Parkinson 229

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

Well this week I because of forced changes I had to pair the birds up in Mid March this is about 10 days earlier that planned. The one problem that I do have is that with racing paired they will be going down on their second round of eggs in May and might start to moult, which I don’t really want to happen at that time of the year. We all know what happens to plans so I am playing the waiting game to see how they go. My big worry is overcrowding because I have 28prs between two 8ft sections and that might just be a few pairs too many. On the plus side proving they are happy in the loft I have more pigeons to race on a weekly basis. This will mean that I can prepare a few pairs for certain races while I rest others. I remember going to Belgium many years ago when a fancier had several lofts for different ages of pigeons and he could prepare a loft for a specific race.

Letter

Great letter by Slim Timmis regarding the ETS and what fanciers have paid out after rules set by the RPRA saw fanciers adhere to them and now even more changes that are effectively going backwards at a cost yet again to the fanciers. There have been a lot of changes that I have written about but it has got to a stage where the ETS is being used as a tool for people to put in propositions for changes just for the sake of it and more to the point to make it awkward for those who wish to use the system. There are still anti ETS people going on about the way it was brought in, lets face it if the RPRA had followed normal procedure with a new clocking system as in the past the system would have been in years ago and all this unnecessary agro with have been dispensed with. I remember complaints when the T2/3 came out how it was reported to be unfair against the clocks that were already in use yet that clock was introduced as any system should have been and any objections were soon forgotten. No matter how you look at it this is all down to the RPRA who buried their head’s in the sand over the whole issue as if they were hoping it would go away. We need to move forward and any rules regarding clocks should be dealt with by an evenly balanced committee who have the future of the sport in mind and not personal views to stay where we are. It is no good living in the past and thinking about how the sport used to be times have changed and the sport needs to change as well. All this rubbish about the ETS has made my blood boil for years because a minority who make themselves heard have been making it uncomfortable for the majority. It is no good saying that the majority don’t want ETS because that is rubbish because if we could all be treated the same and get lottery grant’s more or les everyone would have it in their lofts today. Looking back over the years it appears that there have been hidden agenda’s why some do not want the system and that is not the way forward. They are the people who have effectively bullied others into being against the system.

Past reports

This week we are looking at a loft that was one of the best in Cheshire and even today son Alan puts up many top performances at National level. J.H Shore & Son of Hankelow. Most of the fanciers around the country will have heard of Joe shore & son for the many good results they have achieved over the years, which include a 3rd, open Nantes National with Champion Mick, also winning the motorcar. More on what results have been achieved later. How did he first start in the sport and when? Joes father did not have pigeons but it was still early days in fact school days when he first obtained a collection of birds from the local farmer who had them in the loft above the shipping’s. These early birds were fed on mixed hen corn along of course with the hens and the birds loved it, they had no special loft but lived in the hen pen. The birds were kept like that until Joe got married by which time they had to go as Joe himself along with his good lady reared nine of their own. In those days the cash was not available as it was only on a small wage of 35/- a week to rear nine healthy youngsters on. Then about 1949 a stray appeared which used to asleep under the cart shed, this bird soon attracted the attention of Joe. He started to feed this stray, which soon became very tame; this prompted him to get a mate in order to keep the bird around. Then a few sheets of galvanized were collected to make a lean too at the back of the cart shed. This lean too was soon stocked with several late breds from local fanciers Reg Lunt who charged five shillings also a few from George Parker who charged half a crown each for six. One particular hen from Reg’s he paid seven and six proved to be a viable stock hen who when paired to a cheq cock called Freddie, (which was incidentally was bred from strays) breds birds to win in both club and National. Pigeons were Joe’s only interest in sport as he was far too busy running his business, which started, from scratch. One particular fancier who Joe set his sight on was Alan Dodd, who at that particular time was top dog, which was the position he was after. Eventually Joe reached this target after a lot of hard work and has won more than his share since.

The birds have been raced for all but a few years in the mid 60s when he took an interest in a garage business with his father. During this time the birds were sent to the races but on many occasions Joe was not there to clock them in. One thing he did achieve during this particular time was winning the Bordeaux Cup out right by taking 1st position 3 times in 4 years a distance of 571 miles also on one occasion he clocked the only bird on the day which is no mean fete. These birds by the way were bred from grandchildren of stock purchased from John Taylor’s dispersal sale of news lads and the blood is still in the birds today. Over the years the Horsbough and Hansen’s, who have the same origins have been crossed into the all ready winning family. More recent introductions include the beautiful Krauths and Dordins, which seem to be hitting it off very well. Joe has always tried to get the birds that are winning 500 mile plus races to breed into his home and as he says it is working out well as he has always maintained that the birds must have the right genes for the distance. On the subject of mistakes in those early days Joe said “Yes I have made many, for interest I won a 2nd prize from Rennes (which was his first across the water) with the late-bred and full of confidence sent him back to Weymouth and lost him, by the way he had hatched out after Rennes. I think you have to make your own mistakes and you learn by them. You can listen to different fanciers who advised you different and all in good faith, so you have to find out what suits your own birds and above all learn to have patience, which is worth more than any other commodity and is a lot cheaper. As I said earlier the fist loft was a galvanized lean too but the present loft is 24ft by 9ft split into 4 sections plus a corn store in the middle. There is a covered passage along the front with sliding doors too enable the birds to fly into there own compartment.

