Les J Parkinson featuring Wade Bros
Time is moving on and most fanciers are at last getting some satisfaction out of their pigeons, probably those who have a preference to the sprint races. On the other hand, there are those who are more into the longer races where they can test both their bird’s endurance and their own capabilities of getting them right to do the job. As I have said before, it is not bred into the pigeon to cover the longer distances they are not going to do it in the first place. When I am writing or sitting here thinking about writing an article there are all sorts of things crossing my mind. At the moment of writing the above I thought I wonder what percentage of wild birds make the winter journey to and from South Africa where they migrate for what used to be the winter months. I wonder how many of those birds who set out to make the journey actually achieve their target. There are obviously reasons why they do not get to their destination. From the information we can gather there are people along the line of flight ready to test their skills at shooting them and there will be a few along such a long flight. We have birds of prey looking for their next meal, and everyone except the fans of the killer BOP knows there are far too many of them scanning the sky’s which is why there are far less smaller birds about than there used to be. Then there is the endurance of the birds themselves, after all when you get into thousands of miles to travel it takes some doing. These are things that most people take for granted, after all, flying is what they were bred to do. Like many other animals/birds whatever you want to call them migrate on a yearly basis, therefore they are bred for that job. This is a case of the fittest will survive and they will, we know that because each year the swifts and swallows appear on mostly farm buildings around the country. Having said that we have seen few of them this year, I wonder what the reason for that is, and as Joe Glover pointed out they are either later than usual, or they are keeping a low profile. It is also a case of the fittest will survive, if they have not got it in them then they are not going to make it. Could this be a case of there have not been enough fit birds this year and therefore they have failed to reach the target of covering such a distance. Racing pigeons are fed differently than birds in the wild, fanciers who are preparing them for the 600ml plus flights are more up to date on what is required than ever. We have a lot of knowledge on what is required to get a pigeon from A to B, we have more than we have ever done. The problem for some is not knowing how to get everything together in the first place. Some fanciers do so much research they can overcompensate with what they should be giving the pigeons. I have found that the majority of fanciers who successfully race pigeons at the distance are naturally knowledgeable of what any animal needs to successfully complete such races. Take a look at farmers who race pigeons, there are some particularly good distance fanciers amongst them. It is also the same with successful businesspeople, they appear to be able to put things together quicker than others. Then we have those who are naturally gifted in our chosen hobby, those who have grown up in a successful atmosphere around racing pigeons. The group of fanciers I admire most amongst all this are those who are happy to have a loft in their garden and enjoy their pigeons whether they win or lose. They are happy to race year after year and as long as they have the odd prize here and there, they are more than happy, true pigeon fanciers who we need to keep our chosen hobby/sport going and what a great one it is.
Wade Bros.
Are a top North East winning loft who took part in the Q&A reports that were well received a few weeks ago, it was a pity more did not take part but that is the way it goes. Richard Wade did send me a few photo’s that I could not use so I am including them in this week’s notes. They are certainly one of the best loft’s in the North East where there is some of the best competition in the UK. I was talking to Richard who was saying that they a purely a racing loft where the only pedigree they want is in the basket. Richard did make the point that winning pigeons write their own pedigree, which is a good way to look at things and probably why they are so successful. He went on to say that their policy has always been to race them hard. By doing this they find that when they keep the best for stock they do well and they can introduce what they consider are better pigeons to improve their own performances, which is not always easy. From those that they introduce, the best are incorporated into their own team of pigeons and those not good enough to keep up or beat them fall by the wayside. They are proud that the bloodlines of their previous WDA winners are still winning for them today when paired with the latest introductions, this shows how strong they are. Their race team consists of around 35 old birds and 40 young birds flown. They have to be committed because they are without heat, lighting or running water as they are on an allotment. Whatever they use has to be carried to and from the allotment site no matter what the weather conditions are for 365 days a year. Due to circumstances I have often been asked why I do not find another venue to have pigeons and go back to racing. This is something that I could not do I have to have them in the back garden. I will not go into any more on the partnership because they are in the Q&A series.
Strays
I often get call’s etc regarding stray pigeons, there are some good people out there who do their best to notify owners that one of their pigeons has landed in their garden and will not leave. The problem we have is there are many who I hear are reluctant to get the pigeon’s collected. As from a PR point of view for the sport this is not good, it can give the wrong impression to none fanciers. From the stories I get told I get the impression that some of these people are compulsive pigeon reporters. “Good morning, Sorry to trouble you on a Bank Holiday weekend but I have a problem. I have in the past managed to rescue several pigeons that have suffered damaged wings and kept them safe for several weeks until fit to fly and released them back into freedom. However yesterday I rescued a small pigeon from a neighbour’s garden in Burnley and found it to have a broken leg. I need a splint urgently and noticed that a company Boddy & Ridewood could supply such an article but not for several days. Can I ask you to check with your members if anybody local to Burnley area can supply one? Do any of your members have an STL file for a 3D printer that would allow me to print one (best option as I can print one immediately!)? Many thanks. Howard Baker” The calls and emails were coming in thick and fast in June, I would go as far as to say that there were more in that month than any I have ever had. I guess this was all down to the sudden dash to get the pigeons fit for the first race of the season and fanciers also having teams of young on the go. There is no doubt about it they are coming through the google search when they put pigeons into the system. Another type of correspondence I have had over the years is where people are tracing their ancestry. Somewhere along the line they have seen that their grandad or even further back had racing pigeons. To show you what I mean here is the latest email on this subject. “Hi, wondering if you can help me, was searching the Internet for information on my grandad for a family quiz and it came up with your website. You would not happen to have any photos of him or my uncle Ian by any chance in your archives that you could send me and any other information on their wins and pigeons please? He was Joke (John) Mcghie of Newmains, Team was Mcghie, Son & Grandson. Thank you for your time Victoria Mcghie” If you know anyone who they might be looking for let me know and I will pass on your details. Over the years we have put quite a few people in contact with their long-lost relatives, it is always pleasing to know that we can help. I suppose when you look at the history of the sport there were far more pigeon fanciers in years gone by who have either died or left the sport. Then when you get a few generations down someone is always looking for someone, who knows it may reconnect a family with pigeon racing.
