Yearling Nationals In The Uk

Kyleakin Lofts · June 14, 2018

Yearling Nationals in the UK

by

John Clements

Looking at the BICC Poitiers race I see that there were a few yearlings timed in what most would consider a hard race. There was some outstanding performances (going on the early times) by fanciers flying long distances. Booth and Roper of Tewksbury deserve a mention as does Crehan and O'Conner flying 500 miles and John Rumney flying 589 miles. All these are outstanding performances. I have what I consider to be a good habit of noting ring numbers of winning pigeins and those that do well so that I can follow their progress in future races and in future years, that way I can find what most overlook - the real champions undiscovered in our midst. Just looking at a result, noting the fancier but now noting the individual pigeon. This is of enormous use if you want a wider picture of any particular race and the chance of finding real champions.

This brings me back to yearlings and a yearling results in UK National and Classic races. As most peiople know the Belgian and Dutch systems regularly splits yearlings from the main race and give them a result on their own. This splitting yearlings into a competition on their own also affords separate yearling pools to be and makes National Channel racing fairer and likely as a result to atttract more entries and as a side issue earn more money for the club. In my example at least Brooks Bros will now justly claim to have won a National which must be good for them.

With all this in mind I have tinkered with the BICC Poitiers result to show the yearlings as they would appear in a separate race. I hope that with an example of how it would work fanciers might see the value of such a move and how it would boost the finances of the club and for the fancier and additional status. Everybody wins including Len Swallow of Diss and B Williams of Paulsgrove who now wins first sections in a National.

Sect Name Town Ring No Dist Vel

1. WS1 Brooks Bros and Wilson Bristol GB17L42106 361.1485 896.54

2. WS2 D & J Staddon Shepton Mallet GB17N28220 349. 581 884.34

3. WS3 M.M Mc Clements Ivybridge GB17N77642 336.178 880.85

4. CS1 B Williams and sons Paulsgrove GB17P13493 313.679 799.36

5.CS2 M/M Cross Purbrook GB17N24120 313.1373 794.28

6.WS4 P Boden Frome NWHU17D3259 352.1679 781.66

7.CS3 L M Dyer Nettlestone NWHU17R5814 303.1063 755.82

8.ES1 Tom Williams Orpington GB17F30765 343.362 717.16

9.CS4 M Shepherd Lancing GB 17N16089 306.827 641.11

10.ES2 B & F Gasson Chatham GB 17N 040629 343.454 590.34

11.NE1 Len Swallow Diss GB17D01588 414.1318 580.17

12.ES3 Nicolac Bogden Bishop Stortford GB17N047521 377.867 563.37

13.WS5 D & F Barresi Bath GB17C36223 359.1758 539.33

14.WS6 S Dickenson & Phil Locking GB17N04353 368.1044 539.10

15.WS7 Luscombe and W Plymouth GB17N52251 339.236 439.24

16.CS5 Gaiter Tilchurst GB17N043281 353.567 414.09

17.NE2 M/M Stowger Leiston GB17N01236 405.580 402.53

It can be seen in this example there were no yearlings clocked in the NW Section but by giving yearlings a result on their own their value is no longer submerged within an overall result. The effect of this is to encourage more yearlings to be sent - a greater spread of prizes and overall greater interest in the club. From this the club is bound to benefit financially from a greater overall send. Why clubs who are closely connected to the continent have not realised the benefits of such a move can only be explained by our island attitude of wanting to be isolated lest we lose our identity.