THE FOWLER FAMILY

of Leek

talking to Les J. Parkinson

I had spoken to the Ed on a couple of occasion's about compiling a loft report on this successful family of fanciers based on the fact that they are always looking to move forward. In the case of this loft it is onwards and upwards, no standing still, they are always looking for achievements at the very highest level.

I came across their achievement's as press officer to the National FC when they won 1st sec 7th Open in the National FC Pau race 2002. This was a great achievement but I doubt if they knew what was to come and how well the success story of 2002 would end. I wonder how many other lofts can say that they have won both the sprint award and the distance award in their Region in the same season. I must emphasise that when I refer to the distance award I am talking in the region of 700mls and not 500mls which many consider distance. Yes by the end of the year their performances thoroughly deserved being reported on at length in the most popular paper around. Success is no stranger to the Fowler family because father Roy has achieved great things in his own right through athletics where his name is etched in the archives of the track and field event's. Many will remember Roy Fowler for his part on the British athletics scene because Roy was AAA National Champion at 6mls (10k) track, UK and European record holder. Second fastest man in history at the time over 6mls. World cross country Champion. Bronze medal winner in the European 6ml track Championship. Through talking to this family I can see how they put this experience through to their pigeons, they know what is needed to be fit to be a winner.

Before going onto the q & a part of the report I would like to add that I thought this report was going to be jinxed and not get to the pages of the fancy press. Let's go back to the start and our first visit when things did not start well mainly because the camera decided it was not going to perform on this first trip. From time to time things do not go as planned, not very often but it does happen, whether with the camera or the published article. Interpretation very often causes problems and we like other scribes have had our fair share of the end product not firing on all four cylinders, having said that in general those who do not know the subject are not very often aware of the incorrectness of the report. For this reason all individual reports on fanciers are discussed and agreed before going to the papers. Anyway as I said the problem for this report was with the camera which had

decided that it was having a day off so a further trip had to be arranged. In between these visits I had taken successfully photos of other fanciers birds so we knew that it was not totally the fault of the camera. So the second visit was made and for a change I set off on my own to get the photos that we needed for the report. I was taking the photos and things were not going as planned, I knew that there was something wrong but I carried on in the hope that my worst fears would not be realised. Six films later off I went home, photos into the shop and things looked fine, that is until the next day when I collected the photos. Yes my worst fears that things were wrong was correct, the pictures were far from what we wanted so I phoned Anthony and made arrangements for another visit. This time young Craig came along to have a look at the lofts and birds, the photos all taken off we went, photos into the shop and yes we had got it right this time, thank goodness.

Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport.

A1. We are the Fowler family consisting of father Roy and sons Anthony and Paul. We first became interested in pigeons at about the age of 13 some 28 years ago and have kept and raced pigeons every year since. Roy and his father first started the family interests in this sport and there have now been pigeons in the family for 40 plus years. Many club prizes and averages in channel racing with the North Staffs Fed which at that time was one of the largest in the having big sends week after week. Achieving success in the fed was always the seasonal aim with results that include 2 nd fed Nantes, 3 rd fed Rennes, 1 st Championship club etc plus winning the Fed channel ave.

Q. Give the readers the basic results that you have achieved as a partnership.

A2. A good question but it is always a case of where do we start because different fanciers have different ideas of what is or is not worth reporting on. At club and fed level we have won everything, 1 st fed shortest OB + YB races right through to 1 st fed at 500mls, every federation average or points etc have been won many times. At National level 1 st section has been won in the midlands national OB + YB also 1 st sec N.F.C.

Q. Amongst those results what are the real highlights.

A3. Highlight, well we don't like reading lists upon lists of prizes won so we shall keep it short without reporting on club or fed results, just national although we will highlight one pigeons performance this season 2002. 5 th Open Midlands National F.C Nantes 405mls. 8 th Open MNFC Fourges 340mls. 10 th Open MNFC Nantes 405mls. 10 th Open MNFC Libourne 570mls. Highlights in 2002 include 1 st sec, 7 th Open Pau NFC 678mls also winner of the West Midlands Region Distance Award. Not forgetting "Zone" our ace Janssen land cock federation bird of the year 2002 won many prizes with a few being, 1 st Fed 4,500 birds. 2 nd Fed 2,800 birds. 6 th Fed 4,500 birds. 6 th Fed 3.800 birds. 16 th Fed 4,300 birds and please remember that these are just some of his 2002 results for which he won 1 st Midland Region Sprint Award. There are many fed and National results including 18 x 1 st prizes won 2002.