The loft is some 6ft off the ground, which lens to give the birds that bit more confidence at home as nothing should interfere with the birds in the loft. One of the most important factors in loft design for Joe is that it must be dry at all times as damp is the worst enemy of the birds. This particular loft has a good gap at floor level with a 9” vent the length of the loft at the highest point. As well as the racing loft there is a stock loft at the back with a rather large aviary. Birds kept consist of 20 pairs stock 24 pairs racers, which rear 50 y/bs, Both stock and widowhood are paired around mid February with the naturals left to the middle or end of March, when the weather suits. About widowhood Joe said “having seen my friend T Porter from the potteries fly the widowhood system which was about 5 yrs ago I decided to try it. I fitted the loft out for this system and seem to have got things right as they have flown well for me winning from Worcester to Angouleme. But it is no good expecting the birds to be better than they are, you must put the best on it and they will respond. You must also be Particular about feed and times of exercise also they must have there rest so do not disturb them unnecessary” To Joe o/b racing is fitness which is the most important point, get to know what it means not fatness, fitness is a different thing altogether. Get your birds really fit and you can take liberties and they will do there best, but if not fit you can loose the best, an old saying is, never send if in doubt, which is the most truest thing about pigeon racing that is off course next to patience. This family of birds have won from Worcester to Angouleme not forgetting a few years ago when they use to fly Bordeaux to this area. Joe has tried Pau and got positions, but thinks that it is too far for day racing and does not like it much with the compulsory night out in France. Singling out any one performance is difficult for Joe as he has achieved many success winning the Midland National from Angouleme 521 miles must rank very high., but the one that has the edge was when he got the only bird on the day from Bordeaux which is a distance of 571 miles, especially as he timed by candle light at 10.15pm. Also a great performance was getting 2nd sec 3rd open Nantes, National nearly 11000 birds winning a new car and £1,880 Joe said one thing that I did like which is “I think the main thing is the satisfaction of timing your all Pooler and nom from 500 mile plus in 2 bird on National which is an unforgettable sensation.

As for the most disappointing experience is” off course we all these I think when an old favorite fails to arrive home it brings you back to earth and you can get your hat on again as the worse thing is not knowing what really went wrong and why they have not come”? It is not really surprising to hear the comments from such good fanciers as to why some never manage to reach the table Joe’s is “most fanciers over feed probably with the wrong food anyway. Also most tend to over crowd, a loft is better off being half empty than over fill. An old saying amongst stockmen is a animal is another animal. To give you an example a man with 12 hens they do very well for him then he decides to have 24 he will most probably do well the first year but the next year disease builds up and he is in trouble and no amount of caring will do, as good prevention in the first place”. Joe gets the best out of birds by making them happy and says that they will confide in you if you will look and listen. Always remember it is a p/ship and must have confidence on both sides and don’t send for the sake of covering miles. Fitness is the most important point better to wait until they are fit better to miss a race it is the averages that cost fanciers many a good bird. It is up to the individual as to how for he or she sends there birds, but Joe has found it is best if the old birds are raced to Angouleme 521 miles also if they are fit that is the ylgs hens are sent to this same race point with the y/bs going to the Notational wherever they go. To get his birds to fly well Joe does not necessary train them hard as they do generally fly well around home raging pretty well. If they start to stack around home then they go up the road but Joe prefers them to raging out off sight.

