The following is the section report for the National Flying Club race from Guernsey on the 17th July sponsored by The House of Aarden Stud and I thank all those who have submitted their details and assisted me in compiling this report. The next National Flying Club race includes the Old Hens National too so I would ask that anyone sending in details would please mark clearly in the email subject line, which section and which race it is for. I want to report on at least the first five in each of the eighteen sections which takes a lot of sorting out, especially if it is doubled with a coinciding race. Young Bird racing will now be in full swing which can be a very frustrating time considering all the many obstacles and it is worrying how many are deciding to call it a day. One huge loss to the sport is the partnership of Mike Underhill and Robbie Prettejohn in Plymouth who were 2nd and 4th Open Guernsey and have been at the top of their game for many years with many national wins to their name. Further details are in John and Gill McClements section D Report. The NFC Committee wish them all the very best for the future and hope to see them again very soon, the pigeons are in the blood.
Section A
Winning section A was D & K Jones in Havant who has had a very good season so far as well as being in the first five of the section in each NFC Guernsey race. His yearling widowhood cock was having his second race across the water and is a Heremen Ceuster bred by Homer & Williams in North Yorkshire.
His sire won £500 in the Premier 100 Open race and the dam is a granddaughter of his 1st National winner “Dads Lad”. Second was Mr & Mrs Brian Wall also in Havant who followed on from the last NFC Guernsey when they were 5th Open 3rd section followed on by second and fourth Guernsey 2.
The first bird from a widowhood cock that is also a prize winner. The first bird was a gift bird from PJ Lofts and is from Paul's very good Jelly Jellama's. Brian said it was a hard race with the winds being easterly, but birds came as well as could be expected. Only one missing which was my £10 nom said Brian, he is safely back in the loft now though. A big shout out to my good friend Dec for winning the section. Alan Holdaway in Emsworth was third with Mullen & Son from Horley in Surry fifth.
They timed a yearling chequer pied hen raced on natural & sent to all prior club races, this being its third effort from Guernsey, in consecutive weeks. She is bred direct from “Scotty” which flew the channel 33 times, and the dam was bred by Chris Slight of Kingston, through Bobby Carter lines.
Section B
Bill Edwards kindly sent the following; Taking the premier position in Section B, and with arguably the outstanding performing of the race is Dave Waterhouse from Portsmouth. That is not being disrespectful to the Open winner or any of the other Section winners, but Dave’s game yearling blue cock kept his line to the loft, 200 miles to the East of the overall winner and almost entirely over open water. Dave would like to congratulate the Winner, very well done.
His 1st Section winner, a yearling Blue cock was also 5th Section, 8th Open two weeks earlier from Guernsey 1. He is from Dave’s old family of Jacob Poortvliet X Leo Herman, fed on Vanrobaeys super widowhood and raced on roundabout. Dave would like to thank all the organisers and the transport team. Dave also takes 5th Section B with a yearling which Dave says is also from his Jacob Poortvliet family and has been in the top 3 of his race team this year. His sire is a very good pigeon that has won 1st and 2nd sect from National and Classic races as well as 2 X 1st , 2 X 2nds in club racing. Unfortunately, I lost him trying to break him to my new house last year. Second was the partnership of, Tony Cottrell, Richmond & Rogers.
Tony said, congratulations to the race winner, Gary Jacobs and to the Cornish boys who have had a long wait for the rub of the green and had their birds right on the day. I spoke to Gary not long after he timed and excited would be an understatement. My partner, Justin Rogers was unable to get to our loft in Wimborne so had gone to Gary’s. I had already phoned him to say that I had timed and thought that it was a reasonable bird, taking into account the NE wind. Both mine and Gary’s birds are related, having been bred by Justin at Boslevin lofts. His sire is a son of Chiefton and Blue Thunder from Ogilvie Lofts, Stirling. His Dam is the nest sister to the Sire of Gary’s National winner and is an inbred double Granddaughter of The Rossie bred by Justin. My pigeon, now named “Proper Job 57”, has been most consistant this year from the West and Guernsey, being first to the loft from BICC Sennon Cove, 4th Sect, 32nd Open, BBC Wadebridge, 15th Sect, 27th Open. In the first Guernsey with the BICC he was 2nd to the loft but he was a bit behind from the first NFC Guernsey. He is flown on a chaos system with two nest boxes in separate sections with two different hens. He was sent back to Guernsey because he was exercising so well, first bird out and last bird back in. Well done to the section winners and to Dave Waterhouse’s great pigeon on the day against the wind. Third is the consistent Father and Son partnership of Bryce and Lloyd Scutt from Portsmouth.
