First open and first NE section was a four year old, chequer hen named Queensfield Surprise on 1633ypm for Clive and Wendy Merrills of Swindon. Clive has been an official for the Classic in various roles for the past thirty years or so and is currently the President of the club so his win could not have been more welcomed. Queensfield Surprise was bred for the distance, hence their surprise at her being an inland winner from Ilkeston. The sire flew Pau three times, made the result twice and the dam was a gift bird from Albert Sinclair. It was flown on a version of the chaos system.
George Owers of Wareham timed a two year old cock on 1625ypm to take second open and first SW section. George's pigeon was bred from a gift bird from John Gerard containing Zwarte Louders bloodlines when paired to Bartole de Klak bloodlines. It was raced on the widowhood system.
Barrie Smith of Winchester was third open and first SE section with a two year old on 1619ypm. Barrie's Vandenabeele x Busschaert red cock has been named Sleeping Surprise as Barrie wasn't expecting such high velocities so had his usual lunchtime sleep, only to wake and find his pigeon had been home for twenty minutes.
Mr and Mrs B Crutcher of Poole had two pigeons drop together to take fourth and fifth open, second and third SW section, both timed on 1613ypm. First to time was a yearling cock containing Vandenabeele bloodlines. Second was another cock, this one with Herman Ceusters origins.
Lee Kruger & Son of Winchester were sixth open and second SE section with a yearling hen on 1607ypm. It was raced on the natural system and sent sitting five day eggs. Bred by David Brent of Reading, this hen contains Poortvliet x Roger Lowe My Little Diamond bloodlines. Lee previously raced in South Africa for twelve years before deciding to move to the UK when he was adamant he would not keep pigeons again. However, his wife had other ideas and he now races with his son in the Romsey Club and Solent Federation.
Darren Ede and Family of Southampton were seventh open and third SE section, timing a two year old hen on 1605ypm. This hen is named Rik's Classic Girl as the dam was bred by Darren's good friend Rik Hermans.
Eighth open and fourth SE section was a three year old on 1600ypm for Godfrey Kingswood Cox of Southampton. Godfrey timed a blue cock that has previously scored from across the channel as far as Pau. This was its first ever race from the north apart from a couple of training tosses. It is a double great-grandson of Godfrey's only bird on the day Classic winner from Pau. Godfrey got all his twelve entries in the clock.
Mrs Jenny Mills of West Moors was ninth open and fourth SW section with a yearling on 1598ypm. Jenny's blue Staf Van Reet hen came right on line, didn't hesitate before trapping and went straight to her box without even looking at the drinker. This pigeon was bred from a SVR cock containing the old Toey and Daniel SVR bloodlines which Jenny purchased at Blackpool. This was then paired to a good slatey hen she bred herself from birds purchased from Derek Spoor and again containing the old SVR lines from Tranquility Lofts.
Completing the top ten and in fifth SW section is the partnership of Harp and Pearse from Poole, who timed a two year old on 1594ypm. Alfie and Nick timed a Kees Bosua x Van Osch hen, the sire and dam of which were purchased from Nigel Langstaff. The sire comes from La Belle Etoile, first French open derby young birds. La Belle Etoile is a full sister to Rolex. The dam contains the best of the Crammond and Langstaff bloodlines.
Around the sections
The NW section winner was Steve Slade from Devizes who timed a two year old on 1573ypm and which also took eighteenth open. This section winner was bred by Tomas Fedyk from Steve's old family of pigeons. The sire is a son of Stevie G, 1st section, 8th open Pau, whilst the dam is a daughter of Megan, dam of several section winners in national and classic racing.
S Bennett of Bristol was second NW section with a two year old on 1562ypm. Steve's pigeon was bred from Silk Producer, the sire of many winners including Steve's 2020 Wadebridge first open winner. The dam came from Mel Mayo, being a daughter of Bobby's Boy. It was flown on the chaos system.
Roger Lowe of Reading timed a two year old grandson of My Little Diamond on 1575ypm to take second NE section. The sire is White Diamond, whilst the dam is Ruby, a grand-daughter of Vandenabeele Ruby. Roger had another pigeon drop at the same time, this one being a yearling double grandson of My Little Diamond.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the Central Southern Classic Flying Club's second race from Ilkeston.