GWENT GREATER DISTANCE CLUB
2012 OLD BIRD RACES
Report by Gareth Watkins
The Gwent Greater Distance Club was formed in 2007 with the sole intention of promoting international long distance racing in Wales. This objective has long been realised as members have excelled in cross border competition with our English neighbours under the umbrella of the BICC. Spencer Jones, Adrian Ware and Dennis Ford have been outright winners of the BICC and other members have also scored many times in the top ten of the Open of the BICC in races from 200 – 750 miles.
Adrian Ware on the right, winner of 1st GGDC 2nd Open BICC Alencon pictured with the late Glyn Cousins of Newport - both winners of the Queen's Cup
Spencer Jones
Not surprising really when you realise that amongst the GGDC membership are fanciers with more than 80 National wins to their credit including a number of Queen’s Cup winners.
The 2012 Old Bird campaign proved to be a case of “the same again” as members consistently scored well in the BICC races competing against many thousands of pigeons from all over England in what proved to be a season of races flown in predominantly westerly winds. However, early on in the year we were blessed with some easterly winds and in those races the GGDC members excelled taking 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 6th, 7th, 7th & 8th and many more top twenty Open positions in the BICC from Falaise, Carentan and Alencon.
The following is a breakdown of the winners in the ten race old bird programme.
Carentan
1st Dennis Ford also winning 3rd sect 3rd Open BICC.
2nd 3rd & 4th John Ludlam also taking 6th, 7th & 20th Open BICC.
Plus 35 other pigeons taking Open positions.
John Ludlam
Falaise
1st Spencer Jones also taking 3rd sect 3rd Open BICC.
2nd Scammell & Peploe 7th sect 7th Open BICC.
3rd John Williams 8th sect 8th Open BICC.
Plus 33 other pigeons taking Open positions.
Alencon
1st Adrian Ware & Dtr also taking 2nd sect 2nd Open BICC [beaten on decimal].
2nd Preece Bros & Sons 4th sect 4th Open BICC.
3rd John Ludlam 6th sect 6th Open BICC.
Plus 30 other pigeons taking Open prizes.
Tours
1st Wilf Reed 5th sect BICC.
2nd Ken Caldwell 8th sect BICC.
3rd Padfield Family 9th sect BICC.
Dave Padfield
Bordeaux/Agen
1st Mark Sparey 2nd sect BICC 15 hours on wing.
2nd Dennis Ford 3rd sect BICC 15¾ hours on wing.
3rd Jim Hooper 5th sect BICC.
![MarkSparey[R] and good friend John Gunter. Mark was 2nd sect BICC Agen.jpg](/articles/images/20/01/01/clip_image012_001.jpg)
Mark Sparey [R] and good friend John Gunter. Mark was 2nd sect BICC Agen.
Dennis Ford, one of Wales' greatest ever fanciers relaxing with one of his many winners
Jim Hooper
Pau International
1st Mr & Mrs Mears 5th sect BICC.
2nd Padfield Family 6th sect.
3rd Wilf Reed 10th sect.
Gordon & June Mears
Barcelona International
1st Padfield Family 1st sect 9th Open BICC.
2nd Padfield Family 4th sect 35th Open.
3rd Wilf Reed 5th sect 36th Open.
Vince Padfield
St Vincent International
1st Terry & Carol Gardner 4th sect 63rd Open BICC.
2nd Wilf Reed 5th sect 80th Open.
These were the only two birds in race time.
Terry Gardner
Le Mans
1st Mark Sparey 5th sect.
2nd Scammell & Peploe 6th sect.
3rd Dai Rawlings 7th sect.
Perpignan
1st, 2nd & 3rd Wilf Reed with the first bird taking 2nd sect BICC.
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Wilf Reed
The presentation dinner will take place at the usual venue the Green Meadow Golf & Country Club in early November. You are advised to book your tickets early as the event is always a sell out. For further details contact Chairman Ray Strawbridge on 01633/430637 or June Mears on 01633/422857.
