NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
by Doug McClary
September 2012
Another edition
My goodness how the months slip by. Here we are in the last third of the year and soon thoughts will be turning to Christmas. Down here in the extreme south east of the country, Victoria is starting to warm up at last although the winds seem to be ever-present. I generally wait for one article to appear before I start on the next although in the meantime if thoughts occur about something to write, I might well commit them to print. Sometimes therefore there is quite a gap between submitting the editions.
The Royal Welsh
It must be a record for John Robilliard to win the first seven classes on offer at the Royal Welsh show under the judging of Richard Greenwood and Kevin Hicks. Then however, he seems to have ‘run out of puff’ and didn’t win another after those seven. That left six for Mr and Mrs Ron McCarthy, one each for John Hayes of Gwynned, Paul Cammock of Cardiff and Derek Hughes of Gwynned, and two for Joanne Martlew of Merseyside. JCR won best in show overall and the points in the racing pigeon section. Sad to think that Kath Baugh died on the last day of the Royal Welsh, a show she had serviced since 1980 together with Tony. Tony tells me that he is keeping himself busy and living the days without Kath as best he can. He sent me a marked catalogue and this I am enjoying, with part of me being there at this fabulous event.
Fancy Pigeon Judges
Andy Lowe judged at the recent Sydney show I mentioned a couple of articles ago – the show that actually managed to place the name of the exhibitor alongside the pen number of the bird on the judging slips. My comments about this and about some of the unpleasant sides of behaviour at Australian shows was sent across by a ‘friend’ in England and seized upon by a vociferous individual and his equally vociferous colleague and used both as a means of attacking me and the Australian National Pigeon Association. I can withstand that sort of problem but there is sufficient mischief in our sporting hobby without it being added to in a malicious manner. The mere adding exhibitor names to judging slips is bound to put pressure on to judges and their stewards and as much as they protest that they were not in any way influenced by the presence of the names, it is unnecessary pressure. I can hardly believe that any show organisers would countenance such a thing. Anyway, Andy’s judging critique appeared in the newsletter of the Sydney Club and I thought that it would be of interest to all exhibitors of Show Racers in Britain. I have written it out exactly as it appeared. My first task was to judge the English Show Racers it was nice to one or two more round headed roman nosed birds in the pens I am not a fan of the fine headed birds with the dip behind the wattle even if they are carrying good body as I have judged in past shows I know it is all down to preference even in the Uk we have two or three sorts and it is all down to the judges preference, My idea of a good Show Pen Racer as nothing to do with a nice looking racing pigeon to my mind they are a separate breed all to gather and breed for the show pen they could not race to save their lives. These comments are so way out of kilter that they require no further comment from me. Andy’s winner was a red chequer owned by the Blenhaven Stud of John Hanson, the sponsor of the show. Andy and I go back a long way and we have had to agree to disagree on his views of the Show Racer.
Red chequer - Andy Lowe's choice at Sydney.
Aerial Murderers
Ann and I were walking back home after our walk on the beaches with the dog when I noticed my little kit of rollers out flying and performing in the morning sunshine. I was delighted to see this but when I got home and went out to the garden, I found out why they were flying so high, for there in the aviary was a fully grown Goshawk which had gained access through the sputnik trap. It had already killed one of my racers and beheaded it. This was a bit of a shock for me and of course it left the birds, particularly in that compartment, heavily traumatised. This predator had visited the garden and lofts before as I once saw it perched on the aviary looking in. It was a very large bird and would just about have squeezed through the sputnik trap. A couple of days after this I saw what appeared to be a wedge tail eagle flying over the water just off the beach. It dropped into the water, talons first presumably to catch fish and quite unlike any seabird which always dives in beak first. Fortunately we do not have the sparrow hawk down here but I am told by the racing fanciers that the Peregrines are all-too plentiful.
Cornish Administrators
I was sorry to note that Jim Tallon is not very well, also Liz Watts. I sincerely hope that they are soon back to normal for their work for the fancy in Cornwall is considerable. I also noted the 1959 photo of John Robilliard in a recent article by Owen Vaggers. These were in the days before I knew John but I recall the Bodmin shows which were prestigious events and that particular one, in having Brian Thornton down is still talked about. I believe that it was John who arranged the appointment. Brian Thornton was a most popular scribe and a great worker for the sport of pigeon racing. In 1963 he commented on the Show Racer in Britain as follows: ‘Thank goodness our present-day showmen know something about racers as well, for they have stopped the rot of their predecessors who bred the type of show bird which would only result in yet another monstrosity, joining the list of the non-flying homers… the present day trend is to the buoyant bodied racer not too shallow and with just a bit of keel still showing (not fattened over like in the old days) … I predict with confidence that this is the type of bird which will win in the future, long after the ‘Billy Bunter’ show birds are forgotten about’. Those were good words in 1963 and are quite pertinent today if my belief that the Show Racers are being allowed to grow too large and out of balance, is true. On my experience of a young cocks class at Blackpool I believe this to be the case but others are saying much the same thing. Oh for the good racing judges of yesteryear who could be relied upon to ‘find’ good birds whenever they judged. It is worth thinking about and as always, a good exercise to handle your pigeons in the dark – it is a revealing exercise.
