Gavin & Glynn Buckley (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
First and second into section L and first and second open went to Gavin and Glynn Buckley from Rochdale, flying just over four hundred miles on the day. The partner's first on the clock was a three year old on 1511.67ypm and the second, a two year old, on 1511.18ypm. Glyn and Gavin used to fly seperately until a few years ago, when they decided to go into partnership. From Fougères they won their section and now they have taken the first two in the open. The national winner was a Braspenning x Rietvink roundabout hen with other performances such as twenty-fifth section L and one hundred and eighty fifith open, thirty fourth section L and one hundred and thirteenth section. The sire of the winner was flown by Gavin prior to him going into partnership with Glynn and has many good performances to his name, including eight x first fed and seven x second fed. The Buckley's second pigeon was the cock that this hen was paired to and they both went straight into their box to spend time together, not even bothering about any food or drink.
Abbey, the winning pigeon
P J Wells
First into section E and third open was won by Mr and Mrs P J Wells of Dunstable with a yearling on 1509ypm over 286 miles. Pete has had much success in national racing and his latest winner is from his Janssen based family. The section topper is a hen flown on the widowhood system and is a daughter of Little Blue Boy, a grandson of Spitfire, bred by Simon Scholfield when paired to a top racing cock for Pete. The dam of this section topper is a Jos Thoné cock x Simon Schofield Hen.
J & J Greenfield
Father and Son, J and J Greenfield of Royston were first section K and fourth open, timing a two year old on 1506ypm over 399 miles. Jack and John clocked a hen that has previously won first club, second federation from Le Manns. This is the first year the partners have been flying with the National Flying Club. Their dam of their first on the clock was a Denis Sapin Soontjen which had previously bred four different inland winners, when paired to a grandson of Vandenabeeles Wittenbuik. The partner's second bird home was three year old, blue pied hen being from the same dam when paired to a home bred Soontjen cock.
Dariusz Mruk
Dariusz Mruk of Cannock clocked a two year old on 1504ypm over 338 miles to take first section J and fifth open. Dariuz comes from Poland originally and moved to England ten years ago. His brother is still flying pigeons successfully in Poland. The brothers have purchased the best of pigeons from around Europe over the past thirty years in order to make the best families they can. After moving to England ten years ago, Dariusz hand-built his loft here, having been gifted birds from Colin Lloyd's Cattrysse family. Dariusz timed Rob, a chequer cock that had previously been second federation from Carentan the previous week and which comes from Syndicate Loft bloodlines.
Keith Rowe & grandson Max
K C Rowe of Rugeley was second section E and sixth open with three year old on 1501.4ypm over 272 miles. Keith flies a small team of no more than sixteen cocks on the classic widowhood system. The cock that was second section in this race was the nestmate to the cock that won second section from Carentan last season. Keith has a small stock loft with just three pairs which originate from D & J Hawkins of Doncaster's Vandenabeele family. K L Elstone of Rugeley was first section I and seventh open with a five year old on 1501.3ypm over 340 miles. Chris Gordon of Pontefract timed a two year old on 1497ypm over 406 miles to take second section K and eighth open.
Mr & Mrs Foulstone
Third section K and ninth open was won by Mr and Mrs Foulstone of Woodsetts with a two year old, chequer hen on 1495 ypm over 383 miles. Known as the 018, this dam of this hen came from the Marc Capelle family of Belgium and is a top breeder of over eleven first prize winners. The partners obtained these bloodlines via their friend Frank Howard, who lives and races in Belgium. The sire was bred by Clive Yates out of his Midland National Flying Club winning hen.
Roger Lowe
Completing the top ten and in third section E is Roger Lowe of Reading with a yearling on 1492ypm over 225 miles. Roger is a well known fancier in the Uk and has a reputation for finding the best birds to race and breed from. From Messac he had twenty-seven out of the thirty birds he sent on the the day. First to his loft was a Freddy and Jacque Vandenheede bird, on its third race from Messac in four weeks.
Around the sections
Tom Powers
Section A was won by Tom Powers of Whitehill with a yearling, widowhood cock on its fourth race of the season. All of Tom's cocks have been across the channel as he only races in the classic/ national races. This cock's best result of this season prior to the NFC Messac race was first section A with the British Barcelona Club from Messac and fifth open, so it obviously enjoys this racepoint. Second section A was a four year old clocked by F A Couzens of Havant.
Derek Human
The section B winner was Derek Human from Petersfield with a two year old hen sent sitting ten day old eggs. Derek has a family of Cattrysse birds that he has maintained for many years. This hen was raced on the natural system and last year performed well from Cholet. Second section B was a four year old timed by A C Stephens of Poole.
John Halstead
John Halstead of Gillingham won section C with a three year old, chequer white flight cock. On its seventh visit to Messac, this cock was flown on the widowhood system and had previously been second club and eighteenth fed from Littlehampton. The sire of this section winner was Nyland Brave. The dam of Brave was a Kees Bushua hen bred by Crammond and Langstaff.
Neville & Diane Sprcklen
Second section C went to Neville and Diane Spracklen of Dorchester with a pigeon named Jack, which has been a consistent bird for the loft. The sire of Jack is Bully Boy, a double grandson of Mark Gilbert's Supreme. The dam is a grand-daughter of Bartoli from the Ponderosa Stud.
Mr & Mrs Mabin
Mr and Mrs Mabin of Buckfastleigh clocked a yearling, roundabout cock to take first section D. Bred from their own middle distance team, this cock was bred down from their 2010 first open Poitiers cock named ETS. Second section D went to C Colwell of Minehead.
Leon Hall
Leon Hall of Oxford won section F with a five year old, dark chequer cock bred down from a son of his Fed Cock, a backbone of the Hall Loft and containing Norman Sibley bloodlines. Leon has now named this cock The Sibley Cock after his good friend.
Eamon Kelly
Lloyd and Kelly of Abingdon were second section F with a two year old.
Howse & Parsons
Howse and Parsons of Devizes won section G with a three year old, widowhood cock that has been one of the loft's best racers this seaon. Bred from a Frank Sheader Soontjen, a grandson of the Docherty cock, the dam is a full sister to the partner's NFC certificate of merit winner.
Domenic Barresi
Second section G went to Domenic Barresi of Peasdown St John. Domenic is a new young fancier, aged fifteen years and he timed a gift bird from Jason Morris from Hengoed in Wales. The sire of this pigeon was a Soontjen x Busshaert and the dam was a Haelterman x Rietvink. Domenic has dreams of becoming a professional footballer and is currently signed with Bristol Rovers football academy.
Terry Roughton
Wisbech fancier Terry Roughton clocked a three year old hen to take first section H. Raced on the roundabout system, this hen has previously been tenth section, Midlands National Flying Club from Fougères. Andy Smith of Wellingborough was second section H.
Kevin Godfrey
Second section I went to Kevin Godfrey of Chipping Norton. Kevin timed a two year old, blue chequer Jan Loots x Janssen cock.
Booth & Roper
Booth and Roper of Tewksbury were second section J.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the National Flying Club race from Messac.