DOUBLE NATIONAL WINNERS

D. JENKINS, SON & NEWTON

BY GARETH WATKINS

Alan & Wynne

The above partnership consists of Wynne Jenkins and Alan Newton and they race their pigeons to the picturesque village of Pont – neath – fechan at the top of the Neath Valley in South Wales. On arrival at Wynne’s lovely home we were greeted by something that looked to be a pup out of “the hound of the Baskervilles” and Cerberus. I wasn’t too worried as I’ve lost a bit of weight lately and have regained some of my famed mobility, but I didn’t like the way she was eyeing Adrian and all the while licking her lips!!

The pigeons are housed in superb style in home built lofts in the garden at the rear of Wynne’s home. In fact, when I first entered the garden I mistook the widowhood loft for a bungalow!!! The reason for my visit was to handle the partners’ two recent National winners, the first from Brussels in 2006 and the latest, but not necessarily the last, from Huy in 2007.

I’ve known Wynne for quite some time and can assure readers that he is one hell of a character!! Let me just say that you wouldn’t want him to visit you in hospital. Alan Newton on the other hand is a quieter and more reflective character and the two partners compliment each other well. Both are talented artists and this is how they met – in art classes, not through pigeons. Alan, another lifelong pigeon fancier, lives in Tredegar, some 15 miles from the loft and travels over five times a week to help out with the birds. This works out fine as Tredegar is an ideal training spot as it is situated on the Heads of the Valleys road right on the line of flight for east to west racing.

The race team amounts to 40 widowhood cocks, which are housed in a breeze block loft which is fully insulated and internally lined with plasterboard. Although the partners winter 40 cocks, these are reduced by 20% each year prior to racing, due to raptor predation. The widowers are mated in two stages. The first section of cocks in late January are allowed to sit, rear and sit again followed by the second batch some six weeks later, which are only allowed to sit eggs for 6 – 8 days. Both sections of cocks are then widowed at the same time and serious preparation for the forthcoming racing season begins. The partners like to get in six to eight training spins through to 30 miles before the first race and rarely train the widowers thereafter. The racers are kept fit by twice daily home exercise stints of at least 45 minutes duration. They are forced to fly if necessary. Hens are always shown for a short while on basketting night and are left with the cocks for 1-1 ½ hours on their return. The widowers are fed individually in their boxes and are not broken down with depurative, but are fed a combination of Gerry Plus and Prestige at varying times of the week. Versele Laga herb tea is given on Mondays and multivits on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The cocks are raced weekly up to the first channel race and then every fortnight as per DEFRA guidelines.

Tess Jenkins.

The 2006 Brussels National winner at 360 miles is a medium sized pencil blue cock. Well muscled and with a little depth to the front of the keel, he has now been retired to the stock loft. This year’s Huy National winner at close on 400 miles is another medium sized widower who was on his second flight when basketted for the race. He is a previous winner of 2nd sect 25th National Brussels and 1st Fed 2nd section 40th National Ramsgate. You wouldn’t need many like him in your team to enjoy the sport. The National winners are bred from two nestmate sisters containing the best of Morris & Lucas, Frank Tasker Haeltermans. These bloodlines have proved extremely successful at all levels of competition for just about everyone who has been lucky enough to get them from the Lincolnshire Ace. The Morris & Lucas partnership having also won a National; race with them.

Another common factor in the breeding of both National winning cocks is a Verheye Mealy cock that proved to be grand sire to both. He is also sire to Mr & Mrs Terry Matthews’ Taffy Bowen Sprint Champion of Wales. Yet another of his sons is a magnificent blood red with 9 x 1sts to his credit including 2 x 1st Fed. The mother of the loft is an absolute cracker. This dark w/f Meuleman Janssen, handled superbly and is responsible for a host of top class performers including the previously mentioned red. When mated to the Mealy cock she has been responsible for three National winners and their daughter is the Taffy Bowen Sprint champion. Little wonder therefore that they are referred to as the “Golden Pair”.

Widowhood loft.

The young bird team is housed in a separate loft at the other side of the garden facing south east. This loft is in fact constructed  from three garden sheds and has an aviary attached to the front. The youngsters enter via a stall trap fixed to the front of the aviary .The loft floor is covered with a layer of wood bark and lime forming a cork dry litter with the accumulated dry droppings. As with all working litters, there was not a trace of  pigeon odour and very little dust and the youngsters looked a picture of health in their home environment. A team of eighty youngsters are reared and half of these are placed on the darkness system, whilst the other half mature naturally. Incidentally, both National winners were darkness youngsters.

The treatment regime adopted by Wynne and Alan entails the use of Parastop prior to mating to ensure freedom from salmonella infection. Flagyl is used to clear up any underlying canker burden, whilst sulphamethazine is used to keep the cocci count at an acceptable level. The partners rarely treat for respiratory problems.

Wynne & Tess.

Before finishing this article Wynne and Alan have asked me to thank on their behalf, some of the unsung heroes of the sport who ensure that we all have a sport to enjoy. So take a bow Danny Coleman, Ray Powell and Malcolm Griffiths. Three hard working sportsmen whose efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed and are indeed greatly appreciated. The partners would also like to thank the National officials for all their hard work and  Morris & Lucass for letting them have the dams of both their National winners. Finally, thanks to all at the BHW for highlighting their pigeons’ performances.

For my part I would like to thank Wynne and Alan for allowing me to handle their excellent team and for the great hospitality shown us. It was a pleasure to meet up again and have a crack, sitting in the sunshine drinking home made elderberry wine overlooking the beautiful Neath Valley. Also my thanks to Kate and Mick O’ Brien for supplying the photos that accompany this article.

Good luck for the future lads, and Wynne, make sure you feed that monster before you next entertain visitors!

27/7/07