Their pigeon, Shadow 93 is a 2yo blue cock racing on widowhood. Lloyd said that he is a direct son of our No 1 Vandenabeele stock pair, making him a full brother to our top racer “89”, winner of 7 X 1sts club, 2 X 1sts Fed, 2nd Fed, 5th Fed plus many more . Previously he has scored both as a YB and yearling with many times being only beaten by loft mates for 1st place. Congratulations to the Open winner and all the section winners. Let us hope that we can get back to racing from France next season. Fourth was Jason Bowen from Havant who timed a yearling red grizzle hen, flown on natural sent sitting 4 dummy eggs to keep her over sitting.
She was unraced as a youngster but has had every race with the Premier 100 club this season and was 3rd Sect 7th Open from NFC Guernsey 1 regards Bill Edwards
Section C
First in the section was Derek Vincent in Axminster who timed a two year old blue widowhood cock bred down from “The National Hen” and “The 72 Cock” via Alan Atkinson and Seven Eleven of Tumley Lofts.
He was also 19th Open from 909 birds in the DCWSCFC Ramsgate Open six days earier from 190 miles. Derek would like to thank all the markers at Kingteignton marking station for making it possible to compete this season. Second was Neville & Diana Spracklen who are having a great season in Dorchester and they said ‘We would like to send our congratulations to the winner and all the section winners. We time a two year old widowhood cock which is from a son of “DE Cass” from the house of Arden x with a hen called “Rosie” who won 1st section 3rd open BBC Fourgeres. Rosie is from a son of “Southfield Pau” crossed with a Daughter of “My Little Diamond”.
Our red pied cock was ear marked for Barcelona this year so with a bit of luck he might get there next year”. Third was NFC Committee member Steve White from Honiton. He timed a two year old De Klak hen sent sitting for 14 days. Steve normally races on the roundabout system but has been unable to this year due to Peregrine attacks and it as had a huge effect on their nerves. She is bred off the sire and dam of 1st Irish National Talbenny Ybs 3500 birds. He added “Well done to all the west country fanciers in the result after a tough time in national racing this year, and to club member Derek Vincent on winning the section, and a big thank you to Andy Mabin and Steve Hopper and all the helpers at Kingsteignton marking station”. Fourth was David Wilson in Yeovil with Mr & Mrs Hodges in Templecombe fifth with the same hen which was first section I the BICC from Guernsey in her last race. She was breed by Danny Langham of Poole from his John Gerard stock (Louder x Bosua). 5th was Prilly Hodges.
Section D
I am pleased to report John McClements has recovered well from a recent operation and along with his wife Gill, is now writing for section D once again; It is with great honour mixed with a heavy heart that this will probably be my last report on the success of Underhill and Prettejohn. Mike has decided to call it a day due mainly to the decimation of his pigeons by peregrines and sparrowhawks not just training/racing, but mostly when exercising around home, along with the doubt of continued channel racing, which is their prime interest when it comes to racing. The partnership has had more than their fair share of success across the channel for this area, Mike being a very astute fancier, will not throw the birds in to a national without the odds being in his favour, and is firm believer in letting the results speak for themselves. The partnership does not have any interest in winning club/inland racing but will use the facility to get in a trainer or two to give the birds the experience of travelling overnight on the transporter and liberation, plus some private individual training tosses in preparation of the overseas races. In saying this, Mike is a very active chairman of the Plymouth & District FC, playing a big part in the acquisition of our new transporter, setting the club up for many years to come, and also convoying to trainers and the early club races before we join the Federation. Hopefully Robbie will continue to compete from his own lofts a few hundred yards up the road, but of course is having the same problems with birds of prey.
