The Padfield Family's Iron Lady

Gareth Watkins'

MARATHON SERIES

Part 6

THE PADFIELD FAMILY'S IRON LADY

Anyone who has studied the results of the long distance races of the Welsh South Road NFC, CSCFC, BBC, BICC or NFC over the past twenty or so years will have noticed the name of Padfield of Cwmtillery featuring with monotonous regularity. Until 2005 the partnership consisted of father Albert, aided by his two sons Vince and Dave. Unfortunately, Albert passed away in August 2005 and Vince and Dave have continued the family tradition of winning long distance races in his honour. The subject of this article is a seven year old blue w/f hen who has competed from the Catalan capital on three occasions and been placed at 8th, 11th & 35th Open BICC at a distance of 757 miles - a truly remarkable record. The following is an account of her breeding, race preparation and race record.

BREEDING

At this point I'll let Dai Padfield recount the details of her background bloodlines:-

"The bloodlines of this hen contain some of the finest birds to fly into the UK. Her sire is from a son of the Don 2nd BBC Palamos 743 miles when paired to a daughter of Padfield's Perfection 1st, 3rd, 23rd and 39th WSRN Pau. Her dam was 9th WSRNFC Pau and she was a full sister to Paul Kendal's famous Holloway Boy (sire of Morning Glory). We bred the mother of Holloway Boy and Derek Parkin reared Holloway Boy to be raced by Paul Kendal. The dam is a half sister to Vince who was 1st WSRNFC Pau and his father, the sire of the dam, was 7th WSRNFC Pau.

As a young bird she had about 6 to 8 tosses and into Salisbury 70 miles first race. A further 3 or 4 inland races then 1 race from Guernsey or Carentan. At the yearling stage she  was entered in the third race of the season from Southsea and  had a further 2 or 3 races inland  followed by two overseas races about 220 and 350 miles. As a two year old same preparation as a yearling from 350 miles then jumped into Tarbes\Pau  at 600 miles.

Iron Lady flew Pau [589 miles] in 2008 and 2009 and Tarbes [604 miles] in 2010. In the 2011, 2012, 2013 seasons she has flown Barcelona 757 miles and been well up in the result on three occasions. As a 5, 6, 7 year old same preparation up to 350 miles then Barcelona 757 miles. We believe she is the only pigeon to be 3 times in race time flying over 750 miles into the UK from Barcelona?"

The table set out below gives Iron Lady's record in Classic and National races.

THE LOFT

The loft is a 36ft x 12ft five-sectioned structure built and maintained in immaculate condition by Vince. Four sections house the 30 pairs of old bird racers and at one end there is an 8ft x 12 ft section for the 80 or so young birds reared each year. This section also has a large aviary attached and it is here that the young birds spend most of the day light hours.

Vince outside the racing loft

THE SYSTEM

The old bird racers and 25 pairs of stock birds are usually mated on or around 20th February. The racers are allowed to rear a pair of babies and sit their second round eggs for 10 days before being separated. They then go onto the roundabout system for most of the inland programme and early channel races. Each section of racers is then re-paired for specific channel races. Once re-mated the old bird racers are allowed an open loft from day break until nightfall and are allowed to come and go as the please.

However, in 2013 because of the terrible weather experienced in the spring the loft was a little behind in its preparations and so the race team's time spent on roundabout was extended right through to the end of the old bird campaign.

Vince and Dave like the young bird team to be brought along steadily but do like them to “have a look at the channel” in their first year. Yearlings are raced through to 300 miles and two year olds and over go to Pau if fit, and all other points south through to Barcelona 758 miles. When on the roundabout system, the cocks and hens are exercised twice daily for 60 minutes on each occasion. The birds have access to large 3ft x 4ft nest boxes and the hens are boxed up throughout the day except when at exercise. The old bird racers have access to a mixture of beans, peas and tares at all times and are also fed a titbit made up by the brothers to encourage them to trap and bring them into top condition for the longer races. A high carbohydrate mixture made up from mixing two commercial widowhood mixes is also fed to the birds as the longer races approach and this is further supplemented with a high fat mix in the final days before basketing for the extreme distance races.

The use of these tried and tested methods, applied by top class fanciers to high quality long distance racers, has brought the partners continued success over many years especially in long distance classic races.

Dave and Vince

BLOODLINES

The main bloodlines now housed are the Jan Aarden based Wim Mullers which were initially introduced in 1992. This strong base is augmented by some of the “old family” based on Morgan & Cook and Clerebaut bloodlines. The Morgan & Cook bloodlines were based to a large extent on the old Welsh long distance family of Atwell Brothers of Newport.

The birds are mainly dark chequers and white flights with the occasional blue and pied. In addition to the above bloodlines Vince and Dave have introduced selective pigeons of similar Jan Aarden lines via Louella including the highly successful “Invincible Spirit” lines. The present gene pool has proved extremely profitable, not only for the Padfields, but also for many other fanciers who have obtained these bloodlines from them.    

Vince Padfield receiving the Jim Emerton BARCELONA DREAM TROPHY first bird over 750 miles Barcelona won by Iron Lady

FEEDING

As with all the other Padfield pigeons being prepared for the extreme distance "Iron Lady" was hopper fed beans with Irish mix available in galley pots in the nest box at all times. In addition, she was also given Hormoform and a high fat mix with various other small seeds added in the final days build up to basketing. The race team also had access to water supplemented by multivitamins and garlic once per week.

It all sounds so simple doesn’t it and I suppose it is when you have the one vital ingredient pigeons with the hearts of lions and a never say die attitude.Congratulations Vince and Dave on producing yet another excellent long distance performer.

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