Established 1979 Company Number: 11693988 VAT Registration Number: 284 0522 13 +44 (0)1606 836036 +44 (0)7871 701585 elimarpigeons@gmail.com

Butler Bros of Cwmparc

 

RHONDDA VALLEY FED

Reports by Martin Dunn

BUTLER BROS of Cwmparc

This loft write up is about one of the federation’s top partnership and tireless workers, although flying as Butler Bros, the partnership actually consists of Chris and Son Jonathon. Although their performances justify this loft report, another reason I wanted to speak to Chris was for him to briefly outline time spent and effort put in, when undertaking his role as race controller for the Rhondda Valley Federation, which will increase in 2009 when taking control of the Welsh Combine and National liberations.

Chris first started with pigeons as a 14 year old, in partnership with his grandfather and older brother. They joined the old Treorchy H.S, with success coming instantly taking 1st club from Lancaster and 5th Welsh Combine, with a massive 26000 pigeons competing. This has carried on in the same vain over the years with results such as 3rd National Littlehampton, 6th National Littlehampton and 9th National Brussels over the last few seasons shows how well they have flown.

Jonathon left with Chris right

At the time of my visit, over the new year period, the 15 pair of stock birds were sitting tight and these were based on the old Taffy Bowen Kamikaze’s, blended in with the John Kirk Van den Bosch for the sprint middle distance races. For the longer races they are blending in the best lines from Bernard Clarke of Rhymmney. These were really in superb condition despite the bitterly cold weather.

Chris and Jonathon race around 40 old birds, with around 16 widowhood cocks amongst them, the rest are raced on the roundabout method. After the race birds rear the first round they are separated and exercised around the loft until they are fit enough to start training. They are then well trained to Magor, around 40 miles before the first race. When racing starts the roundabouts are then trained twice per week on the local training wagon.

The widowhood cocks are kept in and rested on the Sunday after the race, from Monday to Friday they are exercised both morning and night for an hour each time. They are fed after both exercise periods, communally on the floor. Preferred feed is from Verselle Laga, as much as they want until they start to drink. They will receive Provit mixed on the corn, with Garlic and honey used in the water.

Old bird racing lofts

As for the young birds, Chris and Jonathon will rear between 60-70 each year, although they will lose a number to the Dreaded Sparrowhawk, the lofts are surrounded by trees, which gives these predators all the cover they need to sneak up on the youngsters. The youngsters are raced on darkness and are well trained before racing starts. After this they are trained daily themselves and with the local trainer when possible.

The young birds are allowed to run together and are encouraged to pair and sit to give them the required motivation to race as well as they do. One thing I would say that the partnership do give them is room and space, there are a number of lofts and over crowding certainly is not a problem here.

This is the young bird loft

The young birds are fed on a mixture of Bucktons Young bird with Verselle Laga Geri Plus added to it. Like the old birds they receive Honey and Garlic in the water With Multi Vitamins if needed. The young birds have flown really well in 2007 and 2008, with the highlights being 1st Fed Swindon in 2007 and Followed up with 1st Fed Swindon in 2008. When asked if they have problems with the Darkness pigeons going through the moult, they confirmed they never do and they fly just as well as yearlings.

As for the pigeons they have a number of really good winning pigeons in the race team, although current loft favourite is a gift pigeon, this cock has won around 9 x 1st club, with fed positions including 2nd fed Brussels, 4th ,5th,5th, 6th,7th 10th and 12th fed throughout the programme 60 miles to 350 miles, this with up to 5000 pigeons competing, you can see how good this Jannsen based cock is. His nest sister has also won 1st club Bonn, with good fed and National positions to go with it, you can see how much of a debt the Butlers owe to Wayne Howard for gifting them this nest pair.

Lt chq cock 9 x1st club and an whole host of top fed positions up to 5000 birds

Some results for 2008 include being highest prize winners in the Cwmparc club and the Rhondda Valley 2-bird club. Highlight in the fed was when taking 1st  and 2nd fed Swindon with the young birds, with the following club results :- 12 x 1st club, 7 x 2nd club and 8 x 3rd club.

As for the race controlling, Chris did say that he questioned his sanity when he volunteered for this role, it’s no easy task to take responsibility for 4500 pigeons a week and another 200 members having their own opinions of what they would do if they were doing the job. Chris stated that a typical week would start off on a Wednesday when he receives the weekends forecast, he then speaks to the weather adviser on a Thursday evening, where more often than not you can predict what he’s going to have to deal with on the Saturday.

If  the weather looks good for the weekend the then the work starts in earnest on the Friday, with a number of calls being made to other organisations throughout the country, you’ll also have to bear in mind that some organisations don’t want to cooperate, although this is in the minority. Some Friday evenings he has to leave the club early to carry on calling other race controllers if it’s going to be tricky the following day.

Saturday morning starts off at 05:30 with a call to Martin and Chris Parry our convoyers, who are up and about with little sleep after travelling up with the birds, From then in its contact with as many people as possible to ensure we get a clear run through before giving the information to our convoyer’s who ultimately will decide if the birds are to be released, depending on conditions at the race point.

Chris said he doesn’t relax until the birds come through, although he did say he does have a great deal of satisfaction if we have a good race, but does feel gutted if we get a sticky one despite all the work going in.

So you can see how many hours go into the planning for each weeks race, add that to the weather we had in 2008, you can see how difficult it all is, all unpaid and just for the love of it. No wonder there wasn’t anyone else willing to give it a try when the job was vacant!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this loft visit and the insight into the work that goes on behind the scene’s for us all to enjoy our weekends racing, Good luck to Chris and Jonathon in 2009.