WELSH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB

Tom Harris

FOLKESTONE - MAY 2012

Rogers & Duggan 1, 2, 3 South Section & Open

The second event in our 2012 calendar saw the birds race marked for Folkestone, a distance of around 180 miles plus to most Welsh lofts. The biggest change this week was the weather. Whilst just over a week ago we were deliberating as to whether or not we could get a liberation from Maidstone due to rain and visibility issues, this week we were in another dilemma as to how hot the mid-day sun would be for the birds to fly in, as temperatures soared throughout the week, reaching a possible 26 degrees on the day of liberation. This indicated that an early liberation was needed to avoid the possibility of dehydration during the day. Saturday morning and the first call was at 06.40 to inform us that the birds were away, liberated at 06.30 into clear blue skies and an east north easterly wind throughout the line of flight, indicating that a fast race was on the cards, with estimates of velocities reaching 2000ypm.

Rogers & Duggan

Taking the top spot this week with a 1, 2, 3 in both the south section and open is the loft of Steve Rogers & Duggan flying into the Ely area of Cardiff, timing in at 09.18.16 to record a velocity of 1960.6. The winning pigeon is a 2yr old Janssen widowhood cock which originates from Cardiff fanciers Sterio bros and a Bert Hession Staf van Reet from Mark Phobian. The second pigeon on the clock recording 1960.2 was a blue yearling cock also flown on widowhood and bred down through the partnership’s own lines of Verheye x Lefabre Dhanean cross Flor Engels pigeons from Aniruin Wiliams. The third pigeon to time in, which was in fact the first pigeon to arrive at the loft but on seeing the partners approaching the lofts clapped off for a lap of honour allowing the next two arrivals to take the glory, is pigeon is a yearling cheq cock which is bred down from Sterio bros’ Thurso national winner and a William Geerts hen which the partnership purchased off the continent in 2002 and which recorded 1959.6.

For four and fifth south section and open positions we remain along the M4 corridor and head to the Llantrisant area to the lofts of George Bryant timing in at 09.24.40 with a vel of 1950.77, who narrowly edges Steve Bright into 5th at 09.25.04 vel 1942.5.

In regards to the centre section, early indications from the marking station reveal that it’s one of our newest members to the WNFC, that of Morgan and Cushing from Cefn Hengoed, who claim the top spot of 1st section and probable 6th open, recording 1924.8. Just ahead of Dai Evans from Cascade on 1924.2 who will claim 7th open.

In the north section it a double now for the Aber Bargoed loft of Paul Hares who topped the north section last week from Maidstone and has successfully claimed the top spot this week from Folkestone on 1905.4.

As always here are some early times based solely on phone in times.

South Section

Probable section winners Rogers & Ruggan 9.18.16 vel 1960.602, Newbury 9.16.49, P roctor 9.20.18, Picton br &s 9.18, Hawkins 9 14.37, Bryant 9.24.40, Bright 9.25.04 Thomas & s 9.29.15, Mr & Mrs T Lamsdale & son 09.16.40, Dunn 9.14, Fishlock br & s 09.20.11, Emms 9.29.15, Farnham 9.32.07, De Snyder 9.28.58.

Centre Section

Probable 1st centre section Morgan & Cushing 09.23.00 v 1924.89, D Evans 9.23.37, Minett 9.26.46, Davies 9.26,06, Mayo 9.24.? Wilding son & Davies 9.30.37, Gooch 9.19.22, Tovey Stephens 9.22.58, Lovell br 9.29.09, Price 9.26.37, Davies & Coombes 9.32.27, Higgins 9.23.23, Collier 9.28.44, A Evans 9,27.16, Morris Lucus 9.32.46, Morgan & Cushing 09.23.00, Davies & Haines 9.23.56, Hall & McCullam 9.25.41, M&J  Hughes 9.27.45, Morris 9.34.32, F Vokes 9.24.44, Bullock 9.28.40, Tantrum 9.27.46 Jude 9.24.41 K Vokes & Son 9. 25.08.

North Section