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"With Distance in Mind"

 

LOU`S NEWS JANUARY 2009

Sorry for not being very regular with my write ups whilst John has been away, not really enough time to do everything. I had to do my bits and pieces around Sophie-Lou and when she was in bed this just about gave me time to get all the birds cleaned out and fed and watered and I managed to bath them once a week, anyway the good news is that John is back now and we are getting back on top of everything. Since he's been home it has not gone above freezing; he has been having to trek down to the house with watering cans to get water as the tap in the shed is well and truly frozen.

He says the birds are in excellent health and in a beautiful condition, so with the quality of the birds that we have here we are extremely hopeful for our chances at the Barcelona International this year which as you all know will be our first time but we are looking at a team of around 80 so are extremely excited by this, incidentally the race this year is on the 3rd of July the day before our Sophie-Lou`s second birthday what a nice present if we could win it for somebody.

Anybody that would like to come across to watch the race would be most welcome although we cannot guarantee that the birds will be liberated on that day as obviously it is an International race but at least we know the birds will be given a good flying day, anyone wishing to stay over if you let us know then we will be able to book you into the local B&B.

We will phone each fancier on arrival of their bird from Barcelona so hopefully our phone will be red hot. I will also forward to Les Parkinson of Elimar and Ian Gill of Pigeon Portal so results can be viewed straight away.

Once we have our 09 race programme I will mail it out to you so you can see the races we will be entering your birds into.

When we get back from Blackpool we will be pairing up the 2 yr olds then about 3 weeks later we will be pairing up the yearlings, the 2 yr olds will not rear their youngens as we will underlay their eggs, as you know all birds will be flown on the roundabout system.

We are extremely pleased that we still have 79% of our original birds that will be entered for Barcelona this July  which are now 2 year olds  and they really were put through   some extremely tough racing due to terrible weather obviously out of our control but all that rigorous training they were given paid off because they battled on and made it home and we only dropped 19 so that just goes to show what a great location we are situated in and with favourable winds we see ourselves very highly placed in the results so watch this space!! (see article below about racing),and  we have a yearling team of 186 so exciting racing prospects for all concerned

We do not consider ourselves your average one loft race where thousands of birds will be carried as we will only accept 500 an absolute maximum of 550 birds which we will be able to give 100% commitment too and total attention as our aim is to get birds other than the normal countries right up there in the top positions.

A few of our yearling hens.

View up to the lofts this morning the 5th January.

 

BACKGROUND OF US SETTING UP THE LOFTS

When John McGee and John Tyerman visited the French Olympiad a few years ago and saw many of the top International pigeons on display it kindled thoughts on how much easier it must be to compete in International Racing without the birdshaving to cross lengthy stretches of sea to reach home. John McGee liked the area in theNord  Pas de Calais Region and from that time on, did a lot of research on race results and became convinced that he wanted to move there with his wife Lou and young family. After many visits to the area with John and Linda Tyermanand viewings of a large number of properties John and Lou eventually found a suitable smallholding in the village of Hernicourt, near the the town of St Pol Sur Ternoise. The location was some 40 miles from the Belgian Border and about one hour inland from Calais and easily accessible on a day trip from the UK. This was very much a country location in a farming community and with two local pigeon clubs in nearby towns it ticked all the right boxes. Research showed the region had some 8000 fanciers,  and the Federation  birdage  was often 15,000 plus for some races. More importantly there were several very good International flyers in the area with a marking station in Hesdinsome 11 miles away. John being a highly successful fancier had discussed his French movewith many of his friends many of whom wanted to give him pigeons to race in France. John Tyerman suggested accepting birds for International racing on the basis of a one- loft event and the idea came to fruition, resulting in the McGee/Tyerman Barcelona lofts partnership being formed. Contact was made with Patrick De Muylder of Beyersand the firm readily agreed to sponsor the feeding for the Barcelona candidates. Many Beyers customers had already done well racing from Barcelona using their specialist feeding, so they were keen to support the event in France. Patrick is now a regular visitor to the French lofts and in addition to feeding also supplies a range of Beyers products. Bricon timing systems have been fitted to the lofts by Mr Francis Nolmans, and these are linked to the McGee computer allowing all competitors access to results, virtually as they happen. An approach was made to Hugo Kipp and Klaus Geraldy requesting the loan of a suitable trailer and this was also supplied free of charge.(which we have now purchased) Brian and Viv Wall of Gem Supplements (UK) have also been very generous and they too sponsor the lofts with a range of their top products. Brian also has a number of pigeons entered in the Barcelona Challenge and was very impressed with the 'set up' on a recent visit to the lofts. Dr. Henk De Weerd agreed to be the official loft Vet and is consulted on all pigeon health.

