Gwent Greater Distance Club News Upda16-04-08

Details: Published: 01 January 2020; Hits: 536

GWENT GREATER DISTANCE CLUB

NEWS UPDATE

by Gareth Watkins

With the season fast approaching I thought I had better bring readers up to date with all the news from one of the most rapidly expanding clubs in Wales. The AGM took place on February 3rd and all officers were voted in “en bloc” for a second term. So Chairman, and driving force behind the club, Ray Strawbridge is still at the helm ably assisted by secretary Carol Gardner and President Terry Gardner. The balance sheet was accepted and it’s good to see that the club is in a very sound financial position after just one year’s “trading”. Only one Notice of Motion had been submitted for members to vote on and this was passed by seven votes to two. Members NO LONGER HAVE TO BE members of the Welsh SRNFC. However, if you wish to compete in ALL races, then it would be sensible to join the WSRNFC as Pau old bird race and the Lessay young birds race will be transported by the National. All other races will be transported by the BICC.

Immediately following the AGM, a general meeting was held, and amongst the correspondence were sixteen applications for old bird membership and two applications for young birds. In addition there were two changes of partnership and all were accepted “en bloc”. It was also confirmed that the club has been granted marking station status for a one year probationary period by the BICC. Any fancier using the marking station will be charged a £5 transportation fee as the birds have to be transported to one of the main BICC marking stations for transfer onto the BICC transporter.

A discussion then took place re sponsorship and it has been confirmed that Robert Davies of Davies Animal Feeds Crumlin will once again sponsor the club with prizes of pigeon feed to the winners of each race. Able Coatings also continue to support the club with £200 worth of sponsorship and Adrian Ware and Wyn Llewellyn have kindly donated trophies. Clive Hughes of Clive Hughes Photography, Tonypandy will kindly photograph the winner of the Barcelona race and former WHPU secretary Terry Ash has offered to provide a trophy for the winner of the Barcelona race. If any other fanciers or businesses would like to sponsor the club then please get in touch with Ray on 01633 / 763555 as your support will be greatly appreciated.

Please note - any fancier using the Newport Marking station must use a conventional clocking system as, at the present time, we are not up to speed with ETS.

The next meeting of the club took place on 16th March and at this meeting one of Wales’ top long distance fanciers, none other than the great Wilf Reed of Monmouth applied for membership and was accepted unanimously. The club now has more than 20 National, Combine and Queen’s Cup Winners amongst its membership. Not bad for a club that has only been in existence for a little more than a year.

The trailer that was kindly donated to the club by Mrs Tom Ingram is now close to completion after being modified to carry BICC crates. Hopefully this can be used during the season to train members pigeons from the south coast, as well as transporting birds to the BICC transporter pick up point at The Grove.

In closing, the chairman stressed the point that all members loft latitudes and longitudes MUST be calculated by the RPRA. Members with these coordinates calculated by other organisations, will have to send their maps, with loft locations pin pricked, to the RPRA Measurements Department at the Redings for recalculation.

Finally, we come to the latest club meeting, held on Sunday 13th April. The first item to be discussed was the application for an Awards for All grant to purchase a new transporter with capacity for approximately 700 birds. Adrian Ware and Tony Coombs had carried out some research on the subject and it was decided to go ahead with the application. Applications for membership were accepted and we now have more than 40 lofts competing for 2008.

Once again the chairman stressed the need for all members to have their loft locations calculated by the RPRA. The race programme was then discussed and it was decided that we fly Falaise, Alencon, Saran, Tours, Pau International; Barcelona International; Tarbes International and Marseille International with the BICC plus the Welsh SRNFC Pau race for old birds. The BICC Guernsey and Welsh SRNFC Lessay races will constitute the young bird race programme. Prize money was allocated as £150 per race for races up to 500 miles with £200 allocated for those races over 500 miles. Three prizes per race with prize money split 50/30/20. Any members joining after 13th April then their £50 prize money allocation to be shared between those races over 500 miles. This falls in line with the ethos of the club, which is to promote long distance International racing in Wales. Pools as in 2007 i.e. 20p;50p;£1 split 50/30/20 plus a £5 single bird nom winner takes all.

Hopefully training will begin on Tuesday 21st April when the transporter will take club members’ pigeons to Frome/Salisbury, the cost being £5 per member. It is also hoped to arrange training from Weymouth at £10 per loft. All birds to be at the club house by 9 a.m.

One final point, could all members please complete and submit their membership forms along with their £60 annual membership fees ASAP. Next meeting Sunday 11th May at 13.00 hrs at the Ebbw Bridge Club.