RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
NEWBURY & BRUSSELS
Morris, Pugh and Whitcombe Hat Trick
Following Folkestone, we were back at Newbury, 90 mile warm up for our first overseas race from Lillers. The 2600 pigeons were liberated at 06.55 into an Easterly wind, although Judging by where the leading pigeons are, there must have been a touch of South in it to keep them up the top end.
Leading the way for the second time this season is Newport’s Tony Gibbon, who clocked after 1 hour 14 minutes for the 73 miles, not content with this, Tony had another 4 in the result, to take 1,3,4,5,6 club, 1st, 7th,8th26th and 28th fed. If you add 1st and 2nd fed from Guildford, then you can see it’s another successful old bird season in 2009 for Tony. Only loft to stop Tony in Newport is Bob Saddler, Bob is 2nd club 5th fed, all the more creditable when you generally see the leading birds at the back end of the fed when the wind’s behind them.
Runner-up this week is the top Tredegar loft of Gregory and Davies, these two certainly know how to fly a pigeon, they are 1st and 3rd club, 2nd and 4th fed, this follows their 1st fed Folkestone and the first pigeon into South Wales the week previous. M/M Terry Matthews spilt the Gregory and Davies pigeons, when slotting in for 2nd club 3rd fed, A.Shackerly and Son complete the Tredegar result, 4th club 12th fed.
Ronnie Slatter has the first pigeon into the Rhondda Valley itself, Ronnie clocks a yearling widowhood cock. Now there’s two different versions to this result. If you are Tylorstown member, Ronnie was gutted that he forgot to pool the pigeon, or if you know differently, this cock came back the Monday previous to the race after being out for a while and Ronnie threw the lazy so and so back in. I’ll let you decide what version is the right one, I’m already in trouble for spreading rumours!!!.Gareth Hughes was 2nd club, closely followed by Brian Roberts in third.
Next in is the Glyncorrwg youngster Corey Lewis, Corey is 1st club and 1st West section to go with it, another excellent performance from this young man, Corey beats his grandfather, Lewis & son, into 2nd club and section with White & son 3rd club 3rd West Section, fed positions for these 3 birds are 10th, 14th and 23rd fed respectively.
Corey Lewis 1st West section Newbury
Taking 1st and 2nd club at Treherbert are Chris and Jonathon Butler, they are also 10th and 11th fed,1st pigeon was an hen, who just beat her loftmate, a widowhood cock into 2nd.Gwyn Collins was 3rd club and Thomas son Stevens completing the result in 4th club.
Shotton bros have the first pigeon into the Cynon Valley, when winning at Newtown, this was clear of the rest up this valley. Arnold and Keith Davies clock the winner at Ynyshir, this loft as been on a good run the last few weeks, and in a really tight finish, Brown and Jones just hold off Morris and Webb on the same velocity for 2nd and 3rd club, these three pigeons are 15th, 20th and 21st fed.
Tony Southwood wins it at Cambrian, Tony clocks a 2 year old cock for 1st club 16th fed, with Les Vaughan close on his heels 2nd club 25th fed. Just down the valley at Tonypandy, Keith and Liam English clock the winner here, this cock has been flying well for them, he takes 19th fed and clears the pools and snow ball in the club, its bred down from pigeons obtained from Alan Maul. Runner-up at Tonypandy is Gareth Watkins, who has 2 together for 2nd and 3rd club 22nd and 27th fed, 4th and 5th club are Roy Street and Les Hughes, first bird is 29th fed.
From Tonypandy we go to Penygraig, where John Williams and Glyn Davies, keep up their record of being the blow home kings in the club, they have 3 Quick ones, for 1st,3rd and 5th club, first pigeon is natural hen sent sitting, 24th fed. Arnold and Keith Davies complete a good day for the loft, 2nd and 4th Club at Penygraig, with 2 yearling widowhood cocks.
Over to Gilfach, where Owen,Owen, Davies and Hale, win here, just edging Mal Darren Woodland into 2nd and 3rd Club, with the Smallman bros taking 4th Club. It was a Good day for Mal and Darron Woodland who also win their other club, Tonyrefail, 17th fed.
