BICC PIGEON MOOT & AUCTION

To be held the weekend of 31st October/1st November 2014

by Gareth Watkins

The above events will take place in conjunction with the Epsom Show on the weekend of 31st October/1st November. The moot will take place on the Friday evening [doors open 18.30] and tickets are now available from BICC Treasurer Russell Bradford. These are priced at £10 each and in addition to entry to the discussion session purchasers will be treated to a hot meal. Tickets are still available and fanciers are advised to contact Russell at his home address: The Cottage, Farndish, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The panel assembled for the discussion is a veritable "who's who" of the pigeon world and includes home grown International winners Mark Gilbert and Geoff Cooper as well as Belgian International winner Bernard Deweerdt along with Dutch long distance ace Hugo Battenburg. Ticket holders will also be able to ask questions of one of the world's leading veterinarians - Henk Deweerd.

The session will be chaired by none other than John Clements of Stockport, a keen long distance enthusiast and author. John has a  background in journalism, having been on the staff at "The Guardian" and has written a book entitled "Long Distance Pigeon Racing" which is a "must have" if you are interested in that side of the pigeon sport. He is also successful at racing at the extreme distance having clocked pigeons to feature well up in the results of the last two NFC Tarbes races at more than 700 miles.

John Clements

The following are some brief profiles of the fanciers included on the panel.

BERNARD DEWEERDT

Bernard is the son of the late, great Emiel Deweerdt and has continued to develop the long distance International winning family of pigeons founded by his father shortly after the Second World War. Bernard  is in partnership with his brother Fred and the blue chequer cock bred in 1974 and named Spiritus was perhaps their most famous bird in terms of leaving its legacy along with Bordeaux International winner "Emiel"  as well as Raldo, Kedir to name just three in a long line of top class pigeons. It would be accurate to state that the Deweerdts are one of the last line-bred families of pigeons in the Low Countries if not the world. They go back to 1947 and the Vander Espt’s of Ostende and Marcel Desmet's of Waregem, when West Flanders was the leading Belgian province for long distance pigeons. Other contemporary lofts at the same time were the Cattrysse, Van Hee, Devriendt, Desmet-Mattthys etc. All these lofts contributed to the resurgence of Belgian pigeons after the war.

The Deweerdt family of long distance racers have been winning out of turn at National and International level for more than six decades, not only for the Deweerdt family, but also for literally hundreds of fanciers worldwide who have introduced these exceptionally versatile pigeons. Their ability to win, not only in long distance races, but also middle and short distance, at the very top level either pure or crossed, has become a byword in the fancy. To demonstrate this fact I should mention that the recent winner of the BICC Falaise YB National at 180 or so miles, for Dave and John Staddon was of predominantly Deweerdt bloodlines.

It will no doubt be an educational experience to share an hour or two in the company of what equates to "pigeon royalty". An experience not to be missed.

Bernard Deweerdt and Geoff Cooper, both multiple International winners, who will be appearing at the BICC Moot.

HUGO BATTENBURG

Hugo competes now with his wife Anita as the combination Battenburg Van de Merwe. The partnership have an enviable record in long distance races of between 800 - 1165kms and their birds excel at the distance for many others as well. Both Hugo and Anita are steeped in the traditions of long distance pigeon racing as Hugo's father was the exceptional long distance fancier Bas Battenburg while Anita is the daughter of the equally famous Piet Van de Merwe.

The Battenburg Van de Merwe family of long distance racers are founded on two principal stock cocks - "De Witenbuik" and his equally illustrious son "Bonte Kweeker". Many knowledgeable students on long distance racing regard this father and son as influential in the development of long distance racing as the great stud cocks "Dolle", "Het Oud Doffertje", "De Spin" and the immortal "Silvervosje". Praise indeed.

We are indeed fortunate to have Hugo on the panel as this is the first time in 20 years that he has agreed to participate in such a gathering.

The Batenburg family. Photo courtesy of Pipa.

HENK DEWEERD

Henk Deweerd is not only a world renowned veterinarian but also a top class fancier in his own right. Interpalomas Lofts situated in Breda is the home to many top class long distance racers that have produced winners for many fanciers.

Henk is also the son of the great pigeon selector the late Piet Deweerd. As a young boy Henk visited many top lofts in Belgium and Holland with his famous father. Subsequently they visited Germany, the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Japan, China, etc. Thousands of fanciers have attended the lectures on selection and pigeon diseases given by Piet de Weerd and his son Henk.

Since the early 1970s Henk has specialised in the treatment of pigeon ailments and has given invaluable advice to thousands of fanciers worldwide on the care and treatment of their pigeons. As a result of his research Henk has developed a wide range of products. Every product is field-tested in real race competition by top fanciers before Belgica de Weerd make it available to the fancy. Today, the products of Belgica de Weerd are used with enormous success in more than 25 countries. More than 70 % of the top fanciers in Europe use the “Success-programme” of Belgica de Weerd.

Henk Deweerd

MARK GILBERT

Much has been written in recent years on this truly world class English fancier.  The name of Gilbert is seldom, if ever, missing from the results of any National or Classic race in which he has entered pigeons. In addition to his many National wins in the UK, Mark has also won three International races when competing against the best fanciers that Europe can provide. The first of these International wins came in 2004 when Mark's Blue cock of mainly Van Elsacker bloodlines romped home in the Dax International race beating more than 17,000 of Europe's finest. Since then Mark has continued to set the standard in domestic competition whether it be with the NFC, BICC, BBC or the now defunct LSECC. The Gilbert pigeons are also winning throughout the UK, which is not surprising given the fact that he has spent a not inconsiderable fortune on selecting and purchasing the very best specimens of the very best bloodlines from the very best lofts that can be found anywhere in the UK or mainland Europe.

Mark Gilbert, multiple National and International winner.

GEOFF COOPER

What more can be said about the phenomenon, "force of nature", call it what you will, that is Geoff Cooper. I have known Geoff for more than 26 years now and in all that time, and for many years before, he has been winning at the highest level with his team of "all purpose" racers based on the bloodlines of the Deweerdt family from Kortemark in Belgium. A King's Cup winner with the NFC from Tarbes with his great racer/breeder "George", he has gone on to win three International races, firstly from Agen in 2011 and then in 2013 from Pau when Geoff and Catherine's great racing hen won both the Hens’ race and the overall International beating more than 8,000 hand picked entries. Cooper pigeons have been exported to all parts of the globe and they are no doubt winning well wherever they have gone. Certainly, many fanciers in the UK have benefited greatly from introducing the Cooper pigeons. Geoff is also extremely generous with his time giving advice and encouragement to many fanciers who have sought it - none more so than a young, enthusiastic and extremely focussed fancier from Windsor who beat a path to the Coopers' door many years ago and has not looked back since!!! In mentioning Geoff I should neither overlook nor underestimate the input from Catherine, Geoff's wife of more than 20 years, who is constantly at his side, giving encouragement and no little advice and has been an integral part of the continuing Cooper success story.

Geoff & Catherine Cooper, triple International winners.

As the old 60s saying goes, "be there or be square". Come along and enjoy a good night of pigeon chat as well as a meal and a pint or two. You won't regret it.

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Elimar - September 2014