BARCELONA International
6th July 2012
For this, our BLUE RIBAND event, the BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL, we had a total of 114 members sending 336 birds, with the section breakdown as follows:- Section A 20 members sent 54 birds; Section B 15 members sent 32 birds; Section C 35 members sent 106 birds; Section D 16 members sent 70 birds; Section E 17 members sent 44 birds; Section F 0 members sent 0 birds; Section G 8 members sent 20 birds; Section H 3 members sent 10 birds.
Raceday:- The weather maps indicated a very tricky race for all UK entries, and early indications certainly favoured the eastern side of the UK on Saturday as the western side was a complete washout all day.
The birds were liberated at 1300hrs on Friday 6th July by the International organisers and here is that statement: "The liberation time of the Barcelona race will be determined by the weather conditions, first and foremost. It is our goal to keep Barcelona an overnight race, so the liberation will be done as was the case in recent years. In case the weather conditions are extremely favourable and it is expected that the pigeons will reach high speeds, meaning when there’s west and southwest winds, then all pigeons will be released as early as possible to avoid flying at night. By doing so, we hope to make the contest as fair as possible for each and every one of the contenders. We wish you all good luck."
At the time of writing, we have still yet to close the race, but have recorded arrivals up to Thursday 12th July (Day 6). We had 5 brave birds make their lofts on Saturday.
1st & 2nd Open, 1st & 2nd Section D – Team RML, Romford, Vels: 1207 & 1000ypm.
Nigel Lane of Team RML says: “This is only the second year that TEAM RML has been able to send a team of pigeons to the Club's longest race and it brought with it a slight improvement on that first year's 4th Open. While four of the pigeons that completed Palamos 2011 were in the 2012 team, it was a newcomer that hit the front.
GB 09 J 31666 “EANUD” has brought attention to himself in a couple of ways before, though not necessarily good ways, as prior to the marking of his first ever race, as a yearling, he somehow managed to escape from the basket and avoid the race altogether. As a result of that his first two races were from Messac when he was 5th and 1st to the loft respectively. More recently a son of his stood out on performance as the loft's favourite for the 500 mile test from Tarbes and so the question within TEAM RML was raised, if that pigeon performed well from Tarbes should “EANUD” be kept back for stock rather than risking him in what is always a severe test from Barcelona. However, espite his earlier promise the son did not return from Tarbes and so the question was answered.
1st Open BBC Barcelona
“EANUD” is a son of pigeons from two very famous Dutch lofts. His sire was bred by Jac Steketee whose own first pigeon in this Barcelona race lies provisionally 10th National while the provisional Dutch 1st National is also of Steketee breeding. “EANUD’s” dam was bred by Jelle Outhuijse whose first pigeon in this race is a little further down the result but nevertheless achieved 1047mpm at 1,335 km, way up in the North of Holland at Harlingen. The weather played an enormous part in this race and TEAM RML wish to acknowledge the obstacle that this placed upon pigeons trying to make their way to the western part of the country and the truly tremendous achievement of those that made it.”
Eearly members of TEAM RML: Nigel Lane, Bernie Bennett and Bill Morris.
3rd Open, 1st Section G – Don Harvey, Dover, Vel: 990ypm.
Don says: "Roy's Boy was my only entry for this race. he is a five year old dark cheq widow cock and his bloodlines are mostly Brian Sheppard with a touch of the late Brian Williams of Westmarsh. When he arrived home from the race he was still in fantastic condition. His preparation races this season have been Canappeville with the East England Continental Club and Niort with the BBC where he finished 211th Open from 1,103 birds, 15th section G and now probable 3rd Open, 1st Section G Barcelona. He is also probable 1st Greater Distance Single Bird NFC and 2nd Kent 500 mile club. His previous wins were:- Tarbes (NFC) 2010 – 115th Open from 2,833 birds and 42nd Section E, 607 birds, Cannappeville 2011 East of England Continental club 15th Open 800+ birds. Tarbes (NFC) 2011 510th Open, 3290 birds, 124th Section E, 767 birds and 5th Kent 500 mile club. Perpignan 2011 BICC, 5th Open, 189 birds, 5th section, 128 birds, and 5th Kent 500 mile club. I would like to congratulate the winners of the race and all the committee for organising the Barcelona race. A special thanks to Elaine my wife for all the help and encouragement she gives me. Also thanks to Bert Shepherd for his help and advice."
