NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

by Doug McClary

RPRA and David Higgins

Well done David Higgins on a most productive three years as President of the RPRA, ably assisted by Lesley. They have formed an excellent team together, working as always for the betterment of the sport of pigeon racing. When I think of David and Lesley I tend to think back to the glory days of the GYA shows at Harrogate. The GYA was a must-attend show, being the finest one-day event in the pigeon calendar, attracting wonderful entries and a large attendance. Those were the days of Guy Barrett, Jack Paley and Jim Purcell amongst others including of course the ever-working Higgins duo. As exhibitors we felt honoured to be able to attend GYA presentation dinners on the Friday evenings and thus have a chance to meet the top winners within the GYA.

A group of fanciers at one of the GYA dinners, from left to right: Ron & June McCarthy, John & Pam Robilliard, Keith & Jane Foley, Peter Kelsey and Doug McClary.

Ron McCarthy

I was sorry to note that Ron McCarthy has disposed of his top class stud of show racers after so many years at the top. I knew Ron for many years and one of the earliest memories was of him calling on me at St Austell in the company of Harry King in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Harry was gobsmacked to see so many powder blues and after his visit sent me a pair of top quality hens which made a huge difference to my little stud. It was sad when wife June died leaving Ron to fend for himself and he has done well in keeping going for so long. I wish him good health and hope that he will still manage to get to the shows.

Pigeons on the Beach

Walking back home from the beach recently we stood at the top of the cliff path watching a pied cormorant diving and fishing in the clear and calm water some hundred feet below, when I noticed a pair of my pigeons on the beach picking about in the sand, shell grit and seaweed. It just goes to show that however much we provide, there is always something else that they desire. It is an area where shell grit collects and I regularly bring some back home to mix with normal grits. However it was pleasing to note that they have intelligence enough to know where to go to satisfy their needs.

Olympiad

I notice that the possibility of an Olympiad team for Hungary was discussed at the AGM of the RPRA and that an advertisement has called for likely pigeons. Here is a challenge for the new President of the RPRA to ensure that whatever birds go to represent the G.B. team in Hungary, that all claimed performances are above suspicion. The easiest way is for all such claims to be published in full so that fellow racing competitors can check on their credibility. Another way would be for the new President to personally examine all claims and to check them against race sheets and the stringent requirements of qualification.

On the subject of qualification, I was today reading about the wonderful performances of the Iron Lady, owned by the Padfield family. What a pigeon! I just mused to myself whether all her performances and successes would actually qualify her for the stringent requirements of the Standard Class criteria. I would love someone to measure the two together because in my opinion the requirements are so tough that few pigeons could ever qualify if they had to fully comply.

I wish Brian Walsh every success as the RPRA President and feel that he will have a class act to follow after the successful tenure of David Higgins. I felt that David, assisted by Lesley, has made a considerable impact on the RPRA and the sport in general as outlined in the General Manager’s appraisal of the three year tenure. Well done our David and I hope that you will now be able to enjoy your pigeons with less to do.

Future of the Sport

As always, I read the Report of the RPRA AGM with interest and even from this distance suspect that there are undercurrents and pressure groups. However I was particularly interested in the report on the success of the South Loft at Tewkesbury and how schools have been involved in the races allowing schoolchildren access to information on pigeon racing. I congratulate those who have arranged and managed this for it is a most positive step to bring our sport to the attention of the public.

I was also sorry to note that the Devon and Cornwall, South West and Welsh Regions were unable to vote upon the propositions and were thereby disenfranchised as a result of a point of order. In the case of the Devon and Cornwall Region, I understand the reason and suggest that in future years they carefully consider and vote upon all the propositions.

Appeals

If I have a criticism to make of the AGM report of the RPRA, it is on the reporting of the appeals. The information is far too brief for anyone to know what was involved and the reasons for the appeal. I would like to be able to read and understand all appeals and I would suggest that this would benefit many fanciers in understanding more about the rules.

Scottish SRS (West)

The second show was held in in the Arrochar Hotel on Saturday 30th November. We had a total of 112 birds in eight classes, we had two top fancy pigeon men judging in Mr Jennings & Mr Wright and it would seem that they did well and satisfied the exhibitors. It is good seeing shows back in that part of Scotland again and I hope that things go well.

