A & K DAVIES OF PORTH, RHONDDA
ONE OF WALES' FINEST PARTNERSHIPS
Martin Dunn reports...
Firstly I make no apologies for claiming that Arnold and Keith are one of the finest partnerships that have ever flown in the principality. Over the years, their record racing together and when flying with the late Doug Cockcroft has been outstanding, achievements of the calibre of twice winning the Silver Pigeon award in the Giant Welsh North Road Federation when flying North. The membership at the time was over 1500 members strong sending up to 25000 pigeons weekly, so no mean feat. Added to this, they have won the Dan Watkins Trophy for the best averages in Wales from the 5 Scottish race points, 293 miles to 597 miles.
Success has followed them when changing routes onto the South East direction into Wales. Joining the Penygraig Con H.S, they have been top prizwinners 7 times in 11 years. They have won the Welsh South East National From Ramsgate in 2001 and the J.O. Davies trophy, Champion Young bird in Wales twice. Include in these honours 1 x 1st National, 7 x 2nd National and 3x 3rd National and you can see they have a mighty impressive C.V.
Bringing you up to date, 2007 was another brilliant season. They were twice winners of their section in the Welsh South East National, from the shortest and longest race points, Maidstone and Bonn. They also managed to secure 3 x fed wins in the Rhondda valley Federation and cleaned up the Old Bird averages to go with it, not bad for a fed with almost 250 members and sending 4500 birds a week.
So let's go back to the start, 1978, when Arnold was talked into starting up with pigeons by the late Brian Jones of Porth, himself a Thurso National winner with his partner Martin Jarman. Brian managed to convince Arnold to take up the birds and they joined the Trehafod H.s., 38 members strong and full of top flyers. Obviously in this sort of competition success doesn’t come overnight, but they were quick learners and their first outright win came in 1978 from Perth, taking 1st club, 4th Welsh North Road Fed and their 2nd arrival winning the Rhondda Valley 2-bird Club. It was a good day all round.
In 1979, performances improved further. They were 3rd highest prize winners in Trehafod and during the winter of 1979 the partnership of Davies, Son and Cockcroft was formed. From 1980 onwards they never looked back. This partnership were top prizewinners for 17 out of 19 years, plus the already mentioned honours, then add the Coch Y bonddu trophy, best average in the Welsh Grand national, and T.J Buffet trophy, runner – up to the Queen's Cup. This covers the North road years. You can add the highest prizewinners in the Rhondda Valley Federation when changing routes in 1998, this with 9000 pigeons and 430 members each week.
Keith, left, the late Doug Cockcroft centre and Arnold Davies right
Sadly this was the last year that this great partnership were to fly together. Doug decided that he was going to give up the birds for personal reasons but he stipulated that the birds were to remain with Arnold and Keith and they would continue to race them. A big gesture as they could have easily made big money with and entire clearance sale at the time.
1999 came and went, with the same results. A& K were top prize winners in the fed again 1999, flying as Davies, Son, Cockcroft. 2000 saw the name change to the current title and success has followed on. 2001 - 1st National Ramsgate, top prize winners in the fed 2005 and runners-up 4 times in this period, including 2007.
What about the pigeons? Since 1987 they have raced the Lefebre Dhaenen birds from Lee & Cooper of Philipstown, and blended into these were the ‘JACK’ lines from Alan Maull of Hirwaun. These have stood the test right through to Lerwick on the North and Bonn on the South East route. In the latter years they have gone for the Staf Van Reets, from Mardons direct and the original Hession x Dave Allan pigeons from Arthur Beardsmore of the Midlands.
Since 2001 they have also blended the Braspenning pigeons, havomg direct children from De Felle, Gold Finger etc from L.PW, and to these they have crossed the Rietvink x Van Loons from one of their good friends from up country.
With the winning genes of the above crossed and crossed back again, they have built a formidable race team. This year they will start with around 40 widowhood cocks, enough for the 2 clubs they fly in, Penygraig and Ynyshir. The lofts are located on the mountainside at the bottom of the Rhondda in Porth, thus the name Gateway Lofts. As can be seen, impressive they are to.
The widowhood lofts
The cocks are raced 100% widowhood, paired 3rd week of January. They are allowed to rear and are parted from the hens after rearing. When the hens are removed the exercise periods are brought in. Fitness is brought up and with a couple of training spins and they are generally ready for the first race.
