<pre><pre>British International Championship Club British Barcelona Club Barcelona International Provisional Race Report 5 th July 2024 Barcelona is the capital and largest city in Catalonia, it is also one of the largest cities on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs. Perhaps most importantly, it is considered by many to be the greatest pigeon race in the World. On Friday 5 th July, 17,109 pigeons were liberated at 6.15am to make the epic journey back. This race report covers the Open and Section winners in the BICC and BBC and is a combined report by Clare Norman and Mike Jackson. It is based he member’s verifications and the final result may differ. 1 st OPEN, 1 st South Centre Section BICC, Andrei Bargaoanu of Basingstoke over 690 miles on 896. As a lot of people know, I bred this super hen, 292, from a pair of eggs from Daniel Coropciuc. All the top RESULTS THAT SHE HAS, INCLUDING THE 4 th National Open Barcelona last year and 1 st OPEN BARCELONA THIS year, were achieved without a lot of racing. I have been following the advice of my friend David Goddard, the legend of Barcelona and Palamos racing. This year I trained the hen 4 times from 20 miles, 4 times from 50 miles and one race from Nort-sur-Erdre with the BICC, four weeks before basketing for Barcelona. I then let the hen rest. She was sent sitting 10-day old eggs and in 2023, she was sent on 14-day old young ones. One of the many pieces of advice that I have taken from Dave Goddard is, ‘you don’t have to burn out your birds training to win hard races, you have to have the right pigeons and it’s easily done.’ I am so happy with this win, 292 is a super hen. Winning this feels like a dream. Thank you to everyone for all the kind messages I have received, it is amazing. Thanks to the BICC for putting on the International races. Andrei also timed to take 37 th OPEN, 17 th SECTION WITH his second bird. Andrei Bargaoanu WINNER’S RACE RECORD Winning pigeon on return from the race BICC National winner 1 st OPEN, 1 st SECTION D BBC, &amp; 2 nd OPEN, 1 st South Centre Section BICC, Mark Gilbert Winkfield, Windsor over 697 miles on 862. Firstly, can we say congratulations to Andrei Bargaoanu for winning the BICC with his fantastic hen that was 4 th OPEN BARCELONA LAST YEAR. WE PUT HER THROUGH AT THE marking station and told Andrei that she was in super condition and even joked with him that he would win it with her. Well done to you and your special hen. Well, the weekend we had been waiting for finally arrived and we were competing from the Barcelona International. The birds were liberated into light winds for the early part of the journey with stronger west/southwest winds expected from about Nantes onwards and then gusting winds in the CHANNEL. WE WERE EXPECTING THE WINDS TO KEEP THE BIRDS OVER IN THE EAST AND AS MUCH AS WE WOULD have liked them, we were not expecting a repeat of last year’s day bird making it into the UK. We knew the birds would be close to Dover early morning but if they waited until then to cross, they would have to face the full force of a strong westerly wind and would take a few hours to get back to the central SECTION. We started waiting at the lofts at 4.30am with a lot of talk about how long they could be, over a few cups of coffee. The weather was awful all morning with loads of rain, the sky was filled in, with gale force winds which were much stronger than forecast. So, as the morning went on it became clear the birds had an awful task ahead of them and we feared the worst for good returns. We didn’t feel this year that we had the best team in Barcelona, compared to other years, so we were hoping they would produce a surprise or two. At 12.09pm our first bird arrived recording a velocity of 684ypm for the 698-mile journey. We finally had one in the clock and seeing her in good condition, we started to think more would follow. And follow