Breeding
At last my breeding season is underway and I have the first Ybs in the nestbowls. Along the way I have had some fighting and some resistance to my ideas in pairing the birds, but generally it has been fairly trouble-free. I intend having fewer youngsters this year as I wish to keep numbers down as much as possible. Owing to having so many of the originals here, I have a few more than I would like but as long as they enjoy quality of life they will remain. Only this morning between garden chores, I walked by the aviary and there in the sunshine was the good 2000 bred powder blue cock out of Del Boy and Sapphire and I thought how good he looked, happily continuing to enjoy a long and happy life with me. As stated earlier, my main emphasis is on the powder blues this year but it follows that there will be other colours as well. I just love the breeding time of the year in the loft and will be looking forward to seeing the colours as they emerge from the nest. There is a product available out here which takes the form of broken up calcium blocks. It is sold in various sized quantities and the birds love it especially when breeding. I put some in yesterday – the first for the season, and the birds simply fell on it and fought to get first chance. I prefer it to the blocks as they can become soiled whereas this can be replenished or replaced whenever it is required. It is at this time of the year that I yearn to be able to purchase Hormoform as I always found this to be a wonderful product. I mix my own variation of the ‘Old Hand’ Golden Boost and have done this for many years. Out will come the Kenwood mixer to ensure equal mixture with about two kilos being mixed at a time. Again the birds love it and it helps maintain health and condition during the feeding of youngsters.
Last month’s mistake
Tony Baugh was good enough to spot my mistake when I called Fred Challinor, Frank. It just goes to show that memory plays tricks especially now that I am eight years out of date! I knew the man well but I would never have called him Fred – simply Mr Challinor. He was one of those well known judges who could always be relied on to select good pigeons at any show. Good judges need to be valued and nurtured. Tony and Kath knew Fred Challinor and his wife Nellie well. They visited each other’s homes and Tony and Kath were invited to the Golden Wedding anniversary where other pigeon attendees were Maurice Crossland and his wife. There had been a Frank Challinor in pigeon showing – a relative of Fred and also from Middlewich but my reference was to F.S.M. (Fred) Challinor.
My Book
It seems to have taken a very long time indeed. I had submitted it for publication but the preparation took longer than expected. Then my next door neighbour introduced me to the new concept of Print on Demand, using Amazon. It means that it is not necessary to hold and store numerous copies although I will probably hold some. Advertisements will be placed in due course but at this time, it is sufficient to say that the book has been accepted by Amazon and proof copies are on their way to me for the final checks. I can only hope that British showmen will find value and interest in the contents as they try to trace the development of the sporting hobby and those fanciers who have been good competitors over the years. The last chapter is simply a list of fanciers I have noted at the shows with hundreds of names, their towns and approximate dates of being first noticed. There are several surprises including Anthony Bolton and the Staddons of Crewkerne.
Olden times
I am using a couple of photos from yesteryear. The first was taken at one of the British Show Racer Federation Classic shows at Louella with John Robilliard, myself and Michael and Louis Massarella. But who was the Father Christmas?
John Robilliard, Doug McClary, Michael and Louis Massarella and Father Christmas.
My second one is of a Welsh trio of fanciers, taken at one of the Monmouthshire shows at Pontypool and marks a happy occasion. Little did we know that good friend John Lock would have been taken away from us at such an early age. An excellent trio however, all of whom knew how to put show racers out right for the judges.
David Shuttleworth, Mark Hyland and John Lock.
September 7th BHW
It has just arrived and is full of good reading. Stuart Wardrop’s report is excellent and full of good knowledge about the RPRA. It was good to note Colin Hill’s continued promotion of the racing pigeon in history. I enjoy reading the racing results and noting many ‘usual’ names in the results including Brian Sheppard, Pete Hollard, good old Stan Dangerfield, Mike Staddon, Paul Naum, Eddie Froggatt, Brian Reene, and many others I know. I also note the photo of Joe Murphy with that lovely head of hair(!), Eddie Newcombe with wife Ruth celebrating their diamond wedding and to see that fellow scribe Keith Mott has a splendid looking new loft. It helps me bridge the gap between Australian and Britain and also reminded me to get this article off to Welshpool.
Lofts
Mention of Keith Mott’s new loft leads me to be envious of the British ability to have lofts made almost to order. Out here most are built on the spot and are not sectional. When the time comes for me to move I know very well that both lofts will have to be dismantles and then re-built at their new location. When I moved here from Frankston South this had to happen and the moving of the loft cost as much as the original cost.
In Conclusion
That seems to be my lot for another time. Pigeon affairs are quiet at this time of the year when we all get on with the breeding operation. With youngsters appearing I am hoping to get it over and done with in a short time this year – but that is easier said than done – knowing how awkward our pigeons can be. I am still here at 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930 – email
