FISHLOCK BROTHERS & SON
OF CARDIFF
by Helen Fishlock
The Fishlock partnership was formed in the winter of 2007 and consists of brothers Mike, Paul and Roger plus Paul’s young son Paul junior. Paul and Roger had raced together for several years flying as Fishlock Bros, and Mike had raced successfully on his own during the 1980s and joined forces with Mike Harding in 1987 flying as Fishlock & Harding. This partnership went on to win almost all there was to win into Wales with their team of Eddie Froggatt-based birds winning nationals, combines, fed championships and several Welsh Homing Union awards including the coveted Queen’s Cup and winning the Taffy Bowen Sprint Trophy 3 times (1993, 1995 & 1997), becoming the first fanciers to win any of the union trophies 3 times. In 1998, at a time when many regarded them as the best all round all distance loft in Wales, their team of champions included Westra Kadet, Westra The Ace Cock, Westra Moneyspinner, Westra The 24000 Cock, Westra The Ace Hen, Westra Eddie, Westra Sultan, Westra Stephen plus many more open class champions. These were sold at auction with 81 birds making £65,000. With the birds sold because of houses being built on Mike Harding’s land, the partnership ended and both Mikes left the sport. However, Mike Fishlock regularly watched the brothers race their birds on a Saturday. In 2005 Paul and Roger changed from racing north to the south-east route. Racing this route into Cardiff poses a real challenge to compete and get amongst the top lofts, a challenge that ultimately brought Mike Fishlock back into the sport as a full time partner from 2008.
The loft
The first decision made by the partners was to give Mike a complete free hand to sort out the stock kept at the time and formulate a plan on how to move forward. Only 2 pairs were retained, and likewise any birds in the race team 2 years old or over without a prize to their name were taken out of the team. This left a very small team to have some fun with while Mike searched for new stock to improve performances. Incidentally in amongst the small team of racers was a small non-descript cheq cock that had won over the water as a yearling and again as a 2 year old. This cock was to go on to be one of the best channel racers into Wales and win the Queen’s Cup - Champion Channel King.
The partners with the Queen's Cup.
The first new blood obtained came from the clearance sales of the late great Brian Long. Brian had purchased Westra Kadet at the auction of Fishlock & Harding paying £15,000 for this outstanding racing machine winner of several top 10 open turns with over 16,000 birds competing and himself a winner of the WHU Sprint Award 1993. Brian told Mike that although his direct children did not win much, his grandchildren raced very well. Mike Fishlock already knew this because Kadet was the g.sire of Westra Stephen the 1997 WHU Sprint Champion. Mike decided to purchase as many direct children from Westra Kadet as he could afford and over a period of sales he eventually bought 6. All six bred winners but 2 in particular, a cheq cock called Cashmere and a fantastic cheq hen bred many winners, the best of which were retained for stock. These direct children of one of Mike’s former champions crossed with the best of Brian Long’s De Klaks produced the first winners for the new partnership. Of course not everything went this well; a large amount was spent with a large stud but these were a complete disappointment winning hardly a prize after two dismal seasons trying them. The 2008 young bird team had flown well but the partnership knew more new bloodlines had to be sourced, the highlight of 2008 was winning 1st section 4th open WNRF from Giessen 517 miles, also winning 5th open combine when only 25 birds made it home in race time. It was Channel King’s first major victory and the partnership began to feel they had a special bird in the loft.
Stock section.
