Pompey Mick

I've just looked at the BICC early birds from Pau and I must say the performance of the 4th placed pigeon is exceptional amongst a list of exceptional pigeons. Flying 688mls, Mr Pickering of Walesby's pigeon has produced an outstanding performance in a day of oustanding performances.

http://www.cscfc.fsnet.co.uk/members/RptQuickResults.pdf

The CSCFC lib at Pau 05.30. Members in my Club clocked at 6.05, 6.20 & 6.36 I've heard that Hounsell of Portsmouth is provisionally 1st open at the moment clocking at 5.30 with J.Hopkins also of Portsmouth 2nd some 4mins later.

Portsmouth13.30 Thunderstorm in progress

Picauville birds very gappy for me, over 2hrs for 100mls with a tail wind. 10/12 so far over a 2hr span. Thunderstorm in the locallity now 13.30

Best foot forward Speck, this is where you need ETS.

Solent Fed at Picauville, lib 9.25 Lt SW

Portsmoth 07.30. Typical broken cloud, showery type of day good visibility, westerly air flow. Dry up to now. Good spells of sunshine. Here's one http://www.harboureye.co.uk/

Methinks the next question will be, if you can clock a traditionally rubbered bird outside of the loft then why do you have to have ETS pads inside the loft?

Picauville with the Solent Fed, 100mls, quarantined for a week, you know it makes sense.

Are there any fanciers local to you? If not contact the RPRA and ask for a list of local clubs and contact the Secretaries. What part of Sussex are you?

Here are the NFC early times. http://www.nationalflyingclub.co.uk/ResultsForm.php

Portsmouth 07.30, raining steadily now, Met office radar shows a broken belt of rain along the South Coast heaviest in the Bournemouth - Portsmouth area.

Portsmouth 07.00, Heavy cloud cover, some brightness trying to develop,(hopefully) recent showers,very light var breeze. Birds on their way from Cholet ETA 10.30-11.00

I have a hopper in my widowhood loft all the time, with beans in. I feed a mixture on return to the loft after racing & exercise and you would think thet had seen no corn since the last mixture feed. I normally keep the mixture below 1oz a day and let them top-up from the hopper as required. I vary the mixture during the week as per normal widowhood schedules.

George Stubbs of Portsmouth competed in the Internationals winning 4th in 1931. The subject of this piece is one person who should not be forgotten in the realm of pigeondom for he was a master of long distance and marathon pigeon racing, in fact, George Stubbs of England, was one of the greatest exponents of a difficult discipline. A pigeoner who can take his place in the pantheon of the world's best preparers and conditioners for the ultimate tests of flying endurance.An honourable place amongst the greatest since the origins of the sport. Also may I add that our subject bred and raced perhaps the greatest Barcelona pigeon ever. George Stubbs apparently raced well into his 80s and held some of the records for distance flying into the island of Britain. A very patient and kindly person by all accounts, our subject built his family upon four pigeons bought in 1901 of the N. Barker family. Eventually a cross was brought in to consolidate his intentions and they were two grizzle Bovyns to be followed by examples of the Thoroughgood and the Tressider families. The latter being two of the best of British origin. Some of the achievements of George Stubbs and his flying athletes includes 9th Open North Road Championship Club, Faroe Islands, in 1932. This was 802 miles and the longest distance then flown of north to south. And for 6 years the Stubbs small and humble loft was in the first 19 of the Open from San Sesbastian.Also the loft held the record for the greatest distance flown north and south from Faroe 802 miles and Barcelona 672 miles. The list of many honours won includes the following: 3 Gold Medals; English National Flying Club Section A Cup; the Dewar Trophy for the Best Two Bird Average for nominated birds from San Sebastian; the London Centre Trophy; the Hants Federation Bordeaux Cup; the Barcelona Trophy and the Medal of the International Organisation in Belgium, etc,. George Stubbs accomplishments from the marathon of all marathons i.e. Barcelona must rank as some of the greatest in the history of the race, in fact, this success in the opinion of many counts as the greatest or at least one of the top three superb feats of racing from the Spanish race point in it history, when George Stubbs clocked to win 1st British Section and 4th International in 1931. A wonderful achievement when one considers that the one entry 'Barcelona' was in a convoy of 5,033 birds from the best of Holland, France, Luxembourg and Belgium, in a period of more primitive transport to the race point. The distance being 672 miles. And to prove that the event was not a freak the Stubbs loft was 19th Barcelona International in 1932. In that race the 'Barcelona' also scored 4th British Section. A superb thoroughbred! Perhaps the greatest Barcelona flyer ever?At least that thought raises itself often in my mind.The 'Barcelona's' 4th International however was accompanied with a 1st success from Marennes plus an 87th Open National Flying Club San Sebastian position. The 'Barcelona' also flew San Sebastian in 1930 when he arrived at 5am on the second day.Thus confirming that the 'Barcelona' was not a one race wonder. His famous 'Trixie' however was George Stubbs favourite and after years of outstanding success flying she died at the age of 17 years. Born in 1924 from a pure white Bovyn hen and a Thoroughgood sire Trixie as a youngster was the first bird to the loft in two Nationals. Then in 1925 flew 225 miles from York. The following year 1926 this great flyer flew 475 miles from Banff and in 1927 flew over 600 miles from Lerwick. The following year as a 4 year old 'Trixie' was 1st from York and 3rd Open N.R.C.C.from Lerwick. She was then turned to the south road in 1929 and obtained good positions from Guernsey, Rennes, Nantes, and San Sebastian, 521 miles. But as stated in 1930 'Trixie' exhibited her greatness when she finished 9th in the north road Faroe Island race. Obviously under pressure for she had only three tail feathers upon her return alongside damage to one of her wings. An outstanding pigeon. There is no doubt in my mind that George Stubbs was one of the greatest marathon racers ever in the history of the sport and on reflection upon the exploits of the 'Barcelona' surely the greatest of the greatest Barcelona flyers. And why? Because this brave pigeon had to break from the cream of the European continent and travel alone across the English channel on its way to the owner who loved and prepared it. A wonderful example of the relationship between a great pigeoner and a great pigeon. Yes, their likes are few and far between!

