RHONDDA VALLEY FED

Reports by Martin Dunn

Saturday 23rd June saw the fed back at Newbury, with a healthy 1660 birds being sent, not bad considering the Defra restrictions. Chris Butler had them away nice and early at 06:50 in a westerly wind, a steady race it turned out to be.

Leading the way this week, for the second time this season was the partnership of Street and Hughes , this week they time a yearling for 1st club at Tonypandy, 1st  R.V. fed. Talking to Roy a few weeks back, he said its not the same birds coming each week, the partnership have had the widowhood cocks some weeks and natural pigeons the following week, the whole lofts been on form from the first week of the season where they also topped the fed.

Runner – up by 0.8 of yard, are Mal and Darron Woodland of Tonyrefail, again another loft that’s been on the fed results from the first race, this week they take the first 3 positions, they have done this on at least 3 occasions this season in this very competitive club. First pigeon clocked was a Willy Thas pigeon followed by 2 Luc van Hoeke pigeons, these  take 2nd, 6th 9th fed. Adrian Ware gets one for 4th club 10th fed.

Next in are the Gill bros, Brian and Mike, these 2 have had a tremendous season, this week they take the first 3 at Penygraig, 3rd,13th and 20th fed, all 3 pigeons are based around their Houben pigeons, again another loft on top form, they topped the centre section in the Welsh South East National the week previous from Huy, well done from all at Penygraig.

Glyn Sibley wins Trebanog, and takes 4th fed with a yearling, Glyn had a quiet start to the season by his standards, but his pigeons have come back into form in the comeback races, Vince lane has had another very good old bird season with a small team of Willy Van Houtte’s.This week he gets 2 yearling cocks for 2nd and 3rd club, 7th and 25th fed.

From here we head to the west section, where Dai Gore of Kenfig Hill secures yet another section win, Dai has really flown well again this year, taking 1st and 3rd Kenfig hill, 5th and 16th fed, first pigeon is a 2yr old that must have been going for it to get

Down here at this time in a breezy westerly wind.Runnner- up at Kenfig Hill is Wynne Jones who clocks yet another yearling for 12th fed.

Right behind Dai in the west section we have Evans son Evans of Maesteg Park, John takes 1st 2nd and 5th club, 8th, 15th and 30th fed, John is another that has done well in the west section, should be between these 2 fanciers for top old bird flyer in the section.

3rd and 4th club is Peter.Watkins, who also takes 23rd  and 27th fed.

Back to the top of the Rhondda valley this time and into the village of Cwmparc where Hughes and Griffiths time a 2 yr old for 11th fed and from here we go over the mountain to the Rhondda fach, to Maerdy and the Davies and Evans partnership, these have been flying well the last few weeks and they get 1st club at Maerdy – 1th fed, this is another good pigeon on the wind to get up into Maerdy on the day.

 Next up are  the younger members in our fed, Both lofts at Nantymoel, taking first this week are the partnership of  Bayliss, Walker and Nolan, the Walker and Nolan are Ryan and Shane, both of  these  are 9 years of age and carry out all the chores around the lofts, this is their second win of the season, having won Epsom early on, takng 2nd club is 14year old Josh David, Josh is a keen as mustard, Josh also gets help off his grand father Phil, nice to see the youngsters showing the way.These 2 lofts take 17th and 19th fed.

Back over to the Rhondda, starting at Ynyshir, where Brown and Jones pick up their 5th red card, I believe this is the same cock that’s won these positions, cracking pigeon, this week he takes 18th fed, should be a contender for bird of the year in the fed. Upto Tylorstown and Gareth Hughes and son just edge Lewis and King into 2nd spot, by a yard taking 24th and 26th fed.

Final 2 birds are well worthy of a mention, first is to Newtowns Alan Winder who clocks a yearling for  1st club 22nd fed, another one that must have broke early to get up the Cynon valley, of the drag for this race, second is to one of our longest flyers down at Port Talbot, Ray Woozley, who clocks a yearling Vandenabeele x Preece bros sent driving to nest for 28th fed.

Next race was  from Bonn, we were all hoping that we would get a good race from this race point after the disaster of the previous 2 channel races, problem being was the weather, with a gusting west wind on the birds right along the route, and the weather closing in at the home end, only fittest and keenest pigeons were going to make it on the day.

