Chris Harding (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
First open and first section G was clocked by Chris Harding of Bristol and was a two year old, widowhood cock on 1208ypm over 294 miles. This cock was gifted to Chris as a squeaker by Rob Goldsmith and Bob Alexander and was bred from the best Vandenabeele x De Klak middle distance bloodlines.
The winner from Ancenis (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
Nigel Templar
Nigel Templar of Bristol was second open and second section G with a yearling blue hen on 1200ypm over 287 miles. Raced on the roundabout system, the sire of this hen is a Frans Zwol cock that was gifted to Nigel by Stuart Wilcox. The dam is a Wal Zoonjtens, being a grandaughter of Ch. Mickey, one of two hens that Nigel purchased from Alan Maull of Wales.
Darling & Ede
Darling and Ede of Southampton clocked a two year old on 1196ypm over 243 miles to take third open and first section B. The partners timed a second bird which came in at tenth open and fifth section B. First on the clock was a grandson of two combine winners. The sire is a son of Our Eli, first Up North Combine Lillers for the late Davy Brown and the dam is a daughter of a first combine winner as well. The sire of this dam is a Stichelebaut Janssen. Second to time was bred from a son of Rick Herman's Charlene.
D E Johnson of Southampton was fourth open and second section B with a yearling on 1193ypm over 245 miles. Dave timed a widowhood cock, the sire of which was a grandson of Billy Calvert's West Star, another winner of the Up North Combine. The dam contains Golden Bull bloodlines from Mr and Mrs Litherland.
Mike Whitcombe
Fifth open and third section B was a yearling on 1187ypm over 248 miles for M Whitcombe of Southampton. Mike timed a cock that already has five x firsts in club racing, five federation positions and has featured three times on the result when channel racing. Not bad for a yearling! This cock was bred for Mike by Dave Robinson of Guildford and contains Syndicate Lofts bloodlines, the sire being direct from Outlaw and the dam a daughter of Orlando.
Alex Docherty
A Docherty of Swindon took sixth open and first section F with a four year old on 1171ypm over 292 miles. Alex timed Superwell, a pigeon containing Koopman bloodlines. The dam came from Smith and Baker's best Koopman breeding hen. This pigeon won as a youngster and has been a consistent performer over the years.
George Owers
Seventh open and first section C was a two year old on 1162ypm over 239 miles for G Owers of Wareham. George timed a De Klak Janssen that was bred for him by Mervyn Gray of the Wraxall partnership, Wyatt and Gray. Raced on the widowhood system this pigeon has been a consistent performer and is now named Purbeck George.
Wearn Brothers and Neilson of Ramsdean were eighth open and fourth section B with a two year old on 1160ypm over 251 miles.
Ninth open and first section L was a two year old hen on 1150ypm over 425 miles for R and B Smith of Warrington. The sire of this hen is a son of the Hilson Cock, bred by George Hilson out of his Kes Boshua bloodlines through Crammond and Langstaff. The dam is one of the the partners' top breeding hens.
Around the sections
Alan Holdaway
First section A went to Alan Holdaway of Emsworth with a two year old on 1100ypm over 241 miles. Alan's section winner was bred from two pigeons he obtained from Richard Green, the sire being Dark Boris, a son of Young Boris, now at stock at the House of Aarden.
Mr and Mrs Brian Wall of Havant were second section A. After some hard racing earlier in the season Brian left this cock with its hen and it was driving to nest when it was sent to Ancenis.
G Glaze of Shaftsbury was second section C.
Underhill and Prettjohn of Plymouth timed a yearling on 1106ypm over 245 miles to take first section D. The partners timed a De Rauw Sablon x Janssen that they purchased from Premier Stud.
Mr and Mrs Wilkinson and Son were second section D.
J Haynes of Maidenhead was first section E with a yearling on 1112ypm over 286 miles. John's hen was raced on the roundabout system, she had a knock earlier in the season so was rested until she regained her fitness. This hen is a Brockamp x Mark Gilbert Southfield Supreme.
Mr/s Dickinson & Son
Mr and Mrs Dickinson and Son were second section E. They timed a blue widowhood cock, the sire of which was a De Rauw Sablon bought from Mr Honeyman of Fife. The dam is a retired racer containing Janssen bloodlines.
P Kenny of Wantage was second section F. Paul clocked a blue Vandenabeele cock bred from M and D Evans bloodlines.
Colin & Adam Crick
C Crick and Son from Stotfold timed three together to take the first three positions in section H. First on the clock was a two year old on 1043ypm over 324 miles. Colin and Adam timed a widowhood cock bred from their own stock, this being the same pigeon that was sixth section in the national race from Fougères. Second section was a yearling bred from stock birds they recently purchased from Bob Fenech.
J Fretwell of Evesham was first section I with a two year old on 1110ypm over 330 miles. The cock that won the section for John was bred for him by Jones and Adams of Redditch when the two lofts exchanged youngsters in 2014.
Clive Yates
M Yates and Son of Tamworth were second section I. Clive timed a red hen, the sire of which was bred by Mark Gilbert, whilst the dam was bred by R and N Dennett.
M Williams of Hereford was first section J with a yearling on 1140ypm over 330 miles.
R Stokes and Son from Kidderminster were second section J. There second section winner was a Busschaert cock, the dam of which is Farlow Saide, a top winner for the loft and containing Koopman x Venestra Vandenabeele bloodlines.
Ron and Nigel Dennett of Meden Vale timed a three year old on 1097ypm over 405 miles to take first section K. The section winner is White Tail, one of their champion hens raced on a unique system devised by Nigel.
Shackleton & Son
Shackleton and Son from Keighley were second section K. The partners' timed the same pigeon that topped the section from Messac two weeks previously. The sire of this cock was bred by Maurice McCartney from Carnforth.
Roger Sutton of Congleton was second section L. Roger cocked a cock, the sire of which contains classic Bauwens bloodlines from Geoff Kirkland. The dam is one of the lofts retired racing hens.
John Rumney
John Rumney of Houghton Le Spring timed a three year old on 1077ypm over 519 miles to take first section N. John timed his blue cock on the night and was the furthest flying member to time on the day of the race. This section winner was bred by Paul Chambers and Family and goes back to Ken Hines' Titmus and Fear Brothers lines.
John Best and Son of Stockton on Tees were second section N. Father and son clocked a hen bred from their old establised Germain Imbrect x Soontjen family.
Steve Coxall
Steve Coxall of Ongar was first section O with a yearling on 1047ypm over 312 miles. Steve's first on the clock was Dark Paddy, a dark cock raced on the natural system and sent sitting ten day eggs on its first nest of the year. Dark Paddy was bred from stock Steve obtained from Paddy Kelly of Harlow.
Fagg and Nicholas of Sittingbourne was second section O. The partners timed a hen that was part of a batch of squeakers they obtained from Frans Laeremans in 2014.
G Treharne and Son from Nantyglo timed a yearling on 1104ypm over 318 miles to take first section W. Raced on the roundabout system, this cock's sire is the partners' Welsh South Road National Saintes winner.
W Hollins and Son of Wrexham were second section W. This cock was bred by Michael Foxcroft of Lancaster and contains De Meyer x Co Leijtens Brothers bloodlines.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the National Flying Club race from Ancenis.