So, Guernsey 2 with the NFC was not only the partnership's first National race of the season but has turned out to be their swansong, and what a way to finish. When the website started to record the arrivals, and after we had clocked in ourselves, we (John and I) phoned Mike to say what a good bird he had, and he didn't burst our bubble then to say he had 2 in front of us, we discussed the situation and agreed that Cornwall was the only threat to his pole position, which unfortunately for Underhill and Prettejohn, but fantastic for Gary Jacobs, turned out to be the case. Well done Gary, that bird had the longest cross channel journey of the day, straight in to Penzance.
With the NFC channel races in mind both cocks were on widowhood early in the year, but when it became apparent that there would be no racing from France they were remated and sent to Guernsey on big young ones with their hens a couple of days on eggs. Their section winner is also 2nd Open and is a two year old cock his breeding is Van Loon on the Sires side and the Dam being a full sister to "Sienna” 1st GB 6th Open Algarve Golden Race winning 10,000 euros. (They took the whole Plymouth contingency who had travelled to the Algarve, out for dinner that evening).
Second section and 4th Open is a Yearling Cock off stock obtained from Derek Nicholls of Premier Stud he is pure De Rauw - Sablon from the Gilbert & Andrea Bak 17 Lines. Third Sect 7th Open was deservedly won by Woolley & Luscombe, of Saltash, (Cornwall, but not Section Q) Steve and Tony work tirelessly with their birds which is in itself is worth merit as neither live within 5 miles of the lofts.
The partnership absolutely loves channel racing, competing with NFC and BICC whilst also very competitive within the Plymouth & District FC, flying with Devon South Road Fed, being one of the longest flying members. This very experienced hen is a five year old Brian Denny hen bred in their stock loft from the Tuff Nut lines off a direct daughter/grandson pairing. She has been 15 times across the channel, including twice from Tarbes. She was sent on the roundabout system and fed Versa Laga corn mixture, Gem supplements and Aviform products. Fourth Sect, 8th Open position was won by ourselves, M/M McClements. Our yearling cock is bred from a pair bought from John Fretwell of Twyford when he had a clearance sale in 2018. The sire was 12th Section, 94th Open Bordeaux in 2018, his only entry, being direct from L & K Buddle. The dam was off 'Golden Horn' 1st Open MNFC Bordeaux 2015 when paired to a Peter Virtue hen. Our entry was raced on the roundabout/chaos system and was fed on Versa Laga mixes, he went to Guernsey 1, two weeks previous but was off the pace. When it comes to NFC it seems we are sometimes one of the bridesmaids but not yet the bride! being very close to Underhill and Prettejohn, winning 3rd Open from Messac when they were 1st & 2nd Open in 2019, and 3rd Section.
, 6th Open from the same racepoint to Terry Luscombe in 2018 (same hen). One day it may be our turn, but I can't see it being from the North. Fifth Sect, 10th Open was taken by R Goodier & Sons of Marsh Green. Richard is a formidable fancier with consistent results both in National and Federation competition. This is a Van Den Bulck x Heremans Roundabout hen, she has plenty of previous form in the Devon SR Federation and is sister/half sister to over 19 x 1st federation winners, Sire is a Heremans cock "Iron Man" who is responsible for many Fed & NFC performance pigeons to include "Deadshot" 8 x 1st clubs , 6 x 1st Federations.Her Dam is "Young Nova" direct from P & D Studs "Nova Sagan" she is already responsible for 6 x 1st Federation winners. Richard's 6th Section D, 11th Open is also from "Ironman" and her Dam is "Special Sprint Cools" who in turn is a G/Daughter of "Broere Goede Roede", "Mr Specialised" & "Kittel Ettix" the best P & D Stud Van den Bulck lines. 7th Section D , 12th Open is a full brother to the 11th open hen "Ironman" x "Special sprint Cools" This turned out an excellent race for Richard with 29 out of 30 birds home with and a further 3 birds in the top 30 Open. All the birds are raced on roundabout and for this race where left to run together from Wednesday night after exercise until basketing on Thursday afternoon. The birds are fed on Versa Laga feeds to suit the up and coming race. Richard would like to thank all the hard workers at Kingsteignton marking station.
