Sheffield & District 5 Bird Championship
By Chris Gibson
Loft report on Dave Turton
Dave Turton
Often many people talk about how the sport of pigeon racing has changed and how methods of yesteryear wouldn’t live with today’s modern day methods and systems. Well, the loft featuring in this report is that of a fancier who finished in the sport some 13 years ago before deciding to start up again making 2011 his first season since 1998, and what a season he’s had. Dave must have the smallest set up in the club with just a 14ft loft consisting of 6ft for 11 pairs of old birds, 5ft with a small aviary for approximately 25 young birds and a small trapping section and that’s your lot. Also interesting is that Dave raced to this exact some loft all those years ago and as you can see from the photos it is fairly open at the front with the dowels to the top third, something almost unheard of these days as we all worry about cold drafts and suchlike blowing through the loft.
The full set up of Dave Turton
Upon deciding to restart Dave acquired just 21 young birds in June last year from three different fanciers namely good friend and fellow club member Trevor Garner, Worksop’s Ian Vernon who was recommended to him by his mate John Short and lastly the loft of J Richard & son in Shropshire. The majority of Dave’s birds have Vandenabeele blood running throw them as the birds from Trevor are Vandenabeele and Keith Arnold and the birds from Richard & son are all Vandenabeele. Due to only receiving these youngsters in June Dave didn’t race them in 2010 but did train them hard and finished with a team of 19 to carry over. These 19 were made up to 11 pair with the help of a further three hens from Trevor Garner. From these 11 pairs a full round of young birds were bred and a few more brought in from elsewhere to make the numbers up to 26 to start the 2011 season. Obviously, the season couldn’t come quick enough for Dave after 13 years out of the game and having joined three clubs he had plenty to go at. The clubs joined were: Beighton HS who race in the Derby & Burton Federation, Poolsbrook HS that race midweek on Wednesdays and of cause the Sheffield & District 5 Bird Championship Club.
Young bird section
Obviously due to the size of the loft both the old birds and young birds are raced natural sitting eggs etc. Dave will not allow his young birds to race feeding youngsters. The birds are exercised around the loft but also get plenty of road work plus the majority go to the midweek club which is a good work out for the birds in between the main races on Saturdays. I asked Dave what medication and supplements he used, he gave me a little smile and said “you’re looking at them” and on the shelf in front of me was a tub of electrolytes and a tub of vitamins and that was it. I must admit my first thought was, they must be left over from all those years ago if that’s all he’s got but he assured me that that is all he uses, electrolytes after each race and vitamins in between. Maybe that smile was hiding something I don’t know!!! As for the feeding, well the morning feed is modern day as he feeds the “super sonic seed mix” that is much talked about around our area, although I have no idea exactly what the hell is in it! However, the evening feed is a heavy mix of peas, beans and maize much like, I ’m sure, the heavier feeding method that was used many years ago, but it certainly hasn’t done the birds any harm what so ever and I can say that the birds felt extremely well on it. In Dave’s own words he said “I suppose you could sum it up by saying, simply feed heavy and work hard”. This is the same for both old and young birds. On the floor of the lofts Dave uses clay granules which are riddled clean once a week and this will be replaced only once per year.
Old bird section
By his own admission the old bird season could have been better. Although he did well in the midweek club, he now believes that you must race your young birds in order for them to have the experience to compete as old birds. However, the young bird season was a totally different story as his results just got better and better each week, both in the midweek and the Championship. Dave’s results in the 5 bird Championship were: 1st 5th & 10th Stratford, 6th Windrush, 3rd & 4th Hullavington, 4th Blandford, 1st Portland, 4th Yelverton. As stated above Dave’s birds also raced on Wednesday’s in Poolsbrook Midweek racing against up to 240 birds some weeks winning: Old birds, 1x1st 3x2nd 3x3rd 2x4th Young birds he took 1st 2nd 3rd 4th twice against 240 birds. He also had a 3rd club 11th Fed from Carentan and 6th club 10th Fed Windrush with his young birds in Beighton HS. Now I know that some people reading this write up might think that the above results aren’t particularly eye catching compared some, but to be so consistent like Dave was during the young bird season in this top club really does take some doing and every member, both past and present will tell you that.
The secret compartment, in the back of the garage
A few words from Dave: “Nobody is more surprised by my success than me in both the Sheffield 5 Bird Club and Poolsbrook Midweek. Both clubs have formidable opposition with many top fliers, too numerous to mention. If I was to be bold enough to offer advice, it would be to listen to and read about successful fanciers. Decide what you’re going to do and stick with it. Lastly, never blame anyone or anything (including the pigeons), the buck stops with you and always take defeat in the same way as you enjoy success.”
Very well done Dave on winning the young bird averages in your first year back in the sport and as you say, against the very best lofts for miles around. It was a pleasure to spend time with you looking at your set up and birds.
Thanks for reading.