Q. What organisations do you race with.

A4. Leek FC with the Staffordshire Moorland Federation. Midlands National F.C. National F.C and we are going to have a go at the newly formed Midlands Continental Classic F.C. North Staffs Fed.

Q. Do you hold any official position and if so do you take an active part, if no what are your reasons.

A5. Chairman at the Leek IFC.

Q. Do you ever think about competing for averages, if not why.

A6. Yes and No because we consider that averages are of a secondary importance and definitely "No" at the Club and Fed level at present based on the fact that we are trying to fly more in the Nationals. "Yes" like any other top fancier we would love to win the averages in any of the Nationals or Classics Clubs because that is where the best competition is.

Q. How do you race your pigeons and how many.

A7. We race widowhood. 40 -50 cocks. The land cocks always see their hens on a Friday night there are no set times but as soon as the cock is settled and calling to nest he is basketed. The longer distance cocks just have the bowl turned over, it seems pointless to arouse these birds when they are going to be in the basket for several days, being away from home and knowing that the hens will be waiting on their return home is generally enough motivation.

Q. What are your lofts made of and how big are they.

A8. They are all made of wood with the two main lofts each having pan tiled roofs with false ceilings so that the ventilation can be controlled far easier. The stock loft is 16ft x 8ft with a 12ft x 12ft aviary while the young bird loft is 32ft x 8ft, the other loft is the old bird racing loft measuring some 56ft x 8ft and a widowhood hens loft that takes up 20ft x 6ft.

Q. Do you attach any importance to having a tiled roof on a loft, if so are there any benefits.

A9. The tiled roof on the young bird loft is great during the period of darkness. When the loft is closed down the ventilation through the roof is excellent and never gives a feeling of a stuffy loft or the smell of pigeons. Over the years we have tried most loft set ups, wire fronts to completely boarded up and in our opinion ventilation is important. How much?? Well as a rule of thumb when the birds are in the loft we don't like to small them and we like to have the feeling of fresh airflow but no draft. The birds always seem to be in better condition and have more vitality. If your loft is position where the airflow is not so good

A fan could be fitted to assist in circulating the air and removing the stale air that will be of a poor quality and low in oxygen.

Q. How many stock birds do you keep and do you breed off your race team also how many pigeons do you think that you need to breed off any individual stock pair each year to see if they are quality producers.

A 10. We generally house 24 prs in the stock loft with a pair of youngsters being taken from the very best racing cocks. We don't think it's that important how many you breed to find a good one but more a case of how many good ones do they breed.

Q. When do you pair your pigeons and why then.

A11. Mid January we start to pair the sprint cocks and the first 12 pairs of stock cocks when sitting eight to ten days, eggs are checked and then floated for rearing under the land cocks. The channel cocks will be paired mid February to mid March along with the next 12 pairs of stock birds, the same applies eggs floated etc. The late paring of the second set of stock birds is not a problem for the racing birds, because these are the youngsters for normal racing and will not be put on darkness, they will only have a couple of races. These in the main are for the long distance birds and are not aimed at any of the Nationals or gold ring races as youngsters etc.

Q. Do you move the hens with the young birds.

A12. If the cock is single rearing no, we do like the birds to go down on a second round of eggs for about six to eight days max. Then we re-mate all the hens at the same time but if a particular cock starts to chase early we remove his hen and re-introduce her to lay in line with the other hens leaving the young with the cock. Pairs that are double rearing have the hen + 1 youngster moved to save the cock getting too run down feeding two youngsters and chasing, she is then re-introduced as above.

Q. Young bird sickness is a problem, have you had this in your loft and if so what have you treated them with.

A13. Yes, first stage only though, full crop and being sick. We kept the birds in for 5 days feeding them a very light mix with small rations and 3 times a day with nifuramycyn in the water for 8 days along with Gemthrepax. We were very lucky as after 48 hours everything was normal but we kept to the full course of treatment maybe it wasn't young bird sickness?

Q. Do you race your young birds, if so how many races, if not why, do you think they are better off in the longer events if they are only raced lightly.

A14. Yes, All young birds have some race experience and we have no hard and fast rules on how many races, we select those that are showing form. We prefer young birds with some race experience, these are always easier to handle as yearlings. Un-raced birds always appear to be playing catch up and we would suggest patience with a long term view that by the 2yo to 4yo stage they would perhaps have some racing value, the same applies to late-breds.

Q. What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following seasons racing and breeding.

A15. Pigeons are simply judged on previous work done along with an element of "gut feeling" about some birds.

Q. Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there any advantages to using them.

