NORTH LIVERPOOL FED
NEWS FROM DARREN SMITH
Loft Report on John Rimmer of Vauxhall Homing Society
2013 Highlights: 1st and 5th North Liverpool Federation, 8th and 25th North West Combine Carentan 5,291 pigeons
John holding 1st club Fougeres
Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you became involved in the sport?
Well were do you start? From when I was a kid about 6 or 7 I always had pigeons of some sort, Fantails, tipplers, shorts and homers. Were I lived in Conyers Street, which ran from Netherfield Road to the end of Great Homer Street, there was a short distance flyer Mr Aspinall and me and my mates used to watch him train and race. We used to follow the race around going from yard to yard all around Kirkdale and Walton, it would take all Sunday morning to finish the fly. That's how I got to know Peter Curran, Charlie White and Chris Ryan.
I could fill a book with the things we got up to when we were young, some of the strokes we pulled on each other and how we used to go out collecting pigeons from bombed warehouses on the Dock Road. That's what most kids done in the 50s, football, pigeons and collecting birds' eggs.
Well this all came to an end in the early 60s when every body was moved out to the likes of Kirkby, Halewood, Netherley etc. We moved to West Derby village and my mother wouldn't let me keep, them she said the neighbours were too posh, so it was football, cycling, birds eggs and a bit of boxing. None of my new mates in the Tuebrook area had kept pigeons so I was without them for about 8 years.
I had to wait till I got married in 1969. Me and my wife, Andra, bought a house in Sunlight Street and in 71 I joined the Liverpool United. I knew how to look after pigeons but was green as grass on the racing side. Like most new starters over feeding was my problem, after a few bad traps I was made up when I won a 3rd prize at Bournmouth the last young bird race, but sadly this was to be the last race the Liverpool United flew.
Joe Lang was the secretary, clock setter and every other job, so when he retired nobody would take over the reigns and the club folded. We used to mark at Kirkdale station with the Spellow FC and one of the partnerships was Arscott & Torpey. I went to school with Eric and Richie Arscott, Noel Torpey was there brother in-law. We struck up a friendship that lasted for many years and through Noel I obtained some of the best pigeons I ever raced.
With the United folding, I applied to join any of the surrounding clubs and found out I was in no-mans land, living in the middle of Liverpool with no club to race in. After giving most of my birds away I had a go with the short distance pigeons. Again you could write a book on what these guys got up to trying to get that extra second out of a pigeon. Tommy Hughes was a master at it and with his mate Alan Till used to come and watch us race. After the race the winner bought the ale. We had some great Sunday afternoons racing shorts but I really wanted to race long distance.
John's smart loft
What was your first club and what club/s do you fly in now?
As I said before the Liverpool United was my first club but that was only for a young bird season. I always looked upon the Liverpool Central as my first club as Jimmy Turner and I started it up in 78 with some members from the Spellow, the West Derby and the Croxteth.
I'd had a few racers the previous season in the Liverpool 5 bird club run by Alf Morris so I had a small team ready for our first season and they done really well winning 8 first prizes and many 2nds 3rds and 4ths making me premium prize winner. I was premium prize winner three years on the trot and one season shared it with Jimmy Yates and Jimmy Turner.
I moved house in 1983 and moved my birds to Noel Torpey’s. This was when Jimmy Turner put his Leen Boers hen with my slatey cock which was bred by Mike Wright from Cefn Mawr. This pair went on to breed 28 different 1st prize winners for us and other fanciers, also our first Liverpool Amal winner as partners . Together with Jimmy’s Henri Van Neste stock, they gave us many winners including Amal winners from 90 to 500 miles. They also won lots of shows including 2 firsts at Blackpool and representing Great Britain in 2 Olympiads.
Who were your mentors in your early years in the sport?
My first mentor was Richie Dickinson of Maghull, a farmer and great stockman. Without doubt it was Fred Law of Southport who had the biggest influence on me, his set up was a pigeon flier’s paradise with a double-decker brick built loft in an immaculate garden. His birds had won everything for him and other fliers from all over the country. When Noel took me there in 1972 Fred gifted me eggs which went on to win and breed winners for Noel and I. Together with other gifted pigeons we won many first prizes with the Fred Law Vandies.
Have they taught you anything which you still practice today?
Yes I clean out twice a day and try to give them the best of everything, and any bird that has had 2 seasons racing (y.b and yearling) and has not scored well must go.
Can you tell me what preparation goes into your breeders prior to pairing up?
I treat for canker and cocci for three days then multi-vits for two days then worm them and give them Johnsons tonic and multi-vits for three days, I’ve never gone down the antibiotic road unless they are really ill and a favourite bird.
What method do you fly?
I fly roundabout as I hate locking hens up and they can fly as fast as cocks, my fed topper from Carentan was a roundabout hen.
Can you outline your system from the time you pair up, to once racing commences?
