WELSH SOUTH ROAD NATIONAL FLYING CLUB FOUGERES NATIONAL RACE REPORT 2015 By Gareth Watkins Leading the way for the second time this season was Daniel Pipe of the R Strickland & grandson partnership. Daniel has hit a golden seam of form again this season and his team of round about pigeons is carrying all before it in the local club, Welsh South Road Fed and National. Daniel Pipe of the Strickland & Grandson partnership, 1st sect 1st Open WSRNFC Carentan; 1st Open Fougeres 2015 Following on from the difficult Falaise National the WSRNFC members mustered a reduced birdage of 856 pigeons for the Fougeres National flown on Saturday 6th June. The convoy was liberated at 7.30 am into blue skies and very little wind to make the 250 mile journey home to their lofts in South Wales. In contrast to the Falaise race of two weeks earlier, the birds made light work of the task and with a fairly brisk westerly wind at the home end, pigeons were being clocked into the Eastern Valleys of South Wales in under five and a half hours to record velocities in the high 1300s. Please refer to the weather maps at the end of this report. Strickland & Grandson s blue wf hen, winner of 1st National Nort-sur-Edre 2014;1st WSRNFC Carentan & 2nd National Fougeres in 2015, beaten by her son Daniel clocked an amazing FIVE pigeons together on 1377ypm to take probable 1 st, 2 nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th section and Open.
Strickland & Grandson Racing Lofts The first in the clock is a yearling cock raced on the roundabout system as are all of Daniel s race team. His sire is a winner of 2 x 1sts and is of Iddie Davies of Bargoed bloodlines. The dam of the National winner is something of a phenomenon herself as she is a winner of 2 x 1sts and 14th Open in National races over the channel and she has now bred a National winner and been beaten into second spot in a National race by her own son - shades of Atwell Brothers great Mary Anne there from the 1950 s. Third across the ETS sensor was a hen of Wall, Lunt & Green bloodlines followed by a cock of the same lines in fourth place. At fifth open we have a Soontjen hen bringing up the rear. I will do my best to get over to Pontnewynydd to do a loft report on this young superstar who goes by the name of Daniel Pipe. Well done on an outstanding performance once again Daniel. In the runner up spot behind the Strickland cavalry charge is one on 1365 ypm to my old mate and outstanding stockman, Spencer Jones of Pontypool. In my opinion Spencer must be one of, if not the best small team fanciers in Wales. Racing a very modest team to his loft overlooking Pontypool, Spencer s record over more than four decades is second to none. The Fougeres race saw Spencer clock a two year old blue hen flown on Spencer s own version of widowhood. She is bred from the BICC Falaise Open winner from a few years back, when mated to a Wall, Lunt & Green hen obtained for Spencer by Derek Flowers. This hen contains the bloodlines of Henrietta 36 x Young Warlock. Well done Spencer and keep up the good work. Spencer Jones probable 3rd Open BICC Falaise Ron Scammell and Paul Peploe with Dellan Scammell. 3rd Open Falaise, 3rd Open Fougeres 2015 Taking third East section third Open on the provisional result (vel 1363 ypm) is one to the outstanding Garndiffaith (Pontypool) partnership of Scammell & Peploe. Ron and Paul clocked a two year old hen bred by Ron Williams from Llanelli and containing their
successful Nearly Cock bloodlines. The sire is bred by John Wheatcroft and goes back to De Narbonne of Harinck Poelman x Jac Wolters whilst the dam is bred from a son of the Nearly Cock when mated to a Flor Engels hen, again from John Wheatcroft. Topping the Centre East section is a pigeon doing 1341 ypm racing to the loft of Carl Powell. Carl clocked a good un to finish 12th Open National Falaise a couple of weeks back, but unfortunately I was given the wrong contact details so couldn t highlight that bird s performance. However, in the Fougeres race Carl clocked a two year old hen bred by Alan Maull from Ad Schaerlakens x Willem De Bruijn and Janssen bloodlines to take the red card in the section. This was the hen s second channel crossing of 2015 and only her second full week on the roundabout system. She was lost as a yearling and picked up and reported by a non-fancier in Somerset. Carl motored down to collect her and here she rewards his kindness with a 1st section winning performance. This one is also something special and I ll let Dean tell the history of this racing machine:- We clocked the same pigeon as in the Falaise National. It s a two year old grizzle cock. The sire was bred by S. Foster of Blackpool being a grandson of Koopmans Kleine Dirk. The dam was bred by Andrew McFenton from the best of the Lambert and Davies grizzle family. We would like would to thank these two fanciers for supplying us with some excellent birds. Last year the grizzle cock was old bird of the year in the club winning 6 prize cards and his best National position was 20th open Nort sur Edre, 1st Heads of Valley 2 bird club and 1st Rhymney Valley show race. This year he has been 4th club Purbeck, 1st club Salisbury, 1st club Lyndhurst 1st Heads of Valley 2 bird club Lyndhurst, 2nd club Falaise, 1st Rhymney Castle show race winning 200. Last week he was 13th WSR fed Salisbury and now 1st club Fourgeres and 1st Heads of Valley 2 bird club. Dean Bruton of the D & G Bruton partnership, 2nd section Carentan & 2nd section Fougeres The ever present Tredegar partnership of D & G Bruton maintain their excellent run of form in the old bird National with one to take 2nd Centre East section [vel1325 ypm]. Gareth & Stuart Treharne, 1st & 2nd Open Falaise 3rd section Fougeres 2015 Gareth and Stuart Treharne, fresh from their 1 2 in the Falaise National, come in with a pigeon to take third Centre East section. Here s what Stuart had to say about the race:- Our bird is a two year old grizzle cock raced on roundabout, which is bred from
