RHONDDA VALLEY FED
Reports by Martin Dunn
Maerdy Single Bird Nomination
2008 was the second year Maerdy Single bird nomination, again run extremely well by Charlie Silver and the Maerdy members, This showed with an further increase in entrants which resulted in the following prize money being allocated
1st prize - £2500 which is £500 up on 2007
2nd prize - £700
3rd prize - £300
Plus 3 further prizes of £100 for 4th,5th and 6th positions.
Once again the birds were racing from Ramsgate with the Rhondda Valley federation and the Welsh Combine, showing how skilful the winning owners were the 4 winning pigeons could be found in the first 8 positions of the Rhondda valley federation result, proving that you had to pick your first pigeon to have any hope of picking up prize money in this ultra competitive race.
Leading the way this year is Gwyn Humphries son and Faulkner of the Tylorstown club, Gwyn has enjoyed an outstanding season with the young birds, only missing 2 fed results all season, he’s been nothing but consistent.
Gwyn Humphries holding the winning pigeon
The winning pigeon is a Freek Romein Janssen, bred down from pigeons obtained from Anuerin Williams of Maerdy. This young cock as flown well all season, he was 29th fed Newbury, 20th fed Maidstone the week previous and now this week, he turns up for 1st club, 4th Rhondda valley federation, 1st 2-bird club and more importantly takes the £2500 prize money for taking this race.Well done Gwyn on an outstanding young bird campaign.
Runner- up are Treherbert’s Stanton Bros and Evans, again another loft that’s had a good season, these have had one of those years where they have been the bridesmaid on numerous occasions in the club, different lofts each week finding one to pip them. They are more than happy with £700 for the runners-up spot in this race.
The lofts timer is a Chq Brasspenning cock that went to this race sitting 10 days on eggs, this is another pigeon with previous form, he was 13th fed from Maidstone the week previous and now takes 1st club, 5th fed Ramsgate, you can also add runners-up in the Abercwmboi breeder buyer the same day, he’s put enough into the coffers to cover the corn bills in 2009.
Into 3rd spot was another Treherbert member, Gwyn Collins, Gwyn has to settle for 2nd club, 7th fed with this pigeon. Again another cock that’s been flying well, he was 1st club Maidstone, 9th fed. This one is bred down from Gwyns 2nd National Liege, which is Van Moorsel x Gwyn’s Turkey cock lines, paired with a hen that was 2nd club Rmasgate as a young bird herself, this one is a Van den Bosch x Klas Krom.
Roy Steet and Les Hughes, the winners in 2007, come close again in 2008, they have to settle for 1st Club at Cwmparc, 8th fed, and prize Money of £100, MM Holland of Maerdy, 3rd last year, drop down 2 places to 5th in 2008, another £100 for them though, with Brian Fitzgerald of Tonypandy taking the final £100 for 6th, good day all round for Brian he also wins the Abercwmboi breeder buyer to pick up another £400 to go with it.
Another successful race in 2008, interest increases year on year, reasons for this is that each loft is limited to a single entry and by giving your ring number on night of marking, you are guaranteed your entry into the race.
If you are interested in having a go in 2009, where the first prize could be a whopping £3000, give Charlie Silver a ring on 01443 732654 and he can fill you in on the rest of the details.
