Keith Mott writes about winning fanciers past & present

The Champions of Yesteryear (Part 57)

PORTER & RICHARDSON

OF NEWARK

To say that Kev Porter and John Richardson had a brilliant set-up would be an understatement, with four very smart lofts set out in John's large grassed garden. The partnership was formed in 1980 and both members were dog men before starting up in the pigeon sport.

The racing sections housed 30 Widowhood cocks and John said they excel from 200 miles through to 380 miles, although they did take good prizes further down the road. The main family kept was Frans van Wildemeersch and these were paired up in January with the middle distance events in mind. The three racing lofts had open door trapping and were scraped out most days.

In their best season they won the Federation a fantastic ten times. Other top positions won in recent seasons were: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 13th & 19th Open Perth North Road Championship Club (240 miles) from six entries; 1st Open Lerwick Midlands Championship Club (480 miles) only one bird entered; 1st Open Thurso M.C.C. (385 miles) only two birds entered; 1st & 3rd Open Perth M.C.C. only four birds entered; 1st & 9th Open Thurso M.C.C. only two birds entered; 1st Open Fraserburgh (2 bird) M.C.C., 1st Open Thurso (2 bird) M.C.C. and many other positions won in the first six Open. The loft had also won two new cars, three new lofts, three new televisions, eleven new quartz clocks; a ton and a half of corn, five gold medals, three silver medals, two RPRA awards, a holiday and many thousands of pounds. A fantastic loft performance!

The loft houses many champion racers and John said the best racer in recent years was the blue chequer pied cock 'Master Blaster' which had won over £1,700, including 1st Sect, 9th Open Perth N.R.C.C., 2nd Sect, 2nd Open Perth (2 bird) M.C.C. and twice 1st Open Notts Federation. This Widowhood cock was small in the hand, but full of quality and his sire had won 1st Open Federation twice.

The partners had a nice big spacious stock loft which houses 20 pairs of mainly Frans van Wildemeersch pigeons. John said when selecting breeds they must have good balance and feather, and off good bloodlines. If they don't breed winners they don't stay. The stock loft was very well ventilated with a full wire front.

The 30 Widowhood cocks were paired up in January and raced right through to Lerwick (485 miles). The cocks were shown the hen for about 30 minutes on the marking night and got the hen for one hour on their return from the race. The cocks were fed on a standard Widowhood mixture seven days a week and were never broken down midweek. John said you want your cocks to stay fit and win races, so you should not break them down. His Widowhood cocks raced and won right through to 500 miles.

Another star of the Porter & Richardson loft was the Van Wildemeersch dark chequer cock 'Crack 22' and this ace had won over £2,000. John described this pigeon as a racing machine winning many prizes including 1st Sect, 9th Open Perth N.R.C.C., 1st Sect, 1st Open Fraserburgh (2 bird) M.C.C. and 1st Open Notts Federation Yearling Derby.

 Porter & Richardson, one of the premier lofts in the Midlands, over many years! I can be contacted on telephone number: 01372 463480. See yer!

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.