Fougeres Race Result

Fougeres Race Result

The NFC Handbooks should have been received by now, should you have not received your copy yet please contact officemanager.nfc@gmail.com

The first race will be from Fougeres on Saturday 31st May and your entries have to be in by 24th May , could you please let me know if you are sending and if so are you taking your own birds to Sheffield or would you like Richie and Bob to take them we can then arrange times for gathering pigeons on Wednesday 28th.

Those sending please ensure with your pigeons is the required documentation CPH Document, Declaration form, Vaccination form signed, Vet Certificate Also a copy of your current RPRA membership card.

Regards

Keith 07505560247

any questions please contact me.

SPORTSMAN FC (NFC) 2025 YOUNG BIRD SALE

Young Bird 2025 Phone-in Sale

The fanciers below have donated from THEIR BEST to support our club.

Starts FRIDAY 4th APRIL until 8pm THURSDAY, 10TH APRIL

Lot 1. Dave Brierley, Redcar. Cracking pair of babies to start the sale. Proven sire bred by the legend Jim Donaldson from birds which scored numerous times in SNFC. Dam bred by Harvey & Emerton. G/Sire closely related to their No 1 pair Musgrove Magician& Unique. G/Dam bred by John Chipperfield containing blood of the UK 2019/20 Barcelona winners and full of Golden Barcelona blood. Winning Bid £100

Lot 2. Harry Crowther, Consett. Cracking youngster. Best of Billy Bilsland blood. Sire Billy, multiple winner including 1st Open Lanarkshire Fed Ypres 2018 & 2019 Pedigree full of winners. Dam Poppy Fed winner from Ypres. Winning Bid £80

Lot 3. Ken Dodd, Hexham. Ken has kindly donated a youngster from a proven breeding pair. Sire Mark Gilbert Stock x Dam Jellema x Peter Virtue lines. Quality. Winning Bid £40

4. Keith & Ritchie Hutchinson, Middleton St George. Sire bred by L&K Buddle direct off 1st & 2nd BICC Pau. Dam Jelle Jellema from Nick Adshead. Both parents have bred Channel winners on hard days from 610 and 565 miles respectively. Not to be missed. Winning Bid £50

Lot 5. Keith & Ritchie Hutchinson. Another full of top distance blood the Sire bred by Brian Holland. Keighley, and the Dam is a Southwell bred by Jan & Albi Deacon. Waterlooville. Winning Bid £50

Lot 6. Kevin & Tracy Kelly, Shiremoor. Young bird out of Nouwen-Paesen stock through the golden Barcelona and not to be missed. Winning Bid £120

Lot 7. Terry Knox, Prudhoe. A pair from the stock loft that are producing a stream of birds scoring from the Channel. Satisfaction guaranteed. Winning Bid £40

Lot 8. Bob Mckie, Chopwell. From the Stock loft. Sire is a direct son of Mark Bulled famous Legacy cock. National winner, Sire, G/sire of many Channel winners. The Dam is a top bred Jellema from Nigel Laycock. Ready May. Winning Bid £130

Lot 9. Paul Stobbs Consett. Paul has donated a top-quality young bird from his WDA winning blood. This Youngbird and the next lot are bred in the pink and full of winning genes. Winning Bid £60

Lot 10. Paul Stobbs Consett. A second youngster from the best of Paul’s winning WDA Bloodlines. Winning Bid £60

Lot 11. Dean Ward, East Cleveland. A fantastic offer from Dean who has donated a 3rd round young bird direct from Flo’s Angel his 1st UNC winner ready in May. Winning Bid £200

All lots start at £40 opening bid

Successful bidders will be notified by phone and details of payment taken.

Once payment is verified winning bidders to arrange collection or transport of birds. Bids will be updated on www.sportsmanfc.com each evening by 10pm.

To place a bid call Bob Mckie on 07308236113

An Assessment of Challenges and Regulatory Impacts facing the Sport of National racing into the NorthEast

Introduction

Long-distance pigeon racing has a long tradition in the Northeast of the UK. It is a region known for its dedicated fanciers and competitive spirit. The sport requires exceptional stamina and navigational prowess from the racing pigeon which has faced a series of evolving challenges in recent years; not least the impacts of Brexit, Covid 19, Avian bird flu and the increasing perils of climate change. More specifically, the obstacles posed by regulatory bodies such as The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), French authorities, and the critical transportation issues, need to be addressed for successful channel crossings. Not to mention the increased financial impacts fanciers and sport in general.

