Wiley

Have the birds been vaccinated for pmv?

Drinking so much is the first signs of pmv, hopefully it is not the case pal.

Hi Craig, how long have you had pigeons pal? Are you keeping racing pigeons or fancy pigeons. Can you please take a photo of some of your birds as their stance and how the stand can help a lot also. How long have droppings been bad, and how many have died? How are the birds flying, are any lopsided when flying ect? A vet will be needed as tony said, but immediate action will also need to take place without any more fatalities

So sorry to hear this may he rest in peace

I like to have the diet light, untill 5 days before the eggs start to hatch.

The Thurso Three bred and raced by A . Gadsdon & Son. Link to Video Presentation

Newton Aycliffe is a town in County Durham, and is the oldest new town in north of England, as it was founded in 1947 under the New Towns Act. Within a 10 mile radius are several towns and villages including Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Shildon and Heighington. Interestingly there is no 'Streets' in Newton Aycliffe. There are many Roads, Closes, Crescents, Avenues and even Parades. Aycliffe also played an important role in World War II, where it was key in ammunition manufacturing. Aycliffe has also played an important role for the London North Road Combine for the past two seasons, since the loss of the Witton Castle liberation site. Saturday 13th September saw the convoy of around 2,000 young birds liberated at 11.15am in a variable wind, with many fanciers competing around the 223 mile mark. Many predicted that the first 100 miles or so would be the most difficult along the route, as it appeared the birds would have to face a southerly east wind, with the wind changing to their favour from then on. There appeared on marking many unfamiliar faces to the London North Road Combine scene for this race, which is an excellent sign that combine racing maybe taking a turn for the better, and with the improved birdage shows that the decisions being made are the right ones. Unfortunately I have to apologize at this point to the readers, that so far I have not received my usual convoyers report, or any provisional result or station results that are usually included in my articles for the London North Road Combine. Much like the Old Bird Berwick result what was refreshing to see was that the 3 leading pigeons represented 4 different federations. The well deserved winner takings 1st Open London North Road Combine Aycliffe, 1st East London Federation, 1st North London Federation. also winning the London North Road Combine Futurity, The London Social Cirlce and all pools and side bets in the Stratford Marking station, recording a velocity of 1362 was A. Stockwell & Son of Ilford. Albie first started in the sport by catching street pigeons of the local churches, and his first loft was made out of old and thrown away door panels which he recovered from the building sites. It was not until his Uncle and past London North Road Combine Convoyer Ernie Williams, said that if he wanted to keep pigeons properly he must have the right tools for the job. Ernie, then gifted Albie a number of birds from his loft to which Albie could use for his future stock in 1976. Albie then joined the Ilford & District club in 1977 for young bird racing and actually won his first ever race he competed in. The Aycliffe combine winner is a fantastic well muscled, streamlined dark chequer pied cock. The cock contains the bloodlines of Busschaert, De Weerdt and Marcellis, However the Busschaert line in the pigeons is very dominant from Albies good friends Robson Brothers & Thompson from Newcastle, and the De Weerdt and Marcellis blood comes through a mixture of Albies, Johnny Stockwell and Uncle Ernie's bloodlines. The winning pigeon is full brother to at least 11 Federation winners. The winning pigeon showed some form two weeks prior to its big and important win from Aycliffe as it won 3rd Ilford & District Futurity race bagging roughly around £60. The combine winner was raced on the basic Darkness System, and was sent driving a number of hens to his perch. His first training toss of his life was from around the 40 mile mark and had around 8 tosses before the first race. Then Albie likes to give all his youngsters at least two training tosses per week, However this years young bird combine Albie prepared his birds slightly different. The last three weeks before the combine, Albie had a stroke of luck as a work colleague who lives at Halstead had been taking and releasing his youngsters on his way home from work most days. The combine winner has been to every single race that Albie has competed in, and is fed Swainston's High protein economy, but things such as maize or barley maybe added to the mixture depending on what Albie feels the birds need. Albie is a big believer that the young bird immune system is much lower then an adult birds and to be successful with young birds you must keep on top of any illness that can become present in your loft, by the mixing of birds in the baskets on a regular basis, because of this Albie will treat fortnightly for Cocci and Canker. The Combine winner will be raced again next season as a yearling. Albie offered some insight and I have included it as I feel what he said can help all readers. Albie feels the quickest route to success is to race against the best competition you can compete against, as doing so is the only way you can improve as a fancier. Also Albie believes as a fancier you must not rest on your laurels, and msut be looking to improve your family of pigeons all the time, even if it means just bringing in one special pigeon a year. Some of Albies past performances that we should highlight is that, Albie has raced and won in three federations, Won in every club he has raced in including the Midweek Club and Federation, He has won The NRCC section from Fraserburgh, as well as being 2nd Open London North Road Young Birds Morpeth Combine, 3rd Open London North Road Combine Lerwick, and 4th Open London North Road Combine Berwick. 