Mark Gilbert of Windsor was first open and first section D with a yearling on 1144ypm. Mark's winner is called Southfield King and was bred by Mark from a pair of pigeons bought from C J Van der Laan of Holland. Both sire and dam contain strong long distance bloodlines. Mark timed two further pigeons in the top ten of the open result, at seventh and ninth on 805ypm and 790ypm respectively. The second bird was direct from Melissa Star, 1st BICC Pau and 2nd BICC Agen, when paired to a daughter of New Witbuik. The third was bred from a son of The Special One, 1st International Barcelona, when paired to a daughter of Sumerian Fighter, 1st International Barcelona. Mark won the first four in the section and had a further eleven pigeons in the top twenty section result.
Wearn Brothers and Neilson from Ramsdean were second open and first section A with a three year old on 1131ypm. The partners timed Ramsdean Olivia which on the sire's side contains New Laureaat bloodlines from James and Peter Parker of Beenham. These were crossed with Starlight from Mark Gilbert. Earlier in the season, Ramsdean Olivia was raced on the celibate system and then paired just prior to basketing.
David and John Staddon of Shepton Mallett were third open with a two year old on 911ypm. David and John's winner is a widowhood cock named Gemstone, bred from their star breeder Gem, son of Bill and Beryl Lewis' Freelands Gem. The partners timed a second pigeon to take second section and eleventh open on 779ypm. The Staddons had seven pigeons in the top eight in section C.
Fourth open and first section J went to Gosling and Jarvis of Mountnessing with a five year old on 869ypm. The partners timed a second pigeon in eighth position on 804ypm. First on the clock for Keith and Mick was their dark pied hen, Madame, followed by a chequer pied cock, Frenchy. Madame and Frenchy are half brother and sister, they were paired together after the Poitiers race and sent sitting nine day eggs.
Andy Parsons of Salisbury was fifth open and first section B with a three year old on 866ypm. Andy clocked a second pigeon, a two year old on 786ypm to also take tenth open and second section B. Andy also took third and fourth section B. The section winner was a latebred hen that wasn't raced until it was two years of age. It is a direct daughter of Andy's Dancer when paired to its own grand-daughter. Andy's second pigeon has similar breeding with the sire being a half-brother to Dancer and Proud Mary. Both were sent sitting four day eggs.
A E Shepherd of Woodmancote was sixth open and second section A with a three year old on 815ypm. Bert timed a pigeon from his Jan Aarden x Ko Nipius family that he has had since the late seventies. It has now been named Rainbow Lad and was flown on the widowhood system.
Around the sections
The Chambers Family from Cannock took first and second section E. First to time was a three year old on 648ypm, followed by a two year old on 585ypm. First on the clock was a chequer hen named Hot Stuff, bred from their own Dutch family of long distance pigeons. Second to time was a hen containing Chris Gordon x Deweert bloodlines.
M Watson of Angmering was first section G with a two year old on 736ypm. Martin timed a hen bred from a son of Fred Hall's Foxgrove Carteus when paired to Fairway Bright Eyes. The dam was bred by GM Preece and Son of Dover and contains Wiggins and Jack Jones bloodlines.
A Annis and Son of Canterbury were second section G with a two year old on 709ypm. Alan timed a grandson of Miss Jones, 7 x international prize winner for F Knowles and Son. It is also a son of Philis 4th open Perpignan. Philis is a full sister to Wingham Wonder the NFC certificate of merit winner.
Mr and Mrs Merrills of Swindon timed a four year old blue hen to take third section C. It was raced on the celibate system.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British Barcelona Club race from Pau.