2009 Results

The combine pointscore was a close affair with a tie for first between Leo & Terry & June & Graeme Davison. A strong finish to the year saw the team of Col, Sue & Leanne Lane finish not far behind in third position.

The winning bird was a two year old hen which arrived early the next morning & belonged to June & Graeme Davison from Towradgi. Second place went to Dave & Michael Thompson from Albion Park Oak Flats with a young hen. Third position was taken out by Frank Raschilla of Towradgi with a two year old hen.

The fastest three birds in the Fed also took the placings in the John Graham Young Bird Derby.

Regards

Trevor Gasseling

SCF Race Secretary

The combination of extreme weather conditions & the late liberation really tested the birds with only 7 pigeons managing to make it home on the day.

Fastest in the Fed this week was Paul Barnes. Second place was taken out by Terry Cooper, while third went to Steve Pjevac. All three birds were young hens & all three come from the Towradgi club.

Regards

Trevor Gasseling

SCF Race Secretary

A magnificent effort from all the birds that managed to make it home. Special mention to the winning bird which was waiting on the grass outside the loft when it’s owner went down to check if he had any at 5:05am on the second day – clearly arriving in the dark.

Fastest in the Fed this week was Chris Marshall of the Dapto club clocking a two year old boy. Second place went to Kevin & Jan Pearson from Berkeley club clocking a two year old hen. Third place went to Richard & Heather Whitehead of the Towradgi club.

Thanks to the efforts of the Long Distance Committee the prize for the winner was a very healthy $1,000.

Please find below the official liberation report.

Liberation Report – Launceston 8th Sep, 2009.

At 5:50am the liberation committee discussed weather conditions at Launceston and on route home. The following points were noted:

• There had been showers at Launceston during the night but there had been no rain at Launceston area since 1:30am until the time of the discussion just before 6:00am.
• The winds were light SW at Launceston with overcast skies.
• Sunrise at Launceston was 6:30am and it was agreed that the birds be liberated no earlier than 30 minutes after sunrise.
• The weather across Bass Straight was clear of rain with stronger SW winds forecast.
• There was rain around the Melbourne area and this was considered to be well west of the flight path the birds would take.
• The coastline from Wilson’s Promontory north was clear of rain.
  

The liberator at Launceston was contacted just after 6:00am and he reported that the weather was overcast but looked to be suitable for liberation. The liberation committee consulted and agreed to liberate the birds at 7:00am and the liberator was given the go ahead to liberate the birds at that time.

Some time soon after that decision was made a light shower passed over Launceston. The BoM reported that 2mm fell between 6:00am and 7:00am. An attempt was made to call the liberator to discuss the weather but that call failed to get through.

At 7:40am the liberator called to advise that there had been a light shower after talking to the liberation committee and he had waited for that shower to pass. He reported that he had released the birds at 7:15am into clear but overcast skies. The birds were reluctant to leave and the big mob kept circling back trying to pick up approx 10 pigeons that would not leave. He reported that all birds had cleared the release point after 30 minutes.

The weather remained clear across Bass Straight during the morning and it was only during mid afternoon that a band of rain moved across from the west and was evident north from Bateman’s Bay.

The liberation committee would like to note that the liberator in Launceston has been associated with the liberation of birds from Launceston for over 50 years and we have the utmost confidence in his abilities and judgment as a liberator. As always, the liberator on site has the final say on the liberation; taking into account the conditions at the time of the liberation. The call to liberate at Launceston this year was made with the understanding of the weather conditions at the time and by unanimous agreement of the liberation committee and with full compliance of our liberation protocol.

Any SCF member who has information contrary to this official liberation report is welcome to put their concerns in writing to the SCF Committee. This information will be presented to a full SCF Committee so that they can assess if improvements can be made to our liberation protocols.

Regards
Trevor Gasseling
SCF Race Secretary

IGBF Results 2009 - 3rd Lakes Entrance

The bids were tested this week with the winds turning to the North on the journey home. The winning pigeon had 6 minute gap on the rest of the field. Reports were that the birds returned tired but in reasonably good shape.

Fastest in the Federation this week was Aiden Cavill from Dapto, clocking a young hen. Second position went to Paul & Kathy Breeze of Albion Park-Oak Flats club clocking a young hen. Third place this week went to the Cavill Bros of Dapto - they clocked a young hen.

Regards

Cheers - Trevor Gasseling

SCF Race Secretary

Fastest in the Federation this week was Brian Rea from Lake Illawarra, clocking a young hen. Second position went to June & Graham Davison of Towradgi clocking a young boy. Third place this week was Ron & Bill Bird of the Lake Illawarra club clocking a two year old hen.

There were only a few birds that managed to get in front of the rest. The best bird in the Fed was almost 15 minutes in front of the best birds outside the top 10.

Fastest in the Federation this week was Joe Monteleone of the Ocean Beach club, clocking a young hen. Second position was taken by June & Graham Davison from the Towradgi club, with a young hen. Third place went to Leo & Terry Sylvester of Berkeley also clocking a young hen.

This week's race from 2nd Mallacoota will see the running of the SCF Charity Race to raise fund for the ParaMeadows School. Entry is $30 with flyers to pick 3 birds & clock their best two to obtain an average velocity. Friday night we will be at the Fraternity Club for the sponsor's draw, loft auction & a special performance by students of the school. Hope you all get along to support the great work done by the Charity committee.

Regards

Cheers - Trevor Gasseling

SCF Race Secretary