The following weeks saw us at Lillers for our first Channel race of the Year, the 2134 pigeons were liberated at 06:00 into a Brisk Easterly wind and made light work of the 265 mile race. The birds rocketed home doing nearly 70 mph, with the first 2 pigeons well clear of the field, it came down to the finish, with Morris Pugh and Whitcombe Just edging club mate Don Chaffe into 2nd club 2nd fed, velocities are 2027.2 and 2027.12, less than a second separating them.
The winning yearling cock obviously likes the race point, it was 1st club 3rd fed, 11th National as a young bird from here and follows this up with 1st club, 1st fed, 1st Welsh Combine and 2nd Welsh National to go with it. Don Chaffe is 2nd club and fed with one bought from Penygraig’s Kevin Andrews in the Maerdy Breeder Buyer, shows the quality of the pigeons you can obtain in these schemes.
The Lewis bros are 1st club, 1st West Section and 4th fed, way up in Glyncorrwg, good pigeon up here at this time, with the next one down into Natymoel, where John Courts starts to get them now we’re over the water, he’s 1st club 5th fed. Channel Champ from 2007 Denny Philips takes 2nd club 8th fed with a 2 year old.
Keith and Liam English win for the second week running at Tonypandy,6th fed, another Alan Maul based pigeon, this cock has won before. Story here was Keith and Liam were down the house getting ready for a family wedding. When they went up the loft to start their wait for the race, Liam went into the loft to find this cock waiting for them, luckily the ETS was on and the win secured. Street and Hughes clean up with the next 4 positions, first pigeon taking 2nd club, 30th fed was the same Van den Bosch hen that was 2nd fed from the first race of the season, Swindon. The next 2 were purchased from Ray Williams clearance sale over the winter and Broken into this loft. Shows how adaptable they can be.
Next in is Penygraig’s, Martin Jarman and Green, Martin has been knocking the door for the last few weeks and finally it opens. Martin was watching an Helicopter travel down the valley, when suddenly a pigeon drops and goes straight in, this yearling cock is 7th fed and is bred down from pigeons obtained from Mike Fishlock, as is Martins other timers for 3rd and 5th club. 2nd club are Arnold and Keith Davies, who clock a yearling widowhood cock for 22nd fed. Ken Abbot clocks his trusted Graham Warren yearling clock for 4th club and wins the 2-bird club and £200 richer for good measure.He’s been a good pigeon for Ken in 2009.
Owen.Owen.Davies and Hale, make it 3 wins in succession when winning at Gilfach Goch, they clock a yearling hen bred from John Owens’s workmate Kevin Thomas from Swansea this one is 9th fed.Young Josh David is 2nd and 3rd club at Gilfach, 17th and 27th fed.
Richard Stokes is the winner at Kenfig Hill, Richard also takes 2nd section, 10th fed, relegating Dave Gore into 2nd club 3rd section, 12th fed, with Combine secretary Dave Aldridge, showing he can race them as well, 1st at Maesteg Park, 4th section 15th fed.
Back up the Rhondda, where Rogers and James, were 3rd club at Maerdy, 11th fed and Davies and Evans 4th club 25th fed. Down the valley to Ynyshir, where Morris and Webb, reverse last weeks placing’s over Brown and Jones, this week Dean Webb takes the honours, 13th fed to 16th fed for Brown and Jones.Mike Kettley is 4th club, 24th fed
Up the Valley to Treherbert, where there’s a new name in the winners enclosure, Hughes and Griffths are the winners here, they take 14th fed with a 2 year old , Gwyn Collins takes the next two, 2nd and 3rd club, 18th and 19th fed, with Chris and Jonathon Butler, 4th club 26th fed.
Up at Cambrian K.Griffiths takes the spoils, 20th fed with a 2 year old, with Colin and Carl Langdon clocking a Flor Engels cock for the winner at Abercwmboi, 23rd fed. Morgan and Bennet take 2nd and 3rd club.
