“ON THE ROAD” WITH KEITH MOTT.

STORIES OF THE CHAMPIONS (PART 6).

CH. 'THE PIED HEN' – The late Nora Major of Putney.

I first met the late Nora Major in the mid-1970’s and being one of the best lady fanciers I’ve had the pleasure to meet. I first visited her Putney loft in 1977 for an article. Nora was a great worker for the sport, always willing to help anyone and was famed for her blunt manner. A spade was a spade with Nora, but she got the job done! Nora Major's best pigeon was her champion blue pied hen and this brilliant bird was a champion in the truest sense of the word, winning: 1975 - 3rd club Nantes; 1977 - 1st club, 1st Federation, 1st open Combine (2,868 birds) Bergerac (460 miles); 1^st club, 5th Federation, 13th open Combine Nantes; 1978 - 1st section E, 4th open Pau NFC (560miles) £1,052; 1st club, 5th Federation, 18th open Combine Nantes; 1979 - 26th section E, 175th open Pau NFC. What a pigeon! She was bred from the late Alex Fleming of Esher lines, when crossed with a pigeon from Mick Graham of Richmond, and when Nora retired from the sport in the early 1980's this champion hen was sold to C. H. Besant & Sons of New Malden for £1,000. The late, great Nora Major.

CH. ‘RANSDEAN RELIANCE’ - Adrian Human of Petersfield.

Adrian Human is from a very successful pigeon racing family, with his late father, Derek Human, being a recent NFC Tarbes winner and his grandfather also being a very good fancier many years ago. Adrian was born in Alton, Hampshire and told me, ‘I have been around pigeons all my life, going to various pigeon events with my father, such as Reading Cattle Market in the days when you queued for one to two hours for NFC race marking. In those early days I thought pigeon racing was easy, how wrong I was’. Adrian races his birds on natural and pairs up the first sunny weekend in February, with his race birds choosing their own mate. Training starts the second week in April, usually from Hayling Island, about 15 miles south of the loft, moving to the New Forest about 30 miles down the road and sometimes the birds are singled up. His Palamos birds are usually singled up late in the evening at around 8pm. Adrian feeds ‘PLX’ mixture early in the season changing to ‘Irish’ mixture as the distance moves up and Peanuts are fed quite heavily once the distance is over 250 miles. He says, his favourite nest condition for the long distance events depends on the individual bird, as they are all different.

Adrian is only really interested in long distance racing and all the pigeon management is set up for the Tarbes and Palamos Nationals. His best pigeon is the champion blue chequer cock, ‘Ransdean Reliance’, and he is bred down from the very best Davenport / Cattrysse bloodlines of Champion ‘Game Lady’. This brilliant 600 mile cock was raced on the natural system, performing best sitting ten day old eggs, and won the BBC ‘Spanish Diploma’ winning 19^th, 44^th, 51^st, 108^th open Palamos (657 miles), and 16^th open Barcelona (676 miles). He was recorded in race time from the longest BBC event five times and recorded 16^th open Barcelona as a ten year old. This wonderful cock has proved to be a champion in the breeding loft, producing several premier long distance racers, including ‘The Bordeaux Cock’, ‘The Section Hen’ and a ‘Spanish Diploma’ winner for his late father, Derek Human. A fantastic cock!

CH. ‘FOXWARREN FRED’ - Keith & Betty Mott of Claygate.

Champion ‘Foxwarren Fred’ is the best 550 mile stock cock we have ever owned and we bred him from the very best of Eric Cannon’s wonderful long distance family. ‘Foxwarren Fred’ is the sire of many premier long distance champions, including: 1st Federation Bourges (581 miles), 2nd Federation Bourges, 2nd Federation Bourges, 2nd Federation Bourges, 3rd Federation Bourges, 5th Federation Bourges, 8th Federation Bourges, plus 2nd Amalgamation Bourges and is grand sire of 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 4th Federation, 1st, 1st Amalgamation Bourges (581 miles), 8th open NEHU (2,355 birds) in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He is the sire of Fred Dickson’s champion cock, ‘The Five Times Bourges Cock’, winner of 3rd, 5th, 8th Federation Bourges and sire of 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 4th Federation, 1st, 1st Amalgamation Bourges. Sire of ‘Foxwarren Fred’ is ‘Culmer Sam’s Lad’ bred by Eric Cannon, the last son of Eric’s Number One stock cock ‘Culmer Sam’, who was the product of Eric’s Fear Brothers cross. Champion ‘Culmer Sam’ was the ultimate stock cock and was the sire of Eric Cannon’s highly successful 550 mile family in the last years. Dam of ‘Foxwarren Fred’ is ‘Culmer Fantasy’, bred by Eric Cannon and she is a daughter of the stock cock, ‘93177’, a half-brother to Champion ‘Culmer Channel Queen’. The parents of ‘93177’, are the champion stock cock ‘Culmer Producer’ when mated to a daughter of ‘Culmer Expected’, winner of 22nd, 27th, 103rd and 231st open NFC Pau. The dam of ‘Culmer Fantasy’ is Champion ‘Culmer Bess’, winner of 6th, 26th and 170th open N.F.C. Pau (540 miles), 47th open N.F.C. Pau / Saintes, winning the NFC Pau merit award. This brilliant hen was top priced pigeon at Eric Cannon’s dispersal sales, sold for £2,300. Champion ‘Culmer Bess’ is a daughter of the premier Mike Spencer stock cock, when mated to ‘Culmer Joan’, winner of 1st section A. 12th open NFC Pau, who is a daughter of ‘Culmer Rose’ winner of 30th, 56th, 131st, 389th and 541st open NFC Pau. ‘Culmer Rose’ was a premier daughter of ‘Culmer Sam’. ‘Culmer Fantasy’ is a full sister to the dam of Champion ‘Night Flight’, winner of 1st open Saintes / Pau Grand National in 2003, for Mark Gilbert. ‘Culmer Sam’s Lad’ and ‘Culmer Fantasy’ bred many good winners, including 20th open BICC for Gordon Marsh and this great pair are grandparents of Brian Batchelor’s 35th open L&SECC Pau (550 miles on the day of liberation) in 2007. ‘Foxwarren Fred’ is the also grand sire of ‘Charlotte’, the winner of 2nd open NIPA St. Malo National (1,835 birds) in the 2018 racing season, ‘Our Lass’, the winner of 16th open EDC St. Malo National (450 miles) in 2016, ‘Olivia’s Boy’ the winner of 23rd open INFC Lamballe National (1,217 birds) in 2021 and great grand sire of 12th open National in 2018. ‘Foxwarren Fred’ the champion breeder!

