LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
One of the most important things we pigeon fanciers will ever have is the pigeon loft and that has to be right for what we want to do because there are so many systems that can be used. Everything about the loft is dependent on the funds we all have at the time. That is something that will not be a problem to many but at some stage in most of our pigeon lives we have to settle for less than we would like. The first pigeons I came into contact with were in the loft on grandad’s farm at Wistaston just outside Crewe so there was never a problem with a pigeon loft. But when we moved into Crewe we only had a small back yard so space was at a premium and therefore the loft I then needed was rather limited. I spent many hours watching the pigeons of Mush Walton who had them in a field a couple of hundred yards away but it was a long time before I got through the gate. Where we lived in those days there was no bathroom; we had to go to the bottom of the yard to use the loo and a there was tin bath in the kitchen.
How times have changed. In fact in the summer you could even get the bath out in the yard and have a good scrub down under a blue sky and a time when the seasons were all as they should be and not a mixed bag like we have today. Anyway that was over 50yrs ago and times have changed for the better in that respect. Getting back to the loft in the yard where there was a recess between the end of the house and the outside loo or should I say the only loo. This was the space where the first loft was erected but it was not one that you could stand up in because it was built about 5ft off the ground so that the space below could be used for storage and I had to climb up and crawl into the loft, not ideal but it was the best I could get. I used to lie on my side with the pigeons walking round me and they were much tamer because the loft was only about three feet high at the back and 2ft at the front. Like many youngsters in those days I had all sorts including rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and even a snake but none lasted very long. Any way I had that loft until I left home at 15yrs and was away from the pigeons for a short spell before moving back to Crewe and then to Middlewich where I have had the pigeons ever since. Times have now changed and all houses built were having their own bathroom and what a difference that has made and in winter we are not scraping ice off the inside of the window as we did 50yrs ago, whereas now we have central heating and I don't think that is good for the chest.
As usual I’m going off track again so let’s get back to the loft and now we had a garden we could have a proper loft. Throughout the years I have tried all sorts of lofts and have been swapping and changing them ever since because I would get something into my mind and would have to change the loft to the new idea or something that I had seen somewhere else. Of course we all have our own views on what we want and the depth of the pockets dictates what we have. However after all the years of swapping and changing I have come to the conclusion that no matter what we do we will only start to reach our goal if we get the pigeons that suit us and not the fashion of the day. Far too many fanciers go out and spend a fortune on pigeons that are several generations away from the fountainhead when a second generation is what appear to be the best breeders overall. No doubt there are many fanciers who have brought pigeons in and gone down the prize list even though the pigeons are bred right. This is all down to a fancier finding well bred pigeons that do not suit the system being used. So when you are looking at the breeders you can only select what you believe to be correct at the time, then if they go wrong you have to look again because the pigeons to suit you are out there somewhere. In this day and age we have the best of materials available and they can purchased at a reasonable price. What have been the mistakes that I have made with my lofts over the years? Not enough ventilation and a tiled roof are the main two. The latter I will not be having again unless I have a great deal more room and I can gain height to allow a better air flow with extractors added. The best designed loft was one of my own designs and built by Geoff Machin. That loft was not up for very long and I never got to race to it but I feel that it had everything that I need in a racing loft. There were two old bird sections one with 12 boxes for the older pigeons with longer races in mind the other with 16 which was meant for yearlings. There were two young bird sections and at the end a narrow section with boxes for widowhood hens and there was a corridor the full length of the loft. I cannot remember the exact length of it but it was in the region of 36ft x 8ft and if I had the room that is the loft I would have built again.
Good pigeons?
