Keith Mott’s ‘Champions of Yester Year’ (Part 90)

GEORGE & DON MORRIS

OF FELTHAM

In the 1979 season the Thames Valley NR Federation had 1,648 birds liberated at 05.50 hrs in a south west wind, with the North Thames NR Combine at Thurso, in northern Scotland. There were no birds recorded on the day of liberation and the Thames Valley Federation only recorded 88 birds in race time.

The Federation winner, flying 509 miles, was a four year old mealy cock named ‘Dot’s Pet, and the gallant pigeon was owned by George and Don Morris of Feltham in Middlesex. The mealy cock recorded a velocity of 642ypm to win 2nd open Combine and lifted £102, which in 1979 was a lot of corn money. ‘Dot’s Pet’ was no stranger to winning, having previously won many other major positions up to Berwick in Scotland.

The two Morris brothers, George and Don, had been racing pigeons since 1942 and started up with birds from local fanciers, but mainly from Bill Spiller, who gave them lots of help in the beginning. They began racing in the Hounslow SR Club and their brother-in-law, Jack Newell, gave them a lot of encouragement. The Morris’s had put up many good performances at that time including: 1973: 1st club, 2nd Federation, 6th Combine Berwick, 1st club, 20th Combine Fraserburgh, 1975: 1st, 2nd club Berwick, 1976: 1st club, 1st Federation Berwick (Thames Valley Federation 50th Year Anniversary).

The partners housed their 30 pairs of old birds in a 24ft loft and the main family kept was Tate Brothers, which they introduced in 1956. They raced on the natural system, pairing up 14th February and bred a lot of youngsters, but only kept a few. The birds were paired on the eye sign theory and were given regular training up to about 20 miles. The partners rated Jack and John Newell of Feltham the best fancier in the Middlesex area at that time, and said they were consistently good fliers at all distances. George and Don selected producers on handling and eye sign, and liked their young birds to race through to 230 miles.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.