CH. ‘CRIPPLED COCK’ – The late Brian Goodwin of Hanworth.

The late Brian Goodwin and I have been good friends of mine since the early 1970’s and Brian raced only the south route, but liked to win every Saturday from the shortest to the longest race. He raced Emiel Deweerdt of Kortemark, Belgium, pigeons, which he introduced in 1978 and he maintained the Deweerdts pigeon have been fantastic for him through the years, from any distance, easy or hard, and you can count on them when others don't clock in.

The loft had won the Federation countless times through the years, with the highlights being - 1982: 1^st open SMT Combine Melle (smash) 363 miles; 1983: 1^st open SMT Combine Penzance (260 miles); 1989: 4^th open SMT Combine Alencon on a young bird smash race (280 miles); 1991: 1^st open SMT Combine Bergerac (454 miles), winning the Combine by 43 minutes); 1996: 1^st open SMT Combine Bergerac (456 miles). His biggest thrill in pigeon racing was when he won the Combine from Penzance in 1983 with his Deweerdt blue chequer cock called ‘The Crippled Cock’ and he won the Combine after having half its foot bitten off by a dog, and went on to win ten times 1^st club, five times 1^st Federation in his great racing career, and was an outstanding breeder.

In spite of health problem in his last years, Brian, tried to kick them into touch in 2008 and start to enjoy his pigeon racing hobby again. He installed the ETS system, but could only race four young bird races and scoring in all four. As in previous seasons Brian racing activities were short, but very sharp recording: 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th, 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 25^th, 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th Federation from the longest young bird race from Yelverton, setting at that time a new Berkshire Federation record and 1^st club 4^th Federation Lulworth. Brian’s 2008 Federation winner was his good Maurice and Gregory Casaert pencil blue cock, ‘ETS’, and he was raced to the perch. The late great Brian Goodwin.

CH. ‘NATRIX’ – The late Jim Biss of Brundall.

I was very sad hear the bad news of Jim Biss's passing, I think the sport of pigeon racing has lost one of it's greatest fanciers! I met him at his “Hillside” lofts in the mid 1990's when we were making a “Many Miles with Mott” video on fanciers in Norfolk and found him to be a perfect gentleman. I think Jim Biss was a “man's man” and was a great man to talk too about long distance pigeon racing, having a brilliant life time record, which was second to none. Jim was an original member of the British International Championship Club and gave it his full support in the 27 years, since it was formed in 1978. I think I'm right in stating he won the BICC twenty times, including 15 times 1^st open Marseille and lifted the 2 bird average several times. He won 1^st open National Flying Club Pau Grand National and in partnership with Tony Waite, they won 1^st open British Barcelona Club Palamos and 1^st open NFC Saintes. A wonderful record put up by one of our greatest champions!

It was the weekend before the 1996 Pau Grand National when I visited the Jim's fantastic pigeon set up, at his home in Brundall near Norwich. His racing record in National, Classic and Federation events has been well documented through his 70 years in the sport, winning 1st. open countless times. Jim started up in 1936 and the best performance that came to mind, he said was the 1993 Pau N.F.C. race, when he was 1^st, 2^nd and 7^th open, plus several other useful positions. The 1993 Pau National had 5,427 birds entered and Jim's 1^st open winner was the blue widowhood cock, “Vend”, which had also flown the 646 miles from Pau the previous season, which was a very bad race. A few minutes after clocking “Vend”, Jim recorded the dark chequer cock “Turban” to take 2^nd open Pau, and this great pigeon's previous form in distance Nationals was outstanding. We handled these two great champions when we looked at Jim's team of breeders in his wonderful stock lofts, which housed 70 pairs.

