THE ELIMAR INTERVIEW
VINNIE WILKINSON
of Grimsby
Please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the sport.
My name is Vinnie Wilkinson and I race into Grimsby on the east coast of England. I race with the mighty Lincolnshire South Road Federation, with a radius 60 miles deep and 40 miles wide, sending up to 5500 birds. I also race with the British Barcelona Club and the M.N.F.C. For me pigeons started when a blue cheq hen which landed on my canary and finch house. I gave her some bird food and water every day for some four weeks then she was gone. About four weeks passed and she was back, and she never left again; she lived to twelve years old. She mated to a diamond dove cock bird which was half her size and I can still see him trying to mate with her - it was so comical. After that I obtained some tipplers and every now and then a tired racer would come in with them; it would stop for a couple of days and go. It fascinated me how they could find their way home from long distances. That was it. I built a racing loft and started with the racers.
The boss
Which races do you target?
My only interest is long distance events: Barcelona 843mls, Palamos 819mls, Tarbes 711mls, Perpignan 760mls, Bordeaux 600mls. Sprint/middle distance fanciers say these races over 800mls are not real races. Well that’s their opinion. Let me just point out how hard it is to even get one home, and believe me, you just cannot comprehend the immense pride when you do.
Which bloodlines form the base of your loft?
The main bloodlines start through Mick Thompson via birds from John Hand’s Kirkpatricks from Grimsby, and a bird from Neil Bush of Amcotts from his Riley's Duchess breed. Add to this a g/daughter of Vend and a g/son of Turban from Jim Biss, and super birds of the Biss lines from Don Bird of Maidenhead plus super birds of Jos Thone's and Thomas Peters’ from my good friend Les Appleby of Grimsby and that’s it.
Which individual pigeons are proving to be your key breeders and racers?
My top cock bird for both breeding and racing has to be The Time Lord. He has been placed in the B.B.C. Barcelona National, and bred a cock bird to win 1st sect, 60th open Palamos. The G/son and G/daughter of Vend and Turban have bred me winners from Bourges 461mls and Canapeville 306mls, and the Don Bird pigeons have bred me winners of BICC and NFC positions.
What attracted you to those breeds?
Consistency at the distance, birds able to fly the channel time after time.
Have you evolved a particular type or line most suited to your methods?
My birds are flown hard, many crossing the channel five or six times a season. After this sort of flying, the best emerge. Even young birds sometimes fly the channel twice, the shortest channel race being Carentan 295mls.
How do you motivate?
My birds are raced natural, ten day eggs or 7 day squeakers being the most successful, but should I notice a cock bird or hen acting up then I may put another cock or hen in their box and send them, only to the shorter channel races though. I try to keep them stress free.
How important is feeding?
You must feed well: plenty of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Peanuts as the races get longer. I feed heavily. They have to have it in the tank to be able to get up and do it all over again on the second day; if not you will lose them.
The old bird section
How has your approach to feeding changed over the year?
I first started feeding beans with condition seed and this was good. I then tried the Gerry Plus feed and like it now says on the bag, it’s low in protein, and I found the birds didn't have anything in the tank racing was not good. I soon realised I needed to put a heavier feed in the birds. I now feed Buckton’s best all round and Versele Laga widowhood plus peanuts and Hormoform.
Have you found any supplements of benefit?
I like to use Carr's Gemthepax while breeding and Orego-stim all season, in addition to cider vineger and lemon juice in the young bird drinkers, and garlic cloves.
What medication if any do your birds receive?
I treat for canker every month when racing, worms and respiratory every two months, give Parastop at the beginning of season, and the birds are vaccinated for paramyxo with Colombovac.
What balance do strike between workload (home exercise, training and racing) and rest when preparing a bird for its main target?
Once the birds are flying well at home training starts at 10mls x 2, 20mls x 2 and 40mls x2. It must be understood that my birds are single tossed most times and they have to depend on themselves. The birds are then singled up at Peterborough, Stevenage, Oxford, and time permitting Southampton. Once this stage is reached I feel confident to send them anywhere. Most birds will get a couple of races with the federation and then it’s the nationals. My Barcelona birds get a 150mls, a 190mls and a channel race at 306mls then four weeks before Barcelona they get three single ups from 60mls, which is Spalding. You can't teach good birds how to get home, you have to get them as fit as possible.
