First open and first east section was a three year old on 733mpm over 937kms for David Hales of Hockley. Following his death, David's pigeons are being flown in his memory by his good friend Duncan Goodchild. Duncan timed Mirfar, a hen sent to the race sitting a three day old squeaker. Mirfar's sire was bred by Ronald Geerdink whilst the dam is a daughter of Duncan, first, eighth and ninth open Marseille and twenty-fifth open Pau for David. Duncan timed a second pigeon on 645mpm to also take seventh open and two further pigeons in the top twenty at eighteenth and twentieth.
David and John Staddon of Shepton Mallett clocked two pigeons to take second and third open, first and second west section. First on the clock was a two year old on 722mpm over a distance of 953kms. This cock is now named Fahrenheit and is bred from Barry and Pete Winters, Winters Gem. Winters Gem was bought at one of Stuart Wilcox's distance champions sales at Blackpool. It is a son of Pearler, a full brother to Little Gem. The dam is Blue Gem, a daughter of Bill and Beryl Lewis' Freelands Gem, twice a National Flying Club merit award winner. Next to time was Celsius, a three year old hen on 685mpm. Celsius was bred by the partners from their race team. The sire is a half brother to Portrait Boy and the dam is from a son of Wollongong.
G M Preece and Son of Dover were fourth open and second east section with a two year old on 655mpm over 881kms. Geoff and Clayton timed a second pigeon on 425mpm to also take seventeenth open and ninth east section.
Mark Gilbert of Windsor timed six pigeons to take fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, tenth and twelfth open and the first six places in the centre section. Mark's first two came together and clocked on 646.9mpm and 646mpm respectively over 940kms. His next arrivals recorded velocities of 623mpm, 610mpm, 605mpm and 581mpm. The section winner was a hen bred from a son of New Laureaat when paired to a daughter of The Special One. Second to time was Southfield Doug, now a BICC Merit Award winner for being three times in the top fifteen of the open result. Third section was a red cock, the sire of which is a double grandson of Euro Diamond, with the dam being Southfield Agen.
Around the sections
Strawbridge and Williams of Newport timed a two year old on 420mpm over a distance of 1017kms to take third west section. Ray's timer returned with just four tail flights left. The sire was bred from Tom Thumb, twenty-fifth open Barcelona, when paired to the dam of Reliable. The dam is a full sister to the dam of Reliable and has bred many winners.
That concludes the report on the British International Championship Club race from Rieux-Minervois, held in conjunction with the International.