2Nd Open London North Road Combine Aycliffe fell to the in form partnership of Mr & Mrs S Fenech & Sons of Epping recording a velocity of 1359. Steven is a fantastic pigeon man and to list actually what this partnership has won would be a very hard task, but they have won Clubs, Federations, Amalgamations and Combines. What makes this partnership even more fantastic is that their birds much like his brother Bobs birds, are responsible for countless winners all over the world in a lot of the biggest pigeon organisations, defiantly a pigeon fancier at the highest level of the game. Steven has been involved in pigeons for his entire 43 years of his life, through his brothers Bobs interest. Steven started racing on his own in 1984 at the age of 13 in the Leytonstone & Stratford club, funnily enough only 3 doors away from where Albie Stockwell first kept and raced pigeons. The 2nd Open Combine winner is a Dark Chequer Hen and is now named 'Black Pearl'. The dam to 'Black Pearl' is named 'Sky' and she in turn was 3rd Open Essex and Kent Young Bird Combine 2012, as well as 'Sky' being a inbred granddaughter of Steven's famous cock bird 'Bolt' winner of 1st Combine, 13 times 1st Club, 4 times 1st County of Essex Federation. Which defiantly goes to prove that the apple does not fall far from the tree. 'Black Pearl' is of 100% Dennis Sapin blood who is one of the top sprint men in Belgium, to whom Steven is friend and UK Agent for and regularly they exchange birds each year. 'Black Pearl' and her loft mates are raced on the basic Darkness system, and she was sent sitting to the race. The team are trained a minimum of 15 miles, depending on where Steven is working as well as the weather conditions. However in preparation for the race Steven changed his routine and would like to thank his brother Bob, who makes the daily commute from Norfolk to Essex, for taking and releasing his pigeons from his home. Stevens team is fed various range of feeds from Versele Laga and he is a big believer in Cider Vinegar and Naturals product Natrualine to which he uses on a regular basis. Steven has one more race left in his programme and that is with the Essex and Kent Combine, where he will be sending his best again, and with the form he is in, I am sure he will be amongst the leaders. The 3rd Open London North Road Combine Winner recording a velocity of 1352 was S . Zielinski of Dagenham. Slav is a young Polish family man, and very hard worker and its totally dedicated to pigeons. For someone that had only been in the sport and keeping pigeons since 2011, I was impressed by his dedication and fantastic loft set up and garden. Before his start in 2011 he had never kept pigeons, although a few of his family keep pigeons, namely his Brother who keeps the very popular polish past time of fancy pigeons, as well as having an Uncle who races in Belgium. Since his start he has been fortunate enough to have been helped by his good friend Lenny Jenkins, and had been a novice up until this years young bird season, but with this win he now has 4 wins to his credit. The 3rd Open Combine winners sire was gifted to him from his Uncle in Belgium, and the dam Slav purchased from the best pigeon fancier in his home town in Poland. The winning pigeon was raced on the Darkness and Sliding door system for most of the year, until Slav let the birds run together to get them on eggs for the important combine. She was sent sitting 8 day old eggs. Slav tries to train a minimum of 3 times per week, to at least the 25 mile point. If it was possible he would train every day possible but working long 12 hour shifts it can sometimes be extremely difficult to school and work the pigeons as much as he would like. The brands of feed Slav uses is Versele Laga Gerry Plus and Versele Laga Superstar Plus, and he uses a lot of Polish pigeon products manufactured by a company called 'Prima'. Slav states they are similar to the products manufactured here but they contain a lot of Garlic, and Oregano. Slav this year followed the feeding and watering advice of the Polish Fancier he purchased the winning pigeons dam from. The future for the winning pigeon is that it will be sent to the following Essex and Kent Combine race. I feel Slav, will make a huge impact in the London and Essex pigeon scene in the future, I was extremely impressed by his loft set up and design and I wish him more success in the future. Unfortunately that sees an end to the racing pigeon season for 2014, and unfortunately the end of my reign as London North Road Combine press officer as I will be stepping down from the position. I would like to thank firstly my travel companion Tony Calverly, for taking time out from his loft tasks and visiting the winners with me, I would also like to thank all the winners, for having the time and patience to sit down answer my questions and showing myself and Tony around your lofts. I would also like to thank those that continually support the London North Road Combine, and help to do whatever it takes, to help make this organisation consistently great. Consequently it will not be the last you hear from me, I will be continuing producing articles and hopefully you shall be hearing from me very soon. Grasshopper 07712432824

Thurso is the northernmost town on the British mainland, situated on the northern coastline overlooking the Orkney Islands, and is roughly 20 miles west of John O Groats. History runs deep in its veins, the earliest record name is the Celtic Tarvodubron, which is 'Bull Water' or 'Fort of the Bull'. It has strong Norse Orcadian links and was a major port, and later became a port of trade between Northern Europe. It also has been the London North Road Combine conclusive race for a number of years, as well as being the deciding factor for the coveted Tommy Long Trophy. Friday 11th July the 633 birds representing the London North Road Combine, were liberated with the Essex and Kent Combine at 8.30am in a North Westerly wind with many fanciers competing around the distance of 510 miles. Many were predicting a good quick racing day from this distance, but unfortunately a lot can happen between 500 plus miles and home, and so was to be the case on this eventful race. According to many of the pigeon forums, the weather route along the east coast gave a mixed bag of results. However the day transformed into a tough and testing day, where only 1.26 percent of the convoy made it home on the day, with only 14% of the convoy making it home combined over two days, nonetheless every federation competing with the London North Road Combine had at least 1 brave, fearless pigeon make it home on the day. Below is the Convoyer's race report: “Left Thurrock services around 10pm