A16. We do have grills fitted on the floors but we are not sure if they are an advantage for racing, one thing is for sure and that is they do make life that bit easier during the winter.

Q. What do you think about the vaccination programme for the pigeons and do you think it affects the pigeons long term.

A17. Why don't we have our own research laboratory and program, by now we should have enough historic value information to know for definite if the annual vaccination is required. It may be a case of just one course with a booster the same applies to a previous subject, young bird sickness. We should be compiling information and by now be somewhere down the road to controlling the problem and the same can be said for non legal performance enhancer's and more importantly being able to identify any masking agents used

Q. Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons get what they want they are out of the loft.

A18. Fresh grit and minerals are available at all times, however they would be removed Thursday evening though from the race team during the racing season. The grit and minerals are removed because we feel that these products can make the birds more thirsty than otherwise, especially if using products that have a salt content.

Q. Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily.

A19. Deep litter under floor grills and Natural floor granual's are used.

Q. Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeon's.

A20. Yes, it's a pet hate of ours, we always seem to be trying to create more room and improving the general loft environment.

Q. How do you feed the cocks and what do you feed them on, a branded mix or do you buy separate corns and mix your own.

A21. The sprint cocks are fed in galley pots and controlled feed from a quality branded corn while the channel cocks are fed via the hopper but receive tit bits in their boxes. The sprint cocks have their corn removed after each feed but the channel cocks are hopper fed and corn is available all day. The hoppers are emptied at night and removed. Hoppers are used because they prevent the corn being soiled and thrown about.

Q. Do you measure the amount that you give to each pigeon, or are they fed according to the individual pigeon.

A22. The birds are very much fed as individuals and we give them what we think is required for the next race. The birds eat freely and a good appetite has never been a problem. By the Friday morning feed the birds should be in such condition as they don't eat a great deal.

Q. Easterly or Westerly do you set any stall by the position and if so why.

A23. The wind will always play a major role in where the majority of the prizes go. The further the race in a typical federation the wind would not be such a major factor but in a National it would still determine where the majority of prizes go.

Q. Do you consider there to be any advantages having a racing partnership.

A24. Extra hands and eyes are always very much appreciated and it definitely makes life easier. We also enjoy the banter, someone to share your success with as well as failures.

Q. Are there any points that you disagree on and if so how do you compromise a situation where there is a different viewpoint.

A25. We've been flying together for so long that we think down the same lines and most situations are easily resolved, if you fall out the pigeons know there is a problem. Also that the only effects the loft environment, something we hold very important.

Q. Do each of you have an area within the partnership where responsibilities take control regarding a decision.

A26. No because Anthony is the control freak at our lofts so we all have responsibilities to do certain jobs at given times but no isolated decision's are taken without talking first because we all need to know what is happening within the lofts.

Q, To term a phrase are you a professional team of pigeon fanciers and do your circumstances make a big difference.

A27. We like to feel we are as professional as possible, it's a big advantage Anthony having his own business and therefore if something requires attention outside normal working hours it can be addressed. Basically pigeons first work second during the summer months. We all make time to do whatever jobs need doing.

Q. Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeons eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance in (a) the breeding, (b) distance races (c) sprint races. (d) the pigeons health. Or do you steer clear of the subject and if so why.

A28. We, like most fanciers look at a pigeons eye when assessing its ability but having seen that many different eyes in many different champions we believe it only shows you two things, health and family characteristics. We have seen very similar eyes in pigeons of the same family, one a great racer, the other useless, the eye is just another component and not a short cut to success.

Q. Do you use any preventative medication. If a pigeon goes ill do you try to put it right or does the bird have to go.

A29. We treat for Canker on a regular basis, like most lofts we are concerned if a bird is ill and will treat but after a reasonable time if the response from the bird is slow it goes. If its ill a second time especially a member of the young bird team it is suppressed. It is also most important to try to discover why? this should determine if the bird gets aid or disposed off. Nifuramycin is used for 48 hours every four weeks on the young bird team only up until the last race.

Q. How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain it's form on the widowhood system for both cocks and hens.

A30. Experience has shown us it depends on the individual bird and family, we have some birds that hold form with no problem for as much as 8 + weeks, others have to be prepared and peak, you get about a three to 4 week window when they are at their best.

Q. Does this include channel races or are the specified number of weeks for sprint races and do you think that a pigeon can be prepared at fortnightly intervals for the channel races.

A31. The answer is as pervious in the main, with regards to fortnightly channel racing the most important factor is how far and how hard are the races and how as an individual is the pigeon recovering. Some birds thrive on regular racing while others need lighter racing programmes but remember its not how many races a bird has flown at the end of the season that's important but the quality of prizes won.

