K & K Homer & D & P Williams
Winners of Eight Consecutive Federation Combined Averages
By Good Corn
It’s taken a long time in coming, but I finally visited the lofts of Keith & Kenny Homer, Dave & Paul Williams of Grangetown. The partnership that consists of two sets of Brothers has worked their way through the ranks to become the most successful partnership ever to fly in the North Yorks Federation. The partnerships impeccable record is something to be very proud of, a record that has been achieved by shear hard work, dedication, awareness and knowledge, good judgement and good healthy Pigeons. No doubt about it, Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul are a class act. I will give a bit of an insight in what has taken the partnership to the heights of their racing, with their outstanding winning performances achieved at all levels. I have some of their racing performances on hand, where a number of their Club wins have gone onto be Federation and Section winning performances, I have also mentioned some of the Up North Combine performances that have claimed positions in the top 50 of the Combine against up to 26,000 birds.
Keith Homer of Grangetown first started with Pigeons in 1982, when he joined his hometown Club Grangetown Homing Society. But little did Keith, better known as “Squeaker” know what the future would bring for him, when he starting racing with a number of gift birds from local fanciers and a few strays that were also gifted to him. Keith’s loft was located on the allotments where he won his very first race flying on the natural system with a gift bird stray, after only sending to a few races Keith moved to a new loft location. From 1983 to 1986 the lad had achieved a few wins but no averages were won in that time. Keith’s Brother Kenny later joined the partnership flying as K & K Homer; the two Brothers built a new loft and purchased some Busschaerts from Joe Shuttleworth of Harrogate fame. The introduction of Joe’s top Busschaerts were an instant success for Keith & Kenny were winning their Club and going onto to win Club averages. Sadly disaster struck the Brothers in 1989 when their lofts were burnt to the ground with all their birds perishing in the fire. But Keith & Kenny were not going to be beat for they decided to build a new loft and a new family of Pigeons in the hope of continuing their winning ways. Keith went back to Joe Shuttleworth for some more sort-after Busschaerts that were not only winning for Joe; they were winning in many parts of the Country. Keith & Kenny also had birds from Federation mates Malcolm & Peter Nee of South Bank and Albert Woodroffe of Woodroffe Bros of Sunderland; both partnerships were winning well at the time. It was around that time that Keith & Kenny started to get help around the loft from Dave Williams. The early 1990s saw the partnership obtain pigeons from a number of fanciers which included the Turner Brothers Busschaerts in 1992 from Martin Ali of Ali Bros who were a force flying in the South Shields Federation where they had won 1st Up North Combine Lillers in 1991 from a convoy of 14,469 birds. The Busschaerts obtained from Martin proved their worth for they won from the off; Martin achieved his second 1st Up North Combine win in 1994 when he topped the Combine from the young bird Maidstone National out of an entry of 23,177 birds when again flying as Ali Bros. Some Van Reets were also introduced and birds were also obtained from Ian “Jammy” Jamison of Amble, the winner of 1st Up North Combine Provins in 1994 when there were 5,430 birds competing. The Verheyes were already in place with them being obtained from John Jobey of Gateshead; John won 1st Up North Combine old bird Folkestone (1) National in 1992 from a convoy of 28,124 birds when flying as Jobey & Turnbull. John also went onto win 1st Up North Combine Clermont in 2008 when there were 9,684 birds competing. With John’s Gold Medal winner also winning “The Queens Cup”; an outstanding achievement by anyone’s standards. The Verheyes proved another good investment with them achieving a number of winning performances, including winning 2 x 1st Federations from back-to-back races. Like all lofts the lads did not always win with every breed they tried, there were certain breeds from certain fanciers that failed to reach the heights.