Wednesday and headed for Thurso. Stopped at 2am and continued at 5am. Stopped for breakfast at 11am approx. Checked and watered birds. All ok. Arrived at Thurso approx 6pm Thursday. Brilliant sunshine all the way. Opened up shutters on arrival and fed and watered birds approx 6.30pm. Up at 4.30am Friday. Received call from Mr Ashenden around 5.50pm. I advised it was misty and no chance of a lib yet. Phoned Mr Ashenden at 7.10am. Mist had cleared, high cloud breaking. Advised to hold. 8am, broken cloud, sun breaking through. Phoned Mr Ashenden and it was agreed for 8.30am lib. Birds broke into three groups and cleared well. Brilliant sunshine until we hit Newark then it was grey and dead skies. Sorry to hear race didn't go as expected but congratulations to the winners. †D Moore The winner of the London North Road Combine, and so I believe overall winner of the Amalgamation between the London North Road Combine and Essex & Kent Combine, and winning his first ever combine was M Marchant of Ilford. Mark started in the sport in Bethnal Green, hand raising street pigeons. The first streeter he hand raised in fact still resides in the loft and is a personal favourite called 'Charlie' and is 15 years old. Mark has had some success with these hand raised streeters, and one particular hen in his stock loft has bred winners with every cock bird she has been paired to. The Thurso combine winner is hen bred from Frank Sheader Soontjen cross Bob Walton Frans Van Wildermesh. The two year old is of an apple bodied structure, well muscled with her tail coming to one piece, and the shine and plumage tells that this Thurso race did not affect her in the slightest. The Thurso winner has been Marks first bird at every combine race this season. She won the Pride Of Romford Club at Berwick and was also 48th Open London North Road Combine. The winner was originally raced on the widowhood system up till Berwick, where she was then paired to prepare her for Thurso. She was sent to Thurso sitting one egg of roughly 7 days, and was extremely bonded to her nest and box. The birds are fed on Versele Laga Gerry Plus, and Versele Laga All-Rounder, and as a side treat the birds were given as much sunflower hearts as they desire building up to the Thurso race. Regarding supplementation and medicines, the birds were all recently treated for canker, and Mark also uses a supplement called Pro-Bac, which is basically a pro-biotic. Mark is unsure what the future will hold for this game little hen, but she has proven she has a heart of a lion, and a real love and desire for home, it should also be stated Mark bred the 8th Open London North Road Combine Thurso pigeon for his good friend F Nott of Hornchurch. Mark over the last few years has been very happy with his results in the London North Road Combine, as well as his team performances in the Essex & Kent Combine. 2Nd Open London North Road Combine, are regulars to the Thurso podium, and are previously 4 times winners of the London North Road Combine from various race points. It should also be stated they've had a number of birds also to feature in the London North Road Combine Hall Of Fame, and with today's result they have secured for the first time in the great partnerships history, the coveted Tommy Long Trophy. F Dawkins & Son of Plaistow, has been a name thats been competing at the top for many years. Freddy has always been around pigeons as his father used to keep and race pigeons in Bow, and son Keith has always been around birds also, so three generations at least of pigeon fanciers have come from this family. They have been racing from this address since 1989. The 2nd Open winner which I hope the partnership do not mind I've named 'Happy Feet', after a story of the pigeons dam. The pigeons dam was a futurity pigeons purchased from their good friends Jutla Bros of Forest Gate, but when going round to pick up their pigeon with friend Johnny Craske who was also collecting a baby, Johnny refused the 2nd Open winners dam due to its 'Little Feet', while Keith said he would have the one Johnny did not want. The amount of good distance pigeons this hen has gone on to breed has been phenomenal with one of her children being a Hall Of Fame Winner. The sire of the 2nd Open winner is from Freddy and Keiths own family which is based on Alf Bakers Stassaerts, Marsh & Bailey's Ameels, Jim Durley, Lenny Garner's Janssen and Tot Douglas Busschaerts, but predominately the Stassaerts feature mainly. 'Happy Feet' was raced and motivated on the Lesbian Hen system. 8 spare hens were put in a compartment at the beginning of the season, and left them to motivate themselves paired together. 'Happy Feet' was sent to the race sitting 8 day eggs, and she has been raced extremely hard this season being the partnerships first bird home from Lerwick with the North Road Championship Club this season. She has had a few short races this season, then she went to two Berwick races, Arbroath, Lerwick and then onto Thurso. The brands of pigeon feed used is Versele Laga Best All-Rounder 50% mixed with Versele Laga Superstar Plus 50%. A week leading up to distance races the birds are fed around 4 peanuts each day. Regarding supplementation the only one used is Improver, and that is used on a Sunday and Monday, but when the weather is warm returning from the race the partnership will use electrolytes in the drinker. The future of 'Happy Feet' is back in the basket, but the partnership state that she might not go back to Lerwick again but she will defiantly be returning to Thurso. Just to highlight some of the partnerships top results they include, 4x1st Open London North Road Combine, Tommy Long Trophy Winners, 6x1st Section 7 North Road Championship Club, Top Prize winners London North Road Federation, 5 times Individual Points Champions East London Federation, and been top prize winner in the Plaistow Working Mans Club for a number of years. The Trumpeters where in the streets of Canning Town, with the crown crier shouting when I arrived 'The King Has Returned'. I stepped out of my vehicle and asked one of the paraders “What was going on?â€, they answered “What Haven't you heard? King Henry is back!