Section E
Once again Mark Gilbert topped his section along with third and fourth positions. His first two were cocks and are both grandchildren of “Kittel” and the second pigeon won the section with NFC from Sennen Cove. Mark is very pleased to win the section from all four NFC old bird races. Hot on his heels winning second and fifth section was J F Haynes in Maidenhead.
Section F
Winning the top spot in section F were the Cowley Bros in Cirencester.
They would like to congratulate Gary Jacobs with an excellent pigeon down in Penzance. They timed a blue chequer pied cock sitting 10 days on eggs which had five inland races as a young bird with the Wiltshire Fed and was always in good time. This season he started at Chichester with the West of England Combine and had a further five inland races split between the Wiltshire Fed and the Severn Valley Fed in which he didn't put a foot wrong and this was his first time over the channel. He is bred from a cock bought from friend and clubmate at Charlton Kings, Graham Clift of Tirley from his Mark Gilbert lines when paired to a hen bought from Eric Higginbottom at a sale in Barnsley of Etienne Meirlaen lines. Second was F J Quinn in Devizes who would also like to congratulate the winners and the whole team at the NFC.
Frank was shocked his team of long distance birds were out there with the leaders with a yearling chequer pied cock bred from his number one long distance pair. Racing in the club each week his bird has been the most consistent to the loft except the BICC Guernsey race when he was last home. J Draper was third with a three year old Lambrecht cock bred from stock obtained from friend Clive Elliott of Wantage.
He was previously 29th section 458th open the Sennen Cove I National and 9th section 20th Open CSCFC Wadebridge 2020. Fourth was J & P Parker in Reading with Kieron Marcham from Newbury fifth. He had 3 widowhood cocks drop together but the first over the pad was a two year old cock which had been bred from Hereman cuester stock and had been raced North this season until the talk of channel racing came around, to which Kieron switched him back south. He had previously won 1st club Leicester and 27th open CSCFC before turning him south again.
Section G
Ray English won the section in Clevedon, North Somerset.
He timed a blue Frans Zwolls cock from Borderlofts stock flown on roundabout all season. He has always been consistent bird flying with the Bristol fed so was purposely prepared for the race having gone to the first NFC Guernsey when he was Rays second bird home. He was well rested, in good shape and believed ready for the race. Returns were good for Ray who congratulates all the winners. Second was T & G Dye from Highbridge in Bridgwater with third and fourth places going to D & B Rayner also of Bridgwater. Roy Fursland came fifth and kindly sent me the following; “After a loft tragedy this 2018 bird was a gift from my good friends Mel Fairfax and Liam Meaden, a good all round bird with very good club positions. Well done to Gary Jacobs the Open winner, congrats to Ray English our section winner.”
Section H
Hubert Walker wins section H once again with the the same hen which won from Sennen Cove which is now called “Rocket Lady”.
She is bred from 'Lucious' a son of 'Magic', who is from a full brother to 'Mucking Fagic' paired to a sister of 'Big Smithy'. The mother of 'Lucious' is a 'Pros Roosen' pigeon paired to a 'Machine' hen. 'Lucious' was paired to a hen from good friend Jack Walker of Cannock, from a brother to 'Pink Eyes' paired to Jack's good 'Rocket' hen. Second and fifth was Nicolae Babes in Ely with T.Bennett third with a bird bred by PJ lofts from his Hugo Morris stock loft flown on the natural system and sent sitting on 14 day old eggs. Great to see Barry Baker at the marking station for the first time this season and he duly won third place in the section with a yearling Cock called ‘Dudley’.
