DICK BALDWIN

of Rufford

by Les Parkinson

Introduction to the article.

I was looking through the articles on the computer and thought, Why not put a few of the old reports on that may be of interest to the modern day fanciers. The reason I went to visit Dick Baldwin in the first place was because I had brought in a few of his birds in the 70's and at the time and in fact ever since Dick has been prominent in the pigeon world.

This is the article that I wrote on this fancier some 25yrs ago.

Many fanciers names come forward from pigeon men far and wide whom they think deserve a loft report usually you know cow the fancier concerned by there reputation that he or she has built up. There are also those fanciers at the top who you know should be rewarded with a report no only their achievements with birds but also for there work at the club and fed level. In the Mid Cheshire Fed there are about a dozen fanciers who have flown the birds of Dick Baldwin with very good results either buying direct or via his friend Frank Gough who has won with these birds since 1956. In fact yours truly was presented with two birds off Frank last year and both won 1st prizes.

So on a very nice Sunday morning l made the 40 odd mile trip to Rufford to see what makes Dick so successful. Most of the journey was spent on the m6 but once l left it at junction 27 the scenery was first class especially when you get to the top of Parbold Bank where you can see for miles on a clear day as it was then. Not only was it nice at the top of the bank but also when you get to Mawdsley where it is very flat and ideal for racing as you can see where the birds come from. After travelling along the Liverpool Preston road for just a short distance l could see the lofts across the field that l was about to have a good look through. Last October Dicks loft was broken into and several birds taken of which upset him for quite a while, as he has always been trusting with people around his loft. On the police's advice Dick was to let no one near but whether he will is another matter. Having your birds stolen must be a very stressing thing especially when you have spent many years building up a team of first class racers, why people contrive to do this sort of thing is beyond me as it seems to be happening quite often lately.

Any way back to Dick who as l say has always worked hard for his clubs. He has been working hard to get the N.W.H.U., recognised so that the very many good fanciers in the North West can compete in the NFC which is Dick's ambition to win. As to his loft life with his birds, Dick first raced pigeons as a boy in a club especially for boys so he was on a level footing to start with. But like so many he had a spell away from the birds, then started again in 1950 when he joined the Tarleton HS and 1952 and also the Astland FC where he has more than won his share of prizes from this short distance races. This year he has fed on a cheaper corn than he has ever done before{by comparison that is} and is a mixture of beans, maize and wheat with a seed mixture added, Even with this cheaper corn Dick's prizes in the early races are Charminister 1st 2nd club and fed 1455 birds, Upton-on Severn 12th and 19th fed 1504 birds, rock 2nd club and fed 1261 birds, Upton on Severn 27th fed 1699 birds, Bath 17th 19th 23rd Fed 1626 birds.Then in the mid week club 1st and 2nd club Weymouth, 1st & 4th Penkeridge , 2nd & 4th Mangotsfield 1st Mangotsfield 3rd & 4th Penkeridge In the open races 3rd & 5th Penkeridge with Weymouth.

The channel programme had only just begun with the first race from Avranches being flown the day before, with Dick clocking two good ones but at the moment the result is not known. I won't go into many past results from club and fed but just to mention the very good mealy hen that has flown so well winning the combine {see photo} . This first class hen put up the best vel on the day from over 10000 birds that were liberated. She came with here sister who won the Longton 2B , a club that Dick has won, ore than any one else. By the way the mealy hen won 1st bath 2nd Cancer Research Race, before he moved to his present address where she went on to top the combine. On the subject of performances Martland Bros won 4 of the first 5 races in the Mawdsley Club with the Baldwin birds.

Back to the lofts, the racing loft is made up of five compartments three for old birds which have 9 boxes each and 2 for young birds then there is the stock lofts at the end. When standing on the platform the view is fantastic as there is a field right in front of the loft which makes racing just that little bit better when you can see your birds coming, in stead of seeing them pop over the house tops. With the lofts being situated, as they are Dick leaves the birds on the open hole as much as possible. With being an ex farmer he knows the values of freedom to all kinds of live stock. As to the amount of birds kept, well there is a team of 27 pairs racers and 10 pair of stock as he flies in two weekly clubs of which one has six consecutive channel races and they alone a count for a good team. All the birds are mated around the end of February beginning of March making sure that all are settled by the 12th and are kept on the natural system as for training they are given as many tosses as possible up to the first race, then twice weekly to the channel events. In preparation for these channel races the birds have a toss from Hereford on the Froiday for making on the Wednesday.

On the subject of eye sign Dick says l dont think it is the be all and end all in pigeon racing, but it is very important part of a racing pigeon. I try to blend end the eyes as much as possible when looking through the birds you can see that eye sign is there if you wont to see it, and plenty of it. A point that Dick raised when l asked him about the famous Violet was that in all of his years of racing he had only ever seen a true violet twice, one of them was in his original stock hen. Since then he has come close but not the true eye in the full meaning of the word violet. It is surprising how many top fanciers try to blend the eyes when pairing up their birds, but do not admit to being enthusiastic about it. I would like to see some one take up pigeon photography in the North West on a full scale so that the many champion birds can appear in the fancy press along with a good one of their eye as there are some first class birds in this loft, as there are in many other lofts in this area. I always like to know which is the best bird that the top fanciers have ever owned. Dick's is his own Marrenes cock seven times to this race point which is 547 miles in seven years and making it five times on the day.

Another question was he considered his best achievements. Well there are several which are 1st North West Combine 387 miles over 6000 birds plus Nantes Combine twice 450 miles. 1st Four Counties Combine Saintes with the Lances SC 555 miles winning Diamond Jubilee Trophy results he is proud of. Listening to the older fancier many names come up and the fancier that Dick rates, as the best are no longer with us. They are Ed Clayton of Longton who was very successful in pairing and maintain the Old Gits family. The other one was Ruben Eastham Croston who raced the Barkers for many years keeping them at their best. I do know that Dick himself is rated as one of the best by many who have had birds from him over the years that he has been racing. He has helped many on the road to success by supplying birds of his best not just the all so rans As well as giving them the information as to how is the best way to fly them and how to feed them, and don't forget to work them hard or you will never be around the top week in and week out which is always your aim.

I have met Dick only a few times but find him a honest pigeon man who works hard with his birds to ensure that he keeps at the top of the tree. Must not forget to mention Dicks wife, Ruth who is always there to help with the birds right through to helping to clock them in. This is the first time that l have been out of Cheshire to compile a loft report but l have enjoyed it so you never know where l shall go, we will have to wait and see.