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Well what can I say but it seems our amazing season has just got even better. I still don’t think what unfolded last night has even sunk in. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I want to win Barcelona in the UK and how I have always said with the right conditions, right preparation and more importantly the right pigeons we could get a day pigeon on the clock. Well last night we made history at Southfield managing to clock the very first pigeon on the day from Barcelona. They were liberated at 6am and after flying 698 miles in 15 hours and 51 minutes we managed to win 1st National and 6th International from 16,561 birds. ‘Southfield History’ as she is now called was paired up earlier in the season and sent on a 5 day baby and she pulled out all the stops to get home to that baby. We decided to have a go at the Internationals on Natural only this year and it has really paid off as we were also 1st National, 6th International from Pau. Even though she is only 2 years old she does have previous form. Last year she flew the National Flying club Pau race and after flying 570 miles in just over 15 and 1/2 hours scored 10th section, 33rd National. Incidentally in the same race her nest mate scored 4th section, 19th Open. Not bad for a pair of yearlings. Her Father is Son Naomi of Cor de Heijde 6th Int. Barcelona and her Mother won 17th Int. Barcelona for Twan Bongers so the apple didn’t fall far from those trees. I would just like to say thanks so much for all the messages I really do appreciate them but there are so many I would be here for days trying to answer them all. 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10,12,18,21,22,23,29 Truro Berkshire Federation 377 birds. Well another seasons Grand National has come and gone and it turned out to be a tricky one to navigate this year. After a 1.30pm liberation on Friday it was difficult to gauge when they would arrive the following day with rain forecast in diff places en route and strong west winds through France, especially in the channel at the home end. Needless to say we were very happy to finally clock at 1.30pm after 16 hours and 34minutes flying 570 miles for provisional 1st Section E, 3rd National. Our first pigeon was a yearling chequer cock sitting overdue eggs when he left and was roaring in his box once he got back in the loft. He will definitely be a future Barcelona candidate, especially knowing what bloodlines he carries. He is bred from a son of ‘Southfield Hugo’ 1st National Barcelona 2018, 1st National Perpignan 2017 when paired to ‘Miss New Laureaat’ 1st National Agen yearlings 2018 for Ad Fortuin. His mother is a sister to ‘Southfield Gold Lady’ 1st National BBC Barcelona, 1st National BICC Barcelona 2020, 1st Section, 5th Open Marseille 2019. She is out of ‘Golden Barcelona’ the 2014 Gold Wing Winner. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 Honiton BB&O Federation 724 birds. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,13,17 Yelverton Berkshire Federation 559 birds Well what a start to the International season. 1st National BICC, 6th International Pau 12,631 birds. I love all racing but this is when my passion for racing is at its highest. There is no other feeling than clocking a pigeon late at night when your racing against the best competition in Europe. We tried something a little different this year and decided to pair up a few weeks ago and send to the long races on Natural. We have always sent widowhood in the past so there was little bit of uncertainty that we had done the right thing, not to mention the extra workload trying to keep the fitness on them. However when he dropped at 20.45 last night it just proved all the hard work was worth it. The cock was sitting 14 day eggs and he was soon back on his nest once he had a drink. 14 hours and 25 minutes on the wing in extreme heat through France has shown this cock is made of metal. He is bred from a full brother of ‘Southfield Hugo’ (picture attached) who scored 1st National BICC Perpignan 2017 & 1st National BICC Barcelona 2018 and also a half brother to ‘Southfield Gold Lady’ 1st National BICC Barcelona, 1st National BBC Barcelona 2020, 1st Sect, 5th National BICC Marseille 2019. He is also a double grandchild of ‘Golden Barcelona’ the 2014 Gold wing winner. So you can see by his breeding he was made for days like this. 2nd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 17th, 22nd Section E 228 birds 73rd, 145th, 171st, 187th, 202nd, 290th, 385th National Flying Club Nort-sur-erdre 3006 birds. 1st Club - 2,3,4,11,19,20 Yelverton BB&O Federation 624 birds. |
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