â€. I stood a little dumbfounded for a while, I scratched my head, and thought could they be talking about the legendary H Blaker of Canning Town that I was about to see for winning 3rd Open London North Road Combine Thurso? I went up to his address, and answering the door, was this great structured strong as an ox man, wearing a kings crown and robe, and another pigeon fancier alongside him acting as his Jester. The King being Henry Blaker and the Jester being his good friend Snowy Goodwin. Now what the reader must realise the job of a scribe is not the easiest of tasks, and for the next part of the article, I will ask you not to read with serious eyes, but all answers are the answers that King Henry provided for my Dictaphone. However what must be stated Henry Blaker at one time was one of the most fierce competitors in the London North Road Combine, and racing in the East London area in general, in fact at one time there was few better and I for one have bundles of respect for him. Henry has been a pigeon fancier since birth, as he was born with two feathers protruding from his derrière, but it was not until the local vicar also a pigeon fancier tried to pluck them out while Henry was cleaning his lofts. Henry races in a club at the moment he likes to call the last of the Summer Wine Club, as he reminds himself of Compo, Alfie Gadsdon reminds him of Foggy, Johnny Forst reminds him of Cleggy, and Snowy reminds him of Howard Shibshaw due to his promiscuous nature. The 3rd Open London North Road Combine winner is a Soontjen 2nd round young bird last season, that Henry has now named 'Snowy 2' due to its highly elevated sex drive and just like Snowy if a frog did not hop he would try to mount it. The pigeon has been to every race this season and was his first bird home last year from Aycliffe. The winning cock bird was sent sitting 10 days on eggs. The brands of feed used are the cheapest he can get his hands on, Henry is a big fan of GEM Blobby Mix, he loves mixtures that offer a huge variety. No supplementation is used at all. 'Snowy 2' will be raced in 2 weeks time with the young birds in the East London Federation. Henry is a past London North Road Combine winner from Thurso 5,695 birds, and has bred combine winners for other fanciers. To state all his past top performances would probably fill this publication but believe me his performances are legendary. I feel I should also mention Henry's old great pigeon in the loft at 21 years old and still thriving and strong is the 'Old Gypsie Cock'. The London North Road Combine Provisional Top 50 and station winners as follows; 1 M MARCHANT P.O.ROMFORD 1352 2 F DAWKINS/S PLAISTOW 1299.0 3 H BLAKER NEWHAM 1272.1 4 R SCOTT DAGENHAM 1223.8 5 M CONNOLLY/S CUSTOM HSE 1210.5 6 M COOPER GRAYS 1196.2 7 J TURNELL/S CHESHUNT 1151.3 8 F NOTT HORNCHURCH 1142.2 9 D WILTON/S C.S.MARY 998.6 10 J TURNELL/S CHESHUNT 991.3 11 BR CHAPMAN CHESHUNT 978.6 12 W NORTON/S HORNCHURCH 970.6 13 L NIEDZWICKI CHESHUNT 957.0 14 L NIEDZWICKI CHESHUNT 942.8 15 L STEVENS HORNCHURCH 908.3 16 L STEVENS HORNCHURCH 903.0 17 L STEVENS HORNCHURCH 897.1 18 J LAMPRELL CHESHUNT 871.7 19 M/M A BROWN P.O.ROMFORD 868.1 20 A COOK DAGENHAM 846.5 21 M/M WERNHAM N ELTHAM 845.6 22 L NIEDZWICKI CHESHUNT 832.8 23 T GUNN C.S.MARY 822.6 24 G BROCKIE N ELTHAM 822.3 25 L NIEDZWICKI CHESHUNT 817.1 26 J TURNELL/S CHESHUNT 811.4 27 P E KELLETT DAGENHAM 809.1 28 S BAKER/S CHESHUNT 801.4 29 A GADSDON/S CUSTOM HSE 800.9 30 A TIAUTERS CHESHUNT 794.6 31 M/M BEVEN GRAYS 791.3 32 A GADSDON/S CUSTOM HSE 790.7 33 CLARK BROS HORNCHURCH 788.3 34 M/M BEVEN GRAYS 784.4 35 M COOPER GRAYS 784.0 36 T GUNN C.S.MARY 782.0 37 A P WOODGER C.S.MARY 780.1 38 B L ROBINSON GRAYS 770.6 39 D NUNN NEWHAM 768.0 40 T GUNN C.S.MARY 764.7 41 T DUNN P.O,ROMFORD 764.0 42 A COOK DAGENHAM 758.4 43 P E KELLETT DAGENHAM 755.9 44 L STOCK/S HORNCHURCH 755.4 45 M MARCHANT P.O.ROMFORD 753.8 46 M MARCHANT P.O.ROMFORD 753.8 47 M CONNOLLY/S CUSTOM HSE 753.7 48 T DUNN P.O.ROMFORD 753.6 49 HM + G FOWLE TILBURY 750.8 50 D NUNN NEWHAM 750.0 Tilbury station M Cooper 1196 D Wilton son 998 Mr Mrs Beven 791 Mr Mrs Beven 784 M Cooper 784 A P Woodger 780 N.Eltham Mr Mrs Wernham 845 G Brockie 822 G Brockie 737 Hornchurch F Nott 1142 W Norton/s 970 L Stevens 908 L Stevens 903 L Stevens 897 Clark bros 788 Dagenham H Blaker 1272 R Scott 1223 M/m A Brown 868 A Cook 846 T Gunn 822 P E Kellett 809 Cheshunt J Turnell/s 1151 J Turnell/s 991 L Niedzwiecki 951 L Niedzwiecki 942 B J Lamprell 871 L Niedzwiecki 832 Stratford M Marchant 1352 F Dawkins/s 1299 M Connolly/s 1210 R Chapman 978.6 M Marchant 753 M Marchant 753 That is it for the London North Road Combines programme for old birds, the next London North Road Combine race will be for the young bird programme from Aycliffe. I have included a photo of a Hall of Fame Winner from Last Year who also scored 85th London North Road Combine Thurso for Mr & Mrs Fowler. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers the best of luck, and I look forward to visiting the top 3 competitors from the young bird race. Grasshopper 07712432824

Stonehaven is a town in Kincardineshire, and is roughly 15 miles south of Aberdeen Scotland. It lies on Scotland's north east coast, and is often referred to by our Scottish friends as the “Auld Toonâ€, due to its iron age fishing links. The London North Road Combine for a number of years have had a love hate relationship with the “Auld Toonâ€, and year after year the decision is to either have the combine race from Stonehaven or Arbroath. However the decision was made that for 2014 the combine would go with Stonehaven, and have a joint liberation with the Essex & Kent Combine. Saturday 21st June the 922 birds representing the London North Road Combine, were liberated at 7.15am in a North Westerly wind with many fanciers competing around the distance of 388 miles. Much like the last combine race from Berwick, the buzz of excitement was expecting very good speeds, but unlike the Berwick predictions many for the Stonehaven race were nearly spot on, with the leading birds recording 53 miles per hour, with many reporting excellent returns. Below is the Convoyer's race report: “After pick ups, departed for Stonehaven and checked birds on route 9am Friday. All ok. Arrived Stonehaven 1 o'clock and had trouble getting on car park as very small and full of cars. After sorting this out, watered birds. Lifted shutters. All ok. Fed and re-watered birds at 3.30pm. Closed shutters at 6.45pm. Saturday, up at 4.15am. Overcast with high clouds. Opened shutters at 4.45am and re-watered birds. On opening shutters, one broke and had to lift them by