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The Races.
Pau 2009
Having been marked on Tuesday 16th June the convoy of 7,679 pigeons, consisting of Belgium 2,036, Netherlands 2,750, France 1,518, Germany 1,005, Luxembourg 40 and Britain 330 arrived at Pau at 1830 cet on Thursday 18th June. This gave them time for an overnight rest, feed and drink ready for liberation on Friday.
Steve Appleby’s weather forecast made a liberation look possible:-
WEATHER PIGEON LINE OF FLIGHT WEATHER
UPDATED THURSDAY 18TH JUNE AT 16:30 HOURS.
Examining tomorrow‘s weather conditions in relation to the line of flight from southern France to England there is one main factor to consider. A weak weather front is moving down towards southern France from the north. This belt of cloud will be positioned over or near race points very early on Friday morning before moving away south eastwards. If heavy grey skies persist over these race points a liberation sky will not become available delaying any liberation. (As we all know pigeons if released in these conditions will certainly circle round any race point searching for their bearings leaving the race point then coming back. A good start is so essential.) On the other hand because this cloud bank is moving through high pressure as it travels southwards the chances are that breaks will appear in the cloud allowing liberation's. If the birds are released they will have a clear flight path to England. The channel will also be clear and under good conditions. Wind from the North West force 3 or 4. Some showery activity could affect the east side of England around midday before moving off the flight path over the North Sea. So to conclude providing convoyer’s are happy with race point conditions then good steady racing is almost certain.
Steve Appleby
The weather in France on Friday however was not entirely suitable, with rain in many parts, and so they were held over until Saturday 20th June. Steve Appleby’s forecast looked good for a Saturday liberation:-
WEATHER PIGEON LINE OF FLIGHT WEATHER
UPDATED Friday 19TH JUNE AT 16:05 HOURS.
Well I can forecast with a fair amount of confidence that tomorrow will be a good day for channel racing. The rain belt that generated over France today will move south over the sea this evening leaving a clear night. This was responsible today for holdovers in France. Tomorrow will dawn bright with the sun soon making an appearance giving the green light for liberation's to go ahead. Winds over France excluding the far south will come from the North West. The channel is forecast to be affected by varying amounts of cloud with sunny intervals. Visibility will be very good and winds again from the North West moderate force 4. So fingers crossed looking good tomorrow.
Steve Appleby
Sure enough on Saturday 20th June 2009 they were liberated at 0650 cet (0550 UK time) into what was described as a weak North East wind.
Steve Appleby’s weather forecast made a liberation look possible:-
WEATHER PIGEON LINE OF FLIGHT WEATHER
UPDATED THURSDAY 18TH JUNE AT 16:30 HOURS.
Examining tomorrow‘s weather conditions in relation to the line of flight from southern France to England there is one main factor to consider. A weak weather front is moving down towards southern France from the north. This belt of cloud will be positioned over or near race points very early on Friday morning before moving away south eastwards. If heavy grey skies persist over these race points a liberation sky will not become available delaying any liberation. (As we all know pigeons if released in these conditions will certainly circle round any race point searching for their bearings leaving the race point then coming back. A good start is so essential.) On the other hand because this cloud bank is moving through high pressure as it travels southwards the chances are that breaks will appear in the cloud allowing liberation's. If the birds are released they will have a clear flight path to England. The channel will also be clear and under good conditions. Wind from the North West force 3 or 4. Some showery activity could affect the east side of England around midday before moving off the flight path over the North Sea. So to conclude providing convoyer’s are happy with race point conditions then good steady racing is almost certain.
Steve Appleby
The weather in France on Friday however was not entirely suitable, with rain in many parts, and so they were held over until Saturday 20th June. Steve Appleby’s forecast looked good for a Saturday liberation:-
WEATHER PIGEON LINE OF FLIGHT WEATHER
UPDATED Friday 19TH JUNE AT 16:05 HOURS.
Well I can forecast with a fair amount of confidence that tomorrow will be a good day for channel racing. The rain belt that generated over France today will move south over the sea this evening leaving a clear night. This was responsible today for holdovers in France. Tomorrow will dawn bright with the sun soon making an appearance giving the green light for liberation's to go ahead. Winds over France excluding the far south will come from the North West. The channel is forecast to be affected by varying amounts of cloud with sunny intervals. Visibility will be very good and winds again from the North West moderate force 4. So fingers crossed looking good tomorrow.
Steve Appleby
Sure enough on Saturday 20th June 2009 they were liberated at 0650 cet (0550 UK time) into what was described as a weak North East wind.
The wind map shows that light North East wind which promised a fair and testing race without being to harsh. The early times, registered at PIPA, clearly came from the shorter flyers and provided an anxious wait to see if the longer distances brought faster times. Generally speaking it did not. Rain in the more northern parts of Germany and Holland brought no assistance.
When Bill Woodall heard the liberation time he said there could well be day birds into the UK. How close he was. Not to his lofts, unfortunately for him, but just down the road, still in Dover, came a hen, GB06N21726, to the loft of L & K Buddle timed at 20:34:13 and she was followed by a cock timed at 21:23:40. Quite a fantastic achievement that will give a boost to International Racing in the UK for sure. The provisional result, going down to the first 100, shows that the Buddle hen has just been squeezed out of the top 100, where she was placed for awhile, however it is a fantastic achievement nevertheless and we await to see just where she figured in both the Open and Hens race. This hen was placed 60th B.I.C.C., Tarbes International 2008.
Provisional Top 100 International
B.I.C.C. Provisional Result
Netherlands Result