On black Saturday in a race north from Brayford, his pigeon went into a loft in Dudley and the kind fancier fed and watered him before releasing him the next day and he came home. He was bred by John Norris, coincidentally from one of Barry’s own European Bull / Jan Polder stock that he had bred for him in 2018. Late news from the first Guernsey race has come in from C Crick & Son who were 4th section with a yearling Van De Bulk blue w/f cock bred by Bob Fenech. Raced on widowhood which had won at club level as a young bird but this was his best performance this season.
Section I
Clive Yates racing as M Yates & Son, in Tamworth won the section with the same hen that was 4th section in the first NFC Guernsey race.
She is from 9 generations of winners that Clive has bred which all can be traced back to his number one stock cock from 1982. She is the same colour as he was even with the tick eye. including in her breeding are 4 x open winners in the MNFC & many more top winners. FVW. Her sire is bred by Syndicate lofts from a direct son off “Mona Lisa”, Mike Ganus best ever stock hen. On the same day a two year old cock off the same sire won his inland race and Clive had 100% returned, all back in great condition well done to all concerned. Second and fifth was Paul Postings in Hednesford with a two year old slatey cock bred by J & B Oakley, which was raced on roundabout, and is a consistent bird having previously been 8th Open MCC Fougeres as a yearling .
On his system the cocks are exercised at home and go racing every week and this was his second race back with the NFC after a 10 year break so was very pleased with the result. Another very consistent loft is Leon Prince racing to Cheadle in Staffordshire. Never far off the pace he was third and fourth with his first bird being a hen sitting fourteen day old eggs which has had many prizes including 9th open MNFC Carentan and 8th section I from Sennen cove 2.
Her breeding is Rene Nauwelaert x Lambrecht. Taking fourth is a yearling De Meyer red hen sitting ten day old eggs which has had three fed positions this season and also topped the fed has a young bird.
Section J
Once again Mr & Mrs Pete Shaw are tops.
What a season they are having in the NFC and this time they take the fourth position too with the section winner from the previous NFC Guernsey with both birds being Mandalartz/Andre/Zyta partnership breeding. Second was Martin Williams in Hereford who would like to congratulate the winner Gary Jacobs, and Pete Shaw.
His roundabout hen has been very consistent in the local clubs having been raced on the East and West routes and was 1st section, 87th Open in the NFC Fougeres race last year. Her breeding is Martins old family of Roodhooft x Sablon and he had a good race with two more birds arriving three minutes after the first, followed by regular arrivals thereafter, having 19/20 on the day and the last one the next morning. Third was Jonathan Hamplett with a three year old hen which has performed consistently and raced on the roundabout system with her bloodlines being Galaxy Lofts and Darren Peters. Fifth was R Stokes & Son from Cleobury Mortimer.
Section K
Winning section K were Juan Castello & Family & Leach who would like to congratulate all the worthy prize winners on a hot tough flying day.
Their first bird over the timing pads was a real nice apple bodied chequer hen flown on the roundabout system. She is a previous 1st prize winner and also won 2nd breeder/buyer and is bred out of a son of Adrian’s top breeder “The 51 Hen” the mother to the sect winner is a direct Belgium hen bought on a trip to Belgium.