The birds were liberated at 07:50,  and the birds had it all to do, 12 hours 8 minutes later the  Rhondda  Valley fed winner arrived on a velocity of 1124 ypm to the Penygraig loft of Arnold and Keith Davies, they get a 3yr old widowhood cock of their old Lefebre  Dhaenen x Verheye family for 1st club, fed and Section winner in the Welsh South East National, this is the  second time this season the partnership have done this, they topped the fed and section from Maidstone as well. Congratulations Both on a tremendous performance.

Runner up was another excellent pigeon to 14 year old  Josh David of Nantymoel, Josh and Grand dad Phil, get a 3 year old Matt Rakes  Bred pigeon, this bird really had to work hard to get this far west on the night, taking 1st club , 2nd fed. Josh and Phil also have 2 early arrivals the following morning at 21st and 30th fed, very good performance from nearly 500miles.

In third spot is Tylorstowns Brian Roberts, Brian Clocks a 6 year old cock that has won 1st club 3rd fed Liege in 2005, 2nd club Bonn 2005 and now 1st club 3rd fed Bonn 2007, a really good pigeon this one.

Taking 4th fed is Newports T.Gibbons, who gets a 2yr old for 1st club, closely followed by club mate D..White, Unfortunately I do not have any details on these pigeons, so cannot give them the credit they deserve.

Final pigeon on the day was again up at Nantymoel, the partnership of Bayliss and Bayliss, Phillip clocked a  2yr old at 9.07 for 2nd club 6th fed, Phillip does well over the water and was 2nd National from Kassel a few years back.

These were the brave 6 pigeons that made it home on the day, every one must have been spot on going to the race, to get in home in those conditions, the South Wales valleys were completely blocked out with driving rain and low lying Mist from 18:00 on the day.

Up early next Morning and first to clock were fed President Stanton bros and Evans, this pigeon was probably in the valley on the night, just didn’t have the daylight to get home, they clock a Boscheind x Hartog for 7th fed.  

Ronnnie Slatter couldn’t get out of bed, early enough to see his arrival, when he went up the shed his 2 year old was sitting patiently waiting to be timed in, this cock takes 8th fed. At 05:45.

Butler bros are next, after a quite start to the season, they were having trouble with hawks and the birds weren’t happy, they have come into form the last few weeks, finally getting the win from Bonn and 9th fed.

Denny Phillips carries on with his good performances over the water, he times just after 06: 00 for 3rd club 10th fed, Denny is leading the channel points in the fed after 2 good performances from Oudenaarde and Huy.

Ray Woozley gets his second win on the trot in Port Talbot, with another Vandenabeele  x Preece bros stock, this cock was sent feeding a big youngster and driving his hen back to nest, he also takes 2nd club for good measure, With M.docherty 3rd and OBrian and Jones 4th  with a M&D Evans vandenabeele.

Philip Sheldon of Abercwmboi keeps his consistent season on track with 1st club 12th fed,  with Tipper and Jex 2nd club 15th fed, these are followed by Cambrians Les Vaughan, Les has again been in the mix every channel race and his 2nd in the channel points table. Tony Southwood gets two early next morning for 2nd and 4th club, 26th and 28th fed, been split by Gerald Lewis who comes in for 3rd club 27th fed, all around the 07:30 mark.

Brian Roberts gets his second pigeon early next morning clocking a 5yr old for 3rd club 14th fed, likewise Arnold and Keith  Davies gets another for 2nd club  25th fed, with Dunn son Seal clocking their Black Luc Van Hoeke hen for 3rd club 29th fed, this hen has  been 1st Oudenaarde, 4th Brussels and 5Th club Liege in the past.

Mike Kettley takes 2nd  at Ynyshir, mike is another who’s never far away the further we go,  Owen Evans and son, keep their good run going at Maerdy, ttaking 1st club 18th fed. Graham Warren clocks 2 early next morning for 2nd and 3rd at Treherbert 24th and 27th .fed,

This completes the latest races, next up will be the final Newbury and a look at who’s won what during 2007 old bird season.   

23/7/07