Dave Williams & Keith Homer holding their Koopman x Ceusters winner of 1st Federation Bubwith, and their Heremans Ceusters winner of 1st Federation Peterborough in 2015
After always flying their birds natural the partnership tried the roundabout system in 1995 and won the first five Club positions in their first race on the new system. They were brought down to earth the following week when they failed to score, but the lads more than made up for the temporary setback when they returned to their winning ways which resulted in them winning a total of 10 x 1st Clubs and 1 x 1st Fed throughout the season. The lad’s outstanding season also won them the North Yorks Federation Old Bird Inland Average, the Channel Average and the Old Bird Combined Average which was a fantastic achievement. More success came their way the following season when 15 x 1st Clubs were won when flying as Keith & Kenny Homer & Dave Williams, with the lads 1996 season seen them winning the Federation Old Bird Inland Average, the Channel Average and the Old Bird Combined Average. Keith, Kenny & Dave flew in two Clubs in 1997 after joining the other Club in Grangetown, the St Marys that was also part of the North Yorks Federation. The lads flew a top-notch Pigeon in both Clubs with them winning a total of 23 x 1st Clubs, which also helped them win the North Yorks Federation Old Bird Inland Average and the Combined Average. Keith, Kenny & Dave never achieved as many Club wins in 1998 as they did in the previous 1997 racing season, with them winning 18 x 1st Clubs. The partnership never topped a Federation in 1998 but their consistency won them the Federation Old Bird Inland Average and the Federation Combined Average. Keith, Kenny & Dave also won the Up North Combine “Sealink Trophy” with a 2y chequer cock named “The Hartlepool Cock”. The cock won 1st Club, 5th Fed, 36th Section and 44th Up North Combine Folkestone (1) National from a convoy of 26,159 birds. 1st Club, 8th Fed, 53rd Section and 62nd Up North Combine Folkestone (2) National when there were 20,292 birds competing. 1st Club, 2nd Fed, 2nd Section and 14th Up North Combine Lillers (2) out of an entry of 16,471birds.
I have only ever met Keith & Dave and I have to say they are two very honest and down to earth lads, I have never heard either of them brag about their success. I have also found, if their birds are winning but not performing as well as they should be, then they will tell you so. Their experience and knowledge will also tell them something is not quite right, and when this happens, they will try and get to the root cause and put their loft or birds right as quickly as possible but sometimes it takes longer to solve the problem. The 1999 season proved to be an excellent one in both Clubs winning 26 x 1st Clubs and 1 x 1st North Yorks Federation, but no Federation Averages which they had won freely the previous four seasons. The turn of the century brushed aside the previous seasons performances and brought a new dawn, for Keith, Kenny & Dave ended the 2000 racing season winning 19 x 1st Clubs and 2 x 1st Federations. And things got even better after a nap hand of Federation averages for the lads won an earth-shattering North Yorks Federation Old Bird Average, Old Bird Inland Average, Channel Average, Young Bird Average and the Combined Average. No Federation wins for the partnership in 2001 but they did rack up a cracking 23 x 1st Clubs, the very hard working lads also won the North of England Championship Club Combined Average which in its self is a fantastic achievement. Moving onto 2002 where 18 x 1st Clubs, 1 x 1st Federation and the Federation Combined Average were won. After the 2002 racing season Keith, Kenny & Dave moved all their lofts to their present location, the loft move was better for them for it took them into the middle of the allotments, away from the nearby houses. The birds housed around that time were the Busschaerts, Van Reets, Verheyes and some channel birds from Terry Atkinson of Hartlepool; they also had the channel family of Clubmates Eddie Norman & Son Dave. The new loft location never interfered with their racing performances, if anything it was an improvement for the lads won 25 x 1st Clubs and 3 x 1st Federations in 2003. With the boys winning the Federation Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, the Young Bird Average and the Combined Average. Things were going really well when they won 21 x 1st Clubs and 4 x 1st Federations in 2004, with three of their four Federation winning performances being achieved from three of the last four young bird races. With Keith, Kenny & Dave winning the Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, Young Bird Average and the Federation Combined Average.
