“ON THE ROAD” WITH KEITH MOTT.

Three Borders Federation (Okehampton Race).

I’ve been told the BHW is changing its name to the ‘Esher Homing World’! The Three Borders Federation have had nine races this season so far and the Esher & District RPC members have won eight times 1^st Federation and 2^nd Federation in the other race. Being a member of this very strong club for 40 years, I hope fanciers don’t think I’m being bias, but all I do is report!  Our membership has won countless Federations and Combines through the years and current Esher club member have won ten times 1^st open National and 1^st open International Agen. When you are the Federation press officer and try to produce an interesting weekly report in the BHW, it is very difficult when the same club and members are winning every week. It is like getting ‘blood out of a stone’, when try to get winners info from some fanciers, but my ol’ mate, Paul Arnold, has been a diamond this season. He recorded his fourth Federation winner of the season from Okehampton and he has contacted me with full winning details on every Sunday after his successful races. I wish they were all like our Paul!

The Three Borders Federation was at the Okehampton liberation site, with the South East Combine, on the first weekend in June and the 1,555 birds were liberated at 06.30hrs in a light East head wind. Because of an adverse weather forecast the marking night was brought back to Thursday evening and the liberation was on the Queen’s Jubilee Friday, which was great foresight by the committee, as the convoy would have been held over with heavy rain on the Saturday. Paul Arnold recorded his fourth Three Borders Federation winner of the season and won: 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 16th, 18^th, 20^th, 22^nd Federation. At this stage of the season Paul is leading for the Federation ‘Individual Points Trophy’ by a country mile, with this being his fourth Federation win of the season, plus many other premier positions, including 3^rd open NFC Guernsey. Kevin Pratt and partners of the Ashridge club won 1^st Federation from Wadebridge two weeks previous with their outstanding Lambrecht mealy pied widowhood cock, the ‘Forgotten Cock’ and since that he has gone on to win 1^st club, 9^th Federation Honiton and 1^st club, 8^th Federation from this Okehampton race. What a great pigeon!

The first ten in the Okehampton Federation result were: 1) Paul Arnold 1469: 2) Paul Arnold 1468: 3) Vic Emberson 1454: 4) Paul Arnold 1445: 5) Paul Arnold 1444: 6) Paul Arnold 1444: 7) Paul Arnold 1438: 8) M/M Holden & Pratt 1434: 9) Malik & Khan: 1427 10) R. Suchocki 1426. This was race number nine of the season and at this point the Esher club are leading for the ‘Federation Points Trophy’ with 47 points, with the Ashridge club being R/U on 29 point.

I spoke to Paul Arnold after the Okehampton race and he said, ‘Well mate this week’s race all seemed a bit of a rush, as on Wednesday evening we heard that because of the uncertainty of the weekends weather, we were going to basket on Thursday evening instead and race on bank holiday Friday. As it happens those that arranged this should be applauded as Friday turned out to be a lovely day. So race day dawned to sunshine and blue skies and an early liberation at 6.30am in to a light easterly wind, but in the back of my mind there were doubts of the rushed preparations for the race and had I done all I could to give my team a fighting chance. I don't doubt for one minute that I was the only pigeon fancier with these thoughts, as I know there are many people like me that are methodical in their approach to racing and the only consolation in this for me was that we were all probably in the same boat! Anyway my first thought on time was 3 hours 40 minutes, but then I realised that the birds had been ripping up trees all year achieving very impressive times. So with this in mind, a new ETA of 3 hours 25 minutes was arrived at! At 3 hours 23 minutes I had two birds together, one messed about a little and the other didn't, crashing onto the board then in. My first bird was my good little dark hen, a daughter of ‘True Faith’, my 2020 NFC Messac National winner. This hen has previously been 3^rd Federation last year and this season has won: 13^th Federation Wincanton, 2^nd Federation Honiton (1) beaten by loft mate, she was my second arrival in the NFC Guernsey race winning 7^th section E, 29^th open (6531 birds) and last week was 2^nd Federation Honiton (2) beaten by loft mate, I'm over the moon that she has finally won the Federation! Second bird on the clock was a blue white flight cock, a  yearling brother to, ‘True Faith’, my Messac National winner, who has previously been 13th Federation Yeovil, 8^th Federation Okehampton, 5^th Federation Wincanton, 20^th Federation Wadebridge and last week he was 5^th Federation Honiton(2)  beaten by loft mates.