Q. Do you treat pigeons differently with their preparation if they are to go to the bigger races whether National, Classic, Specialist club or open.

A32. As previously stated some birds come to themselves the more racing they have while other need lifting and keeping fresh. Observation is the key knowing your birds.

Q. Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinter's or distance pigeons and why.

A35. Distance. After 3 years the sprinters are well established with as many as 30 plus races flown, graded and sorted. The distance pigeons after three years are just going to their first real testing race and some races can be so bad with poor returns. its hard to asses by distance we are discussing 500mls plus.

Q. What happens when you are racing either widowhood or the roundabout when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex, how do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate.

A36. We fly standard widowhood each cock has a hen that does not race so this is not a problem to us.

Q. Sprinter or distance, there is no difference, it is all in the feeding.

A37. A consistently good sprinter has a naturally faster rhythm and very rarely can this be maintained to cover 500mls and into two day racing. We know there are exceptions to the rule but these are just that, exceptions.

Q. Taking into account distance, which is more difficult racing to your area, is it a case of a 600ml race is a 600ml race regardless of competition or route.

A38. We only fly one route "South Road"

Q. What families of pigeons do you keep.

A39. Janssens / Vandenabeele / Hovaert "Supercrack" Julian Matthys

Q. How do you go about bringing in a new family and what do you look for.

A40. The type of pigeon we look for must be a product of successive generation's of winners at the type and distance and race we are looking for.

Q. When you bring in that new family do you think that they need time to acclimatise, if so how long.

A41. Some birds definitely settle better than others, by the second years breeding though we would expect to start and see some positive results.

Q. Do you think that fanciers change for the sake of changing or do you think a loft can breed a winning team out and lose track of the winners.

A42. You definitely can breed out the good in your pigeons perhaps a lack of patience is the reason some fanciers seem to be always swapping and changing.

Q. When looking for new pigeons do you look for a particular family, one for specialist races or club races or just be name.

A43. The only thing is they must be a pigeon family to suit the type of race that's the only requirement.

Q. Early in the article we discussed the wind direction, do you consider that good pigeons will win in any position.

A44. Yes, good pigeons win in different winds at National and Federation level though good pigeons are found in favourable positions some of the top prizes are missed, its not always the case that the winning pigeon is the best bird on the result

Q. Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade, why do you consider that this happens.

A45. Some fanciers are better technicians than others also they put a lot of time and thought into racing and breeding practice's that are coupled with patience and belief.

Q. Do you give any special treatments when the pigeons return from the race as a precaution against anything that they may have picked up in the basket.

A46. No, not weekly, once a month they receive Nifuramycin on their return for two days.

Q. Do you race your pigeons every week or do you prefer to condition them for a specific race.

A47. The land birds go every week and if we observe a dip in form they may receive a break but towards the end of season they race every other week. The channel birds receive races to gain form and condition in readiness for the races they are aimed at.

Q. Is there any specific condition that your pigeons perform best at, or any particular time of the year.

A48. Not really, the cocks race on a set widowhood system, the only change is that we occasionally we swap the hens around or mess about with the nesting material. It's fairly safe to say that if our cocks really exercise well they will race OK.

Q. In your view do you think that a loft needs different pigeons for different distances.

A49. Yes, as we have previously stated to constantly take good prizes at National or Federation,

Q. Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding.

A50. The cock probably influences the family more because with only racing cocks the success they have determines which birds are put to stock, hence the winners themselves also brothers and sisters. The paternal line is the race tested line. We are considering racing a few hens in 2003 so in the future things may change depending on race results.

Q. Some fanciers like big hens for breeding does the size of the hen make any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds in your past experience.

A.51. We have found that size does not matter we have had good stock hens in all shapes and sizes, but quality birds.

Q. Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve.

A52. Oh yes, a National, a Classic and then do it again.

Q. Do you read many magazines/Articles, if so which type of article do you find interesting and why.

A55. We read pretty much everything, we enjoy loft visits, product release's, articles by vets, even sales lists.

Q. Are there any special treatments that you give your birds once the season ha finished what do you recommend the readers to do with the birds

A56. No special treatments but we do put vitamin's in the water twice a week and use plenty of corn plus oil giving seeds, linseed, black rape, hemp etc, a weekly bath and rest. A week after the last young bird race the birds are shut up for rest until Christmas.

Q. When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners.

A57. All three are practised, we are always looking for the perfect pairing so you need to try all ways of breeding. We do quite often breed late breds for future stock, these tend to be special matings i.e. father to g.daughter etc with a view to putting two different inbred families together for racing.

