The
Biss Strain
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In
this article I refer to a strain of racing pigeons
that are truly extraordinary. It is a family
that the founder, Jim Biss, cultivated for well
nigh 60 years since he first decided in the
1930s to create a strain capable of winning
from 60 up to 800 miles. Now although I have
previously expressed doubt if there is any family
of racing pigeons that could be defined as an
'all rounder', for there are horses for courses,
so to speak, if my tendency to think as above
is to be refuted then the Biss strain is the
one that may have that potential. However, my
interest in the Jim Biss creation is the strain's
achievements at the long and marathon distances
and successes of this strain were not restricted
to Biss himself, for there are scores of fanciers
who have experienced success with the family.
At
the base of the Biss strain are a number of
the old English families which have, in the
main, apparently passed on into history, being
supplemented over time by representatives of
the Commines i.e. of the Super Crack lines and
the enduring Stichelbauts. An important input
into the family in its early days was a pigeon
known as the Donachy Hen, which was a grand-
daughter of a famous hen which won over 800
pounds sterling in a race from St Sebastian
into Liverpool, England, in the early nineteen
thirties for a Mr Cope. In fact, the bloodlines
of this great breeder can still be found in
the strain today. For example, the great Natrix
of the family traces back to the Donachy Hen
over generations. These Bloodlines have achieved
the following results in NFC Nationals from
Pau into England (645 miles): 1991- 32nd, 34th,
62th, 140th, 260, -( 4,992 birds) 1993- 1st,
2nd, 7th, 21st, 30th, 38th, 65th, 74th, 79th,
85th, 105th, 198th, 227th, - (5,423 birds) 1994-
38th, 51st, 104th, 202nd, 222nd, 319th, 407th,-
(4,976 birds) 1995- 52nd, 73rd, 120th, 312th,
337th, 396th, 417th, 432nd, 441st, 460th, -
(5,482 birds) 1996- 71st, 77th, 81st, 127th,
218th, 369th, 377th, 494th, 525th, 557th, 608th,
613th, 626th, 629th, - (4,976 birds) 1997- 3rd,
4th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 47th, 114th, 205th,
207th, 227th, 322th, 3336th, 386th - (3,466
birds).
Let
us jump to other results in the NFC races and
the Biss pigeons who recorded them: starting
with last year (2004) when Glazer was 3rd NFC
Grand National Pau; Engage in 2003 recording
27th Pau / Saintes NFC after winning 11th position
from Pau in 2002; Dasher scoring 44th Grand
National Pau in 2002 and 19th in 1999; Basher
being 261st in the Grand National from San Sebastian
in 2001 flying 661 miles after recording 22nd
Open Pau in 1998; then there is Emboli who was
341st Open NFC Pau in 2000 but who has added
10th and 5th Open Pau in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
Surely enough said!
Of
course, the latter results are just a dip in
the ocean, for the Biss family of great flyers
has won numerous
sections, numerous averages and numerous trophies
covering all aspects of pigeon racing into the
United Kingdom in its entirety, which would
require more space than I have here available.
Those results confirm the greatness of the Biss
strain, which in the opinion of many objective
pigeon sports people is the greatest English,
if not British, strain ever. In fact, the great
Emil Denys wrote, in a letter to Jim Biss 'You
did not buy for commercial reasons, you purchased
because you wanted to create a Super- family
of long distance pigeons... I think you own
one of the best long distance families in the
world'.
Yes
at Brundall Lofts near Norwich, in the county
of Norfolk, England, a great master of the sport
of pigeon racing participated daily in the joy
of expert managerial activity, which is no exaggeration
for therein lies the reason, the basis, for
the phenomenal success of this wonderful strain,
a decades- long and total commitment to the
sport which he loved. Within those years, Jim
Biss, in 1992, formed a partnership with
Tony Waite and extended his work to the latter's
home at Whitchurch, Hampshire, England, an arrangement
which proved valuable to both, for the partnership
in 1996 clocked 25 birds in an hour and recorded
many positions in the first 50 Open, including
1st Open National in 1993, as recorded above.
Then in 1998 the partners won 1st Open Palamos
(679 miles) with the British Barcelona Club.
The maestro bred all the pigeons from his champion
stock at Hillside and (from coming together
as partners) Tony Waite raced them
from his home at Hampshire. (Tony Waite entered
the sport in about 1969 and had experienced
success
with pigeons prior to his association with Biss.)
Some
may argue that the status bestowed upon Jim
Biss in this article and elsewhere may be premature,
if not exaggerated. Such an argument will not
and can not stand up to objective scrutiny for
the facts speak for
themselves and there are numerous successes
by the Biss family of pigeons which support
the opinion of
this author. I have no doubt that history will
validate and vindicate the greatness of the
Biss strain but, in stating that opinion, I
don't believe that is necessary!
by: Liam O Comain