During 2009 and 2010 Mike brought in pigeons from 4 sources that were to have an immediate impact on the loft’s racing achievements. In 2009 the partnership brought in their first birds from Syndicate Lofts. Mike’s great friend and ace fancier Andy McFenton had first advised Mike about the Syndicate birds and after some extensive research Mike and the partners opted to purchase direct and from other sources direct children and g.children of Syndicate’s famous Young Couple and the champion breeder Drum. Added to these were others bred for the partnership by Andy from his own outstanding Syndicate bloodlines. Also in 2009, 4 pigeons were purchased from the outstanding Scottish national loft of Robert Rome & Son. These birds were of Vandenabeele x Williquet bloodlines with the parents direct from P & D Houfflijn. All four were grandchildren of the top bird in the Houfflijn loft Geronimo, an outstanding racer out to 550 miles and a top breeder. Added to the Rome pigeons was a cock from Welsh fancier Alan Maull. This was a very rare and special pigeon being a grandson of one of the most important pigeons in the Vandenabeele strain, B883206088 Sissi. These pigeons have bred winners out to 450 miles including their good yearling cock this season “61”, a winner of 48th open national Folkestone 183 miles, 18th open national Bonn 453 miles, then 6 days later turned south to win 48th open national Bordeaux 472 miles.
Yearling race section.
In 2010 the partnership purchased 6 from the stock loft of top Manchester fancier John Crehan. Mike Fishlock had done some research on John’s performances and they were fantastic flying against top competition. The bloodlines of the birds were mainly Janssen based with Syndicate Loft blood, Wall Lunt & Green plus Peter van de Merwe running through the birds. The Crehan birds were to have an immediate impact on the loft’s results. Also in 2010 and 2011 the partnership purchased kits of 18 birds to race from Premier Stud. Having experienced disappointment purchasing from another stud, the partnership gave a lot of thought to buying from a stud. The fact that Premier was a racing stud was a major factor in them deciding to purchase. Bloodlines were mainly Antoon Reynaerts with a small amount of Heremans Ceusters. Many winners came from both the 2011 and 2012 batches including there best sprinter Premier Galeforce, so named because of his 1st open federation win in a galeforce west wind. This 2011 cock has to date scored at federation level in 10 individual races. With the steady introduction of the above birds, performances have improved. In 2009 12 x 1st prizes were won, in 2010 25 x 1st prizes , 2011 again 25 x 1st prizes and 17 x 1st prizes have been won during 2012.
Premier Galeforce
Mike Fishlock however continues to source and bring in bloodlines which he thinks can improve the loft. Added recently to the base of the sprint/middle distance birds housed were birds from Nottingham ace Gary ‘the magician’ Daykin and birds from the lofts of Jim Bauress of Liverpool and Liam Fitzgerald of Limerick. Both fanciers have been close friends with Mike Fishlock for over 20 years and some tremendous new bloodlines have been gifted to the partnership to try out.
Also top distance lines have been introduced from top Welsh Nat ace Mark Sparey, Mark Gilbert, Dave Impett, Alwyn Hill and their great friend Derek Flowers. All these pigeons plus others being sourced will be blended in with offspring from their own champion and Queen’s cup winner Channel King. You can read more about this great champion later in the article. The hope is that a team of reliable 500+ miles birds will in time come from this genetic gene pool of outstanding distance birds.
A g.son of Channel King, winner of 9th open national.
MANAGEMENT
The control of the stock team pairings and introductions are all left to Mike. The day to day management of the old bird team is managed by Mike and his twin brother Paul. The partnership fly the roundabout system with the race team paired around mid Febuary. They are allowed to rear a pair of babies and as soon as the first hen is sitting 5 days on their second round all hens are removed to their section regardless if they have all laid or not. Both cocks and hens are gently eased into their exercise periods starting at 15 mins and building up to the required 1 hour twice a day if weather permits. Pre-season training is usually no more than 4 twelve mile tosses leading up to the first race then the race team get no more basket work with the partnership using week to week racing to maintain fitness. Birds are hopper fed to appetite with the main corn used being the Garvo G-Spirits range. 5% barley is added to the mix and at feeding once the birds start to leave the barley the hoppers are removed. The partnership insist that you cannot measure food out for the short races and expect the same birds to put 10-14 hours in on the long races; it just won’t happen.
A g.son of Channel King, winner of 7th open national.