Challenges Faced by Fanciers

Health and Welfare Regulations

One of the primary challenges faced by pigeon fanciers is complying with stringent health and welfare regulations. Defra enforces rigorous biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of avian diseases. These regulations mandate regular health checks, vaccinations, and strict record-keeping. While these measures are essential for the birds’ welfare, they can be resource-intensive (eg. Vet.loft visits ) for the fanciers.

Impact of Defra Regulations

Defra regulations ensure that pigeons are kept in optimal health before participating in races. However, the complexity and cost of compliance can be burdensome. The requirement for veterinary certifications and adherence to specific transportation protocols increases the logistical demands on pigeon fanciers. This has led to a reduction in the number of participants in long-distance races, as some find the regulatory landscape too challenging to navigate. Indeed, in the last couple of years there has been a significant loss of fanciers racing their birds from across the channel.

French Regulations on Race Marking and Transportation

Crossing the Channel introduces additional layers of complexity due to French regulations. The French authorities require strict requirements for the marking and transportation of pigeons entering their country. These include specific identification protocols and health certifications that must be presented at border controls. The coordination required to meet these criteria can be daunting, often necessitating collaboration with veterinary professionals and regulatory experts. Any breeches in the relevant paperwork can and has resulted in convoys of birds being refused entry by French authorities.

Across the UK, race marking of birds has had to be re-organised resulting in a vastly reduced geographical network of dedicated marking stations. In some areas fanciers must now travel several hundred miles to their nearest marking stations if they want to compete in Channel races bringing additional costs and the further loss of fanciers flying Channel races.

Logistical Issues

Transportation logistics represent a significant hurdle for long-distance race organizers. Ensuring that pigeons are transported safely and in a timely manner is critical for their performance in races. The journey across the Channel involves coordination with transportation services that can accommodate the unique needs of racing pigeons, including proper ventilation, space, and access to water.

Weather and Environmental Factors

Weather conditions play a crucial role in the success of channel crossings. Adverse weather can delay transportation and affect the health and readiness of the pigeons. Organisers carefully monitor weather forecasts and plan accordingly to minimize risks. Additionally, environmental factors such as changes in barometric pressure and wind patterns can impact the pigeons’ navigation and overall performance. Climate Change has added a new dimension to race coordination creating greater unpredictability which may prove to be the greatest challenge to Channel racing.

Enhanced Collaboration and Communication

To address the multifaceted challenges described above, enhanced collaboration and communication among pigeon fanciers, veterinary professionals, and regulatory bodies is essential. Establishing clear lines of communication can streamline the process of obtaining necessary health certifications and meeting regulatory requirements. Furthermore, creating networks of support among fanciers will facilitate the sharing of resources and best practices. We have already experienced benefits when organising statutory loft visits by the Vet.

Investments in Technology and Infrastructure

Investing in technology and infrastructure can significantly mitigate the challenges associated with long-distance racing. Advanced tracking systems can enhance the monitoring of pigeons’ health and performance, while improved transportation infrastructure can ensure that pigeons are transported under optimal conditions. These investments not only enhance the welfare of the pigeons but also contribute to the overall success of the races. The development of GPS tagging and tracking may help provide more information of line of flight, identifying potential hazards such of Bird of Prey hot spots.

Conclusion

The state of long-distance National racing in the Northeast of the UK is one of resilience and adaptation. Despite the numerous challenges posed by regulatory requirements and transportation logistics, the community of pigeon fanciers continues to persevere. By embracing collaboration, investing in technology, and adhering to best practices, the sport can navigate the complexities of modern regulations and logistics, ensuring a thriving future for long-distance pigeon racing in the region.

The Sportsman Flying Club at Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland in Co Durham, was founded in 2010 to promote long distance National racing across the Northeast. Since then, there have been some notable performances by club members from 300 to 820 miles. The club has organised transportation to the NFC marking station in Sheffield (around trip of over 200 miles) making the challenge of national racing more accessible. Therefore, if any fancier has the ambition and fortitude to race extreme distances they will be more than welcome to join the Sportsman club.

Bob Mckie

The Sportsman AGM

The AGM will be held on Wednesday 05th February 2025 at 19.30pm in the Sportsman.