After the easy race from Lillers it was back to Newbury, which after a poor forecast for the weekend, saw the decision taken to basket Thursday night for a Friday liberation. The birds were held until 10.00am for the race point to brighten up, when 2200 pigeons were liberated into an Easterly wind.
We all thought that it would take around 1 hour 50 minutes for the winners to arrive, unfourtunately, this wasn’t the case, where for some unknown reason, the birds didn’t start arriving until after the 2 and half hour mark.
It has to be said that the race turned out to be one of the worst I can remember for a 90 mile race, with returns at best on the day being 40% for most. Looking at the weather forecast etc and having a full open discussion in the fed meeting, there is no, one reason, that can be pointed out to say that the birds were stopped in their tracks, if we knew what the problem it would probably make us all feel better, but we can honestly say that we really don’t know why those pigeons didn’t come that day.
Back to the result where the in form lofts of Morris Pugh and Whitcombe, once again take top spot, this yearling cock, bred down from the Aneurin Williams stock, certainly went for home, he takes first at Maerdy, 1st fed and over 12 minutes in front of 2nd club, that went again to Don Chaffe, this time he has to be happy with 15th fed. Don was also 3rd club 21st fed with Davies and Evans 4th club 23rd fed
Morris Pugh and Whitcombe holding 1st fed Newbury and 1st fed Brussels 2009
Runner- up was at Tonyrefail where Ken Evans has been flying consistently this last few weeks, Ken clocks a yearling for 2nd fed and another two at 13th fed and 18th fed for a good performance on a bad race in general.
Dunn son Seal had 3 arrive together, first two on the clock were Penygraig arrivals, 1st and 2nd club, 3rd and 4th fed, first one was 2 year old Vandenabeele hen that was first club Lillers in 2008.4th fed was a 2 year old hen from their best Marc Verheyde stock cock.3rd club at Penygraig is Martin Jarman and Green, who clock the same cock that was 5th club Lillers the week previous, this week is 6th fed
Down to Tonypandy, where Dunn son Seal, clock a yearling hen from pigeons gifted to them by the Lumsden’s and Burns bros from the North East, this hen is 5th fed.2ND club is Gerald Honeyfield with a 2 year old widowhood cock, Gareth Watkins is 3rd club with a yearling cock and Brian Fitzgerald is 4th club with a yearling hen. Billy Moon completes the result in 5th.
Roger Webb wins it at Ynshir, with a 2 year old, knocking son Dean into 2nd club 30th fed, flying as Morris and Webb. Hughes and Griffiths wins for the second week in succession at Treherbert, 8th fed, no mean achievement to win 2 on the trot in this club.Thomas son and Stevens are 2nd and 3rd club, 17th and 20th fed, with Fed President Billo Stanton, Stanton Bros and Evans, 4th club 27th fed.
Topping the west section and winning at Port Talbot is M/M Townend, good pigeon down here, furthest flying pigeon on the result a yearling Van Reet cock.2nd club and West Section is M/M Diamond with a Janssen x Verbruggen sent sitting, followed home by young Corey Lewis up at Glyncorrwg for 1st club 3rd West section.
Baylis and Bayliss take their second win of the season at Nantymoel, this week they are 1st club, 11th fed, with Ken Jones winning it at Tylorstown, 14th fed, good boost after being Ill the last few weeks, Gwyn Humphries son Faulkner are 2nd club and Carter bros rounding it off with 3rd and 4th club.
Andrew Jones, flying as M.Jones son Evans are the winners up at Trebanog, this one takes 24th fed, they were also 2nd club for a good days racing. Phillip Sheldon wins it at Abercwmboi, 26th fed, with Clive and Carwyn Harris 2ND & 4TH club, Colin and Carl Langdon are 3RD Club. M/M Terry Matthews round the result off when winning at Tredegar, they are 28th fed with a yearling and Gavin Keepings takes the red card at Newtown for 29th fed.
