RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
The first Friday in December is traditionally the night of the Tylorstown presentation, this year it was an honour for myself and my father to be asked to present the trophies for this marvellous club. I believe that this is one of the last clubs left that have the support to be able to have a traditional sit down meal and this year it was no exception.
There were over 100 members and guests that sat down to a lovely 4 course beef dinner, with the joint presentation with the Upper Rhondda 2-bird club it was on with giving the trophies out. Top of the list in the Tylorstown club were Gareth Hughes and son, this loft flew a really good old bird programme, with good wins from Brussels and Huy on the channel , they also had a couple of pigeons that were really consistent for them and help swell the winnings to a very good £665, plus inland and overseas average trophies.
Runner- up this year were Gwyn Humphries son & Faulkner, this loft had another outstanding young bird season, with wins from Maidstone Folkestone and Lillers being the highlight, young bird average and highest points winners, they cleared £653 plus over another £2000 from the local ring schemes, it was another very successful year for this loft.
Gwyn Humphries – another very good season for Gwyn in 2009
In third place was Brian Roberts and son, Brian flying a small team is always there or thereabouts, again he clocks a good one from Bonn, as well as young bird knock out winners plus pools and prize money of £477, another good season for this loft.Ronnie Slatter is next, Ronnie who will be flying from his back garden in 2010 instead of up on the mountain side, Ronnie’s best was 1st Newbury old birds plus cash winnings of £226. Edwards, Hicks,Richards and Moulds were next, this was their first full season, with a small team of old birds, Highlight for this loft was taking 1st club Folkestone with their only entry and a top fed position to go with it, these boys cleared £135 in pool money.
Ronnie Slatter – starting again from his back garden in 2010
Alan ‘Tweed’ Lewis follows on in the list, although not managing to take a win in 2009, Alan has a number of positions and £57 to help him with the corn bill.Des Jones wins the old bird Knock out and £43, with others taking home smaller amounts including Carter Bros who only flew old birds, Ken Jones and I.Jones & son who won Lillers old birds. That completed the Tylorstown payout, we then move onto the Upper Rhondda 2- bird.
Top prize winners in this club were the outstanding Maerdy partnership of Morris Pugh and Whitcombe, a dream season for this loft, top prizewinners in the Rhondda Valley fed to go with it, plus 1st National Brussels, in the 2- bird they won from Maidstone, Folkestone and Brussels, they take home £515 pool and prize money.
Runners- up were Gareth Hughes and son, busy night for this loft, they won the Huy race, plus 2nd Bonn and Maidstone, 3rd Lillers and Brussels, you can see that they know how to pick a pool pigeon, this gave them a total of £456, To take the nights winnings over the £1000 mark.
Next up were Davies and Evans, what can you say about their young bird performances in 2009, 3 x 1st fed, plus Rhondda valley young bird average winners, here they take 1st Bonn, 1st & 2nd Folkestone young birds and 2nd Lillers, they win £211.
Kenny Abbot clocked the right pigeon from Folkestone old birds, to take home an healthy £205, Graham Warren special this one. M/M Holland were 2nd Brussels, 3rd Folkestone, with £162 to bank. Brian Roberts 1st Lillers young birds, 2nd Lillers old birds, he takes £132. Foster Bros were 3rd Huy and 3rd Maidstone, with £122 in pool money.
M/M Kenny Abbot – Kenny does an Excellent job with Rhondda 600 mile club
Others to take pool money include the following Edwards Hicks Richards and Moulds, £75, Gwyn Humphries who takes £50, G.L’homme £50, Don Chaffe 1st Maidstone and £49, Owens and Evans £39, Thomas Bros and Radcliffe £32 Ronnie Slattter, £31, quiet year for Ronnie in the 2-bird, normally knows how to pick a pool bird, with Alan Lewis taking the final bit of pool money of £26.
The following week it was the turn of Gilfach Goch to have their first presentation night after re-forming the club for 2009. It was held at the clubs head quarters the Ogmore Hotel.The club would like to thank the Landlord, Brett for all his help throughout the year, nothing has been too much trouble, which all the members really appreciate.
Guest for the evening was Neil Richards of Tylorstown, again the Gilfach members would like to thank the Tylorstown boys who go on the Belgium trip with them for donating a beautiful trophy for the Highest prize winner in the club.
Top prize winners for 2009 were the Nantymoel loft of Owen, Owen, Davies and Hale, this loft flew well all year and won the following, Y.B Points, Combined Points and 9x 1st club for a total of 189 points.
Runners-up were Mal and Darron Woodland, this loft flew really well with old birds, winning 9x 1st, plus inland and Overseas points for a total of 116 points. Mal Dunn & son flew young birds and take 4 x 1st, plus 66 points, with Phil and Josh David next, highlight for these was 1st Newbury old birds plus other positions to make a total of 40 points. Smallman bros had a consistent old bird season, although missed most of the young bird races, this loft had 11 points. Finally Darren Jones Flying in his Grandfathers name W.Flowers and G.son picked up a number of positions with old birds.
With an outstanding buffet, one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of eating and a very good girl singer it was late night for most after this presentation.
To complete the presentations before Xmas it was the turn of the Trebanog club to have their presentation night on Saturday 19th December. After working in the morning and going xmas shopping with the better half in the afternoon, it was a pleasure to sit down and have a pint at Trebanog workmen’s, where it was a full house and a good evening. Luckily we had the same girl singer who performed at the Gilfach presentation night the week previous and once again she created a good atmosphere for the night.
Tonypany secretary Viv Port was the guest for the evening, Viv can be relied upon to give a good speech, this year was no exception. Glyn Sibley was club champion in 2009 with 154 points, Glyn flew well all season, winning a total of 11 x 1st club, most points old birds, most points young birds and most points overall. Total money won was £304 to cap a good season.
Chris Jones was Runner- up, quiet old bird season for Chris, the young birds came well. Chris won 7 x 1st club, 69 points, with Most points 1st 3 y/b races and last 3 y/b races plus cash winnings of £268. Chris’s cousin Andrew was next, flying as Jones Son Evans, Andrew won 3 x 1st club, plus bird of the year trophy, this pigeon nearly won the overseas average on his own. Andrew also wins £69 in cash with 42 points.
Jones & Williams were next, they were 1st Maidstone old birds, 1st £5 nom Folkestone plus other positions to give them 16 points and £58 in winnings. Vince Lane only flew old birds the highlight of which was 1st Bonn, plus other positions for 15 points and £21 cash.
M/M Phillip Cowell flew a good old bird, they won 2 x 2nd plus other cards for 15 points and £21, best of which were 2nd Huy and 3rd /4th Brussels. Bernard Lawerence was another to have a quiet season by his standards, although with a new loft over the winter he’s keen as ever in 2010, Bernard has 13 points and £25.Daniel and Grandad won 1 x 2nd and 2 x 3rd club for 13 points, £22. Brain Samuel was 5th Brussels and 2nd Bonn, plus other positions for 7 points, £9 in winnings. Sel Jones was 1st club Huy2 with Old birds, Sel wins the club photograph donated by Glyn Sibley for this excellent win from 400 miles.
That completed the presentation and with a Free Buffet provided you couldn’t fault the night. This finishes of the outstanding club presentation, a few loft write ups to finish off with and the new season will be with us.
