RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
The federation presentation night was held once again at the Rhondda Heritage Park at the end of January. Support was excellent with over 80 members and guests attending the night. Sadly I couldn’t make it due to a family function on the same evening.
Chief guest for the evening was former president of the Federation John Phillips. It was a pleasure having John attend, he’s put a lot of work into the federation over the years. John handed out the silverware to the fanciers who had enjoyed a successful year in 2008.
Starting with the Gill Bros & Son – Brian and Mike have enjoyed a superb season in 2008, ending up as fed champions and added the following average trophies that were testament to their Old Bird Performances.
Gill Bros & Son – Fed champions 2008
Combined Averages, Old bird averages, Channel averages and Most points from Channel races. They also win most Points in East Section for Old Birds and highest points winners in the federation over all. Congratulations on an excellent season in 2008.
Gwyn Humphries, son, Faulkner of Tylorstown were rewarded for their brilliant young bird performances when winning the young bird average velocity proper trophy, summed up by only missing one fed result all young bird season. Well done Gwyn.
Fed secretary Clive Harris ably assisted by Son, Carwyn, carried on with their winning ways, for 2008 they pick up the best average from Maidstone and Ramsgate with the young birds, they actually topped the fed from both race points, with the Ramsgate winner going on to win the Welsh South Road National from Eastbourne. They also win the averages for the Maidstone and Ramsgate old bird and young bird combined.
Richard Stokes – Double fed winner
Moving on to the 2-bird average trophies, first of which is from Maidstone old birds, this was won by Brian Fitzgerald of the Tonypandy club, Brian had 2 come together, taking around 4th and 5th fed to secure this trophy. Morris Pugh Whitcombe of Maerdy are the winners of the Ramsgate young bird 2- bird average, hardly surprising the way the young birds flew for this partnership.
Brian Fitzgerald – 2B Average Maidstone old birds
There is a new trophy to fly for in 2008, the A.B. Howard trophy for the lowest winning velocity during the season, this goes to another Maerdy partnership, Owen, Evans and son, when winning the Longest race point from Giessen, for this excellent result, they also pick up the John Didcock trophy for the longest race winners.
Dave Gore of Kenfig Hill wins the most points old bird in the West section, this is the third year running that Dave has won this award, showing how well he flies year in year out. Final point’s trophies are the club awards, highest old bird Points go to the Penygraig Con H.S, with the big Maerdy club winning the Young bird points. Top club overall in 2008 was once again the Penygraig Con H.S, this is the third time in 4 seasons that this really competitive club has taken this
Morris Pugh & Whitcombe
Special mention should go to the Tredegar partnership of Gregory and Davies, they had a superb season at Fed level, winning 4 x 1st fed, this with up to 4500 birds competing. Additionally Mal and Darren Woodland were double fed winners, as were Clive and Carwyn Harris and Richard Stokes. Enoch son Enoch had the Honour of topping the Welsh Combine from Maidstone old Birds 14000 pigeons.
Final honour for the presentation evening is the Federation Bird of the Year, for 2009 it went to Tony Gibbons of Newport, main performances were 1st Club, 1st fed Lillers, 250 miles and then followed this up with 1st club, 2nd Federation from Brussels, 330 miles, taking top positions in the Welsh Combine. A worthy winner of this award you would agree.
Tony Gibbons – Bird of the year
The individual Fed winners for 2008 are :-
Old Birds
Swindon – A&K Davies – Penygraig – 3774 pigeons
Newbury – Richard Stokes – Kenfig Hill – 4474 pigeons
Epsom – White & Son -Glyncorrwg – 4585 pigeons
Maidstone – Enoch son Enoch – Glyncorrwg – 4072 pigeons
Ramsgate – A.Ware & dtr – Tonyrefail – 2989 pigeons
Newbury – Richard Stokes – Kenfig Hill – 2866 pigeons
Lillers – T.Gibbons – Newport – 1924 pigeons
Newbury – M.Woodland & son – Tonyrefail – 1570 pigeons
Brussels – M.Woodland & son – Tonyrefail - 1463 pigeons
Newbury – Gregory & Davies – Tredegar – 1751 pigeons
Huy – Obryan & Jones – Port Talbot – 808 pigeons
Newbury – Martin Jarman – Penygraig – 1305 pigeons
Bonn – G.Thomas & son – Tonyrefail – 674 pigeons
Giessen – Owen, Evans and Son – Maerdy – 202 pigeons
Young Birds
Hullavington – John & Wood – Pontypridd – 1376 pigeons
Hullavington – Gill Bros & son – Penygraig – 3487 pigeons
Swindon – Gregory & Davies – Tredegar – 4455 pigeons
Swindon – Phillip Sheldon – Abercwmboi – 4756 pigeons
Newbury – Gregory & Davies – Tredegar – 4032 pigeons
Newbury – Gregory & Davies – Tredegar – 3428 pigeons
Epsom – D.Gore – Kenfig Hill – 3315 pigeons
Maidstone – C.Harris & son – Abercwmboi – 2285 pigeons
Ramsgate – C.Harris & son – Abercwmboi – 1313 pigeons
Lillers – Payne, Parry & Davies – Kenfig Hill – 392 pigeons
Swindon – Butler Bros – Cwmparc – 1037 pigeons
Looking forward in 2009, the fed received the backing from its members to purchase the new vehicle for the season, this will help with transportation costs, by not using the trailer in 2009, although should it be needed for 1 or 2 races, its been Motd and ready for use. Hopefully this will enable the members to enjoy the cheapest racing in Wales again in 2009, and with the Rhondda Valley race controlling team in place for the Combine racing in 2009, we should see an improvement in the combine scene in 2009 compared to 2008.
Finally, on behalf of the Nantymoel H.S, I would like to give a belated mention to one of their members who as sadly passed away over the winter. John Castle was a life long member of the club, who was a great worker and well respected in the club. The club would like to give their condolences to Wife Marilyn, son Nigel and dtr in Law Janet. John will be sadly missed by all at the club R.I.P.
Sorry in the delay for this Report, I have been extremely busy since Xmas and not had time for everything. Hopefully I should now be back on track, any news of the winners etc, then I can be contacted in the following ways.
By E-mail –
By Mobile – 07920 10 1980