they did. Our next arrivals came at 12.20, 13.09, 14.40, 14.57, 15.26 and 19.15. We also had another one arrive at 6.31am Sunday morning. Team wise the birds managed to secure 1 st ,2 nd ,3 rd ,4 th ,5 th ,6 th ,7 th SECTION &amp; 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 6 th , 7 th , 8 th , 11 th British Barcelona Club and 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 7 th , 9 th , 12 th SECTION &amp; 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , 9 th , 12 th , 14 th , 19 th British International Championship Club. Not a bad day’s work after all, by some very gutsy pigeons. The birds breeding: 1 st from a son of Kees Droog’s Blue Champion x Rozalynn paired to a daughter of Jelle’s Jack &amp; Dafne. 2 nd from a son of Jelle’s Romee paired to a daughter of Jack and Dafne. 3 rd father is Supreme Junior, 1 st National BICC Pau paired to a daughter of Jos Martens Helios. 4 th a grandchild of Southfield Iron Man, 1 st National BICC Perpignan 2018, 2 nd National BICC Marseille 2018, 7 th National BICC Palamos 2018 x Southfield Dark Star, 1 st National BICC St Vincent and also a grandchild of Golden Barcelona. 5 th father is Southfield King, 1 st Grand National NFC Pau 2020 paired to a daughter of Lloyd, 1 st International Barcelona 2018. 6 th Abigail’s star who was 1 st BICC Agen 2022. She is from a son of Sumerian Fighter, 1 st International Barcelona 2017 x a daughter of Jelle’s Romee. Mark Gilbert’s first arrival 1 st SECTION G 4 th OPEN &amp; 1 st South East Section, 5 th OPEN BICC, J CLARKE &amp; DTR. OF FAVERSHAM OVER 673 miles on 803. He is now called rain man. The pigeon is a grandson of Mr &amp; Mrs Marshall’s, Mucking Magic/Machine. He was a very good bird as a yearling and as a two-year-old, he’s been pretty steady ever since he had a few near-death experiences following a hawk attack and hitting the wires, but overall, a very good pigeon. Although a bit unpredictable over the last few years, having had lots of races over the Channel, he came good for this one taking 1 st SECTION IN THE BBC AND BICC. HE WAS RACED on a semi-widowhood system, and he was prepared on Matador corn for this race. He may be looking forward to the last BICC race of the year! 5 th OPEN 2 nd SECTION G BBC &amp; 6 th OPEN, 2 nd South East Section BICC over 663 miles on 800, Lee &amp; Kevin Buddle. Our bird is a 6-year-old hen flown on our chaos widowhood system. In preparation for BICC Barcelona she had BICC Alencon, BICC St Philbert &amp; BICC Nort Sur Erdre. She has been fed Vanrobaeys 193 and fats added in the last week before race marking. She has previously won 4 th Sec G, 10 th OPEN BBC BARCELONA 2023. 17 th ES, 27 th Nat BICC Barcelona 2023. 12 th ES, 17 th Nat BICC Perpignan 2023. BICC Lerwick 2021 631 miles &amp; BICC Barcelona 2022 676 miles. She is a half-sister to our 2019 BBC Barcelona winner, Triple Two. Her sire is a winner of: 3 rd OPEN BICC MARSEILLE 2014, 4 th OPEN BICC MARSEILLE 2011, 9 th OPEN BICC MARSEILLE 2013, 13 th OPEN BICC PAU 2015, 13 th OPEN BICC Agen 2014, 24 th OPEN BICC PERPIGNAN 2012, 37 th OPEN BICC PAU 2013, 60 th OPEN BICC PAU 2013, 64 th OPEN BICC PAU 2012 BICC CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AWARD. HER DAM IS A DAUGHTER OF PIPI, A WINNER OF: 4 th BICC Barcelona 2011, 9 th BICC Barcelona 2014, 10 th BICC Barcelona 2013 &amp; verified injured from Barcelona 2012, 4 x Barcelona Int 673miles. 