“ON THE ROAD” WITH KEITH MOTT.

Three Borders Federation (Honiton Race).

The weather has been very kind to pigeon racing this season so far and it has allowed the Three Border Federation convoying crew to produce some great racing for the members. It was no exception for the second to last old bird race from Honiton. The Federation convoyer, Dom McCoy produced a cracking race when he liberated at 07.00hrs in to a South, South West wind. Four week prior to this Honiton race the Isleworth partnership of Mirek and Malgorzata Burczak recorded their very first Federation winner from Kingsdown with their super blue hen ‘Blu’. Two weeks later she came up and won 2^nd Federation Yeovil, and now she is the first bird on the ETS again to win 1^st Federation Honiton. What a fantastic hen, winning 1^st Federation twice and a 2^nd Federation in four weeks! Mirek and Malgorzata clocked three birds in six seconds from Honiton to win 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Federation and then another seven birds to take 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, 24^th Federation. The husband and wife partnership race in the strong Isleworth club and although only recorded their first Federation winner this season, they feature on a regular basis in the Three Borders results. Their wonderful ‘Blu’ is a two year old Gaby Vandenabeele roundabout hen and she was bred from Ken Wise stock birds. Mirek told me, he was over the moon with his recent performances, as this was only his fourth season racing pigeons and was delighted to win the Federation twice. Great pigeon racing, well done Mirek and Malgorzata! Another outstanding performance in this Honiton race was put by another Isleworth member, in the form of Graham Evans. He recorded 11^th Federation with his good blue pied widowhood cock, ‘Roland’ who had previously won 1^st club, 1^st Federation Yeovil (387 birds) and 1^st club, 4^th Federation Blandford (565 birds) earlier this season. It was interesting that when ‘Roland’ won the Federation from Yeovil, Mirek and Malgorzata Burczak’s wonderful blue hen, ‘Blu’ was 2^nd Federation too him. The Isleworth club is on fire this season!

The first ten in the Honiton Federation result were: 1) M/M M. Burczak 1887: 2) M/M M. Burczak 1886: 3) M/M M. Burczak 1885: 4) Freddie Ditch 1874: 5) Mr. Suchocki 1863: 6) Eustace & Koby Benjamin 1846: 7) M/M M. Burczak 1842: 8) Peter Williams 1841: 9) M/M M. Burczak 1839: 10) M/M M. Burczak 1838. This was race number thirteen of the season and at this point the Esher club are leading for the ‘Federation Points Trophy’ with 56 points, with the Ashridge club being R/U on 47 points.

Mirek Burczak had pigeons when was a lad back in Poland, but never raced until Malgorzata and he set up their loft up in Isleworth in 2018. In the early days they started with a batch of youngster from Louella Pigeon World and bred babies to enter ‘one loft’ races, and won some good positions, including 5^th, 14^th and 16^th open. Mirek and Malgorzata’s smart loft is 30ft long, with five sections and the ETS clocking system. The present racing team are all bred from stock birds from Ken Wise, John Bradley and Geoff Kirkland, which they are trying to create they own family with. The 25 pairs of racers are all on the roundabout system and are paired up in March, with Federation racing in mind. The racers are put on the roundabout system after sitting their first round of eggs for about a week and during the racing season are fed on a first class ‘widowhood’ mixture, but are never broken down. They are given five training toss up to 45 miles before the first Federation race and then are only exercised around the loft for an hour twice a day during the season.

Mirek says he loves week to week racing in the Three Borders Federation, but once the present channel racing problem is sorted out he would like to have a crack at some long distance racing from France. The Burczak partners like grizzles and say they have produced some good ones from their present stock birds Mirek told me treats and vaccinates the birds in early January and then pairs the stock birds up a couple of weeks later. They breed 50 youngsters to race every year and these get about 15 training tosses up to 45 miles before the first race. They all fly the Federation programme, with some being paired up, but most of them are race to the perch. The babies are fed on ‘Junior UK’ mixture and then go onto the old favourite, ‘Gerry Plus’ for the racing season.

