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Barcelona, the second race of the season and to many the most prestigious, presents an entirely different set of problems. First of all it is longer, 708 miles on a direct route to London, but secondly and perhaps more importantly the liberation point lies behind the Pyraneas not in front of them. This means that the pigeons must either go over the top of these mountains or around them. Just looking at the panoramic view below you can again see the red line which marks the direction of London. It sits neatly to the edge of the Pyraneas which simply get higher as you go West. Only to the East lies a more optimistic view. This panorama sets out the real territory which you can see in a photograph HERE . (This was taken from the Montjuic Castle, very close to the liberation point, and the direction to London is in middle view when the number in the bottom right corner is on 350. )
When you look at the route elevations below you can see that a direct route to London would involve passing over mountains in excess of 8,000 feet, that is almost 3 times higher than anything in the UK. Pigeons may well fly at these altitudes but probably only if they really have to.
Invitingly an alternative does suggest itself, the Rhone Valley. The route path shown via the Rhone Valley goes from Barcelona out round the coast and across to Arles, then up through the valley to Lyon and Dijon before striking across to London. This of course is merely a possible route, as you will see involving elevations of only about 1500 feet, but such a deviation does add considerably to the flying distance, rising from 708 to 885 miles.
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The International Barcelona
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It's the International Barcelona this weekend - what more can be said about this race that hasn't been said already? One thing is certain this race is not the result of a breakaway. It would be impossible for a breakaway club, the staple open club of the UK, to go on and grow into a world class International club. Breakaways don't have it in them to do this sort of thing - They restrict rather than grow - they envy rather than praise - they control rather than grant freedom. The International Barcelona is not that sort of thing at all - everyone is welcome regardless of country.
At the time I write this we do not even have a clue which country is going to win never mind where it is likely to be won. It could be Germany - it could be Belgium or the Netherlands - it could be France all have a chance because it is they who are the countries that send the minimum entry to stand a real chance. Other countries, including the UK, take part of course but to be honest they do not have a good chance because apart from the big guys (Netherlands, Belgium Germany and France) they are not in the show for high hopes of the big prize they are in it for a lesser reward that of actually timing in and a few of their members actually getting in the result, for the top quarter of the whole entry (some six thousand pigeons) get published. That is reward enough for most fanciers that is why a lot try to send really experienced pigeons. These experienced pigeons can be as old as eight years of age. The thinking behind this strategy is that experienced pigeons are not about to go off in a direction that is not heading towards home. These experienced pigeons are not followers they are steady pigeons that fly towards home not wasting their energy. Take the Champion of Robert Ben - "Super Ben" this pigeon actually improved as he got older particularly at Barcelona, so experience does pay off in a race of this kind provided the elder pigeon still has enough youthful vigour to complete the course above 800 mpm - below that you are at a disadvantage for another system than kicks in and only allows over fly at that speed. So get experienced pigeons - get over 800 mpm and more to the point get your country to send more pigeons so they too can join the big four and have a real chance of winning.
John Clements
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The Gulf
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With only five of the 300 plus British entrants timed in on the winning day at 13.45, 14.11, 14.26, 17.28 and 18.11 respectively perhaps the gulf, that is the Channel, between Britain and the continent is well illustrated by the timings of one loft.
Robert Ben, just the other side of the Channel in Calais, is of course an exceptional pigeon flyer and his first timing from Barcelona 2008 was an exceptional pigeon. Timed at 05.19 (all timings shown are British time for direct comparison) F03-628622 (Pedigree )provisionally wins the French National and 3rd International and like many of Robert's pigeons continues to improve with age having been 182nd International Barcelona in 2007 and 181st National Barcelona in 2006. Robert then had to wait for over two hours before he timed his second pigeon at 07.43, which is still a very respectable pigeon. He then had to wait for just under two hours before the rest of the team started to arrive with timings at 09.03, 09.06, 09.08, 09. 37 (This pigeon F99-26871 has now been timed 7 times out of 7 from Barcelona finishing 967th International 2007 and 18th National 2006) 09.38, 10.07, 10.12, 10.48, 11.07, 11.24 and 12.26.