9 th OPEN 3 rd SECTION G BBC &amp; 15 th OPEN, 10 th South Centre Section BICC, Doug Gatland of Hookwood over 675miles on 709. Doug timed his single-entry from Barcelona. My Barcelona pigeon is my 5-year- old blue chequer cock named Cornish Dream as he was bred by Duncan Harvey from Penzance, of Louella Marathon bloodlines. He was my single entry for Barcelona flown widowhood and as preparation this season, he had two short 90-mile club races before flying Guernsey, Alencon, St Philbert and Nort Sur Erdre with the BICC. Then 9 days before basketing for Barcelona he had a trainer from Guernsey with the 100 club where he was 5 hours on the wing. Feeding is Bamfords corn made up of Red Rosette and Centenary Sport which I mix in different quantities to suit the race or conditions, and the last few days before basketing I fat load with sunflower hearts, popcorn maize and peanuts from the health food store. He has been a very reliable pigeon for me winning 5 th SECTION 12 th OPEN BBC Barcelona, 11 th SECTION 31 st BICC Barcelona 2023 and 14 th SECTION 38 th OPEN BICC TARBES International 2022. All being well he will go for a third attempt at Barcelona in 2025. Jamie Clarke Lee &amp; Kevin Buddle’s 6-year- old hen Doug Gatland’s single entry 1 st SECTION E 11 th OPEN BBC &amp; 1 st North East Section, 19 th OPEN BICC, DEAN JONES OF BOSTON OVER 799 miles on 675. Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mark Gilbert on winning the BBC race and encouraging me to send. Also, Andrei Bargaoanu on a fantastic performance to win the BICC race. My section WINNER IS A 6-YEAR-OLD BLUE COCK. HE IS A 100% Padfield being out of my No1 stock cock, Vince, who has been responsible for 6 section winners. A daughter of Champion Blue BG 1 st W Sec, 2 nd OPEN BARCELONA. HE WAS ON HIS FIRST VISIT to Barcelona having previously flown Tarbes three times, where he gained 1 st Sec, 15 th OPEN BBC &amp; 6 th Sec, 56 th OPEN NFC &amp; ST VINCENT INT. He was sent on a 6-day-old chick by accident after his hen laid to soon after repairing. He had 4 inland races with the Peterborough Central Fed and the BICC St Philbert and Nort sur Erdre races in preparation for Barcelona. He returned in fantastic condition, which made me think without the rain Saturday he would have been a second day pigeon? So, roll on Barca 2025. Dean won the Jim Emerton trophy for the longest flying pigeon in race time and the Jim Emerton Barcelona Dream trophy for the highest velocity over 750 miles at BICC Barcelona. Dean Jones, the longest flying member 1 st SECTION A 10 th OPEN BBC &amp; 18 th OPEN, 11 th South Centre Section BICC Luke &amp; Les Cross Loft 2 of Gosport over 661 miles on 682. Another one with their single-entry was Luke &amp; Les Cross Loft 2 of Gosport. Firstly, we would like to congratulate the winner and all who have clocked, with some outstanding performances in tough conditions. We timed our single entry, a 3-year-old cock bird now named Rueben’s Faith after our son and grandson. He flew back to 10-day old babies, and he has been a consistent racer for us, having flown the north road programme as a baby, out to Thurso as a yearling where he returned injured. Last year he was 22 nd OPEN BICC PERPIGNAN AT 601 MILES. HE IS BRED FROM a son of L &amp; K Buddle’s Pipi cock, a winner of a Certificate of Merit from Barcelona when paired to, The Ron Dove hen. This hen was purchased from Ron’s entire clearance sale, and she was 24 th OPEN St Vincent and also the dam of Ron’s 3 rd OPEN BICC BARCELONA. SHE HAS THE BEST BLOOD OF DAVE IMPETT, Bruggeman blood lines. We understand how tough this race point can be and how difficult it is to find birds to fly Barcelona, so this makes us even more proud to have timed again. This is only our second time sending to Barcelona. We won the section with Dawns Faith in 2020, who was again our single entry. 