lofts Frans Zwols, being direct from Mr Consistent and as his name suggests, he was a top racer for Frans since becoming a brilliant breeder of many top winners right out to national level. Mr consistent is direct from Amor and inbred Micky Boy 716. The dam of Johns pigeon is N63, she was a very good racer for Gladwin & Jarvis winning 5 x 1sts before going to stock where she is responsible for 2x1st section winners and 2x2nd open national. In turn N63 is direct from Tip top 076. Gladwin, Jarvis & family of Leigh on sea are 7th section timing a four year old Frans Zwols hen which has been a very good hen for the partnership winning many positions inland and channel. She is full of all the best Frans Zwols bloodlines. Finally Kevin Foster in 8^th section with a three year old widow hen bred from his Dark Misty stock cock from Robert Rome. A previous scorer in BICC and BBC in middle distance channel races. Her dam is the 189 also from Robert, who was already a top stock hen before he acquired her.

Section W

Last but certainly not least in section W there was yet another outstanding team performance. Taking the first five positions was G Treharne & Son in Nantyglo, South Wales. Stuart sent 24 to Sennen cove and had 22 home all in good condition and health. He had two birds dropped together with the first to clock being a four year old grandson of top star of Verstraete and of Rocco of Rutz , the second to clock was an Eijerkamp Van Loon cock. He is a son of his number one Van Loon cock, the son of Kain, when he was paired to a direct Eijerkamp hen granddaughter of the brothers Don Leo and Fabio. This cock was also his first bird the previous week at Truro with the BICC. The third bird is also an Eijerkamp Van Loon being a granddaughter of Jana the Bourges national winner and Keira a direct daughter of Kain and the mother of Jana, so being inbred to Kain. This hen was 8th open Welsh South Road National Bordeaux in 2020. It was always going to be a difficult day for the Welsh birds, but they worked in well with the conveyers doing their normal great job of making sure the birds were well looked after helped enormously .Congratulations to the winners on a tricky day 

National Flying Club

THE NEW QUEEN OF THE ROAD

Report by Cameron Stansfield, elimarpigeons.com

L-R - Section L Committee rep Brian Stansfield, President Fred Sharman and Ginger McCain.

Fanciers from around the UK were at Drayton Manor Park in Staffordshire on Sunday to see Grand National-winning racehorse trainer Ginger McCain unveiling one of the National Flying Club’s two new transporters. Ginger, who raced pigeons as a boy growing up in Southport, commented on how pigeon transportation had changed since his youth, describing the NFC transporter in front of him as ‘fantastic’.

The gull wings.

As you will see from the photographs, the transporter looks an absolute picture and I would go so far as to say that when it is travelling up and down the motorways of the UK and France, it will be the finest-looking heavy vehicle on the road. In fact, I can picture people going past it in their cars, doing a double take and asking, ‘What is THAT!!?’

However, the priority in the design of these transporters was not that they looked good but that they left nothing to be desired in terms of bird welfare – hence the grilled floors, the 8ft length of drinking troughs around each crate and the controlled ventilation system which ensures that, at full capacity, there will be around 3 air changes per minute in each container. Nor have the long-neglected convoyers been neglected. Here they have been provided with bunk beds, a sink and a microwave.Those involved in the development of these two transporters should feel justly proud for what they have provided for fanciers in this country. They have left a legacy which thousands of other will benefit from for many years to come. And also remember, those who have been instrumental in seeing this project through to its completion have not done so for financial gain (in fact it has cost them their own money – and time) and nor have they sought any plaudits. They have done it because they have wanted to see the National Flying Club go forward.We all expect great things of our birds and these vehicles will enable them to fulfil their potential.

The following is a summary by Peter Kettlewell of ADAS & Roger Hoxhey, of Birmingham University penned in May 2006 which summarises the ventlation system on the transporters…

Controlled ventilation system to optimise on-board thermal conditions for racing pigeons during transport and while awaiting release.

5,000 pigeons carried on a typical vehicle have the potential to produce a total heat output (at 5 Watts per bird) of 25 kW (kilowatts).

Studies with poultry suggest that around half of this heat will be ‘lost’ as latent heat (that is heat used in evaporating water from, for example, respired air).

Failure to remove this heat (and moisture) will result in localised conditions within the container that are markedly different from the ‘external conditions’.

These conditions may impose an additional ‘thermal load’ on the pigeons, requiring them to expend more effort in maintaining their ‘normal’ body temperature.