Unusually for the roundabout system the partnership never show the hens on basketing night. The cocks are let into the nest box and have a few minutes with their bowls and are then basketed for the race. The hens are then let into the boxes and exactly the same is done with them. The birds soon realise what the system is and the partnership feel it sends them to the race a bit calmer. Treatment of birds is kept to a minimum with routine canker cures around every 4th week, and they also have the race team tested at the start of season then again 2 weeks before the first overseas race by the De Weerd clinic. Primalac probiotic is used twice a week and the only other supplement used is Naturaline tonic. The race team are raced every week down to the coast with the majority also expected to race most of the overseas races if fit and healthy. With the longest race of the year being only 453 miles for the last couple of seasons, most of the yearlings are sent with the weather and wind conditions playing a part in there final decision. In 2012 they sent 19 to Bonn (453 miles) and clocked 17 on the day winning 1st -5th -6th -9th -13th -14th -21st -22nd -26th -27th south section; 2nd -18th -19th -39th -63rd -73rd -89th -93rd -103rd -108th open Welsh National Flying Club.
With Mike and Paul working long hours, Paul’s son Paul junior takes charge of all the day to day stuff that needs doing while the partners are in work. Since Paul junior joined the partnership full time in 2010 he has been a major part of the loft’s success and his efforts are much appreciated by the rest of the partners.
Scarface - 1st, 3rd & 13th open WNRF.
YOUNG BIRDS
The management of the young bird team is done by Paul, his son and the remaining partner Roger. Mike openly admits he is not a big young bird racing fan but does muck in with training duties and never misses a race. Once the young birds are flying well for at least an hour morning and night training begins, starting at 3 miles building up to 15 miles, which is the maximum distance they will be trained. Where possible training will take place every day once started. The young birds are never let go in one single bunch and instead are liberated in small groups of no more than 7-10 at a time. Young birds are never allowed to roam the roofs or peck about the grass or gutters; they’re either in the air or in the loft. They are fed Garvo young bird mix and Gem young bird mix mixed together 50/50. Their morning feed is made up of 50% barley and 50% Versele Laga super diat. The darkness system is used and the birds are taken off the dark around the longest day. After the first race the young birds are split and from then on cocks and hens are exercised and trained separately. On day of basketing they are allowed to go together for an hour before going to the race. Around 60 young birds usually make up the race team and as long as they are fit and healthy they are expected to race every week with as many as possible going to the longest inland race point and the fittest and best in feather going on to Lillers, a distance of 253 miles. The only routine treatment used is for canker and as with the old bird team regular health checks are undertaken by a qualified vet. No blind treatment is used by the partners and observation of the birds is paramount. As soon as anything looks untoward it’s checked out straight away. Again as with the old birds Primalac and Naturaline are the only supplements used on a weekly basis.
2nd open national Bonn 2012. G.son of Channel King.
THE LOFT
With all the stock and race team housed at Paul’s home the loft has been designed to house all the birds and fit into Paul’s back garden maximising the space available. Affectionately called ‘the cube’, the loft measures 31ft wide by 34ft deep! The rear of the loft is used for the 15 pairs of stock who have access to an aviary for bathing etc, and also housed in the rear loft are the roundabout hens. The hens are not boxed and are kept on v-perches. A separate small section houses 8 hen boxes and any hens that pair are removed to this section and boxed. The racing cocks are housed in a 24ft x 8ft loft which forms the right hand ‘leg’ of the loft. This houses 3 sections with 12 boxes in each section; no more than 10 cocks per section are housed. The loft has 3 chimneys to regulate the flow of air. The left arm ‘leg’ of the loft houses the young bird team. This loft measures 16ft x 6ft with a wrap around aviary attached, making the size of the YB loft 24ft x 10 ft. Spanning the centre of the OB racing loft and the YB racing loft is a “play area” which is approximately 8ft wide x 20 ft deep, fitted with trellised perching. This is used on warm days as a play area for the racing cocks/hens. When paired the old bird race team have full time use of this area and during racing it can be used as the partners feel fit for rest and motivational purposes. This play area makes up the ‘cube’ structure of the loft. Entry and exit from all lofts is via sputnik traps. All lofts are scraped out every day.