Portsmouth 09.30 Still holding good here, no rain at all since early this morning.

Solent Fed at Cholet heldover NFC at Alencon heldover Surprising as the French weather map looks good.

Portsmouth, 07.30 Enjoying a bit of sunshine after overnight rain, plenty of broken cloud about, Lt south westerly wind, good visibility. http://www.harboureye.co.uk/

Solent Fed at Cholet, 258mls, sent 2 (damn 7 day rule) We are at Picauville next week, 100 mls and then they can't be raced the following week, tried to get it swapped for an Inland race, Committee says no! We are heading for financial meltdown. £1-88 per bird last week for Cholet. It will soon be cheaper to send to the Nationals.

I had two races from France yesterday, Poitiers with the BBC 3/3 and Cholet with the Solent Fed 10/10 well pleased with returns, 28th in the BBC early times and 5th Club in a blanket finish. http://www.britishbarcelonaclub.co.uk/Results/qrlatest.pdf

Avian flu found at smallholding A low risk strain of bird flu has been discovered at a smallholding near St Helens in Merseyside. A restriction zone has been placed around the area following the positive tests for the disease. Some of the infected chickens had been bought from the market held in Chelford associated with the recent outbreak in north Wales. All the birds at the farm have been destroyed. This strain of the disease is not thought to be a risk to humans. Low pathogenic avian influenza typically causes little or no clinical symptoms in infected birds and is not thought to be a threat to human health. Fred Landeg, deputy chief veterinary officer said: "The tests were carried out as part of the normal tracings activity which is underway following the outbreak in Wales. Restricted zone "This is an extensive exercise, and this is the only premises to date with evidence of infection." The birds included 20 chickens, three ducks, three peacocks and some peacock chicks. A restricted zone extends 1km from the holding, which is thought to be in Rainhill, near St Helens. People are forbidden from moving poultry or any sort of live birds or eggs through this zone. The two people who live on the smallholding have been testing for the disease after exhibiting flu-like symptoms but results came back negative. Animal Health is tracing movements and contacts. Defra is working closely with the Health Protection Agency on all potential human health aspects.

When the Junior clock was first introduced into this country it was advertised to be used without thimbles as it was specifically designed with this in mind. However the RPRA wouldn't approve them for use without thimbles as it was such an advantage over all the other clocks in use. The security aspect must have been questioned on the continent because the security flaps were brought in to overcome any manipulation.

I've been racing since 1963 and I've only ever known using thimbles. I think the Juniors they use thimbleless on the Continent have security flaps on the drums. The reason for thimbles is a security one, to stop fanciers trying to force a rubber into a struck chamber.

Congratulations