Good question this, and one I thought about when I started up in 2017. I live in Hampshire in the south, and set my sights on 500 mile plus racing-Tarbes with the NFC being my ambition. However being from Scotland originally, and being fascinated / captivated by the writings of Rod Adams and his Bourges obsession, I have built a team of birds from pigeons obtained from the best of the SNFC / UNC distance lofts (Rod Adams, Bob Donaldson of Chevington Drift, and W.Kinnear and son Edinburgh)-all winners of the biggest prize at 500 mile plus in those organisations. I have yet to test them as I spent the last 2 years getting a team of pigeons ready in sufficient number bred from a nucleus of 5 pairs of the best from these lofts-2020 will be my first year pushing them to see what there made of. Personally I am convinced that well bred pigeons from tried and tested lofts at the distance will do it, no matter where the water is on the journey-time will tell I guess, but looking forward to the undoubted roller coaster of emotion ahead! I will update this thread in a few years to come when I have come to a conclusion on this one!