Pat and Tony Mahoney (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
Inclement weather meant the birds were held over on the Saturday and then liberated into a south/south westerly wind at 7am on the morning of Sunday 12th May. First east section and first open was won by the Mahoney Brothers from Basildon in Essex, on 1442ypm. The winning bird was a two year old hen flown on the roundabout system. Her breeding contains Plant Brothers' Janssens and Leen Boers along with a little Van den Bosch via birds from Albert Babbington. Her sire was a cock bred by their brother, Jim. This hen was previously 18th open East of England Continental Club from across the channel in 2012.
Alex and Tony McKenzie
Second open and second east section on 1437ypm was a cock raced by Alex McKenzie from Chelmsford, Essex. Bred from Janssen bloodlines, he was mated in late January and allowed to breed a pair of youngsters before being placed on widowhood. In preparation for Falaise, this cock had had one inland race of 120 miles. Alex exercises his widowers for an hour twice daily with no forced flying.
Charlie Simmons
No stranger to winning races with the British International Championship club, having previously won from Agen in 2012, Charlie Simmons of Basildon was in third open, third east section on 1430ypm This winner is closely related, with his sire being a full brother to the Agen winner. His dam is also a direct daughter of Charlie's winner from Falaise in 2009 and the bloodlines are mainly Soontjen.
Topping the north section and coming fourth open on 1429ypm is another previous BICC winner, Colin Smith of Ipswich. Colin's winner is a four year old widowhood cock bred from stock obtained from Les Hill of Pontypool and he is an uncle to Colin's 2011 winner from Falaise.
Kevin Foster
Kevin Foster of Longfield Hill, Kent timed in on 1419ypm to take fifth open and fourth east section. Kevin clocked a two year old widowhood cock which is a direct son of Geoff and Cathrine Cooper's Agen international winner. The dam is a daughter of Albert Shepherd's 7 Up, twice a winner at close to 700 miles. This cock had three inland races in preparation for Falaise. The Gillingham partnership of S & M Gibson were next on the result with sixth open, fifth east section on 1418ypm.
Bethany Wright
A Wright and Daughter timed in on 1414.4ypm to take second north section and seventh open. Their bird was a yearling widowhood hen bred from Van Loon x Staf Van Reet bloodlines. She has had three previous races this season and will be going to Alençon with the BICC next. Close behind on 1414.3ypm was David Coward Talbot from Chelmsford. A dark hen, bred from birds purchased from the old Stichelbaut family of Maurice Dan, this was David's favourite and most consistent bird as a yearling, having crossed the channel four times. David is assisted at the loft by his good friend Paul Russell.
Paul Russell (L) and David Coward Talbot (R)
Third north section and ninth open on 1408ypm went to Michael Sault of Norwich, Norfolk. His winner was a four year old widowhood cock bred from the bloodlines of Page brothers' Janssen x De Klak. In tenth open and seventh east section was Terry Bentham from Stock Ingatestone, Essex.
Michael Sault
With the south westerly winds, the birds for the centre and west sections had to work hard to get home. Topping the centre section were the Khan Brothers from New Malden. Their two year old hen was bred by Ace lofts and was sent sitting eggs. Mr and Mrs Newton of Brighton were second centre section and K Roberts and Son of New Addington timed a Casaert yearling hen flown on roundabout to take third centre section.
West section winner for Geoff and Catherine Cooper
Geoff and Catherine Cooper from Peasdown St John were first west section with a three year old widowhood cock name Scar because he was badly hawked in 2012. This cock was also first west section with the BICC from Le Mans in 2012. Barry Smith of Swindon, Wiltshire clocked a two year old widowhood cock to take second west section. This cock was a gift from Brian Sheppard of Trowbridge. In third west section was Mark Dorrington of Litton, who clocked a two year old widowhood cock gifted to him by Tony Miesner of Ledbury.
That concludes the report of the British International Championship Club race from Falaise.