To be fair on local fanciers by local I mean the fanciers within maybe a ten-mile radius. Of Middlewich I do cover the winners because around here they have proven over the years that they can compete against and beat the best in the country. There are many fanciers in the immediate area who have won many good positions in such strong competition as the great NFC, Northern Counties, The Great Northern plus the many races open to the whole of Cheshire. Charlie & Keith Greenway are no exception which was shown in the 1981 Nantes Nat when they were 1st Sec L 6th open a very creditable performances indeed. A performance that gave the p/ship they’re biggest ever thrill during many years in the sport. This National cock was away three weeks as a young bird and when he returned he won 3rd Weymouth then he raced well as a yearling winning prizes along the way but as a 2yr old he really come good too win the very good National position. Sire is a chequer, which is a very good stock bird out of Turbulent one of the first class Dordin bred pigeons while the dam is a blue pied hen also bred by the ace who built up this very good team of pigeons. Many trophies have been won by the partnership over the years with pride of place being that National win, which turned out to be a good day out all round as they were also 1-2-3 in there local club with the Mid Ches Fed. Another performance that is rated at Alfred St was when they took 3rd Middlewich open from Sartilly, some may say why rate a 3rd open position but when ones looks down a very impressive list of competitors that this open attracts one can realise why Charlie and Keith rate the performance as the best in Cheshire turn out for this race because it is the last channel race of the season in this area so all turn out and have a go. As well as winning in the above competition. The partnership has also won in the Mid Ches Fed that sends some two to three thousand birds per week. Charlie was born into pigeons just like his father who was also a keen pigeon man so Charlie was around many good pigeon men from an early age. A couple of fanciers first noted in the area were George Stubbs of Sandbach who was winning with our feathered friends when he was at school and winning out of turn at that so became one of the top fanciers in the area. Also George Price of Crewe was always there about to be reckoned with what ever the type of competition he was competing in so was another of the fanciers who was there to be taken notice of which Charlie readily did. It is now 30yrs since Charlie first started in the sport during which time many prizes have been won and a great deal of information on pigeons have been stored but like so many fanciers when it comes to a loft report Charlie is very reluctant to come forward maybe because he may think it is of no importance to the general public. That in a way is not right as l like so many other fanciers find it very interesting to read about other fanciers both past and present. Their experiences whatever they may be one cannot force too much information as too many secrets may be given. However one of the early mistakes that Charlie did make was by keeping rubbish from here there and everywhere, which is something that a good many do because they will not at first listener at those who know the ins and outs of pigeon racing after making that mistake the partnership went along to Brian Jones of Crewe who was a great help and was a fancier that Charlie rated as he was so good at breeding good pigeons. Also George Lawrence from West Kirby is another fancier who has given help and encouragement to the partnership. The first pigeons that were housed were of the Ameele Stassart, which turned out to be good pigeons although not as good as the partnership wanted. So without further delay the first contact was made to Brian Jones of Crewe who at the time had the best of the Dordins as I said earlier knew exactly how to breed them. So this was the start of the present day team that are winning the prizes of which were also introduced the Lawrence Dordins and a very good stock cock from Regency Lofts of the Neon’s Double lines. These pigeons have now been blended together to make a very nice team of pigeons that win from 60 to 500 miles. The pigeons have nearly all been raced on the Natural system with the odd dabble at the widowhood which did not really go down too well as the partnership like to race there hens that have proven them selves on recent years. It is hoped to send to the longer races sitting about 10 days. They are not really a big team housed, as there is 6 pairs stock together with 12 pair racers rear something like 18 y/bs with a few late breds. Stock is paired during February with the racers left a little later in March.
The O.Bs are raced right through the programme with some going on to Pau but the majority going to Niort a race point that is just short of 500mile. The y/b’s are raced through the programme and many go on to the Y/B National. As well as being raced hard they are trained in single up tosses so that the pigeons have to think for themselves and to help them to complete the races the birds are fed on beans to give them plenty of protein with a tit bit of red band also used.What kind of loft are these birds housed in is the next thing or in fact should probably have come before mentioning the birds, as long as we know by the end of the report that’s all that matters. Anyway the first loft was a modest 10ft but the loft at the time of my visit was some 30ft but the partnership are considering a corridor on and reducing the length so that they are not housing any more birds than necessary. The corridor is being put on because there are quite a few of those four legged intruders knocking about which hang on the front of the lofts as it is pretty open. Plenty of room and ventilation are what the partnership say is a very important factor in loft design and this shows in the construction of the lofts. The nest boxes are quite spacious with only 12 in the O.B racing section which is around 12ft x 6ft so the birds are not over crowded. The stock loft is a converted shed with an aviary between that and the racing loft. On the subject of eye-sign they say pigeons with eye-sign will win when the going gets tough those without could possibly come through on easy days but the eye-sign pigeon will tell in the end as in a normal season the prevailing winds are North, so the eye-sign birds will come good. Brian Jones is a fancier who was a great Dordin enthusiast that is until he finished in the sport and he was one if not the best for both racing and more important breeding.
To the novice the partnership say first of all buy from a winning loft or you will never get off the ground properly and start with the best you can possibly afford. The trouble is many fanciers will never go to the prize table because they are satisfied with what they have got and are not prepared to buy a few good top bred pigeons or to fund a loft of winners. It is no good being a good looser because if you are you are not likely to win a great deal and do not over pack your loft or else you are likely to get a fly-away which you do not want specially being a new starter and do not be too much of a hurry to get to the top because at the end of the day there is no replacement for experience no matter what you may be having a go at. On top fanciers in the immediate area Charlie said that they include Denis Gleave, George Stubbs, George Price who has had a small team of pigeons and can always be reckoned on at the end of the day. Plus Kenny Burke who is one of the most enthusiastic fanciers around because of his attitude which is he is always glad to see anyone win and is always prepared to find out any information especially if he considers that there is a good one in the area. This fancier will go out of his way to help, which is a good point in a pigeon man nowadays and he will always have a go at a race no matter what type of competition it is.
A point that is so often talked about and one that Charlie is in disagreement with is that there is two many pigeons put in the baskets for racing and not enough care and consideration given to the birds when the fanciers have carefully prepared there own individual pigeons. When the pigeons are taken to the club some of those putting them through the ringers do not handle them, as they should do. All the best to Charlie and Keith for allowing Elizabeth and myself into there home and to see the birds that are a credit to both of them.