When a vehicle is moving, the resultant air movement around and within the vehicle will disperse some of the heat. However, when the vehicle is stationary, and especially on still days with little wind, the consequent ventilation may be inadequate.

The instillation of fans on the vehicle ensures that there is adequate air movement around the pigeons at all times – irrespective of vehicle movement.

Fans have been installed in the roof of the vehicle along the centre line enabling air to be extracted from the central service corridor.

Air is drawn in through the perforated gull wing sides, across the pigeon containers, into the central corridor, then extracted out through the roof.

Though there is no legal requirement for a ventilation system, the new system provides over 6 times more ventilation pro-rata than the mandatory requirement when transporting red meat animals on journeys over 8 hours.

A simple control strategy ensures that as the ambient temperature rises, more fans are automatically switched on.

At full capacity, there will be around 3 air changes per minute in each pigeon container.

This novel ventilation system represents a significant development in terms of improving the welfare of racing pigeons throughout the transit period.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Inside the convoyers' compartment.

The watering system.

The National Flying Club welcomes members from all corners of the UK so if you are not a member but would like to see your birds travel in comfort, please give secretary Sid Barkel a call on 0191 521 1810 and he will pop you an application form in the post.

No part of this site may be re-produced without the permission of

Elimar Pigeon Services

NFC Sennen Cove

Report by Cameron Stansfield & Les.J Parkinson, www.elimarpigeons.com

Following a one-day holdover the NFC Sennen Cove convoy were liberated at 7.10am last Sunday into a south wind. The first 9 pigeons recorded over 1700ypm and these comprised of 8 birds into Section L and 1 into Section J. Clearly these birds made a beeline for home right from the off and were not tempted to follow the dog leg around the Bristol Channel.

Special mention must go to R & B Smith of Warrington who clocked 3 birds in 29 seconds for 2nd, 3rd & 4th Open, to D. J. Roberts of St Helens who timed 2 in 17 seconds for 5th and 6th Open, and to Pat Frisby of Nuneaton, a world away from where the other leading birds were to be found, who timed 4 in 35 seconds for 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th Open. The other three birds recording over 1700ypm were to the Chirk partnership of Chris Davenport and Darren Roberts, to the ever-present Ted Little of Chorley and to Mr & Mrs Pennington of Colne, these birds finishing 7th, 8th and 9th Open.

Gordon Rigg

The honour of 1st Section L and 1st Open NFC Sennen Cove goes to long distance enthusiast Gordon Rigg of Congleton who clocked at 11.17am for the 258 miles for a velocity of 1836ypm, winning the National by an emphatic 46ypm. The National winner is a Staf Dusarduyn Delbar 4y hen on roundabout. As a yearling she flew Messac and Niort from where she was Gordon’s first bird but she did not score. At 2y she had 2 inland races, then flew MCC Picauville before winning 5th Club Vains; 454th Open NFC Nantes; 22nd Section, 49th Open NWCC Tours, rounded off with 23rd Section NFC Saintes. In 2005 as a 3y she was not raced. This year she has had 7 races on roundabout including Portland a week before the National when she was 3rd bird to the loft, a race Gordon says which did her a lot of good. She was allowed to pair up on her return from Sennen Cove but Gordon’s future plans for her are fluid on account of the uncertainty surrounding the race programme. The Dusarduyn birds have served him well, one, for example, winning 1st Section, 10th Open NFC Dax International. Gordon first came across these birds on a trip to Belgium in 1988. At that time Staf Dusarduyn had won 17 x 1st National (he was to win another National before his death) and he thought the birds were out of this world. An enquiry to buy some met with a rebuttal and it was only when the birds came on the market after Staf’s death that Gordon was able to acquire some. The Dusarduyn bird were based on the Van Wanroys but he was also a big friend of Maurice Delbar and these birds had a big influence. Gordon was saying he actually missed the arrival of his National winner as he was feeding his stock birds. He thought he saw a flash but ignored it and carried on with his feeding, only to find his hen when he went into the racing loft! At 6.30pm Gordon had 7 out of 10 home, with his 2nd and 3rd birds arriving an hour after his winner.

Mr Barton

Chubby, 1st Section A for Mr Barton of Brighton

1st Section A are M & J. Barton of Brighton flying 250 miles who clocked at 12.03 for a velocity of 1502ypm. They sent 8 and had five within the hour but the other three were missing at 4.30pm. Their timer is a yearling widowhood hen who was approx 64th Open BICC Wadebridge a fortnight ago and has just been flying around home since except for a toss on the Tuesday before basketing for this. Her sire comes from Lee & Gary Sullivan of Brighton and is a Van Loon and her dam is a Van Bruane through Graham Moss. Mr Barton restarted in the sport in 2004 following a 14-year break and went for the Van Bruanes as he had previously had success with Albert Bennett birds. When he restarted Lee Sullivan bred him a large team of youngsters and he sent 64 to Guernsey with the L&SECC, but only 7 made it home. He is, therefore, just getting back on his feet. His main aim nowadays is to win from Pau.

