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Elimar is inviting successful fanciers to tell us a little about themselves, as we feel sure that this will create plenty of interest for our readers in the UK and around the World. Roger Lowe kicked off the series, followed by Jason Ross, and next up is Mike Mitchell of Dover, a fancier who has made a real impact in long distance nationals in recent seasons.

MIKE MITCHELL

OF DOVER

1st BICC National Perpignan 2009

1st BICC National Saran 2010

1st BICC National Narbonne 2010

1st BICC National Agen/Tarbes 2011

 

My wife and I pictured in 2009 with our winners of 1st, 16th & 21st Perpignan

 

I had my first pair of pigeons when I was 9 years old. I kept them in my sister’s old dolls’ house, with zinc covering over the windows. From then on I was always building boxes to keep pigeons in. My father raced pigeons - milers - in Manchester prior to the last war, then flew south road in Dover. He actively discouraged me from keeping pigeons and my wife reckons that is why I keep them now.

 

When I got married and bought my first house, I decided that I would keep my foreign doves, not pigeons. After a year a pair of garden fantails were housed, and from then on it was a fast move into fancy pigeons, Lahorens being my first breed. Then for the next 38 years I kept fancy pigeons.

 

In 2000 I was asked to look after the pigeons of the late Alan Hunnisett whilst he was in hospital, then I continued to help him with racing. Having not clocked a pigeon for over 40 years, I was instantly hooked.

My set-up

 

In due course, I decided to replace my four old lofts with a new one, 22 metres long by 2.4 metres deep and made 6 metres of this loft for racing pigeons. My intention was to retire in 2005, and although I knew that racings pigeons would take more of my time, I still underestimated the time that I would need to commit in order to be successful at pigeon racing.

 

Having bought my first rings in 2001, even whilst still working I still managed to put a lot of effort into the racing pigeons. Six years later and still having no success in racing, I was quite despondent and nervously thought of parting with my racers and returning to fancy pigeons. What I then believe happened was that after six years I had established a loft of birds that had adapted to my method of pigeon management. I had always believed that the fault lay with me, not the pigeons.

 

I only ever wanted to race long distance so I then decided to concentrate particularly on International racing with the BICC. Starting in 2008 and through to the present time, I have enjoyed some success.

Minnee - 1st BICC National Agen/Tarbes 2011

 

Families of pigeons

In 2001 I started with 6 pairs of Janssens, a gift from Alan Hunnisett. I bred and raced their prodigy, although none of their blood is now present in my loft.

 

12 other stock pigeons were purchased from various sources but very little of their blood is present in 2012.

 

My main bloodlines at present are:

Bob Still (Wimbledon) 2001 - 2 pairs of Fear Bros bloodlines.

Dick Baldwin (Rufford) 2002 - 7 pigeons, with no pedigrees, purchased at Dick’s bereavement sale.

D. Wilsdon Bean (Canterbury) 2005 - 2 pairs of direct Fear Bros.

Peet de Zeeuw Grauenzande (Holland) 2005 - 3 birds.

 

These form the family I house, to which I added in 2007 and 2008 6 pairs of Herman van Helmond of Vorseloar. Their prodigy has dominated in the breeding of my winners.

Eve - 1st BICC National Perpignan 2009

Set-up

22 metre x 2.5 metre loft with 11 sections. It faces West South West and houses 98 racers and 9 fancy pigeons. The loft is surrounded by trees; we originally bought the property because of the trees.

 

Race Preparation

Weather permitting, the birds are flown once a day for as long as they want.

Roadwork: as young birds prior to the race season, as many 40 mile training tosses as possible. No young bird racing.

As yearlings: straight to France with the East of England Continental Club.

Minimum of preventive treatment.

The Dutch Hen - 1st BICC National Saran 2010

 

Feed

During Winter - 50% Barley + Buckton’s Irish.

Breeding – Buckton’s Irish.

Racing – A mixture of Versele-Laga high carbohydrates feeds.

Supplements – Van Sluis food additive and soluble vitamins.

Bonnee - 1st BICC National Narbonne 2010

Motivational Techniques

I have tried them all and I cannot make them work. The cocks are flown to widowhood boxes, and the hens to the perch.

Our thanks to Mike for taking the time to pen some words on his birds and methods and we wish him all the best in 2012. Coming up soon in the Elimar Invites series, North-West racing legends R & B Smith of Burtonwood and national aces Mel & Sue King.