Don and Elaine Harvey with "Roy's Boy".
4th Open, 2nd Section G – Lyden Bros, Sandwich, Vel: 936ypm.
The winner is a Pencil Blue Cock bred in 2009, raced by Lyden Brothers of Sandwich, Kent and bred by Mick Parish of Great Burmarsh, Essex
The pigeon is a great grandson of 'John's Boy' 1st open BBC Palamos, also a grandson of a Spanish Diploma winner for Mick Parish. This pigeon was only trained as a young bird and raced lightly as a yearling. Last year as a two year old he opened his racing account winning 9th Section, 16th Open Pithiviers in the East England Continental club and crowned that a few weeks later with winning 3rd Section 22nd Open BBC Palamos 654 miles. He had 2 preparatory races with the East England Continental club, supplemented by a few short outings with the local Wingham club, before winning 2nd Section, 4th Open in this year's Barcelona Event, 681 miles. The pigeon has inherited its long distance racing abilities from its ancestry and if all goes well he may be challenging for a Spanish Diploma himself next year.
Lyden Bros' bird
5th Open, 1st Section A – A E Shepherd, Woodmancoat, Vel: 820ypm.
Bert says: "First I would like to thank our secretary and markers for a brilliant, well done job. Then to congratulate team RML, two fine birds. Now to my bird called Shergar, his performance to date are 2nd club Guernsey, 58th Section A NFC Fougeres, 27th section A NFC Saintes, 35th section A, 293rd Open NFC Tarbes, 20th section A, 131st Open NFC Tarbes, 18th section A, 216th Open NFC Tarbes. His sire is "Porthos" who is in this race, and his dam is a sister to "Seven Up", The 2010 Barcelona winner. I would now like to thank my wife for all her patience with me throughout the season (in August we celebrate our Golden anniversary), and a big thank you to all the fanciers that phoned to congratulate me on yet another sec A win. All the very best to everyone."
Bert Shepherd
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We had 21 gallant birds arrive at their homes on Sunday:-
6th Open, 2nd Section A – Les Kidd, New Milton, timing @ 0913hrs Sunday.
Les says: "Firstly I would like to congratulate the gallant pigeons that were timed in from Barcelona. My little hen has been timed from Tarbes three times and is half sister to my 8th Open Barcelona cock 2008. She is bred from my old English family, with her sire being a son of Sadlers Wills and her dam bred from Ken Hine’s, a pure Peter Titmus. the old saying "blood will out" certainly rings true here. Good luck to everyone who sent."
Les Kidd
7th, 11th, 14th & 17th Open, 3rd, 5th, 7th & 8th Section D – M Gilbert, Windsor, timing @ 1109, 1300, 1401 & 1722hrs Sunday.
Mark says: "My first one is a son of my Treble cock (he was 12th Open Barcelona with the BBC) and from a daughter of Night Flight 1st Open NFC Pau Saintes. He has been 2nd Section E Potiers with the NFC and 103rd Open Tarbes NFC last year. The second pigeon is a two year old hen. This was the first time at a plus 500 mile race. She is from Eric Cannon Jim Biss lines. The third bird is from a double grandson of Invincible Spirit and a full sister to Night Flight and Southfield Pau; he has been 20th and 70th open Tarbes NFC National. The fourth pigeon is from Southfield Pau 1st BICC Pau and was 10th open Agen with the BICC last year.
Mark Gilbert
8th & 25th Open, 3rd & 5th Section G – J Nicholson & Sons, Rochester, timing @ 1041 & 2115hrs Sunday.
