Brett Jones of Penygraig H.S. & Rhondda Valley Federation

Another loft that deserves a loft write up on his performance’s in 2014 and 2015 is Brett Jones of the Penygraig H.S. Extremely keen and equally dedicated, Brett puts the work into the birds that rewards him with top performances, with 6 x 1st Rhondda Valley Federation over the last two season with in excess of 3700 pigeons competing and well over 200 members in the Fed, you can see that Brett and the pigeons are at the top of their Game.

Brett first came into the sport in 2003, joining the Tonyrefail club. Keen as mustard and quick to learn, It didn’t take Brett Long to start winning. Starting off Brett obtained pigeons from Taverner, son and Seal of Tylorstown and Multi National winning Graham Thomas of LLantrisant, the correct winning genes were there to start with.

Next Brett struck up a friendship with one of the finest fanciers to fly into Wales, Namely Graham Warren of Treherbert. Under Graham’s guidance and with the help of 24 eggs from Graham’s best stock, in Brett’s word he has never looked back. With one pair in particular responsible for winner after winner, in 2014 alone they bred 5 x 1st club and 2 x 1st Federation.

Making up the 30 pair of stock that Brett keeps, are Lambrechts from Steve Foster and Bill Duckworth lines and introductions from his partner in crime and good friend Robert Pugh from Maerdy. Brett did say that the he keeps a strong team of stock and likes to try to different lines each Year and they have to breed the goods to stay.

At this point it relevant to point out that Les Hughes is the silent member of the partnership, Les used to fly with Roy Street, when this partnership finished in 2013, Les couldn’t find anything to occupy himself, although he was seen regularly through Penygraig,Trealaw and Tonypandy on his daily walks. Les then started helping Brett with the birds. This has helped greatly with the birds, bringing regularity to the daily routines

Bret Jones, right, with Robert Pugh enjoying what they do best together !!!

Les Hughes – Loft Manager and in charge of widowhood cocks

The stock is paired on the 4th December every year, he prefers to breed early and finish rearing off before racing starts. The stock is fed 50% farm breeder and 25% farm barley and 25% conditioner after moulting. When breeding starts its 50% breeder and 25% each peas and Beans with Homoform given daily. All breeding corn is from the local farms.

The race birds are paired the same time as the stock birds, 4th December, Brett will usually have the race team sit the stock bird’s eggs, but in 2016 they feel they have the strongest race team they have and will rear from them for the first time. Again in 2016 for ease of racing they will revert back to flying roundabout. The last two years they have been racing 24 widowhood cocks and 24 hens flying to 12 cocks.

Once the first round is reared the race team are out for exercising and once they feel that they are ready they are put on the road. They are taking in short stages at first, 2x 3miles, 2 x 5 miles 2x 7 & 14 miles then as many as the weather allows at 35 miles. Brett likes to get a team race ready for the first race which  reflects in 2014 and 2015 he’s been 1st federation with 3700 pigeons competing.

When racing commences the widowhood cocks do not get trained if Les as his way, though Brett might sneak one in if he can get away with it. The hens are trained twice weekly and may even be sent with Tom Harris down in Newport for a Swindon midweek.

Brett Holding 1st Open Rhondda Valley Fed Newbury 3763 birds

The race birds are fed on Matador Mixes, ounce and quarter evening and half ounce morning feed for inland racing, this is upped to ounce and half evenings when the channel race come along, with Homoform in front of them daily. Should the birds need medication, they are checked out and Brett likes to use the Dr Vandensluis products if required.

1st Open Rhondda Valley Fed Swindon 3427 pigeons

At least 100 young birds are reared and flown on the Darkness. The young birds are out early and are up and away batching. Once they start ranging the young birds are trained. Normally in May, they start off with 2 x 1 miles, 3 x 3 miles 4 x 7 miles and 3 x 14 miles. All these to get them used to working the falcon infested valleys of South Wales. They are then trained as often as possible before the first young bird race which could entail over 30 training spins before the first race. As you can see with both Old birds and Young birds the work is put into the pigeons before racing starts and the results follow.

The young birds are trapped in with Seed, and are then given half ounce in the mornings, with three quarters of an ounce in the evening. This consists of 75% Gerry plus and 25% Cowards y/b., this is fed up to Newbury 95 miles, after which they are given three quarters of an ounce morning and night 50/50 of the above mix.  The young birds are trained twice weekly and may also receive a mid week race with Tom Harris down in Newport from Swindon, depending on the weather.

Now down to some of the racing results in 2014 and 2015.

2014 – 14 x 1st - 4 x 1st Rhondda Valley Federation

• 1st Gilfach Goch Breeder Buyer £1200 and over £ 2500 in prize money in total.

2015 - 20 x 1st - 2 x 1st Rhondda valley fed and over £3000 in prize money

As well as racing, Brett as also bred the Fantastic Racer of Daniel Pipes which you can see from the photographs below is probably one of the finest pigeons to race into Wales at the current time and to top that she also bred 1st Welsh South Road National Fougeres in 2015. Something both Brett and Daniel can be proud of in their own ways.

To finish off, Brett would like to give a massive thanks to Les Hughes for his help over the last two seasons; Brett says he couldn’t do it without you. Thanks to Martin Jarman for all his help over the years and finally to his partner in crime Robert Pugh for the pigeons that have won well.  To Alan Maull, Steve Bright and Phil Payne, thanks for the pigeons that scored in the Breeder/Buyers and fed in 2015.