DOUG McCLARY'S

RACING & SHOWING TOPICS

Roger and Maureen Cutforth of Plymouth with Doug at Kunyung Road.

Warming up

Yes, the weather is warming up and already we are experiencing mid-twenty temperatures and of course with the warmth come the flies.  The Australian fly is a real pest and I can understand why hard-bitten Aussies wear the wide brimmed hats with corks dangling around the outside.  If I finally relent and get one I will let you know dear reader.

The Rugby

I felt so very proud of the England team in the final against South Africa.  Given just a little luck and a video referee other than an Australian, they could have won it and they reminded me of the team of four years ago which was so brilliant and the likes of which we may never see again.  I couldn’t watch the match live because we were on the overnight ferry en-route to Tasmania.  I didn’t want to be told the score but managed to find a pub in the middle of Launceston which agreed to play the match on the big screen.  Apparently Tasmania is not a rugby playing State so there was no other interest in the match other than my own.  I sat there on a Sunday afternoon with glasses of Guinness enjoying every moment.  I think I caused a stir when the try that was declared not a try was scored as I shouted with elation. That apart, England proved to be every bit as good as the formidable South African team who were extremely relieved when the final whistle sounded having absorbed a considerable and prolonged pounding.  I could imagine all my friends in Wales supporting the English! (Irony)!

Tasmania

Our visit across was a memorable one.  We enjoyed two smooth crossings, which were night sailings and cabins.  The State is a lovely one, rather English in character – or perhaps like England was a matter of four or five decades ago.  The hawthorn hedges were out in full flower and seemed almost like British hedgerows.  There was a gentle nature to everything we saw and the people we met.  This of course was one of the main reception areas for convicts in the early days.  I didn’t have time to go to Port Arthur which was the centre of the imprisonment, perhaps half afraid I may have met someone called McClary with a questionable past!

We toured a fair bit of the time, enjoying some of the mountain parks where the roads are dirt tracks for many miles with little sign of civilization. (whatever that means).  To return from Hobart in the south to Devonport in the North, we took a road classed as an ‘A’ road and were surprised to travel many miles over dirt and gravel.  Wherever we went we saw probably hundreds of dead wallabies by the road, also wombats and other wild life animals, indicating that there are many animals at large in this State of country, mountain and forest.

The Royal Hobart show

It is obviously one of the great occasions of the island and there is a public holiday for it.  The day after we judged we couldn’t understand who Post Offices were closed and then realized that it was a public day off.  Last week I mentioned some of the courtesies extended to us prior to the event and this continued after with a letter thanking us for traveling down for the show.  In my years in the sport I rather think that this is the first time I have been so thanked.  In fact, thinking back, after organizing Devon County show for fifteen years, and finally relinquishing the position, I don’t think I received a thank you. That organization seemed to be run by bowler-hatted nincompoops who were so full of themselves and their vanity that small livestock sections meant nothing. It was as I suggested, as England was a few decades ago.  I remember Melvyn Horn telling me years ago that he found Australia to be like this in general, and I feel sure that if he and Sheila managed Tasmania, this would come across to them.

I have judged at numerous shows throughout the world and these include many agricultural events but never were we afforded the experiences which came with the Royal Hobart appointment.  We were invited to receptions at Government House hosted by His Excellency the Governor and to the Town Hall in Hobart thanks to the Lord Mayor.  It added another dimension to the show and indicated the standing of the show in the events of Tasmania.

Arriving at the show we were met by Phil Young and introduced to exhibitors and officials in attendance.  We were faced with about 200 pigeons which presented a manageable but interesting task.  Unlike UK shows where show racers would have featured greatly, there were none to be seen at Hobart.  Instead there was an excellent selection of good quality birds including an excellent selection of racing birds which I found very much to my liking to complete my judging.

I started off on the carriers and what a terrific selection!  I did not expect to find carriers of such quality in Tasmania.  In fact the first bird I handled – the sole adult cock, was my eventual best in show winner with excellent wattles and cere formation, an excellent slim neck and in sparkling condition. This bird was owned by Brian Leedham of Ulverstone

Magpies were well represented and among the entries I found a lovely red Jacobin, a striking white Modena, some terrific Marcheneros, Damascenes and a good selection of Kings and Show Pen Homers.   The latter were very nice birds and the best I awarded to a young chequer hen, coming to hand in size and body to suit me as a show racer enthusiast. The winning bird was owned by the Toby Taylor and Rodney Donohue partnership of Hobart and Deloraine respectively.  There were other breeds of course, but these were the ones I recall.  The racers were put down in good show condition and my eventual choice was a substantial chequer WF short distance cock, which edged out a nearly white long distance class racer. The winner was owned by Matthew and Terise Hay and they are to be praised for putting the bird out in such good order.

