First open and first centre section was won by Mr and Mrs May and Son of West Ashling with a two year old on 1172mpm over 128 miles. The hen they clocked to win the national has been named May Queen and was raced on a widowhood x roundabout system. The sire of May Queen is Iron Man, a direct son of their number one breeder, Spiderman, who in turn is a direct son of Rossi x Spinneke of Hermans Ceusters. The dam of May Queen is a grand-daughter of Spiderman.
R Shapland and Son of West Sussex timed a two year old hen on 1157mpm over 156 miles to take second open and second centre section. It was flown on the roundabout system and the sire was The Shailie, bred by A and S Hughes of Rochdale. The dam also came from the partner's best Hughes pigeons.
Third open and first east section was a yearling hen on 1151mpm over 186 miles for D Wilton and Son of Chadwell St Mary. It was flown on the widowhood system and the sire and dam were bred by Mark Bulled. The sire is a son of Champion Rocky and the dam is a daughter of Eastbourne.
Mr and Mrs Steve Rhodes from Aylesham were fourth open and second east section with a yearling cock on 1138mpm over a distance of 191 miles. This pigeon was bred from their direct Frialdenhofen family of birds and was sent sitting eggs. The Rhodes' timed a second pigeon five minutes later which will be well up in the final result.
Lucas and Finlay Gardiner of Lewes timed a yearling on 1129mpm over 143 miles to take fifth open and third east section. Lucas and Finlay are brothers aged nine and ten years old. They are guided by their dad, Bill Gardiner and timed a hen containing Vandenabeele x Hereman Ceusters bloodlines.
Sixth open and third centre section was won by Browne and Wickenden of Lancing with a five year old on 1107mpm over 133 miles. Their winner, Bordeaux Billy, came into their loft as a stray in 2017 and was transferred to them the following year, going on to win from Bordeaux. It was flown on the natural system and sent sitting pot eggs.
M Connolly and Son of Canning Town timed a yearling on 1091mpm over 182 miles to take seventh open and fourth east section.
Roger Nind of Rochester was eighth open and fifth east section with a yearling on 1087.5mpm over a distance of 182 miles.
Ninth open and fourth centre section was a three year old on 1087.3mpm over 119 miles for Berry and Matthews from New Milton.
Completing the top ten and in sixth east section are Hooper and Family from Sandwich with a yearling on 1085mpm over 197 miles.
Around the sections
Danny Lanahan of Poole was first west section with a two year old on 995mpm over a distance of 123 miles. This was a chequer hen which was a gift pigeon from Kelvin Legg and was sent sitting ten day eggs. Danny timed a second pigeon, a blue hen which was another gift bird, this time from Steve Harris.
Lee and Dyer of Plymouth timed a yearling on 993mpm over 149 miles to take second west section. The two Terrys timed a chequer cock bred from stock from John Fretwell of Evesham. They were bought at John's clearance sale on the advice of Stuart Wilcox of Bristol.
C and J Howse of Devizes were third west section with a three year old on 842mpm over 159 miles.
M Turner of Kettering clocked a yearling on 515mpm over 232 miles to take first north-centre section. Mark timed a widowhood cock named Asa. The sire of Asa is a full brother to Stefaan Lambrecht's national winner in 2017 and the dam contains Luc Vervoort bloodlines.
T Bull of Kingsthorpe was second north-centre section with a two year old Vandenabeele cock on 507mpm over 224 miles. It was its first time across the channel and it was sent sitting ten day old eggs.
John Black of Hitchen was third north-centre section with a yearling on 495mpm over 212 miles.
Robert Saunders of Oulton Broad was first north-east section with a two year old on 890mpm over 275 miles. Bob's pigeon arrived home in good condition but must have been through a lot of rain.
Second north-east section was a yearling on 849mpm over 281 miles for Eddie and Clayton Oxborough of Great Yarmouth.
Becker and Catchpole of Norwich timed a yearling hen on 815mpm over 277 miles to take third north-east section. This hen was bred from two direct Rufin and Luc Buyl pigeons. It was sent sitting a seven day old squeaker.
M Howard of Upton on Severn was first north-west section with a two year old chequer hen on 453mpm over a distance of 212 miles. This hen was raced on the roundabout system and was followed by another pigeon just four minutes later. Mick's loft contains Jan Aarden and Wim Muller pigeons along with the Padfield bloodlines.
Lloyd Brothers of Brymbo timed a three year old on 437ypm over 288 miles to take second north-west section. Rob and Tim timed a Busschaert x Jan Aarden hen.
Booth and Roper of Tewkesbury were third north-west section with a three year old on 419mpm over 208 miles. Trevor and John clocked a blue chequer hen bred from their own long distance bloodlines.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British International Championship Club old bird race from Coutances.