NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
by Doug McClary
December 2013
Suddenly it is that time of the year again. As I keep saying, living here in Australia with summer and light evenings it is difficult to imagine that it is so close and there is no ‘Christmassy’ feel to the festive season. We have been experiencing some most unseasonal weather however with rain and high winds which does not help the birds in their breeding. I am pleased to say that I am feeling much better and while not fully back to normal whatever that is I am at least able to do things again. Owing to being laid low I have allowed some chores to slip and have managed to miss the closing date for overseas cards.
Owen Vaggers
In his ‘Pigeons Past and Present column recently, Owen Vaggers mentioned a report from 40years ago when ‘The Novice’ reported that his first judging appointment for the year was at Bodmin for the Devon and Cornwall Show Racer Society, accompanied by Mike Harris. The show was one of the first of the newly formed Devon and Cornwall SRS and attracted 210 entries. ‘The Novice’ was of course Les Waldron who was far from being a novice and in his day was sought after to judge at many shows. His fellow judge on the day was Francis Gamble of Penzance. It proved to be a good day for Mervyn Patt of Bideford who won BIS, BOS and BYB. With a young mealy hen and a mealy cock. I have looked at my records and scrapbook and note that most classes contained over 20 birds and in the young cocks class there were 31 hopefuls penned. It is worth mentioning all the other names mentioned in the prize winners list as follows: John Robilliard, Percy Mitchell, David Gendall, Charlie Schiller, Mr and Mrs Hale, Williams and Choake, Bill Bennett, L.Vincent, Ken Keen, Claude Bowden, Ron Kennedy, Ken Hearn, Keith Foley. These were the golden days when winning was tough and wins highly valued. I daresay that if I had the time I could find which bird scored for me in my early days in showing.
Les Waldron
Scottish Show Racer Society (East region)
Results of the Show 1 held 17th November 2013 at Hill of Beath ex- servicemen’s club Judges for the day were Brian Massey of Rosewell Midlothian, a former member of the society and who has had recent success showing his racers: and Jimmy Mackie of Bonnyrigg Midlothian of the Mackie & Knox partnership that won the SHU Show last year with a young racer . The partnership of John & Alice Bell left off where they finished last season with six firsts out of 8 classes ,and Best in Show & Best Young bird with a Dark Chequer young hen that won likeliest Young Hen under Jimmy Mackie . They also won Runner up to Best in show with a dark chequer Old Cock that won Likeliest Old Cock also Brian Massey ,the other winners were Carrie Winter who won with a young Mosaic hen and Struan Ferguson who won with a Mealy Old Hen . It was generally a day for the dark chequers. The classes were as follows: Likeliest Old Cock -judge J Mackie 1st J & A Bell -Dark chequer -runner up to Best in show Likeliest Old Hen -judge B Massey 1st J&A Bell -dark chequer Looking through Pen old cock -judge B Massey 1st J & A Bell -Dark cheq Looking Through pen old hen -judge J Mackie 1st S Ferguson -Mealy Looking through pen Young Cock -judge J Mackie 1st J & A Bell -Dark Cheq double winner Looking through pen young hen -judge B Massey 1st C Winter -mosaic Likeliest Young Cock -judge B Massey 1st J&A Bell -Dark cheq Likeliest Young Hen -judge J Mackie 1st J & A Bell -Dark Cheq -Best in show /Best Young bird John & Alice Bell lead the points on 82 points with S Ferguson runner up on 27 points and Carrie Winter on 21 points .The young bird points also a clear lead with J&A Bell on 38 points from Carrie Winter on 16. Next show not now until 15th December as open shows take precedence.
Struan Ferguson's mealy winner
National Young Bird show, Nottingham
I enjoyed Andy Lowe’s report on the show and am delighted to read that the show racers are still prominent at the event and able to supply a bird for the Supreme class at Blackpool. Congratulations to Paul Wild on gaining this award and topping the show overall. His mosaic hen looked good in her photo so many congratulations to you Paul. Enjoy the moment. The NYBS was an idea I borrowed from the American version in Louisville and the very first show was held at Louella and I think attracted 900 plus young show racers what was still be a record. When the availability of Louella became a problem I sought a home for the show and suggested to, or persuaded Andy to take the show on for all breeds at his Nottingham venue. It was not possible for me to arrange such an event from Exeter and it needed someone with drive and enthusiasm and of course a central and excellent venue. Andy ticked all the boxes especially in his willingness to stage what has now become one of the top events in British pigeon showing. It is good to note that the show racers are being encouraged at the Nottingham Championship show on December 28th and I would urge you all to support Andy and his team of good workers at Nottingham. How he managed to cajole them time after time to work away at the shows is beyond me but they keep coming back for more so I suppose Andy has some sort of recipe for success or a very long whip!