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German winners
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The loft of Rutz and Son located in Altheim , Germany who are not unfamiliar with International success enjoyed a spectacular Barcelona this year.
Their first pigeon was timed at 06.11 (05.11 UK time) to record a velocity of 1115.54 m/m making them provisionally 1st National, 18th International. This little blue chequer hen, 0709-06-943, (Pedigree ) would have been good enough on her own but she was closely followed by a blue hen, 0709-05-379 (Pedigree ) timed at 06.25 taking 3rd National, 38th International and then to complete the trio a red cheque hen, 0709-06-946, (Pedigree ) timed at 07.04 to take 4th National, just missing the top 100 International.
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Middelharnis
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Jan Polder sends through the result for the Middelharnis Marking Station, where 36 fanciers sent 233 pigeons, with great pleasure.
 At Pau he said of his own performnce "Unfortunately not a very early pigeon-" but here at the premier race of the season he got a really early pigeon taking 1st at the Middelharnis Station and provisionally 40th International. This winning pigeon, NL03-1083586 "NADAL", (Pedigree ) was timed at 09.40 for the 1165.942 km producing a velocity of 1092.3 m/m. This cock is a full brother to "DOLORES" who was 16th National Bercelona in 2005. The Dam is "DELTA QUEEN" a super breeding pigeon and Dam of Jan's first, second and fourth pigeons in this race.
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North Holland
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Jelle Outhuisje reports:- 
The first position at the Steenwijkerworld Marking Station goes to Auke Smid of Zwaagwesteinde who timed an eight year old widowhood cock at 11.56. Auke Smid lives well to the North flying 1354km and this produced a velocity of 1123 m/m, quite amazing considering his location.
 This pigeon, NL00-4202308, will provisionally win 5th National and 15th International. On the Sire's side it is a combination of H. Brinkman x Jan Ernest while the Dam comes from Gebr van Dooren from Someren and originates from a cock from van F Derks and a daughter of the "Jorrit" of Jan Theelen.
 The second pigeon, for A. Settels of Giethoorn was timed at 11.41 at a distance of 1299 km. producing a velocity of  1094 mpm. This pigeon, NL06-4278735, wins 20th National and its breeding is 75% Orhan line, Gebr Brugeman-Assendelft and 25% Gebr Limburg. Mr Settels, who is 41 and a thatcher by profession, with his son has flown at Steenwijkerwold for 4 years from this address. They keep 40 nesting pairs in order to take part in the racing and there are 15 breeding pairs and approximately 75 young pigeons on the loft. Their largest wish is winning Barcelona.
The third and the fourth pigeons go to P Bruinenberg of Steenwijk . He clocks these two pigeons together at 11.59 at a distance of 1305 km. giving 1083 mpm. They win 37th and 38th National. Of the 15 pigeons he sent he timed 5 pigeons in the first 100 nationally. Absolute class. Unfortunatly there was a problem with the timing of the second pigeon so it seems this 38th position will be lost.
Of the first 100 pigeons nationally 9 were from the Inkorfcentrum Steenwijkerwold:- 5th Auke Smid, 20th A. Settels, 37th, 38th and 50th P. Bruinenberg, 79 th D vd Berg, 90th and 91st P. Bruinenberg and 99th H. Brinkman.
Myself, I sent 5 pigeons and clocked at 14.56 my first nomination and at 15.02 my second pigeon. I had three from the five on the day. These first two pigeons will get in the tail of the result. Next year I will improve, I hope.
Afdeling 12.
Hans Knestch of Katwijk just missed the top prize in Afdeling 12 taking 2nd, 6th and 44th the first two of which make the provisional International top 100 at 31st and 74th while Jan Dirk van Egmond timed two pigeons at 11.50 and 11.52 to take 39th and 42nd Adf. 12 and, if it is not incredible enough to time two pigeons within two minutes from Barcelona, in the 2007 Barcelona race he timed these same two pigeons within 5 mins of each other.
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