14 th OPEN BBC &amp; 25 th OPEN, 8 th South East Section BICC, Lyden Bros. of Sandwich over 672 miles on 540. This two-year-old hen had two previous Channel races this season, St Just with the EECC and Nort sur Erdre with the BICC. In both instances she had eight hours flying each time but handled it with aplomb. She was mated but regularly separated so never went to nest and she was given 3 days with her mate before basketing. On the breeding side, she is from a half-brother x half-sister pairing. The common grandmother is a stock hen of &#039;Morning Glory line, twice 2 nd OPEN NFC PAU, WHILST HER grandsires are also inter-related. Sons of John Halstead&#039;s Maurice, 1 st BBC Palamos and Ashley, 2 nd BICC Barcelona. Both parents were decent racers, her dam was also 15 th OPEN BICC NARBONNE IN 2020. Luke, Les, Paisley &amp; Rhuben Cross Lyden Bros Hen 1 st North West Section, 36 th OPEN BICC, 2 nd SECTION E 16 th OPEN BBC &amp;, CHAMBERS FAMILY OF CANNOCK over 794 miles on 430. The pigeon we clocked from Barcelona is a 3- year-old chequer cock now named Dutch Courage after his near 800-mile journey home in adverse weather conditions. I believe he will be the most westerly flying pigeon timed in the Barcelona International in a race dominated by strong westerly winds especially across the English Channel. As his name suggests, this cock is bred from our old Dutch Family who stem back to our 1997 National winner the Dutch Cock. The sire of Dutch Courage is a son of our 1 st SECTION, 7 th OPEN TARBES COCK DUTCH THUNDER, AND THE dam is a gift bird bred for us by our good friend Gerald McPherson. The dam is a daughter of a famous Double Gold Merit Award winner up into Scotland called Blue Boy, when he was paired to a daughter of Wing Down. Dutch Courage flew Tarbes, 660 miles, as a 2-year-old and only had one Channel race this year with the BICC from St Philbert at 376 miles, before being paired for Barcelona. He was sent feeding a 5-day old young bird. I would like to say a huge congratulations to the race winner and all who timed in on a very testing race. I hope this performance will encourage others in our area to have ago at this incredible race as I&#039;m sure, with the right pigeons and with more people sending we could put up some incredible performances into the West Midlands area and beyond. 1 st North West Section BICC Dutch Courage, Craig &amp; Bernard Chambers 1 st South West Section, 39 th OPEN BICC, MR &amp; MRS J WESTACOTT OF NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON OVER 684 ON 376. 1 st South West Section BICC John &amp; Sandy Westacott John and Sandy Westacott say well done to all who got birds, especially Andrie Bargaoanu. There GB2021A17572, a blue cock, Maverick, was bred from a son of Lilly, when paired to granddaughter of Lady Gaga of Dave Goddard. We would like to say a massive thank you to Dave Goddard of Reading for birds gifted to us and more. The birds are magic. This pigeon was lost of the roof on 21 st April 2021 and returned 6 th September 2021. Lightly raced in 2022 and early 2023 because of being in bird flu zone and then sent to Tarbes (Pau), with NFC. In 2024 he had three trainers with Three Counties Classic Racing Pigeon Club, then went to St.Philbert and Nort-Sur-Erdre again with BICC before being rested for Barcelona. Can we also say a big thank you to all who rang and texted. We’ve been waiting a long time to send to Barcelona and it’s a great feeling. 15 th OPEN BBC &amp; 33 rd OPEN, 14 th South East Section BICC, Mr &amp; Mrs S Rhodes of Aylesham over 670 miles on 461. Our 15 th OPEN BARCELONA IS PURE FREIALDENHOFEN, HER GRANDSIRE ON ONE SIDE WAS 2 nd SECTION, 5 th OPEN AGEN. ON THE OTHER SIDE, HER GRANDSIRE WAS 1 st SECTION, 5 th OPEN ST VINCENT. THIS WAS her first try at Barcelona and we are hoping for an improvement next year. She was flown on roundabout, and we race all our birds like this, both sprint and long distance. The hens are absolutely crazy to get back in their boxes. We had two more back home, and hope some of the fancier’s birds make home. Congratulations to the winners and all who timed. 