Dear Members,

Online race entries are now enabled and are being taken for the Coutances Young Bird race and the Coutances Old Bird race.  Entries will close on Sunday 28th August, at midnight.

If you are posting your entry in, it is worth noting, the following has been received from Royal Mail: - 

 

"Dear Sid

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called on its members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take strike action on the following dates:

• Friday 26 August 2022
• Wednesday 31 August 2022
• Thursday 8 September 2022
• Friday 9 September 2022

We’re sorry this strike action is likely to cause you some disruption. We will be working to get our services back to normal as quickly as possible. Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but we cannot fully replace the daily efforts of our frontline workforce. We’ll be doing what we can to keep services running, but you should expect significant disruption on dates when strike action is taking place.

There’s more information online at royalmail.com/latest-news but we wanted to provide you with some of the important information, directly."

 

Delays will occur if Members post their entries on Friday 26th August.  Therefore if using the post, please post prior to Friday or no later than Thursday 25th August.

Yours sincerely,

 

Mr. S. Barkel, Secretary.

It is with deep regret that we must inform the membership that the leading pigeon on the provisional result for the NFC Tarbes Grand National has been disqualified under Racing Rule 26

“All members competing in the National Flying Club races must verify the time of clocking their first bird via the online verification system on the official club website, or by ringing the official telephone number within 60 minutes up to and including the second day from liberation, and when timed in from the third day of liberation within 12 hours with the full ring number of the bird, clocking time and NFC code number.” This rule carries underneath in red text a Management Committee statement of intent- “Failure to comply with this rule will be disqualification of the members birds from the race” This rule is a clear instruction known to all and apart from the added race security it implies, we have a duty of care towards our birds upon the return from a race. Members using Electronic Timing Systems must be aware that their birds can record their arrival if the traps are left open and make provisions accordingly.

NFC convoy were liberated at Tarbes at 16:00 hours under broken cloud and blue skies. Weather through France almost clear blue skies all the way to the northern French coastline. Winds at the race point and across France light N/W averaging 7 mph. Visibility very good. Temperatures on route averaging 25C
The forecast for Sunday morning at 06:00 hours. Weather generally broken cloud and sunshine over the channel with visibility about 11 miles. Winds S/W averaging 15 mph. A weather front will affect the Midlands and some central regions carrying some light showery activity. Temperatures inland averaging 20C to 24C by mid morning. Thanks to Steve Appleby our weather consultant. Wishing everyone a good race. Steve White Race Advisor, Phil Leech Chief Convoyer.

 

 

 Sat 23/7 @ 15.02 hrs. Our Chief Convoyer, Phil Leech, reports the site is still in cloud cover and he is not happy with the sky. We will give it as late as possible before making a decision.

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 23 at 3.02.42 PM

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 23 at 3.03.05 PM

 

 

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 23 at 7.17.37 AM

 

Sat 23/7 @ 06.02 hrs.  Tarbes is still in full cloud cover, there will be no early liberation. We have looked at various satellite forecast and hopefully we will see this lifting early this afternoon. We will update this information again later today. Steve White Race Advisor.

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 23 at 6.02.34 AM

Fri 22/7 @ 14.27 hrs. Unfortunately the birds at Tarbes have been held over. The racepoint is in a full cloud cover spanning northwards around 100 miles coming in from the Bay Of Biscay. We will review again tomorrow morning. Steve White Race Advisor, Phil Leech Chief Convoyer.

 

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 3.35.04 PM WhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 3.35.16 PMWhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 3.35.28 PMWhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 3.35.40 PM

 

 

Fri 22/7 @ 13.01 hrs: We have full cloud cover at the racepoint. We will continue to monitor this in the next few hours. Steve White, Race Advisor.

 WhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 1.03.44 PM

WhatsApp Image 2022 07 22 at 1.01.49 PM

 

Fri 22/7: There will be no liberation from Tarbes this morning due to a wide band of thunderery rain moving in westerly through central France and Brittany this afternoon and this evening. We will review again this afternoon.
Steve White Race Advisor, Phil Leech Chief Convoyer.

 

Birds at Tarbes liberation point, relaxing.

 

Birds being fed and watered at Caen, Bordeaux services and Tarbes.

 

 

Thurs 21/7 @ 12:07 hrs.  When our convoy arrived at Pau early this morning, the liberation spot was under construction / being dug up and our transporter could not get onto the liberation site.

After contacting the site agent and the RPRA and after getting permission / a new permit etc, the convoy is currently moving / moved to the closest liberation site available which is Tarbes.

Tarbes race distances have been got and will be copied onto the Pau Int race this afternoon.  We wish you/those competing, the best of luck in the Grand National now from Tarbes.