With the boys always looking for improvement they introduced the Willy Verberck Pigeons through their friend Robert Mallinson of Whitby in 2005 and also brought in the Alf Rothwell Busschaerts to blend in to the very highly successful Joe Shuttleworth and Martin Ali Busschaerts. Keith, Kenny & Dave enjoyed another cracking season in 2005, winning 19 x 1st Clubs and 5 x 1st Federations. With the trio winning the Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, Young Bird Average and the Federation Combined Averages for an outstanding third consecutive season. Keith & Dave had become friends with the late Jimmy Cowan of Shiremoor, the winner of 1st Up North Combine Young Bird Maidstone National in 2002 from a convoy of 14,202 birds. The two partnerships exchanged youngsters with Keith & Dave breeding Jimmy’s 2005 2nd Up North Combine Bourges Silver Medal winner from a distance of 578 miles when there were 1,886 birds competing. The top winning performances continued in 2006 when 20 x 1st Clubs, 5 x 1st Federations, the Federation Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, Channel Average and the Combined Average were won. Keith, Kenny & Dave were also the winners of 2nd Up North Combine North Weald winning a Combine Silver Medal from a convoy of 20,721 birds, 34th Up North Combine Brooklands when there were 20,221 birds competing and 20th Up North Combine Lillers out of an entry of 13,804 birds. The 2007 racing season provided their most wins in a season so far when they amassed a fantastic 29 x 1st Clubs which also provided 3 x 1st Federations, the Federation Old Bird Combined average and the Channel Average. The lads also scored 29th Up North Combine Folkestone National out of 24,199 birds, 26th Up North Combine Maidstone from 19,460 birds and 40th Up North Combine Newton Abbott when there were 6,266 birds away. Things dropped away in respect of Keith, Kenny & Dave’s previous Federation Average winning performances in 2008 when 21 x 1st Clubs and 1 x 1st Federation was won but no Federation Averages were won that year. But that solo Lillers (1) Federation win was the lads most important win of their racing lives for their pole position winning “Flo” went onto win a tremendous 1st Section and 1st Up North Combine winning a Combine Gold Medal from a convoy of 17,066 birds. All Keith, Kenny & Dave’s hard work had finally paid off; this outstanding win proves you cannot underestimate a top loft when they feel they are not at their best. Keith, Kenny & Dave also bred Mr & Mrs Roly Seaton of Guisborough their 3rd Up North Combine Bronze Medal winner from the Lillers (1) race. The Gold Medal winning trio also netted 43rd Up North Combine out of the Folkestone National from an entry of 31,088 birds.
Looking back through Keith, Kenny & Dave’s consistent and outstanding Federation Average winning performances there was a dip on two separate occasions where they never won as many Federation Averages like they normally do. This was looked into and put right, which was a great relief to the out and out winning trio. One of the dips in their performances was believed (and later proved right) to be the poly carbon roof, which was causing the poorer condition of their birds. So they decided to rip the roof out and replace it all with a thinner plastic which resulted in the lads feeling the difference in the loft and their birds returning to their top condition and their top winning performances. The sheets are now renewed every 2 to 3 years, the expense dose not come into it when their winning performances are affected. The other dip in the partnerships Federation Average winning performances was when they changed their routine training tosses to no training at all. Once they reverted back to the three times a week training the birds won straight away. The 2009 racing season saw Keith, Kenny & Dave enjoy an outstanding season, winning 18 x 1st Clubs, 3 x 1st Federations winning the Federation Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average and the Combined Average. 38th Up North Combine Folkestone National out of 25,466birds, 21st Up North Combine Yearling Eastbourne National from 3,750birds and 49th Up North Combine Maidstone from a convoy of 19,646 birds was also taken. 2009 also saw the boys introduce birds from Micky Betts; the Heremans Ceusters were also brought in that year. Keith had being on a previous coach trip to Holland where he really took to the Heremans Ceusters of Hans & Evert Jan Eijerkamp, although Keith never purchased any birds on his visit, he still fancied the Heremans Ceusters to do well. So much so he purchased the Heremans Ceusters from both John Wheatcroft and Premier Stud, with more being obtained from Premier Stud in 2010 and 2011. Onto the 2010 racing season where Dave’s Brother Paul joined the partnership to fly as K & K Homer & D & P Williams. 2010 proved to be another very successful season winning 26 x 1st Clubs and 2 x 1st Federations, winning the Federation Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average and the Combined Average. The back on top partnership also chalked up 6th and 41st Up North Combine Folkestone (1) National when there were 20, 270 birds away. They then potted 34th and 40th Up North Combine out of Clermont from 9,095 birds and also took 28th Up North Combine Andrezel when there were 4,106 birds competing. Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul did really well from the North of England Homing Union young bird Futurity race from Buckingham where they won 3rd winning £2,150.00 in pools and prizes.
