SOME OF OUR BEST 700 MILERS
by Jim Emerton
A marathon distance is fairly difficult to nail in racing. It normally takes a specialist with advanced skill and knowledge and a few qualiity speed/endurance birds. In my mind’s eye I favour the 757 miles birds into the west i.e. Wales of the Padfields at the potentially most difficult Barce International - try it and see for yourself the arduous mind bending difficulty. The NFC would tend to increase its power and testing power if it went 700 mile International. Having said this, Neil Bush has open results in every Grand National from 1982 to 2014 and is a largely unpublicised supreme master of his monasterial pursuit of perfection with the Neil Bush strain. Check out the evolution and history of this singular man who does not pursue ego led publicity - what do you think? Denney has grown into a fancier with a great modern record at Tarbes culminating in Northern Lady, 3rd open - a shrewd and charming man! From my personal experience of Barce/Pau/Tarbes and San Sebastian - all at marathon distances, I favour the Barce performances of the Padfields and have some children of Invincible as an outcross with our marathon pigeons, along with 5 from Bert Shepherd who is a little-explored distance king.
Responses to this little article are welcomed for detailed publication.
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Elimar - July 2014
