WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
PAUL DEWSNAP
of Packmoor
by Cameron Stansfield
Photos by Elizabeth Wilkinson
By any measure the last two NFC Tarbes Grand Nationals have been a thorough test of a long distance pigeon and of the methods/preparations of their owners. One fancier whose reputation has been enhanced is Paul Dewsnap of Packmoor near Stoke-on-Trent. Paul is only interested in the long ones, and Tarbes especially, as at 688 miles it is the supreme test of his stockmanship.
Paul Dewsnap holding his Southwell-based blue hen who has triumped in the last two Tarbes Grand Nationals and has now been retired. She was 10th Section J 174th Open, timed at 9.20pm on the winning day in 2014, and in 2013 was 10th Section J 320th Open. She's a lovely hen, on the small side and light of frame, the sort of body that doesn't carry much weight, with a 'plain' pearl eye, and she does not exhibit any geat strength - yet she has fantastic reserves. She was Paul's second pigeon in the clock in 2014.
Here are the loft's recent performances:
NFC Tarbes 2014 8th, 10th, 14th & 16th Section J (only 18 birds in section in race time), 134th, 174th, 298th & 332nd Open 688 miles.
NFC Tarbes 2013 9th & 10th Section J. Open results not to hand.
MNFC Bordeaux 2014 4th, 7th, 13th & 17th Section, 35th, 57th, 101st & 118th Open (only 149 birds on the result).
The above three races proved stern tests, but on the other side of the coin the 2013 Bordeaux races staged on the same day by the BBC & MNFC were blessed with a helping wind and much higher velocities. Just to show that Paul's methods and pigeons are not only suited to attritional conditions, here's how he got on:
MNFC Bordeaux 2013 5th, 8th & 20th Section, 20th & 27th Open.
BBC Bordeaux 2013 2nd & 3rd Section, 19th & 21st Open.
To illustrate the degree of difficulty in making the Tarbes result year in year out (which is its appeal), Paul drew a blank in 2012, that off the back of being 6th Section J 100th Open in 2011 and 3rd Section 51st Open in 2010.
Thus far Paul has been reluctant to commit 2 year olds to Tarbes, preferring a steady approach, but that now looks set to change, which should further strengthen his team. Only time will tell.
Part of Paul's set-up.
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Elimar - August 2014
