Mark Gilbert - photo courtesy of Chris Sutton
Southfield Hugo - photo courtesy of Chris Sutton
First open and first centre section was a two year old on 712mpm over a distance of 1,014km for Mark Gilbert of Windsor. Mark timed another two pigeons on 449mpm and 432mpm, to take take fifeenth and eighteenth open and second and third centre section. The winner is a son of Golden Barcelona, the second ace pigeon from Barcelona over three years and the Gold Wing winner. The dam is a daughter of New Laureatt, when paired to a daughter of Laureatt, first international Barcelona.
Geoff & Clayton Preece
G M Preece and Son of Dover were second open and first east section with a five year old on 620mpm over 954km. Geoff and Clayton timed four further pigeons to also take ninth, tenth, sixteenth and twentieth open, eighth, ninth. fourteenth and seventeenth east section. Their velocities were 552mpm, 541mpm, 437mpm and 423mpm respectively. First to time was a chequer widowhood cock, a grandson of Jack Jones, the legendary day bird from Perpignan in 2010. This cock has now competed in eight international races. Second on the clock was a French hen bought from the 2014 and 2014 marathon champions Rezenthel Freres. This hen is a grand-daughter to their 920, which has ten international prizes to its name. Third for the Preeces was a hen, a grand-daughter to Raymond Hermes' first German national Barcelona winner in 2005. Next up was a son of Wiggins, twice first Perpignan and finally a blue hen, a great grand-daughter to Jack Jones.
Sally & Steven Rhodes & grandchildren
Mr and Mrs Rhodes of Aylesham were third open and second east section with a two year old on 617mpm over a distance of 962km. Steve and Sally clocked a cock, sent driving its hen to nest. This cock is bred down from stock obtained from the House of Aarden and its bloodlines contain Titus, Sister Victoria and The President on the sire's side. On the dam's side there are De Barcelona, Invincible Double and Lady Invincible. This cock came home during a heavy downpour, so is now named Storm.
Robert Collins
Robert Collins of Whitstable timed a four year old on 604mpm over 978km to take fourth open and third east section. Robert timed another pigeon , a two year old on 560mpm to also take eighth open and seventh east section. First in the clock is a chequer hen containing Southwell bloodlines and bred by Mr Cotton of Belvedere. Second was a Louella Jan Aarden cock with Invincible Spirit bloodlines on the sire's side, whilst the dam contains Van Hee blood from the Natural Breeding Station. It was sent driving its hen to nest.
Alan Annis & Simon Knowles
A Annis and Son from Wingham were fifth open and fourth east section with a three year old on 596mpm over a distance of 968km. Alan timed the same pigeon that he had from Perpignan last season. The sire was bred by Simon Knowles. Alan's pigeons are flown on the natural system and this hen was sent sitting fourteen day eggs.
Spencer Nicholson
J Nicholson and Son from Rochester were sixth open and fifth east section with a three year old on 575mpm over 986km. Spencer timed the same hen that was thirty-fifth from Mont de Marsan and thirteenth from St Vincent. The dam flew three 600 miles races in one seaon, whilst the sire is a son of Kate, the Spanish diploma winner, when paired to Plum. This season, this hen has flown over three thousand miles.
David Hales & Duncan Goodchild
Dave Hales of Hockley clocked a three year old on 565mpm over 1,011km to take seventh open and seventh east section. David timed Just for John, named after a friend who was waiting to see the international pigeons arrive. Just for John is a widowhood cock bred from Dave's first bird home from Perpignan last season. The sire is a Tubby a Fauche x Parker blue cock, whilst the grandsire contains Biss Bloodlines.
Robbie Harris - photo courtesy of Chris Sutton
Eleventh open and tenth east section was won by Robert Harris of Ramsgate with a four year old on 535mpm over 973km. Robbie timed a full sister to his Perpignan winner last season.
Charlie Simmons of Basildon was twelfth open and eleventh east section with a yearling on 467mpm over 1,010km.
Lee & Kevin Buddle - photo courtesy of Chris Sutton
Lee and Kevin Buddle timed a three year old cock on 463mpm over 950km to take thirteenth open and twelfth east section.The Buddles timed a second pigeon, a two year old on 428mpm to also take nineteenth open and sixteenth east section. First in the clock contains the Cooper's bloodlines on the sire's side being a grandson of their PD and JW. The dam is a grand-daughter of Mark Gilbert's Southfield Supreme. Second on the clock was a hen, a daughter of Pipi, four times from Barcelona, when paired to an Archibald hen, a daughter of Barcelona Bob.
F Knowles and Son of Wingham were fourteenth open and thirteenth east section with a six year old on 461mpm over 968km. Simon timed a pigeon containing Cyril Wells bloodlines sent sitting fourteen day eggs.
Ron & Annette Dove - photo courtesy of Chris Sutton
Ron Dove of Kingsnorth was seventeenth open and fifteenth east section with a three year old on 434mpm over a distance of 954km.
Strawbridge & Williams
Strawbridge and Williams timed a two year old on 317mpm over 1,092kms to take first west section and twenty-seventh open. The sire of the section winner is from the best of John Wills' Old Shepherd family when mated to a Bruggeman hen which came from Gareth Watkins. The dam is from Tom Thumb, first Barcelona when paired to The Vandervelden Hen, the dam of Dennis Ford's national winner Seren Eleven.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British International Championship Club race from Perpignan, held in conjunction with the international.