Agenda

1. Minutes of last AGM
2. Balance Sheet
3. Election of Officials
4. Applications and Resignations
5. Raceprogramme 2025 see attached sheet
6. Proposed Club constitution see attached document
7. Club and RPRA fees
8. Transporting birds to Sheffield
9. AOB

Any members that shall be using clocks instead of ETS please bring to this meeting for testing.

Regards
Keith

The Sportsman FC (NFC) Race Programme 2025

• Fougeres OB 31st May 2025
• Nort-Sur-Erdre OB 14th June 2025
• Sigogne OB 28th June 2025
• Tarbes OB 18th July 2025 Friday Lib
• St Malo YB/OH 13th September 2025

Dear Members,

On Wednesday 14th August we held a special meeting to discuss the way forward for the Sportsman FC, following on from our AGM held on Wednesday 21st February 2024 when due to there being no takers for the official positions it was decided rather than fold the club we should put it into mothballs until end of the season this was agreed.

At this Special meeting we can report that volunteers came forward and help keep the Sportsman FC running.

Tom Cuthbertson took on the Chairman’s position

Keith Hutchinson took on the Secretary’s position and

Bob McKie agreed to keep the Treasurer’s position it was also proposed that

Jeff Walton be made Honorary Vice President for his services to the Sportsman FC.

This concluded the special meeting and the AGM will be held at the Sportsman FC on Wednesday 05th February 2025 a full agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting.

Looking forward to 2025 I can confirm that basketing will be at Sheffield but we have arrangements in place for members to have their pigeons gathered at the Sportsman Toft Hill the evening prior to basketing at Sheffield and they will be transported there.

If you have any questions please contact me at the contacts below.

Yours in Sport

Keith

Keithhutchinson1952@yahoo.com

Mobile 07505560247

Members of the Sportsman attended their AGM on Wednesday the 21st. Chairman Jeff Walton welcomed the members before the balance sheet was discussed and accepted. There were 4 resignations which were accepted meaning we moved into 2024 with 28 members.

Both the Chairman and Secretary had already given notice that they would be stepping down but unfortunately no members expressed interest in taking on either role. After a long discussion it was unanimously agreed that the club would be “mothballed” for the 2024 season. A meeting/social evening would be arranged for the end of October when the way forward would be reviewed. Subs for 2024 would be waived, the website would continue to operate and the Club RPRA Membership would continue. The meeting was then closed.

2023 Sponsorship

Listed below is the final details of our race sponsors for the 2023 NFC race programme:

20/5/23 Fougeres, Owen Shaw Trophies £100.

3/6/23 Messac, Formula1 Lofts £500 Voucher.

17/6/23 Nort-sur-Erdre, Paul Stobbs £100.

30/6/23 Pau, Alan Dixon £100.

22/7/23 Sigogne, Steve Swainstone, SS SEEDS £100 Voucher.

2/9/23 Vire old bird National. Mrs Carol Walker £50.

2/9/23 Vire young bird National. Mrs Carol Walker £50.

In addition our good friends at Vanrobaey Feeds in Belgium will for the 8th consecutive year sponsor our race winners in the first five Nationals. They will receive 2 Bags of their new Revolution Sport Pro Mix along with Tubs of Super Grit Mix and Supplements.

On behalf of our members I wish to thank all our Sponsors for their generous support.

Sportsman FC Update

Dear All, sponsorship deals agreed so far for 2022.

Vanrobaeys - All race winners will receive 2 bags of corn and range of supplements including a 10 kilo tub of Grit

1st National - Owen Shaw Trophies £100 to race winner.

2nd National - Formula 1 Lofts (John Gladwin) Pair of birds for stock to the value of £500 or a kit of 6x 2023 young birds for racing.

3rd National - Paul Stobbs £100 to race winner.

4th National - Alan Dixon will sponsor winner if Pau is flown £100.

5th National - SS Seeds £100 Voucher to race winner.

6th & 7th Nationals - Young bird/Old Cocks & Hens Tumley Lofts £150 Vouchers to race winners.

Phil Gardner - Respiro -san - Dry to be finalised.

There are still a couple of other possibilities being followed up!

Regarding the Annual Phone-in sale we have 25 excellent lots pledged and the detailed advert for the BHW/Club Website is near completion with the target dates for sale being from 7/4/22 to 14/4/22

Regards

Bob