Next bird on the ETS from Okehampton was my fantastic blue hen taking 4^th Federation and she is a daughter of ‘King Rudy’. She has previously been 20^th Federation Honiton as a young bird, as a yearling was 6^th Federation Wincanton, but this season has won, 3^rd Federation Honiton (1) beaten by loft mates, 3^rd Federation Honiton (2) beaten by loft mates, she was my third arrival in the second BICC Guernsey race winning 128^th open (5847 birds) and best of all she was 1^st section E, 3^rd open NFC Guernsey (6531 birds). Next on taking 5^th Federation was my top blue white flight cock, who has already topped the Federation twice this year and also 12^th Federation Wadebridge and last year won 1^st club 3^rd Federation and 1^st club 4^th Federation. Next bird home from Okehampton, winning 6^th Federation, was my blue yearling cock, ‘445’, who is a grandson of ‘Victor’, my 2011 Bergerac SMT Combine winner. This cock has been very consistent all season winning a few top positions when on the drop with his loft mates. Once again Keith, I hope I haven't rambled on too much’.

Alan & Gary Young of Croydon (1^st and 5^th South East Combine Okehampton 2022).

The father and son partnership of Alan and Gary Young have set the Surrey pigeon fancy alight in recent season with their fantastic young bird performances, which include 1^st open National Flying Club, 1^st open London & South East Classic Club and 1^st Combine. Congratulation to Alan and Gary on their latest success, 1^st and 5^th in the new South East Combine from Okehampton!

The first ten in the South East Combine Okehampton race result (1,555 birds) were: 1) Alan & Gary Young (SF) 1482: 2) Paul Arnold (TBF) 1469: 3) Paul Arnold (TBF) 1468: 4) Vic Emberson (TBF) 1454 5) Alan & Gary Young (SF) 1454: 6) M. & J. Adcock (SF) 1453: 7) M. & J. Adcock (SF) 1448: 8) M. & J. Adcock (SF) 1448: 9) M. & J. Adcock (SF) 1448: 10) M. & J. Adcock (SF) 1447.

Alan and Gary had three pigeon come together from the second London & South East Classic Club young bird Guernsey Classic race (2,000 birds) and produced a fantastic result by recording 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd open. The first pigeon too hand and to win the Classic was the blue chequer cock, ‘Anto’, and he had previously won 4^th open Federation (1,495 birds) Portland. His sire was bred from the T.B.O. Partnership’s champion racer, ‘Mack-One’, winner of four times 1^st Federation, when mated to, ‘Shore Bet’, also winner of four times 1^st Federation. The dam of ‘Anto’ is a M. & D. Evans hen bred down from their champion ‘Hillcroft Fantasy’. This game cock was a ‘darkness’ youngster, flying his fourth race when he won the Guernsey Classic and was sent sitting seven day old eggs. In fact he was mated to the 3^rd open Guernsey Classic winner, ‘Amelia’, which had previously won 3^rd Federation (1,495 birds) Portland, 13^th Federation (1,667 birds) Blandford. When Gary came around to my home in Claygate after the event to have his birds photographed, we had a good chat about the race and he said, the three birds were in the loft together and it was just a matter of which one came to hand first would be the Classic winner. The 2^nd open blue chequer cock, ‘Danny Boy’, was bred from a Geoff Kirkland pigeon, the same one that bred the Young’s 2006 NFC Chale winner, Champion ‘Louisa’, making then half-brother, half-sister. Gary says, it was a shame he didn’t clock ‘Danny Boy’ first from Guernsey, as it would have meant the Kirkland pigeon would have bred a National winner in 2006 and a Classic winner in 2007. Mind boggling! ‘Danny Boy’ was the Young’s first bird clocked from the first Guernsey Classic two weeks previous, to record 33^rd open and I think he must be a good contender to win the ‘Wally Dann Memorial Cup’ for best young bird of the year. This young racing machine was sent to Guernsey sitting eggs and had previously won 5^th Federation (1,696 birds) Blandford.