Jim Biss owned many world class long distance champions in his life time, but it is my opinion that his wonderful Champion ‘Natrix’ was one of his greatest. He recorded 1985: 220^th open NFC Pau (645 miles), 1986: 1^st open National Marseilles (670 miles), 1987: 1^st open National Marseilles, ‘Gold Wing’ winner, 1^st EECC Orleans, 1988: 1^st open National Marseilles, Enhanced ‘Gold Wing’ winner. ‘Natrix’ competed only three times from Marseilles National and won all three by over a day in advance of the next pigeon and was twice 1^st International pigeon over the distance of 1,050km and once 2^nd International from that distance. His sire was ‘Magna’ who was bred down from ‘Fellow’ and ‘Black Velvet’ the winner of 1^st open National Perpignan and his dam was down from the great ‘Knightsdale Lady’ and the National winner, ‘Digit’. ‘Natrix’ proved to be a great breeder and in the stock loft produce many premier long distance racers. He was the sire of: ‘Yabber’ winner of, 1997: 10^th open National Marseilles, 1998: 2^nd open National Marseilles, 1999: 6^th open National Marseilles, ‘Botham’ winner of 1999: 4^th open National Marseilles. ‘Natrix’ was the grand sire of ‘York’ winner of 1997: 1^st open National Marseilles, 1998: 3^rd open National Marseilles, 1999: 7^th open National Marseilles, ‘Bassi’ 1998: 1^st open National Marseilles, 1^st International Marseilles long distance award (19,968 birds), 1999: 3^rd open National Marseilles, ‘Zimbiss’ the winner of 1^st open National Palamos (two hours ahead) in 1998. Champion ‘Natrix’ another of out all-time greats!

CH. ‘ANY DISTANCE’ – The late Derek Human of Petersfield.

 The late Derek Human and I go back many years, starting in the early 1980’s when he had his wins in the Central Southern Classic Flying Club and he came to my home in Claygate to have his young bird champions photographed, and I covered his successes in the fancy press. Derek was a very likable guy, who had always got a smile on his face and along with his pigeon racing son, Adrian, was always up for a laugh. I for one was over the moon to hear the great news that he had won the greatest prize in long distance pigeon racing in the 2007 season, 1^st open NFC Tarbes Grand National and did it in fantastic style. His wonderful champion, ‘Any Distance’, won 1^st open Tarbes (540 miles) with 3,477 birds competing and won the strong Section B. by 133 ypm clear. A brilliant performance at the highest level! This game five year old Cattrysse blue chequer hen was sent to Tarbes feeding a nine day old youngster and had won a NFC ‘Certificate of Merit Award’ for recording three positions in the first 100 in the Pau National open result, previously winning: 8^th section, 70^th open NFC Bordeaux, 11^th section, 71^st open NFC Pau. Champion ‘Any Distance’ had a brilliant racing career, winning other premier positions including: 1^st section, 16^th open NFC Chale, 15^th section, 251^st open NFC Fougeres, 19^th section, 369^th open NFC Sennen Cove. A champion racer in the truest sense of the word, winning at the very highest level and as her name suggests, at any distance! Derek said she was sent to Tarbes in her favourite nest condition, feeding a baby, and the squeaker she was feeding when she won the National was donated to the NFC Young Bird Auction and raised £470 for the club. In the early part of the season she was separated from her mate to hold her moult and then was sent to the very hard Central Southern Classic Flying Club Cholet race, where she scored in the first few in the open result, and then was repaired so she had a youngster for the Tarbes National.

I visited Derek Human’s loft in 1996 and at that time he lived in Alton. The Human family lived in a converted barn set in the wonderful Hampshire countryside and Derek had a great record in Classic and National racing, winning many premier positions, including 1^st open CSCFC twice in the early 1980's. The 1996 season saw the Human loft win 1^st and 2^nd open Nantes British Barcelona Club National and several other good wins channel racing. Derek’s BBC National winner was his Davenport x Cattrysse blue hen ‘Rose’, who was raced on the Natural System. Derek had a bad hawk problem living in the Hampshire countryside and lost many pigeons each year to predators. His champion hen 'Rose' was picked up in the lane outside the Humans' home, being badly injured by a hawk attack. It took her two years rest to get over it, then, she came out to win 1^st open BBC Nantes in 1996. Previously to winning Nantes 'Rose' won 6^th open CSCFC Bergerac and was named after Derek’s little granddaughter who was pigeon mad, and was constantly in the loft with him. Derek lived in Cornwall for a while, and said that with the number of birds of prey he saw there, he would never race his birds out of the West Country.

Well that’s our ‘CHAMPIONS’ for this week! Next time we are going to feature some more exceptional champions. I can be contacted with any pigeon ‘banter’ on telephone number: 07535 484584 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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