Steve Harris
Mr and Mrs Harris and Daughter from Portchester were first open and first centre section with a two year old on 1664mpm over 141 miles. The partners timed a Hereman Ceusters cock, raced on the widowhood system. As a young bird this cock was three times in the top three of the federation result. Steve had not been intending to send to the first race but the wind was in his favour and the birds were looking good, so his wife persuaded him to. Hence, this cock has now been named Yvette's Decision. During the close season a visitor to Steve's loft handled the winner and predicted that it had national winning qualities.
Mr/s Hodges
Second open and first west section went to Mr and Mrs Hodges of Templecombe with a three year old on 1640mpm over 177 miles. The Hodges' winner was a dark chequer hen raced on a jealously system devised from systems used by Richard Turner, Arien Vereckt and Kevin Hurst. The breeding of this hen contains the best of Sheldon Leonard's bloodlines, the sire being a son of the Janssen based Universal Showman when paired to a Vandenheede, Lady Sisgo.
John & David Staddon
John and David Staddon from Shepton Mallett were third open and second west section with a four year old on 1639mpm over a distance of 186 miles. John and David sent twenty-eight birds to the race and had twenty-seven back in good time. Returns were a little spread out, but all were in good condition. This cock was bred from their Mark Gilbert stock, the sire containing Southfield Supreme, Drum, Gerrie and Lazer Gun bloodlines. The dam is a daughter of Southfield Pau. Raced on the chaos widowhood system that the Staddon's favour, this cock had two inland races in preparation for Falaise. The partners timed a yearling hen a minute later and this should also feature in the top ten of the final result.
Kevin Bakes
Kevin Bakes and Alan Blake of Havant were fourth open and second centre section with a three year old, widowhood cock on 1639mpm over 140 miles. This cock contains Herman Ceusters bloodlines and it was on its first race of the season. Last season the same cock was ninth open from Alençon. This is Kevin and Alan's first season racing as partners and of the seven they sent they had them all home.
Phil & Tess Newton
Phil Newton of Weston Super Mare timed a three year old, dark chequer cock, on 1620mpm over 209 miles to take fifth open and third west section. This cock was sent sitting four day eggs and feeding two ready to wean squeakers. Preparation for Falaise was one training toss and two short inland races. Phil feeds his own mixture of corn which he purchases from local farms and adds a tonic to the corn containing natural ingredients such as lemons, garlic and onion.
Mark Gilbert & father (photo courtesy of Chris Sutton)
Mark Gilbert of Winkfield was sixth open and third centre section with a three year old on 1611mpm over 178 miles. Mark timed a roundabout hen containing Leo Hermans' bloodlines and on its second time in the basket this season.
Jason Ross' cock
Seventh open and fourth west section went to a yearling on 1607mpm over 140 miles for Jason Ross of Portsmouth. Jason clocked a Vandenabeele cock bred from his original Tony Carter pigeons. The dam of this cock has bred many winners for Jason, but sadly died earlier this year, so this will be the last cock from her. The sire was a Janssen cock purchased at the Spring Exchange.
Peter Abrook's pigeon
Peter Abrook of Thorness clocked a three year old on 1603mpm over 137 miles to take eighth open and fifth centre section. Peter's timer was a Bricoux x Janssen cock flown on the roundabout system.
David Waterhouse
Mr and Mrs Waterhouse of Portsmouth were ninth open and sixth centre section with a two year old on 1586mpm over 141 miles. David's cock was bred down from stock he obtained from Darren McFadden crossed with Crammond and Langstaff bloodlines. Raced on the roundabout system, this cock was first federation from Kingsdown in the first race of the season.
Completing the top ten and in seventh centre section is Stuart Sheffield from Oakley Green with a two year old, blue hen on 1582mpm over 179 miles. Containing Van der Bulk bloodlines purchased from Micky Collins of Birmingham, this hen had two inland races in preparation for Falaise.
Around the sections
John Black
John Black of Hitchin was first north-centre section and thirty-second open with a two year old, widowhood cock on 1532mpm over 216 miles. Last year the same cock was fifth section from Messac and fourth section from Saintes.
Second north-centre section was a three year old clocked on 1493mpm over 251 miles for Mr and Mrs Jeremy Wright of Lutterworth. The Wrights timed a widowhood cock containing Chris Raes bloodlines, that is a grandson of Jerry's 2002 old hens national winner.
Les Berry and Son were third north-centre section with a black yearling cock containing Van der Merwe bloodlines.
Petert Davenport
Peter Davenport of Withernsea timed a two year old on 1501mpm over 335 miles to take first north-east section and fifty-first open. Peter clocked a dark chequer cock bred by Andrew Jacklin of Barton upon Humber and containing Lambrecht bloodlines. This cock was gifted to Peter as a squeaker.
P & D Ellwood of Kings Lynn were second north-east section with a five year old on 1415mpm over 267 miles. Peter and David timed a blue hen, sent sitting eggs and feeding two large squeakers. This hen contains the bloodlines of Senechal and Flor Engels via Tommy Hall of Kings Lynn.
Shaughan Nicholson of Bury St Edmunds was third north-east section. Shaughan timed a blue, Kipp and Son hen sent sitting ten day eggs.
Ray Scriven
First north-west section and twenty-second open went to a yearling on 1547mpm over 264 miles for Ray Scriven of Alveley. Ray timed a hen containing Hofkens x Mark Gilbert Deweerdt bloodlines and which was sent as a spare hen after being trained throughout the winter months.
Bruce Johnston of Kidderminster clocked a two year old on 1538mpm over 258 miles to take second north-west section. Bruce's timer is a Jos Thoné x Ian Barnbrook widowhood cock, with the Thoné bloodlines coming from Mick Chadwick.
Bauress and Murray of Huyton were third north-west section.
R & N Steptoe & family
The pigeons in the east section had to struggle against a fresh south easterly wind. Taking first section and provisionally twenty-seventh open was a yearling hen timed by R & N Steptoe of Oxted on 1538mpm over 162 miles. The dam of this section winner is the Steptoe's first open Guernsey winner, whilst the sire is a grandson of their first SMT Combine winner, 41.
Kelly & Katelyn Draper
Nightingale and Draper of Grays clocked a hen on 1527mpm over 181 miles to take second east section. This hen is one hundred percent Hereman Ceusters bloodlines obtained via Premier Stud.
Kevin Foster
Kevin Foster from Longfield Hill was third east section with a two year old, chequer pied, widowhood hen containing de Meyer bloodlines obtained direct from Arthur Farrar.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British International Championship Club race from Falaise.