The weekend before the Guernsey Classic, Alan and Gary sent a team of 17 youngsters to the NFC Guernsey National (5,408 birds) and recorded 5^th, 7^th, 11^th, 23^rd, 99^th, 176^th open, lifting 2^nd Gold Ring National. The partners got two pigeons together from the National and first one on the clock to record 5^th open was the Belgium rung blue chequer cock ‘Willy’, and he was obtained from a fancier up country named Steve Hole. This cock was raced to the perch and previously recorded 3^rd Federation (1,692 birds) Blandford.

The 2007 young bird team were set up for the London & South East Classic Club and National Flying Club races and were trained off the south coast, from Bognor and Portsmouth. Gary told me that they were trained on the Winchester line for a while with the ‘foot and mouth’ ban, but once this was lifted he turned them back to the coast. They also got additional ‘four up’ tosses from 10 miles in the evenings and came home from the Federation races in batches. The youngsters were fed on ‘Gerry Plus’ and were given regular exercise around the loft. The young birds were split in to two teams because of the ‘bird flu’ seven day rule and both performed brilliantly. The youngsters were put on the ‘darkness’ system on weaning and taken off  two week earlier than usual, in early June, because Alan went on holiday. They were darkened from 5pm until 8am and the sexes were kept separated for the first three races, then they were allowed to run together for the rest of the racing season, with fantastic success. In the 2007 season training started about six weeks before the first race, with short tosses then went in big jumps down to the south coast. My good friend, Bobby Besant, had been given the partners one or two pointers with their pigeon management that season and great results came about..

The old sporting saying of, ‘when it’s your day, it really is your day’, applied very strongly to Alan and Gary Young when they sent to the 2006 N.F.C. Chale young bird race and didn’t just have one pigeon come to win 1^st open, but had two come together. The first pigeon on the clock to win 1^st open National was the partners little blue pied hen, Champion ‘Louisa’, and she was bred from Geoff Kirkland and Dave Hunt bloodlines. She had four club races on her build up to her National win and the L&SECC race from Yelverton, when she recorded 35^th open. In my opinion, ‘Louisa’, is a perfect pigeon, small, apple bodied, wonderful feathering and eye, with a brilliant racing record to finish it off! My type of racing pigeon! The second pigeon on the clock from the Chale National was the blue chequer cock, ‘The Huntsman’, and he was a bit slow on the trap but still recorded 5^th open National. This game pigeon had previously won 54^th open L&SECC Exeter, a couple of weekends before.

Alan flew pigeons in the 1960’s, with his son, Gary, became a pigeon partner about ten years ago and they race in the Surrey Valley Club (Surrey Federation). Alan and Gary have been racing from the present Croydon address for fourteen years and their two section 24ft x 6ft racing loft has sputnik trapping. The partners race 20 cocks on the widowhood system and these are paired up on their return from the Blackpool Show in late January. The racers are fed on light mixtures and Gary told me the partners like National and Classic channel racing best. The racers rear a pair of youngsters, with the hens being taken away with the young ones at about 17 days old and the cocks are given about six 30 mile training tosses when they are repaired just before the racing season starts. Gary says his racers are a bit fat at the start of the season, but the first few inland races knock them into shape. Although firsts have been recorded in the Saturday club, Gary says, most of their best positions have been won in the National and Classic clubs, including 8^th open L&SECC Bergerac (450 miles). One of the premier racers at the Croydon loft is ‘The Mosaic Hen’ and she has an outstanding racing record, including 1^st open Federation (1,328 birds) from Lyndhurst.

The Young’s keep ten pairs of stock birds, which are housed in a 7ft x 5ft loft, with aviary and are mated the same time as the racers so the eggs can be floated. During the breeding season a wood shavings and sand litter is used on the stock loft floor These birds are fed a first class ‘breeding’ mixture and a lot of the stock birds have come from Gary’s good friend, Dave Hunt of Dagenham, in the east end of London. The partners told me, Dave has been a very good friend, giving them some first class stock birds and excellent advice. One of the main stock birds is the blue pied cock, Champion ‘Mack One’, which was bred and raced by the T.B.O. Partnership and he has sired several good winners, but Gary says his grandchildren are outstanding. This wonderful cock was champion young bird of Europe in 1999 and won 1^st open Bosmolen Gold Ring Classic, 1^st open Amalgamation (by 30 ypm), four times 1^st Federation and was undefeated at Federation level. What pigeon to have in your stock loft! Other bloodlines at the Croydon loft are Geoff Kirkland and M. & D. Evans. The Young’s breed 70 young birds for racing each season and Gary says he likes to go training with them at 4am, and sometimes they go down the road twice a day. Alan and Gary really enjoy young bird racing and start training about five weeks before the first race, working them up to Petersfield (45 miles). During the racing season the babies get a couple of 12 mile tosses each week and the hens race the programme, with a few cock being stopped after a few races and saved for the widowhood system. The young cocks and hens are kept in separate sections during the racing season and run together on the marking day. When picking out new stock birds, Gary says he is only interested in good winning bloodlines and not type. He maintains that if a fancier lives in a club radius and is of good character, he should not be refused entry in a club, regardless if he is a good racer or not. The partners like to show their birds in the winter months, but only at club level and not at National events.