Back in the game.
Mike O’Hare previously of O’Hare & Woodward who had a clearance sale a few years ago has a small team of young birds down the garden. They were an exceptionally good successful partnership but decided to call it a day, I think a lot might be down to Mike’s love of golf, perhaps the swing is not as good nowadays. With the lockdown Mike was looking for something to do, could not go to play golf so it was back to the pigeons. He had 10 from Roger Sutton and a pair of late breds from Brian Lee off the excellent “Pogba” and the equally good “Jennifer Eccles”. When I spoke to him last month, he said he had let them out and they were gone for 2hrs and minus two when they eventually returned. This was the time when fanciers were given the go ahead to start and train ready to give the old birds a few races. I have heard a few others who had the same problem at the same time, which I suppose was expected. What I can add is that up to that point there were some big teams about, how long for is another matter. One did return a few days later worse for ware, but has every chance of coming round, they are a strong bird are our pigeons. Mike was saying that all being well he will give them two or three races which indicates to me that he will be back with an increased team next year. I do not for one-minute think he will have as many as he did before the clearance sale but nevertheless a few more than the dozen or so that he has at the moment. I suppose a lot depends on how many are lost between now and the end of the season. There is no doubt about it, a few can still win as many as a big team can, a small team can be quietened down and be happier in the loft. Whereas with a big team you do not always get to know them as well and they do not respond as well because they have far less individual attention. I wonder how long it will take Mike to get back into winning way’s, the older we get the harder it is getting pigeons right for the races, especially when you have been away for a few years.
While at home
I keep saying that after a spell of lots of writing while we were on lockdown, I was going to take a break, have written more than I would have done. Anyway a few weeks back I wrote about Elizabeth & myself seeing a lot in life having over 150yrs between us. I did have a few comments but as I have said that is correct. Anyway, we kept hearing about people having date nights during the lockdown, at first, I was thinking “Date nights” what are those. When it came to light, I thought to myself we have one of those more or less every night, I am now thinking to myself the younger generation are out of touch, wait till they get to our age. We can sit here talking about all sorts of things and one night I said to Elizabeth we have been to some places over the years and met some real nice people in the sport. The only problem is when we start talking, I often pick up the laptop and start making notes as I am now. Anyway, one night we got on the subject of where we had been and the people, we had met over the last 40yrs. For instance, the first time either of us had flown, in an aeroplane of course and not like the pigeons, was when we were invited to go to Belgium and Holland on a trip with Bruce McAllister. I think it was Paul Smith who got us on the flight, with Bruce, Paul, Brian Munford and I think David Coward-Talbott was supposed to join us, but work took him away from the trip. I always think that these events were a case of being in the right place at the right time. I have to say I was not prepared for such a trip, but we got through it and did enjoy the experience. It was not the best of flights because we took off in bad weather and landed in bad weather, but it was an experience that we would not have missed. In my early days Jos Kempeneer was a big name on the Belgium scene and it was nice to meet him and his son who was in his early days of racing pigeons. I say early days, but he certainly knew most if not all the ring numbers in the lofts. At the time I thought he was a fancier for the future but since that trip I have seen nothing of him, makes me wonder if he has left the sport. The hospitality from the family was second to none for which we thanked them. We have been to and met some genuinely nice people on the island of Malta where we have visited many times. This was where we met the Micallef family with the late Freddie be as sociable a person as we have ever come across. It has been reported that Freddie did a great deal for pigeon fanciers over many years. Brian Bezzina was immensely helpful on some of our visits and he has a few friends in the UK. We did of course go to see Eddie Newcombe on one visit many years ago. Racing to such a small Island is not easy and the pigeons do not have to be far offline to miss the Malta altogether and they end up in Northern Africa. We have made some good friends in Belgium and Holland as well as all over the UK. Yes, we have had some good times, but I think most of the days of Traveling with Sez Les and company are gone, I did say most but not all. We have had an invite to Worcestershire as soon as the coronavirus has decided we are safe to travel again. Also, to Hertfordshire taking in Newmarket, but as far as holidays go, I think short trips in the UK are about it.
There was a good article in the Daily Mail on the 26th May about the Cook Family being led by young Elizabeth. This is the type of publicity the sport needs if we are going to move forward. Well done to all concerned. Also, in the same issue I wonder what the general public thought if the read about the Queens pigeon loft costing £40,000. On the subject of publicity in the National press I think that is something that should have been done 20yrs ago by the likes of Tony Cowan who had the right contacts. There have been bits and pieces over the years but nothing like we could have had with the right people in the right places.
My Woodies
As you will know we have a couple of pairs of wood pigeons nesting in both the front and back garden. The ones in the back have become reasonably tame probably because we have been sitting out quite a bit and also, we feed birds in the back garden. A few years ago, I included a photo of the racing pigeons having a bath in the bird bath, as you can see from the photo it is the Wood pigeons who are now using that facility. At times Elizabeth does get annoyed when the Starlings invade the feeding area. It comes over that when one of them see us putting the food out they signal to the rest that it is feeding time and they appear from every direction. I have never seen a family of bird’s squabble as much as starlings do, they are constantly having a go at one another. What does annoy me is they come out onto the artificial turf and when they pass their excess out the other end it makes a mess and I have to get the watering can you to get rid of it, cannot stop nature calling.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ. 01606836036 Mobile 07871701585. Email