John and Spencer’s first clocking is a five year old red chequer cock called Pickwick. Last season he flew Pau, Perpignan and Barcelona, being 17th Open in the Barcelona Race. He has flown 9 long distance international races in the last 4 seasons. Their second pigeon is a lovely 5 year old blue chequer hen, called Ellen, clocked at 21:15. She is the nest mate to Pickwick and she has flown 8 long distance Internationals to date. They are half brother and half sister to Jinni, their 1st BICC Marseille winner. They are flown natural and are the product of the family that John & Spencer have cultivated over the last 30 years. The Nicholsons have flown the Blue Riband Race for the last 11 years and have been fortunate enough in that time to win 8 Spanish Diplomas and a Gold Salver.
9th Open, 4th Section D – R Atly, Stevenage, 1336hrs Sunday.
Bob started in pigeons just after the war, in a small place called Waterloo, Liverpool. He then left home to move south with work but never lost the “pigeon bug”. He got married and moved to his present address, where the pigeon craving started to call. He races the natural system as he finds that suits him and his birds fly well on it. He is President, Chairman and Chief Clocksetter, which he still enjoys. The 9th Open Barcelona winner is a Jan Aarden. He was lost off the loft as a baby in 2009 and returned 2 weeks e before racing in 2010. He was sent to all races including Tarbes where he was just out of race time. In 2011 again he was sent to all races finishing the season with 65th BBC Fougeres and 25th BBC Palomas. This season he was prepared differently; he had one club race then all the BBC races up to Barcelona. He is retired now until next year.
Bob Alty
10th, 16th Open, 1st & 2nd Section B – M White & Sons, Bournemouth, timing @ 1052 & 1414hrs Sunday.
Mike says: "We would like to start by congratulating the winners on their brilliant performance and also everyone else that timed in. Our pigeon, called ‘Becky’s Boy’, is bred from our family of old English distance pigeons that have been in our family for about 100 years, with a few additions when needed. ‘Becky’s Boy’ was sent sitting 12 days andprepared for Palamos with 2 races from Carentan (105 miles) with the Dorset South Road Federation. All of our distance birds are fed Willsbridge No.2 Special mix all year, adding extra maize & paddy rice during the racing season as the distance increases & groats with cod liver oil being given once a week. Birds are paired during March, rearing a round of youngsters & then trained from approximately 10 miles to the edge of the New Forest a few times, we dare not take them any further in to the New Forest because of the big BOP risk. This is ‘Becky’s Boy’s’ fourth time from Barcelona or Palamos to win the Golden Salver Award. Last year he won a Spanish Diploma. His previous positions are 3rd section, 26th open, Barcelona 2009, 2nd section, 14th open, Barcelona 2010 & 4th section, 6th open, Palamos 2011. His dam is ‘Becky’ who also won a Spanish Diploma & 1st Section winners from Palamos, his GG.dam was ‘Phyl’s Pride’ our 1991 Palamos winning hen. His grandsire on the sire’s side is ‘Stevie Wonder’ another of our Spanish Diploma & 1st section winners. This is the 8th time we have won the section from the British Barcelona Club’s blue Riband race. Our second bird, which looks to be 2nd section, 16th open, was also 8th section, 59th open Palamos 2011. He is also bred along similar lines as ‘Becky’s Boy’ having ‘Stevie Wonder’ & ‘Becky’ as grandparents. We also timed another bird at 6.49 on the Monday morning, which is provisionally 7th section, 27th open, also bred along the same lines with ‘Stevie Wonder’ & Becky’ in both sides of his pedigree."
Mike White & Son
12th Open, 6th Section D – Gosling & Jarvis, Mountnessing, timing @ 1327hrs Sunday.
