GWENT GREATER DISTANCE CLUB
PRIZE PRESENTATION
Report by Gareth Watkins
The club’s first ever prize presentation took place recently at the Green Meadow Golf Club in Cwmbran. The dinner was held in conjunction with the Welsh South Road National Flying Club and those present enjoyed a superb meal in excellent surroundings. Add to this a top class artist enjoyed in good company and you had all the ingredients of a good night out.
I must mention here the superb programme of the 2007 winners as produced by Marie Strawbridge. It was a real professional job and deserves to be retained as a memento by all the recipients. Well done and thank you from all the members Marie.
Jim Hooper and I were called up to present the prizes and trophies and speeches were necessarily kept to a minimum. First up was club chairman and driving force behind the club’s formation, none other than Ray Strawbridge who won 1st & 2nd Falaise plus the Dave Whitefield Trophy. Ray’s two birds also winning 24th & 29th section 351st & 380th Open BICC 4,294 birds into a strong south westerly wind.
The Alencon race winner was none other than Dennis Ford of Blaenavon. Dennis also won The Brian Corten Trophy plus 4th section 6th Open BICC 4,658 birds. I should also point out that Gordon & June Mears’ timer winning 2nd club also finished well up in the BICC Open result at 5th section 9th Open.
L-R: Ray Strawbridge, Jim Hooper, Dennis Ford & Gareth Watkins.
Next we move on to the Falaise/Saran race and this turned out to be a red letter day for club members. The race was won by Adrian Ware and daughter Vicky, not only winning the GGDC but also topping the BICC result as well with 2,627 birds competing. The first ten prize winners in the club being placed in the first 50 of the BICC Open result, including 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th section. Adrian and Vicky won the Dan Driscoll Trophy for 1st plus the Watkins/ Cockcroft Memorial Trophy for the highest position won by a GGDC member in BICC races during the season.
Adrian Ware.
Moving on to the Pau race flown in conjunction with the WSRNFC we had club work horses Gordon and June Mears taking the premier prize plus 2nd Open National, also winning the Mark Jude Trophy. In this race GGDC members won 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th & 11th section in the WSRNFC. Dennis Ford was there once again with 2nd club 2nd section 3rd Open National.
Gordon Mears.
The Tours race was flown on the same weekend as the Pau race and this proved to be what can be euphemistically described as a “testing” race. Nevertheless the cream usually comes to the top and here we had Ray Strawbridge maintaining his loft’s excellent form with 1st & 3rd GGDC 2nd & 8th section BICC racing into a strong west win, Ray’s winning pigeon also walking off with the Gordon & June Mears Trophy.
Ray Strawbridge.
The Barcelona race was flown in conjunction with the BICC and the Barcelona International race organised by the Entente Belge. Here we had the small Welsh contingent competing against more than 20,000 of the best long distance pigeons in Europe. Despite having to contend with a relentlessly strong westerly wind throughout the 750+ miles of the course , the Padfield Family’s great racer battled on to be clocked on the third day to win 1st GGDC 1st section 14th Open BICC being the furthest west and longest flying pigeon on the result. Superb flying by two truly dedicated long distance enthusiasts. The Padfield’s gallant bird also wins the Jim Hooper Trophy and the Brian Corten Trophy into the bargain.
Dave Padfield.
Next we move on to the young bird programme and despite DEFRA’s best efforts to ruin things for us, we did manage two races for the babies. The first of these was hastily arranged at very short notice after DEFRA suddenly saw sense and lifted the ban on overseas racing. This took place from Guernsey in conjunction with the BICC and it was a good day for British Barcelona Club secretary, Jim Hooper, who won 1st GGDC 16th section 89th Open BICC against 1,949 birds. Jim’s bird was well out in front of the field winning the race by 161ypm, also taking the Dave Whitefield cup.
The final race of the season saw the birds once again at Guernsey and yet again GGDC members dominated the National prize list. In first spot was the Cwmbran partnership of Steve Jude and Dai Rawlings. The partner’s timer also won 1st section 1st Open WSRNFC plus the Padfield Family trophy for 1st GGDC. In second spot was none other than Ray Strawbridge who also wins 2nd Section 2 nd Open National. Next we had the ever present Dennis Ford at 3rd & 4th Section 3rd & 4th Open National to round off a truly remarkable season.
Steve Jude.
That concludes the list of prize and trophy winners in the club’s inaugural season All that remains for me to do is thank our generous sponsors R.G. Davies Animal Feeds; Dave Whitefield of Whitefield Printers; Brian Corten of Able Coatings; Ray and Marie Strawbridge; Padfield Family; Dan Driscoll; Jim Hooper and Mark Jude. Your support has been greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Clive Hughes of Clive Hughes Photography, Tonypandy, for kindly providing the excellent photographs that accompany this report.
Glyn Cousins.
Speaking to fanciers throughout the winter months I get the feeling that the membership will really take off in the 2008 season as many have expressed an interest in joining the club. Club fees stand at £60 for the season and that’s all you pay. Race entry is free but if you like a gamble there are pools to £1 plus a £5 single bird nom. Interested? Then contact Ray Strawbridge on 01663/ 763555.
10/12/07