Several years ago I came across a pigeon in Belgium called "Full Try" who was 1st National Ace Pigeon Long Distance of Belgium and from the off I took to this pigeon. It was a real cracker so I bought some pigeons over to the UK direct from him. Those pigeons have bred some real good pigeons and I have found that a couple of generations further down they are really doing well. The problem is this pigeon was sold to Japan for a large sum and there is no doubt about it, if I had that kind of money for one pigeon he would have come here. More recently there appear to be more and more pigeons right up to National and International level with "Full Try" in their breeding. I have not had that kind of feeling with many pigeons over the years but two others were the great Mealy Busschaert cock "Pluto" and the blue cock "James Bond", two more real quality pigeons. It’s odd how you get a feeling for pigeons. I have a red pied hen here now and she falls into the category of a class hen to leave behind a legacy and she is a granddaughter of "Red Barcelona" crossed into the line of "Barcelona Boy" from Taveirne-Rigole, a cock that is now at Middlewich. There are always pigeons that stick in your mind for one reason or another and those thoughts are generally rekindled when you see something about the pigeon in later years. There are three past pigeons that I have raced and in my mind I can see and handle them now and they are a Blue Dordin cock sitting on the extension of the house when we opened the curtains one morning; he had just returned from my first venture into racing from Pau with the NFC. There was "Elimar Joe 90", the best pigeon we ever had to race on land and a cock that was not fancied by the more experienced members in the club. Then there's the dark w/f cock. Both these cocks were Krauths. The latter was the best pigeon I ever raced over 600mls plus. He had some good performances and the one that sticks out was when he was 3rd section L, I think at Bordeaux when Hulme & Knowles won the section. I remember that morning I was walking down the garden and for some reason looked over my shoulder and there he was closing up to drop on the loft.
Full Try - a real quality pigeon that I rate as one of the best I have seen and handled.
Photo
Mel Bratt dropped a photo through the door of a group of fanciers taken at a pigeon fanciers’ bowls competition but we will get to that later. Firstly Mel recently purchased a loft and he would like to thank those who helped in the removal and erection of this new loft. As in many cases the main man was Mel's buddy of many years Mike O'Grady, leading from the front, or so I am told. Other valued helpers are Chris Herbert, Paul Ollier along with non fanciers Peter Wood, Fred Lomas, Mel's son plus nephew Nicky and brother in law John. Also transport manager for the day Clive Riley and Paul Simpson for the use of his building yard to store the loft and Kenny Whitney for the final transportation. Without the help of these people it would have been near impossible to achieve. Haven't seen a mention for Yvonne or did you have to brew up as well Melvin. The only thing you have to do now Mel is win to this new acquisition. I remember when we moved here we realized how helpful fellow club members can be and much appreciated.
Group of pigeon fanciers who got together for club competition but this time bowls - see notes.
Now back to the photo taken on the bowling green where the Rudheath and Winsford members had a friendly (debatable) competition in the good old days when there were quite a few events organized between clubs. We used to see many clubs having a combination even but there are not many about nowadays. I remember some good exchange events between Sandbach and Lol Whittle’s lads and what nights they were with more than enough alcohol consumed. I remember one night Mike O'Grady winding the late Bob Meachin up over buying a drink which result in Bob telling Mike that if bought them then he would drink them. I helped Bob in the house when the bus dropped us off and Darleen wasn't too impressed and let Bob fall back on the settee. I went round Saturday afternoon and Bob was still in the same place and same position where I left him the night before. As Mel said, the good old days when people didn't take the hump over a simple comment like they do today, when pigeon fanciers and their wives had good nights out and talked about it to let others know what they missed. There are a few good events still about but nowhere near what there used to be. Must have had the good old days on my mind when I started this week’s article. Good old days will always be there and not to be forgotten.
Moulton FC
The shows are going well in the Moulton club with around 70 pigeons each week which for a local club show is not bad. Yes I know that there used to be club shows with over 200 in one class 20yrs ago, I know that because we used to go to Nantwich and Audlem where they had real good shows and won in them both against over 200 young birds. Anyway those days went by the board many years ago and I feel that these Moulton shows are good and the norm nowadays. Roy Sandland was ably supported by his father to judge these 70 old hens. Red card and 4th went to Middlewich fanciers Carol & Robert Carson with a chequer hen, they very often have good results in the shows. 2nd Reg Sant with a blue w/f Dordin. 3rd VHC & HC went to Ken & Mike Lamb with a blue Dordin. Reserve and commended Mr & Mrs Chris Herbert with a chequer Dordin. Some good judging there well done and also thanks to Chris for the photos.
A few fanciers watching the judging and making sure the bar doesn't fall down or maybe themselves
Kenny Lamb cleaning up after the show
Moulton show refreshment time
Judges Roy Sandland and his father
The after show inspection of the winners at Moulton
Show winner Robert Carson
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ, Tel: +44 (0)1606 836036. Mob: +44 (0)7871 701585. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. web site www.elimarpigeons.com