Joe & Alan Shore

The youngsters do need plenty of basket work so get tosses from 20 - 30 miles every day that is until the first race when it is cut to around the 10 miles mark. As to what they are fed on, well Joe is a corn dealer and has a varied selection which is just what his birds get as he believes variety is the spice of life and they will eat anything when they are in the basket during the channel events. On top of the variety of corn they do get a titbit, which is red band, and they home to it very well. On the subject of eye-sign Joe said” I do not really have a great lot of views but always remember they eye is the first point to look when inspecting the bird for a race. If the eye does not sparkle like a glass mirror you need not send it to any distance if you want to be in within a chance”. Birds have raced to the lofts under all conditions and what suits one does not suit another. All you have to do is study each bird on its own and see when it is at is best. This is where the novice must have patience and use his common sense if he is to get to the top of the list. He must first of all go to a local loft that is keeping in the prizes regularly. Helping for 12 months before spending any money after which time buy a dozen late-breds and train them about 20 -30 miles then make them the base to work from. If you go to a good fancier you will find they he will rear you late-breds off his best, then it is up to you. Get down to the club and help put the birds through handling the best and compare them with your own which will give you some idea how to get them for the races. Another bit of advice from Joe takes fly-a-ways into account and is also good advice for the novice. “I think that when the loft gets over crowded the natural thing is for the birds to look for a perch of their own. You can regulate their desire by the amount and type of food you give then. If you give then a high-energy diet you are asking for trouble. It amazes me to see what some fanciers fees there y/bs on, they tend to give then the same as they give the o/b’s who they want to fly 10 - 12 hours and when the y/bs go off they wonder why. Any young thing is full of play. And when a lot get together they will go for miles and you will find the weakest home first.” Next question was do you do any showing with the reply of “Yes I think showing helps as it keeps interest during the winter months when some people tend to forget. An old saying that races are won at the back, a very true meaning the fancier who looks after his birds 365 days in the year has that bit better chance when racing. Joe likes to in-breed and finds that in-bred for family crossed into another in-bred family which fly the same distance can usually come out very well. There are also some late-breds off the birds that Have proved themselves for the stock loft generally but they must be worked hard first as you would any young bird. Joe is very lucky that his family have always taken a lot of interest as Joe said when father and son talk about nothing else how can it be other wise. When I visited Joe I noticed that there were books cups and replicas all around the house. To Joe and his family it has become a way of life with all its ups and downs.

Joe has traveled to Spain, Tenerife, Canada and the USA finding pigeon fanciers the same world over “I spent a week as Mass USA as a guest of Ken Howe a friend what other sport could make this happen, 4000 miles and never ever met then and invited to spend a vacation over there. Not only the invitation but while there loft visits were arranged for every day and entrainment included all a free holiday of a lifetime. By then way they have all different ideas some as we have and fanciers from all walks of life, all on the same level by being pigeon fanciers. The hospitality over there is fantastic I only hope I shall have the pleasure of getting them over here to repay them”. During his many years with pigeons has served his clubs at all levels including secretary president fed center delegate and has had to give them up at some time or another not being able to do it justice, but is always there to help mark and set clocks or in fact anything he can help out with. It is rather funny really to think just how many people have the same views on my next question. Yet nothing is ever done even though when you come to weigh it up, it is wrong. Question put to Joe was is there anything you don’t agree with in the management of the sport. “Yes I think that paying union fees in each club is very unfair. If all union fees were paid direct to the union and they issued a card which could be presented to the club before flying took place or rings issued it could work”

Past ways

I had a fancier on the phone tracing pigeons and paperwork so I passed on the relevant information and sent a pedigree as requested. The conversation resulted in a move towards days gone by when fanciers exchanged pigeons instead of going to an extra cost of buying them. Frank & Jim are now going to exchange a few pigeons so it will be interesting to see how they go in future years. I accept that it is a good idea to exchange and every year I do give pigeons away by what I call lottery and also as a gesture to fanciers who have pigeons from here during the previous year. What I do is randomly take a lucky dip with names of fanciers who have had pigeons from me on a regular basis but as I say based on the previous year. They went to Scotland last year plus the year before and Windsor this year and that is how I always work my system. I do know that a lot of fanciers do still exchange birds but they do not let it be known because they could get themselves in a position where they have too many who want exchanges. If you do exchange it is not always going to work so if you do exchange you need to restrict the number of birds that you bring in and send out or you could end up losing your own lines.

Holiday

Just spent a week in Malta that was a real treat because it was a break away from everything and to recharge the batteries before the season starts. For the first time while visiting the Island we did not visit any pigeon lofts but we did drop flowers off at the home of Freddie Micalef. This is the fancier who we first got to know when visiting Malta many years ago and on every visit since we have visited these lofts. However on this occasion we just dropped the flowers off at the gate with Connie and left. Freddie is not in the best of health at the moment and we wish him all the very best. However we did meet up with Brian Bezzina on the last day and he did us a great favour by arranging for one of his drivers to collect us, take us to the flower shop and deliver the flowers, thanks for that Brian. We did try to call Eddie Newcombe but no answer on either day probably preparing the pigeons for the longest races of the season on Malta. The racing in Malta is done over the winter months and finishes in early May because it would be far too hot to race them in the summer months. Other than that it was a lazy holiday and to be perfectly honest for the first two days Elizabeth could not believe that I slept for most of those days and nights. That is unusual for me because after about 5hrs sleep I am up and doing something but not on this occasion. Like the UK Malta has just experienced it’s worst winter in 30yrs so the bad weather is general and not just here in the UK even Spain has suffered heavy snow falls. The major problem with holidays is you have to come home and start all over again.