The partnership clocked a four year old red cock flown on widowhood. He was well fancied and pooled. When he landed he looked like he had been 15 rounds with Mike Tyson due to the weather he had to fly through. He has previously won the following positions: 22nd sect 49th open Tours, 20th sect 40th open Tarbes, 13th sect 55th open Tarbes. The sire is Golden Eye bred by Jim Biss. He is the son of Vend 1st NFC Pau. Since the partnership purchased him he has bred six pigeons in four seasons apart from Red 91 to win the following: Red 96 - 34th sect 304th NFC Potiers, 59th sect 285th LSEC Tours, 12th sect 54th LSEC Tarbes, 15th sect 123rd BBC Messac, 29th sect 59th BICC Agen; Cheq 60 - 1st sect 4th LSEC Tarbes, 44th sect 212th BICC Tours; 94th sect 349th LSEC Falaise; Cheq 44 - 18th sect 35th LSEC Tours, 61st sect 336th LSEC Tours, 75th sect 195th BICC Poitiers; Cheq 06 - 17th sect 33rd LSEC Bergerac, 48th sect 241st BBC Messac, 46th sect 255th BBC Niort, prov 29th sect 151st NFC last week; Blue 80 - 36th sect 46th BICC Tours. The dam is a daughter of their champion MATT. This red cock now at stock won 5th Pau on the day, 11th Bergerac on the day, 11th Tarbes, 13th Alencon, 17th Alencon, 18th Tours, 19th Alencon, 20th Tarbes, 30th Tours.
Red 91 had only five races before Barcelona, three inland at Poole then Messac and Niort. He is raced on the widowhood system, trained twice a day from 20 miles up till his first race then exercised twice a day around the loft once racing starts. He is fed on VL widowhood and Liege mixes plus peanuts. Although on widowhood he was allowed run with his hen for two days prior to basketing to steady him down. He will now be rested till next season hopefully to fly Barcelona again.
Mick holding Red 91, 12th National Barcelona and Keith holding the brother, Red 96, 29th section 59th national Agen last week
13th Open, 1st Section E – Ray Rutty, Stafford, timing @ 1944hrs Sunday.
Flying 814 miles, this brd is no stranger to distance flying as he has previously been to Barcelona, Palamos and Tarbes. Its sire was a cock purchased from John Barnett of Telford and its dam is one of Ray's own strain who flew Tarbes on the day for him (670 miles). Ray only keeps a few pigeons and is dedicated to distance racing. His whole season is geared towards Barcelona. Preparation for this year’s blue riband race was with his local club Stafford DHS. It went to Frome earlier in the season then to Carentan and two weeks before Barcelona it had another Frome. He would like to thank all the helpers at Penkridge marking station with a special mention for local club secretary Stan Stopka for being so amenable about reading his clock on Sunday night.
Ray Rutty
15th Open, 3rd Section A – Mr & Mrs T Joy, Chichester, timing @ 1325hrs Sunday.
This bird has flown Tarbes three times, being clocked in its first attempt as a yearling. It also flew Barcelona last year arriving just out of race time. Breeding is “Steeles of Utoxeter”. It was flown natural and sitting 12 day eggs.
Mr Joy
18th & 26th Open, 3rd & 6th Section B – AG Cottrell, Richmond & Son, Wimbourne, timing @ 1632 & 2104hrs Sunday.
Their First bird was Blue Cheq WF Hen "BELLE". Her sire is bred from a direct pair of Albie Deacon Southwells who had been clocked from Pau on the day. Her dam is from a grandson of Overlord - 1st BICC PAU 18th INTERNATIONAL PAU only bird timed in the UK on the day when paired to the Old S Ring Hen, flown the channel 25 times, twice 1st Bergerac and timed in the NFC Pau to be 102nd Open at 7yrs of age, full granddaughter of 1st open CSCFC only bird that was timed on the day in the UK. Second bird is Red Cheq Cock "RUSTY". His sire is a mealy cock, grandson of OVERLORD and their timer from BICC PAU 2 years ago. Dam red cheq hen, from a red hen that won Bergerac twice, from a son of Overlord x blue cheq hen from R V Jones of Resolven, South Wales - 1st Welsh Combine. Rusty was also timed from Pau & Perpignan BICC over 500 miles in the same season, and has now flown the 500 milers successfully 6 times. I think Tony has secretly told Rusty that his stock loft time is here.
