Keith Mott Writes...

JOHN LOVELL

of Lincoln

One loft that I had great pleasure in visiting was that of the late, great John Lovell, a fancier I had admired for many years. John must have been the greatest long distance north roader of all time, winning five times 1st. open and three times 2nd. open in the mighty North Road Championship Club. John won the N.R.C.C. “King’s Cup” from Lerwick three times, the last time in 1989 with his good blue chequer hen,”Shetland Ede”. This Albert Bennett / Van Bruaene hen was raced on the natural system and won £3,057 when she lifted the “King’s Cup” from Lerwick. John also won the N.R.C.C. from Perth (twice) and 2nd. open Lerwick (twice), plus 2nd. open Perth. He hadn’t really raced in the Federation since 1989, flying only in the N.R.C.C., but previous to that was top prize winner in the Peterborough Federation for nine years on the trot.

John was in the sport for over 60 years, only breaking for five years to do air crew duty in the R.A.F. and always raced North Road. He raced only the natural system and liked hens for the long distance races. His 48ft. racing loft was set on a hillside overlooking the wonderful city of Lincoln and had seven sections, four for old birds and three for youngsters. John kept 40 natural racing pairs and paired them up on 26th. February, to ensure that his birds were on their first set of eggs for Perth and the second set for the “King’s Cup” event from Lerwick. He fed his own mixture and increased the maize content just before Lerwick. The old birds had only one training toss per week, but flew well around the loft, which had open hole trapping, and sand on the floors. John’s stock loft was 18ft.x 6ft. with a wire flight, and the nest boxes inside were the size of race crates. This small loft housed six pairs of stock birds, which were mostly outstanding retired racers. John’s main families were Albert Bennett / Van Bruaene and Geoff Kirkland, which were crossed together with phenomenal success. He paired his birds on the eyesign method and had his first insight into the method from his friends, Jack Humphrey and Hugh Ambler. He kept about 40 young birds each season and started training at ten miles, going through stages up to the Humber, 33 miles, before the first race. All the youngsters raced through to the N.R.C.C. Berwick race, which was a flight of 186 miles to the Lincoln loft. John Lovell, one of our greatest fanciers!

ERIC FOX & SON

of Bakewell

I visited the wonderful county of Derbyshire for the “Many Miles with Mott” video several years ago, but one loft visit that was very special for me was the one I made to the great Eric Fox, who lived in Bakewell, a lovely town set in the Peak District countryside. Eric told me, in no uncertain terms, that the well known cake which comes from his home town is called Bakewell Pudding, and not Bakewell Tart, as I’ve always called it. Eric Fox’s performances in National racing through the years were endless, with the highlights being flying in the National Flying Club, four times 1st. Section Pau (683 miles), three times 1st. Section Nantes and 5th,7th,15th. and 46th. open.

Eric’s wonderful old lofts were set on the side of a disused quarry and the view from the main racing loft was staggering. The loft housed 20 pairs of stock birds and 20 pairs of racers. About 50 young birds were bred each season, but half these were sold, to cover the corn and racing bill. Young birds were never raced in the year of their birth, but given about 30 training tosses up to 50 miles. As yearlings they were sent to 500 miles plus and flew that on the day of liberation. Eric maintained, that by saving the young birds, they matured better and made better old birds for the long distance events. The whole loft was paired up in early March and Eric told me he had not been bothered with inland racing for over 30 years. He had always flown the natural system, with both his cocks and hens being outstanding, apart from one season when he decided to go widowhood. The season after the change over, he sent three natural hens to Pau (683 miles) and recorded 1st. and 2nd. Section, 7th. and 106th. open (6928 birds). The third hen came home two days later and so he decided to stay natural.

Since 1946, Eric only brought in 14 birds to add to his old base family, eight of these were from Albert Bennett. He raced only South Road , as he loved channel racing and was a member of the N.F.C., M.N.F.C. and the Darley Dale Club. Soon after my visit to his loft, Eric phoned me to say his champion red chequer cock,”57986”, had died of old age. What a fantastic pigeon he was, winning 2nd. section, 7th. open M.N.F.C. Angouleme (velocity 720), 1st. section, 46th. open N.F.C., 4585 birds, (velocity 666) and won Section K. by over ten hours. He was sire and grand sire of many winners from Nantes, Bordeaux, Bergerac, Saintes and Niort. The dam of “57986” was Eric’s good red hen, “59242”, winner of 2nd section, 106th. open N.F.C. Pau, 3rd. section, 323rd. open N.F.C. Pau. Eric told me his most thrilling experience in pigeons was owning and clocking his great blue chequer hen, “43286”, six times on the day from 520 miles, each time after 9.30am. A once in a life time pigeon! Eric Fox, another of our greatest long distance fanciers.

That’s it for this week! I hope my readers have enjoyed this article, as I think these fanciers are two of the greatest long distance flyers ever. I can be contacted on Tele: 01372 463480. See yer!