RESULTS
ADULT COCK: 1st & 5th Fitzpatrick & Fleming, 2nd & 4th E MacPherson & Son, 3rd J&A Rundell, 6th A Pollard.
ADULT HEN: 1st, 4th & 6th A. Pollard, 2nd & 3rd E MacPherson & Son, 5th Fitzpatrick & Fleming.
ADULT COCK (wires): 1st & 6th A Pollard, 2nd & 5th E MacPherson & Son, 3rd J&A Rundell, 4th Fitzpatrick & Fleming.
ADULT HEN (wires): 1st, 3rd & 4th E MacPherson & Son, 2nd A Pollard, 5th & 6th Fitzpatrick & Fleming.
YOUNG COCK: 1st A Rundell, 2nd & 6th Fitzpatrick & Fleming, 3rd E MacPherson & Son, 4th & 5th A Pollard.
YOUNG HEN: 1st, 5th & BIS E MacPherson & Son, 2nd & 3rd Fitzpatrick & Fleming, 4th & 6th A Pollard.
YOUNG COCK (wires): 1st & 4th E MacPherson & Son, 2nd, 3rd & 5th Fitzpatrick & Fleming, 6th A Pollard.
YOUNG HEN (wires): 1st & 5th E MacPherson & Son, 2nd & 3rd A Pollard, 4th & 6th Fitzpatrick & Fleming.

News sought

News is getting a little scarce and I am reminded that I work mainly for the showing fancy, yet receive so little by way of assistance with information on shows and showing, news and views. In fact there are many who have never provided a thing but simply continue to enjoy the spoils based on the work of others. I know that I keep quoting the words but they are true: ‘There are those who do the cooking and those who east the cake’. Please let me have a few lines to help keep the column going because one day, in the absence of some effort, there will be no Focus.

I live several thousands of miles away from the UK and yet, only a click by email for communication. I don’t expect phone calls or long, expensive letters but with modern communications, it is not a difficult matter to get news to me. A few people care enough to make the effort but very few show people manage to do so.

In my Loft

This is the time of the year in the pigeon loft I enjoy. As the moult starts to clear, the young birds suddenly seem to change into the finished product, and having seemed quite ordinary, suddenly demand to be noticed. It matters not whether they are in the northern or southern hemispheres; the changes are the same and appreciated by any show enthusiast. I have fewer youngsters this year so I am able to spend more time with each. I set out to breed chequers and have done so. One cock in particular excites me, possessing a most beautiful mackerel chequering. It is the product of a chequer cock I exchanged with Fred Frendo (for a young mealy cock, BYB at the National show in July), and a red hen. The hen came back to me from Chris Schutz who bought her from me in 2007 and contains the best of the original red/mealy lines I brought with me to Australia. The cock has been on the wild side and I could not pair him so as a last resort I made up a single-flight nest box and allowed them to get on with it. It is not a colour pairing I would normally contemplate as I generally stick to my own ideas on pairing birds. Incidentally, the hen which had been bred in 2006, and went to Chris in 2007, settled down in my loft as though she had never been away. Pigeons really are remarkable in adapting to new circumstances. She has rewarded me with this excellent youngster and while I didn’t need another red hen, already possessing two winners, she is now part of my future planning.

I have managed to vaccinate all my birds. I handle each bird in turn, injecting them and then spraying them and adding Ivermectin drops to the neck, as well as recording ring and other details. It is time-consuming but well worth the effort. The old birds are beginning to clear the moult so the time is approaching for the annual duty. To think that in my first eight years in this country, there was no need to vaccinate until someone imported a bird - probably illegally - carrying paramyxovirus. We are generally disadvantaged by the idiots of life.

And in the garden

Owing to the extreme heat we experienced, much of the garden produce was lost and a very poor year of produce has resulted. The one success is that for the first time I have grown a few Bramley apples so have enjoyed apple tarts and baked Bramley. I can tell you that this has been a great treat because the accepted cooking apple is the Granny Smith and these do not cook or taste well. One Bramley weighed in at just under a pound so hopefully in each year there will be more success. My son Stephen, over at Berwick has enjoyed a great season with plums including the best of all the Victoria. So prolific were they that we have made trips across and An has made Victoria plum jam for the first time in years. As for runner beans it has been a very poor year and apart from a few meals with them, we missed out. It seems strange, but Autumn sees the start of planting including potatoes and non-climbing beans and peas.

Masks again

I have finally managed to procure a Bradwest mask and find it very good and comfortable to wear even in the heat. When I first made a plea for information I heard from a Yorkshire fancier who was most helpful. Unfortunately I have lost his contact details so would be very pleased to hear from him again on the email.

Spadger

I was sad to hear that Malcolm Anslow had died after a long illness. He was the long-serving chairman of the Monmouth SRS and when I think of that club, I think of Malcolm with his smiling countenance and generosity with his time. He was always pleasant and I am sure that he will be missed within the Society and especially by his family.

In Conclusion

Another month and another attempt to interest show fanciers at this quiet time of the year. By now the youngsters will be taking shape with the breeding season in full swing. It makes for a lot of work but I am sure that most of us feel that this is the most enjoyable time of the pigeon year.

My photos this month are oldies from my archive. The first shows a young Doug McClary judging at the Royal Dairy show with fellow judges Reub Barnett, Tommy Jones and Stan Burbidge. The other is of a group of showmen at the Old Comrades Show, from left to right, Fred Woodbridge, Ralph Howman, Mike Hale, Tony Williams, Keith Foley and Ken Hearn.

I am here at 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930 with my new email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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