After racing starts, they are not trained again, but follow the same routine weekly, starting with Sunday. They do not go out until the afternoon where they are left to have a bath and relax.
Monday they are out for one hour morning and evening. This is followed right through to Thursday. The doors are closed for the full hour and if they are not exercising properly, the flag will be out. The birds do not go out if it’s raining or if there are heavy winds. There is a number of electric cables over the lofts and with the rain or wind, injuries have been known to occur.
The cocks are fed on Versele Laga Super Widowhood and Bosmolen Diat 200. This is fed in their boxes twice daily. Arnold and Keith like to see what they are eating and how much they are taking each day. The birds are given part ration in the morning and as much as they want in the evening, and anything left over after 15 minutes is taken away. As long as the birds exercise well they are fed well. The partners believe when they have a big appetite, they are going well around the loft and they are coming well from racing.
Added to the corn the birds will find Gemthepax and Provit during the week and Cider Vinegar and Multi Vitamins in the water, not every day but structured during the week. The birds are treated for the usual ailments PMV, Paratyphoid and cocci, worms and Canker before pairing. The race birds young and old are treated routinely for Canker every 4 weeks during racing.
As for the young birds, a strong team is reared. They are kept together all season, but are let out into the aviary all day. They are all raced on the Darkness system. When the young birds are exercising as a team and vanishing from the lofts their training is started, generally 8-10 training spins before the first race to the 40 mile mark.
Once racing starts the young birds go out morning and evening. The loft doors are closed and a flag is used to keep them going if need be, one hour morning and evening. The young birds don’t go out on the day after the race, they are given a bath in the aviary, and the exercise periods start on the Monday until Thursday. The young birds don’t go out on a Friday.
The young birds are fed a 50/50 Mixture of Bucktons Super young bird and Super Junior, with a trapping seed used in moderation. They also get the same supplements as the old birds - Gemthepax and Provit on the corn and Cider Vinegar and Multi Vitamins in the water.
The Darkness young birds generally moult through by the end of December, and although both Arnold and Keith think that they need looking after as yearlings, they come again as 2 and 3yr olds.
Looking at the birds, they were in excellent condition, with the 2 stars of 2007 showing their class. First to hand was Gateway Neverbend. This small to medium cock was their timer from Bonn to take 1st club, 1st Rhondda valley fed, 1st Centre section 4th Open Welsh South East National. The weather on the day of this race was atrocious and this cock must have been well motivated to come through the driving rain and fog.
This cock is half brother to Gateway First Gold, the Ramsgate national winner, his sire being ‘True Blue’, The J.O.Davies trophy winner, best young bird in Wales and breeding winners for fun. His dam is a full sister to ‘Jody’, again another J.O.Davies Trophy winner. As you can see, winners to winners breeding winners. The line excels at Bonn, with brothers and sisters putting up performances from this race point year after year.
Second pigeon to mMention was my favourite, Gateway Golden Boy. This Rietvink x Van Loon cock is a racing machine, winner of 11 x 1st prizes, with performance such as 1st Rhondda valley fed, 3269 birds, 4th fed, 2636 birds, 20th fed, 3865 birds, all as a young bird in 2005. Then in 2007, 1st fed 3065 birds, 1st section Welsh South East National and combine, plus Combine open positions of 22nd open 13100 pigeons, 65th open 14275 pigeons. A truly outstanding racer.
Going through the lofts, there are winners after winners. Another cock with 3 x 3rd fed with big birdages etc. The stock birds are outstanding, top breeders and retired racers breeding the goods galore. A truly marvellous team with strength in depth.
Arnold and Keith picking up their prizes for 2005 top prizewinners in the Fed
Arnold and Keith were complimentary of both clubs they fly in - Penygraig and Ynyshir. They say that you can’t approach the season half heartedly with the competition they are up against and the sportsmanship is excellent in both clubs. They said if they don’t win another thing with the birds they wouldn’t complain, they have won more than they could have ever imagined when they started in 1978.
Just a summary of their wins in 2007, which include 23 x 1st clubs, 13 x 2nd and 18 x 3rd club, 3 x 1st Rhondda Valley Federation and 2 x 1st centre section Welsh South East National and Combine, plus numerous other club and fed prizes, a season to dream of.
Hope you have all enjoyed reading how one of Wales' top partnership go about their winning ways as much as I had looking at their excellent team.
14/1/08
