RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
SWINDON & NEWBURY
First race of the 2009 season was from Swindon, where after the race was put back 24 hours due to a better weather forecast, 3159 pigeons were released on Sunday 19 April at 11.15 into East north East wind. The birds made it look easy with the leading velocity of 1630 ypm turning out to be the winner at the Treherbert lofts of Fred Tucker and son.
This season the Treherbert and Cwmparc clubs have joined together at the top end of the Rhondda and with over 20 members and 400 pigeons going each week, it will take some winning in this club. Fred clocked 3 quick ones for 1st and 4th club, 1st and 25 & 28th fed. The fed winner is of Brasspenning lines from former club mate Mervyn Hoskins.
Fred Tucker Holding 1st fed Swindon 3159 pigeons
Runner up were fellow Treherbert members Roy Street and Les Hughes, they also clocked 2 sharp ones, first one taking 2nd fed is a Natural Van den Bosch hen, followed by the lofts old Faithfull, a 2003 cock that has topped the fed and won numerous prizes over the years.
We go over the mountain to Nantymoel, where Philip Bayliss clock a cracker for 3rd fed, this 2 year old must have broke early to get over here. Gwyn Humphries keeps on where he left off in 2008 when winning the Fed young bird averages, he takes 1st and 2nd at Tylorstown, 4th and 11th fed, with Brian Roberts 3rd club 26th fed and Gareth Hughes taking 4th club, 29th fed and the pool money with one from Dunn son Seal.
Dunn son Seal had a good day themselves, having a batch drop together, taking the first six in the Penygraig club, with fed positions of 5th,6th,10th,14th and 16th fed. The first was a Vandenabeele hen from their Schalie Shadow lines, nest mate to this hen has 2 x 1sts, 2nd pigeon was a Galaxy lofts x Dikke Meerman, 3rd pigeon was another Galaxy x Jan Loots, this hen scored in Ramsgate and Lillers y.b Nationals in 2008.
Norman and Jason Bright had a very good day at Tonypandy, taking 1st and 2nd club, 7th and 8th fed, first is from their tried and tested Chocolate Meuhleman family, 2nd pigeon was a gift bird from one of Their friends from the North of England. Keith and Liam English are 3rd club, 9th fed with one of their widowhood cocks. With Layton Isles, flying as Isles, Lewis & son completing the result in 5th club 18th fed. Billy Moon is unlucky to find himself in 6th club, 22nd fed in a tight finish.
Over to the Cynon Valley next, where Gavin Keepings clocks the winner at Newton, this is a good pigeon on the wind, this one takes 13th fed, with a 2nd pigeon taking 3rd club, 23rd fed. Keith Bevan is relegated into 2nd club at Newtown, 21st fed. These 3 must have broke for home early to get up here on these velocities. Staying at the top end of the fed, Glyncorrwg’s White and son are 1st West Section 15th open, this loft flew really well in land in 2008 topping the fed at Epsom.
Back down to the Rhondda and to Ynyshir where, Mike Kettley as few together when winning here, first bird taking 17th fed, from here up the valley to Maerdy, where Silver Maybey and Lewis, notch the winner in this big competitive club, slotting in for 19th fed.
Completing the result and it’s nice to see Gilfach Goch, this club newly formed over the winter, they are up and running, with Mal and Darron Woodland notching the winner here, in at 20th fed. 2nd club at Gilfach is Josh David, assisted by his mother and Grand dad, he also takes the pools. Smallman Bros complete the result when taking 3rd and 4th club. Mal and Darron also win their other club Tonyrefail, this is 24th fed.
Next race was from Newbury, again due to the forecast, marking was put back 24 hours, the 3681 pigeons were released at 08.30 into a South South East wind behind them, this pushed the birds along, with the leading velocities just under a mile a minute, the winner once again can be found at Treherbert.
Fed race controller Chris Butler and Son Jonathon, have 2 together, to take 1st , 2nd 4th club, 1st 3rd and 8th fed. The winner is a yearling hen, bred from pigeons purchased from Graham Warren, this is the first to race off this pair, looks promising for the future. 2ND Pigeon is a 2 yr old widowhood cock , this cock has previous form, he topped the fed from Chippenham as a young bird in 2007. 3rd club at Treherbert is Wayne Howard, Wayne takes 7th fed.
Jonathon left and Chris Butler – 1st Fed Newbury 3681 pigeons
Taking 2nd fed is Kenfig Hill’s W.Thomas, this was a cracker on this wind with Kenfig Hill on the bottom end of the radius, against the wind. Dai Gore is just pipped in the club taking 2nd club, 5th fed with a tried and tested 3 year old. Last years Lillers fed winners Payne Parry and Davies take 3rd and 4th Club 22nd and 30th fed.
Dunn son Seal start the season well, this week they clock the winner at Tonypandy, 4th fed. They clock a yearling Vandenabeele x Morris Scheers hen, nest mate to this hen was 8th fed as young bird. Taking 2nd at Tonyoandy are Isles and Lewis, this loft are also flying well, they take 6th fed with their first pigeon, I believe a widowhood cock. 3rd club at Tonypandy, 10th fed is Watkins son Cockcroft, this cock was bird of the year in the club in 2008. 4th club are Keith and Liam English with another of their 2 year old widowhood cocks.
Next in and first pigeon in the Cynon Valley is Keith Bevan at Newtown, this bird is out on his own up here, this one takes 9th fed. Staying at the top end and back over the mountain to Maerdy, Don Chaffe wins here, more accustomed to winning at the distance than a mile a minute sprint race, Don takes 12th fed.2nd at Maerdy is G.Prowle & son18th fed and Don Chaffe is back in at 3rd club, 24th fed.
Kevin Andrews gets the winner at Penygraig, he clocks for 1st club 13th fed, nice to see Kevin in the winners enclosure, he’s been so consistent without notching the red card since joining the club, well done Kevin. 2nd 3rd and 4th club are Williams Jones and Davies, the birds are coming well for this partnership, With Kenny Abbot 5th club, and the pools with one from Graham Warren.
Back up to Treherbert, with Gwyn Collins having three together from a small team, Gwyn takes 14th 16th and 20th fed. Denny Phillips gets 2 together over in Nantymoel, 1st and 2nd club, 21st and 23rd fed. With Gkyn Sibley winning at Trebanog, Glyn takes 25th fed, with other club winners are Ronnie Slatter at Tylorstown, Ronnie takes 29th fed and M/M Diamond winning down in Port Talbot, this taking a very good 28th fed.
Final Result comes from Gilfach, this week it’s Josh David winning and taking second for good measure, with the Smallman Bros 3rd club and Owen, Owen, Davies and Hale 4th club, no they are not firm of solicitors honestly.
One point for all clubs, with the fed running the two smaller lorries this year it’s really important that you fill all your baskets with to the correct numbers, 29 pigeons inland and 24 overseas. If you don’t we run the risk of having too many crates for capacity.
If we have to run the large trailer then it will increase costs when we don’t really need to, remember, we currently enjoy the cheapest racing in Wales, let’s keep it that way.
Any results or information then you can call me on 07920 10 1980
Martin Dunn