Club/Fed news

Mid February saw the night arrived when the West Coast & Fylde 2B had their annual presentations which was a disappointment for the officials because from a membership of 160 there were only 40 people in attendance. Mick was saying that he looked down the prize list and there were only 5 of the top 12 winners present to collect their prizes. Anyway on to the function itself that was held at the Norcross Social Club and Mick was saying what a smashing room it was for the function. Added bonus’s were that the buffet was excellent enjoyed before the prizes were presented and the bar prices were very cheap, trust Mick to mention that one. The guests for the evening were Mr Jim Pawson, Mr Keith Borrowdale, Mr & Mrs Jim & Joan Bullen who were representing Bamfords who are very generous sponsors for which the fed are most grateful. Mrs Julie Howarth who presented the Quernmore Cup plus £100 to the winner, thanks for that Julie. Also a mention for Jill & Hazel for doing the job that most do not want and that is the rounds with the raffle tickets that went well. And last but not least the drivers Jim & Bert who as always gave the organisation good racing of course with the help of race controller Tony De-Valle. Mrs Julie Howarth & Son Carl were invited up to present the Arthur Howarth trophy better known as the Quernmore Cup in memory of Mick’s very good friend Arthur Howarth a former member of the Blackpool Col HS. This trophy was presented to R & S Mott. Moving on to the prizewinners with the top spot being retained by Paul Fisher & Son Jamie who had another fantastic season. Paul races to his back garden loft in Poulton and was never out of the first four in all six-channel races and that is a great achievement in itself. Paul & Jamie topped the fed 5 times and overall was well clear of Kenny Cardwell with 4 x 1st feds. Both these two members had great years racing and Kenny won the Old Bird Inl ave for the 8 land races held and probably the hardest trophy to win. R & M Acton were present to collect his trophy for winning the prestige’s Gold Ring race and a tidy sum to go with it with Roy & Mary being the highest prize-winners in the strong Marton Village club. it was ice to see Les Barrow present to collect two trophies as reward for good performances during the season. Roy & Shirley Mott picked up their reward for the season having had a great young bird season so were present to collect the YB ave trophy so all the hard work and severe training paid off. Ever present at the annual presentations were Brian & Wynn Barnes in fact they never seem to miss one and on this occasion Brian collected two trophies. It was also good to see Charlie & Chris Mellor in amongst the top winners and present to collect their trophies. Again all the hard work training twice each day paid off for these two lovable chaps. Mick & Jan Barlow were also in attendance to pick up their awards (the report on Mick says must do better). Mick also did his “Tote Double Fiddle” that raised £150 in the two rooms with £75 to the winner who was the local policeman; say no more, the other £75 went to the fed. They then went on to the Fylde 2B prize-winners with top of the list being Phil & Anne Holloway who had a brilliant season and like to win these selective races and as a reward they collected nearly £800, which does help towards the birds up-keep. Dave Farrell from the Marton Village club was there with uncle Frank Fleming, Dave winning just short of £200. Mick Barlow (again must try harder) and Chris Jones from the Blackpool Col were there to collect nearly £200 each plus trophies. It was nice to see Jones & Harrison come along to collect the Warburton Bread trophy, well done to those two. And last but not least was Gerry Dodd from Kirkham HS who won the lovely Docking Rose Bowl; Gerry was well pleased with that one. Mick went on to say that he would like to see the annual presentations supported much better because if they are not the hard workers may just say enough is enough and leave the task to someone else the question is always the same WHO.

brian & wynn barnes and friends

julie Howarth and son carl with ronny mott with the quernmore cup

kenny cardwell with the inland ave

les barrow collected the ted vickers and H Pickervance trophies

mick & jan barlow collect the a & h raby trophy

mr & mrs chris jones with the norweb trophy

nicole hollaway - worn out, bless her

paul and lisa fisher - top prize winners in the fed

phil anne holloway top prize winners in the fylde 2b

A few weeks ago I was in North Wales to present prizes for the N.E.W & W.W Federation. Since then I have had a few conversations with the officials for one reason or another. I wrote about how well they were doing and now I hear that they have started this year off in good style with their annual breeder/buyer sale and they will be flying for total prize money of £2700. They have also had a Fed meeting and have another new club CAERGWRLE (as long as they get NWHU affiliation) which brings the fed up to 16 clubs. Not bad when you think they only started December 2003 with nothing at all, the fund raising is to be envied. I have also included a few more photos from the presentation evening.

b collings & son

paul clements

glynn cooper

ron williams

p bates & son

Les J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ. Tel/Fax; 01606 836036. Mobile 07871 701585 Elimar.pigeons@sky.com web-site www.elimarpigeons.com