BICC

Old Hens Falaise - 28th August 2010

Report by Pam Gladwin

1st. Open and 1st.East Section Mrs Meg Murray. From Burnham on Crouch.

Meg was surprised, but delighted when she was told she was probable first old hens. Having sent to her club as well as the National Flying Club and the BICC, she had spent quite some time on the phone with other fanciers nearby wondering where all the birds had got to! But then the old hens started to arrive and she had quite a few home before the first YB'sclocked in.  It looks as though as well as being provisionally first old hens she may be second old hens too because her second bird is in the clock four seconds later. Her first bird is a lovely 2-year-old blue hen whose sire was a Van der Rhee crossed with one of Meg's old Kavanagh Busschaert hens that were bought in the Northeast at the Kavanagh Brothers clearance sale. These Kavanagh's have performed really well for Meg through the years and she still gets some top notchers gifted to her from Craig Booth in County Durham. The old hen's dam also came from the North, this time courtesy of Fred Thomson, secretary of the club that Meg used to fly in, in the Tyne and Derwent Valley Fed. Fred is another generous fancier who gives her some great YBs.

Meg's probable second Open Old Hen is the result of swapping pigeons with Pat Newell of Billericay. Pat swapped four pigeons with Meg because he was keen to get some of her winning Wildemeersch cross Janssen (van Loots) birds and Meg was delighted to get some of Pat's long distance bloodlines. This hen is a surprisingly small blue chequer but her pedigree is impressive. Her sire came to Pat via Mark Bulled and was 90th Open London Combine Thurso as a yearling late bred. He flew Lerwick four times - twice on the day and also Pau twice. The dam is the daughter of Pat's Perpignan 1st Open winner with the BICC, flying 626 miles with only six birds back on the day. Her background includes the best of the Biss lines with Dax, Perpignan, Pau and San Sebastian in her racing calendar. Her nest sister won 31st Open Pau NFC. Earlier this year Meg's hen was first NE section, 2nd Open from Bergerac with the London & Southeast Classic Club. The old hens were all sent on either chipping eggs, or with days-old babies, and this strategy seemed to work because they were all keen to get back to their nest.  Hopefully, they will be as keen to get back to bigger babies in a couple of week's time, when they go to the NFC and the L&SECC - the last races of this season. Meg has had quite a successful year both at Club and Channel level including 4th Section, 9th Open Saran with the BICC and 4th Section, 8th Open Alencon with the BICC, as well as her 2nd Open from Bergerac with the Classic.

Meg Murray's winning bird

2nd. Open and 1st. North Section J Bussey from Norwich.

His 2005 Black pied hen was raced on the Natural system its parents are Krofts from David Cubitt. It went missing for a year, which did not do it any harm by today’s race result. He started racing in 1970 in the same club as Dennis wall and has always raced south road.

3rd. open and 1st. Central section Mr Mrs Chaplin from Woking.

With a 2 year old Cheq hen, now called (West End Isabella) after there Granddaughter Isabella.  She was having her 2nd race of the season after last weeks L&SECC race from Guernsey. She is a /Wildemeersch bred down from all there original stock and is full of winning genes from both sides of the family. He started as a boy of 14 forty eight years ago then  took 12 years out of the sport to go to college, get  married, buy a house  and start a family. Then once established he restarted as the M/M Chaplin partnership in 1985 with his wife Lynette. The loft is situated at the bottom of there garden and is 22 foot long with 3 sections. They only keep 18 widowhood cocks and their hens and 5 pairs of stock and breed 35 youngsters. She was part of the widowhood hen team and after the last race of the season; the hens were left in the widowhood cock section and allowed to pair up. They were then trained with the aim of the two L&SECC Old Hens races from Guernsey, the BICC from Falaise and the NFC from St Malo. She had her first race from Guernsey last week when they were provisionally 3rd Open Old Hens and 5th Open Young Birds in the L&SEEC. She was sent sitting 10-day-old eggs and she arrived with three others, they were all in very good condition but very thirsty and were not keen on trapping. Although a hard race, all 10 were back by 14-30. This was only the 8th race of her career and her first win and she will go to St Malo with the NFC it 2 weeks time. For the youngsters and old hens, they feed 50% Gerry Plus and 50% Widowhood mixture. The same for the widowhood cocks up to 350 miles then 50% Irish added for the long races. He never breaks down the pigeons and during the winter, they are fed barley and a winter mixture. This season has proved to be a good one so far winning 12 x 1st including 1st SMT Combine Messac.

