First open and first centre section was a yearling on 1191mpm over 318 miles for Paul Basham of Bursledon, Southampton. Paul timed a dark chequer cock racing on thew widowhood system. The bird is now named Brian, after Paul's father whose birthday it was on the weekend of the race. The sire of Brian came from Geoff and Catherine Cooper of Peasdown St John and contains the bloodlines of Farmer George. The dam is from Mark Gilbert's double national winner, Darkie. Paul timed a second bird shortly after his winner, a yearling hen the sire of which was bred by David Coward-Talbot from a son of That's My Boy. The dam is a grand-daughter of Lucas, the national winner purchased by Brian Long.
Peter Rixon of Reading was second open and second centre section with a three year old on 1155mpm over a distance of 355 miles. Peter clocked a bird bred by his club mate Don Pembroke. Peter raced the pigeon on a new system that he learnt from Nigel Langstaff and which Nigel picked up on a visit to Holland. Peter's winner contains Crammond and Langstaff, Mark Gilbert and M and D Eavns breeding on the sire's side, whilst the dam came from Crammond and Langstaff's Boshua x Van Osch family.
L and M Dyer of Nettlestone clocked a two year old on 1149.9mpm over 304 miles to take third open and third centre section. Lee and his mum, Maureen timed a red chequer cock which was raced lightly as a youngster and a yearling. The sire came from the lofts of Hitchcock and Sons, being of Mark Gilbert's DeWeerdt bloodlines. The dam was a Muller-Aarden hen.
J Haynes of Fifield was fourth open and fourth centre section with a yearling on 1149.2mpm over 353 miles.
David and John Staddon of Shepton Mallett timed a yearling on 1147mpm over 349 miles to take fifth open and first west section. This is the partners' fifth section win in a row. Their winner was Red Miracle, bred from two outstanding racers, Red Treble and My Miracle. The Staddons had two more pigeons home in quick time and which should feature highly in the final section result.
Mark Gilbert of Windsor was sixth open and fifth centre section with a yearling on 1142mpm over 351 miles.
Mr and Mrs V Durrant and Sons clocked a two year old on 1140.3mpm over 332 miles to take seventh open and sixth centre section.
Luff and Walker of Dursley were eighth open and second west section with a two year old on 1140.1mpm over a distance of 385 miles. The partners timed their Blue Forty-Four hen, which was raced on the widowhood system. The sire of Blue Forty-Four was bred from their Tarbes section winner, Hardy, when paired to Golden Queen, bred by Kipp and Son of Althornbach. The dam came from Graham Clift's Freialdhofen x Cooper family of pigeons.
Mr P Ayling of Gosport was ninth open and seventh centre section with a three year old on 1138mpm over 311 miles.
Completing the top ten and in eighth centre section are Mr and Mrs May and Son of West Ashling with a two year old on 1128mpm over 311 miles.
Around the sections
Mr and Mrs E Streatfield of Snodland were the east section winners with a two year old on 1126mpm over 341 miles. Eamonn and Julie timed a chequer cock on only it's second channel crossing. It was raced on the widowhood system.
Second east section was a yearling on 1120mpm over 357 miles for R and P Thomas of South Benfleet.Paul's red cock was raced on the roundabout system and the sire was bred by Micky Harvey of Bowers Gifford. The dam contained the late Brian Baxter bloodlines.
Emerson and Firat of Chatham timed a two year old on 1112mpm over 343 miles to take third east section.
Danny Lanahan of Poole was third west section with a German rung two year old on 1126mpm over 319 miles. Danny's pigeon is a 2018 latebred Figo hen which he bought at a latebred sale from John Gerard. It was raced on the widowhood system.
Domenic Gruzelier of Houghton Colliery was first north-centre section with a two year old on 1113mpm over 392 miles. This was Dom's fifth section win over the last year and on this occasion he timed a chequer white-flight hen raced on the widowhood system. The breeding is based on Dom's own family of pigeons that he obtained from Pieter Oberholster and Hagan over ten years ago.
Clive Brown of Alconbury clocked a two year old on 1075mpm over 413 miles to take second north-centre section. Clive's hen was bred from his best cock, The Lance Corporal, which contains Padfield x Jan Aarden breeding. It was sent to Poitiers sitting eleven day eggs.
J and K Connor of St Ives were third north-centre section with a two year old on 1065mpm over a distance of 410 miles. John and his dad, Kevin have two lofts, one at each of their houses. The third section winner was bred by Pieter Oberholster and was sent racing to the perch. Paul timed another pigeon shortly after his first.
D and E Ball of Eyke were first north-east section with a two year old on 1051mpm over 398 miles. Dennis timed a Vandenabeele hen, the sire and dam of which came from Jimmy Jackson of Widnes. It was sent sitting fourteen day eggs.
Mr and Mrs Strowger of Leiston timed a yearling on 1014mpm over 405 miles to take second north-east section.
L Rix and Son of Mildenhall were third north-east section with a three year old on 1003mpm over 411 miles. Len timed a chequer cock bred from his own family of pigeons, it was raced on the natural system. Len keeps his pigeon in an open loft.
Booth and Roper of Tewkesbury were first north-west section with a three year old on 1044mpm over 402 miles. Trevor and John clocked a dark chequer, widowhood cock containing Jim Biss, Lionel Brewer and Brian Shepperd's bloodlines. The partners had all four of their pigeons home by 6pm on the day.
Mr C Gough of Shrewsbury timed a two year old on 999mpm over 453 miles to take second north-west section. Craig's pigeon was a roundabout hen containing Anton Shultz bloodlines obtained from Louella Pigeon World.
Team Wicker and Wright of Astley Bridge were third north-west section with a three year old on 979mpm over 511 miles. The pigeon timed this week was a half-sister to the St Philberts birds with both containing Padfield Invincible and Padfield Jack bloodlines. However, this cock was also crossed with Alan's old Busschaert family of pigeons.
That concludes the report on the provisional result of the British International Championship Club race from Poitiers.