FOLKESTONE 2 - JULY 2012

M & J Hughes - 1st Centre Section, 1st Open

Report by Tom Harris

Well what a week it has been in regards to the current weather situation. Not only has it hampered the young bird training, but it also put paid to our plans of crossing over the channel to Huy, a distance of approx 380 miles. With no planned let up in the conditions over the forthcoming weekend and a liberation being out of the question, plans were set on Wednesday evening to revert back to our longest inland racepoint, Folkestone on the east coast, where we were more likely to get a liberation over the weekend and get the birds home. On basketing night, whilst the rain continued to pour, our membership turned out to support the move of our convoying organisation, the WNR Federation to provide them with a race. Yes maybe the numbers were down but this was to be expected as most lofts over the past weeks and for the time of year have prepared these pigeons for a more challenging event from Huy, but a shorter race was better than no race.

On Saturday morning, early news came through indicating that whilst it was good enough to liberate the pigeons on site, along the line of flight the weather was gradually closing in from the west and with poor visibility in the Berkshire and Wiltshire areas hampering the path home, it was then decided to hold off any decision making until 9am to see how far and how quick this was moving north before releasing the convoy. At 9.15 the news came through that the birds were away. Everything as predicted had gradually cleared northwards and although in areas there were still signs of full cloud cover and occasional showers, there was good visibility and as things weren’t going to get any better than they had, the decision was made to release at 09.00.

The wind conditions were described as southerly on liberation and across the M25 areas of London turning more easterly from there on. There were however showers expected throughout the journey home which did turn out to be much longer and heavier than origanally expected, which the birds needed to overcome but this didn’t hamper the leading pigeons as they made good speed, recording velocities in the high 1600s.

Leading the field this week with the honour of 1st centre section first open is the father and son partnership of Matthew and Joseph Hughes of Treharris timing in at 12.21.46 to record a velocity of 1687. This gallant pigeon is a a yearling red white flighted hen which they have now named "Bethany". She has this season been flown on roundabout and her bloodlines originate from Mark and Lilly Verheyde on the dam’s side and the sire from Raymond Molevend pigeons through a daughter of his pigeon named "Strong Wings". Pigeons originating from this pair have already scored well at club and federation level for this partnership within the Welsh North Road Fed, the largest domestic federation in Wales, including many club winning performances including 4 x 2nd section winners. This red hen herself has flown consistently over the past weeks and has recorded 2nd Swindon 28th fed 3,108 birds, 7th WNR federation Maidstone 7th WNFC 1,234 birds and now 1st centre section 1st open WNFC Folkestone 2.

Matthew & Joseph Hughes

Bethany

For 1st south section 2nd open we head down to the Lliswerry area of Newport to the loft of Alan Dunn timing in at 12.05.39 recording a velocitiy of 1674.48. Alan timed in a yearling a blue hen which originates from pigeons obtained from Ken Fletcher of Newport’s Braspenning family when paired to a Hartog hen purchased at the bereavement sale of the late Ron Suthers from the West Country. This hen was the loft’s first arrival only a week ago from Newbury when it received the honour of 1st club 2nd south section WNR federation. Alan also informs me that it was only when he entered the loft to take details of his believed first pigeon at 12.36 to use the verification line that he was surprised to notice this pigeon was already sat on the nest timed in by use of the ETS.

For 2nd south section 3rd open we stay in Newport at the loft of T. Hawkins family who also seemed to get caught out by the helping wind as they also entered the loft to discover that their arrival had also timed itself in at 12.08 with a vel of 1671.08. This pigeon, a yearling cheq cock, is one that originates from one of our annual Belgian trips in March from the loft of Belgian fancier "Goris". This pigeon in past weeks has been flown on widowhood with many club positions behind him, however he was re-paired for the longer races but with the cancellation of the Huy race he was sent sitting week old eggs.

For the next probable four positions in both the south section and open based on recent telephone calls it’s the Fishlock Bros & Son partnership that timed in four of their entries in approx eight seconds, all recording velocities of 1668. The partnership are no strangers to top flight results as they have on numerous occasions topped the south section of the WNFC since its formation in 2009 including their recent success of 1st south section from Lillers only a few weeks ago.

Whilst the centre and south section take the leading positions this week, in the north section this week’s first section pigeon was timed in to the loft of Mr & Mrs Ian Bromley from Pontypool who timed in at 12.16.52 with a vel of 1627.8.

The future seems unsure as to where we go from here as plans were for races from Huy, Bonn and Marberg. Unfortunatley at present we are waiting to finalise this issue with our convoying organisation, and we will of course update at the first opportunity via both the website at www.welshnational.co.ukand and our lib line service number 09063 656 780 once the final decision is made. As for summing up this race, it looks like the majority of the birds got through the wet weather but yes there are still the odd numbers adrift at most lofts on clock opening with members reporting two or three away, some a few more. On the whole I believe that the majority of the membership, after speaking to a few fanciers on Sunday morning, are pleased with the final outcome and praise everyone concerned for getting the birds away and home under such awkward conditions. To finish off, as always here are a few times from around the sections based on verification times only.

 
CENTRE SECTION
M&J HUGHES 12.21.46, MORRIS & LUCUS 12.20.26, PRICE 12.19.52, MAYO 12.32.05, MINETT 12.23.46, EVANS 12.37.26, LOVELL BROS 12.21.17, GOOCH 12.21.00, THOMAS 12.34.37, HIGGINS 12.16.36, K VOKES&SON 12.39.05, DAVIES 12.20.13, MORRIS 12.21.11, VAUGHAN 12.28.50, HALL&CACCULLAM 12.27.04, DAVIES HAINES 12.22.33, TANTRUM 12.28.35, F VOKES 13.11.

SOUTH SECTION
DUNN 12.05.39, HAWKINS FAMILY 12.08.41, FISHLOCK BR & SON 12.13.05, PICTON BR&SON 12.20, NEWBURY 12.18.27.WOOD 12.26.38 ,ROGERS&DUGGAN 12.36.21, OCCONNEL 2.38.52,BRIGHT

NORTH SECTION
MR&MRS BROMLEY 12.16.52, FLOWERS 12.40.10, WILLIAMS BR & SON 12.40.07, HARES 13.04.10.