National Flying Club

2007 Fougeres arrivals with Previous 2nd Open Form with the NFC

by Paul O'Leary

Further analysis of the NFC Fougeres race reveals that there were three pigeons timed into the result that had previously finished 2nd Open in a previous NFC race! Full marks to the three fanciers concerned for keeping these pigeons going when some others would perhaps have locked them up in the stock shed! And their judgement is surely now vindicated by these pigeons’ continued high performance levels. I’ll take these pigeons in the order they arrived from Fougeres … lest anyone suggest that I’m ranking them in any way for they are three SUPERB pigeons in their own right!

Ron Ball of Northchurch timed his super 02 pigeon into 202nd Open Fougeres, having previously achieved 2nd Open 2nd Section E Nantes 2003 when beaten by Mr & Mrs E Corkett & Sons. In all this pigeon has been timed 6 times with the NFC at an average of 1279.14ypm and in addition to the aforementioned result it has also achieved 3rd Section St Nazaire and 5th Section St Malo last year.

Brian Sheppard of Trowbridge is next up with another ‘02’ pigeon which was 1292nd Open Fougeres, having previously achieved 2nd Open 1st Section G Dax 2005 when beaten by D Bullen & Son. In all this pigeon has been timed 7 times with the NFC at an average of 966.708ypm and in addition to the aforementioned result it was also timed from Dax the previous year.

Last but not least I find Bert Shepherd of Woodmancote who timed yet another ‘02’ pigeon into 1811th Open Fougeres, having previously achieved 2nd Open 1st Section A Tarbes 2005 when beaten by Chris Gordon’s ’Snydale Express’. In all this pigeon has been timed 6 times with the NFC at an average of 1153.412ypm and in addition to the aforementioned result it was also 10th Section Bordeaux last year.

Fabulous pigeons all three … and one wonders whether they’ll show again in the remaining races of 2007. We’re fast approaching the premier long distance races and it’ll of great interest to see whether Brian and Bert have mapped their pigeons out for another tilt at Dax (BICC only this year) and Tarbes respectively?

Too see a full tabulation of these birds' performances click on Elimar's NFC home page box marked 'Fougeres arrivals with previous 2nd Open form.'