Mr & Mrs Alan Winder of Newtown H.S & Rhondda Valley Federation

Over the winter months I intended to try and carry out a few loft visits to the Combine winners. There are few in the pipeline for  the New year period and the first of these are to 2014 combine winners, Mr & Mrs Winder who have flown an excellent pigeon in 2015,

considering they can be rightfully called a back garden loft and winning at the top level.

As I stated above, the icing on the cake for Alan & Lorna was in the final National and Combine race from Lydden Hill in 2014,

where the small team romped home to take 1,2, 3 Welsh South East Combine and 1st, 2nd , 3rd Welsh South East National.

Alan Winder, Miss Tipper and Lorna Winder Holding 1stx3 W.S.E Combine Lydden Hill 2014

After ending 2014 on such a high, Alan and Lorna were hoping that the pigeons would perform as they had  the previous season

and sure enough the pigeons didn’t disappoint.

Flying in the Very strong Newtown H.S, with 14 flying members,the birds came

to win 12 x 1st club and twice 1st section in the Welsh South East National, 1ST Section Rosemont, 6th Open, 350 Milesand in almost replica fashion from 2014,in the final young bird national they came again to take 1stand 2nd, club, 1st and 2nd Penywaun Breeder Buyer, winning £650, 1st and 2nd Rhondda Valley Fed, 1st & 2nd W.S.E.National, 3rd and 4th Open W.S.E.National and first two pigeons into South Wales, to complete another very successful season in 2015.

Looking back to the start, Alan joined the sport in 1984, flying in their current club the Newtown H.S, situated in The Cynon Valley, South Wales. Alan is the first to say that without Lorna’s Help then he just wouldn’t have the time to compete. It’s Lorna that looks after the young birds and judging by the way they have performed the last two season’s, she’s doing a fine job with them.

The stock birds are of Jos Thones and Soontjens. Jos Thones are down from the Sumo lines, with the Soontjens coming from local successful fanciers namely Wyndam Rees Colin Pearce. Alan keeps 12 pairs of stock and they are paired over the Xmas period when he’s off from work. Whilst rearing, the stock birds are fed on the Breeding mix from Court Farm, which supply a lot of corn locally in South Wales.

Stock cocks – Chq cock is sire to 3 x 1st fed winners

Before paring, the Stock and racers are treated for Cocci and Canker.

Alan will also treat for worms if needed other than that Alan will use Natural products to maintain health and fitness.

Antibiotics are a last resort option and only if prescribed.

Dam of 1st fed 1st Nat 1st combine Lydden Hill

Around 30- 40 young birds are reared, flown on the darkness system.

Alan has 2 sections with cocks and hens separated all week and allowed to run together on Friday before the race.

The birds are well trained before racing with double training on all points out to Magor around 35 miles.

When racing starts very little training is done, although they go out 3 times daily for exercise, morning, Midday and Evening.

1st centre section - 6th open Lydden Hill

Whilst on the dark the young birds are fed high protein mix and then when they are taken off they are put on a lighter Widowhood mix,

which they stay on until racing is finished.

As for the old birds, they are raced on Roundabout, again paired at Xmas when Alan’s off work,

they rear the young birds from the stock birds, although Alan will take a pair of young birds off the proven racers and then parted.

They will be re-paired  a month or so before racing and allowed to sit approximately 8 days

and then will be parted ready for training and racing.

Old Bird sections - 15 cocks in total

The old birds have 4-6 training spins before racing and that’s it for the cocks.

No training when racing starts for them, although the hens are trained as when Alan gets the chance.

The old birds are fed on Versele Laga widowhood mix; they don’t get knocked down on depurative and are fed in the tray on the floor to appetite.

They have all they can eat on Thursday evening and are left in on a Friday to rest for the race ahead.

Young bird section

In summary,

Alan and Lorna have had two outstanding seasons for a real back garden set up,

results have been top drawer and as can be seen from the photographs

the condition on the pigeons going into 2016 should give equally impressive results.