James Newall & Son Riley of Ashton-Under-Lyne with Les J Parkinson.
It’s always nice to write about top winning fanciers and there are non-better than Jimmy Newall & son Riley over the last couple of years, as good, but better, I doubt that. I must admit that I had not heard of the excellent performance that Jimmy had achieved in this great hobby of ours. I only heard the name by chance after talking to Ray Lunt about a charity sale and he told me to ask Jimmy Newall and that was the first time I knew just what a good fancier he is. I say the last couple of years but that is an understatement, Jimmy has been winning for many years and I am not just talking about club wins. Mind you I have been looking at some clubs with less than a handful of members who are winning and topping the feds, so numbers don’t matter, it’s how good yar pigeons are that gets you into the winner’s enclosure. That’s not the case here, I was just going off on one as I usually do when writing about something or somebody, I put it down to my age, not a pup anymore. Jimmy was saying that Riley is very keen with the pigeons which is a great asset to the partnership.
Riley
Boxing Academy.
Racing pigeons are not Jimmy’s only interest because he has his own Boxing Academy that also keeps him busy. He has been in boxing for 21yrs, the first twenty for at an academy that he did not own so 12 months ago decided to start his own to bring on future Champions. It’s early days yet but if he has the same work ethic that he does with the pigeons he is not going to go far wrong. I did ask that question and Jimmy said his experience of keeping healthy through the Academy, has helped to keep the pigeons healthy and ready for the races.
Early days
In the early 90’s Jimmy started keeping pigeons with his father but 2yrs later he was killed in an accident at work, so Jimmy parted with the pigeons. Then one day in 2004 he saw a pigeon fancier going to the allotments so followed him to see where they were and that was his introduction to the new world of pigeon racing, where he has occupied a perch at the top ever since. When he first went to the lofts it took just two weeks to get a loft sorted, no messing about at this loft. When I say that I mean it because in his first-year racing Jimmy made a statement when he won 8 x 1sts in what was tough competition at that time, having said that, the membership is reduced but the competition is as tough as ever. Over the years Manchester has seen many top winning fanciers and with the present crop I cannot see it changing. I reported in an article a few weeks ago that the competition was tough in the Manchester area and Jimmy is another of those tough competitors who keeps them on their toes. Still with the early days that first loft was 18 x 6ft which was about the size many had but times and lofts have changed. The present lofts consist of 2 x 8ft sections for the widowhood cocks and an 8 x 8ft section for the hens. Then there is a 15ft loft for the young birds with a stock loft 8 x 6ft, all the lofts have an aviary on the front of them.
Feeding.
A subject that changes from loft to loft, what suits one does not suit another, we all like to think that what we feed our pigeons is what makes them winners. That is not always the case because we must get everything else right along the way. I often think about feeding, can we give them too much, of course we can, on the other hand, can we give them too little, of course we can and that’s why some are better at racing pigeons than others, they get the feeding right to the management system that they use. I believe winning fanciers can conquer feeding methods far quicker and easier than most which is why they are winning. This will no doubt be where the sprinter’s get such good results, through trial and error they have worked out what their pigeons need. Can we over think the feeding methods we use, I don’t know, what I do know is it is interesting to see what and how winning fanciers feed their pigeons with some not being as complicated as others. Right after that let’s move on to the system that Jimmy has worked out with great success. The race team are fed on Diet mix until Thursday morning and then a mix which Jimmy has put together. This is a mixture of 4 different makes, Beyers, Gerry Plus, Versela Laga Super Widowhood and Beyers Energy Plus. Jimmy has then worked out how much they need both morning and evening and when during the week the changes need to be made. The water can be just as complicated, unless you know what you are doing of course. Jimmy uses Tollisan 40 three times each week for the old birds and twice a week for the young birds and they get Quill Boost for the rest of the week. We have talked about how to get the pigeons fit to race and win, what about their health. With regards to medication, these pigeons are treated every 3 weeks for Canker and Respiratory issues plus the once-a-year Para vaccine. During the racing season I think we all know on basketing night whose pigeons are healthy. I have often seen and thought or done it myself, “These pigeons handle well” and on race day they are the ones near the top of the result, which is where Jimmy’s pigeons mostly end up, at the top of the result sheet. They get there through Jimmy’s system which is a combination of the right feeding and health regime. The pigeons take it all that Jimmy puts in front of them on race days because he has got the management system right, something that most do not manage in their lifetime but still enjoy racing their pigeons. Jimmy was saying that at one time they used to feed the pigeons in pots in the boxes. One day Riley pointed out the hens were hammering the cocks and going in to eat what was the best in the mix. So they changed and started feeding them in troughs on the floor and they changed with the cocks increasing their performances.