The Chaplins

4th.open and  2nd. East section T E Beagrie from Braintree.

His yearling dark chequer Jan Aarden hen was sent sitting its first ever eggs  it had a few short races with the Thames North and eastern Counties club and three into France with the East of England club. He started racing in 1967 with the Braintree club. He wants to thank all the lads from the Colchester club and the Lads and Lassies at the South Ockendon club who help mark the BICC and Classic birds.

Tony Beagrie

5th. Open and 2nd. North section P Meades & Son from Lowestoft.

With a two year old, blue Busschaert hen, sent sitting picking eggs. Andrew the Son of this Partnership said he has been involved with pigeons all his life, with his Dad having started in the mid 1970s. This excellent two-year-old hen has already won this year second club Falaise and second club Alencon. She was being fed a light mix in the morning and widowhood mix in the evening.

Peter Meades

6th. Open and 3rd. east section Mr Mrs S Rhodes from Aylesham.

Their two years old dark hen with one white flight down the centre of her tail is a Southwall. One of half a dozen bred by Mr and Mrs Derek Adams of Canterbury very good friends of there’s and terrific breeders of quality racing pigeons from them they had a cock take 8th. Open Y/B NFC another cock has flown Tarbes, Perpignan and Pau with the BICC this year.  This hen was a widowhood hen for the cock to fly to until about five weeks ago when they let them into the race loft with cocks to pair up, as they wanted, they had been locked up all year in sections away from the cocks.They had previously trained the hens out to 110 miles with a mindset of getting them in the old hen BICC and NFC.  They only race in these two organisations. There Hen doing very well today, is a little half pint henbut very strong, this is was her first race this year and she was very keen and sitting fourteen day eggs they feed Swanston’s all round mixture, as much as they want. They want to say thanks again to Mr and Mrs Derek Adams.

6th open

7th. Open and 3rd. North Mr Mrs B Chamberlain from Lowestoft.

Had a nice chat with Mrs Chamberlain, who told me she is now racing on her own since her Husband died in March, after a long illness. During which time she did everything for the pigeons. Looks like she is going to be another Meg Murray with today’s result. Her Husband raced as a boy with his Dad since the age of eight. In more resent times he was club secretary for 17 years. with the Ness Point South road club. They brought some Phellen stock birds from Ian Axe and the parents of today’s winning Mealy pied hen comes from them. This same bird won a club race from falaise. It was sent today sitting eggs. It had a 30 mile toss this week to get it ready for this race. It arrived home in excellent condition and went straight into the loft and its nest she  then gave it some of its favourite peanuts.

Mollie Chamberlain

8th. Open and 4th. East section P Jackson & Son from Bromley.

They had four birds drop together. Their 1st bird  clocked at 12.22.17 velocity 1055ypm she is a Daughter of ‘’Mr Inquisitive’’ full brother of the Dam of there NFC Fougeres Winner a GG Dtr of Jos Thone ‘’Sumo’’ 2nd Bird  clocked at 12.22.32 velocity1054ypm she is bred down through Jos Thone Sars X Sumos lines she was pooled to £3 section and open. 3rd pigeon clocked at 12.26 29 velocity 1040ypm is Bred from there Jan Huybregts this hen  has multiple performances from the channel 1st club 2nd Surrey fed 7th SMT combine Bergerac. 4th pigeon was clocked at 12 27 20 velocity 1037ypm is bred from there Jan Huybregts. He has been racing pigeons for 37 years, first flying in the London North road federation turning South Road flying with the Sundridge Park Flying Club in the old London Federation and with the Surrey federation. He flew with his grandfather Fred Dorrell from Battersea then flew with his father under the banner of P Jackson & Son although his father who lives next door to him is not so active these days his son Joe puts massive efforts into the general running of there loft, which is very big help. They race from there back garden moving his father next door to them gave them more space, which is a must. They fly 12 Sprint cocks for the inland on widowhood 32 channel cocks and hens on the widowhood. They feed there sprinters in their boxes, channel pigeons are fed on the hoppers keeping it simple. The first pigeon has only raced to Messac as she was hawked and lost her tail earlier on in the year. She was in super condition when she arrived home, carrying a full wing moulted to her fourth flight. All there hens went to the LSECC Club Guernsey last week where he believes he was second open they will all be got ready for the next NFC old hen’s race. They sent 19 hens and are 5 short 3 of those are real experienced hens.

