JOHN GILBERT & 'THE SAINT' DO IT AGAIN
by Pete Wightman
John with 'The Saint'
Every now and then, sometimes once in a life time, we are lucky enough to own and race what we call a champion. When a fancier of the calibre of John Gilbert of Dordon in north Warwickshire has one, then you know it has to be something special. John has always had some top class Wildemeersch, and of late he has raced the Lambrechts with great success inland. The champion John races is “The Saint”. This 4yo Wildemeersch has flown Saintes four times and on every occasion he has won 1st in his club, formerly Dosthill, now Birch Coppice.
His first flight from Saintes was in 2011 as a yearling when he won 1st club, 20th fed against 495 birds with a velocity of 1265 in a SW wind. In 2012 he was 1st club, 3rd fed against 431 birds with a velocity of 1184 in a NW wind. Last year on an excessively hot day flying into a NE wind he was the only bird home on the day in the fed against 469 birds with a velocity of 961, being timed in just after 9pm after a 06-30 liberation. Now on to this year. After a poor Messac race birdage was down to 250 in the fed for Saintes. They were liberated at 06-05 into a west wind, turning NW en route. Well, he only went and did it again: 1st club, 1st fed with a velocity of 956, being timed in at 8-41, and one of only three gallant birds that made it home on the day.
Typical of John, he said “that’s all he’s really good for”. What he means is, he is only really prepared for Saintes. He has plenty of other birds to win the sprints and I can tell he is really proud of this 4yo cock. John has won more than enough races and owned scores of birds that have won multiple first prizes, but he knows “The Saint” is something special.
Well done John, the proud owner of a true champion - “The Saint”.
'The Saint'
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Elimar - July 2014