This pair of pigeons are proving to be consistent breeders as this is the third first prize winner that they have bred to date. Second was Richard and Joan Hardy with a three year old Busscheart x Soontjen roundabout cock which is one of Richards team and the hen's in the section raced by Joan in another club. He had been fancied in the 1st Guernsey but was well beaten by the hen's on that occasion, but they kept faith and he proved them right. “Congratulations to fellow club mate Juan Castello on his 1st Sect K win and to other club members Barry Roebuck and Barry Reid who have also had great section K results this year. Many thanks to those at the NFC who have worked hard to provide a race program this year in trying circumstances”. Third were J & J Greenfield with a super pigeon which has already been 3rd Section from Sennen Cove. This three year old Denis Sapin Soontjen is a half-sister to 1st Section K, 4th Open NFC Messac and has won from a young bird and is a very consistent pigeon. Peter Hagland was forth with a half brother to his fourth sect in the first Guernsey race. A very consistent pigeon he is Houben x Herman Beverdam. In fifth place was Lee Cutts of Penistone who timed a Staf Van Reet cock bred by the late John Oldfield of Derbyshire which was having his first channel race this year, flown natural and sent sitting two day old eggs.
Section L
First and second section L were A & S Hughes in Rochdale who timed two cocks in 20 seconds.
Both were sent to the last NFC race and left together with their hens and sent sitting 6 day old eggs. The first to arrive was their good four year old Dark Van Loon cock bred from a pair purchased from the Liverpool Ace Steve Goulding. Steve said he would do OK with them and he was correct. To date they have bred Combine, Amal and Fed winners, also NW Region award winners, the sister to this cock had won 4x1st before being retired to stock at the end of last season and she will now be joined by her brother. This cock has always been consistent, has two first to his name already and could have been a few more it is wasn’t for his loft mates. He too will be going in the stock loft now as he’s also producing winners for others such as Shapland Brother and Bobby Brandon, so time to get some for themselves and new partner Glyn Buckley. The first bird had only just gone through the Bob wires when another yearling blue cock hit the board, this cock was part of a group of eggs given by my good friend John Crehan from his stock loft and is a grandson of “Harry”. They have had eggs from john for three years now and would recommend these to anyone. “So big thanks to Steve & Barbra Goulding and huge thanks to John Crehan for the opportunity to race birds directly out of his stock birds”. J & S Ward from Oldham were third with a three year old cock which has sired a 1st fed winner out of 1500 birds, he's sire is a direct Ad Schaerlaeckens, sire of many winners for themselves and others.
His dam is one of their best racing hens which has scored 13 times in top 10 of Border Amal up to 2500 birds and two of her sisters have won North West Region Awards. Fourth was Lee Davison & Sons who timed an August 2020 late bred hen bred by Steve Radcliffe.
The sire was bred for stock out of the “The good Pair” from the very best of Peter Fox Syndicate lofts. This pair have been responsible for many winners for Steve and also Fred Hall & daughters at club, Amal, Combine, National and One Loft level. The dam was bred by Lee and is a half brother to half sister pairing from his number one stock hen “Max 79”, which was gifted to Steve for stock and is a direct daughter of his good Bordeaux hen “Nifty Fifty”, which was a superb little hen when racing herself with the heart of a lion and never gave up whatever the weather conditions. She put up some cracking performances in her short time racing including 1st west section 26th Open Bordeaux 600 miles MNFC 2015 as a late bred yearling, also 4th section L NFC Ancensis 426 miles 2015. The mother of Nifty Fifty is Max 79 which is a direct daughter of “Max” the only bird to win the MNFC twice. This hen has turned out to be a goldmine hen breeding many winners including 5 different section winners with 5 different cocks, just 2 weeks ago she was grandmother to Fred Halls 1st open Guernsey national winner. The little blue hen has now been named “Mabel” after Lees first grandchild. Fifth was K Burke in Northwich.
Section N
M Anderson & Sons won first and second section N and grateful thanks go to Colin Surtees for helping to obtain these bloodlines.
It was a tough race in the conditions, especially when they saw where the leading open positions were being recorded and those that made it into section N did well. Congratulations to all those who timed. John & Steven Best followed up their 1st & 2nd NFC Section N from the Guernsey 1 race with a very impressive 3rd & 4th Section two weeks later. S
teven races roundabout and their winners are 'bred in the pink’. Their first bird is bred from a son of “Starlight” x daughter “Farmer George” and their second bird was from a son of “Starlight” x with their own superstar “Pure Gem”. Bob McKie of Blackhall Mill won fifth position with a son of “Dark 63” best of Dave Impett bloodlines.
