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From The Chair: Geoff Kirkland - A Real Pigeon Man by Chris Williams

From The Chair: Geoff Kirkland - A Real Pigeon Man.

By Chris Williams

If you study the English language, the Word Champion has numerous definitions,  for example: a person who has surpassed all rivals in a sporting contest or other competition , a person who vigorously supports or defends a person or cause. Medieval knights were also referred to as champions because they   did battle for others ,particularly The  kings  and Queens to defend their rights or honour.  Probably the most famous legend in English folk lore  is that of  Arthur and the knights of the roundtable whom from humble beginnings  became a king and hero.  As great as these stories are in my eyes and those of many pigeon fanciers in England and beyond.  The real story of a champion who encapsulates these qualities and so much more, is not the legend of a boy who met a wizard,  pulled the sword from the stone and became king.  No it is the story of a stone mason born in Bilston in the  tough industrial  Black Country of the West Midlands who would go on to become a wizard not with potions but with pigeons his name Geoff Kirkland.  A fanatical fancier who has redefined pigeon racing excellence Literally writing a book along the way, in doing so this truly humble quite gentleman has secured Iconic status in his own lifetime an accolade he truly deserves and this is echoed in the fact that in 2022 G.W Kirkland Esq was elected President of The National Flying Club of Great Britain an appointment which serves as yet another testimony to the high esteem in which he is held!

Writing about a fancier of this calibre and class could fill volumes of countless pigeon journals ,and even then writers far greater than I shall ever be, would be fearful of missing something out, because throughout the history of this great sport of ours, there has been many a fancier whom spent years in trying to attain any degree of National success only to fall by the wayside in the attempt and into anonymity. Not so with the name of Geoff W Kirkland for he has continued to set the bench mark for success decade after decade at the highest level since winning 1st Midlands National Flying club from Angouleme back in 1980 with “05014"  a cock bird whom he defines as life changing.  In his book  “My way with pigeons" our subject sums up the pinnacle of pigeon sport (National and Classic racing) perfectly  saying: there is no bigger challenge than National/Classic racing to a dedicated pigeon man, when you are racing against the top men in all the country it is very hard to win and this is the supreme challenge.  Not only are you up against the best you are also up against geographical position, and you must accept this.  As I read this statement over and over it suddenly dawned on me that here is something else which separates a champion racing man from an average pigeon fancier, they are so to speak above the politics and let their birds do the talking. With phenomenal performance pigeons such as “Jackpot”, 1ST  NFC Nantes in 1985,  Angoulemer 1st Midlands National flying club from Angouleme in 1985. to name but a few of his veritable galaxy of racing stars, this master craftsman in the art of  “Pigeon perfection" has made winning look easy, which of course it isn’t but legends are not born they are made and this living legend through hard work dedication and determination has forged a path of glory no man can ever take away.

It is often said that you shouldn’t meet your heroes because you can be disappointed, but I say this from the heart each time I have had the privilege of meeting or talking to “The Maestro" as he has been referred to on occasions, I have been blown away because for all his success he has kept his feet firmly on the ground and his eyes on the pigeons, he is not by any means an egoist he is simply a genuine pigeon man at heart. The first time I met Geoff myself I was more than a little star struck because when I first became a fancier in my own right, my Dad Steve did all he could to ensure I had as good a “pigeon education” as possible, a process that continues to this day.  He  showed me every video/DVD we had and told me about many of  the well-known fanciers and pigeons that he had come into contact with over the years, inevitably this led to me asking countless questions one being which is the best pigeon you have ever handled? The answer was the same then as it is today Geoff Kirkland’s  “The pest" described to me as being a “tremendously powerful pigeon in the hand . “Of course The Pest secured his rightful place among the pantheon of elite racing pigeons to ever grace our skies being winner of 1st Open BBC Nantes in 1987 and 1st Open MNFC Angouleme in 1989.  Around that same period Dad was organising a  number of sales in order to help raise funds for a special educational needs school for children with complex disabilities which both my late sisters attended.  Many premiere lofts of the day donated birds including Geoff who never failed to donate from his best birds what else would you expect from a man who is the very embodiment of what it truly means to be a true pigeon man .

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What a pigeon “The Pest “ Winner of 1st Open BBC Nantes in 1987 and 1st Open MNFC Angouleme in 1989,

                                                                                                                                                            

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The Snake one of the  Standard bearers  of the loft from the modern era winner of approx. £8,500  in National and Classic racing and is responsible for a dynasty of winners for example in 2015 on 4th July racing with NFC from Saintes Mr and Mrs Geoff Kirkland of Stoke on Trent were first section J with a yearling on 1336ypm over 511 miles. The section winner being  a grizzle cock containing the bloodlines of Snake,

 

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The first of Many National winners” 05014 “ (see text)

 

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2022 NFC President G.W Kirkland Esq. Not only an iconic Champion but also ambassador and servant to a sport which is all the more richer because of his prolific example of excellence and dignity.

Due to undergoing an operation earlier in the year Geoff and Barbra have made the decision to reduce the amount of stock birds they keep, but there is one thing for certain when it comes to National and Classic racing the name of Geoff and Barbara Kirkland is never far from the top  of the result sheet.

 

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