John and David Staddon
First west section and first open went to the father and son partnership of John and David Staddon of Crewkerne in Somerset. No strangers to national success they sent three cocks to the race, all raced on what they describe as the chaos system. Their first bird has been named Shapway Matador and is bred for distance racing as his sire, Shapway Untouchable was bred from John Halstead’s Barcelona winner, Untouchable. The dam is Shapway Lady Caroline which was first west section, second open BICC Pau and twenty first open Bergerac with the Central Southern Classic Flying Club, amongst other top performances. The partnership’s second cock looks likely to be in the top twenty five of the open result as well.
Ron Scammell
Second west section and second open was to the Pontypool loft of Ron Scammell and Paul Peploe. The partnership clocked a three year old, black hen flown on the roundabout system. Her sire is a brother to a cock the partnership gifted to Derek Flowers and which went on to win first national twice. The origins of this hen are the old Karel Hermans which Ron’s father obtained from Basil Beebe of Horncastle and the very best of Phil Edwards and Bernard Clarke bloodlines.
Vince and Dai Padfield pictured with John and David Staddon
Vince and Dai Padfield from Cwmtillery took third west second and third open. The brothers clocked a two year old cock flown on the roundabout system and which had been to Carentan earlier in the season. Bred from the old Wim Muller Jan Aarden family, the sire is a son of Old 89, one of the birds forming the foundation of the loft. Vince and Dai timed seven birds out of the eleven they sent.
Les Nicholls
Les Nicholls of Bristol took fourth west section and fourth open with a three year old cock from his Nantes National winning lines. He was sent sitting on a duck egg which conveniently hatched on the morning of basketing! As he works nights, Les keeps an open loft with the birds free to come and go as they please.
Tony Coombs
Fifth in the west second and fifth open was clocked by Tony Coombs in Pontypridd who was third section, fourth open with the BICC from Alençon earlier in the season. This time he timed a three year old cock flown on the widowhood system and steeped in the Staf Van Reet bloodlines kept by his good friend Adrian Ware.
Preece Brothers and Sons
Continuing with the west side of the country, sixth section and sixth open went to Preece Brothers and Sons from Cwmtillery. The partnership timed a two year old cock flown on the roundabout system. The sire of this pigeon is a son of the Lefebre Dhaenen stock cock 700, whilst the dam was bred by Bobby Lee from his Dinmor Lass family. The partnership had fourteen out of their entry of fifteen, on the day.
Brian Sheppard
Brian Sheppard of Trowbridge took seventh west section, seventh open with a six year old, widowhood cock from his Venner x Truman Dicken and The Legend Dax international winning bloodlines. This veteran cock has many national and classic wins under its belt and before Tours he had three inland and one channel race.
John and Ann Rake
Eighth section and eighth open was timed in by John and Ann Rake of Caerwent. The partnership clocked a four year old, widowhood cock which was showing to two different hens. It is predominantly of Delbar bloodlines, with a little of Andy Gregson’s Deweerdts added to the mix.
Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones of Pontypool took ninth west section and ninth open with a four year old widowhood cock of Cannon x Denney bloodlines. In previous seasons it has flown Bergerac and Bordeaux and had been to Carentan in preparation this season.
Finally tenth west section and tenth open went to Baker and Selway from Highbridge in Somerset.
So, with the top ten positions in the open result all going to members of the west section due to the prevailing north easterly wind, let’s have a look at the top three from the other sections.
Nigel Finch
The centre section winner was clocked by Nigel Finch from Wantage in Oxfordshire. Nigel timed a two year old, mealy cock with Albert Marcellis bloodlines. This cock had been raced on widowhood earlier in the season but for Tours was sent sitting twelve day old eggs.
Roger Lowe
Second section went to Roger Lowe of Reading who clocked a yearling widowhood hen which is a granddaughter of My Little Diamond, Roger’s best ever hen. My Little Diamond won the only national race she was ever sent to and then went on to breed winners for Roger.
Rob Jones
Bartlett and Jones from Southampton were third centre section. Fred and Rob clocked a three year old hen, sent sitting, she was on her first channel race of the season. Bred from the partner’s old Van Loon x Van Den Bosch bloodlines, she has won numerous prizes in the past.
Mark Bulled with daughters Abbie and Charlotte
In the east section the winner was Mark Bulled of Harlow. This was a yearling hen flown on the widowhood system and was bred from Mark’s old distance family, out of Die Hard. Die Hard was a London North Road Combine Hall of Fame winner as a racer and has bred some outstanding racers himself.
Packer and Clarke
Packer and Clarke of Grays in Essex were second centre section. The partners clocked a yearling hen flown on the roundabout system and bred from their M & D Evans Shadow Vandenabeeles. Not raced as a youngster, she was trained to the coast and this was her first race from across the channel this season.
R & N Steptoe
R & N Steptoe of Oxted in Surrey complete the top three in the east section with the same pigeon that was their first back in the race from Alençon two weeks previously and was then also third section. Bred by Neil’s brother Wayne it was an Alfons Bauwens cock flown on widowhood.
Peter Oliver
Taking first and third in the north section we have Peter Oliver from Lutterworth in Leicestershire. His first bird clocked was a four year old, red chequer, Logan cock with a cross of Van Hee Motta in his bloodlines.
Finally, second north section was won by Mr and Mrs Stafford of Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire. Their timer was a five year old, Busschaert hen bred from stocked obtained from Tim Rodwell of Gravesend.
That concludes the report of the British International Championship Club race from Tours.