Pau (int.) 2019: National winner England old birds: Gilbert Mark (Windsor)

Having been released at 7:15am British Time, the pigeons had to face a light head wind from the north east through most of France and indeed it was not until evening time that the French began to make their recordings around the Paris area.

Steve and Denise Wiggins from Basingstoke expected a five, to five and half hour fly for the birds to cover the 290 miles to their loft, so when their widowhood cock appeared from nowhere and flew straight into the loft at four hours forty four minutes they knew they had a good one.

The International winner from Pau in the category "old birds" is Comb Baas & Berg (De Kwakel , The Netherlands). The pigeon was clocked on Sunday at 05:48:18 CEST after a race of 1064.15 km, achieving an average velocity of 1138.98 m/min.

The National winner Belgium from Pau in the category "old birds" is Dhooge Martin (Ursel). The pigeon was clocked on Sunday at 05:07:37 CEST after a race of 917.282 km, achieving an average velocity of 1026.48 m/min.

The National winner Belgium from Montauban in the category "old birds" is De Witte Marnique (Maldegem). The pigeon was clocked on Saturday at 19:51:06 CEST after a race of 801.297 km, achieving an average velocity of 1025.86 m/min.

The National winner Belgium from Argenton in the category "old birds" is Henri Michael (Froidchapelle). The pigeon was clocked on Saturday at 13:40:29 CEST after a race of 446.36 km, achieving an average velocity of 1204.81 m/min.

The first international race takes place on 22nd of June. As in previous years, you can submit the arrival of all your pigeons in the international races here on PIPA, so that your colleagues can see when and in what country the pigeons are starting to come in.

The stuntmen of Luc De Laere have been pushing hard again in 2019. They win a provincial first prize from Chateaudun, which adds to an already extensive list of achievements.

Karlo Van Rompaey from Sint-Truiden in Limburg takes home a provincial first prize from Gien (8,772 pigeons). The winning hen (BE17-5013765) is a half sister of Prima Dora, with which Karlo won a 1st Nat. Bourges of 18,864 pigeons in 2015. The superstar Prima Dora (BE13-5008346) is now the dam and grandmother of several top prize winners.

Cahors is already the third national victory for the Vandenheede Brothers in 2019. On top of that, they win their sixth provincial victory of the season that weekend (15th-16th of June): a double provincial win from Argenton with the old birds and the yearlings.

One hundred and thirty-nine fanciers sent one thousand, one hundred and eighty-four pigeons to the North Road Championship Club race from Fraserburgh. After a one day holdover, they were liberated at 07.00CEST on the Sunday. The winners were Brian and Christine Guilford of Sandiacre in Derbyshire.

They had an impressive five pigeons in the top ten in Venlo on 9th of June, which says something about the Leideman Brothers. Places 1 and 4 were won with two direct youngsters of the phenomenal Goed Grijs. She is showing not only to be an excellent racing hen but a fabulous breeder as well.

These are the top performances from The Netherlands in the weekend of 15/06/2019 and 16/06/2019.

Monday the 17th of June, these auctions will start: June Auction II & Season Final: Part 1. Tuesday the 18th of June, Season Final: Part 2 starts. Wednesday the 19th of June, Season Final: Part 3 starts.

For Pau, the first international race of the season, 12.119 pigeons have been basketted. Check out the number of pigeons per country here.