RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
Mal and Darron Woodland of Tonyrefail
This write up is on one of the federations top lofts, who really haven’t received the publicity their performances deserve over the years, with results such as 2nd National Bonn, 2nd National Ramsgate, 3rd National Pau, spring to the mind over the last few seasons, the results they have put up in 2007 and 2008 with the old birds can only be described as first class.
In 2008 they have really flown an excellent pigeon right through to 400 miles, results such as 1st federation from Newbury, 95 miles, then 4 days later following this up with 1st federation from Brussels, 350 miles, shows the versatility of the family of Birds they race.
Lt chq cock – 1st R.V Fed Brussels – 4th National Brussels 2008.
Mal showed me the stock pigeons that were responsible for the race team that have put up these outstanding results, with around 16 pairs, the stock were based on 3 main stock cocks, first of which was a Staf Van Reet cock that was purchased from Louella Pigeon World. This cock really has produced the goods over the years, In his first nest he produced 2 nest mate cocks that both won 5x1st club each, with one of these cocks winning 2nd National Ramsgate. If you add another daughter that came to take 1st club 1st Rhondda Valley Federation Bonn, 470 miles, also taking 2nd National in the same race, you can see the quality this Van Reet cock produces.
1st R.V FED BONN – 2ND NATIONAL BONN – DTR OF THE VAN REET COCK.
The Next pigeon he showed me was a Direct Willy Thas cock, he was a Beautiful light Chq cock, another that has produced the goods from day one, this cock is responsible for both fed winners in 2008, when paired back to a direct daughter from the 3rd top stock cock, a red cock that was purchased from Lier Market, 10 years ago for the huge sum of £6, this pigeon has turned out to be an absolute gold mine, with winners in nearly every nest.
TOP WILLY THAS STOCK COCK RESPONSIBLE FOR 2 X 1ST FED IN 2008.
Mal and Darron have been really clever with this cock, despite all the pigeons that have won on the road, they have kept a number of direct children in the stock shed and these have really bred top quality pigeons for them year in year out. Sadly this cock died this year, and will obviously be missed.
The stock birds are paired around the first of January, when Darron is off work over the Christmas period, these breed the majority of the 50 strong young bird team. They are fed on a standard breeding mix, with Gemthepax and Aviform Ultimate used as and when required
The race team were equally Impressive, with 24 pair raced on the round about system, there were some really exceptional pigeons in the team, strong in quality, you could really see why they race as a team, its not unusual for them to have 5, 6 or 7 pigeons arrive together, something you can see in the results at the end of the write up.
The race team are paired the same time as the stock, Mal and Darron, said by doing this they can part the birds off and work on their fitness before they start to train them, when they have them exercising well they receive around 6 training spins and that’s all they will have during season unless they stop exercising around the loft. The hens when going well will travel the valley, going off and racing back to the loft with some gusto. The cocks are completely different, they just Clap off and land back on top of the loft before spinning straight off again, although showing different signs of form, it’s nothing to have both cocks and hens arrive together on race day.
The race team are confined to the loft the day after the race, and are exercised morning and night for one hour Monday to Thursday and are not forced to fly during the season. They are then let out Friday morning for around 45minutes, before being fed in for the race
The race birds are fed on Verselle Laga Champion plus, and Verselle Laga Depurative mix, fed in their boxes twice a day, ½ ounce morning and 1 ounce in the evening, these also receive Aviform Ultimate and Garlic in the water during the week, with Electrolytes used in warmer weather.
The young birds are raced on the Darkness methods, and are left to run together, and allowed to pair together if they want to. These are fed on 50% Liege special and 50% Diet 200, mixed together. The young birds are trained privately, twice a week from 40 miles, and exercised the same as the old birds otherwise.
The partners do not have any problems with them moulting through, when I visited the birds had already dropped their final flight, this in Mid November. They also don’t see any problems with their performances as yearlings, they fly just as well. The young birds also receive Gemthepax and Aviform ultimate to keep them in form.
Darron left, Mal right.
Just to show the level of performance, listed below are the 2008 results, which are equally as good in 2007.
Swindon 1,2,3,4,5,6th club 4.5.8.9.10.11th fed – 3774 pigeons
Newbury 1.2.3. club 6.7.8 fed – 4474 pigeons
Epsom 1.2.5th club
Ramsgate 2nd.3rd club 7.8th fed – 2989 pigeons
Lillers 3rd club
Newbury 1st.2nd4th club 1st, 4th fed – 1570 pigeons
Brussels 1.2.3rd club 1st,9th 17th fed – 1463 pigeons
Newbury 1.2.3.4th club 15,16,18,19th fed – 1305 pigeons
In total they won 10 x 1st club, 10 x 2nd club and 8x3rd club, in the Tonyrefail club, with the Welsh South East National From Brussels the loft was 1st Centre section Welsh South East national, 4th Open Welsh South East National, plus 10th section 37th open and 18th section 80th open in the same race.
From Ramsgate they were 7th section 13th open Welsh South East National and 9th section, 15th Open Welsh South East National, add to this 8th section 43rd open Huy and 21st section from Lillers National, you can see how well they are flying against the cream of Wales.
Mal and Darron have been knocking on the door of the national for a long time, it can only be a matter of time before that door opens and they take 1st Open National, don’t be surprised if it will happen in 2009.