O. Do you breed off the top widowhood cocks after the racing has finished, do you breed late bred youngsters and what do you think of those later bred youngsters.

A58. The widowhood team are allowed to rear after racing, a few late bred's are taken every year with these being put away and are allowed to grow for future stock. These will be first paired when they are about 18 months old, no late bred's are bred for future racing.

Q. If your race team went off form during the season what action would you take to restore their condition.

A59. Get the birds professionally checked for any underlying problems via droppings and swabs and treat accordingly, no blind blanket treatment. Shut the birds up for 5 days purge them for 24 hours with access to water only.

Q. Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing.

A60. Very good pigeons are obviously the biggest factor without them even position is not going to win.

Q. Do you use the darkness system for the young birds, if so for how long and do you think it affects them later in life.

A61. Yes, a week after weaning they are put onto the darkness with the hours of darkening being 4pm to 7am until approx. the third week of June. The young from the distance family are weaned to a separate section and are not put on the darkness.

Q. Are there any feeding methods for the young birds i.e. do you break them down, do you keep them hungry for control purposes, do you give them a trapping seed mix.

A62. The young birds are fed plenty of variety, the mix is quite light and only light feeds are given with 2 to 3 meals a day. We hate to see birds with stuffed crops which invites all sorts of problems from health to behaviour

Q. What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds.

A 64. About twenty miles and we like to keep at the same place.

Q. If random drugs tests were carried out on your pigeons, would it reveal any substance, illegal or otherwise.

A65. We would like to see more random drug testing and we would like to see nothing from the results, this would prove the sport is on the right track.

Q. Is pigeon racing as a hobby going beyond the average working man. Is it becoming too technical and complicated or can you keep everything simple and still win with the pigeons.

A.67. Pigeons as a hobby is no different now than 20yrs ago. Pigeon racing as a sport has moved on, keeping it simple will win races as most top lofts will say, they keep it simple, the difference is attention to detail, observation and these take time, having time is a major factor.

Q. You are successful fanciers, there are far too many leaving the sport, to encourage fanciers to either join or stay in the sport what do you think about limiting prizes to two per race per loft. If not Why. If yes Why.

A68. We personally would be against limiting prizes. We wouldn't like to win a prize that way and we think if most people were honest they wouldn't want the prize any way unless they won it fairly. Instead of limiting prizes, perhaps extend the prize list.

Q. Do you think winning fanciers should move on from club racing once they have reached a certain level of consistency. Are club performances paramount for personal satisfaction or sales purposes.

A69. Fanciers should feel free to send their birds in whatever form they enjoy and be allowed to send as any as they want.

Q. Do you attach any real importance to the pigeons wing i.e. back wing, end four flights and do you look at the wing to see if they have cast before a race. Any other comments on the wing.

A70. We always look at the wing when assessing the birds but yet again we have see all different types of wings on very good birds, look at it as a characteristic of the family. We have never been put off by a pigeon casting prior to a race.

Q. Do you use any form of heating system in any of your lofts. Do you think it would be advantages for the birds?

A 71. No heat is used, maybe it would be a good aid in having a controlled environment or would it lead to false form?

Q. Do the pigeons need any special treatment on their return from the race to help them relax. Is any such treatment needed for the short or long distance races or the hard races compared to the easy races.

A 72. On their return from a race the birds just need a calm environment and all their comforts i.e. his mate, good food, and a drink.

Q. Is there anything that you do not like about the sport, something that you feel needs changing for the good of the sport.

A75. There's a culture in the sport that instead of trying to improve to compete with the best are always looking for ways to stop the successful. Bird limits, radiuses, prize limits etc instead of spending their steadily improving their own performances.

Q. Do you have any further comments about anything that we may have missed in any area of the sport.

A76. Not really, well, there was one thing that I found interesting and some readers might also look at this point differently. A few months back I saw a TV programme on migrating birds. These birds were electronically tagged so that the science team could monitor their progress. Air speed was monitored also attitude etc and the part that I found really interesting was when the birds came to do a water crossing they lost altitude and their wing beat got nearly 30% faster to maintain any significant progress. The reason given for this was that over the sea there was very little warm air and air currents so there was no aid in keeping the birds in the air, they had to physically work hard to cross the channel. Now imagine our pigeons at Pau 400plus miles done and now the channel to cross, at a greater effort than was been exhausted all day.

Summary. I must thank the Fowler family for their time and patience with this report and I look forward to seeing their achievements continue to receive recognition in the future.