Tony Lucas
A & S Lucas of Royal Wootton Bassett timed a five year old hen on 1403ypm to take first section C and first open. Tony timed Sandy, named after his late wife (the S of the partnership.) Sandy is bred down from Foxwood Lofts' bloodlines and Countances is her best performance to date. As he had a number of hens that had lost their cocks, Tony put them in the young bird loft and trained them together with the dual aim of getting them fit and aiding the youngsters in their training. As she was coming well he decided to put Sandy into Coutances and she more than repaid his faith in her.
Alan Shore
Mr and Mrs A Shore from Crewe were first section E and second open with a three year old hen on 1393ypm. Alan timed Daisy Doo, his second section, second open winner from Bordeaux with the British Barcelona Club. Daisy Doo was paired up and sent sitting twelve day old eggs with the added incentive of a youngster slipped under her the night prior to basketing. Having earned her place in the loft she will now be transfered to the stock loft. Alan had three more hens shortly after his first and all four were the same way bred, out of his Danny Boy bloodlines when crossed with those of John Barnett and Daughter of Telford.
Luff and Walker from Dursley were second section C and third open with a yearling hen on 1380ypm. Stuart and Phil clocked a consistent pigeon which was bred by Ivan Hofton of Gloucester. As a youngster this hen was fifth open in the Gloucester and District breeder buyer race. During the old bird season this pigeon was kept back as widowhood hen, something the partners feel is a waste and because of this they have decided to start racing hens next season. In preparation for next year, they thus decided to have a go at the specialist clubs old hens races. Trained with the young birds, this hen was sent to Countances sitting sixteen day eggs. The breeding is Bertie Camphuis Janssen x Vandenabeele.
Phil Priddle
P Priddle from Southampton clocked a three year old hen on 1370ypm to take first section A and fourth open. Phil timed a pigeon from his old family of Lefebre Dhaenens which have flown very consistently for him over the years. Previously, this hen has been third section from Messac and seventh section from Guernsey in the Central Southern Classic Flying Club old hens race.
R E Taylor and Sons of Bristol were third section C and fifth open with a yearling on 1309ypm.
Brian & Sue Stone
Timing a three year old hen on 1296ypm, B and S Stone from Belper were second section E and sixth open. Brian and Sue clocked a grizzle hen (Z20788) which has numerous wins to its name. Bred from Waaire when paired to the Diego hen and containing Peter Fox's top bloodlines, she was loaned to the partners by their good friend Jack Walker. The sire of Z20788 was bred by Jack Corns of Galaxy Lofts out of the best Jupiter lines.
Third section E and seventh open was a four year old hen on 1288ypm for Mr and Mrs N Shaw from Basford.
Steve Sheffield
Steve Sheffield from Winchmore was first section D and eighth open with a yearling hen on 1266ypm. Steve's blue hen flew well as a youngster and this season scored second club, eleventh federation. The sire was bred by Brian Cowen and contains Wall, Lunt and Green bloodlines, whilst the dam was a Soontjen.
Ben Smith and Father from Southampton took second section A and ninth open with a yearling on 1261ypm. Ben and Bruce timed their sole entry, a hen that was gifted to them by Keith Davison of Holbury. Flown regularly at club level this hen is always one of the first birds home for the partnership.
Completing the top ten and in fourth section C is G Hancock from Devizes with a yearling on 1200ypm.
Around the sections
Third section A went to G Kingswood-Cox from Southampton with a two year old hen on 1136ypm.
John Halstead
John Halstead of Gillingham was first section B with a yearling on 1172ypm. John 's hen was bred from Artie, the younger brother of Nyland Ashley, second open Barcelona in 2008. Artie was bought back from the late Artie Baverstock of Poole in 2013. This hen suffered from hawk attacks earlier in the season but had been re-paired and was sent to Countances sitting a three day old squeaker. This is the eleventh time this season that John has scored in the top fifty in national racing.
Cotterell, Richmond & Son
Second section B went to Cotterell, Richmond and Son from Wimborne with a yearling hen on 1171ypm. Tony, Ollie and Martyn clocked a blue pied hen sent paired up and sitting tight.
T Vincent of Dorchester was third section B with another yearling hen on 1096ypm.
Sherman and Wells from Oxford were second and third section D with two yearling hens on 1178ypm and 1173ypm. Barry and Steve's first on the clock was bred down from a son of Tipps when paired to the Blue Janssen hen. Their second was a Drapa x Koopman yearling hen. Both of these pigeons will be competing in the National Flying Club old hens race from Guernsey next week.
Mick & Lyn Chaplin
Taking first and second section G on 1096.8ypm and 1096ypm are Mick and Lyn Chaplin from Woking. The partners' two hens dropped together and were both on their first race of the season, having been used as widowhood hens during the old bird races. Mick and Lyn pair their hens up for the final old hen races at the end of the season and both were sent sitting chipping eggs.
Pip Hughes
Third section G went to P Hughes of Chichester on 1001ypm. Pip timed a hen from his old Simon Westcott family, sent sitting babies.
Glen Moon
Glen Moon of St Helier was first section H with a yearling on 565ypm. Due to his position on Jersey, Countances is just 32 miles from Glen's loft. In reality however, due to the course the convoy takes, his hen probably flew in excess of 300 miles to drop into its loft at 9am on the Sunday. This hen was bred by Paul Davies off a grandson and granddaughter of Kimlyn, the 2005 Perpignan international winner which was bought by the late Tom Scott from Twan Bongess of Holland.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British Barcelona Club old hens race from Countances.