Cottrell, Richmond & Son
19th Open, 4th Section B – Dave Whitefield, Bournemouth, timing @ 1642hrs Sunday.
20th Open, 1st Section C – Aisling Kelway, Highbridge, timing @ 1928hrs Sunday.
Aisling’s pigeon GB08T20432 was a £10 buy from Tony Baker, along with 11 others. After being taken ill in 2008, Tony made the decision to sell all his young birds, putting 12 aside for Aisling. This Mealy Cock was off a Red Cock bred off a Jim Biss hen, which was a daughter of Zimbiss, and also goes back to Eric Fox & Son of Bakewell. The dam’s side was a blue hen off Kenny Hines. Aisling’s pigeon was 33rd Open Palamos last year but this year they have had to work so hard to get home with the big pull to Holland and Belgium. He was fed Countrywide Super Widowhood on tap, with garlic cloves in the water all the time. He was sent sitting 14 day eggs, which young Liam Fairfax has taken to put in his stock loft.
Aisling Kelway and Tony Baker
Note from Aisling's mum: "After waiting all weekend for her pigeon to arrive, I (Mum) had finally managed to convince Aisling to have a shower while dad was at the Club for the Fougeres Charity Race. I had been run through a mock rehearsal and given instructions (several times!) as to what to do if a pigeon arrived, not thinking for a minute that one actually would, so was rather blasé about the whole thing. It’s well known I don’t have a particular love of pigeons. As Aisling decided to start shouting 'Mum I wanna get out’, the pigeon decided to arrive, leaving me to clock it in. I wasn’t left with any tips on how to coax a tired pigeon into the loft, but he eventually decided to go in and I then had the ‘you must get the ring off his leg and take the number off his wing within 10 minutes’ scenario running through my mind. All this time I had Aisling shouting through the bathroom window ‘Mum, Mum, can you get me out!‘. That poor pigeon had flown all that way to then be unceremoniously chased around the loft with me trying to catch it. I somehow managed to end up with a sprained wrist at the end of all this and so have decided that pigeon racing is a dangerous sport, but after telling Aisling that she had a pigeon home, the smile on her face was worth it!"
21st Open, 4th Section G – W Edwards, Bognor Regis, 1625hrs Sunday.
Mr Edwards says: "My bird is a 2 year old Jos Thone going back to Sars on one side and Superman" on the other side. I hoped he might be useful because as a yearling he has jumped straight into a 300 mile race without training and made it on the day. Congratulations to the winning bird on such a hard race."
Mr Edwards
Mr Edwards' 2 year old cock
22nd Open, 1st Section H – R Legg & Sons, Guernsey, timing @ 1306hrs Sunday.
This section winner is a 5 year old dark chequer white flight Jan Aarden cock of Michael Buijk Dollar cock lines. The sire is inbred to the Dollar 67 and a g.son to Grand Dollar 2 out of the Dochtar Dollar 290 bought by Louella for £25000; Michael Buijk was the loft manager for Martha Van Giel. He was mated early in March and allowed to rear a pair of young birds and then placed on widowhood for the first five races of the season. Early on in the season he had a very lucky escape when he was sent with the other Channel Island pigeons for the BBC messac race. Awaiting collection from Poole the birds were attacked and killed in the basket by a fox and he was fortunate to escape the carnage. Following his return from the BBC Niort race, he was re-mated and then sent sitting eggs. In 2011 he flew Palamos with the BBC and is a very consistent bird and not often out of the first three birds back to the loft when sent. It was a great feeling to see the bird back following a complete washout in the islands on Saturday and strong westerly winds Sunday morning. I would to thank Ray Hopper and Richard Green for getting the birds to the marking station so that I was able to compete in the race."
Nigel Legg with Foxy Boy
23rd Open, 5th Section B – A Stephens, Poole, Timing @ 1727hrs Sunday.
24th Open, 4th Section A – Wearn Bros, Ramsdean, Timing @ 1957hrs Sunday.
We had a further 7 brave birds battle in on Monday:-
27th Open, 7th Section B – M White & Sons, Bournemouth, Timing @ 0649hrs Monday.
