MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

MIKE LAKIN

A Great Double Race From Bordeaux & Vire With Success for Ted Jackson and Mr & Mrs Andy Hargreaves

Finally the weather forecast smiled upon us and a superb ‘Double Event’ was anticipated. The light winds were set to offer no favour to any particular areas and this proved to be the case with great performances all over the club’s large radius. During the marking at the Abbey, my particular Marking station, it was clear that extra excitement was in the air with a good weather forecast and two excellent sends considering the heavy losses that fanciers have sustained over the past few weeks. The 4,508 bird entry in the Vire race was over 300 up on last year’s figures with 70 more members participating in this shorter event. While the ‘Blue Riband’ Bordeaux race saw nearly 1,300 birds basketed, a figure that the club is very satisfied with considering the circumstances endured in 2012 with so many lofts badly depleted.

As previously stated the breeze was so light in much of France and Southern England that the birds had to work hard to get home. The velocity of the winners clearly highlighting this fact and the provisional result also underlining this. All eight sections were in the leading 31 placings from Bordeaux with the first three birds to three separate sections and the sixth, seventh and eighth to three others. In the Vire race the story is the same with three sections represented in the first four places and all eight sections in the leading 40 provisional verifications. Truly amazing but highlighting how the MNFC leads the way in fairer racing and long may it continue.

Let's concentrate now on the Provisional race winners. First of all Vire where a couple that are local to me saw their 2 year old blue hen named ‘Mystery Girl’ recording a velocity of 1397. I will enlighten you further about this excellent pigeon which has won 1st and 6th Federation positions earlier in the season with birdages up to 4,500 birds. All I will say for now is that she is a Vandenabeele X ?. With the Vandenabeele half coming from stock off Jack Walker of Cannock. I can assure readers that Andrew is a very dedicated fancier and this win is a lifetime ambition for him and his wife Linda, who is a real  partner. Andrew asked me to thank his pal Ron Worsdall for his help in getting his birds to the marking station.

Roy Jones congratulating Mr & Mrs Hargreaves, the Vire race winners

If you study the leader boards accompanying this short report that great performances were achieved right up the country as far North as Lancaster. Brilliant.

From the Bordeaux race we see a real long distance fancier achieve his dream and I must say that I enjoyed visiting Ted Jackson of Woodend, which is situated near to Atherstone. Ted’s bird is a 3 year old roundabout cock which was definitely bred for the job of flying the 533 miles to his home loft. He is a crossing of a Roger Florizoone cock and a Jan Arden hen. Believe me, Ted has some quality in his small lofts which over the years have given both he and others some excellent results in the marathon races. I will go into greater detail in the full report over the next week or two but let’s just say this cock responded to a ‘new lady in his life’!

Ted Jackson, the Bordeaux winner

I will leave you to read the Provisional result and you will see some fantastic performances right up to virtually 600 miles on the day. These were achieved by many of the usual ‘suspects’ who clearly have the right ‘ammunition’ to tackle this marathon event. These guys don’t just send with a ‘wing and a prayer’. They basket their birds with real confidence of a good result. I shall enjoy giving these fanciers and their birds a little well deserved coverage.