Keeping right up to date and we were off to Brussels for our second Channel race of the season, entry was greatly depleted after the Newbury race, with only 1035 pigeons making it to the race point. The pigeons were liberated into bright sunshine at 06:00, with a good race anticipated, the leading birds made good time.
Leading the field for an incredible 3rd week running are Morris Pugh and Whitcombe. To make it more of a story it was with the same yearling cock of Ponderosa x Anuerin Williams breeding that previously topped the fed, Welsh Combine and 2nd National out of Lillers 2 weeks earlier. This cock was around 9 miles clear of the field and takes 1st club,fed,combine and to cap it all 1st Welsh South East National. To the Partners Robert Pugh and Jim Whitcombe congratulations from all the Rhondda Valley fed members on a brilliant series of performances. This cock rings numbers is 007 and from Ponderosa’s James Bond Bloodlines, I suppose it was meant to be.
007- Licenced to Thrill
1st fed Lillers – 2nd Welsh South East National 270 miles
1st fed Brussels – 1st Welsh South East National 355 miles
Morris Pugh and Whitcombe 2009
Runner up again, are Tredegars’ Gregory and Davies, another top performance, I will try to make contact for a loft write up over the winter months and give the credit they deserve for their results week in week out. This week they are 1st and 2nd club 2nd and 3rd fed
Tony Southwood wins it at Cambrian, Tony can be relied upon to time from across the water, he topped the section from Lillers in the National in 2008 and times early here with an experienced 4 year old.Les Vaughan, another very good channel flyer is 2nd club 6th fed with a yearling cock.Tony comes back in with his 2nd arrival for 3rd club, 22nd fed.
Roy Street and Les Hughes win both their clubs at Treherbert and Tonypandy, their first timer is a 2 year old Vandenbosch hen that was 2nd fed Swindon in the first race of the season, 2nd club 30th fed Lillers 2 weeks ago and now1st club 5th fed Brussels, another good pigeon this one. 2nd club at Treherbert are Lee, Hughes and Harris, good to see Tommy Hughes up and about after a spell out with a virus, this will pick him up a bit, 7th fed.3rd club are Stanton Bros and Evans with a yearling cock, this one looking good to win the 2-bird club,13th fed
Mal and Darren Woodland also win Both of their clubs, Gilfach Goch and Tonyrefail, they are 1st,2nd and 3rd at Gilfach, 8th,16th and 17th fed with their Roundabouts, first arrival is a Belgian special from Mal’s travels, won quite a bit I believe this one.
Denny Phillips is at his best with a water crossing in front of his birds, he wins at Nantymoel, 1st club 9th fed, following on from Lillers where he was 8th fed. John Courts finds the roles reversed from this race point 2nd club 19th fed at Nantymoel.
Colin and Carl Langdon are enjoying a good season up at Abercwmboi, they are the winners here, 10th fed for good measure. Down to the West section next where Payne and Davies and 1st club at Kenfig Hill 1st section, 18th fed followed home by the first 2 at Port Talbot, R/Lloyd with a yearling Vandenabeele x Tuplin Barker, 2nd club, 3rd section are M/M Hookings with a 3year old Sootjen cock flown natural.
Gareth Hughes finally gets his win at Tylorstown, Gareth has had a very consistent old bird season, not missing many results and clearing the pools most weeks. He takes 21st fed. M/M Holland are 2nd & 4 th club at Maerdy, with the Morris Pugh and Whitcombe 2nd pigeon taking 3rd club, fed positions for these 3 are 20th,23rd and 26th fed.
To Penygraig next where Dunn son Seal follow up last weeks 1st and 2nd with a 1st,2nd and 3rd club this week, first arrival is a 2 year old Vandenabeele hen that was 1st club 5th fed Swindon and 3rd Maidstone earlier in the season.4th club were Williams, Jones and
Davies and they take the pools. Brown and Jones win it at Ynyshir, this loft is another that has flown well in 2009, they also clock a 2 year old.
That brings the results up to date, I can be found on 07920101980, if you want your results in the papers.
