WNFC

Double success for Scammel and Peploe of Pontypool

1st Welsh National Saintes

1st Welsh National Bergerac 2016

Its Bergerac week the final old bird race of 2016 for the welsh national flying club with three trophies sponsored by the well known corm manufacturer Versele Laga of Belgium
with 84 pigeons marked and  entered to take on this 500 mile challenge, they were swiftly transported across  to the west country  to  liaise with the central southern classic transporter who were as in previous year taking over the responsibility and  convoying duties as part of an accumulated  981 pigeons from various organisations  to the race point in southern France with reports of yet another  uneventful journey once again, the pigeons arrived on site early Thursday morning and after being fed  and watered the convoy were left to settle in  preparation for an expected early morning liberation considering the forecast given
Friday morning and it was an early  alarm for the boys  headed by chief convoyer  Clive Merrell on site as the morning opened up with clear skies and without any hesitation they happily liberated at 0600.

Convoyers liberation report
the liberation took place at 0600 ,with no wind and a clear sunny sky. The weather is clear and sunny all the way up through France with temperatures not high (in the low 20’s.) The wind in France is said to be variable between North West and North East at 5 to 10 mph.  From the French Coast and across the channel and into England and Wales cloud will increase and it will be overcast at times with the Wind becoming West to South West and increasing into the evening. Visibility is good to Very Good over the whole route. There is no rain in the forecast for our area today
on welsh soil with knowledge of a favourable forecast we were optimistic that the arrival of pigeons on the night into Wales was possible, as fanciers once again kept a sharp eye on the cscfc website to monitor verifications of first arrivals  on the south coast from late afternoon and early evening , which would give a clearer estimation for our  welsh entries
with the arrivals being verified within the southern counties and moving  nearer ,and we were rewarded  and delighted to hear that at 19.59 and a vel. of 1053.86 the  winner of the Versele Laga sponsored trophy and 1st open welsh national; was claimed by this years ,Saintes national winning partnership of Scammel and Peploe from Pontypool  , the winning pigeon was once again the same  2 yr old dark cheq roundabout cock that won the Saintes race just two weeks earlier ,making it 4 x 1st national wins to this gallant pigeons credit, the bloodlines originate from the Vandenabeele for  m& d Evans  whilst crossed with pigeons from G Thomas &son of the Rhondda which contains a slight crossing with the ad Schaerlaeckens ,the partnership are also proud owners and racer of the well known pigeon the "nearly cock "which has his name indicates just got beat to the top spot in the welsh nationals on many occasions , and has since gone onto produce many winners over the past years for themselves and others ,however  this  pigeon could well start a new chapter for  the Ronnie Scammel and Paul Peploe partnership and family of pigeons on its current national winning performances
regrettably with the night coming to a close on day one, we unfortunately only recorded the  one courageous pigeon from the 84 entered on the day of liberation  ,so it was a case of  an early start to continue the wait for the remaining participants the following morning  ,as there was still a number of honours yet to be claimed ,

Day 2
 And first in the clock were our own welsh north road secretaries John and Rosemary Humphrys along with son David who  record an arrival at 06.06 with a vel 887.434  the partnerships arrival was a  two year old Blue Chequer White Flight  Jan Arden hen bred along the same lines of the partnerships  1st Federation Tarbes 2013. This hen was raced through to Ramsgate as a young bird and Messac in 2015 , and this year it was the  first arrival  from  Fougeres prior to being sent to sent to Messac before having one or two short races in preparation  for Bergerac. She was sent sitting 10day eggs, also with the winning pigeon being a cock this hen goes onto  claim the  Versele Laga best opposite sex to the winners trophy for the partnership