The racing loft
How do you get a pigeon to peak?
I feel it’s all about timing and knowing how quick a hen will lay, then you must time it as best you can to get them to the nest condition required.
Describe, if you can, how your birds handle at basketing time when in top form.
I have noticed that most of my birds seem to darken in colour when fit. They handle firm but supple with soft silky feather. Vents must be tight. Some of the cock birds show how ready they are by standing on the landing board with their wings held half open as if on edge ready to go and fight anything.
How great a bond do you have with your pigeons?
I have birds that will fight me, some that will sit in the hand or on my shoulder, and some that are timid. I don't chase any around the loft preferring to herd them into their box. When I call them in they come. It takes all sorts.
How much emphasis do you put on loft design?
My present loft is not much to look at. Wire at the front and back allow air to flow straight through. It has a concrete floor, which many of my friends keep telling me is not good for getting birds into form. It faces north-west so doesn't get much sun, but it is cool when the weather is cold and cool when the weather is hot. I am hoping to build a new loft at the end of this season face it south-east, money and time permitting.
Emily
Which fancier has influenced you most, in the way you fly your birds?
I have always admired Fear Bros, Mr & Mrs Cannon, Eric Fox, Jim Donaldson of Peterhead, Jim Emerton and Brian Long. These were and are all time greats.
Please give the readers the most memorable results you have achieved.
7th sect, 14th open B.I.C.C. Bergerac 600mls on the day flying 100mls further than other birds.
1st sec, 2nd open B.I.C.C. Alencon 352mls beaten by a bird flying 150mls shorter.
1st club, 3rd sect, 5th open Bourges 461 mls.
1st club, 1st sect, 2nd open Canappeville 306mls.
1st sect, 112th open N.F.C. Chale 209mls old hens.
3 times 2nd club Nevers 471mls.
1st Wellington F.C. Nevers 471mls.
1st sect hens, 3rd N sect, 97th open Tarbes 712mls B.I.C.C.
1st sect E, 61st open Barcelona 843mls B.B.C.
2nd sect E, 28th open Barcelona 843mls B.B.C.
5th sect E, 47th open Palamos 819mls B.B.C.
1st sect, 140th open Falaise 320mls B.I.C.C.
Many other positions in open competition.
What are your future ambitions?
I hope to clock more birds from Barcelona and I would dearly like to get my red cock bird The Time Lord home in race time to win a Spanish Diploma with the British Brcelona Club. I would like to know if any other bird flying over 800mls has won one. But he won't go if I don't think he's right.
Do you have any further comments about anything that we may have missed?
One thing people must be aware of is that when the birds go to the Internationals, they are apparently fed 100% maize. This must be a hard diet for birds fed a mixture but that’s how it is. Another matter is the raptor problem. Whilst I admire the efforts of Jim Hooper and others to try to have the problem eased, I cannot believe the R.S.P.B. will ever be beaten. They have too much money and too many supporters. You only have to watch the wildlife programmes to see how the presenters glorify the hawks and falcons diving onto pigeons or other small birds. What do we think they would do, trap them and let them go in some other location? A lot of money is being thrown at this for legal representation. The solicitors won't care as long as they get their money. Would this money be better spent developing a solution to spray on the backs of our birds that is fowl tasting or smelling to raptors? I am not suggesting poison, only something that will make the raptor release the bird, or after a few catches even avoid further attacks. Instead of giving all the money the Blackpool Show makes to charities, keep it to help the fanciers’ causes. It’s quite plain to see the general public don't give a toss about pigeon fanciers, but they will gladly take the money. On that note I will finish. I hope I have not offended any one, I did not mean to, these are my points of view.
I hope you have enjoyed the article, and I wish you all a long and happy life. Remember: live each day as if it were your last, cos one day it will be!
April 2013
---