A g.son of Channel King with 3 x 1st
PERFORMANCES
Since 2008 the loft has won 10 x 1st section at national and federation level plus many times in the first 4. Seven of these section wins have come in overseas racing. At open level they have won 2 x 1st open Welsh North Road Federation with many many top 10 open prizes. At national level the have won 2nd open Saverne 505 miles 2010 and 2nd open Bonn 2012 453 miles, again also having many top open prizes alongside these near misses. Remember Cardiff is a very hard position to win flying the south-east route, which makes their performances all the better. In 2012 they almost did a clean sweep of section wins overseas winning 1st sect Lillers 253 miles, 2nd section Brussels 335 miles and 1st section Bonn 453 miles. They won fed prizes in 22 of the 25 federation races in 2011, and in 2012 scored a fed prize in every old bird race! A pick of their fed results flying in the Welsh North Road Federation 2011-2012:
4th 7th 27th 28th 29th section 1620 birds; 12th 36th 37th 38th 45th open 5219 birds 92 miles
6th 9th 10th 21st section 1005 birds; 30th 39th 41st open 3288 birds 253 miles
11th 28th section 812 birds; 11th 41st open 2600 birds 79 miles
4th 8th 14th 16th section; 10th 35th open 2368 birds 92 miles
2nd 23rd section 308 birds; 8th open 608 birds 453 miles
10th 15th 20th section 1018 birds; 15th 32nd 35th open 2933 birds 60 miles
1st 3rd 4th 7th 8th 18th 19th 20th section 1510 birds 79 miles
3rd 6th 7th 8th 18th 22nd 24th section 1187 birds; 39th open 3254 birds 159 miles
3rd 4th 5th 6th 12th 13th 14th 24th section 1777 birds 60 miles
6th 7th 8th 12th 13th 22nd section 918 birds 183 miles
6th 8th 9th 10th 18th 19th 20th section 814 birds 183 miles
1st 3rd 4th 7th section 376 birds; 1st 5th 7th 13th open 901 birds 79 miles
3rd 4th 26th section; 9th 10th open 3652 birds 79 miles
1st 4th 15th 16th 23rd 25th section 985 birds; 1st 31st 32nd open 3124 birds
1st 3rd 8th section 24th 38th open 253 miles 1661 birds
3rd 4th 5th 19th 23rd 24th 26th section 575 birds; 13th 15th 16th open 1703 birds 92 miles
4th 5th 24th 26th section 85 birds; 34th 35th open 1123 birds 335 miles
2nd 3rd 4th 12th 16th 18th 19th 20th section 512 birds; 17th 18th 20th open 1550 birds 79 miles
4th 5th 6th 7th 14th 16th 17th section 519 birds; 6th 7th 10th 11th open 1267 birds 183 miles
2nd 10th 11th 18th 28th section; 3rd 27th 29th open 683 birds 453 miles
South section averages winners 2008 & 2010. Runner up 2009 & 2011. Runner up Silver Pigeon for fed champion 2008 & 2010.
One thing that the lads are proud of is the fact that flying in the Welsh North Road Federation they have been placed in the first ten open in the federation’s longest race 5 seasons in succession! They believe they are the only loft in the fed to have done this.
2008 - 4TH OPEN FEDERATION GIESSEN 517 MILES
2009 - 10TH OPEN FEDERATION HELLIBRON 565 MILES
2010 - 2ND OPEN FEDERATION SAVERNE 505 MILES
2011 - 8TH OPEN FEDERATION BONN 453 MILES
2012 - 3RD OPEN FEDERATION BONN 453 MILES
A fantastic series of long distance results by anybody’s standards!
