THE MALCOLM GIBBONS SPONSORED MAIDSTONE NATIONAL MONDAY 9TH MAY BIRDS LIBERATED AT ,,0700 WIND ... VARIABLE SOUTHERLY. welsh national flying club# D K FLOWERS 1ST NOTH SECTION 1ST OPEN MAIDSTONE
the first event of the welsh national flying club 2011 campaign got underway on monday 9th may with the malcolm gibbons sponsored winers trophy maidstone national an average distance of 160 miles ,
basketing for this race was delayed for 48 hours in light of poor weather conditions over the coming days and basketing was discribed as steady at most marking stations ,we believe the numbers would be down as quite a few members were committed to working on the day of liberation and whilst flying in thier domestic clubs and taking advantage of electronic timing they wouldnt have been available to varify their arrivals within the designated 2hours so decided to stay away
monday morning opened up with broken skies and a brisk south easterly wind on site,the strings were cut at 0700 and reports from fanciers who were present at the liberation indicated that the birds cleared in no time and were heading for home, the weather on the home end however was turning due south crossing over the welsh boarders,and there was also the threat of showers forming which the convoy would run into closer to home
folowing on from this was the issue of some members submitting incorrect distances due to the change of the liberation site this added additional work to unravel the final result however we finally got there
leading the field with yet another outstanding performance was the pontypool loft of dereck flowers with 1st north section 1st open ,timing in a yearling on a velocitiy of 1560.5,this loft as previous reported and publicised are no strangers to top flight racing within the pricipality over the past couple years having an outstanding 2010 season within the wnfc with two first nationals ,
,second and third north section and open we head up to the rhymney valley lofts of paul hares from aberbargoed timing in two in a matter of seconds a two year old on 1560.05.and a yearling 1559 ,my praise and gratitude goes to paul for his honesty and sportsmanship as on the day of the race he was annouced as the probable winner he dually notified me to indicate that the distances used were in fact incorrect and mr flowers would on his calculations be in front on decimals
1st centre section 4th open its the loft of g&m clayton bros positiond in crumlin in the risca valley this partnership timed a yearling on 1558, finishing off the sections the south section winners were in newport at the loft of kidd and cooke on 1536
well we finally got underway ,next week we move on to folkestone for the second inland race before crossing over to english channel for our first continental race from lilliers, its here we welcome our north walian members from the north wales coast federation and surrounding areas, we believe momentom is gathering up there to participate within the welsh national fc but only time will tell in regards to new members jioning .for any further information regarding basketing times your contact is brian jones at trefnant on 01745 330754
on finishing may we inform the members that wolfscastle marking station in cardiff will be closed for folkestone this is due to the bereavment of mrs fishlock the mother of our marking station secretary im sure you jion us in passing on our condolences to the partnership of fishlock brs & son and there families on their loss
here as always are a few early times from around the sections