I was presented with a finishing line-up of four pigeons.  The Carrier I have already mentioned, the racer, a show pen homer and a King.  My choice was the Carrier and I had already placed the lovely young Marchenero hen as my reserve fancy winner.  She performed throughout and I can well understand fanciers being fascinated by this lovely and vibrant breed so well done young Jake Hay for exhibiting the bird in such condition and winning the best junior award.  The Voorburgs were a good bunch but it proved to be difficult to get display out of any of them. The blower breeds really need to perform for the judge and despite a lot of encouragement they were just not there on the day.  Perhaps they were overcome by the occasion at being at the famous Royal Hobart. A feature of the show is the mid-morning picnic enjoyed by all judges and officials of the poultry/pigeon area.  You don’t go hungry in Hobart! Colin Lewis might like to know that his judging stick behaved well and has now been as far south as Hobart.

In general the birds were in excellent condition, indicating that the show fanciers of Tasmania are able to hold their own against the rest of Australia in terms of show preparation. Yes, of course there were some cases of pest parasites to be found but in the spring; it is so easy to miss the presence of these in the loft.  The day was a hot one and it follows that the heat brings them out of hiding.  That, is one of the hazards of pigeon showing.  My thanks to all concerned including Phil Young of course, other officials but especially to the exhibitors who were prepared to trust their birds to my scrutiny and opinion.  That, is all my judgement is worth – it is an opinion on the day and the next show with another judge will be another story.  For Ann and I, it was an experience we will long cherish as our first visit to the Apple Isle and to meeting some of the best in Tasmania.

Richard Clingan

I am saddened to report the death of Richard, formerly of Strabane but latterly of Rosedale in Victoria at the age of 58yrs.  He moved to Australia in 1991and eventually bought a farm of 130 acres in ‘the middle of nowhere’ and turned it into what I always described as an oasis of trees, livestock and wildlife.  Apparently he had planted 27,000 trees. He became editor of the Australasian Racing Pigeon Journal and brought together an excellent team of writers which has transformed the magazine into one of the best to be found in the world.  In pigeon circles he was as well known as anyone, proving to be a man of wisdom and ability.  We had met a couple of times but when I decided to move to Australia, he readily agreed to house my birds and together we travelled in to the quarantine station to collect them.  I could have asked for no more as the birds were cherished as his own.  I always felt old in his company for he told me that he had been reading about me for so many years although there was but a decade between us in ages. Richard loved his pigeons and was considerate to all livestock.  On his farm he had cared for a sulphur-crested cockatoo which had been rejected from its nest, was almost devoid of feathers and unable to fly. The bird was found a home just before Richard passed on and was one of many examples of his kindness to animals and birds.  

His funeral service was attended by many people with plenty having to stand throughout. It was the final tribute to a remarkable man whose presence and work had touched so many. To his wife Leanne and to his children may I extend the thoughts of the pigeon fancy here in Australia and whoever else knew this unique man.

My lofts

The picture of my lofts provoked some comment and a couple wondered that the water was in front of them.  This is the swimming pool which is quite a large, lagoon-type pool and rather nice in the heat of the day as there is quite a lot of shade under the palm trees.  I am sure that we have possums living in these trees but they don’t seem to bother me or the birds so I am happy to leave them to nature.

The kitchen has now been finished so we can get back to normal.  We have a striking granite work-top in dark coloured granite with all its mica particles and at night under the lights, it looks quite stunning.  Ann is delighted with it all and like me feels that ‘enough is enough’ as far as renovation is concerned.  We had granite back in the house in Lipari Court and Ann reckons it is terrific for rolling out the pastry on so some quality pasties coming up!

Content

A reader’s wife recently told me that she always reads my column because it is not just about pigeons and pigeon matters. I’m surprised she finds the time to read with all her line dancing! I hadn’t thought about it too much but of course this is the way I operate as when living in Australia I am bound to reflect the life here and I am always looking for something different to report.  I will always try to include mostly pigeon material but believe me, from another hemisphere this is not always easy.

Show time

Judging by the advertisements it is well and truly show time in the U.K.  How I would like to be at the National Young Bird show at Nottingham and at some of the other top events I have seen advertised or mentioned. I am shocked to hear that the Old Comrades will no longer cater for show racers so how the show has come down since those heady days under the Osman family.  With each successive owner/editor the decline has continued in the fortunes of this once great show and for those of us who can remember, the shows in London were fabulous events, full of tradition and pride.  I didn’t see a show at the Seymour Halls but of course knew of the Royal Horticultural Halls and the Alexandra Palace venues.  The stewards of those days under the likes of Ron Bissett, Tom Frost and Jim Mullan knew their tasks and knew of the legacy they represented. A win at the ‘Comrades’ was highly valued by the top showmen of the day and rightly so, for the show founded on the best of principles, supported the Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Ex-servicemen.

In all this, I am bound to wonder what has become of the British Show Racer Federation, established with the laudable aim of representing the showing side of the sport and being able to respond to threats to it.  When secretary and later President I would have stood my corner on such matters as the loss of one of the most famous pigeon shows in the world but perhaps the fanciers of today play out their own personal agenda and fail to see that what is lost today is lost for future generations within the sport.  Just imagine where the sport would be without the foresight of the late Major Len Lewis who produced the Show of the Year at Doncaster, then took it to Blackpool.  Without Blackpool and the Edinburgh International where would National shows be found?  I am so sad to note this decline.