The family with their first 3 birds

Their first bird

9th Open and 4th. North section Tony Calver from Ipswich.

Tony is another lifetime Pigeon fanciers having raced for around 45 years. His pigeon is a two year old blue hen, which is Janssen based it was sent sitting six day old eggs. This hen has already had this year three-channel races and six inland races down as far as Eastbourne. She had already won a few minor positions and two-second feds O/H. Tony say’s that his wife Diane lets the hens out an hour before he gets home from work, which he finds very helpful. He feeds twice a day morning and evening and likes to add a little RED Band and Homoform.

Tony Calver

10th. Open and 5th. North section Mr Mrs Dyer, from Lowestoft.

The pigeon is aLight Chequer Hen. She is a Yearling and this was her firstrace over the Channel. She is pure Peter Guybels bloodlines. The parents were bought at Peter Guybels clearance sale in Blackpool. She has been racedthis year with the Norfolk & Suffolk CC through to Blandford and also sent racing during theYoung Bird programme. They race in the partnership: Mr & Mrs Dyer and fly mainly on the Roundabout System. The birds are in there back garden. The bird arrived back in good condition and she will be rested until next years racing starts. They sent five old hens but only had one on the day. They would like to congratulate there fellow club members who also took positions in the Young Birds & Old Hens races. I would also like to thank her for taking the trouble to send me photos of her club members for this article.

Sue and Melvyn Dyer

11th. Open and 6th. North section Terry and Paul Rust. From Norwich.

Their bird has already won two young bird races, now five years old it is having a go at the channel; this was its first time across the water. It is a blue white flight Verboven hen. Sent sitting 12 day eggs. He feeds Garvo food. He has raced in partnership with his father since he was 12 years old he is now 52 and his father is 76.

T & P Rust

16th. Open and 7th. North section. Mr Mrs G Ashford from Leiston.  There two-year-old B/Bar hen, bred by Alan and Joanne Hacon of Bradwell, Norfolk, and bought by them at the Anglian Classic YB sale. They have kept pigeons since 1968 and race in partnership, from there garden loft. They race the birds on the natural system and they feed a mixture of good corn plus peanuts for treats - they are anybody's for a peanut. This season she previously had two training races with the Ipswich SR Club, who allow them to send to the inland races as trainers, which Nicky and George are very grateful for, as they do not fly in a local club. Then to Saran with the BICC where she returned in good condition and was 6th. open. She flew in the Falaise hens' race last season and came well and this was her only other overseas race. So they decided to send her to Falaise again this year.

12th. Open and 5th. East Section John Cowlin from Leigh on sea.

John has been concentrating on the sprint racing this year and has won most of the races at club level. He was the youngest ever fancier to win the old hen race in the NFC two years ago. Next year he tells me he is going to race the middle distance BICC races. I was not able to get any details of his bird today as he was out.

John Cowlin

14th. Open and 6th. East section Mr Robert A Loft. from Tenterden.

Bob's cheq yearly hen was bred from pigeons acquired from his very good friends Jimmy Connolly and Trevor Shevilles. He races on a form of roundabout. This hen has flown Le Mans and Tours this season taking positions. The feed given is manly from local farms, mixed with Gems corn from Ron Dove. The hen was in very good condition on her return.  It was a beautiful day but the birds found it hard going. He sent four old hens with three returning on the day, the young bird’s returns were bad. He races on his own to the loft in his garden.

