Keith Mott

The Champions of Yesteryear (Part 40)

 ROY & SUZANNE SPRATLEY OF ISLEWORTH

The late Roy & Suzanne Spratley of Isleworth were top prize-winners in West Middlesex Federation in 1986, winning 24 positions in the first 20. These included six times 1st Federation and three times 2nd Federation. Suzanne's father was Roy's brother Ted, who sadly died in June 1983. Ted was one of the top fanciers in West Middlesex for many years and was never out of the top prize winners in his club. On his death Suzanne and her uncle Roy took over the birds.

Ted and Roy had flown in partnership for something like 40 years, their father was also a pigeon fancier, so pigeon fancying has been something of a way of life for the family. Suzanne recalled that as a little girl aged four, her father used to take her to the loft every day and that interest has been maintained. Most of the knowledge she has was gained from her late father. Both Suzanne and Roy admitted that they found it tough going at first after Ted's death.

Original pigeons were of the Sion strain, but it was found that these pigeons had a tendency to put on a lot of weight very quickly. Because of this it was felt that they needed a lot of training to keep them in racing condition. The Huyskens­Van Riel bloodlines were introduced, these did a lot to enhance the Spratley racing reputation. In 1978 two Hansenne hens were introduced and since then the lofts had gone from strength to strength. The Van Riels and Hansennes had blended perfectly, producing Federation winners and, probably just as important in many fanciers' eyes, pigeons of a very nice type.

The partnership raced their own system of semi-widowhood. The loft was very well maintained, kept very tidy, certainly neighbours would have no grounds for complaint. The front was completely closed in, half with opaque glass, allowing light in but no vision out for the birds. Trapping was by way of the open door. The design of the loft was such that it was always perfectly dry, an essential point as far as Roy and Suzanne were concerned. There were three sections arranged so that some birds could be flown on the Natural system when required. Widowhood hens were kept in separate boxes in a small shed at the opposite end of the garden.

Pairing up usually took place around mid-January with about 30 young birds bred for racing. It should be said that although the partners bred 30 youngsters they were not fanatical young bird racers. They trained them as much as possible, giving them as many 30 mile tosses as Roy could stand with the likliest candidates being held back for the following year. Old birds usually receive two training tosses per week from 25 miles. The practice here was to get them into good condition for racing and then if particular birds look 'right' send them. Roy said that in the early days the biggest mistake they made was sending pigeons that were not ready. The pigeons must be prepared and ready for the job they were required to do, so that when you send them you send them with confidence.

Both Roy and Suzanne were more than pleased with the results produced by these Van Riel x Hansennes, they find that they win from 90-500 miles. There is no doubt that Suzanne's favourite pigeon was a white cock, this particular cock could be found in the pedigree of almost every bird in the loft. Although he didn’t not fill his eggs when I visited the loft, he was at one time a very useful racer as well as breeder, among his positions won is 1st club, 13th S.M.T. Combine Bergerac (13 hours on the wing). The loft prefix is ‘Treble Lofts’, so named after Roy and Ted's chequer cock known as 'The Treble Cock' which was the first pigeon to win West Middlesex Federation three times. Best pigeon in the loft at that time must be the five year old chequer pied cock known as 'Sue's Boy', winner of seven times 1st club and five times 1 st Federation. A champion in the truest sence of the word!

The partners fed to a normal widowhood pattern; depurative part of the week followed by a good widowhood mixture. They found that this method conditions the birds very quickly. A small amount of conditioner seed was fed but mainly for trapping. Whilst they both liked to see a nice eye, they did not think that eyesign actually means anything. When it came to long distance racing their favoured racing condition was feeding a 14 day old youngster for hens and sitting 14 days for cocks.

Obviously, because this was a close knit family of pigeons, quite a bit of inbreeding was done. It was not unusual for the partners to breed six late breds each year to pair back to their grandparents, always assuming of course that they meet their required standard. Roy's advice to new starters and novices was, obtain a good winning family of inbred pigeons and be patient. Suzanne was of the opinion that many unsuccessful fanciers made the mistake of overcrowding their lofts and breeding from inferior birds. Roy did express the opinion that he did not think that the sport had progressed over the last 20 years. He also thought that more should be done to encourage young people into the sport.

There you have the Spratley family of Isleworth, premier racers in the West Middlesex Federation for many years! I can be contacted by phone on: 01372 463480. See yer!

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.

19/10/06