Keith Mott

Writes about winning fanciers past and present

The Champions of Yesteryear - Part 17

ROD BERRY

of Ashford

Since starting up in pigeon racing in 1968, Rod Berry of Ashford has won the Federation at every stage up to Bergerac (450 miles) on the south road and every stage up to Thurso (510 miles) on the north road. His best performance to date was in 1992 when his ace blue Cattrysse cock 'Top Gun' won 1st Section E, 3rd Open Pau NFC (550 miles).

He raced 17 years on the north road and won the Federation from Thurso (510 miles) twice and for one win there were only two birds home on the day of liberation in the Federation. The Berry loft turned south road in 1986 and straight away was top prize winner in the very strong Ashford Club for seven years on the trot. Rod has won the Federation many times on the south road, including the longest old bird race from Bergerac. Rod married at the age of 20 and moved into the bungalow which his father-in-law had just moved out of. His father-in-law is the ace fancier, Eric Matthews, and on moving out of the bungalow Eric left the lofts erected so he could break his birds to his new address. Birds kept returning to the bungalow and Rod became more and more interested in the pigeons. On deciding to start up, Rod obtained some Cattrysse pigeons from Eric's fantastic family. He joined the Ashford North Road Club and the Cattrysse started to win out of turn from the outset. Football was Rod's main interest when he moved into the bungalow, then the pigeons took over. The majority of Rod's Cattrysse pigeons were bred down from a son of De Draaier and a grandson of Figaro, both bred by the late, great Gerard Cattrysse. Some of Rod's early champions were: Champion Bullet, a grandson of De Draaier, bred by Eric Matthews in 1969. He was put on the widowhood system as a two year old and that's when Rod's racing career really took off. Bullet

won 10 times 1 st . club and three times 1 st federation and many other premier positions. He was only sent into Scotland once ( Perth 346 miles) and won it. All Alone was a blue hen bred by Rod in 1970 down from Figaro and she won 1st club, 1st federation, 2nd open Combine Thurso; 1 st club, 6th federation Wetherby and other top positions. On retirement All Alone and Bullet were sold to a top fancier in the Midlands . Rod's 1982 Thurso winner was his great blue cock Marathon Man and he was bred by Eric Matthews, being closely related to Eric's Champion Solitaire, winner.' of 1st federation three times. Rod's Marathon Man was a double federation winner, recording 1 st federation Pontefract in 1981 and 1st federation Thurso in 1982. Mr Consistent: This blue widowhood cock won countless major prizes in the club, federation and combine from 85 to 510 miles, including several 1sts. Powder Man, winner of many positions including 1st club, 8th federation (3,123 birds) Pontefract; 1st club, 25th federation (1,888 birds) Doncaster ; 1st club, 5th federation, 9th open combine (3,461 birds) Thurso; 1st club, 8th federation, 11th open combine (4,395 birds) Berwick; 1st club, 5th federation, 22nd open combine (3,896 birds) Morpeth - a brilliant family of pigeons!

Rod's very smart loft is 60ft long, L shaped and brick built He likes plenty of fresh air and the young bird section has a wire flight built on so the inmates can come out into the weather. His 60 youngsters are trapped into sputnik traps and start training about three weeks before their first race. Although Rod isn't too bothered about young bird races, he trains them well with lots of tosses from 30 miles and never sends them across the Channel. Rod races only widowhood, as he has since 1968, and has two sections housing 40 cocks. The widowhood sections have a wire flight behind, running the full length of the loft, and this houses the hens during the week; the cocks have a bath in there on a Sunday morning. Rod said his widowhood cocks win short and long distance but are at their most dangerous at. 500 miles. The widowhood cocks are trapped through drop holes off landing boards and the whole loft is fitted out with slatted floors, with cleaning out taking place once a year off the concrete base under the loft floor. The star bird in recent years in the Berry loft is the blue cock Top Gun and he is pure Cattrysse, being a grandson of Blue Tic Barcelona. This 'ace' had three races as a yearling and took two weeks to come home every time, then went on to win 4 x 1sts from Weymouth (103 miles) and 1 st Section E, 3rd open Pau NFC (550 miles). Top Gun was put to stock and bred winners every year. Rod's present-day team is made up of his old Cattrysse pigeons and Janssens brought in from Ken Darlington and Bob Ash. Both families race well, pure and crossed. Rod only keeps a few pairs of stock birds and the whole loft is paired up in January. He is a self-employed bricklayer and his father, Stan, helps him out around the loft, cleaning out the boxes and feeding in the winter months. Rod feeds a standard widowhood mixture and breaks down at the beginning of the week, including for the long-distance races. He rarely shows the hens on marking night and reckons it's a waste of time as the cocks should know the game.

Two of Rod's top Janssen racers were: The Jet, a blue cock from Ken Darlington which won three times 1st federation and nine times 1st club. Ashman Cock, a blue chequer from Bob Ashman which won 1st Three Borders Federation and 1 st West Middlesex Federation. Both these brilliant cocks were put to stock and bred winners. The Cattrysse were the best at the long distance and the Janssens were outstanding on sprint and middle-distance races. Rod's wife, Angela, is a great support with the pigeons and she does a lot of the young bird training. He likes his old birds to race through to Pau and Bergerac, but takes it easy on the yearlings, saying too many yearlings are lost every year by fanciers who push them too far. Likely' looking young cocks are given a few races then stopped. In feeding the birds, quality is the main factor and most important the barley should be of the highest quality possible. The widowhood cocks get a few tosses before racing and then are exercised for, one hour, twice a day, around the loft. He likes to see a nice rich eye but says eyesign is rubbish as some of his best racers have average eyes. In Rod's opinion latebreds are only any good for stock birds but must be off the very best bloodlines. The moult is considered very important and Rod gives the birds pigeon tea and additives, including Hormoform, to ensure a good moult. He likes putting his retired champion racers in the stock loft and maintains these make the best stock birds, not pigeons brought in on pedigree alone.

Rod is still racing his pigeon at the same address in Ashford, with his usual high success rate. A really outstanding fancier! My phone number is 01372 463480. See yer!