Mirek and Malgorzata have only been racing pigeons a short time, winning many first in the very strong Isleworth club and their many performances in that time in the Three Borders Federation have been outstanding, winning: 2020: 2^nd, 3^rd, 24^th Federation Blandford (1,003 birds), 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 7^th,  9^th Federation Okehampton (660 birds), 7^th Federation Wincanton (761 birds), 14^th, 15^th Federation Wincanton (783 birds), 22^nd Federation Newton Abbot (414 birds): 2021: 8^th Federation Wincanton (927 birds), 8^th, 14^th Federation Okehampton (735 birds), 7^th Federation Bodmin (698 birds), 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 14^th, 15^th, 17^th, 23^rd Federation Kingsdown (485 birds), 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th Federation Wincanton (396 birds), 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 10h, 11^th Federation Yeovil (407 birds), 10^th, 11^th, 15^th, 16^th Federation Honiton (362 birds), 19^th, 20^th, 23^rd, 25^th Federation Wincanton (466 birds). The 2022 season has seen them win so far, several firsts in the Isleworth club and 9^th, 14^th Federation Blandford, 13^th Federation Wadebridge, 17^th Federation Honiton, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 15^th Federation Kingsdown, 21^st Federation Exeter, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th Federation Yeovil, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, 24^th Federation Honiton. Well done you two!

The father and son partnership of Eustace and Koby Benjamin of the Richmond club had been ‘knocking on the door’ for several weeks and had a good race from Honiton. The partners like young bird racing and the loft is just hitting form with the youngsters starting to race in a couple of weeks. Eustace and Koby have won the Federation several times with one of their recent best performances being: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 8^th, 25^th Federation from Yeovil. Their young birds were on ‘fire’, winning 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 8^th, 10th, 18^th, 20^th, 24^th Federation Blandford the weekend previous. Brilliant pigeon racing! Eustace was born in Trinidad and both his father and cousins were pigeon fanciers. When I asked him how he started up in the sport, he told me, ‘I played most ball sports when I was young and was a junior athlete, competing in many junior championships. I became a pigeon fancier at the age of six and was led to take up the hobby because I have been around the birds ever since I born and have aways had a love for pigeons. I can remember, I was so attached to my birds that as a young lad I took my first youngster to school with me every day! I obtained my first real racing pigeons at the age of twelve, when my dad migrated and left me in charge of his entire stock. In the early years I admired some of my dad’s friends, who were all good fanciers and flew races between Caribbean Islands with great success. When I migrated to join my dad in the UK, I remember reading the ‘Racing Pigeon’ paper which was regularly on our dining room table and admired great fanciers, like Alf Baker and Vic Johnson. I was in the sport for many years and after a break, I restarted again in 2009’. In Eustace’s early days in the sport he was young and in partnership with his dad, who he gave a lot of support and help.

Three Borders Federation: Winners of Yester Year (Part 17).

Derek Reid of Weybridge.

The Spelthorne South Road is only a small club with maximum twenty flying members, based at Spelthorne Sports and Social Club, Staines Road West, Sunbury on Thames, just one mile off Junction 1 of the M3 Motorway. Small club it might be, but is of the highest quality, having some brilliant success in Three Borders Federation in the 2018 racing season and won six times 1^st Federation. The club was runner-up for the Federation ‘Points Trophy’ for the second season on the trot and the 2018 Federation winners were: Richard Kent 1^st Federation Blandford (513 birds), Derek Reid 1^st Federation Blandford (1,268 birds), Dave Watson & son 1^st Federation Falaise (335 birds), Derek Reid 1^st Federation Honiton (647 birds), Derek Reid 1^st Federation Yeovil (807 birds), Paul Johnson & Partner 1^st Federation Newton Abbot (379 birds).

Derek Reid of Weybridge has been one Surrey’s premier pigeon racers since starting up in the sport in 1984, winning top honours in Federation, Combine and National every season.

Derek won the Three Borders Federation three times in the 2018 season and his most outstanding performer was his three year old blue cock, ‘The 67 Cock’ and he was raced on the widowhood system. This handsome cock has a very impressive racing record winning: 2018: 1^st club, 1^st Federation Blandford: 2017: 1^st club, 1^st Federation Messac, 1^st club Honiton, 2016: 2^nd club Exeter and three times 4^th club, beat by loft mates for 1^st club. The Federation winner’s sire is bred from a Mr. & Mrs Duggins cock when mated to a full sister Derek’s, Champion ‘Ryan’s Express’, winner 1^st open NFC St. Nazaire (8,696 birds) in 2005.  His dam is the M. & D. Evans / De Rauw Sablon hen, which has bred many winners and Derek, rates this wonderful breeder as his best hen ever. The ‘67’ Federation winner’s sire has been an exceptional racer winning: 2009: 132^nd open NFC Saintes (4.417 birds), 2010: 8^th open NFC Saintes, 2011: 91^st open NFC Alencon (4,131 birds), 36^th open BICC Alencon (3,338 birds) and a full brother to ‘67’ won 14^th open NFC Saintes (3,887 birds).

