WELSH SOUTH ROAD NATIONAL
by Dixey
TOURS - JULY 2012
The recent Welsh South Road National from Tours saw some fanciers having very good returns on the day while others struggled to even get some in the clock. When getting some details of the leaders, I was very surprised to learn that those with smaller entries fared much better than those with larger teams. The vels into the 1000ypm tells its own story as well but suffice to say many were happy with the outcome and quite a lot have now decided that with the excellent racing being experienced this year to end their racing campaigns for the old bird season and have stronger teams for the longer distance races for next year.
This Tours race was once again an excellent race for the probable winner, who now wins his thirteenth National in the Principality. Dennis Ford of Blaenavon has done it again clocking two arrivals in as many minutes to win 1st and 2nd open Tours National.
Welsh South Road National winner Dennis Ford of Blaenavon.
His first arrival is a three years old cheq cock that has flown very consistently over the years having won 3rd National from Carentan BICC and Gwent Greater Distance Club previously. Its sire having won the Welsh National from Messac and its dam winning the National from Saintes. Can’t get better bloodlines that that I reckon. What breeding and these come down from Dennis’s old bloodlines that have more than stood the test of time for this wonderful fancier in the Gwent Valleys. Dennis said that his team are raced on the Roundabout system and unlike many who use this system, he never pairs them up again as an extra incentive and he leaves them on this system right through the old bird programme. Having suffered with his illness over the years he also has the help of his wonderful wife who helps out with the birds and whatever she does it certainly has the magical effect as well.
The Tours National winner.
Topping the West section is Stan Fender & Son of Swansea doing a velocity of 986 ypm. Their timer is a two years old cheq pied cock that has raced very well for this set up over its career winning the odd card here and there along the way. But this time being a very good winner into the West section. This cock has had every old bird race on the programme this old bird season and was sent driving to nest. His breeding is also very choice as well being bred down from the old Delbar and Geoff Cooper x Jan Theelan and Invincible Spirit and De Smaragd bloodlines of Jan Aardens.
Stan Fender with his west section winner.
The cheq pied cock with his hen, winner of 1st west section Tours for Fender & Son.
Taking 2nd West sect is Mr R J Griffiths of Neath and 3rd West sect Fishlock & Roberts of Briton Ferry.
Topping the Centre section and probable 3rd open is Tony Coombs of Llantwit Fadre. Tony clocked a two years old Van Reet widowhood cock, bred from stock by Adrian Ware of Beddau. In his pedigree are most of Adrian’s principal pigeons. Tony only has a small set up, starting 2012 with 17 widowhood cocks and he has sent to 11 of the principal channel races so far and still has 14 cocks at home. However he only sends a handful (3 to Tours) each week enabling him to have a channel race each weekend with the BICC, NFC or the Welsh South Road National and Welsh SRF. The WSRNFC Tours was this pigeon's 6th channel race this year, previously being sent to Carentan, Falaise, Alencon and Tours with the BICC and Le Mans with the WSRNFC. He also had 6 channel races as a yearling as far as Tours. His next race will be Le Mans with the BICC in a few weeks' time.
Tony Coombs with his 1st centre section and 3rd open winner.
Taking probable 4th open and 2nd Centre section is Davies & Bevan of Tredegar. They clocked a two years old cock bred down from the bloodlines of Eric Fox x Alun Maull of Hirwaun. This being Janssen. He was sent for this race sitting a seven day old youngster. Paul Davies said he gets all the help as well from his partner Sandra Bevan. This cock has flown consistently for the partnership and they also win 2nd centre section.
Paul and Sandra Bevan with their probable 4th open Tours winner.
David Evans takes 3rd Centre section and what another very good performance from this astute fancier for with his National wins and his other wonderful performance he is never far behind the leaders in these classic races.
John and Pat Webber of Abertillery take 2nd East section and probable 5th open. These very good fanciers are of course no strangers to the premier National positions. They timed in a yearling cheq hen bred out of their direct Van Loons, and she was sent sitting ten day eggs. This very good hen was 1st club 6th Federation the previous week from one of their inland races and she didn’t disappoint this set up once again.
John Webber holding his 3rd section 5th open winner.
The ever consistent Mark Sparey took 3rd in this section to prove what an outstanding season this young man is having once again into the South Wales valleys.
With many having returns early next morning, it was a hard slog for some but once again this race proved that quality still really counts.