two direct Eijerkamp pigeons, a daughter of Abel and Alexandra and a son of Snowman and Van Loon 241 a direct Louis van Loon hen. We had 14 out of 15 and the birds arrived in good condition. Can t say fairer than that Stuart. O'Connor & Bloss, 1st Centre West section WSRNFC Fougeres The Centre West section winner was clocked for the second time this season, by the partnership of O Connor & Bloss of Llanharran (vel1297 ypm). This two year old round about cock is yet another of the birds bred from eggs gifted to Phil Bloss by Ian Stafford. The eggs were from Ian s widowhood team and Phil travelled up to the North East of England to collect them. Already a winner of 2nd section Carentan (came with the section winner timed 7 seconds later) and 4th section Falaise this season he looks to be a superstar in the making. Phil was telling me that the roundabout cocks do very little when at exercise but it doesn t seem to stop them putting up good performances on race days. Evan Howells (L), Jason Bright (Centre) & Dad Norman (Right), 2nd Centre West section Fougeres Next up at 2nd Centre West section (vel1285 ypm) is one to a club mate of mine Jason Bright flying under the name of Norman Bright & son. Jason, ably assisted by Evan Howells and his Dad Norman, who help Jason when he is on 12 hour shifts, have enjoyed a good season again in 2015 with old birds featuring in the top three in all but one of the club results, including topping the section of the Fed a couple of weeks back. The Fougeres pigeon, which also wins the Tonypandy club race, is bred down from stock obtained from Premier Lofts. This was the widower s first trip across the channel and he also wins 1st Maerdy 2 Bird club into the bargain.
against the westerly wind was one to the father and son partnership of Bryan and Anthony Williams. The partners are enjoying yet another successful season at club, Fed and National level and this is what Anthony had to say about their latest section winner: Ricky Lloyd, 3rd Centre West section Fougeres Ricky Lloyd of Aberdare comes in next at 3rd Centre West section [vel1271 ypm] with a yearling widowhood cock bred from a pair of birds obtained from Pam and Richard Kirkbride which contains the Kees Bosua bloodlines of Crammond & Langstaff. The cock has had every race in the programme so far this season and seems to be thriving on the work load. Our bird is a 2 year old blue cock that has a very good racing record, he was 2nd National as a young bird, he had 3 x 1sts as a yearling with 1st section Falaise being one of them and so far in 2015 he has won 3 x 1sts - so he has 7 x 1sts and counting. He is a Maris x Van Reet. The sire was bought from Micky Lennon in the midlands and the dam was a gift from Richy Hicks from the south coast and is a daughter of Witpen Genesis of Keith and Lynda Turner blood. He is raced on the widowhood system and feeding is built up before every race. He has flown every race this year with the WSR Fed but will get a 2 week break now until the next National. The birds were in great condition on return which will set them up for the rest of the season. In second section (vel1272 ypm) is a yearling natural cock racing to the loft of the Bradshaw Family under the guidance of Dave Bradshaw. This one was bred by David Power, the secretary of the NEHU, and was sent feeding two small squabs. He has had every race this season and has appeared on the National result in the Falaise race two weeks previously. Bryan Williams of the B Williams & son partnership,1st West section Fougeres Taking top honours in the West section (vel 1288 ypm) flying into the Swansea Valley Dave Bradshaw, 2nd west section Fougeres
Next on 1256 ypm we have yet another Bradshaw Charlie Junior who is Dave s brother. Charlie clocked a De Klak x Steele x Vanbruaene yearling widowhood cock which has been a consistent pigeon this season winning the Swansea 2 Bird Club from Carentan earlier in the season. following the race. I have made this appeal before and I won t be making it again- if you are not prepared to cooperate and help me to give you and your pigeons the credit they deserve, then I m afraid you will be looking for a new press officer in the very near future. Charlie Bradshaw Jnr, 3rd west section 26th Open Carentan & 3rd section Fougeres 2015 Well that s another National race confined to the history books and a far more successful event than the Falaise race of two weeks earlier. Before I finish this report I must once again appeal to the successful fanciers who clock pigeons to finish in the top three of the section and Open results PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE DAY AFTER THE RACE OR AT LEAST MAKE SURE YOU ARE AVAILBLE FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU so that I can get information on your winning pigeons. If the race report is to be published the week after the race is flown I must have all details written up and ready to send off by 8 pm on the evening John Lewis, 1st West section Falaise WSRNFC Above I have included a photo of Mr & Mrs John Lewis of Glyncorrwg who won 1st west section in the Falaise National. This was originally lost in the ether and arrived too late for inclusion in the Falaise race report. Finally, a big well done to convoyer Phil Fishlock on an outstanding race with most fanciers I ve spoken to having near 100% returns and all returning in excellent condition. Next race Nort Sur Edre on 20th June. Gareth Watkins June 2015
WELSH SOUTH ROAD NATIONAL FLYING CLUB Satellite image of the UK and France at time of Fougeres race Weather forecast for Fougeres
YORKSHIRE MIDDLE ROUTE COMBINE NEWS Winds at Fougeres