John Chipperfield (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
John Chipperfield of Herne Bay was first open and first east section with a two year old on 858mpm over a distance of 611 miles. John's first on the clock was the same hen that was first east section, second open from Pau, behind Mark Gilbert. This hen contains the best long distance bloodlines of Jacobs Brothers, Vertelman and Son and Jan Theelan, so was certainly bred for the job. Lady Teresa was raced on the roundabout system earlier in the season and then allowed her mate the night before basketing for Pau. She was sent to Perpignan feeding two small squeakers. John timed a second pigeon, a three year old on 747mpm to also take seventh open and seventh east section. This was also sent feeding small squeakers and contains Raymond Moleveld bloodlines.
Lady Teresa (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
Geoff & Clayton Preece
Geoff and Clayton Preece of Dover were second open and second east section with a two year old on 847mpm over 596 miles. Geoff and Clayton timed a chequer latebred widowhood cock, hatched at the end of the 2014 race season. A son of their great performer Wiggins, twice first from Perpignan and a grandson to Jack Jones, the only ever first day bird timed into the UK. The partners timed further pigeons to also take twenty-third, twenty-fifth open, thirty-second and thirty-fourth open. Their second timer was Das Glas, a chequer widowhood hen and a daughter of the late Bill Woodall's 98 cock, the second national Barcelona winner.
Heath Archibald
H and P Archibald were third open and third east section with a two year old on 789mpm over 594 miles. Heath clocked a blue cock, a grandson of Peter's Dream, first open Barcelona in 2014. Raced on the roundabout system this cock was given his bowl the day prior to basketing and saw his hen for just an hour before being sent to Perpignan.
Lee & Kevin Buddle
Lee and Kevin Buddle of Dover timed three pigeons in quick succession to take fourth, fifth and sixth open, fourth fifth and sixth east section. First on the clock was a three year old on 775mpm over 594miles. This cock is a full brother to Elsa, first BICC Narbonne, and had flown Pau earlier in the season. Next was a four year old on 772mpm. Another cock, this time a son of Amoy, first BICC Pau in 2009. Third on the clock was a six year old on 750mpm. This cock is also a son of Amoy. The Buddles timed a further pigeon which came in at eleventh open.
Mark Gilbert (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
Mark Gilbert of Windsor was eighth open and first centre section with a yearling on 705mpm over 634 miles. Mark clocked a hen, the sire of which was a son of Laureate Barcelona, whilst the dam is a daughter of Euro Diamond.
Spencer Nicholson
Ninth open and eighth east section was a three year old on 685mpm over 616 miles for J Nicholson and Son from Rochester. Spencer timed the same cock that was ninth open from St Vincent three weeks previously and prior to that it had flown Pau. Overall this season, this cock has done approximately three thousand miles.
Alan Annis (l) & Simon Knowles (r)
F Knowles and Son of Wingham complete the top ten and take ninth east section with a five year old on 676mpm over 605 miles. Simon clocked another two pigeons to also take twenty-second and thirty-first open.
Around the sections
Calum Edmiston
Calum Edmiston of Horley was second centre section with a four year old cock on 636mpm over 609 miles. Flown on the natural system this cock is closely related to the second international winner from Perpignan, through a son of the famous Betuwe Koppel. Calum timed a second pigeon on 415mpm to also take third centre section. This one was a grandson of a first Dutch Tarbes, Mont de Marsan and St Vincent winner.
Ray Strawbridge & John Williams
Strawbridge and Williams from Newport clocked a two year old on 381mpm over 683 miles to take first west section. This cock is a grandson of Ray's first national Dax winner, whilst on the dam's side it contains the best of the Padfield's Wim Muller bloodlines.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British International Championship Club race from Perpignan, held in conjunction with the international.