Just looking at the Bicc Agen race this w.end and noticed there are quite a few yearlings home in another hard race. Remembering that this is an international race, I can't see that it is 'experience' that helps the birds home as these ylngs wouldn't have much.
On the contrary, the bird I got home from pau was a 2yo and the 4yo with the experience of 9 times over the channel is the one missing. Where is the logic in that.!
Bicc Pau
The record distance for a yearling clocked in the NFC is 803 miles. And several have been clocked flying 700+ miles.Diamond Dave wrote: Sun Jun 29, 2025 9:18 pm Just looking at the Bicc Agen race this w.end and noticed there are quite a few yearlings home in another hard race. Remembering that this is an international race, I can't see that it is 'experience' that helps the birds home as these ylngs wouldn't have much.
On the contrary, the bird I got home from pau was a 2yo and the 4yo with the experience of 9 times over the channel is the one missing. Where is the logic in that.!
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Diamond Dave
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My yearlings have been over the water 3 times this season and every one is telling me to 'stop them now' or 'keep them for next year' or 'don't flog them as yearlings' - but I'm not sure that it is the right advice.
( been here before ha -ha)
But, after seeing the yearlings from Agen, I am now wondering if I should send them to Bicc Bordeaux ( just short of 500) more to the point, it is not an international race.
They are fit and well, have had a 5 week rest from the previous channel race and I am thinking this could be the prime time for them.
Obviously my choice and I think I will wait to see what the weather is gonna be like, but just wondering what everyone else would do......
( been here before ha -ha)
But, after seeing the yearlings from Agen, I am now wondering if I should send them to Bicc Bordeaux ( just short of 500) more to the point, it is not an international race.
They are fit and well, have had a 5 week rest from the previous channel race and I am thinking this could be the prime time for them.
Obviously my choice and I think I will wait to see what the weather is gonna be like, but just wondering what everyone else would do......
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Diamond Dave
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Ha - ha love the disclaimer Murray but thanks for still pitching in.
It must seem that I don't take advice very well, but I do take on board everything that everyone says. My philosophy is the more ideas you have in the pot - the more chance you have of getting the right decision.
The final decision is obviously mine but as I dont have anyone to discuss these things with I do rely on having
you guys for feed back.
It must seem that I don't take advice very well, but I do take on board everything that everyone says. My philosophy is the more ideas you have in the pot - the more chance you have of getting the right decision.
The final decision is obviously mine but as I dont have anyone to discuss these things with I do rely on having
you guys for feed back.
Looking at the names on the B.I.C.C. result that are timing yearlings, are these fanciers, that have done this for awhile in their native countries. I have not sent many yearlings to these distances, but it didn't do the ones I sent any harm, as they went on to score, later in life. I maybe should be rethinking my tactics with yearlings.Diamond Dave wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 7:10 am My yearlings have been over the water 3 times this season and every one is telling me to 'stop them now' or 'keep them for next year' or 'don't flog them as yearlings' - but I'm not sure that it is the right advice.
( been here before ha -ha)
But, after seeing the yearlings from Agen, I am now wondering if I should send them to Bicc Bordeaux ( just short of 500) more to the point, it is not an international race.
They are fit and well, have had a 5 week rest from the previous channel race and I am thinking this could be the prime time for them.
Obviously my choice and I think I will wait to see what the weather is gonna be like, but just wondering what everyone else would do......
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Diamond Dave
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- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:05 pm

Thanks Albert, so in someways you are thinking along the same lines as me.....?
But the main thing is you are not telling me I am a muppet for thinking about it.
Murrays' post also 'suggested' it could be a good opportunity.
Where I got my birds from, they sent their young birds to 430 miles so I am thinking the yearlings should do 500 easily.
But the main thing is you are not telling me I am a muppet for thinking about it.
Murrays' post also 'suggested' it could be a good opportunity.
Where I got my birds from, they sent their young birds to 430 miles so I am thinking the yearlings should do 500 easily.
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Diamond Dave
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- Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:05 pm

Thanks for that BB. - do you have a good long range weather forecast that you use.?
I use XC weather and the bbc weather app which doesnt do France. I also like the BBC weather map UK
which gives you a good graphic of cloud and rain down as far as Spain but nothing that forecasts beyond 5 or 7 days.
I use XC weather and the bbc weather app which doesnt do France. I also like the BBC weather map UK
which gives you a good graphic of cloud and rain down as far as Spain but nothing that forecasts beyond 5 or 7 days.
When you try to go into it in depth, it won't work, you either send Y/L or you don't. When flying south road the prevailing wind is S/W, and I don't believe that all these men that are preparing thier yearlings for these races are looking that far into the future. Any race flown in a nose wind can be difficult, its the chance you take.
