NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
by Doug McClary
October 2013
Masks
I am delighted to say that I received a couple of responses from racing fanciers about the mask I intended to purchase. It is good to know that fanciers are caring enough to help out in this way. I will refrain from mentioning names but both know how appreciative I am of their suggestions and information. As for the mask, I rang to order it, only to find that what they show on their web site is no longer current and that the price has risen sharply. Then to cap it all, they told me that postage to Australian would amount to sixty pounds! For the price demanded, I could go out and buy a flat screen television, yet something as simple as a mask carries such a premium.
Breeding
So far, this has been a most frustrating breeding season for me with heaps of clear eggs and only five YBs from the first round. Some readers may recall that I was in hope of breeding a powder mealy pied this year from a yearling mealy pied cock and a fairly gay blue pied hen. So far, they have produced three pairs of clears. Every one of my ploys which seem to have worked in the past seems to have failed. The Victorian weather has been dreadful with lots of high winds and seas continuing to wreak havoc on the beaches and seems to be unsettling the birds. Fred Frendo up in Sydney tells me that he has a good crop of youngsters and they have enjoyed a summer in spring up there. Even as I write, I have just returned from walking the dog in gale force winds, yet see that the weather in Sydney is clear, sunny and nearly thirty degrees. Once again after one good day, I am forced indoors owing to rain and winds. We have both been recovering from chest colds so we are better indoors in such conditions. I suppose I will have to keep going and hope that things improve. It had been my intention to breed fewer birds this year but it looks as though I will in any case owing to circumstances beyond my control.
Young Stan
Every week I enjoy reading the results of the main classic races and note that many of the same names keep cropping up at the top. It was a pleasure seeing Stan Dangerfield winning his section in the National with his partner. Well done our Stan. Another of the more mature Stans I know is Stan Wheatley of Middlesborough who sent me some excellent information on the milers racing in that City after the war. I found it so interesting that I made it the subject of an article for the Stud Book of this year. I enjoyed writing it as I could imagine a younger Stan Wheatley enjoying his racing at the short distance which was in vogue in the last century.
Edinburgh and David Brown
David keeps in touch fairly regularly using his email facility and some while ago he sent a photo from the old Edinburgh International shows and is when Dick Lipski came across from Milwaukee to enjoy the delights of Edinburgh and to judge at the show. I can’t date the photo but it shows me, Dick and David in judging mode at the event. Readers will immediately identify the fact that David and I have remained looking young although I cannot say the same for Dick as I haven’t seen him for a long while. Incidentally, I have just heard from Dick that son John has become engaged and will be taking up residence in a twenty acre farm north of Milwaukee so dad Dick will be in his element. Also, word that wife Donna has had a replacement knee with Dick appointed as nurse. If that thought doesn’t get her back on her feet sooner than usual, I will be most surprised.
Voice from the past
I received a message from Andrew Bartle. He was living in Cornwall when I last heard of him but apparently he is now back living in Section K of the NFC but he failed to mention where. He reported that his dad, George has not been too well following an operation on his heart and who is, according to Andrew as stubborn as ever!!! His words not mine George and as he says, his heart has been sorted but there is no operation for stubbornness! The Bartle family have been good for the showing side of the sport as well as in the racing sphere and I am pleased to include a family scene of triumph at the 1986 Blackpool show needing Pat, George and Andrew to help hold the haul of trophies. In fact, perhaps it is a good time to include our Pat as this month’s subject of ‘Fanciers I have known’. Good hearing from you Andrew and keep looking after the stubborn one to enjoy many more years with us. George judged my powder blue hen which won the National Young Bird Show out of 1364 entries in 2001 and thereafter took the name of ‘Georgia’.
The Bartles
Memories for others
I received a welcome letter from a well- known fancier who has asked to remain anonymous. He was spurred to write following the old photos I used in the BHW of 9.8.13 because as a flying breed exponent of those days and a hard worker for his chosen breeds, he saw the photo of Ron (Gussy) Connebear who, for many years showed as Connebear and Pyke from Bideford to shows throughout the British Isles. My correspondent had never met Ron but knew of his reputation as a top class fancier. Another fancier he had never met was Les Dawson, who likewise carried with his showing a considerable reputation. I could write at length about both these fanciers who were at the top in light print tipplers. He also mentioned the late Fred Woodbridge, top show racer exponent who died in 2005 at Boston at the age of 84. Fred was an elite member of the London SRS where he was revered as a top man. He won either the Old Comrades or People and if I had more time I might have been able to turn up detail. Perhaps someone will help me out on this aspect. Anyway, my correspondent, I have not mentioned your name but will mention your self-named aspect as being a dinosaur with no computer. Thanks for the contact and kind appreciation of the column.
Fanciers I have Known Pat Bartle
The Bartles became very well known in the showing side of the sport though George was perhaps best known for his racing successes. However he was a good stockman and this came through in his show racers as well and showing as Mr and Mrs Bartle they found considerable success. Pat was a Justice of the Peace, so as a police officer, whenever we met I provided her with a low bow as I would have done had I appeared before her on the Bench. We enjoyed our little joke which became part of our routine whenever we met and a start to some good conversations. Pat was a dedicated person in every sphere she undertook. Hence, she filled a stewardship role at the Blackpool show in which she commanded respect and absolute discipline over exhibitors and their entries. She became Mrs Blackpool for several years and I can say that it was always a pleasure to enter the pre-show hall to find her sitting at her desk controlling proceedings. She performed her task at Blackpool with the control already mentioned but just as importantly with good humour which exemplified her good nature. Together with George, she loved her pigeons and was justly proud of every success they achieved and enjoyed. It was a sad day for us all when her illness was diagnosed and I guess we all hoped that she would recover and thus be able to continue her role at Blackpool and of course her valuable work in the surroundings of their home. The entire sport was sad when our Pat died and the photo I am able to use this month portrays the Bartle family at their best as a family and with Pat at her happiest. Good memories indeed.
Younger fanciers
I am happy to show a photo of three young lady fanciers, each holding a Bokhara Trumpeter, at the Dandenong annual show this year. They are the daughters of Steve Walsh, Michael Spadoni and Mark Tung. It is always good to see young fanciers at the show.
Three girls and the Bokaras
Visitors welcome and unwelcome
My third photo this month is of some sulphur crested cockatoos which descend on us from time to time. These are very large and very noisy birds with little fear of humans (or Roland Thresher!). However, if unhappy perhaps with no feed, they will become destructive and on a recent visit destroyed some of Ann’s pots of plants. She was not happy.
The cockatoos
In Conclusion
This month’s offering is a little shorted than usual but has been made easier by receiving some items of news from the UK. Every item helps making up the column so much easier. So meanwhile I sit here in unseasonal weather conditions, yet enjoying the Aussie way of life. This summer will see the battle for the Ashes commence again and I sincerely hope that the England team does well because otherwise my life as a ‘Pom’ will be made hellish! We have recently enjoyed the fabulous rugby spectacle of matches between South Africa and New Zealand with the finale being a win for the All Blacks in South Africa in a match with nine tries and a number if disallowed ones. It was rugby at its best and presented a theatre of thrills and suspense.
Douglas McClary
Kemyel Lofts of British Show Racers
douglas-mcclary.blogspot.com.au
