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A WINNING FORMULA Scammell & Peploe of Garndiffaith 8 x 1st National and counting by Gareth Watkins
Ron Scammell of the Scammell & Peploe partnership with youngest son Dellan
The partnership of Ron Scammell and Paul Peploe was formed in 1992 and since its formation the partners have tasted success at National level on the north road, south-east route and south road into Wales. Their first National success came in the 1999 Crieff race and they followed this up with yet another National win from Crieff in 2000. Subsequent National wins have been achieved from Falaise in 2003 and Vains in 2004, followed by National wins from Bergerac, Picauville and St Malo, all in the 2005 season. Add to these outright wins at National level a further seven runner up spots at National level plus a 1st Open Combine from 10,400 birds and you have one of the most impressive records around. However, the 2011 south road National programme has seen a resurgence in the form of the loft as they have clocked pigeons to appear in the top ten positions at National level in each and every race organised by the Welsh SRNFC. Listed below is the partners’ list of prizes with old birds alone in cross channel National races in 2011:- Carentan: 3rd, 9th & 12th section; 10th, 17th & 22nd open. Messac: 4th, 9th, 10th & 15th section; 5th, 13th, 16th, 22nd, 24th, 26th & 30th Open. Cholet: 1st, 2nd, 22nd, 40th & 42nd section; 1st, 2nd, 37th, 67th & 71st Open. Tarbes: 2nd section; 4th Open. Niort: 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th & 17th section; 7th, 8th, 10th, 25th & 41st Open. Bergerac: 4th section; 5th Open. The above list of wins have been achieved racing a team of 25 pairs of birds on the roundabout system backed up by a team of just five or six pairs raced on the Natural system.
When on roundabout the birds are raced each and every week and only miss a race if they are injured or distressed in some other way. The roundabouts are exercised twice per day for one hour – both cocks and hens. The naturals enjoy an open loft for the rest of the day and also get a few training tosses during the week if the partners think it necessary. All birds are hopper fed on a good mixture and always have food in front of them. Not surprising when you consider the massive workload they are expected to undertake during the season. Possibly the star of the show during the 2011 old bird campaign has been a dark chequer pied hen with a remarkable list of National prizes. This two year olds wins are as follows: 17th National Carentan. 2nd National Cholet [came with loft mate which won 1st National]. 8th National Niort. 5th National Bergerac. Add to the above list a 1st Gwent Greater Distance Club from Alencon convoyed by the BICC and you have a very impressive season’s work. This remarkable hen is in turn the daughter of an even more remarkable pigeon – “The Nearly Cock” so named because he nearly won three Nationals, finishing 2nd Open on three occasions. Her dam is no slouch either as she won 1st National Picauville for the partners having been purchased from Bernard Clarke of Rhymney in a young bird exchange. The main bloodlines housed are Hermans and M & D Evans Vandenabeeles plus some Jan Aardens and of course the Nearly Cock lines that are producing top class pigeons for the partners and just about everyone else who has had them.
The Nearly Cock
Mealy hen - 1st National Cholet
Dark Pied hen - 2nd National Cholet There you have it then, a short report on one of the old bird National winning lofts in Wales during the 2011 season. More reports are to follow on Morris & Pugh 1st National Carentan; Dennis Ford 1st National Messac; Denny Phillips 1st National Niort and Mark Sparey 1st National Bergerac.
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