Dam is a direct daughter of “The Driver”. 5th Open NFC Fougeres and now producing quality National birds. 21928 was 11th Section N at Guernsey(1). Second bird GB19N 21925 is a direct son of Chequer Cock Timba his most consistent national racer. Never missed the prize list and has topped Section N (Denney x Virtue) bloodlines. His Dam is from the Barry and Peter Winter Little Gem family.
Section O
Bruce Blamire from Kendal once again takes 1st Section O.
Bruce has been out of action again this year after falling and breaking his hip back at the start of the season. This injury meant that his good lady and Nephew, David, have had to take on most of the day to day chores with the birds. This is the first NFC race that Bruce has entered this year sending six channel first timers for experience. From the six birds entered Bruce timed two hens in twelve minutes after covering the 328 miles into Kendal. Both hens are Deweerdt breeding both three years old and sent racing on the natural system. Let’s hope this win helps Bruce in his recovery.
Section P
A Good test for the pigeons coming into Section P on a warm day where velocities were never going to match the west side but offered a good insight into the potential of many of the birds on sub 40mph race, unlike any of the much quicker previous south road races. An excellent section winner to John Cowlin - carrying on from his record breaking 2020 season when he took the first 8 positions in the NFC and won back-to-back national races.
This time with the wind totally against him he had to make do with a 1st section. However, this cracking Frans Zwols cock is proving to be quite a good pigeon having won 109th open BICC and 174th open NFC as a Young bird, this year as a yearling he has already won 9th section 57th open BICC, Guernsey and 1st section NFC. he also won 1st Hullbridge club and 6th open Thames from Holmsley 2,062 birds this season. He is certainly bred for the job, his sire was bred for stock being from the “Amal Cock” and “Guernsey Princess”, both big winners themselves and already responsible for 2 x 1st national winners and 2nd national beat by a loft mate, dam of the section winner is “Burnham Queen”, who herself won 1st open BICC National for Lee Bastone . She in turn is a granddaughter of the “Dream Pair” (Prince of Rekkem and Dreamy) The Dream pair are responsible for 5x1st open national winners, 2nd open national 2x3rd open national etc etc. Well done John , brave enough to take on the pre race weather forecast of a NE wind and come up with a really good section winner. Second is F Brunt & Son of Chatham, Paul clocked a two year old Belgian Leir Market special, after experiencing a little difficulty with the manual clock and losing a couple of minutes. Unraced as a young bird and yearling but extensively trained it has come good this year being at the front in all its races. Paul uses these races as a prep for the longer races but in the absence of any 500 mile races from France has had to be patient and think longer term. Definitely one for the future. Third is Kevin Foster from Longfield Hill with a yearling widower hen, her sire is via Cosmic Talas from a direct son of “Remy” 15th and 19th NFC national from Saintes and Signone when paired to an Arjan Beens hen.
The mother of the 3rd section is a daughter of my good blue hen 24th Nat Tarbes and 24th Nat Agen two of the hardest races in recent years. The Hens team have been in good form this year with this being the sixth consecutive National race where they have made the top 10. Three with the 3 BICC and 3 with NFC. Fourth and fifth section is another ever present in the section honours Bruce McAllister who said “My first pigeon was a four year old widowhood cock which has been a very consistent pigeon scoring regularly. He was sired by “Dynamite Wittkop” a Coorman from Bob Fenech and the dam is from Roger Lowe from “Main Man” x “Lucky”.