Martin Norman

1st Section B were Mannor Lofts of Southampton who clocked at 11.04 flying 196 miles at 1477ypm. The name Mannor lofts is an anagram of the surname of Martin and Clare Norman and they chose it to avoid confusion with Martin’s brother who lives just a few hundred yards away and races as Mr & Mrs Norman. Martin and Clare’s timer is a 2y cheq pied widowhood cock of Stan Dangerfield blood, with him being half Stan’s old distance lines and half Stan’s Van den Bosche. Two years ago they had all their stock birds stolen and when Stan heard about this he invited them up to his place to pick themselves some replacement pigeons, and it was a pair of these which has bred their Section winner. The partners set out to try and win their Section in the NFC and in the CSCFC. This is the first time they have done so in the National, but in the Classic they have twice been successful – from Cholet and Sennen Cove, the latter in 2001 and, curiously enough, that was also with a Stan Dangerfield Van den Bosche. By 3pm, they had 9 of their 24 entries home.

2nd Section B were Moody & Mitchell Loft 1 of Portsmouth who clocked at 11.29 and recorded 1426ypm for the 210-mile trip. The partners fly 100 per cent natural and had 20 cocks away with the NFC and 14 hens at Sennen Cove with the BICC, their natural timer doing the trip 4 minutes faster than their BICC timer. The 2nd Section winner is a Maurice Mattheeuws cock who has taken a number of cards in his career, always being consistent, but that said, they didn’t expect him to be their first bird. The partners have had a great year so far, having done particularly well in the BICC, and indeed they now plan to send a team of 20 to Mallow, Southern Ireland with the BICC. Mr Moody actually won 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open CSCFC Sennen Cove in 2001 with 3 natural hens seven minutes clear. Their ambition now is to win the St Nazaire National.

1st Section C is Nicholas Edward Carter of Weymouth flying 147 miles, clocking at 10.33 for a velocity of 1275ypm. Nicholas clocked a 3y dark chequer natural cock sent sitting 8-day eggs. He has always been there or thereabouts in his racing career and as prep for this he flew two north road races up to Stafford and then encountered a very bad Eastbourne race with the Dorset South Road Fed two weeks ago. He was allowed to rest before being given a toss from Bridport then into the National. He was bred by Eric Higginbottom of Camberley and is a Van Loon, which Nicholas assumes is of Planet Bros origin. When I spoke to Nicholas at 11.45am he had 5 of his team of 10 home. Asked what the plan for the cock is now, he replied: ‘To let his eggs hatch out!’

Pam & Maurice Elliott

1st Section D are Mr & Mrs Elliott of Barnstaple flying 99 miles. They timed at 8.55am for a velocity of 1667ypm. Maurice and Pam have flown pigeons for thirty years and race to a neat rear garden loft, with a flying team of 12 widowhood cocks. They allow their birds an open aspect from the loft at all times, the front remaining open to light all day, being closed only at nightfall. Their winner is a yearling widowhood cock having its fourth race, the preparation for which was racing from Kingsdown and Portland with the Bideford Club, followed by the Isle of Wight with the Devon and Cornwall Continental Flying Club. The bird is a Janssen (Ponderosa) x Busschaert (Steve Williams, Derbyshire). Maurice was reluctant to send it as it had suffered a broken flight prior to basketing, but it was in peak fitness, so went. It has now earned the name 'Broken Flight'. They enjoyed an excellent race, sending four and clocking four, a brilliant result. Maurice does all the physical chores with the birds, training, exercising, feeding etc, and Pam does all Secretarial duties. Teamwork! This is a first Section win for Maurice and Pam, and it was a pleasure to meet with them for a few hours on a hot sunny afternoon race day. They were buzzing with excitement and I feel they are sure to be noticed in the NFC Section results in the future. Report by Section D committee member Paul Naum.

