NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
by Doug McClary
July 2014
Back home again
I am gradually recovering from my holiday in England and Scotland which proved to be a non-stop set of meetings, appointments and making contact. Both Ann and I found the flights to be most tiring and stressful and at this time, feel that the visit may be our final one. We arrived in Birmingham in poor weather conditions and our drive down to Devon, via Coventry Cathedral, Stratford and the Cotswolds proved to be a difficult one owing to the incessant rain. However, after that one day, we enjoyed brilliant weather throughout so counted ourselves as being most fortunate. One of the highlights was the judging appointment at the Royal Cornwall show, followed by a few days in Cornwall where I was able to catch up with church, relatives and friends. Then back to Exeter for a few days before going to Scotland and the West Highlands, staying at Fort William. We were staggered by the sheer beauty of the English countryside. After so long away, it came as a revelation to see the hedgerows full of flowers, the green fields and the beautiful trees. Likewise the British bird life is something I cherish and must admit that I miss being able to sit and watch birds feeding and listening to the myriad of songs. My daughter’s Devon garden is a haven for the birds so many happy hours were spent in the warm sunshine simply watching and enjoying the garden and the birds. And the beer, what a treat to be able to enjoy a pint or a half of real ale in a real pub. I just hope that the moves to produce real ale in Australia continue and that this country follows the example of CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) which was so successful in helping to diminish the supply of keg beers and lagers. It all proved to be a hectic visit and we almost require another holiday to get over this one! We knew that we had to cram a lot of visits in to a fairly limited time but in the event it all worked out well. However, it was wonderful arriving back home to Kunyung Road, to the dog and the pigeons and this is the moment I always enjoy most, being back in my own domain, enjoying the comforts of my own home. It is always good to travel and to leave home but nothing for me, is as good as being at home.
Once a pigeon fancier!
We left Fort William for the long drive south on a Saturday morning and our route took us through Glencoe, the Trosacks, Rannock Moors and other places of note. The scenery was staggering and could not be taken in fully. We stayed the night at Gretna, and from my hotel window, I saw a group of about twenty racers heading north into Scotland at speed and I must say that the spectacle of these racing birds gave me as much pleasure as anything else I had seen that day. It reminded me of just how much I miss my pigeon racing, and at that moment I realised that pigeons form such an important part of my life.
Racing interest and success
I was pleased to note that David Thresher won the section in the recent National race. It was good to note that his winning pigeon was bred and presented by Robert Hooper, brother of the late John, of showing fame, and that David is still using my old racing loft into which I clocked five section winners over the years. The loft was built by Tom Morgan and proved to be an excellent structure with its sheltered front. The latest issues of the BHW have contained the results of the main classics and it is the time of the year that I try to refrain from writing so as to free up space for the main racing sport. I was delighted to note that Andy Mabin of Buckfastleigh has scored his fourth National win. It seems a long time ago that I went to his loft- then in Torquay- to report on his first National success. The top fanciers seem to come to the fore, Geoff and Cathryn Cooper, Mark Gilbert, the Staddons and so many others including friend Eddie Froggatt.
Dandenong Annual Show
There were three exhibitors in the British Show Racer classes for the judging of Eddie Kloprogge who did a thorough and workmanlike job on the birds. A young red cock from my loft was adjudged best in section and reserve best my mealy hen, another consistent winner for me. She is of medium size, very light fronted and always seems to attract judges. I judged the Australian Show Pen Homers and enjoyed the task very much. The entry was down somewhat because of the illness of Geoff Nelson who had a procedure on his heart. Since then he has had another setback and is back undergoing further tests. The show homers were a pretty good lot, somewhat spoilt in some cases by lack of preparation for the show pen. My best proved to be a young light mealy cock for Norm O Donahue, who was most delighted and this pigeon went on to be reserve best in show overall. My runner-up was a most attractive young yellow chequer hen. She was good enough to win but had flights still to grow and there were feather faults at some of the tips. I must say that the colours to be found in the ASPH are varied and attractive and there were several very striking opals on display, from which I selected my best adult. The opal colouring they have in the show pen homers is magnificent and I recall Jim Fitzpatrick being most impressed when he saw them at the Melbourne National.
Jack
Jack Bolitho of Helston is now 92years of age and reckons that he is being kept going with tablets. It goes without saying that the fancy as a whole owes a great deal to Jack who wrote his columns for so many years and is a known National figure. His wife Jean is having to live in a rest home at Hayle which must be upsetting for Jack and his growing family of six g.grandchildren, all girls but one. Jack and Jean celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in August, so why not drop him a card of appreciation and congratulations at 19 Oates Road, Helston TR13 8AW. I am sure that he would appreciate each and every one.