I usually pair up the beginning of January but this year I’m a month behind due to going on holiday so when all the young birds are about 18 to 20 days old I move them to the young bird shed with the hens and let them finish them off. After a week or so I move the hens to their section and give them a blow for a few days, then I repair them and when there sitting start training and try to have them split again 2 weeks before racing. They go out twice a day with some short tosses 2 or 3 times a week if necessary.
Do you believe you must stick rigidly to your management routine once your racing season kicks into swing, or do you adapt it as situations arise?
Stick to your routine, pigeons come into better condition if they are let out and fed at the same time every day.
Describe in as much detail as possible your Friday preparations, from feeding and at what time, through to basketing for the club?
Friday morning they get an ounce of corn with some fat seeds added. The cocks are let into there boxes at 3pm for 15 minutes then their bowls are turned over with a bit of straw in for 15 minutes, then the hens are let in on the outside of the box for about 5 minutes then I let them together for a couple of minutes before basketing them.
Describe in as much detail as possible the treatment of your team upon return from a race, from feeding, watering and the time your pigeons are allowed together?
When they return they get clean water to make sure they don’t get dehydrated. Later on I put Orego-stim in the drinker. They are fed diat as this is easy to digest and I leave them together for a couple of hours then move the hens back over.
Can you describe one motivational trick that usually brings about a good racing result?
Put the cocks in the hen section and vice versa for 3 days and send the cocks direct to the race without seeing his box or hen, this livens them up.
How many old birds / young birds do you race?
Too many, this year I’ve got 20 pairs of old birds but its usually 16 pair. This season I’ll have about 36 young birds.
How many pairs of stock do you house?
None, they all race.
Do you train your old birds once racing starts if so, how much and why do you feel it improves your chances of victory as opposed to giving them home exercise only?
Last season they were flying really well around home so they only got short tosses three times a week, the furthest they went was when Con Gaughan took them to the boat museum or Chester.
How do you train your young birds and how often before and once racing starts?
Do you prefer sprint racing, the channel or do you enjoy racing at all distances?
Young bird training starts about 3 weeks before the first race and a couple each week while racing. I enjoy all racing having this season won both inland and on the channel.
Do you set any criteria for getting another season at your lofts?
No. I take each year as it comes.
What do you prefer, a good racing cock or a hen?
When you fly roundabout anything can come through, but picking single noms I tend to go for a cock, except the hen that won Carentan. I knew she was the one for that day and put the single nom on her.
Can you outline your health schedule during the racing season? Do you use supplements, if so, are they specific to pigeons or do you use natural products or both?
I try to use natural products like garlic, oregano, brewer ’s yeast, Gemthepax etc.
Can you describe how/when you use these products and why?
I put Gemthepax on the corn on Monday and dry it off with brewer’s yeast, garlic is in the water most days and cider vinegar.
What corns/feedstuffs do you use?
Versele-Laga, diat and a mixture of fat seeds.
Do you feed ad-lib or believe in feeding measured amounts?
Measured amounts, I used to feed ad lib but was to heavy handed and some were too fat.
Can you provide me with a breakdown of how and when in the week you feed regarding the different corns?
When they come back they get diat then a bit later on versale laga, Monday its diat in the morning half diat half corn in the evening, same Tuesday, Wednesday corn in the morning and evening. Thursday is corn in the morning as much as they want in the evening. Friday I give them one ounce of a mixture of corn and fat seeds, these are increased as the races get longer. A higher protein mix is given after hard channel races to replenish lost muscle.
Is there any difference in the way you feed old and young birds when racing?
Not really.
Do you feed your cocks the same as you feed your hens, if not what are the differences?
They get the same but keep your eyes on the hens and make sure they don’t get fat.
What are the essentials in terms of nutrition?
A great variety of seeds, corns and a good tonic.
What are your beliefs and practises with regard to loft ventilation?
Always had well ventilated lofts, as long as its bone dry inside with plenty of fresh air and you don’t overcrowd they should stay healthy.
What are your beliefs on using artificial heat in a loft?
Never used it and don’t think I will.
1st Club, 1st North Liverpool Federation, 8th North West Combine Carentan 2013
How much time do you devote to your pigeons both at the loft and while away from the loft?
Now that I’m retired I spend a lot of time with the birds, sometimes I’m out with them all day in the summer, most days it’s a couple of hours in the morning an hour or so at midday and a couple of hours in the evening
Do you believe spending a lot of time with your pigeons is essential and if so why?
It’s not the time you put into the pigeons, it’s what you put into the time. When I worked shifts in the late 70s, early 80s, I never had much time but they still won.
Do you visit other fanciers and observe their methods / share their ideas?
Not now, I used to years ago but it’s much easier to go down the local and after a few pints all the secrets come out.
What are your aims for the future as a pigeon fancier?
My aim has been the same for years and that’s to enjoy my pigeons, win or lose as long as you’re enjoying your racing. Everyone wants to win and as long as you are knocking around the top that will do me. One thing I would like to do is top the North West Combine, me and Jimmy Turner come close a few times but that first has eluded me.