Eddie & Joyce Kulpa

1st Section E looks too close to call as half a yard splits David Lee and Joyce and Eddie Kulpa, who live just a couple of streets away from each other in Reading. David clocked a natural blue cock sent sitting chipping eggs. His sire won 1st and 3rd BBO Fed Exeter and is a Roger Lowe Hartog and his dam is a Hartog who originated from Bert Kent. David has been racing for 38 years and has a simple philosophy which is, if fit they go, and to prove the point his timer will be racing from Wadebridge this coming weekend. He has a team of 40 old bird racers and really enjoys his weekly club races. In this event he had 1 of his 6 entries home at 2.30pm, one of those missing being his NFC Saintes Section winner of 2 years ago.

David Lee

Joyce and Eddie Kulpa’s timer is a 2y blue roundabout/celibate hen who has won several times previously. Her sire is a blue Van Loon cock down from stock from their son and grandson S & P. Kulpa. He won races for Joyce and Eddie but after being hawked at home he never raced with enthusiasm thereafter and is now in the stock loft. The dam of their timer is a cheq Van Loon, bred for stock, being a daughter of S & P. Kulpa’s number one Van Loon stock cock Moonlight.

Paul Kendal

Photo by Bryan Siggers

1st Section F is former Pau National winner Paul Kendal of Wantage, one of the UK’s top National performers, who was in at 11am flying 211 miles for a velocity of 1616ypm. Paul clocked a 5y widowhood cock who has always been consistent without actually putting up a first-class performance. He was, for example, Paul’s first pigeon out of the Pau International in 2005, and in 2004 he was Paul’s 3rd pigeon from BBC Nantes when Paul was 1st and 2nd Section. He returned with an injured leg from that race which prematurely ended his campaign as a 3y. In preparation for Sennen Cove, he raced from the north with the CSCFC and the plan had been to send him to Palamos. Paul was saying how frustrated he is with not knowing whether the big races will come along, as his birds are in top form and he wants, as he put it, ‘To let them go’, in other words come into super form. What is remarkable about the performances of this loft is that it is a small-team affair. Currently the race team numbers 12, made up of 4 yearlings and 8 older birds. Paul says the yearlings haven’t got the knack of racing as yet, so it was just the 8 older birds that went to this race, and by 1pm 6 of the 8 were home. The Section winner is part Clerebaut and part Geoff Cooper. He was bred by Nigel Finch with the sire believed to be a half-brother to Paul’s Pau National winner Holloway Boy and the dam is believed to be a daughter of Geoff Cooper’s Bulldog.

1st Section G is Barry Slocombe who clocked a yearling Wildemeersch x Germain Imbrecht yearling widowhood cock at 10.03am, flying 163 miles for a velocity of 1655ypm. This pigeon had been 2nd in a club race from Sennen Cove a fortnight previous, and a week before the National Barry fancied him so strongly that he was going to put him in the yearling open nom, however he was then put off his chances because the cock didn’t exercise that well around home in the last few days before basketing. He will now go to the next National race, from wherever that may be. Barry, who won the car with a Janssen from Guernsey with the Central Southern back in 1993, told me that the Wildy x Imbrechts are the mainstay of his loft today, the Wildemeersch having originated from Ken Hillier of Peasedown and the Imbrechts from Louella Pigeon World in 1984. They are now a family of all-rounders that have won out to Pau, with a 16th Open CSCFC Pau to their name. I spoke to Barry at 12.30pm on the day of toss and he had 8 of his 10 birds home.

Des Owens

1st Section H is Des Owens of Newport Pagnell who clocked at 12.15pm flying 256 miles for a velocity of 1478ypm. Des races 9 widowhood cocks and sent 6 to this race, with 3 of the 6 being home when I called him at 4pm. His timer is 100% Jackson & Andrew of Goole lines which he brought in 2 years ago and it had had 4 or 5 local club races in the Mid Shires Fed in preparation for this. Des has only really got back into pigeons in the last couple of years. He flew with some success out to Pau some years back when he favoured natural and his birds were Dennis Dall based but his job took him to Germany most weeks and he had little time for pigeons. Now retired, he favours widowhood because it cuts down on the need for much training. He has been following the advice of Paul Kendal on how to feed and admits he is still learning the widowhood system. With his eyes set on greater distance he recently brought in some youngsters from Paul.

