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CHARACTERS IN THE SPORT

by Jim Emerton

We are nothing without our individuality. The sport of pigeon racing is enriched by its magnificent array of characters who add colour and texture to the tapestry of experience.

One of my first encounters was with "Pigeon Percy" of Derby, a well-known local celebrity who made the local press. He could be seen sitting on the park benches in the Riverside Gardens. His idosyncracy, or nervous mannerism, was to spin his head as if he had spent too much time watching performing Birmingham Rollers.

How can I forget Billy Burdett of Alvaston, Derby? Billy, a feisty, cheerful little character, would encourage young me from his wheelchair. He loved his birds and kept a few rollers and racers. He did not allow his handicap to inhibit his generosity, for he gave me a big blue racer cock, which duly settled and paired to a chequer pied stray. I would take them training in a fishing creel on my motorbike and Billy would utter, "Look at his eye, Jim. Ay'll win Lerwick, ay will, Jim", in a broad Derbyshire accent.

My past is a myriad of rich memories but more in keeping with the present I must mention the great Martyn Mitchell, who is outstanding as an individual, now a millionaire in Belgium but who used to live at Wiston, near Selby. At his home, surrounded by Aston Martins and Porsches, was the most amazing pigeon-racing establishment I have seen. Over tea he explained some of the intricacies of his racing methods. No stone was left unturned in the pursuit of excellence and could he race a pigeon! To be honest, he was in a different league. Do you recall his five birds on the day at MNFC Bergerac, flying 623 miles? An expert at middle-distance racing, Martyn has conquered the racing in Belgium. He is a man ahead of his time and very different.

On the intellectual front we have the great Irish writer, Liam O Comain, MA, who is a lovely, warm man with a romantic and spiritual turn of phrase. In his many writings, especially about marathon racing, he has informed, enthused and enlightened us about the great racing men of the past and present. His body of work secures his place in the future consciousness of the pigeon culture.

Remember Derek Cutcliffe? He was the ex-naval captain who single-mindedly changed the face of how we perceive the hours of darkness, giving the RPRA a model for its calculation. Derek would indulge in some extroverted and heated letter debates in the fancy press and made an impact cultivating and selling his birds, e.g. Stichelbauts and Van Hees.

As for myself, I have been blessed in meeting paupers, princes and millionaires around the globe on my worldly travels. At 16 years old I met and associated with Kenzie, the wild-goose man, noted poacher, boxer, artist and all-round eccentric and good egg. Yes, there is more than mere pigeon races; there are also the characters, the fabric of the sport. We need more of 'em!

Our thanks to Jim for forwarding this article, which was first published in the 2011 BHW Stud Book.