GUY FLANDRIN

1st International Pau 2005

Information supplied by Nikolaas Gyselbrecht of www.pipa.be in conjunction with Elimar Pigeon Services

Not a name that is known in the UK prior to the latest race from Pau with the International but no doubt the name is now on the tongue of many fanciers. The race point at Pau has always had a ring to it even for those who race from this point on the continent.

The winning pigeon for Guy is known as "Ourasi I" who has now become a legend by winning one of the most difficult Pau International races for many years. Racing from Pau takes an extraordinary pigeon to come though when the weather is not in their favour.

Each Country does have a good go at winning and France once again has the winner after making three out of the last 4yrs that they have won this race. The years and winners for France starting in 2002 the international winner was Pierre en Sandrine Verove with their "Varenne". Then in 2004 it was the turn of Frank Duquesnoy. This year the winner is as mentioned Guy Flandrin and as one would expect is unbelievably happy with this result that has changed his life completely.

Guy started racing pigeons together with his daughter when his father passed away very early in life and certainly unexpected. It was at this point that Guy took over the pigeons lock stock and barrel. He started to race alone in the region of Blendecques but admits that he almost quit racing when his pigeons were all stolen, original thoughts were that he did not want to stay in a sport where this happened. This was a very difficult period but after due consideration he decided to continue racing the pigeons in the long distance and extreme long distance events.

It was in that period that a pure Hetru was bought from the line of the Saphir, strain Gorin, he bred very thoroughly but still Guy was not satisfied. He decided to sell almost all his pigeons and at that particular time the "012" appeared, he was a fantastic pigeon on long distance racers, especially in the Pau race. In that period another of the Gorin pigeons came his way, this was through a small fancier. This pigeon was known as "Atzori" and he paired that one to the nest sister of the "012". Little did Guy know but he was about to realise that a Golden couple was born, a pair of breeders that all fanciers are searching for. From this couple winners came including the international winner of Pau. This couple have not been separated and will never be and Guy has decided that a ll pigeons from this couple are kept.

480040/01, "Ourasi I", winner international Pau 2005
This wonderful blue cock is very strong in the hand and has a good eye made up of black, yellow, red, just like a Belgian flag, the older generation of fanciers from Belgium call it a "national" eye, very lively. However the ring on his leg is of 2001 but he was only bred in 2003. In 2004 he proved his qualities by always arriving at the lofts during the preparation races. During these preparation races he was 5 th of 200 pigeons from Montoire and 25 th of 406 pigeons from Beauvais. He raced during three races from Brive and did not race any more that year.
In 2005 he began to show his top condition rather earlier in the season than expected of a long distance pigeon. On the 7 th may he was basketed for the first time, straight into 300 KM where he finished 16 th of 35 pigeons from Chateaudun. The 21 st the distance was decreased and he won 3 rd against 175 pigeons from Val de Reuil. The 28 th he wins 10 th against 242 pigeons from Montoire aftyer which he went to Limoges 835th from 15606 birds that was his last race before going to Pau.

The father is 404907/01 , purchased on the auction of Michel Atzori . He comes from 042877/93, which in turn comes from 813690/91, cock related to "Saphir" Hetru (son x daughter coupled "Saphir" ) X the 613552/91, own daughter of "Jules XI" from Richard Mersch / Stree that was coupled with a hen strain Vinois 'Ellezelles. The grandmother of the Pau comes from Noyelle Father & Son from Ferfay and he comes from the famous "Dalton" ras Cattryse X daughter "Maradonna" Noyelle.

The mother, 502011/97, nestsister "012", 012 was the first real good pigeon on the loft of Flandrin. This "011/97" is a pure Hetru, got in 1993 from a famous french fancier. Father of "011/97" is the 658363/93 that comes from a brother of "Ursus", national winner and only pigeon that arrived home same day from Marseille X thee 659088/84 out of "Burgos" x "Diane". The mother of "011/97" comes from a halfbrother from the same "Ursus" X 636552/83, sister "Saphir".

Guy has set his stall out for this very good line and there are a lot of brothers and sisters of the Pau winner in the lofts where he practices the total widowhood system actually a kind of widowship system.

The youngsters are not trained as they used to be before but when they get to the yearling stage they have to show their abilities up to Sint Vincent where the birds are liberated at noon. The old pigeons have to have races form1000 to 1200 km in distance before they go to the long distance races.

Medical supervision starts with the vaccination against paratyphoid and paramyxo and every 3 weeks a cure against trychomonis only during the season. After the racing season has finished the racers breed one youngster and can breed up until half way through January. Then everything is separated for three months and afterwards they are paired twice for 4 days. Chasing to the nest only starts if the hens are put in the voliere where they lay egg. Food: Natural 4 seizoenen, the cheapest one and during winter and summer they always get as much food as they want, as well before as after the race.
Guy is a very modest fancier and it is very nice to meet people like Guy, real pure long distance racers who reaches the top by working hard for his goal. Guy is now 42 years old and working for the village, learned from the men with the big principles.e.g. the 2 to 3 obligated trainings from 2 hour.

Family, friends, and real values are very important for our guest from today. He also want to thank his wife for the patience, which gives Guy the chance to practice his hobby for the full 100 %. Again a fantastic international victory added to the list of French fanciers, who dominated this last edition of the international Pau race.