An Elimar Preferred Supplier An Elimar Preferred Supplier Elimar Pigeon Services Home Page An Elimar Preferred Supplier An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier An Elimar Preferred Supplier Elimar Pigeon Services Home Page
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
Elimar On-Line Shop
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
An Elimar Preferred Supplier
  

Keith Mott writes about winning fanciers past and present

The Champions of Yester Year (Part 61)

JOHN DOWD OF DERBYSHIRE

John Dowd raced 24 cocks on the standard Widowhood system with outstanding success. In recent seasons he had taken the first three in the Federation three times and in 1995 - won 15 times 1st Club, three times 1st Federation and in 1994 - won 15 times lst Club, four times 1st Federation.

When we visited the Derbyshire home of John Dowd he had just won the first big North Road Open race of 1996 season the day before. John liked races from 50 to 330 miles, but said he won a few prizes from Thurso and Lerwick in 1995. One of John's best racers was a 3 year old blue chequer cock which has six firsts to its credit. This great pigeon won on five Saturdays in 1995, lst Club three weeks on the trot, then 7th. Sect, 42nd. Open Perth N.R.C.C. and 2nd Club, 2nd Federation.

John's 24 cocks were always shown the hen on marking night and if a cock was late he was not given the hen on arrival from the race, with early birds getting the hen, from about one hour. The cocks were housed in two sections and were paired up on January 19th. The cocks got 100% breakdown on Saturday, 50% and 50% mixture on Sunday and back on the standard Widowhood mixture as from Monday. John liked plenty of good maize in his racing mixture and traind the cocks three times in midweek, throughout the season. Training tosses were from about 30 miles and the hens were never shown on returning from training flights. John's best sprint racer was a 4year old dark chequer Busschaert cock which has won six firsts in the Club, three lsts. Federation, twice 2nd. Federation in races up to 250 miles.

John kept twelve pairs of stock birds, paired up the same time as the widowhood cocks so their eggs can be floated under the racers. The Dowd loft bred about 60 youngsters each year and all raced the full programme. They got lots of 30 mile training tosses for about five weeks before the first race. John's loft was 50 ft long, brick built with pan tile roof and open door trapping.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT. 

29/4/07

B.I.F.S.

Report Stray Pigeons Here
strays@rpra.org