Royal Cornwall Show Judging
It was my pleasure to judge jointly with Colin Carter of Churchdown. Colin reminded me that the last time we judged together was at Edinburgh many years ago. It proved to be a brilliant sunny day for the show which had attracted an excellent entry of birds from Devon, Cornwall and Wales including Roland Thresher of Somerset. I must say that it was so good to experience good showmanship again. Colin and I were offered two clipboards of judging slips and invited to make our choice, rendering it an entirely fair and open procedure. Likewise, I note that where fanciers entered more than one bird in a class, that their entries were staggered to prevent blocks. These are little matters but seemingly beyond most organisers here in Australia. It was good meeting up with so many fancier friends and the day passed quickly in a flurry of greetings and chats. My classes were as follows:
Adult cocks bred prior to 2013
1st was a cracking red chequer owned by Jill and David Fisher who also took 2nd. In at third was John Robilliard. I omitted to note the colours of these two.
Yearling hens
This was a strong class of twenty two birds dominated by two mealies, difficult to separate. In the end I gave it to Jill and David Fisher over the one owned by Mr and Mrs Seward. These edged out a very smart opal mosaic owned by Mervyn Patt.
Young cocks
A mealy owned by Jill and David Fisher easily won this class and it is a bird which should have a good future. Two good coloured reds followed but both carried faults. 2nd was Mervin Patt and 3rd Mick Houilbecq. These are two promising pigeons.
Hens, coloured
When I sent through the class visually, I thought I had the winner in the first pen, a cracking silver chequer hen of Mervyn Patt’s but she didn’t handle as well as she looked and carried another fault. In the event, the last bird in the class proved the winner for Jill and David Fisher, a most beautiful gay silver blue pied. This is an unusual colour but she was outstanding in stance and presentation. The same owners were second with a silver chequer, leaving a very nice compact opal mosaic in at third for John Robilliard. She had been in the pen for three days and was probably a little tired.
Matched Pairs
This was an easy class to judge because it contained an outstanding pair of dark chequers which won easily, being well matched and presented by Jill and David Fisher. Mervyn Patt’s mealies were second but the cock was better than the hen and a pair of reds owned by Paul Cammock of Wales took third, with again the cock being better than the hen. In each case I thought that the hen let the pairing down.
Cocks judged through the wires
Paul Cammock took first and second with chequers which stood well and presented themselves visually. Third was a very nice opal hen owned by Mr and Mrs Seward.
Overall I was pleased with the birds under me and found that the size was to my liking. As is typical at this time of the year, condition varies a great deal with some lofts still in breeding mode. Some birds were a little tired because of the three day event and I am quite sure that on another show at another time, positions could be changed. However, there is no excuse for poor presentation and some exhibits suffered through carrying parasites and dirty feathering. I must urge all exhibitors to attend to detail. Obviously the team presented by Jill and David Fisher excelled in this respect and they are to be congratulated on this aspect, winning all my classes except one. Jill is the daughter of Mervyn Patt so has been tutored in correct presentation.
Colin and I then got together to decide the overall winners. We changed our minds over this. His choice was a yearling opal mosaic cock and mine the adult red cock.We agreed that the red was best. However, when he handled the winners of the Pairs, he felt that the cock of the pair was better than the red cock. We agreed therefore that the chequer cock should be overall best in show while the hen of the pair was awarded best opposite sex and best hen. The young mealy cock was given the BYB award. It was all done with mutual acceptance of each other’s views and we were able to agree without disagreement.
Colin Carter and self as judges with Jill Fisher and her BIS winner
Secretary Liz Watts and Chairman John Robilliard
L-R: Mervyn Hosking, Wales, Dave Roach, Wales, Roland Thresher, John Robilliard, Paul Cammock, Wales and Julie Thresher.
So, my day with pigeons was over and Ann and I left the showground for the drive west to Penzance. We visited Paul Church on the Sunday and met many parishioners I had known in my boyhood. Another highlight was a visit to Kemyel rocks where I used to fish but the seas were high and in any case we were unable to access the rocks owing to excess of tangled growth. It seems obvious that the rocks are now not used by anglers. Therefore we sat in the sun with a drink and some saffron cake in true Cornish fashion. My planned visit to Minehead with Tom Morgan and Bob Reeves didn’t come off because Roland Thresher had a last minute rush building job which entailed maximum time and effort and the inability to take time for pigeons. In the event, we met Tom and Mick Morgan for dinner that evening.
In conclusion
Another article reflecting some of the highlights of our holiday. It was good to get away and to visit friends and old haunts, but as described, good also to arrive back home. I am here still at 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930, email
Kemyel Lofts of British Show Racers
douglas-mcclary.blogspot.com.au
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