Stuart Treharne (l) (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
First open and first west section was won by G Treharne and Son of Nantyglo with a two year old on 1086mpm over 482kms. The winner is a cock named On My Own, flown on the roundabout system throughout the season and then paired up and sent to Le Mans sitting seven days. It is bred from a direct son of Verstraete's Topstar, the grandsire of three international winners and a daughter of Nadira, twice an international winner. This son of Topstar has bred three second national winners into Wales, twice beaten by loft mates. The daughter of Nadira has bred first national Ancenis and first section with the National Flying Club when paired to Alan's Lad, Stuart's Saintes national winner. The cock had one short race at the start of the season and was then sent ot Alençon with the BICC where he went missing for four weeks, After recovering he was sent to Blandford Forum three weeks ago and then straight into Le Mans. Stuart also timed two yearlings shortly afterwards which should be second and third section in the final result. The first was bred from a grand-daughter of Eijerkamp's Abel Hans crossed with a son of Alan's Lad and the second was from a double grandson of Silver Shadow and Eijerkamp's Van Loon, Fabio. Stuart would like to thank his wife for her unwaivering support since his father passed away. His father taught him patience and humility and is missed every day.
The Le Mans winner (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
John Jacovou
John Jacovou of Margate was second open and first east section with a yearling on 1084mpm over 382kms. This cock was unpaired, calling to the hens. It was on its fourth race of the season. Previously this year it was twenty-first section from Cholet and fortieth section from the first Le Mans race. The sire is a prize winning Jan Aarden now retired to stock due to damage to a wing. It is a son of Smaarag One and Two on the dams side. The grandsire is Ghost, a Jan Aarden cock bred down through Invincible Spirit and Smaarag bloodlines from Louella Pigeon World. The grand-dam on the one side is a Jan Aarden and on the other it is bred down through John Aylings national winner, Home Alone.
Mickey Harvey
M Harvey of Bowers Gifford timed a two year old on 1042mpm over 394kms to take third open and second east section. Mickey clocked a latebred 2016 chequer cock, the sire of which is a half-brother to the super racer and breeder Beckham. Both are bred direct from Max, containing direct Houben bloodlines. The dam of Max is a pure Meulemans and both sire and dam have bred many winners. The dam of this winner is also a pure Houben and is bred from A Ring, a big winner across the channel, when he was paired to his own half-sister. Both are bred from the super stock, cock Hubert. Mickey races all his pigeons on the natural system.
John Rodway
Fourth open and first north-west section was a four year old on 1034mpm over a distance of 493kms for John Rodway of Rushwick.
J & J Brady
J and J Brady of Benfleet were fifth open and third east section with a three year old cock on 1029mpm over 392kms. The partners timed a second pigeon, a hen, four minutes later. Both are bred from their successful Jos Thoné family of pigeons and were sent sitting eighteen day old squeakers. The cock has had three channel races this season whilst the hen had one club race and was then sent to the first Le Mans race where it came eighty-ninth open and twenty-second section.
Richard Whiteside
R and J Whiteside of Abbots Leigh clocked a two year old on 1028mpm over 434kms to take sixth open and second west section. The sire is a direct son of Beauty Harry and the dam a grand-daughter of provincial Wim Moens. This pigeon has won many cards including three first prizes
Mike Armitage
Mike Armitage of Ash was seventh open and first centre section with a six year old on 1021mpm over 363kms.
Tilley and O'Shaunessy's cock
Tilley and O'Shaunessy of Mainstone clocked a two year old on 1020mpm over 362kms for eighth open and fourth east section. This is a grandson of the partners good mealy clock containing Van Reet and Soontjen bloodlines. A half brother to this cock was second open in the same race last year.
Clive & Jill Rogers & Neil Sales
Clive and Jill Rogers and Neil Sales of Writhlington were ninth open and third west section with a two year old on 1017mpm over a distance of 408kms. This blue pied hen has proved to be a double winner for Treetops Lofts as she took the first west section position, twenty-fourth open from the first BICC Le Mans a fortnight ago. The Mystery Hen as she is called (due to the fact that her breeding record has not yet been discovered) was again timed way in front of the seven strong team Treetops Lofts sent.
John Hemmins (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton0
Completing the top ten and in fifth east section is J Hemmings of Rochford with a two year old on 1011mpm over 397kms.
Around the sections
Gary Wood's pigeon
Gary Wood of Ruislip was second centre section and eleventh open with a six year old hen on 1005mpm over 395kms. Gary's winner was bred for him by Russell Hayes of Lincoln and is a Janssen Cattrysse cross that has won from Messac and Honiton in the past. It was sent to the race sitting seven days and was very keen to get back on the nest.
Dave Watson
D G Watson and Son of Ashford Common were third centre section. The partners timed a yearling blue cock on its third channel race of the season and bred from their owm family of pigeons.
Gavin Cole with Ronnie & Freddie
Gavin Cole of Gedney Hill was first north-centre section and thirteenth open with a chequer cock on 990mpm over 515kms. Gavin's section winner is a Janseen x Soontjen from his own stock. It was flown on the widowhood system and has been consistant all season, flying the last Le Mans race well. Birds from the same stock have had a fourth and fifth section BICC Guernsey and fourth open Vire MNFC. In the past few years they have been winning out of turn.
Mr Neale
Mr and Mrs B Neal of Kingsley clocked a three year old on 932mpm over 475kms to take second north-centre section and thirty-ninth open. The partners winner was a black hen gifted to them by the late Bernie Roberts of Northampton. It has won a few club positions and Le Mans was its first channel race.
Jones and Coleman of Weston Favell were third north-centre section.
Jimmy Davis
J Davis of Hepworth clocked a yearling on 987mpm over 480kms to take first north-east section and fifteenth open. Jimmy's section winner contains Van Bruaene bloodlines obtained from his cousin D and B Price of Brentwood. The same pigeon won seventh club from Canapeville earlier in the season.
Terry and Paul Rust of Norwich were second north-east section and eighteenth open with a two year old on 976mpm over 517kms.
James Howells
James Howells of Norwich was third north-east section. James races his pigeons on the natural system and this cock was sent sitting eight day eggs. Two weeks prior to Le Mans it won first club from Poole Harbour (200 miles). James feed his birds on a mixture that his father makes up and adds a little widowhood mixture and fats prior to the races.
Matthews and Harris of Bridgnorth were second north-west section and seventeenth open wit a three year old on 977mpm over 523kms.
Booth & Roper
Booth and Roper of Tewkesbury were third north-west section. Trevor and John timed a two year old widowhood cock containing their Jim Biss and Louella Pigeon World Jan Aarden bloodlines.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the second British International Championship Club race from Le Mans.