Training
This is something that is near to Jimmy’s heart because he is aware of what we need to do as humans to keep fit and healthy through his work with the Boxing Academy. I said earlier about having to get feeding right to win but at the end of the day they must be fit to win races, both physically and mentally. Jimmy was saying that his birds do fly well around home being exercised for 1hr both morning and evening and he doesn’t have to force fly them, they happily exercise under their own willingness to want to fly. Jimmy puts this down to the way he feeds the pigeons both old and young. As far as training down the road goes the hens have two tosses each week and the cocks one. Taking into account both forms of exercise being around home, and the basket means these old birds fly between 11 & 12hrs each week to get fit. Then they have what flying time they have at the weekend including racing, so all in all they spend some time on the wing each week during the racing season. The young birds are treated differently but they must be freely flying around home for an hour both morning and evening before they go into a training basket. Then when they are fit around home, they are prepared to be race fit with a 20mls toss each morning. In general, the training with the young birds is what sets them up for their future as racing pigeons. This is where many top fanciers gain an advantage, they spend time educating the young birds and they pay you back as the years go by. The training is done with Jake Malone transport who do a really good job for the local fanciers.
Families
This is not a case of a family of pigeons, more a case of good breeders that make a winning loft and they are all in that category at this loft. All fanciers go after breeders because they are what make your loft and to meet that goal Jimmy has built himself a team of 9prs stock that have all bred to 1st fed level. Let’s start with the Lambrecht’s of Ian “Staffy” Stafford who has supplied many fanciers with top winners, and not a fancier to shy away from buying the best racers and breeders available, no matter what the price. Other lofts where they have come from include Ireland’s Gibb & Byrne and Gerry O’Mara. There are often birds from the North East in winning lofts, already mentioned “Staffy” plus we have Woodruff Bros and not forgetting the North West’s National winner John Crehan. Good fanciers supplying good pigeons and here is a bit more information to show you just how well they are bred. "Harry" is a well-known winner and probably one of the greats and there are two grandchildren of him in the stock loft breeding winners. Not only is this one a grandchild of "Harry" it is also a grandchild of the famous "Mystique" a high-class racer/breeder, The next pedigree I looked at was that of a full sister to "Olympic Rosita" 1st National Ace plus many more prizes, What about a son of the magnificent "Limbro" probably one of the most highly rated stock pigeons in Ian Stafford’s stock loft. "Limbro" is a brother to the outstanding "Lincia" 1st National Ace Pigeon of all Belgium. What makes this one even more valuable is that he is off a brother/sister mating to "Lincia”, what a magnificent pigeon. Then there is a cock off two great pigeons, "Abbie" & "Nicola" two top breeders making this stock cock a brother to many winners including "Olivia" 1st Ace etc. There is a top breeder from Gerry O'Mara, it is a grandchild of "Rocket Ronnie" and "Ken's Choice" and there are also a "Pitbull" pair who have bred as Jimmy put it, "Umpteen winners". After studying the stock bird’s, I can understand why they are breeding so many winners for Jimmy and Friends. Whenever we go to see a winning loft, they always have a few that have bred many winners, there’s not just a few here, all the stock birds have bred an Amal winner otherwise they would not be in the stock loft. I was wondering which ones I could leave out of the article but that is not the case I have sent all the photos of the stock birds; it just depends how much room is available. Not sure if there are some photos that I have not had, 13 seems an odd number. As we can see from the photos, they are good quality birds and not just the latest fashion. It is clear that Jimmy & Riley are not looking at what everyone else has, a few yes but there are a good mix in the stock loft. With having a varied team, they can be crossed and bred back to any lines that they are getting the best results from. It is always going to be a benefit having so many top breeders in the loft. Jimmy has just pointed out that he has had good pigeons off Stuart Watson from the North East.
Results.