He has the same sire as my second section two weeks previous which was my second pigeon in this race, being fifth. A tough race with a couple still missing with five home the next morning. Well done to my mate Mike Underhill for 2nd and 4th Open, shame he is packing up I believe this will be his last race due to peregrine attacks, a real loss to the sport.” Sixth were Fagg & Nicholas from sittingbourne. Colins first bird is a hen bred from a granddaughter of New Laureate x with a Menne & daughter cock. She has been a consistent hen winning 3rd open NFC Old hens last year and she won the Fed this year being also 2nd section BICC National. She was sent with two youngsters in the nest which are her first of the year and the birds came back in great condition many thanks to the NFC team.
Section Q
Thanks to Chris Boyce who has taken over from Perry Liddle and he wrote “What a difference a wind makes! The 14 Cornish flyers sent 109 birds and the winning velocities of the Cornish birds in the Guernsey II race were twice the speed of Guernsey I. Penzance Club having a particularly successful race, it appears the Guernsey to Penzance express pulled out of Guernsey at 0730 and then called at Madron (Gary Jacobs 1st Sec, 1st open), St Buryan (Duncan Harvey 2nd Sec 3rd open and 3rd Sec 5rd open), Sancreed (Angwin family 4th Sec, 6th open) and Alverton (Darren Hosking 6th Sec,37th open). An excellent overall club performance.
They didn’t have it all their own way with Keith Frost of St Austell also managing fifth section. Those lead birds must have flown a very direct line from Guernsey with many of the later birds taking a the more conventional route of crossing to the south coast and working their way back down into Cornwall. Gary Jacob’s bird was a Leo Herman bred by Bosliven lofts and is the subject of a full article by Chris Sutton,
so I will go into further details on the supporting cast. Duncan Harvey the Old Master of Cornish distance flying had 2 well prepared hens, sent on pipping eggs, both out of a BCQ cock obtained from Doug Gatland out of Eric cannon and Darren Mc Fadden lines. The Dam of second section came from Albert Padfield stock and was 31st open Messac. The Dam of the 3rd Sec bird was also from Albert Padfield stock this 6yr old bird’s Dam was responsible for 4 firsts over the channel at club level all the way through to Tarbes. This 6 yr old bird was also his 2nd bird home from Guernsey I. The 4th Sec bird was a BCQ cock a direct son of New Young Kittel this bird has been very consistent for the Angwin Family, at club and combine level and now over the channel. Fifth was Keith Frost’s 3yr old Blue Bar this Herman Cuester was also 2nd sec in the Guernsey I race. We had a total of 7 different fanciers in the Section top 10 well done guys and good luck in the last Guernsey race of the National season. Photo shows left to right: Darren Hosking, John Angwin, Gary Jacobs, Duncan Harvey, far right Dan Mitchell of Camborne after some tips!”
Section W
With winning the first four positions in section W from Guernsey 2, Derrick Jones has now won a total of 40 first sections in National racing and most of them were with his own family based on Vandenabeele and Flor Engels, both of which he has had for many years and are very suited to each other. Pairing best to best, they have won the NFC from Saintes, the MNFC from Tours and the Welsh National from Littlehampton. His first bird was also 4th section in the previous NFC Guernsey race and his second bird home from the MNFC Guernsey race. His full brother has topped the federation from Weymouth and was 11th Open MNFC from Guernsey. The second, third and fourth birds have also been very consistent with the fourth bird winning from Guernsey as a young bird. Derrick was one of the first fanciers to get the Vandenabeele obtaining brothers and sisters to his National winners with which he has founded his own family based on racing results. Fifth were D.Wright & Son in Rhos, Wrexham with a three year old Vandenabeele hen originating from M & D Evans which was fifth section from the first NFC Guernsey race. At that time, she was raced on roundabout but on this occasion, she had been left to pair up and was sent sitting eggs. Her previous results are 1st section 64th open Welsh South Rd National Eastbourne, 1st Wrexham 2 bird specialist club Carentan, 3rd club 12th fed Eastbourne, 3rd club 14th fed Eastbourne., 4th club 29th fed Eastbourne.
Please remember to send in your details if you are in the top five of your section and mark clearly which section and race you are referring to. News and views to me Chris Sutton on 01530 242548 or 07792 356330 email