28th & 32nd Open, 2nd & 3rd Section C – Nicholas Harvey, Taunton, Timing @ 0941 & 1731hrs Monday.
Nic and his good friend Paul Addicott holding Nic’s 3 pigeons from Barcelona.
Nic’s fist pigeon is out of a Mick Parish cock which is a g.son of 'John’s Boy'. The dam is from the BBC Stud supplied by Nigel Rigiani and her grandparents are The Thatcher bred by H A Baker of Highbridge, Cheyane dam of Commanchi 4 times Palamos, Mr Alicante and a dtr of Overlord 1st open BICC Pau 18th International. His second pigeon is out of another Mick Parish cock (sorry breeding not to hand) and another hen from Nigel Rigiani and the BBC Stud; both these hens cost £50 each! The hen’s g.parents are The Duke 1st Open NFC Pau, Bridcombe Belle 1st Open BBC Barcelona, Morley Lad and Miss Ventura. Nic’s 3rd pigeon homed on day 5 with secondaries missing in both wings! This pigeon had as a YB been 1st Wincanton & 1st Salisbury (very short distances) then as a yearling 1st club and 1st WECA Marmandes 474 miles. The sire of this pigeon is out of Paul Addicott’s 3 times Palamos hen (which was sadly lost on her 4th time going for her Spanish Diploma). The dam was bred by Steve Wain in Foston, Derby out of his top hen scoring 3 times from Tarbes at 671 miles. She is pure Jim Emerton out of Jim’s very best Barcelona blood. My hanks to Alan Baker for getting this info.
29th Open, 2nd Section E – V Wilkinson, Grimsby, Timing @ 0727hrs Tuesday. Timing an 11yr old.
30th Open, 5th Section A – J Derbyshire, Whitchurch, Timing @ 1419hrs Monday.
31st Open, 8th Section B – M Richards, Weymouth, Timing @ 1408hrs Monday.
33rd Open, 9th Section B – D Whitefield, Bournemouth, Timing @ 1721hrs Monday.
34th Open, 2nd Section H – M De Carteret, Guernsey, Timing @ 1619hrs Monday.
5 more, intrepid returnees on Tuesday
35th Open, 4th Section C – N Harvey, Taunton, Timing @ 0849hrs Tuesday.
36th Open, 6th Section G – Mr T & C Welch, Chichester, Timing @ 0735hrs Tuesday.
37th Open, 10th Section B – M White & Son, Bournemouth, Timing @ 1539hrs Tuesday.
38th Open, 9th Section D – Mr & Mrs M Angell, Iver, 1920hrs Tuesday.
39th Open, 6th Section A – Ben Smith & Father, Southampton, Timing @ 2016hrs Tuesday.
2 more, special returnees on Wednesday
40th Open, 5th Section C – Mr & Mrs Horner, Bristol, Timing @ 0904hrs Wednesday.
41st Open, 7th Section G – D Farr, Bognor Regis, Timing @ 1905hrs Wednesday.
Now, I think that all these pigeons deserve a medal for their bravery in reaching home after a very testing race, and Ifor one certainly take my hat off to the birds and the fanciers for conditioning them to be able to compete from this Barcelona International. I have certainly changed my opinion of these kinds of champion birds. I will be honest and will openly say that I thought to get a bird home in race time from a race such as this would be a piece of cake. Isent three birds which I thought could handle this race, take it steady and return home. WRONG. The birds required for these type of races are certainly few and far between, and are ALL very special pigeons in their own rights, so here is a challenge for all you fanciers out there, who like me thought this type of racing is easy, take up the challenge for next year and don’t worry about getting them on the day, or even next day.............. you just try and get one home!!!
Secretaries Notes:-
Bordeaux entries are now starting to arrive..... please post to:- Mark & Clare Brown, 16 Inholmes Common, Woodlands St.Mary, Hungerford, RG17 7SX as we still have a lot of info going to past secretaries which just delays things.
Regards
Mark Brown,
Pess Officer British Barcelona Club
