by Tom Harris

Ray Lambert of Abergavenny - 1, 2, 3 from Fougeres

The Welsh National held its second channel race of the 2014 season from Fougeres, an average distance of 245 miles to most lofts within the Welsh borders, and with basketing going as a formality and nothing  uneventful to report, the convoy were soon off on their overnight journey to liaise once again with the West of England South Road combine transporter for the journey south to board the early morning crossing to France. With the report of the birds arriving safely on site at 3.30 Friday afternoon, upon arrival they were given time to settle before being fed and watered for the night in preparation of Saturday’s liberation.

Saturday morning and whilst here in the UK the skies were overcast there was  good visibility, however on the French side of the channel the convoyers reported similar conditions on site at 7am, with overcast skies and mist lingering above them resulting in an early liberation being very unlikely, but with the prospect of things getting better as the day went on. At 11.30 news drifted through to inform us that with all parties happy with the line of flight the strings were cut at 11.15, releasing the pigeons into a light north easterly wind turning north west as they came across the channel towards the south coast.

Leading the field with an outstanding performance of 1st, 2nd and 3rd open is the Abergavenny loft of Ray Lambert, timing in three of his 12 entries just over the five hour marker. His first arrival at  17.24 recording a winning velocity of 1218.2 is a yearling grizzle hen whose dam was gifted by Ray to local fanciers John and Pat Webber of Abertillery  from his original grizzle family going back many years crossed with pigeons obtained from  Dai Evans of Cascade in the Rhymney valley. This winning hen was gifted  to Ray as a young bird by John and Pat and has since gone on to  score many high profile results in its short life with performances such as 9th nat Littlehampton and 15th national Carentan.

Ray Lambert

Ray’s 2nd arrival with a vel of 1189 is a 2yr old cheq hen which originates from pigeons acquired from Dave Stone of Derby. She too is also becoming a consistent racer with some outstanding performances in 2014 of 1st club 6th fed  5th WSR Nat Carentan and 48th open WNFC just two weeks ago from Maidstone. Ray’s 3rd in the clock with a vel of 1159 is the same pigeon that he timed in the first channel race of 2014 within the WNFC from Carentan, a blue white flighted cock which is based around the loft’s old original grizzle family of pigeons blended together with the latest addition to the loft from Ireland.

As you will notice the grizzle lines of Ray’s are showing in many of his pigeons within this week’s report and previous articles. It’s also worth mentioning that these pigeons are also responsible for many club, federation and national winning performances for other fanciers both locally and around the country.

For fourth open we return for the second time this year to the partnership of Davies & Coombes from Pengam. Their first arrival is a 2 yr old blue hen at 5.34 with a vel of 1145.04 bred down through their family of direct Leon Boers and is a descendant from their 2013 combine winner against 9,000 pigeons. These lines contain some of the most famous names within the Boers pigeons including the famous Lion King which was sold to China for an undisclosed amount a few years ago. The dam of this hen has many previous national positions to her credit inc 2nd 3rd and 11th and whilst she was only flown lightly as a yearling due to injury she is now a popular entry in the partnership’s race team on a weekly basis obtaining various minor club and federation positions.

So there we go, our second channel race safely behind us with the majority of lofts experiencing 60 to 70% returns at night fall, and with a good forecast for Sunday we’re sure quite a few more have turned in. This now gives us ideal preparation for the three remaining challenges ahead as we head off further south  to Messac, Pau and Bergerac in future weeks. One thing we can take pride in is that our  numbers may be smaller in both membership and birdage  as the years have passed , but the quality remains as high as ever, this is clearly seen by the calibre and determination of the leading pigeons and fanciers in past weeks. Which other society can offer 500 and 600 mile races for a minimal fee of just £3.50 per pigeon and allow duplication from some of the UK’s leading organizations. This is solely sustainable due to the  partnership and affiliation we have held with our transport organisation (WNR Fed) for the past six years.

Convoyer’s report 

The birds arrived on site at 3.30pm on Friday 30th May. They were given time to settle and then fed & watered. The water was topped up later. Convoyers rose at 5am Saturday 31st May and water was replenished. Weather was fine but very misty. There is no prospect of liberation until the mist has cleared and the original plan of liberation at 7am is extremely doubtful. This page will be updated as soon as further information is received.

7.10am weather is poor at the site. Complete overcast, cold and mist. It is expected to clear but liberation unlikely before at least 9am.

8.30am weather is improving but no liberation as yet. The CSCFC liberated from Messac at 8.15am in a light NE wind so we want them to clear before liberating. 10.30am still no liberation due to conditions at Fougeres. Channel is fine. Hoping for an update around 11am.

Birds have been liberated at 11.15am in a light NE wind.

Early times as always based on first arrivals only

LAMBERT 17.24.01 VEL 1218, KIDD 17.28.09,GARDENER 17.38.02,DAVIES & COOMBES 17.34.04, LEWIS 17.54.46,MAYO 17.56.58,THOMAS 17.59.48,HUGHES 17.53.26,SAUNDERS 18.12.24,SCAMMELL & PEPLOE 18.08.27,DAVIES 18.09.55,BEVAN 18.12.19,MR MRS RUSSELL 18.03.36,HAWKINS FAM 18.22.04, W HOLPIN 18.09.59, JNEWBURY 18.14.11, PROCTOR 18.27.23, BANCROFT 18.18, MR MRS HOWELLS 18.22.41, VAUGHAN 18.19.37, MR MRS HUMPHRIES & SON 18.13.13, BURRIDGE & SON 18.32.36, HALL & MACULLAM 17.57.34, WILLIAMS 18.09.47, MR MRS LAMSDALE 18.46.37, SARGENT & S 18.21.55, WILLIAMS BR & BURGHAM 18 49 12, WATKINS &S 18.53 27.

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TOM HARRIS