Do you compete in club races only, or do you also compete in specialist clubs?
It’s been mostly club racing, but I joined the Liverpool Classic and hope to have a good go at it this season.
Does the balance and impression of/feel for the pigeon in your hand play more of a factor in your selection than the performance or bloodline of the pigeons you introduce, or are they of equal importance?
The man hasn’t been born who could handle a pigeon and tell you it’s going to win or breed winners, it’s easy to pick nice looking and well balanced birds but it’s what’s inside that counts and they come in all shapes and sizes.
Do you house a related family of pigeons or do they come from various sources?
They come from various fanciers who have done well them selves such as Jimmy Weeder, Roy Reid, Dave Burns and Jimmy Bauress & John Murray.
What has been your best achievement in the pigeon sport?
Over the years when I was in partnership with Jimmy Turner we had some fantastic results topping the Amal at Niort, Rennes, Avranches, Gloucester etc. Winning at Blackpool was also a great achievement, but racing on my own in ‘78 taking the first four in the club and having them all on the Amal sheet against 6,000 was one of my best performances in the early days. More recently it has to be the Carentan race were I was first and third club, first and fifth North Liverpool Fed and 8th & 25th North West Combine against 5,291 birds.
Can you tell me about your best pigeon/s?
When I first started I went to the Bamfurlong young bird sale were Eric Arscott was racing. Eric had donated a young bird from his Fred Law stock so I went to buy it. In his first season racing he won Avranches and Rennes and his young’uns won two firsts. The following season he won the Childwall Valley open, racing against all the top fliers in the Amal. He also won Hereford and Wincanton and his young birds won another two firsts so we called him Sunlight Supreme. This great blue cock cost me £1.50.
Another of my Fred Law Vandies was a lovely cheq pied we called the Anthony Bolton cock (pigeon photographer of the day) he won Dorchester two weeks on the trot and come out the next season and won again. When Jimmy Turner and myself became partners we bred some crackers one of them being ‘Rambo’ a powder blue Janssen x Leen Boers, not only did he look the part winning many shows, but he excelled on the road winning six firsts and a host of other prizes.
Can you give any advice that would help improve the management/results for a novice/new starter?
Try and get quality pigeons from one of the top local fliers, not fifty no-marks from anyone, don’t overcrowd, keep them clean and healthy and don’t overfeed.
Who do you admire in the pigeon sport?
Racing in the 70s & 80s I admired the men that not only won, but put a lot of work back into the sport, the likes of Albert Tarleton, Les Kilshaw and Bob Moffit. Jimmy Weeder also puts a lot back in to the game. As for top fliers it must be Charlie McCardle& Terry Archbold, Jimmy Bauress & John Murray and Terry Kirman.
Lesley Rimmer holding Louise Suarez 1st club Hereford 2014
What is it you love about the pigeon sport that keeps you involved?
I’ve always loved pigeons, if I wasn’t racing I’d still have them and enter them in breeder buyers, but nothing is like that buzz you get on Saturday when they are due home and one comes screaming in. If you loose that you might as well pack in.
What drives you mad about the pigeon sport?
Moaners, they’re in every club. If it’s not the race point, it’s the wind, or the drag, or loft position, nothing to do with them being five minutes behind every race. This game will never be on a level playing field unless we all flew on allotments.
What is racing in your club like?
Our club is very competitive with some really top fanciers but there all good lads you can have a laugh at marking and a pint or six after clock opening.
Who is the one to watch out for in 2014?
Willo & Muff are always at the top, Kelly & Devine also fly an excellent pigeon and these lads have topped the Combine 3 times. Franny & John McDowell want some catching as well.
Do you have a message for your club-mates?
Give them plenty of beans and peanuts, don’t let them out and pair them up for racing! Only jesting these lads are too clever for that. I’d just like to wish them all the best for the coming season.
FIN
I’d like to thank John for giving of his time to compile the loft report. He is one of the most recognisable faces of the Liverpool fancy and for what he has gave back down the years, few could argue that he has been a tremendous ambassador for the sport. Some would go so far as to say he has been around that long he is half way to becoming a local institution. John would probably say he belongs in one!
Liverpool fanciers of a certain vintage will doubtless recall the prowess of the Turner & Rimmer partnership and today’s report probably takes a few of you even further back up memory lane to John’s earlier solo origins and for me, it is great to see his return to winning ways after devoting a few years of his life to the job of convoyer for the Liverpool Amalgamation.
If the present is an indicator of what lies in wait, there is far more to come from the loft John Rimmer.
Best of luck for 2014 mate.
Racing is now upon us so next week we will be catching up on results for the season opener from Hereford. Some made more of a meal of it than others, but judging by the reports already in, the same names and faces are already busy stealing a march.
Thanks for reading my friends,
Darren Smith
---