hand. Apparently it had been repaired before. Phone call from Mr Ashenden around 5.30am. After discussion, it was decided for another phone call later as cloudy on site. Cloud broke quickly, after phone call from Mr Ashenden, it was decided on 7.15am lib. Had to move cars in car park as we had very limited space. Birds liberated at 7.15am. They broke into 3 different batches and hung around for 2 - 3 minutes then cleared. The weather on route home was fine, visibility as far as the eye could see. Arrived home at 8.45pm. Hope a good race was had by all†D Moore The winner of the London North Road Combine can and should be considered as one of the great partnerships to ever have raced in the organisation, as with this win they are now crowned as 5 times winners. In the past the have won 1st Open London North Road Combine Berwick Yearling, 1st London North Road Combine Stonehaven, 1st Open London North Road Combine Arbroath, 1st Open London North Road Combine Newcastle, to add to their new title of 1st Open London North Road Combine Stonehaven, thats not to mention that the partnership is also hugely successful on the South Road, where they fly and compete with various organisations such at The BBC, The BICC and The NFC, where they have also won 1st BBC National young birds, 1st Open BICC Falaise Old Hens, and also 1st Open L&SECC Tours, as well as having a Merit award winner with the L&SECC from Tarbes. As can be seen the winning partnership are top, top draw, and north or south is no obstacle as they perform to the absolute highest standard on both routes, if you have not guessed by now, it is the formidable family partnership of D. Wilton & Son of Chadwell St Marys. Robbie, started in the sport in 1978 as a teenager with his father, and his interest grew from watching his Uncle Roys pigeons returning from races. There first loft could be considered extremely different to what it is today, as back then the loft was a converted back end of a lorry. Success was instant for Robbie as he won his first race he ever entered in 1979, and he still races in the same Club (Chadwell St Marys) and federation (West Essex Federation) as well as address today. Young Andrew who is also heavily involved with the birds has been brought up with the pigeons from a young age, and his real ambition in the sport is the big south road national racing. The fantastic muscled 2 year old Pencil Blue Cock now named “Barn Boyâ€, is a direct son of a Janssen based cock who previously won 4th Open London North Road Combine Berwick Yearling and his dam is a hen bred for the partnership from George and Steven Chalkley, from their successful family of Hartog pigeons. “Barn Boy†has come to the winners podium before, as a young bird he was raced in the South of the Thames Federation, where he won 2x1st Club, and 20th Open Essex and Kent Combine Ripon, and was 2nd club two weeks prior to his win on the big stage with the London North Road Combine. The winner is raced on 100% pure widowhood and had every race prior to Stonehaven. For combine racing the cocks only get to see the bowls about an hour before basketing and only see their hens on return as a reward. The widowhood cocks are exercised twice a day an hour of a morning, and if flying with speed and vigour an hour and a quarter of a night. The brands of feed used are Versele Laga Superstar Plus IC and Super Widowhood as well as GEMS Super Widowhood. The birds are given Lugol Plus made by Travipharma, on a Sunday and Monday, and on a Wednesday, Thursday mixed on the grain is Wheatgerm oil. Their diet is also supplemented with the use of peanuts every evening just a couple per bird. The future for “Barn Boy†is in the basket, however the partnership are unsure if he will be competing with the London North Road Combine at Thurso. The journey for 2nd and 3rd open was to the partnership of A P Woodger of Chadwell St Marys. The partnership have hit dream form in the last two London North Road Combine races, as from Berwick they recorded 7th Open, and 2nd Open Berwick Yearling. With such great performances they have put themselves in the running for the prestigious Tommy Long trophy, and a chance for their name to go in the history books. Andy and Peter started in the sport in 1978, after a visit with their father to the famous East End market Petticoat Lane. However it took a lot of persuading and eventually on the second visit to the market their parents caved in and allowed the brothers to obtain some, and neither have been without pigeons since. They both raced singularly at first however they joint forces in 2006. However the last few seasons they have done many alterations to the loft and obtained new pigeons, which is showing to be working as their results have steadily been improving, with this season being their best to date. The 2nd and 3rd open widowhood cocks are both small apple bodied pigeons, and they are 100% Louis Massarella Corbett Busschaerts. Both their sire and dam where obtained directly from the Pen Sales at the famous Louella Pigeon World in Leicester. The 2Nd Open Mealy cock 'NWHU12-B-4921' has always been a consistent pigeon for the partnership, and could be considered Peters favourite bird in the loft. To his credit he now has a 2nd, 3rd and 4th club. The 3rd open Chequer Cock 'NWHU12-B-4949' actually won the Newark race prior to the Combine in the club, so as can be seen he has started to hit the super form. Both birds are raced on the widowhood system, and before the combine the cocks received the bowl for 30 minutes, and the hen for an additional 30 minutes, before being basketed. The two cocks have not missed a race since the start of the season. The cocks are exercised twice a day morning and night for one hour. The brands of feed used are Versele Laga Super Widowhood, and Depurative, plus the use of Red Band. The only supplementation used is on the day of return, and its waiting for them in the drinkers is Cider Vinegar. The future for both cocks is that they will be raced again but much like the winning partnership of D. Wilton & Son, they are unsure if they will be sent to Thurso.As well as the fantastic results the partnership achieved the last two London North Road Combine, they are most proud that they have achieved 7th open London north Road Combine before, also the buzz they got from racing south road out of Alencon. The London North Road Combine Provisional Top 30 and station winners are as follows: 1 D WILTON/SON C.S.MARY 1524 2 A & P WOODGER C.S.MARY 1523 3 A & P WOODGER C.S.MARY 1520 4 A & R TUBEY DAGENHAM 1507 5 M CONNOLLY/SON CUSTOM/HSE 1506 6 LING BROS BARKING 1505.3 7 R SCOTT DAGENHAM 1505.1 8 J CROXTON HORNCHURCH 1502 9 H M & G FOWLE TILBURY 1500 10 S BAKER/SON CHESHUNT 1498 11 G CHALKLEY/SON E.L.N.R 1497 12 CLARK BROS HORNCHURCH 1496 13 D WILTON/SON C.S.MARY 1494 14 F DAWKINS/SON PLAISTOW 1493.6 15 CLARK BROS HORNCHURCH 1493.3 16 P E KELLET DAGENHAM 1493.0 17 R SCOTT DAGENHAM 1491.9 18 M/MS THORPE ILFORD 1491.6 19 G CHALKLEY/SON E.L.N.R. 1490. 