I know many find results boring, but they are what we are all after with racing the pigeons. Here are a few results achieved by Jimmy & Riley in the last couple of years, I must add that I have reduced the original list considerably, don’t think the editor would have given enough space, no matter how many positions they have won. 1-2-3-4-5 Worcester 150b. 1-2-3-4 Worcester 280b. 1-2 Cheltenham 186b. 1 Cheltenham 381b. 2-3-8-9 Cheltenham 289b. 1-2-3-4-5 Mangotsfield 289b. 1 Weymouth 267b. 1-6-7 Yeovil 225b. 1 Yeovil 126b. 2-3-4-5-6-7 Yeovil 107b. 1-3-5-6-7-8-9-10 Cheltenham 174b. 1-2-3-4 Cheltenham 104b. 1-2-3-4 Cheltenham 102b. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Bath 104b. 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-9 Cheltenham 160b. 1-5-6 Cheltenham 178b. 1-2-3-4-5 Cheltenham 130b. 1-2-3-4-5 Cheltenham 192b. 1-2-3-4 Bath 160b. 6-7-8-9 Worcester 1,196b. 1-2-4 Cheltenham 572b. 2-4 Cheltenham 1,110b. 9-10. Cheltenham 1,283b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 Wollaston 792b. 1-4 Weymouth 1,625b. 1-4-8 Weymouth 1,015b. 2 Yeovil 1,103b. 4 Yeovil 1,720b. 6-13 Mangotsfield 2,077b. 6- 17- 8 Mangotsfield 1,320b. 2-3-4 Cheltenham 1,441b. 2-3-4-18-19 2,184b. 11- 12 Cheltenham 2,033b. 6-7-8-9-11-13-17-18 Worcester 2,246b. 6-7-8-9 Wollaston 1,196b. 1 Cheltenham 1,039b. 6 Yeovil 2,699b. 5-9 Yeovil 523b. 5 Yeovil 817b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Penkridge 809b. 5-8 Yelverton 446b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Bath 841b. 1-2-4-5 Cheltenham 1,321b. 1-2-4-5-8 Cheltenham 998b. 1-9 Yeovil 728b. 1-2-10 Cheltenham 1,182b. 1-3-8 Worcester 1,011b. 1 Frome 228b. 1-4 Yeovil 215b.
2-3-4-7 Mangotsfield 331b. 2-4-8-9 Bath 224b. 1-3-7-8-9 Cheltenham 133b. 1-2-4 Worcester 144b. 1-2-5-6-7-8 Cheltenham 300b. 2 Cheltenham 1370b. 2 Cheltenham 2324b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Bath 1,089b. 9-12 Worcester 1,691b. 9-12 Wollaston 1,052b. 1 Wollaston 234b. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Stafford 135b. 1-2-4-5-6-7-8 Stafford 168b. 1-2-3-4-5-7-8-9-10 Stafford 879b. 1-2-3-4-7-8-9-10-11-12-15-19 Stafford 1283b. 1-2-3-4-5 bath 253b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9 Cheltenham 226b. 8-9-10 Cheltenham 1,287b. 1-11 Yeovil 1137b. 1 Yeovil 728b. 1 Cheltenham 168b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 Stafford 133b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-11-12-13-14-15-16 Stafford 698b. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Stafford 1126b. 1-2-3 Stafford 63b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Wollaston. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Wollaston 938b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9 Wollaston 1631b. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Worcester 226b. 18 19 20 Worcester 1120b. 1-2-3 Gold Ring winning £2,500.
Lofts.
The lofts are always well cleaned out by the team and as can be seen with the photos they are a credit to them. There are two sections for the widowhood cocks, and I noticed that there are two different types of boxes, so thinking there was something special about the system I asked the question “Why”. As with pigeon men we are always thinking there is something behind whatever we do. The reason is they like to keep the yearlings sperate from the old birds, they are all bred from. The system of yearlings together has brought up some very good winners, they also appear to look after the young in the nest better. The boxes were put in the young bird loft so that they can go to nest for the longer specialist races. There is no heating in the lofts but there is lights in all lofts.
Stock Loft
2022 Race Cocks
Race Hens Section Widowhood Cocks Section
Young Birds with nest boxes & Young Birds without nest boxes.
Bath time.
All the pigeons are given a bath all the year round on a Friday morning. They believe that they are relaxed and go to the club in top condition. They are like show pigeons but with top race performances.
Injury
Earlier this year Jimmy snapped his ankle and was unable to do much with the pigeons, so Riley took over and the pigeons responded to his ways of doing things. Taking into account that he is only 14yrs he has really started to notice what the pigeons want and need to keep them in top condition for the races. Jimmy was saying that there are many good fanciers to compete against including, John Wood, Jimmy Beardsley, Colin Sidebottom, Simon Hughes, Gavin & Glynn Buckley, Pete Hardman, Sam Whitworth, Pete & Liam Brennan, Gerry Clements, Paul Beck, Mr & Mrs Brian Fisher & Son, the list goes on. Jimmy went on to say that the one thing we need to do in the sport is to get all the smaller organizations go for one liberation into each area. In theory this should improve returns and make better competition. You are not going to win in the Border Amal if you are not at the top of your game.
Jimmy & Riley certainly have a good working racing system that has seen them more than show their tail to other competitors. A good working partnership goes a long we to making things easy around the lofts and these two have it off to a fine art. Plus, as you can see from the photo young Riley can certainly handle a pigeon, which many find hard to do.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
Tel: 01606836036 – Mobile: 07871701585. Email:
