JOHN DAVID'S
RAMBLINGS
Bradshaw & Family top WSR Fed in fine style
In what can only be described as a dream start to the season the Bradshaw family from Swansea certainly turned on the style in the first Welsh South Road Federation race from Salisbury 98 miles held on 9th April to top the Federation by an incredible 46 YPM. It was all change in the Bradshaw household this season as not only did the partnership change names from Mr & Mrs Bradshaw to Bradshaw and family due to the grandchildren taking an interest in flying but also their local club left the Federation to fly mid week only which meant the partnership were forced to join the very strong Ystalyfera HS which boasts such great names as Brian & Anthony Williams, Fishlock & Roberts, Charlie Bradshaw(jnr), Len John, Jack Davies & Son all National winners plus many other top fliers.
G/sons Jamie 15, Lewis 9 and Wilf Mort (one of the all time great fanciers now retired) holding the Fed winner from Salisbury
This loft has been flying since the late 80s and from the very start made their mark on the racing front with many super performances. They first started flying on the north road with the old Swansea Valley Fed where they gained a lot of success topping the Fed from Craven Arms a distance of 69 miles and clocking the only day bird from Lerwick with a single entry. As Dave’s father Charlie Bradshaw Snr and brother Charlie Bradshaw Jnr were successful south road fliers it was only a matter of time before Dave took up the South Road challenge and success followed. In 1991 this partnership with only a small team of 5 birds won the WSR National Averages. There were 5 overseas races that season and their worst position was 29th Open Pau with a late bred yearling carrying seven nest flights.
Dave looking out from his racing loft
The partnership then decided to test their pigeons in the BICC and again success followed immediately. They became the first loft in Wales to win the BICC and have to date won the BICC an incredible four times which is truly incredible flying to this unfavourable loft location. On two occasions this race was won by their incredible champion racer Crockett`s Rocket. When this game bird won the Tours BICC, the previous week it had won 1st West Section, 5th Open Tours WSRNFC. The partnership was also 2nd and 4th Open BICC being pipped to the post that year by Geoff Cooper of Bath. With all the wins gained by the partnership it would fill the pages of this book but suffice to say Crocket`s Rocket won 50-1sts on his own; what an incredible pigeon he was and he actually won from every overseas race point with the exception of Pau where he went once as a yearling and came 2nd club.
Light cheq cock - the first Welsh bird ever to win the BICC in Wales for M/M Bradshaw
The system used in the loft is complete Natural and they have full hoppers topped up daily and plenty of training. In fact during the week prior to the Salisbury race the team were tossed from Yeovil in Somerset. Their five year old Fed topper known fondly as “The Saintes Hen” after great performances from that race point including 1st West section, 11th Open WSRNFC and made the NFC result against the elements. This incredible hen with many wins to her credit from short to long distance be it fast or slow goes back to David’s Dads breeding of Steel/Van Bruane with a touch of Janssen. I must take this opportunity to thank David for all he has done for the WSRNFC over the years. He was instrumental in getting the section of the National changed for the benefit of West section members in 2010 and although there was a move to restore the old sections once again this year it lost by a considerable margin. As David told me at the time it makes no difference to his loft as he wants to win the National but many of his local members would have had little or no chance of success especially in the prevailing westerly winds had the sections not been changed.
"Crocket's Rocket" - winner of 50 x 1st prizes and twice 1st Open BICC
On talking to David he asked me to mention a fancier from the South Mims area to whom he had promised some young birds but things went wrong after a hawk strike and he lost his telephone number. Should he read this report can he please contact David on 07833-772663 as he has some nice young birds for him!
John David Havachat Bungalow, Mwyndy, Pontyclun RCT CF728PN Phone 01443-226809. Email
