So we started with just Guernsey’s on the South before the BBC & CSCFC decided to go North. Channel racing has at last opened up this weekend but with many hoops to jump through to be able to send.
I have lost 2 good pigeons off the loft this year. Pete’s Muzzabella who was lost before the season started, and a yearling hen who was first bird from the first young bird race last year and then first bird from Guernsey 3 this year having also flown Guernsey 2 the previous week and then went missing 2 days later off the loft.
These are the old birds that we have left in the team at present:
Bred from: Sire GB19B05855 from Devo & CDBL Dam GB19B05882 from Phil
This cock was unraced as a youngster and then went missing for a few weeks from the bad trainer I had as a yearling so wasn’t raced then either.
This year he was sent to the second Guernsey 107mls and was in at 7.53am next day. Then the third Guernsey the following week where he was 4 days late and finally sent North to Hexham 269mls where he was in at 7.55am next day. He still has got a lot to prove.
Bred from: Sire GB19B05894 from Trev Dam GB19P01860
Unraced as a youngster.
As a yearling she was first bird from Penzance 152mls and then first bird Elgin 457mls albeit 33 days late. (Only 2 birds sent)
This year she was 3rd bird 94th section 667th open Guernsey 107mls. The following week from Guernsey again she was in at 10.48am next day then arrived 9 days late from Hexham 269mls. So again needs to prove herself but is showing a bit of potential.
Bred from: Sire GB20B08446 G.Sire IHU18S091513 from Magic G.Dam GB17V54346 from George. Dam GB20B08447 G.Sire GB19B05849 from John & Ben G.Dam GB19B05852 from Pete
As can be seen this bird contains the lines of 4 of our members.
As a youngster he was sent to Ilkeston 140mls on 20th August and returned 21st November.
This year as a yearling he went to Guernsey 107mls being our second bird and 106th section 550th open. He was due to go to Hexham but had a bit of a sore eye so was left out. His eye is fine now.
If you had the pick of the loft this is the last one you would probably pick. She is the hen that is small and a bit bowed legged. But is really showing some promise.
Unraced as a youngster.
This year she was sent to the first Guernsey where she was second bird being 175th section 801st open. She was sent to Guernsey again the following week where she was our first bird being 58th section 541st open. I then turned her North to Wakefield 184mls. She was our second bird at 7.19am next day.
As a youngster he was sent to Ilkeston 140mls North. The next morning he was reported in Portsmouth. This where the winners were and he had gone in on the day of the race. We drove down to Portsmouth that day, a 3 hour round trip, and picked him up.
This year as a yearling he was sent to Guernsey 107mls South. He arrived at 9.30am next day. He was then turned North again and sent to Wakefield 184mls. He was duplicated in both the BBC and CSCFC. He was our first bird recording 26th section 343rd open BBC and 89th section 424th open CSCFC. 2 weeks later he was sent to Hexham 269mls, again duplicated. He was first bird again recording 21st section 260th open BBC and 32nd section 213th open CSCFC. This was a hard race with a fresh headwind and flying further and more westerly than most other birds in it. The winner was only flying 97mls and took the first 11 places flying the shortest and most easterly.
Unraced as a youngster.
As a yearling he has only had one race, Guernsey 107mls. He arrived while we were up the club having the clock read off. He was found in the loft at 9pm that day. He had a large gash down one side under his wing. He is fine now but hasn’t been raced again yet.
Sire: GB20B08410 bred by John and Ben. Dam: GB20B08401, Pete’s Muzzabella bred by Pete.
As a youngster flew Ilkeston 140mls. First bird. Arrived on the day after flying 11hrs 28mins. Wasn’t verified.
This year as a yearling he was sent to Guernsey 107mls arriving at 11.37am next day. He then went to Wakefield 184mls. He was 10 days late from this one.
Sire: BELG142334761 from John & Ben. Dam: GB15S77977 from John & Ben
Unraced as a youngster.
This year as a yearling was sent to Guernsey 107mls. Arrived 11 days late.
Sire: GB19B05846 from John & Ben. Dam: GB19B05857 from Devo & CDBL
Unraced as a youngster.
This year sent to Guernsey 107mls. Arrived after 23 days.
Sire: GB19B05855 from Devo & CDBL. Dam: GB19B05852 from Pete
Unraced as a youngster.
As a yearling this year sent to Guernsey 107mls, arrived at 12.22 next day. Then switched North to Wakefield 184mls arrived 2 days late.
Sire: GB20B08432. G.Sire GB19B05855 from Devo & CDBL G.Dam GB19B05882 from Phil. Dam: GB20B08448. G.Sire IHU19S046751 from Magic G.Dam GB19B05857 from Devo & CDBL.
Unraced or trained as a youngster as late bred.
As a yearling being the first time in a basket was sent to Guernsey 107mls. She arrived 3 days late with a large gash across her chest.
We also have a yearling hen that flew Ilkeston 140mls as a youngster that was hawked early in the year and has a dropped wing but does fly around home. Plus 2 latebreds that haven’t seen a basket yet and Polly. Also have 12 stock birds.
Not fantastic results but don’t forget that these are all national races against 100/200+ members sending 2/3,000 birds from all over the country so just getting them back is a good start.
I am still not convinced that racing as youngsters makes much difference as more of the ones I have left were unraced as youngsters than raced. They only had 4 x 10 mile tosses as youngsters and no training as yearlings. These birds have had some hard races and been switched both North and South. I may have lost a few birds and possibly some that may not have been lost with a bit more education but I am looking for birds that race as individuals in national racing against birds and top flyers from all over the country. I have lost less than some fanciers I know that train and race regularly and haven’t flown the distances that ours have. A lot of the ones lost I probably aren’t to surprised about although a few are a shame to have lost.
So all round I think we are starting to see the makings of a half decent team.
