This week, only one transporter was required as the total number of birds in this race was approximately ...

 MESSAC National Race 2019

Dom McCoy & Nik Booker, Convoyers Report

First, I would like to introduce you to one of our permanent convoyers, Mr. Nik Booker, who will be collecting birds from the East side of the country. Nik is very experienced and I have known him for a good few years, we have worked together on numerous occasions at both federation and combine level and I know everyone will be very happy with him in the way he will care for your pigeons and he will prove to be an asset to the NFC convoying team.

An approximate total of 4,907 birds were collected from various marking stations from Wednesday until Thursday and both transporters met at around 9.30 p.m., ready to board the boat. Unfortunately, we were not able to top up waters before we boarded because of arriving at the docks late, due to traffic but as soon as we docked the birds were all given fresh water on three sides of each crate. We stayed on the French docks for well over one hour to allow all birds a chance to drink. We left the docks and made our way down to Messac which takes around three and a half hours.

As soon as we arrived at Messac Marina, the lorries had to reverse down a narrow strip between open fields and the boat marina which gives us the perfect liberation point. All the electric fans on both trailers were switched on, a total of eighteen were soon doing their job lowering the temperature inside and also monitoring the humidity which made the inside around 24 degrees compared to outside of a rather sticky 26 degrees. All birds were fed and as it was early, we gave the birds plenty to eat so they would have lots of time to digest their food before the race after feeding and a clean-up of surplus food that the birds scattered over the floor. Water was once again filled up to all three sides of the crates. Birds were monitored from a short distance and were all seen to be drinking. We left the birds to relax and had a well-deserved coffee. At different times, water levels were checked and temperature readings were taken all were found to be good. At around 8 p.m., the fans were switched off, the sun was going down and birds were left to rest for the night.

Saturday 4.30 a.m., myself and Nik were up checking for any drinkers that needed to be topped up, although this year we are giving birds water on three sides, all crates had water available at all times. At 5.45 a.m., calls to and from our weather team and various other contacts including our Chairman who was overseeing the race, I received valuable reports from various parts of country and good information from Tony Adams. We had a perfect liberation sky as per photos. Channel clear with a light South East wind, we liberated the birds at 7.15 a.m., into a bright blue sky. All birds cleared together after two minutes heading towards home. We had some French officials at site taking photos before and after liberation and they were very happy with the way everything went. Many thanks to all involved in the liberation from Dom McCoy and Nik Booker, Convoyers.

Please click on the header text to access the pdf file

Press_Release_-_October_2023.pdf

Sigogne - Liberation & Convoyer Report - 21st July 2018
 
Exactly 24 hours ago our Racing Pigeons were at Caen docks resting and being watered after their channel crossing. Around midday, Tours, once a Gallic-Roman settlement, was their resting and watering hole. The Chief convoyer and pigeon fancier, for over 6 decades, Barrie Smith, rested them for an hour at the beautiful liberation site of Sigogne, before feeding and thereafter liberally watering from 3:30pm onwards.
 
Today the sun poked its head out around 6am, to greet the NFC Transporter, in thankfully a clear dry sky with very high clouds that were broken and not going anywhere for several days over the Northern hemisphere. The team decided to cut the strings and give the birds their freedom at 6:30am in a sunny 4mph Southwestern wind. The flock cleared the site in less than a minutes and headed home in textbook fashion, as Barry and Bob our responsible driver watched them high tail it back to England & Wales.
 
On their way home, they should have light variable winds of no more than 4 to 9mph, and very little gusts, including the channel, which makes a welcomed change. Temperatures should get to around 24 degrees in France and even hotter in England. Our winners should encounter no more than light showers as they disperse to their home lofts but in most cases, these will be easily avoidable.
 
Barrie reports that Sigogne is the perfect liberation site for the NFC as it has extremely friendly French pigeon fanciers, that make the team very welcome on its large home football pitches. There are open skies with no obstructions, it is on high ground and no water courses to lure in mist and fog.
 
Best of luck and great racing to all our valuable and appreciated members.
 

Would you please note the new contact details of our Office Manager, Gillian Naum, on the Home Page, as your first port of call with any queries or concerns that you may have.  

 

The contact details for our new Race Administrator, Jill Webber, will be published shortly.

 

Prize Cards 2022 season will be dispatched January 2023; sincere apologies for the delay, which has now been rectified.

 

A reminder: The AGM is on Saturday 18th February, 12 noon.

The venue: Alveley Sports & Social Club, Button Hole, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. WV15 6JX.  

 

The British Homing World Show of the Year at Blackpool is on Sat 21st - Sun 22nd January 2023.

We will be there, in our usual place, by the doorway, Mick McGrevy, Paul Naum and Gillian, our new Office Manager, ready to greet and meet and discuss all and sundry with you. Looking forward to seeing you there - sub payment facilities will be made available to you.

 

Your patience and understanding during this time of transition that we are all currently experiencing has been incredible and we wish to thank you all for your kind comments and positivity shown both over the phone and in your emails - it is very much appreciated.

 

The office will be closed from Friday 23rd December, 12 noon and re-open Tuesday 3rd January 2023. The website online facility will remain available for subs / rings etc, as will the Office Manager email and phone for messages, to be attended to upon our return in the New Year.

 

The President and The Committee would like to wish all members old and new, far and wide, a very Merry Christmas and a jubilant New Year. 

'Cheers' to Channel Racing 2023.