GWENT GREATER DISTANCE CLUB
Reports by Gareth Watkins
Pau International 2009
The Pau International race held in conjunction with the BICC attracted an entry of 16 birds from seven members. Not a large number but the quality was of the highest order, as the race result will testify. The small Welsh contingent was liberated on Saturday 20th June along with thousands of other pigeons from all over Europe. The race conditions of light north north west winds and blue skies meant that the participants would get no help from the elements and in all probability were in for a long hard slog up through France, before hitting the English Channel and a fresh westerly wind late in the day.
It was no surprise therefore to hear that there were no pigeons clocked on the day into Wales from this 600 mile race. However, two gallant birds were clocked late on the Saturday evening to the Dover lofts of Lee and Kevin Buddle. These two proved to be the only two day birds in the BICC, so, on behalf of the members of the GGDC, I would like to congratulate the Buddles on their outstanding performance. Well done both of you.
On the second morning the Welsh fanciers were all up and about early anticipating an early timing despite the presence of a fresh north westerly wind. However, it was not until mid day, at 12.14 pm to be exact, that a timer was recorded by the Padfield family of Cwmtillery. Vince and Dai Padfield need no introduction to the fancy, as they have been there, done it and bought numerous T-shirts at various long distance race points throughout southern France and Spain. On this occasion their three year old chequer cock wins 1st GGDC 1st section 16th Open BICC. The fifteen birds beating the Padfield timer in the BICC Open, were clocked almost exclusively, in the Kent and Essex areas, some 200 miles to the east of the Padfield’s Cwmtillery loft.
The old saying “blood will tell” is certainly proven to be true here as the section winner is closely in bred to the Barcelona International winner Invincible Spirit on his Sire’s side with a cross of the old Welsh long distance bloodlines of Morgan & Cook’s seven times Lerwick cock Iron Man through a daughter of “Vince” on the dam’s side. “Vince” in turn, flew Pau 594 miles on five occasions winning 1st Amalgamation and 1st WSRNFC plus Gold Cup and RPRA long distance Award on one of these trips from the foothills of the Pyrenees. At 14.59 the Padfields clocked the second of their two entries to win 2nd GGDC; 2nd section and 39th Open BICC. This three year old blue w/f hen was bred from a grand son of The Don that won 2nd Open Palamos 741 miles and flew Pau 594 miles four times for Vince, Dai and their late father Albert. The sire is also a grand son of Padfield’s Perfection a red chequer cock, that won 1st, 3rd, 23rd & 39th Open National from Pau for the family. The blue w/f’s dam is in turn a full sister to “Vince” mentioned above. These two Pau birds should make an excellent stock pair should Vince and Dai retire them, as they have the concentrated bloodlines of all the loft’s top long distance performers in their genetic make up.
Dai Padfield holding cheq cock 1st GGDC 1st sect BICC Pau
Blue w/f hen - 2nd GGDC 2nd sect BICC Pau
The loft routine sees the racers mated in late March, allowed to sit eggs for 12 days before being separated and raced on the round about system for the inland programme and the shorter channel races. They are then re introduced to each other a few hours before basketting for the longer races. All birds have access to a hopper of beans at all times and are force flown around the loft for an hour both morning and night.
In third place with the GGDC and taking 3rd section 64th Open BICC is a real battler clocked at 18.15 pm on the second evening to the Caldicot loft of Terry and Carol Gardner. This three year old chequer cock of Louella De Barcelona x Tommy Ingrams bloodlines, was sent sitting 4day old eggs and, as with all the Gardner pigeons, enjoys a back to nature life style with an open loft for most of the day light hours. He has now flown 600 miles on three occasions and in 2008 he finished 11th section 17th Open from Pau, competing in two 600 mile races within the space of a few weeks.
Next, in fourth spot, is another three year old – this time a hen to Cardiff fancier Jim Hooper and wife Hazel. Clocked at 19.34 on the Saturday evening, she will finish at fourth section 71st Open BICC. Jim won this race in 2008 and the loft regime is exactly the same with the birds having access to a hopper of beans at all times with additional peanuts and small seeds in the build up to the target race. The birds are not mated at the beginning of the season and are raced celibate up to the time that Jim begins to prepare them for the longer channel races, when they are mated and sent to the distance races on their first nest of the season. Voluntary home exercise is supplemented by the occasional training toss from the south coast. Breeding of Jim and Hazel’s timer is a combination of Lol Green and Jim Biss, both parents being gifts to Jim and Hazel.
Jim Hooper.
Finally, in fifth spot with the GGDC and taking 5th section 74th Open BICC is one to the Caerleon lofts of club stalwarts, Gordon and June Mears. Gordon and June clocked a 2 year old hen of Dale Newcombe bloodlines via Mr & Mrs Everard of Skegness. The hen, sent sitting 14 day eggs, had only one channel race in 2009 prior to her entry in the Pau race but had however flown Bergerac 500 miles as a yearling in 2008. The Mears team enjoys an open loft from dawn to dusk and have access to a good mixture in the hopper at all times. Gordon and June regularly train their birds from the other side of the Severn in an effort to get them to cross the water without hesitation and also to keep them on a direct a line for home when racing up from the south coast of England into Wales.
Gordon & June Mears plus their loft.
Yet another successful race in top class competition for the small Welsh contingent, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th section from an entry of just 17 birds speaking volumes for the class of fancier and birds that are prepared to take up the challenge and compete in these International races.