BBC Wakefield National Race.

Congratulations to Steve and Tessa Howard of Guilford and Vince, Sue and Jack Durrant of Godalming for their great performances in the British Barcelona Club Wakefield National Race, which was flown in late May. Both lofts had a great race and I’m happy to say both their first birds in on the ETS were my bloodlines.

Steve Howards first pigeon on the clock to win 1^st section G, 34^th open BBC Wakefield National (1,129 birds) was his natural mealy cock, ‘Heinz’ and he was sent to the race un-paired. This smashing looking cock also won 1^st section G, 38^th open BBC Thurso (521 miles) National race on 16^th July 2021. It was a good weekend, with the 576 birds entered being liberated at 05.00hrs on the Friday morning. Day pigeon returns were very good, with 25 game pigeons being clocked on the day of liberation. Steve sent three birds and clocked all three to record: 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th section G, 38^th, 54^th, 82^nd open National. There was only four pigeons clocked in race time in section G and Steve clocked three of them down in Surrey.

The cock was sent driving his hen to nest and on his build up to the Thurso race he had two north road races with the Godalming club, and then was sent to the BBC Berwick which took him several days to get home from. ‘Heinz’ was bred from Keith and Betty Mott bloodlines, with his basic breeding being Ponderosa Muller / Aarden with a sprint cross in him. Most of his breeding is around ‘Ponderosa Tony’ and ‘Ponderosa Prince’, a pair of Muller / Aarden stock birds that Tony Hayne and Mary Bartlett gifted to me several years go. They were bred around Champion ‘Red Rising Sun’, the winner of 1^st open National Dax (6,397 birds) and 39^th open International Bergerac (20,643 birds).  The Ponderosa stock was second to none and when I was gifted ‘Tony’ and ‘Princess’ by the stud, I had the pick from about 120 premier sale birds. Well done to Steve and Tessa on brilliant performances from the BBC Nationals!

I had two texts that same week from two premier fancier and good friends from the Godalming club. Vince, Sue and Jack Durrant were 2^nd section G, 75^th open (1,129 birds) from the BBC Wakefield National race, with their good blue widowhood cock, ‘Barber’s Blue’. This game cock was bred from two direct stock birds from our loft and he is inbred to our champion stock hen, ‘Lady Tuff Nut’. This wonderful hen was bred by my great friend, Brian Denny and is a daughter of Champion ‘Tuff Nut’, arguably one of the best all round long distance pigeons ever. Vince and Sue Durrant, and their son Jack previously won 1^st section G, 1^st open British Barcelona Club Ilkeston YB National (909 birds) on 28th August 2021. Another brilliant performance put up by the Godalming loft in the 2021 season! Vince and I go back many years and his racing record over that time has been second to none and his family are hardworking lovely people, and deserve everything they win. Well done also to the ‘Rat Pack’ member, Brian Batchelor, who texted to let me know that he had won 4^th in the very strong Godalming club from Grantham (347 birds), with a Gaby Vandenabeele blue hen, bred from gift birds from our ‘Foxwarren Lofts’. Her sire was ‘08062’, winner of 29^th open BICC Cholet and the dam is Louella Vandenabeele, winner of 183^rd open BICC YB National Fougeres. Great pigeon racing!

That’s it for this week! Well done to all the above winners, what a great season they are enjoying  racing in the Three Borders Federation, If you win and want a write up in this space, please contact me on telephone number: 01372 463480 or email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT (www.keithmott.com)