Fife to Pigeon Paradise at Blackpool
For more years than I care to remember, and I suspect Danny also, Danny Ferguson is yet again organising a coach trip to Blackpool. The coach will depart Newburgh at 8am on Friday the 17th January 2014 with pick-ups as required through Fife, West Lothian, Hamilton and places south on the M.74. After the show on Sunday the 19th the reverse route will apply with arrival back in Newburgh at approximately 10pm. Anyone interested can contact Danny on 01337 840950 or at Broomknowe, Newburgh KY14 6AD and further details can be provided. Travellers can be assured of a well organised trip with our Danny at the front.
Northern Ireland S.R.S.
Thanks to John Edgar I have some details of the first show of the season when 178 birds were penned. In the show racer section Messrs Rouke and Christie took all four classes and ended up with both best in show with an opal mosaic and reserve best awards, the latter with a red. The racing classes were both taken by R.Wiggins. Fancy pigeons were also judged and the top bird was owned by Frazer Stewart and reserve best to Andy McCook. The next show will be on December the 21st and details can be obtained from John Edgar at 23b Ballywatt Road, Coleraine Tel.No. 02820732765.
Rouke & Christie' opal
Dan Humphries - Fanciers I have known
Flight Lieutenant Dan Humphries loved pigeons and was at his happiest when mixing with other pigeon fanciers. I became friends with him when I moved to Exeter with an ability to meet him out at his Tipton St John home and of course at my home in Argyll Road. Dan then started coming to the Devon and Cornwall SRS shows at Kennford in the company of Mike Harris of Newton Poppleford and they proved themselves to be excellent workers for the Society. Often we would arrive for a show to find that the penning had already been done. He was a recognized pigeon judge who officiated at many of the classics and his services were much in demand. He would not have turned down many judging appointments. Dan was a racing fancier but ceased racing when the PMV regulation came in about compulsory vaccination. He could not be persuaded to vaccinate his birds in order to be able to race. He lived in the former station buildings on Tipton St John railway station where he preserved them as they would have been in their glory days and his lofts were built on the platform and made to look like station buildings. He was kept very busy with a large parcel of land which he lovingly tended. He was always smartly dressed and turned out and I often thought I could discern him looking me up and down to make sure that I was setting a good example in the dress code. His great interest however proved to be his RAF Pigeon Display material. He was always happy to attend shows and other functions to show his display and was always delighted to talk to people about it and about the service rendered y pigeons. He spent a great deal of his own cash on display material, boards and photographs but was determined to produce a professional display to last into the future. Little did we know that his demise would have been so early but he fell ill and despite a valiant fight, succumbed. Dan left behind him a lasting memorial to his work which is still available for display and informing the general public of the great service provided by racing pigeons in the wars. The General Manager will always be happy to advise in this matter. Dan Humphries was a very nice man, liked by just about everyone and a person who enjoyed a good pigeon chat. Having said that, he despised compulsion and those who sought to impose themselves on others. He did not suffer fools lightly is perhaps the best description. His funeral was held at the lovely parish church at Tipton St John on a sunny afternoon with a liberation of pigeons. We all stood and witnessed them flying directly over the Railway station, almost as a token of their regard for a man who gave so much for pigeons in his lifetime.
Dan judging with Keith Foley
Departed Friends
I was sorry to hear from Roland Thresher that good friend Dave Walters of Bristol had died. Dave was a flying breed fancier who worked ceaselessly for his flying breeds with a determination to keep them free of the chains of a standard. His attitude that these were pigeons designed to fly and perform and that imposing showing standards on them would change them beyond recognition and make them lose their flying ability. In my view he was correct in this for we can all see what standards have done to the Birmingham Rollers and West of England Tumblers where they have been altered almost beyond recognition. Dave was a recognized judge of the show racer and could be relied upon to select good examples of the breed and with a closeness to the racer in size. I was also disappointed to note that John Norris of Hull had died. I always enjoyed meeting John at the shows where he was a man of ideas, always looking out for innovation and ways to improve pigeon fancying. He worked hard at developing his ideas and was never happier than when at the shows with his stand chatting away to customers. One of his productions was a plastic box in which useful items could be stored such as rings, pencils, scissors etc. and I regularly use it after all these years. Rest in peace John and I know that you will be sadly missed by family and friends.
In Conclusion
May I sign off by wishing all my readers the very best for the Christmas and New Year. I love Christmas and admit to missing the more frenetic northern hemisphere versions. May I sign off with one of my favourite pieces of verse by the well-respected Wendy Cope and entitled ‘The Cathedral Carol Service’ ‘Those of us who are not important enough to have places reserved for us And who turned up too late to get a seat at all, Stand in the nave aisles or perch on stone ledges. We shiver in the draught from the west door, We cannot see the choir, the altar or the candles. We can barely see the words on our service sheets. But we can hear the music and we can sing For the baby whose parents were not important enough to have a place reserved for them, And who turned up too late to get a room at all’ So good friends have a wonderful and joyous Christmas and we will meet again in 2014. I am still at 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930, Australia, email
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