After selling the house in Sompting and after many set backs and delays John, Lou and family eventually moved to France in February 2007. The first 40' loft was built by John and erected in the field above the house in March that year. Adverts were placed in the fancy press outlining the partner's plan to accept young birds that would be trained, raced and prepared to race as 2 year oldsin the Barcelona International, where. annually some 25,000 pigeons from 11 different countries compete in what is acclaimed as the world's most prestigious race. Progress was slow and as many of the loft's young bird entries were late breds, it was decided that they would be rigorously trained out to 60 miles in various directions and left to moult and mature until the yearling stage.Unlike most one-loft races the Barcelona Challenge project was to take place over three seasons, ie young birds, then as yearlings that would be trained and raced to 350 miles and the following year as 2 year olds prepared and then raced in the Barcelona International. The first year some 110 young birds were accepted and the training went according to plan with few losses.

The year 2008 saw a further 40' loft erected in the field above the McGee residence and both lofts have outstanding views over open farmland and across the Ternoise Valley. Around 200 young birds of varying ages were eventually placed into the second loft. The birds exercise well and fly for many hours across the French countryside. John McGee is a stickler for routine and all the various teams are exercised separately for one hour morning and night. This means John is up before daylight with the first sections going out at first light. Whilst exercising John cleans out the respective sections and then calls them in for feeding. This routine is repeated until all the various teams have been exercised and then fed back into the loft. During the day the pigeons are put into the aviaries that run along the front of the lofts.

Early in 2008 it was decided that the yearlings would be raced on the 'roundabout system' using methods that had been successful for John when he raced in England. Those that know John are aware that he is a 'pigeon fanatic' and everything has to be done properly and to his routine. Fortunately he is ably supported by his lovely wife Lou who juggles her loft duties with bringing up a young family. Even when expecting baby Sophie-Louise, Lou could be seen scraping out the lofts, and was not excused her training duties! Hard taskmaster is John. The Barcelona yearlings had a number of races in the Nord Pas de Calais Federation and flew exceptionally well, 'flying the British flag', so to speak'. The local French fanciers took great interest and many have become good friends helping John and Lou in many different ways. The final 2008 race for the yearling team was flownfrom Angouleme some 350 miles to the Barcelona lofts. The weather en route was forecast heavy rain and a difficult race was anticipated. At the home end it was raining but despite theatrociousweather 51 gallant pigeons were clocked on the winning day with a further 25 home by the end of day two. In total some 80% of the entry made it home, and a number of very good positions were taken, giving much pleasure to the owners who had entrusted them into our care. The 2008 young birds were not raced but trained hard in a similar manner to the yearlings that had successfully flown Angouleme. About 20 were lost training and some 180 remain for the yearling stage, so all in all the returns have been excellent, and we have good teams for the 2009 season.

The entries so far have come from many parts of the UK and Ireland and many well known fanciers have entered top quality pigeons hoping to do well in the Barcelona International. The pigeons that successfully fly Barcelona will be sent back as three year olds and if in condition will also race the Perpignan International some four weeks later. This event is a golden opportunity for fanciers to test their pigeons against the very best in Europe, and make no mistake the eyes of the pigeon world are always upon the Barcelona results, with top prices being paid for outstanding performance pigeons. Overseas enquiries have prompted the partners to offer a number of well bred 'Venturer Pigeons' for sale at £60 each for the 2009 season. The cost of entering is 235 euros per pigeon but two can be sent for this price, and if the second one remains at the yearling stage it can be activated at the same price. Bearing in mind  thisentrance fee covers all costs up to the Barcelona event, a period of more than 2 years. The current Barcelona prize fund stands at £4000 for the 2009 race but this will be likely to increase following a young bird sale in the spring. Visitors are welcome to visit the lofts at Hernicourt in France, by arrangement with John and Lou McGee, and indeed many fanciers have taken a day trip across to do some shopping and take their entries direct to the lofts.

John and Lou can be contacted on 00 33 321049851 or email john.mcgee320@orange.fr UK entries can be sent to John Tyerman, Barsac, Farm Road, Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex. PO 20 8JT. Tele 01243 -670351 or email johntyerman@yahoo.co.uk. Also see our website www.thebarcelonachallenge.com  or www.elimarpigeons.com or Ian Gill's www.pigeonportal.com A colour brochure is also available on request.May I take this time on behalf of the Barcelona Challenge team to wish you all a prosperous New Year and a winning season,we can be found at Blackpool on one of the following stands- Beyers,Bricon or Gem Supplements,we look forward to seeing you there.As always Take Care of each otherLou

Click here for the Barcelona Challenge Entry Form