Keith Mott’s Champions of Yesteryear (Part 74)

FRANK & SUSAN CARSON

OF CARSHALTON

Frank & Susan Carson have always been regarded as one of the better racing outfits, always at the top of Federation and Open race result sheets. In 1984 the partners had the season of a lifetime winning twenty ­seven 1sts, nineteen 2nds, twelve 3rds and twelve 4ths, flying in two Saturday clubs and a midweek now and again.

The Carsons raced the Widowhood system and in 1984 the eighteen cocks won twenty-three 1sts, the other four winners were young birds. Cocks were allowed to rear a single youngster and after sitting the second round of eggs for about 10 days the birds were parted to commence the Widowhood. Hens were only shown on basketing nights for the first three or four races, thereafter turning the bowl was used to eliminate over excitement. Exercise consisted of one hour in the morning, one hour in the evening at regular times and these times are strictly adhered to. A breakdown feed was used on return from a race until midweek then a build up feed was used and the birds were cleaned out twice daily during exercise periods.

Young birds were raced moderately, stopping the cocks after a few races and the young hens were raced the full programme. They flew mostly Busschaerts. A majority of these were George Corbett bloodlines although they had introduced some Cattrysse from Mr. & Mrs. Prince of Ditton, Kent. Susan said the Busschaerts are outstanding up to 300 miles. Frank was a used car dealer and he maintained that you only get out of pigeons what you put in to them. People who use bulk training transporters to train their birds are not giving their pigeons a chance to get a true line of flight to the loft, as they are dragged all over the place.

The Carson’s kept 12 pairs of stock birds, 18 Widowhood racers in their 'L' shaped 35ft loft and they bred about 40 youngsters each season. The loft was made up of three sections, Widowhood cocks, youngsters and stock birds. The Widowhood section was glass fronted with controlled ventilation and heating, trapping was through open doors. The stock section had an additional flight and the young bird section was open door trapping with wire fronts. Frank said a good loft should have good ventilation, be dry and draught free. Stock birds and racers were paired at the same time around the middle of January; the race birds were allowed to rear a single youngster. The youngsters were fed on a no bean mixture. A vitamin was placed in the water twice a week, garlic was also used and grit and minerals were given to the birds up to Wednesday. The old birds were given 30-mile tosses while still in the Natural state and young birds are trained up to 40 miles in stages of 10 miles.

Frank said the high points in his time as a pigeon fancier were winning the Old Comrades eyesign class and the first time he won the Federation. Susan took an active interest in the running of the loft, for example she trained youngsters while Frank was involved with the widowers. She kept records, cleaned out and anything else that needed doing. Frank said he couldn't manage without her. To get the best out of pigeons, Susan said, it's a matter of 365 days of dedication every year. The moult is a natural function for a healthy pigeon any irregularities should be adjusted accordingly. The partners reared a select few late breds, mainly for stock purposes. In early years Frank showed great interest in eyesign mainly due to his late grandfather's interest in the subject. At the time of my visit not a lot of importance was attached to it, but a rich eye is preferred and they tried to pair opposite colour eyes. Frank was President of the Mitcham Common FC and was the club's Surrey Federation delegate.

Frank advised novices to visit Louella Lofts and purchase the best stock they can afford, for the distance they wish to fly. Try to visit some top lofts and try to obtain some advice and this way the novice will have obtained good stock and advice to go with it. He tells them to remember don't try to run before you can walk and success will come in time. He thought the key to good management was patience and commonsense. Frank rated Ernie Ford who was 86 years of age the best local fancier, because he had been at the top for many years, at all distances and on all routes. The Carson’s showed at the odd show in the winter, but never show cocks that are raced. He said he thought fly aways with young birds were caused by overcrowding in the loft.

Frank maintained there was a lack of communication between the top people and the rank and file, such as the situation which has occurred with paramyxovirus. The Carson’s found the sporting element was disappearing from pigeon racing. They found they couldn’t get on with tame pigeons and their family of Busschaerts tended to be a little wild in the loft. Loft granules were used in the stock loft to stop dampness, but they were never used with young birds as they tended to eat them.

Frank was born in Battersea, South London, and his grandfather was a fancier flying as J. Carson & son in the Chelsea & South Lambeth club. Frank spent a lot of time with his grandfather and as a result became interested in racing pigeons. When his grandfather died in 1978 he moved in with his grandmother and took the pigeons over. In the early days Frank got a great deal of help from J. Langbridge who at the time flew in the Carshalton club. Frank's interest prior to pigeon racing was football for a local club as a boy, and just prior to taking over his grandfather's birds he successfully showed boxer dogs. Frank had then been in the sport six years and the first club he flew in was the Hackbridge DHS. His grandfather's stock were mainly Andre Vermote and Rene Boizard and Frank's performances were fairly good considering the knowledge and resources that he had at hand. At the end of 1981 the Carson’s decided that they wanted to fly the Widowhood system, so they went to their now good friends, Peter & Geraldine Hookins of Wimbledon. The Hookins were very successful Widowhood fanciers and Peter gave all the help and advice he could. Frank said he had gone from strength to strength since then. In the early days he made all the typical novice mistakes, overcrowding and over training.

Two more great London area fanciers, Frank and Susan Carson! That’s it for this week, I can be contacted on telephone: 01372 463480.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT

9/10/07