For 3rd open we go to Crumlin to the newly formed highly past successful national and combine winning partnerships of g&r Clayton bros and Lovell bros, joining forces in 2015 ,they  recorded an arrival at 10.40 for 3rd open with  a vel of 729.53  this being a   .2.yr old red pied Jan Thealan widowhood cock of  which is bred down through pigeons from Alan Parker on the dams side which they had crossed into the loft ,this cock has scored previously this year with a 1st at club leavel  club
the Newport husband and wife partnership of Kevin and Sandra Upham takes 4th open with a 2yr old cheq cock  at 10.43 vel 704.71 which is bred down through the lefrebre dheanean lines purchased  from ken Jones clearance sale on the sires side crossed with pigeons obtained from  Haydn Minnet of Treharris  prior to him retiring from the sport
 to finish off the top five pigeons we head to Bargoed to the loft of mr & mrs alvin Davies who timed in a 3yr old light cheq hen from the  delbar x jan arden pigeons from Ian Axe of axeholme lofts timed in with a vel of 688.78 ,this is the third time this hen has flown from Saintes which all could of been jeopardised after returning from Coutances a few weeks earlier injured but proved herself by recovering and undertaking a few short training tosses before basketing  ,Mr & Mrs Davies are also rewarded with the Versele Laga two bird average trophy after timing in their 2nd arrival shortly after 5pm the same day well that’s the old bird programme over for another year and its been a bit of a roller coaster of a season in regards to overseas racing ,as a result of the poor weather we’ve all experienced ,but thanks to the welsh nrf ,cscfc and the nfc , we’ve made the best of an awkward situation on times
we now look ahead in future weeks to the forthcoming young bird nationals from Maidstone ,battle and Ramsgate ,when once again we can highlight the achievements of yet more successful fanciers and pigeons

Bergerac top pigeons

Pos. Open Name Velocity AFT Distance Ring PrizeOpen PoolsOpen PoolMoneyOpen Total

1 86Scammell&Peploe 1053.863 13:59:13 502,899 W14N03641 £100.00 £100.00

2 48Mr&MrsJHumphrys&son,887.434 16:49:13 508,1544 NW14N8654 £60.00 ABC £26.25 £86.25
 3 13G&mClayton&lovellBr,. 729.531 20:10:0 501,983 GB14X12873 £45.00 £45.00
4 95Mr&MrsUpham,. 704.716 20:26:48 491,386 W14N02204 £20.00 ABCD £56.00 £76.00
5 17Mr&mrsADavies,. 688.780 21:23:36 502,598 GB15Z51529 £10.00 ABCDEF £81.50 £91.50
6 4Bainton&Evans,. 665.712 22:4:11 500,1525 NW14E1819 £10.00 ABCD £10.00
 7 90Theophilus&son,. 619.154 23:58:15 505,1699 W14K00485
8 17Mr&mrsADavies,. 525.739 28:1:40 502,598 GB15A36923
9 10Mr&MrsBromley,. 420.951 34:54:34 500,1709 W11N03330
 10 37Hadden&son,. 375.798 38:20:48 491,481 NW14B5724
 11 115KSmith,. 372.462 39:32:25 502,116 W15N04660
 12 54AKidd,. 231.943 62:10:1 491,994 W13N01585 ABCD

additionally one more gallant pigeon recorded its return but unfortunately and on completing a vel. check it unfortunately showed to be just outside race time by the narrowest of margins  which closed when the velocity reaches 220 ypm but we though still deserved recognition for its efforts this was recorded by Picton Bros & Son,. Vel. 219.975
so we put closure on the yet another old bird programme for another season and over the past weeks the good old weather along with the fuel strikes in France which  have played havoc with the channel racing this year , we thank the various organisations who convoy our pigeons and have  has persevered to ensure that our entries have  reached the race points and liberated in the best possible conditions possible
the young bird nationals wont be far away now from Maidstone battle an Ramsgate in future weeks and with a little good fortune we will have a good  build up to them races to round off the 2016 season   
final note ..This year’s presentation evening will be on sat 10th December at the seaman’s mission club Newport and with limited availability on tickets we advise members, fanciers and friends to reserve your requirements asap to avoid disappointment.

Tom Harris