Derek Reid’s Three Borders Federation performance in the 2018 racing season was: (Old Bird) 5^th, 7^th, 8^th Federation Blandford (513 birds), 20^th Federation Yeovil (752 birds), 1^st, 15^th, 17^th, 18^th Federation Blandford (1,268 birds), 22^nd Federation Yeovil (969 birds), 3^rd, 11^th, 14^th, 15^th Federation Falaise (335 birds), 21^st Federation Kingsdown (630 birds), 15^th Federation Fougeres (288 birds), 25^th Federation Yeovil (737 birds), 1^st, 7^th, 15^th,18^th, 22^nd Federation Honiton, 16^th, 17^th Federation Kingsdown (687 birds), 7^th,11^th, 17^th, 19^th, 25^th Federation Exeter (525 birds), 8^th, 10^th, 11^th, 17^th Federation Yelverton (475 birds): (Young Bird) 25^th Federation Blandford (687 birds), 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 9^th Federation Yeovil (807 birds), 18^th, 19^th Federation 681 birds), 9^th Federation Newton Abbot (379 birds),13^th Federation Yelverton (365 birds). Derek won three trophies in the Three Borders Federation in 2018 including: ‘Old Bird Average’, ‘Best Average Longest OB & YB Races’ and ‘The Fred Mott Memorial Trophy’.

Reid has a fantastic racing record over many years some of his best pigeons are: the blue cock, Champion ‘Ryan’s Express’: 1^st section E, 1^st open NFC St. Nazaire in 2005, Champion ‘Dark Smaragd’: 1^st section G, 1^st open BBC Palamos (675 miles) in 2005, Champion ‘Wim’: 1^st section G, 1^st open BBC Bordeaux (450 miles) in 2006, ‘Black Jack’: 2^nd section, 2^nd open BBC Bordeaux in 2006 ( beaten by ‘Wim’) and ‘The Tours Cock’: 2009: 1^st Three Borders Federation, 2^nd SMT Combine Tours (280 miles).

I visited Derek’s home in Weybridge just after his Federation win in July 2015 and what a fantastic garden and loft set up he has there in Surrey. He lives about a mile or so from where my daughter, Caroline, lives, so I was familiar with the area and we could not have picked a better day weather wise for the loft visit. Derek has several smart lofts at the bottom end of his massive lawn and all had pan tiled roofs. He races the widowhood system and uses traditional widowhood nest boxes. The lofts are all closed in and the main widowhood racing loft is fitted with a big trapping station for ETS clocking, and has a corridor, with grill floors for easy cleaning out. The stock birds have a very spacious loft, fitted with a wire flight so the inmates can get out in the weather. Derek’s young birds have their own loft and when I visited; his wife was out giving the youngsters a training toss. Talking to Derek after he won the Three Borders Federation from Taunton in 2015, he said, ‘I don’t know how I won the Federation from 117 miles with one of my long distance Jan Aarden cocks. The winning pigeon, ‘Louis’, is a son of my champion cock, ‘Dark Smaragd’, winner of 1^st section G, 1^st open BBC Palamos (675 miles) in the 2005 season and his gran dam was a daughter of Champion ‘Incredible’, winner of ten premier prizes from 620 to 793 miles, including three times Barcelona’. The Three Borders Federation sent 1,441 birds to Blandford (80 miles) for the first old bird race of the 2016 season and Derek was back at the top of the Federation result sheet, with a good two year old widowhood cock. Derek’s game cock won the Federation by 4ypm clear! Derek Reid wins and has put up top performance every season in the Three Borders Federation.

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Mercer of Spelthorne.

The late Peter Mercer’s nickname at the Spelthorne pigeon club was ‘fat wallet’, because they say he was the richest man in Middlesex! I not sure about that being a fact, but he certainly was a great guy and was very successful with his pigeons every year. The 2007 season saw him win the Berkshire Federation again after winning it, plus 2^nd open UBI Combine Wadebridge in the 2006 season. His 2007 Federation winner, which also recorded 3^rd open UBI Combine (2186 birds) from Fougeres, was his Willy Thas blue chequer widowhood cock, ‘Good Win’, and he also won ‘Champion Old Bird’ in the Spelthorne Club of 2007. This game cock was bred from gift pigeons from club mate and close friend, Brian Goodwin, and also won 1^st club Wincanton (149 miles) and 2^nd club Picauville (149 miles) in 2007. A wonderful pigeon! Peter also won R/U ‘Champion Old Bird’ with his Goodwin / Thas dark chequer natural cock, ‘Fat Wallet’, and he won 2^nd club Newton Abbot, 2^nd club Yelverton and 2^nd club Lulworth Cove. This pigeon was one of Peter’s favourites and raced best when sitting ten day old eggs. The Spelthorne club’s 2006: 2^nd open UBI Combine Wadebridge winner was another blue chequer hen and she was bred and raced by Mr. & Mrs. Peter Mercer. This game hen named ‘Laura’ was also a Willy Thas pigeon and was bred from stock birds obtained from Brian Goodwin of Hanworth. She was raced natural to the perch and had every race on her way to winning 2^nd open Combine from Wadebridge.