7 &amp; 8 th OPEN, 3 rd and 4 th South East Section BICC G M Preece &amp; Son Dover over 665 on 787 &amp; 781. Our first arrival was a four-year-old hen, GB20C46750, already on her sixth International race and her second time from Barcelona. A daughter of our Jack Jones and a granddaughter to Blauwe 212, 1 st National Olympiade Marathon 2013 – Bernd Morsnowski. Our 2 nd arrival, GB 21 D 04157, arrived on the day from St. Vincent in 2023. A 100% Raymund Hermes bloodline, inbred to Barcelona 05 (270) on the father’s side and line bred to 270 on the mother’s side. Jubilar on both sides of the pedigree. Very similar breeding to our Jubilee Barcelona. Some more information about all eight of our arrivals will be on our website www.internationalseapigeons.com. We are very happy with the team performance on what must have been one of the hardest sea crossings with 50mph crosswinds for the UK Barcelona pigeons. The partnership also took, 24 th , 26 th , 27 th ,28 th , 31 st and 35 th OPEN. 11 th OPEN, 5 th South East Section, Dean Childs of Wickford over 698 on 772. Now named Chalice Lioness because of the guts and determination she has shown throughout her racing career. My 11 th OPEN NATIONAL BARCELONA CHEQUER PIED HEN WAS SENT SITTING 10-DAY EGGS AND THIS IS BECAUSE SHE TOOK 4-5 days to return from NFC Messac, and was given time to recover before being paired up. She has been a fantastic servant for me, having flown and scored from Lerwick on the north and now Barcelona on the south! Her racing results are as follows: 11 th BICC National Barcelona 698 mls, 21 st NFC 579 mls, 55 th BICC National Lerwick 596 mls, 111 th BICC National Berwick 307 mls, 120 th NFC Pau 573 mls, 134 th NFC Pau 579 mls, 253 rd BICC National Cholet 319 mls, 275 th BICC National St Philbert 291 mls. She also flew Perpignan but didn’t make the result on that occasion. We all strive for pigeons that can win races, but for me she has to applauded for her super consistency and homing ability! She will now be retired to the breeding loft here at Chalice Lofts! Well done to everyone who clocked in from this iconic race point! Steve, Sall &amp; Paul Rhodes G M Preece &amp; Son Dean Childs’ hen 13 th OPEN, 8 th South Centre Section, M Adochita of Queensbury over 703 miles on 763. Marinel Adochita timed GB21B00445 a dark 3-year-old cock. The bloodlines are 50% Mark Gilbert x 50% Vasile Badin from Romania. I delighted this his performance. 16 th OPEN, 6 th South East Section, M Connolly of Canning Town over 696 miles on 701. We timed h a 2-year-old black pied cock, who was 43 rd OPEN PAU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. NOW 16 th OPEN BARCELONA! It’s the first time we have sent to Barcelona and what a great feeling to get one on the winning day. His sire is a pigeon from Jonny Chipperfield and dam is from a cock I got from Dean Childs x a hen from Michael Symonds. I would like to congratulate the Barcelona winner and everyone who got one. 21 st OPEN, 13 th South Centre Section, Mr &amp; Mrs Cowan of Southampton over 665 miles on 648. Our probable 21 st OPEN BARCELONA, CHEQUER HEN, NAMED MARY WAS SENT SITTING 10 DAYS ON FOUR EGGS, growing a second flight. As a young bird, she had one toss at 60 miles, as a yearling no training or racing, as a 2-year-old, she had two training races north at 60 and 90 miles. This year she flew Fourgeres 175 miles and Nort-Sur-Erdre 237 miles. My wife, Maria, has taken a big interest in the birds this year, and is very keen to insure in future they get plenty of training and racing. In a few months I will be 85 years old, and without her help it would be very difficult to continue! Fifty years ago, I was second from Barcelona to a Mr Wells of Ramsgate, and the thrill of getting one from a Spanish race point even today does not diminish! Regards the breeding, her sire is a son of Shepherds Delight, 3 times Barcelona, and her dam was a gift from the legendary journalist Gareth Watkins. Marinel Adochita Micky Connolly’s bird Tony Cowan 1 st North Centre Section, 17 th OPEN JOHN BLACK OF HITCHIN OVER 732 ON 688. THE BIRD I TIMED FIRST WAS a two-year-old chequer hen feeding a 7-day old baby. This was her second race of the