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"With Distance in Mind" LOU`S NEWS JUNE 2009 Another month has passed us by and it`s been all go as usual with racing well and truly underway, lots of training going on and lots of time spent at the pigeon club. We had a few teething problems with the clocking system as members don’t know how the BRICON system works but after endless phone calls with Francis Nolmans I am pretty au-fait with it all now and my John says I am becoming quite an expert!!! After the hassles of three races and different problems each time, I was getting a bit disheartened, but my friend Richy Elliott, who also runs a one loft race, sent me this e-mail: “Lou, Chill out young lady, you're all doing a great job and there will always be slight hiccups! Keep up the good work”. Thanks Richy, you really did make me feel better. We had the pleasure of meeting one of our regular customers, Jeremy Wright, and another friend of ours, Richard Howey, as they fancied a trip across to bring their 2009 entries; it was lovely to finally meet you Jeremy. They were very complimentary of the whole set up and said the whole loft set up was perfect.
Jeremy Wright (left) and Richard Howey with the Barcelona lofts behind them. I recently received an e-mail from another of our entrants, Leigh Pilcher, who said: “You are the best for information and results Lou.” which was nice to receive as all the effort we make is not going un-noticed so cheers Leigh. Nothing to do with pigeons now but I just have to include a recent picture of our Sophie-Lou. She is really beautiful now and is only one month away from her second birthday, the day before the BIGGIE, the “Barcelona International”. What a magnificent birthday present all round if we score well. Let's pray, eh!!
Sophie-Lou with her French grandparents BEYERS Next we had Patrick De Muylder of Beyers, sponsors of our corn, who brought our 2-monthly supply of corn. We had previously given him some of Gem Supplements' famous Gemthepax and when he came back he asked if it was possible to have some more, so of course we gave him some. For him, the top Beyers nutrition expert, to ask for this I would say was a big compliment to Brian Wall. He said he really noticed a change in his birds.
Mr & Mrs Patrick De Muylder FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!! Every year for as long as I can remember we have suffered with the dreaded YOUNG BIRD SICKNESS. On speaking with Patrick, he is adamant it is too much protein so this year we did exactly what he said, weaned on the minimum protein then onto the BEYERS Van Den A Beele, and he was right, we haven’t had even the smallest problem and you would expect something what with birds coming in from so many different lofts. It's an absolute pleasure for John to look after the birds without wondering is he going to go up the loft and find the birds have gone down overnight and, my god, does it put him in a foul mood if they go down as he is so dedicated to doing everything spot on!! As soon as birds arrive at the lofts we vaccinate them with my very good friend Henk De Weerd's Adeno PMV. In all the years of my John having pigeons, he says he has never had pigeons in such fantastic condition and they handle and fly as well as when he has used the Beyers Van Den A Beele corn, so thanks to Patrick for introducing us to it. THE RACES SO FAR: first birds back to loft RACE 1 ABLIS Our first race which should have been a walk in the park from 137 miles and we estimated 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours. The wind swung round to a strong NW, with heavy showers en route, and it turned out a very sticky race with great losses at the club. Out of the 76 that went, we are only 12 birds away as of 9pm tonight (French time!!). On day of race, we are still hopeful of a few more tonight as we still have a good 1/2 hour of light Just to let you know that at 20.45 another pigeon made it back belonging to Crammond & Langstaff GB07N87351,the following morning another seven made it home. 13:01:48,39FR-07-392114RENNISONKevin RACE 2 CHATEAUDUN The 2 yr old Barcelona team that are racing today from Château dun 167 miles were liberated at 11.30 in a East North East wind John estimates their arrival between 15.00 and 15.30 will keep you updated. Once again a real sticky one with bad returns at the club, the birds were liberated at 11.30 in a East North East wind we anticipated between 15.00 and 15.30 our first bird back to the loft was at 15.32.(one of our own race team). 15:38:03,05GB-07-N74932MCMULLINSMrandMrs RACE 3 MANTES –LE-JOLIE YEARLINGS FIRST RACE Just thought I’d let you know that the birds were liberated at 07.15(our time I hr in front of you) We had the first bird home at 09.40 then they haven’t stopped dropping as I write this we have 145 out of 206 so are really pleased they are just dropping in ones and twos so obviously all my training has paid off!!! The clock is still on so that we can continue to see the arrivals as you know the problems I had at the club yesterday but by leaving the training clock on at least we can give you a loft result. 09:44:09,86GB-08-N52966RADCLIFFESteve
RACE 4 MONTOIRE 195 miles liberated at 07.00 in a brisk ENE wind. Hi just to let you know 1st bird back to loft at 11.44 and have been dropping in in ones and twos since. A bird belonging to Owen & Wilson turned up at 21.15 tonight from today’s race GB08N87443 flying some 14 hours indeed a Barcelona candidate!!! As promised here is race result of birds back to loft 2 yr olds from Montoire, out of 71 sent we have 71 back ready for Barcelona in 5 WEEKS TIME. Racing for these 2 yr olds is now finished and we will train them up for the biggie, next also is a few nights in the trailer in preparation. Out of 1171 birds we were 2nd in the Sur Groupment which is like a Combine so we are well pleased. 11:44:41,55GB-07-N74925TYERMANCallum RACE 5 PONTOIRE YEARLINGS RACE 2 Just had news of liberation, they were up at 09.55 in a WSW wind, will mail you when birds arrive. 11:37:16,12SU-08-S6074GUNTHER&DAUMKarl&thorste 11:38:44,72FR07-392071MCGEEMrMrsJ
That’s about it from me for now, ONLY 3 WEEKS TILL BASKETING FOR BARCELONA 28/06/09. Thought I would include this from John Tyerman. As ever look after each other. Take Care - Lou.
"Some four years ago when visiting the French Olympiad, with John and Lou McGee, we first discussed International racing from France. That weekend sowed the seeds that later saw John, Lou and family eventually move to their new home at Hernicourt, in Northern France. Many of our mutual pigeon friends were interested in competing against the French fanciers and after many hoursof discussion the McGee/Tyerman Barcelona Lofts were finally established some two and a half years ago, in February 2007. Since that time a number of superb lofts have been built by John and they are situated on a hill above the farmhouse, and overlook the Ternoise river valley. The aim was to give all UK and Irish fanciers the opportunity to test their pigeons against Europe's finest, and compete in the world renowned Barcelona International. It has been a long, hard slog with many hurdles to overcome and now, some two years later, after rigorous training and racing, the surviving 71 two year old pigeons are now ready to go to the Barcelona International to be flown on 3rd July 2009. The first to enter pigeons was the late Dale Newcombe of Macmerry and as both his entries remain in the team and look in superb condition, we have high hopes that they will keep the 'Newcombe' name to the fore. Many other well known names have birds in the team and I only hope that all John and Lou McGee's hard work, training and attention to detail pays off on the big day. In fair conditions we hope to see birds home by lunchtime on the 2nd day but at 625 miles and against the cream of Europe this will not be an easy task for a relatively inexperienced team of two year olds. However, John and Lou have an excellent track record and they remain very confident that the team will do well. Many of their family and pigeon friends will be there on the big day, hopefully to witness the arrival of some good Barcelona pigeons. We wish them well in the big event." John Tyerman.
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