Peter’s 15 pairs of old birds were raced natural and were paired up at the end of January. The main family at the Mercer loft were Willy Thas obtained from Brian Goodwin and were fed a good quality ‘Gem’ mixture. The loft was 22ft long and the six pairs of stock birds were housed in a 5ft section at the end. When Peter was selecting breeders he liked a good type and the candidates had to be well balanced in the hand. Peter bred 20 young birds every season, which raced the whole Federation programme and they were trained every day from 20 miles. Peter started up in the sport when he was 14 years of age and had raced north and south road. He said, he was not really bothered about winning races, being a pigeon lover and just enjoyed his birds in the garden. A great attitude!

A tribute to Phillip Dunstall of Taplow.

I was very sad to receive the bad news that Phil Dunstall had passed away recently after losing his battle with Cancer. Phil was a lovely man, with a dry sense of humour and was certainly in the elite of premier pigeon racers, winning it all over many years in the sport. Phil and I go back many years and with his lovely wife, Maria, visited my home in Claygate many times. He had two brilliant partners with his pigeon racing, in the form of Maria and their son, Ben.

Philip’s father, Frank, was a fancier. Once, while on holiday at Selsey Bill, he caught a stray on top of the caravan and presented to Philip, who was only four years of age and since then, Philip had always had pigeons, flying in partnership with his father for many years, with outstanding success. The Dunstall’s were very much a pigeon family, with Philip and Maria’s children taking part in the hobby. Maria’s parents were Mr. & Mrs. Czaplewski, the highly successful Slough racing partnership. Philip liked to race sprint and middle distance, winning the Federation many times, although he had had good success in the long distance races including; 1981: 17^th open NFC Pau (6,066 birds), 1982: 61^st open NFC Pau (6,928 birds) and 1994: 140^th open NFC Pau (5,976 birds). He raced 24 cocks on the widowhood system and 20 pairs on the roundabout system, with all the old birds being paired up at the end of January, if the weather is good.

The partnership of Philip and Maria Dunstall had enjoyed some wonderful success in recent seasons, racing in National and Classic events, with their young birds. They had a brilliant season in the Federation in 2000 and from the London & South East Classic Club young bird Guernsey race had ten drop on the loft together to record 2^nd, 3^rd, 6^th, 11^th, 12^th, 15^th, 18^th, 19^th, 20^th and 22^nd open. A brilliant performance! I visited the Buckinghamshire loft in the winter of 1999 after the Dunstall’s had really set them alight that season with their youngsters, including winning 1^st section E, 1^st open National Flying Club Vire (5,850 birds); 1^st open Berks, Bucks & Oxon Federation Weymouth (3.403 birds); 2^nd section, 2^nd open L&SECC Guernsey (1,723 birds), all with young birds. The partner’s 1999 Young Bird National winner was a Hartog blue hen named, Champion ‘Misty’. She was bred down from the ‘Green Ring’ lines, which had been very successful for the Dunstall loft. On her build up to her Vire National win, Champion ‘Misty’, was trained with the young bird team, put into Guernsey with the L&SECC, to record 80^th open, then in to the National, after a few short training tosses. She was sent to the Vire National playing around with some young cock birds. This game hen was a darkness youngster and took 3 hours 40 minutes to fly the 185 miles from Vire in France, to win the premier young bird event in English pigeon racing. On the day of the Vire National, Philip was working and his wife, Maria, had the job of clocking the bids in. She told me, Champion ‘Misty’ took for ever to trap on her arrival, flying backwards and forwards, from one loft to another, trying to get a drink of water off the roofs. Little did Maria know that she was clocking the National winner!

The partners kept 80 young birds each season and they were all put on the darkness system, when weaned, and off just before the first young bird race. Although Philip was very successful with youngsters, he said he was not a great lover of young bird racing, but liked to send them all the way to 190 miles. They were not paired up, but if they want to, they were allowed during the racing season. The babies were trained every day and fed twice a day on breakdown and widowhood mixtures. The main family kept were Hartogs, obtained from Brian Hawes of Hendon and Roger Lowe of Berkshire.

That’s our article for this week. Well done to Mirek and Malgorzata Burczak and their wonderful hen, ‘Blu’! If you win and want an article 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)