Pat Frisby

1st Section I was Pat Frisby of Nuneaton who clocked 4 birds in 35 seconds to take the first four in the Section and 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Open. They were flying 253 miles and arrived at 11.36, the first bird recording 1673ypm. The four dropped together and included 2 Roger Maris sprinters and two distance-bred birds, one a Ken Hine and one which is a secret! Pat, who was over the moon with how the birds came, sent his entire team of 37 widowhood cocks to this race and had 14 home by 3pm. He said that on basketing they handled lovely and he thought he might time a good one if the wind gave him a chance. As it happened, his birds performed despite the wind if one looks at how the actual race panned out. Pat has had plenty of success since starting in the sport a decade ago and now he is setting his sights more and more on National races. His normal policy is to send the lot every week from the start of the season but to give them a week off prior to each National. Prior to this race his team were on Gemthepax for five days and they also had it on their return. The birds also have Electro-B regularly. Pat says he is self-taught with pigeons and that when he first started he used to give them so many things that it got to the stage that he couldn’t remember what it was he was meant to be giving them. His feed is made up of super diet and 3 different widowhood mixes mixed together. They are fed am and pm and exercise for 1 hour am and pm, which they do freely. In the 3 or 4 days before a big race they are allowed to come and go for half an hour once they have done their hour’s exercise, the idea being to break the routine. Pat plans to send through to Tarbes this season and doesn’t think he will be tweaking his system too much, perhaps just a bit more maize for, as he says, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

1st Section J were Chris Davenport and Darren Roberts of Chirk near Wrexham, who were 178ypm clear in their Section. They timed a yearling cock flying 228 miles at 10.56 for a velocity of 1773ypm. This pigeon, known as Big Al, topped the Combine by 38ypm from Picauville young birds, which turned out a very difficult race when few birds got home. In his first race this year, flying from Cheptsow, 90 miles, he landed with two loftmates to take 1st, 2nd & 3rd Club, Section and Fed. He has also taken other prizes. He was paired on January 3rd and allowed to rear a single youngster, then was put on roundabout. He had two 10 mile tosses and thereafter has been worked morning and night for one hour. Three weeks prior to his National success, he came back from a Saturday race with feathers missing from his chest. He was allowed to rest up for such time as he was ready to join in exercising with his loftmates. He therefore didn’t race for three weeks but he showed such great form around the loft that he had to go to the National and the rest, as they say, is history. He is bred from a son of their Number One stock cock, namely the Twisted Beak Cock who is a Huybrecht, and the dam was bred by Alan Incledon and Harry Apps of Oak Villa Lofts. Chris and Darren would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan and Harry for the wonderful stock they have given them, and would also like to wish Harry a speedy recovery as he is in hospital at the moment. They hope this news acts as a tonic and helps Harry to get back on his feet. Big Al is named after Alan, and his nestmate is named Dirty Harry, in recognition of Harry. Dirty Hary won the Western Region Gold Ring (Section) 2005. Big Al was racing on the jealousy system which entails three nestboxes, the boxes on either side holding a cock each and the middle box containing a nestbowl. For a fortnight before this race, the other cock was allowed to stand on the bowl in the middle section, then the night before basketing for the National Big Al was let into the box with the bowl and the other cock was locked back in his own box. When they came to basket Big Al, he was down in the bowl with his hen stood on top of him!

Big Al, winner of 1st Section J for Davenport & Roberts of Chirk

Darren Roberts and Chris Davenport.

1st Section J were Chris Davenport and Darren Roberts of Chirk near Wrexham, who were 178ypm clear in their section. They timed a yearling cock flying 228 miles at 10.56 for a velocity of 1773ypm.

1st & 2nd Section K was John Booth of Castleford flying 313 miles who clocked two hens in 12 seconds at 12.56pm for velocities of approx 1592ypm. One of the birds is a self-bred Karel Herman from stock John first brought in in 1985, and the other is a Soontjen bred by Geoff Chapman. John’s hens live with his youngsters and have been racing inland with his local club then they had Northern Classic Yelverton a fortnight ago. He doesn’t motivate them for races when they are two days at least in the basket and says it is fitness which counts. He races 24 cocks and 12 hens and it is the hens that tend to do better, particular in the longer races. Feed is half barley and half 50:50 All Round and beans until Wednesday (if basketing Thursday). The hens were trained every day in the week before basketing, from Lincoln, 40 miles. John has previously been 18th Open NFC Pau 717 miles with a Busschaert x Jan Aarden and says his ambition is to win the longest National race. He clocked a yearling half an hour after his first two but his other 3 entries were still away when I spoke to him at teatime.

Finally, a quick word to explain that the new transporter was late picking up from some marking stations, this being the result of the interest shown in it by members at the stations en route. Apologies to those who were kept waiting.

A full report plus photos will appear on www.elimarpigeons.com within 48 hours of each National race being flown. If you have put up a good performance and would like to see your bird given due credit, contact Les or Cameron at