Blackpool

Yes, plans are well advanced for the Blackpool show and once again I will have to give it a miss!  It’s a long way to travel for a pigeon show! One Australian who will be there however is Dr Colin Walker the avian veterinary who is attending for the first time and already sounding most excited by the prospect.  Although a top racing man with a fabulous range of lofts, Colin and his son James have a good stud of show racers and some other breeds.  I am sure he will be made most welcome.

Tommy Jones

John Robilliard rang to tell me that our mutual friend Tommy Jones of Clacton, formerly of Hornchurch has died.  John and I stayed with Tommy and Joan on many occasions while attending the Old Comrades shows in London.  Every time we stayed we were provided with tea and biscuits in bed and we always enjoyed our visits to be able to see Tom’s birds and immaculate lofts. Tom and Joan lived next door to Dick and Kath Hollins (secretary of the London Region) so there was always plenty of pigeon talk on our visits. I always rated Tom very highly as a showman and breeder and still believe that he was one of the best in the showing sport in his time.  On one such visit on going to the loft on Sunday morning I couldn’t take my eyes off a white mealy cock and asked whether he could be bought.  I travelled home with this bird and the following year the mealy won first at the Old Comrades under Reg Jarvis.  The following year his son, a mealy cock – the Medallion Cock won its class at the Old Comrades under Brian Seward, so for the price of the mealy I had two Comrades wins and of course the Medallion cock went on to win and win for me.  Tom and Joan were the nicest of people and on behalf of showmen past and present I send her my best wishes for her future.  Tom and Bill Meader traveled together for many years and always remained in touch.

Many of the modern fanciers will not know of the Tommy Jones era but I know as many appreciate that he was a master fancier especially at breeding and conditioning.  He did not keep large numbers, nor show big teams but his birds were always there up with the best.  I hadn’t realized that John had arranged for Tom to receive an electric wheelchair from the proceeds of Blackpool –and I was so pleased to hear this, a good cause for a good pigeon fancier.

Meningitis Trust

It was good seeing the photo of our General Manager still walking long sponsored events for the Spencer Daymen Meningitis Trust.  This is an excellent charity so members wishing to sponsor Peter will know that they are supporting a really worthwhile cause.

A Welsh Roger

In my notes on the Royal Welsh show I made reference to Roger Sexton and stated that it was a name not known to me.  I was delighted to hear from Roger who hails from the Swansea area. How good to have a Swansea show racer enthusiast following the demise of Dave Williams.  Tom Morgan and I often mention Dave and wish that he was still with us to discuss the rugby!  Anyway Roger has taken up show racers after a racing career which was probably curtailed because of ‘pigeon lung’.  He keeps about 30 show racers of mainly red and opal mosaic colouring and states his gratitude to Jim Fitzpatrick for birds and good advice.  Roger is now the ring secretary of the Monmouth SRS and as a special challenge he is organizing a Welsh Show Racer Championship open show for December the 27th.  I sincerely hope that this event takes off as it will add a much needed boost to the showing calendar.  I will be pleased to help in any way and if fanciers require further information Roger can be found at Plasderi, 188 Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais, Swansea SA 9 1QT.

Plymouth maestro

Welcome visitors to Kunyung Road soon after we moved in were Roger and Maureen Cutforth with their daughter Rachel.  Roger and Maureen were staying with Rachel and from Australia going on to Samoa for Rachel’s wedding.  Maureen tells me that this went off very well and that there is a happy event to make them grandparents for the first time.  Roger, who has been a top Plymouth flier has been poorly of late but is having regular checks so is most optimistic.  They will be over for Christmas so here’s hoping they will find time for another Kunyung visit.                                                          

Devon and Cornwall SRS

The Society kicked off its new season with the annual young bird show where the judges were Roland and David Thresher.  Secretary Jill Fisher sent me the full result and it came as a pleasant surprise to see the name of Ralph Howman back in showing and winning mode after an absence of some years. Ralph took five of the classes and was best opposite sex with a red chequer cock.  Mervyn Patt won the show with his only class winner, a mealy hen.  The J & D Fisher team took two classes, John Robilliard three, Mr and Mrs Carter three and Mike Horner making his journey down from Hampshire with four of the red cards.  There was an excellent entry of 195 – probably one of the best supported young bird shows in the Society for some years.

For consistency of judging, a look at the results show that in thirteen classes, one exhibitor won at least two of the main three cards indicating that the judges when they found something they liked stuck to type and form.

Concluding thoughts

That seems to be my lot for another time and I must be running out of space.  The items to mention seem tom have come more easily this time round.  Next time I will have the second Devon and Cornwall show, the first event of the Scottish (East) SRS and details of my final show of the season at the Dandenong Agricultural event.  That provides me with a start for another time but as always I am looking out for news and views on shows and showing, indeed anything to do with pigeons.  My address is 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930, email douglas.mcclary@bigpond.com

12/11/07