“Flo” winner of 1st Up North Combine Lillers (1) in 2008 from a convoy of 17,066 birds - “The Hartlepool Cock” the winner of the “1998 Sealink Trophy”
The lads were back in the driving seat in their Federation in 2011 when their 34 x 1st Clubs wins earned them a clean sweep in the Federation with them winning the Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, Channel Average, Young Bird Average and the Combined Average which was absolutely awesome. The top of the tree partnership also scored 22nd Up North Combine Folkestone (1) National from a convoy of 23,325 birds. 45th Up North Combine Lillers (1) out of 17,998 birds. 6th, 8th and 21st Up North Combine Eastbourne Yearling National out of an entry of 5,598. Onto the young bird Maidstone National where they took 29th and 46th Up North Combine where they bred 4th Up North Combine for another fancier when there were 15,874 birds competing. In the very same season Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul had brought in some new birds to help continue their brilliant team performances and winning run, with the Louis Thijs and Leo Heremans coming in, and some Gus Jansen’s from C Lister. After that outstanding 2011 season, things don’t get much better than that, but it did in 2012 to produce another fantastic season, winning 30 x 1st Clubs and 3 x 1st Federations winning the Old Bird Inland Average, Old Bird Combined Average, Channel Average and the Combined Average. The very hard to beat Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul also won 4th Up North Combine Lillers (1) from a convoy of 13,064 birds. 20th Up North Combine Clermont when there were 6,048 birds. 6th Up North Combine Bourges when there were 1,725 birds away. 12th Up North Combine Folkestone (2) National out of 15,855 birds and 32nd Up North Combine Yearling National from 7,125 birds. The top notch season also saw the lads picking their pool birds well to win 1st North of England Championship Club from Clermont, Bourges and the Folkestone (2) National as well as taking 2nd NECC out of the Yearling Maidstone National to win them the NECC Channel Average and the Combined Average. A French Diploma was also won by “Betts Hen” a blue hen bred by Micky Betts, the outstanding 3y hen qualified for the French Diploma for achieving a minimum of three position in the first 250 of the Combine, at a distance of 440 miles or more. And the hen achieved that by winning 6th, 101st and 121st Up North Combine Bourges from a distance of 543 miles. The hen proved to be a little gem after taking five UNC cards in the first 150 from six Combine races. The boys had also introduced some direct Leo Heremans and some Paul Stobbs to keep them at the top of their game in 2012.
The 2013 season saw Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul introduce the Syndicate Lofts Pigeons, this could well be the final piece of the jig-saw, and if the Syndicate Lofts Pigeons are anything like the lads previous introductions continues success is a certainty. The out and out winning partnership were the winners of 39 x 1st Clubs and 5 x 1st Federations in 2013, and in 2014 they won 37 x 1st Clubs and 8 x 1st Federations and followed that up by winning 39 x 1st Clubs and 7 x 1st Federations in 2015 and they were also the winners of 29 x 1st Clubs and 4 x 1st Federations in 2016. In the final four years Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul won the Federation Old Bird Inland Average in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Old Bird Combine Average winners in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Young Bird Average winners in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. And the winners of the Combined Average in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The lads also netted 30th Up North Combine Eastbourne (2) National in 2013 from a convoy of 11,572 birds. And in 2014 they won 3rd and 32nd Up North Combine Lillers (1) when there were 12,527 birds competing and followed that up by potting 4th, 13th and 60th Up North Combine Eastbourne (2) National out of an entry of 12,050 birds. Onto the Eastbourne (3) National where 37th Up North Combine was taken when there were 9,069 birds away; and then 32nd and 53rd Up North Combine was pocketed out of the young bird Maidstone National from 10,755 birds. In 2015 the partnership took 39th Up North Combine from the Eastbourne National when there were 12,647 birds competing; they also won 2nd in the Loftus West Road Championship Club Breeder/Buyer winning £3,000. The previous breed of Pigeons Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul have introduced into their loft has being a great success, with that success being their greatest success so far.
The partnerships main stock loft
The partnerships 50 pairs of stock birds are treated with Baytril and Cosumix for 10 days before pairing up on the 19th or 20th December; the lads have fed their stock birds on Farm corn for the past 3 years, they use Gemthepax and Hormoform with Grits and Minerals also on offer to the birds. The main stock loft that has a half tiled and half clear plastic roof is 14 foot long with white plastic cladding fitted to all four sides, with the front having two big windows that allows the birds the freedom of the very spacious 20 foot by 10 foot steel aviary which is decked out with a grilled floor. The remaining stock birds are housed in 19 individual pens away from the main stock loft. Not all the stock birds are bred from but the ones that come out of the first round are sold on to other fanciers. The lads have won far more than their fair share of races over the years at both Club and Federation level; with birds bred directly from them and their off-springs winning Club and Federation for a great number of other fanciers over the years. This again shows the calibre of their winning bloodlines from different breeds for different fanciers in the very best of competition.
