THE BICC'S WORLD FAMOUS MOOT PANEL

by John Clements

The BICC moot shortly to be held at Epsom racecourse on Friday 31st October has probably the most distinguished list of panellists yet assembled in one moot on one night. There are three International winners on the panel, there is a world famous specialist vet on pigeons and there is a Dutch fancier whose pigeons are one of the current leading influences in breeding for long-distance racing in the Netherlands if not the whole of Europe.

The entire panel represents not only high quality but a significant mark in pigeon history they have all been written about and videoed endlessly.  They are all household names they all have the big picture of pigeons and pigeon racing at their finger tips. The panel is: Hugo Batenburg of Klaaswaal Netherlands Geoff Cooper of Peasedown St John Somerset Bernard Deweerdt  of Kortemark Belgium Mark Gilbert of Windsor, multiple international winner,  and the famous pigeon vet  Dr Henk de Weerd the son of the late Piet De Weerdt who did so much to re-launch  Dutch and Belgian pigeons after the last war.

I myself tried to get on the panel citing the fact that I had won the Greater Distance Single Bird Nomination from Tarbes for the last two years and had previously won the section from Tarbes flying over 700 miles as well as writing a book on long distance pigeons. I was told I was not nearly good enough but, as a kind of recompense, I could interview the panellists. I of course jumped at the chance and will try to improve for next year!

The tickets have almost all sold out except for a few but if you hurry and have a bit of luck you could ring Russell Bradford on 01933 410 322 for a couple of tickets.

---

Elimar - October 2014