Keith Mott Writes...

KEN HINE

OF HAYES

Ken Hine was recently made a life vice president of the National Flying Club, after giving many years of hard work for the club, serving for Section E. on the committee. Through his many years in the sport, Ken has recorded countless premier performances in long distance races, including 1st. section E. 3rd Open Pau Grand National (565 miles) in the 2002 season.

Ken was born in Acton, West London, and was introduced to pigeon racing at a very early age, as both his father and grandfather were both fanciers. He had his first pigeons at the age of 16 and these were obtained from top fanciers including, Alf Baker, Tubby Tate and my late, great friend, Alex Fleming of Esher. Ken told me, that the one person he owes a big debt of gratitude to is, George Burgess of Wraybury, as his help and advice through many years has been beyond measure. It was the performances of Alf Baker and Tubby Tate which really enthused Ken, as a young man and he has always liked long distance racing. When he started up in the sport he lived in a flat and his small two section loft had to be sited in a borrowed garden. Those early days saw Ken race in the Chiswick North Road Club and was very successful at that time with Alex Fleming pigeons, bred on the ‘Derick’ and ‘Bubbles’ lines. Ken says, every fancier makes mistakes when they first start up pigeon racing, but the secret is to learn from them. Ken says, he often thinks back to the early days and the pigeons he has owned, with one of the best being a chequer pied cock, bred in 1964 and named ‘Garth’. He thinks if he had that great old pigeon today, he would be in with a chance of winning the Pau National.

Ken’s present loft set up is large, which he says is a matter of personal choice, but maintains, he has seen a pigeon win flying to a rabbit hutch and so have I. His wonderful set up must be described as a ‘pigeon paradise’, with three very smart lofts, set in green fields, with horses and stables. Whilst he cleans his lofts out on a regular basis, he says, he knows fanciers who keep their bird on deep litter and also very successful. In the main he has raced his pigeons on the natural system, but has tried the widowhood for the last three seasons and both have brought him good success. With Ken’s widowhood system, the cocks are only shown the hens on their return from a race and they go through to the longest races on the system. The racers are fed on Versele Laga widowhood mixture and are never broken down at any time. Ken likes to send his natural racers to the long distance events sitting about ten day old eggs. The families of pigeons now raced at the Hayes loft are the very best of long distance, in the form of the late Peter Titmuss of Wheathampstead, the late Jim Biss of Norwich and the late Fear Brothers of Clandown. Ken maintains that any new introductions always come from lofts with outstanding long distance records. He usually pairs up around 16th. February and breeds 60 young birds for racing. The youngsters receive a thorough education, being trained as often as possible along the south coast and he always sends a few birds to the N.F.C. young bird national. Ken is now retired from his haulage firm and says he is fortunate that his family are interested in his pigeons, and they help him out around the lofts. He says he is often asked about the eyesign theory and maintains it is his belief that pigeons need two eyes to see where they are and says no more than that!

Ken says his most thrilling experience in pigeons was when he won 1st. open B.B.C. Palamos, 1st. open L.&S.E.C.C. Pau and 1st. and 2nd. club Nantes all on the same weekend. Brilliant pigeon racing! The lofts performances at the long distance through the years has been fantastic winning: flying Thurso 20 consecutive years and winning 16 times: Lerwick (600 miles) four times, 2nd. combine three consecutive years and timing in on the day from Lerwick. Turning south road in 1985 and winning: 1985: 69th. open N.F.C. Pau, 1986: 15th. open N.F.C. Pau, 1987: 52nd. open N.F.C. Pau, 1988: 52nd., 58th. and 154th. open N.F.C. Pau, 1989: 15th. and 48th. open N.F.C. Pau, 1990: 33rd. and 99th. open N.F.C. Pau, 33rd. and 71st. open N.F.C. Sartilly, 1991: 16th. open N.F.C. Bordeaux, 1992: 99TH. open N.F.C. Pau, 1993: 27th. open N.F.C. Pau, 15th. open N.F.C. Saintes, plus many other premier N.F.C. positions through the years. Ken told me he has enjoyed many memorable moments in his time in the sport, but the weekend he won Palamos and Pau, was the best.

He has served on the committee of the National Flying Club many years and is now a life vice president, but says until recently it has given him great pleasure. However, events and decisions made recently by a majority of the N.F.C. committee members is causing him some concern. The first cause for concern was the last A.G.M. ballot paper, and how it had been loaded against using Pau as a race point for the 2003 season. Ken says, the committee were telling the members that it was unsuitable for liberations, yet clubs in competition with the N.F.C. were still using it. He told me, I certainly do not agree that committee members and officials of other specialist clubs should serve on the committee of the National Flying Club. It is my personal opinion that this could create a conflict of interest. Indeed a committee member who is also an official of the Central Southern Classic F.C. was given the task of overhauling the N.F.C. rules and this was a bit like Sainsbury’s asking Tesco for advice. A proposal for £5 per bird charge for Pau was defeated when a Central Southern Classic official serving on the N.F.C. committee proposed £7. One has to question, in whose interest are some of these committee members acting?’ Ken is not happy with the N.F.C. going with the Entente Belge to Dax and says, those that wish to compete in International races, can do so with the B.I.C.C.

Ken tells new fanciers in the sport, to make their mind up what distance they want to fly and stay single minded and focused on that goal. Having done that, go to the best fancier in your area at that distance and obtain some late breds for stock. He says, he thinks that Gary Inkley of Hillingdon is the best fancier in his area. On the subject of breeding, Ken practices some inbreeding and line breeding to maintain his family of long distance pigeons. This is some thing he learned a long time ago from his great friend, Peter Titmuss. He thinks the moult period is a very important time of the year for pigeons and says, get the moult right and success will follow. There you have it, Ken Hine of Hayes, long distance ‘ace’ and great worker for the National Flying Club!

That’s it for this week! A brilliant fancier, Ken Hine. I can be contacted on telephone: 01372 463480. See yer!