season, her first being Alencon, where she was 9 th SECTION. SHE THEN HAD A FEW MORE TRAINING SPINS AND WENT OFF to Barcelona. Her sire is a son of Iron Lady, and her dam was from a grandson of Zwart Goud. Well done to everyone who timed in. John also timed a second bird to take 3 rd SECTION. JOHN TIMED A 4-YEAR-OLD RED CHEQUER COCK SENT feeding a 7-day old baby. This was his second time racing from Barcelona. The sire was bred by Mark Collins from Derby from a grizzle cock from Doug Gatland, that was bought at a charity sale and a hen bought from RPRA one loft race. The dam of the red cock was bred from a grandson of Emiel, 1 st International winner and a grandson of Black Power, a German International winner. John was well pleased to get his second bird. John Black John Black’s red chequer cock bird 29 th OPEN, 12 th South East Section, P C Delea of Rainham on 695 miles over 501. Paul said that the bird he timed was from the loft of his late brother and former BICC Barcelona National winner, David. When David passed away in mid-May, he decided to keep his birds and race them from Barcelona. Paul said that when David passed away, he lost his best friend and his brother, and he wanted to give David’s birds a final race from Barcelona. The birds hadn&#039;t been trained that much, having had a few 40-mile training tosses before going to Saint Philberts with the BICC. David said that he will close David’s loft because he can’t continue to look after his own loft and David’s, but this race was a great way to remember him. 38 th OPEN, 18 th South Centre Section was David E Farr of Bognor Regis over 654 on 309. David also took, 41 st OPEN, 19 th SECTION. FIRSTLY, MAY I CONGRATULATE ANDREI BARGAOANU ON HIS FANTASTIC PIGEON winning the most important race of the year, and to all who had pigeons in race time from Barcelona. I&#039;ve been asked to write something about my pigeons clocked from Barcelona. The first pigeon is from the late great John Wills stock birds. This bird is in the picture of me taken with my great granddaughter Bella, chequer hen GB19N68544, 22 nd Sect, 53 rd OPEN BICC TARBES 2022, 17 th Sect, 36 th OPEN ST VINCENT 2023, 18 th Sect, 38 th OPEN BARCELONA 2024. THE SECOND PIGEON IS OUT OF MY old family, B20N69113 blue bar cock. 22 nd Sect, 60 th OPEN BARCELONA 2023, 20 th Sect, 42 nd OPEN Barcelona 2024, who always appears on the 4 th day as if his been on a training toss. My third pigeon, a chequer hen, was my favourite and another from my John Willis’ stock birds, GB17N65343, 13 th Sect, 40 th OPEN BORDEAUX BICC. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ST VINCENT, IN RACE TIME FROM TARBES NFC BUT THE RACE on my clock had been struck off. In 2022, 29 th Sect, 79 th OPEN PAU INT. IN 2023, 22 nd Sect, 47 th OPEN Barcelona 2024. And finally, many thanks to the BICC marking teams at Southampton and Sunbury for marking my pigeons. The late David Delea Dave Farr &amp; G-Granddaughter Bella Dave Farr’s 2 nd and 3 rd birds 43 rd OPEN, 17 th South East Section BICC, J Nicholson &amp; Son of Rochester. Spencer &amp; Sarah timed their gallant 9-year-old hen, who has now completed 12 International races and has also flown 3 international races in one season alone. She had 2 x 100 miles tosses &amp; 3 x 40 miles tosses in the week leading up to Barcelona. A great pigeon for them. Spencer &amp; Sarah Nicholson’s great hen And that concludes another Barcelona report. This year’s race produced a new winner with the regular great long-distance fanciers all timing excellent birds. I know for many, including those who have timed and those who never sent this year, that planning for 2025 is already underway. The greatest pigeon race in the World, produces the greatest thrill of them all. Mike Jackson BICC Press Officer Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel:07964448291</pre></pre>
Document content could not be extracted.