Battle

Following on from the successful race from Maidstone just a week ago the Welsh National Flying Club pigeons under the guidance of the Welsh North Road Federation were again on the road heading South Easterly for the penultimate race of 2017 from Battle near Hastings an approx distance of 160 miles to most lofts in the principality with numbers slightly up on the previous weeks race the birds arrived on site in the early hours and with the weather forecast predicted to be favourable for an early morning liberation the following morning and with such everyone was up and about and ready to go at first light to see what the day had install for us

A.Buttigieg & Sons

Saturday morning and as predicted the morning opened up with clear skies however with such conditions there was also a bitter chill in the air and a few mist patches on the line of flight at various stages of the route, so it was decided that we would hold back on the liberation and await the sun to rise to burn off any lingering obstacles and hopefully give the birds a clear line of flightwith the green light given to the convoyer indicating  that the flight path was clear of all other federations in the area the pigeons were released  at 08.15 into blue skies and a light and varible winds.

After liberation the pigeons cleared the site well in the direction for home well and the uncertainty of the winds in regards to any help participating fanciers were estimating the first arrivals were to hit Welsh soil on approx 3 hours 30 min but it seemed that there was to be a little help in the skies as the leading birds touched down slightly earlier and on receiving the verification calls it appeared that the announcement as to the probable winner would have to be held back as a blanket finish was confirmed and it wouldnt be until clock checking later that evening that we we would be able to announce the winner of the race as clock verifications would decide such an outcome with velicity decimals coming into play

with all checks completed it was finaly anounced that taking the honour of first Welsh National Battle young birds would be the Newport loft of a Buttigeg & Sons timing in at 11.31.24 with a v of 1414.62, the winning pigeon a blue hen which was bred by the premier stud in Hull of the Herman Ceusterlines and a grand daughter to the pigeon “Better than Bolt” crossed with the supersonic mike lines which was 1st open combine three times resulting in claiming the honour of best young bird UK and Western Europe in the Olympiad 2017 each year Anthony brings in a team of premier pigeons to race and this winner was a part of this years consignment.

Taking 2nd open by the narrowest of margins is our previous weeks national winning partnership of Davies and Coombes from Blackwood timing in a blue hen which is bred from a new pairing of Frans Zwol x Joop Groenean from Holland which the partnership have recently brought in to cross into the loft this season, like all the team she was flown naturaly to the perch and timed in at 11.43.35 with a vel of 1414.46

For 3rd open we go to the we remain in the Blackwood area as Dai Thomas recorded his arrival on 11.44.02 with a vel of 1412.5, being a young cheq hen bred bred by local fancier Alan Newton through the Herman Ceauster lines originating from the Ponderosa Stud in Weymouth and Derek Flowers from Pontypool ....sadly for Dave this will be one of the last races from this location as hes reluctantly had to advertise his entire team of birds etc for sale due to the land on which the loft is sited being sold for development,  he has been given a time when all birds and lofts has been cleared however he’s hopeful that he will be able to complete the young bird season before such time.

For 4th open we go just a few miles on to the Pengam area with the partnership of Williams and Owens timing in one of their entries a young mealy cock of Lambrecht bloodlines which also went onto win ove £1000 on this occation in a local breeder buyer, on a time 11.44.39 vel 1411.6, sadly for the partnership the days following the race whilst the birds were out exercising old Percy struck and claimed a victim yes you guessed it.. the mealy, to the partnerships dispare.

Joe Johnson from Newport comes in to take 5th open on a velocity of 1410 with a youngster that originates from the "Dairy Stud" of Gary Cox from Hull and comes down through the Herman Ceauster lines.

Rounding off the this weeks top six we return to the Davies and Coombes partnership, as they recorded their second arrival at 11 44 29 with a vel of 1409.

So there we have it were now down to the last race of the season from Folkestone and approx distance of 180 to 190 miles this is  a race point that has been re-introduced in the though of continuing down the same line that as over the weeks brought not only the National but the Welsh North Road Federation such good racing in the latter part of the young bird season, therefore were hopeful our luck keeps with us with this our final race of the year?. so good luck to all.

As always the top ten positions

1 AButtigieg&sons,. 1414.623

2 Davies&coombs,. 1414.468

3 DThomas,        . 1412.559

4 Williams&Owen,. 1411.667

5 JJohnson,.               1410.646

6 Davies&coombs,. 1409.969

7 Hall&Macullam,. 1409.570

8 JJohnson,        . 1408.266

9 Ireland&Hyman,. 1403.876

10Ireland&Hyman,. 1403.546

finally ..the Welsh national 2017 presentation evening  will again be held at the seamans mission club in newport on sat 9th dec ,with the Welsh north road accompanying us on the night to reward there federation winners ,a night not to be missed so with limited availability we advise members to reserve there tickets asap

Tom Harris