'Whithering Hope Star' wins the NEHU Bourges Classic after 12 hours & 13 minutes on the wing from 559 miles and 811 yards.
Nestled in the heart of the former South East Durham coal fields lies the village of Easington Colliery, it is to this location (which provided the backdrop for the film Billy Elliot) that the latest winner of the NEHU Bourges Classic returned for his proud owner Jackie Shafto.
Named "Whithering Hope Star" after the allotment site where Jackie's loft is situated, he has made a star of himself and his owner and goes into the record books of the NEHU & UNC from Bourges.
After 12 hours and 13 minutes he raced home to his typical allotment loft which over looks the "Miners Welfare" to the South and has an amazing view to the Coastal towns of Hartlepool and further away Saltburn and the cliff's to the South East, it is a great spot to fly pigeons into when the weather is good, but certainly not for the faint hearted when there is East in the wind and a "sea fret" kicks in.
Jackie's interest lies in the Combine & NEHU Classic races and as such his small team of widowhood cocks are prepared using the earlier Inland programme as and when it is felt necessary to get them ready for the real target. Based upon upon Karel Hermans/Janssen & Van Loon bloodlines they can rightly be described as Shafto's as he has created a team of pigeons that are at home in the North East and are formidable competitors when racing from France. Check through the NEHU open results from Bourges for the past seasons and the name J Shafto regularly occurs and notice of intent for the 2012 Bourges race was served 14 days prior to Bourges from Clermont when 24th, 54th & 74th UNC was taken from 6,048 pigeons at a distance of 407 miles from an entry of 5 widowhood cocks.
Jackie Shafto and Stu Fawcett
On verification his club mate confirmed the pigeons lifted the weekend before Clermont and were exercising exceptionally well and appeared to step up a gear which has been confirmed at the last two channel races.
Congratulations again Jackie.
1st J Shafto - South East Durham Fed (UNC) 1342.7 ypm
2nd Stobbs Bros & Mosey - Consett Fed (WDA) 1340.0 ypm
3rd Open is to close to call at the moment.