The old bird racing loft of K & K Homer & D & P Williams
The 36 pairs of the old bird roundabout team are housed in a 56 foot loft which has white plastic cladding fitted on the front, back and sides with two doors at the front, the top half of the front of the loft is fitted with clear plastic with windows that open outwards for letting out and trapping the birds. The loft that has four sections for the racing cocks and two sections for the racing hens that holds v-perches in one section and boxes in the other section has a half tiled and half plastic roof. Like the stock birds, the racing team are routine treated prior them being paired up, normally in the first few days in January. The birds are also tested at The Retford Poultry, with the lads speaking very highly of Libby Harrison the Practice Manager. Gemthepax, Hormoform, Grits and Minerals are used throughout the breeding time. The very highly successful partnership like the young birds weaned off their roundabout team 10 days before the first race which always starts on the first or second Saturday in April from a distance of 50 miles. The cocks and hens are separated after the hens have laid their second eggs. The race team are exercised every other day from the 1st January; and later exercised twice a day once the hens have laid. They are given 4 to 5 training tosses up to 20 miles prior the first race; once racing has started their routine is a morning exercise and an evening training toss 2 to 3 times a week from around 20 miles. Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul normally train from three locations throughout the season with two of the places been from the inland towns of Pickering and Thirsk, while their third training spot is down the coast at Whitby. The roundabout team are fed a light widowhood mix up to the distance of 140 miles; the feed is then upped for the 200 and upwards mile races, with three different widowhood mixes used. The channel team that consists of 12 pairs are housed in a 16 foot loft on a similar design as the old bird loft, the only difference been there’s no door at the front but there is two sets of opening out widows for letting the birds out and trapping. The loft also has an aviary on the side.
Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul’s channel loft
K & K Homer & D & P Williams, young bird darkness loft
The 32 foot long young bird loft that houses the 110 or so darkness team is situated away from the rest of the lofts, the roof, front, back and sides is of the same design as the rest of the lads lofts, apart from there been 2 doors at the front which both have wire cages fitted to them. The youngsters are let out and trapped through two sets of open out windows. The feeding methods of the darkness youngsters are the same as the old birds. The young birds are never split before or during racing as the lads have tried this in the past, where they lost 11 of their team off the loft front in the space of three days. The young birds that are routine treated and tested before their nine race programme gets underway, training starts on the Bourges weekend which is around the longest day where they are trained up to the distance of 20 miles. The babies are exercised on a morning and trained three times a week throughout the racing season, again from 20 miles which consists of the lads three normal training spots. As stated the young birds are housed away from the main racing lofts but they are re-housed in the old bird loft for the following racing season. The changing over to a different loft location has never been a problem, as Keith told me the former darkness youngsters are settled in to their new loft within 5 days. There was one year that the partnership changed their young bird system but they were not happy with the new methods for it resulted is the youngsters failing to exercise around the loft which they never like to see. But on saying that their young birds performed outstanding throughout the young bird racing season where they won all nine races in the Grangetown H/S and all nine races in the St Marys. The darkness youngsters have flown very well as yearlings and throughout their future years winning at Club, Federation and Section level. Some may well be asking, how many young birds are retained for the following racing season. It has been know on a number of occasions where the old bird race team has been cleared out to bare boards to allow room for the youngsters to prove themselves the following season and beyond. Whenever this has happened it has proved to be a great success, one of the main ingredients of that success, is knowing what your birds are capable of achieving. And looking back on the continuing success of the loft of Keith & Kenny Homer, Dave & Paul Williams, who can disagree on their methods?
I would like to thank Keith & Dave for giving up their time so I could write this report; I really enjoyed my time with the two salt of the earth duo, who are a credit to the sport.
Photos.
Dave Williams & Keith Homer holding their Koopman x Ceusters winner of 1st Federation Bubwith, and their Heremans Ceusters winner of 1st Federation Peterborough in 2015.
The old bird racing loft of K & K Homer & D & P Williams.
K & K Homer & D & P Williams, young bird darkness loft.
Keith, Kenny, Dave & Paul’s channel loft.
The partnerships main stock loft.
“Flo” winner of 1st Up North Combine Lillers (1) in 2008 from a convoy of 17,066 birds.
“The Hartlepool Cock” the winner of the “1998 Sealink Trophy”.