13th. Open and 2nd. Central section Bellchambers Bros from Brentford.

Firstly, they would like to congratulate both the winners on their fine performances. And Mr Chaplin on his 1st. section win. A special mention to Meg Murray, who when he introduced himself at the B.I.C.C presentation in Bournemouth said "Oh you are the one that’s always on top of me recently!" Derek would like to say the situation is now reversed!!  There winning bird is a yearling chequer hen. The sire was bred by David Bellchambers from a gift bird from his good mate John Wills of Frimley. This chequer frill hen was a direct daughter of John Wills 87 cock who was bred down from 2nd. 3rd, and 4th. Marseilles. The Dam is a direct daughter his own first National winner “Nellie Bell” who is in turn a Granddaughter of frank Aarts. She was paired to his top race cock and produced the “76 cock, winner of 10 first’s and 1st. open S M T Combine Messac, plus top National and Classic division. He is a grandson of Eric Higginbottoms Champion “Ultra” winner of three first feds and 1st. open SMT combine Nantes. He has been racing since 1969 on his own, but previously as Mr Mrs Bellchambers & Sons.  He say’s his brothers are being lazy and a fishing rod now takes presidents over a training basket. He say’s he makes them right some times. This hen that was sitting 18-day-old eggs flew Guernsey last weekend with the LSECC. Had been a widow hen all year and paired especially for the old hens races.  Another hen was 1st open and section Guernsey last week.

17th. Open and 3rd. Central section R Burnger from Billingshurst.

Richard had two birds drop together the first a young bird was a pied Busschaert bred Hen; his second was a yearling Maurice Matheeuws bred Hen, this was raced to a fourteen day youngster. He flies widowhood and this is the only time he can race his hens, he was second open and second section in the BICC from ALENCON with the Maurice Malteew cock on the 15th may 2010.  He has had a good young bird season winning Lyndhurst 1st and 2nd club and 1st and 2nd fed with ten young birds dropping together out of 417 birds in the club. He flew kingsdown with 415 birds in the club and was 1st club and 5th fed, he feeds Gemsfeed and his own secret recipe. He had five old hens home out of nine in good condition; they will be flying in the LSECC on the 11th September. 

R Brunger

21st. Open and 4th. Central Section Vizor and Sheppard Loft 1 from Cowfold.

She is a yearling blue hen Morris Matthews Breeding, he has raced pigeons for 27 years and the last 2 years he has been flying in partnership With Melvin Sheppard but they fly from both there lofts. He flies the roundabout system and feeds a good widowhood mix. She was racing back to a 12-day baby. She has raced all the inland races and four channel races with Horsham RPC and she has not won anything up to date. But this was a hen given to him at the beginning of the year by Richard Brunger so she has been broken out and raced very well for him. She was in excellent condition on her return and he will send her in 2 weeks time to the London SE classic club to Guernsey. He had very good returns, sent six old hens and had five out of the six back in good time.

Vizor & Sheppard's winning bird

26th. Open and 5th. Central section J M Armitage from Ash.

Mike owns the Lion Brewery in Ash and is a great friend of the BICC; his yard is used for the marking of pigeons. and the BICC use his pub for all our meetings he and his wife are great hosts. When I phoned him today, I caught him at a very busy time as this weekend he was celebrating owning the pub for 30 years. He does a great deal for charity and at an age when most men are thinking, if not already retired; he is working harder than ever. Congratulations to Mike and his wife Lindsey who although having a young baby still works very hard in the pub. His pigeon was an 08 blue ch hen that has won twice for him and taken minor cards, plus 20th and 44th South East Classic club.

Mike Armitage

27th. Open and 6h. Central section Mr Mrs K Cooper from Liss.

Kevin and Vera five year old blue hen, he believes is a Janssen bred J Hatton purchase from D Wells. This hen was broken out as a three year old, and was sent today on the natural system sent sitting 15-day-old pot eggs. She is fed once a day on a general mix. He has been racing for 40 years.