A Remarkable Achievement

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Barcelona

( A remarkable achievement)

 

Those of you that are interested in racing at the distance couldn’t

fail to notice that Nigel Lane has won the National from

Barcelona. I now know his position in the international result is

475th from 25,320 pigeons, well up there.

 

I met with Nigel to get the low down on him and his birds Nigel is

a retired police officer who started racing pigeons in 1987. Like

most of the distance flyers in the south, he started racing The

North Road in 1 day races.

 

His interest changed and as a final test he raced only with The

North Road Championship Club wining 1st section from Thurso

at over 500 miles. His interest then changed again in 2003 to The

South Road and the extreme distance. Starting with British

distance birds which did not gel with him and were patchy

performers, he continued to search for other birds which led him

to meeting up with Carlier-Petite, Eric Vanacker and Robert Ben

at these meetings he found that they were flying predominately

Dutch birds.

 

Nigel felt that he needed a Jan Arden, Van De Wegen, Van

Wanroy type of bird. Researching various fanciers in Holland, he

set out to acquire birds from some fanciers there.

He only started the distance in 2005 and has now won the

National from Barcelona, a remarkable achievement and one that

most people dream of and spend their lives trying to time even a

decent one from Barcelona. Few succeed, many try. The wining

bird prior to Barcelona had already raced 1393 miles putting in a

 

The winning pigeon named "EADHUN" is a 2009 cock bred from a cock from Jac

Steketee and a hen from Jelle Outhuijse both excellent fanciers in their own right.

 

"EADHUN" will be prepared for his return to Barcelona next year.

 

Nigel lives in Havering, Essex, not exactly a hot spot for National distance

winners and yet this year has produced 4 National Winners, see it can be done.

 

Preparation

 

The birds in their first year are only given a few tosses as all of them are late

breds. Nigel due to lack of room, only breeds after the racing season is over.

The birds are put aside to have their first race as yearlings though Nigel calls

this training.

The first race is from 185 miles over the water, he then proceeds as follows,

those that return are sent 220 miles with the BBC because most of the birds are

flying into the West Country and Nigel is in the East. This is a severe test for

them.

At 2 years of age, they go to 3 BBC nationals and a race with The London

South East Classic Club as training.

At 3 years of age the brakes are off and they go to 4 National races and finish up

racing from Barcelona.

 

Feeding

 

Young birds are weaned on a mixture of beans, wheat, barley, maize and a

small amount of sunflower seed which Nigel calls his general mix. As yearlings

they stay on this mix but when racing the proportions of the grains change but

not the type of grains. As the distance increases the fat content of the grains is

increased. I asked Nigel if he gave them anything extra and he said no just the

fat content.

 

Treatments

 

Nigel treats the birds routinely for Coccidiosis and Canker and the normal

vaccination against Para.

 

All in all a very interesting meeting and what a bird, I wonder if it can do the

same next year.

 

Garry Gatenby-Taylor.

[THE FIFER]

another interesting post,

[paddymac]

Its not surprising that the Jan Aarden name is still being mentioned in present modern day distant families, the have certainly stood the test of time.