NATIONAL RESULTS
1st sections have been won from 253 miles, 517 miles, 565 miles, 505 miles & 453 miles. A sample of results from 2011-2012:
WELSH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
12th section 83rd open nat Maidstone 183 miles
12th 14th 15th 16th 17th section; 41st 45th 49th open nat Folkestone 183 miles
3rd 4th 13th 17th section; 19th 20th 63rd open nat Lillers 253 miles
7th section 54th open nat Brussels 335 miles
2nd 11th section; 7th 37th open nat Bonn 453 miles
2nd 6th 7th 9th 12th 19th 20th section; 33rd 41st 42nd 56th open nat Maidstone 159 miles
5th 6th 7th 10th 11th 16th section; 51st 54th 57th 60th open nat Folkestone 183 miles
12th section 42nd open nat Lillers 253 miles
7th 11th 12th 15th section; 43rd 61st 68th open nat Maidstone 159 miles
14th section 38th open nat Folkestone 183 miles
1st 3rd 7th section; 22nd 32nd 55th open nat Lillers 253 miles
2nd 3rd 13th 15th 24th 28th 44th section; 26th 27th 71st 80th open nat Brussels 335 miles
3rd 4th 5th 6th 10th 11th 12th 31st 32nd 39th section; 4th 5th 8th 9th 45th 50th open nat Folkestone 183 miles
1st 5th 6th 9th 13th 14th 21st 22d 26th 27th section; 2nd 18th 19th 39th 63rd 73rd 80th 93rd open nat 453 miles
4th 10th 12th section; 57th 78th 83rd open nat Folkestone 183 miles
7th 8th 18th 21st section; 23rd 24th 75th 86th open nat Folkestone 183 miles
WELSH SOUTH EAST NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
Only joined for 2012 season and flew 2 races:
8th east section 26th open national Folkestone 183 miles 3000 birds
2nd east section 21st open Lillers yb national 253 miles 883 birds
WELSH SOUTH RAOD NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
Only raced one race 2012
26th east section 48th open nat Bordeaux 472 miles
Sire of open fed winners and section national winners. Bred by John Crehan.
CHAMPION CHANNEL KING
As stated earlier in the article, when Mike Fishlock joined the partnership in 2007 Channel King had already won across the channel as a yearling and 2 year old wining minor fed prizes. Paul felt he was going to be a bit special and how right he was proved to be! The origin of Channel King is 100% of the old famous Welsh National and Queen’s cup winning loft of the late Ivor Marshall of Newport. The dam of Channel King was purchased from Ivor and the sire of Channel King was bred by the late Bill ‘Taffy’ Coates of Cardiff and was 100% Marshall blood. This small long cast cock went on to produce a series of outstanding performances during 2008-2010 which culminated in him winning the Welsh Homing Union Queen’s Cup in 2010 and 1st GB marathon class in the Poznan Olympiad 2011. Mike Fishlock had previously won the Queen’s Cup with Mike Harding in 1991 with their great champion Westra Eddie and never imagined he would get his hands on the Queen’s Cup again. In the 60 years the Queen’s Cup has been up for competition you can count on one hand the fanciers who have won it twice. Not only has Mike now won the Queen’s Cup twice, he is he believes the first fancier ever to win it on different routes, north with Mike Harding and south-east with his brothers. Mike has now won 9 WHU awards, a fact he is very proud of. As well has having a tremendous racing record Channel King is also proving his worth at stock with several children and grandchildren wining top prizes at federation and national level out to 453 miles.
Dtr of Channel King, winner of 24th open national 335 miles.
SUMMARY
The partners are very pleased with their progress so far but know that there is a lot more work to be done if they are to improve on their recent results. New blood is constantly being sourced and any bloodlines not performing are not persevered with regardless of their origin. While they are aware Cardiff is not the best position to race the route they race, they also are mindful not to use this as an excuse for poor results. They have heard fanciers blame position when quite frankly on many occasions they simply are not in the same race as the winners. They say yes position plays a big part in racing but you have to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself. They have won top open prizes when their pigeon is without doubt one of the best in the race but have also been beaten fair and square regardless of the winner’s position on many other occasions. Their aim is to be as consistent as possible in every race. They do not class themselves as sprint or distance fanciers; they try and compete to a high level in all races.