20 J LAMPRELL CHESHUNT 1489 21 M/MS CAVERLLY DAGENHAM 1487 22 S GOODWIN NEWHAM 1486 23 L NIEDZWIECKI CHESHUNT 1485.6 24 K MARTIN/DTR DAGENHAM 1485.4 25 R SCOTT DAGENHAM 1483.9 26 T HEWITT C.S.MARY 1483.6 27 S BULLARDS/SON CUSTOM/HSE 1483.2 28 M/MS THORPE ILFORD 1483.1 29 S BAKER/SON CHESHUNT 1481.8 30 J CRASKE PLAISTOW 1481.4 Tilbury station D Wilton/son 1524 A & P Woodger 1523 A & P Woodger 1520 HM & G Fowle 1500 D Wilton/son 1494 T Hewitt 1483 D Wilton/son 1479 M Cooper 1474 N.Eltham K Doughty 1429 K Doughty 1424 K Doughty 1389 Hornchurch J Croxen 1502 Clark Bros 1496 Clark Bros 1493 J Croxen 1478 T Dunn 1471 L Stock.son 1446 Dagenham A & R Tubey 1507 Ling Bros 1505.3 R Scott 1505.1 P E Kellet 1493 R Scott 1491 M/m Calvelly 1487 S Goodwin 1486 R Scott 1483 Cheshunt S Baker 1489.89 J Lambrell 1489.05 L Niedzwiecki 1485 S Baker/son 1481 L Niedzwiecki 1468 S Baker/son 1461 Stratford M Connolly/son 1506 G Chalkley/son 1497 M/ms Thorpe 1491 G Chalkley/son 1490 M/ms Thorpe 1483 J Craske 1481 The next London North Road Combine is from Thurso with a joint liberation with the Essex & Kent Combine. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers the best of luck, and I look forward to visiting the top 3 competitors. Grasshopper 07712432824

Berwick-upon-Tweed, a town in the county of Northumberland, and is the northernmost town in England, situated along the east cost at the mouth of the River Tweed. Its name is deprived from old English origins, meaning “Barley Village†and incidentally has been a classic race point for many pigeon racing organisations for many years. The London North Road Combine, kick started their racing schedule this year from this iconic race point on Saturday 31st May, as the birds were liberated at 7am in a light West, North, Westerly wind. From the buzz of activity on Thursday basketing night, many were suggesting the convoy just short of 2,000 pigeons would achieve excellent speeds. Unfortunately the story that unravelled, was a much slower affair then many predicted with the leading pigeons clocking a speed just over 43mph. The energy and excitement that was present on Thursday, had lowered by clock opening as many fanciers reported heavy losses, but as with races like these, there was also many fanciers reporting excellent returns. Bellow is the Convoyer's race report: “I left the Cheshunt marking station at 12.30am, I stopped at Peterborough by 2am for one hour. I arrived at Berwick by 9.30am, where I watered birds on arrival. The birds were fed, and watered again at 3pm. The transporter was then shut at 9.30pm. Saturday morning, I opened up the transporter at 5am, to which I topped up drinkers. The weather was very good at liberation site. I phoned Mr Chalkley at 6.30am, The Essex and Kent Combine had liberated at 6am. Mr Chalkley phoned with the weather report, and was told there was a lot of cloud around the Ripon and Doncaster area but clearing. We decided to liberate birds at 7am, all birds cleared well. Weather on route for the first 110 miles, was sunshine, blue skies and broken cloud. Got to Ripon, full cloud cover and slight ground haze, when I reached the Doncaster, Retford area the weather got a little worse, still full cloud cover, heavy mist, visibility not very good this lasted 10 to 15 miles. The weather started to clear around Stamford. From Peterborough to home weather was good.†Ron Garrod What was refreshing to come out of the race, was that the 3 leading birds represented 3 different federations. The well deserved winner coming out of the east of the convoy, recording a velocity of 1269, to the now 2 times London North Road Combine Winners L J Stock & Son of Harold Wood. Les started in the sport like many fanciers by following his fathers interest, and they flew together for many years in the Dagenham area. He has lived and raced out of his current address in Harold Wood for roughly 28 years. In 1998, Les purchased 8 pigeons of the legendary Geoff Kirkland, and these have formed the basis of his family today. The Berwick combine winner is a fantastic apple bodied, 3 year old Blue Pied cock named 'Flashman'. He is a direct Grandson of Les' London North Road Combine Dunbar winner, and is from the line of Les' original purchases from Geoff Kirkland. The winning pigeon has won minor prize cards before, but he also has never let Les down, he is always very consistent being one of the first birds to arrive to the loft each race. He is raced on the basic widowhood system, however Les, no longer shows the hens before the race, and now sends the birds only seeing the bowl. He believes it makes the birds calmer and rest better in the basket, where in previous years showing the hens, the cocks would be fighting on the way to the marking station. The winner was prepared pre-season with regular training flights before the first race up to the distance roughly 30 miles, and then only loft exercise morning and night for one hour. The birds are fed twice a day, receiving half an ounce of Gerry Plus IC from Versele Laga of a morning, and of an evening they receive Versele Laga Widowhood mixture, with a small percentage of barley, to which they are fed to appetite a little at a time, until the birds show no interest in the barley. The birds receive clean water every day apart from the use of a multivitamin supplement on a Tuesday. The winning cock will be continued to race and is earmarked to be sent to the next London North Road Combine race Stonehaven. Les currently has a small team of natural pigeons that he is playing with on the south road, and in the future he is contemplating on training his young birds on both routes, to school them and also to allow him the option of sending both ways north and south road. 2Nd open London North Road Combine Berwick, fell to the partnership of A . Gadsdon & Son of Beckton, yet again a previous London North Road Combine winning partnership. Alfie started in the sport as a young boy because of the popularity of the sport, and nearly every house at the time raced or kept pigeons in the Custom House area, and his first lofts were made from old tea chests. Son, Ryans interest in the sport started like many father son partnerships, and his interest was kindled by being brought up alongside the pigeons. The family have been unfortunate the last 4 seasons at this particular race point or the equivalent Dunbar, as they have recorded now 2nd, 5th, 7th and 12th Open. The 2 year old long cast Dark Chequer widowhood cock now named 'Nearly Frank', has taken a number of top 20 prize cards in the federation in his short career, as he had been nursed along being a late bred in 2012. The sire of the 'Nearly Frank' was purchased from former club mate Billy Lynch from original Willy Thas lines, and has bred previous club and federation winners. The dam of 'Nearly Frank', was purchased as a late bred by Ryan's partner Amy, for his 18th birthday from the Legend and good friend of Ryan's, Frank Tasker, who 'Nearly Frank' is named after. The dam is the number 1 hen at the lofts, and has bred a host of good club, federation and combine pigeons. She is dam and grandam to many club and federation winners but its in the combines they feel this hens children perform at there best with results such as 2nd London North Road Combine Berwick, 5th Open London North Berwick, 8th Open London North Road Combine Whitton Castle, 9th Open London North Road Combine Aycliffe, 16th Open London North Road Combine Aycliffe. 'Nearly Frank' is raced on total widowhood, where both sexes go to each race. The partnerships cocks are exercised only once a day for a period of two hours, however the doors are opened after 45 minutes, the hens on the other hand are trained regular with the help of Georgie Fry. The birds are fed using three different types of mixture from Bamfords TOPFLIGHT, and the composition of grains varies each week dependant on the race. In the drinker the birds only receive Gems Strike 2 on a sunday, the rest of the week is clean water. The partnership this year are experimenting racing old hens, to which they are preparing for combine racing. The partnership also in the past, as well as winning the London North Road Combine, have been the Sprint Champions of The East London Federation. 3Rd Open London North Road Combine Berwick, yet again a previous London North Road Combine winning partnership in the form of Mr & Mrs Calverley of Dagenham. Tony started in the sport 1988, after watching his fathers birds return home for a number of years, felt that pigeon racing would be a hobby he would like to become more involved with. The 3rd Open London North Road Combine, could be considered old in racing terms at 7 years old, but with the performances the cock now named 'Special 1-1', has put up every single year is truly amazing and not many birds like him turn up in a lifetime. To his credit 'Special 1-1' has been 2nd Open London North Road Combine Whitton Castle, 3rd Open London North Road Combine Berwick, 22nd Yearling London North Road Combine Dunbar, 23rd London North Road Combine Berwick, 57th London North Road Combine Dunbar, 18th Essex & Kent Amalgamation Wetherby, 18th Essex & Kent Amalgamation Ripon, 22nd Essex & Kent Amalgamation Wetherby, 28th Essex & Kent Amalgamation Wetherby, 34th Essex & Kent Amalgamation Wetherby, as well as 4x1st West Essex Federation, 2x2nd West Essex Federation, 1x3rd West Essex Federation, 2x4th West Essex Federation, 3x5th West Essex Federation, 1x6th West Essex Federation, 4x8th West Essex Federation, 1x9th West Essex Federation, 1x10th West Essex Federation, 1x11th West Essex Federation, 1x13th West Essex Federation. Those are just some of this terrific pigeons performances, as club cards and a few federation cards unfortunately have been misplaced, but as can be seen this Blue widowhood cock is a super, super pigeon that still acts and performs like a yearling, as well as being sire and grandsire of winners. 'Special 1-1' was bred in the stock loft, from M & D Evans Gaby Vandenabeele's that he originally purchased from Joe Costello also from Dagenham. This special cock bird is raced on 100% widowhood and is shown his hen for roughly an hour before each race. This year Tonys birds received no preseason or in season training at all, as there is no local van or trailer and Tony is unable to drive. The cocks are exercised twice a day, at routine times and the birds exercise really well for one hour each time. The brands of feeding are from various companies, that Tony likes the look of and he will mix both brands of widowhood mixture together, and the birds are broke down one day a week on a sunday. No supplementation is used in the drinking water. 'Special 1-1''s future is now destined for the stock loft where he will enjoy his retirement being paired to the partnerships best hens.The partnership have had a few results in the past they are most proud of including there Young Bird London North Road Combine win, 1st South East London Amalgamation, as well as past Best Flyer Old Bird, Best Flyer Young Bird and Best Overall Flyer in West Essex Federation. The London North Road Combine Provisional Top 30, and Station winners are as follows 1 L.J.STOCK & SON HORNCHURCH 1269 2 A GADSDON SON CUSTOM HOUSE 1254 3 M/m CALVERLEY DAGENHAM 1247 4 A STOCKWELL S ILFORD 1242.6 5 K DOUGHTY ELTHAM 1242.4 6 VAN SANCHEZ DAGENHAM 1242.3 7 A & P WOODGER C.S.MARY 1241 8 B SCOTT DAGENHAM 1237 9 M/M BEVEN GRAYS 1236 10 B GEORDIMANIA DAGENHAM 1225.4 11 R & R NICHOLLS C.S.MARY 1225.2 12 T DUNN XROADS 1225.0 13 M CONNOLLY SON CUSTOM HSE 1224 14 J CONNOLLY SON NEWHAM 1222 15 M/M BEVEN GRAYS 1219 16 C PASTERFIELD DTR  TILBURY 1218 17 S BAKER SON CHESHUNT 1217 18 M/M BEVEN GRAYS 1216 19 M MOYNIHAN E.L.N.R 1213 20 F DAWKINS SON PLAISTOW 1211 21 A TAYLOR SON DAGENHAM 1209.8 22 D NUNN NEWHAM 1209.4 23 B WOODHOUSE SON E.L.N.R. 1206.2 24 J BENTON TILBURY 1206.0 25 M/M J`OBRIEN C.S.MARY 1205.9 26 L FINAN C.S.MARY 1205.7 27 M/M J SMITH ELTHAM 1205.1 28 B WOODHOUSE SON E.L.N.R. 1204.9 29 J COTTERELL DAGENHAM 1204.5 30 T GUNN C.S.MARY 1204.3 Tilbury station A & P Woodger 1241 Mr Mrs Beven 1236 R & R Nicholls 1225 Mr Mrs Beven 1219 C Pasterfield Dtr  1218 Mr Mrs Beven 1216 J Benton 1206 M/m J`o Brien 1205 New Eltham K Doughty1242 Mr Mrs Smith 1205 Mr Mrs Smith 1193 Mr Mrs Smith 1179 K Doughty 1174 K Doughty 1160 D Kennedy 1131 G Brockie 1121 Hornchurch L Stocks Son 1269 T Dunn 1225 Clark Bros 1199.6 T Dunn 1199 .4 Clark Bros 1197 Stevens 1193 M Wallace 1188 N Martin 1183 Dagenham A Gadsdon Son 1254 M/m Calverley 1247 Van Sanchez 1242 B Scott 1237 B Geordimania 1225 J Connolly Son 1222 A Taylor Son 1209 A R Tubey 1207 Cheshunt S Baker son 1217 L Niedzwiecki 1203 J Turnell Son 1194 L Niedzwiecki 1176 L Niedzwiecki 1175 L Niedzwiecki 1164 S Barker son 1162 M/m Luffman 1158 Stratford A Stockwell Son 1242 M Connolly Son 1223 M Moynahan 1213 F Dawkins Son 1211 D Nunn 1209 B Woodhouse s 1206 B Woodhouse s 1204.9 M/m S Fenech 1204.2 The next London North Road Combine is from Stonehaven with a joint liberation with the Essex & Kent Combine. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers the best of luck, and I look forward to visiting the top 3 competitors. Grasshopper 07712432824

Canning Town is a district of East London. It is situated in the London Borough of Newham, and lays north westerly of the River Thames. Once known as the child of the Victoria Docks, as many of its inhabitants worked on the once hugely commercial success of its day. In racing pigeon terms we often hear how important positioning can be, and also how wind plays another vital important role. However, one partnerships remarkable team of pigeons contradict the said theories, as they are positioned in a disadvantageous position, and the prevailing wind blows in a south westerly direction. Sprint or Distance racing is no issue, as they win them both to the highest standard, in Federation and The London North Road Combine. Their performances against the grain of the said theories, in my eyes make the partnership one of, if not the best London has ever seen, the fantastic partnership of Micky Connolly & son Michael. When Micky was just 5 years old, his natural curious behaviour played a big part on how he started in the sport. His older brother Henry, at the time had a marvellous set up in the parental home, a double decker structure, where the families chickens were kept at ground level, and Henry's beloved pigeons on the first floor. Micky would regularly watch Henry’s athletes of the sky with desire in his eyes, with dreaming one day to own his own. Around this time, the family had an old empty canary cage. As many of the readers will know, toys was not a common thing roughly sixty years ago, and many things children would play with would have to be made or the child would have to use their imaginations. Micky at the time done both, with old used newspapers, he rolled up balls, and pretended they was his prized birds, and the old canary cage his loft. His older siblings would watch in amazement how he impersonated, Henry's actions of getting his birds to enter the loft. Henry was very encouraging of Micky's interest in the birds, and would often take Micky into the lofts to help with certain tasks such as feeding and cleaning. However, Micky wanted some form of independence, and regularly on a Friday evening, Henry would hit the town with his friends, allowing Micky the perfect opportunity. As soon as the door would slam shut, Micky would be up the stairs to the lofts and exercise a fully fed team of birds. Obviously that lead to the problem of the birds spending a night on the tiles literally. Being worried of the consequences, Micky would hardly sleep on those nights, and rise at the crack of dawn to call the birds in, while a hungover Henry was still sleeping. It was not until Micky was 15 years old that he obtained his own birds and applied, and joined the Canning Town and District club which at the time had roughly around 90 actual members with 60 of the members actively racing. At this time, Micky's birds were a mixture gifts from local fanciers, and strays he would catch every weekend while fruit picking near Wisbech in Cambridge. Success came fairly instantly, as within his first year he won a race with a chequer hen bred from two strays, and ended up taking 4th federation. When Micky was 22, he was still living and racing pigeons at his parents address, unfortunately the family had to move during the season. Not deterred, with his race team sitting and rearing young birds, Micky went ahead and moved his birds to the new address on the Tuesday morning. On the Wednesday, Micky attempted to brake the birds in, consequently all birds returned to the previous address. One by one all birds had returned back to the new lofts address by the Friday, just in time and ready for marking. That first race to the new address was a disappointment, but the following week the birds excelled topping the club with around 700 birds, and winning the federation with 4,000. Micky, moved to his present address roughly 30 years ago, while still being a member of his childhood club Canning Town. It was not until roughly 18 years ago that he joined his present club, The Custom House Working Man's Club, that had a huge reputation of having some of London’s finest competitors, especially at combine level. Consequently Micky, has broke many records over the years that the club has held and has even set his own. Young Michael's interest in pigeon, started much like the majority of the youth involved in the sport today, by following and helping his father, in and around the lofts from a very young age, and has had a love for the birds ever since. As can be seen Micky, has never been far away from the top of the sheet, and has never positioned lower then third highest prizewinner in any club he has raced in, it should also be mentioned that this partnership have amazingly won the London North Road Combine on two occasions. In the early days, Micky received a lot of help and advice from two fanciers Lenny Croxon of Canning Town, and he was very good friends with Jack Marison of Plaistow. Mick stated their advice was brilliant at the time, but especially over the last twenty years the sport has transformed, and many of their beliefs are behind the times. Mick also believes that you must always be one step ahead of the competition, and you must constantly progress. Mick feels that Young Michael adds that influential ingredient, by always bringing fresh ideas to the table, which they put into practice with great success. The base of the family originate from Staf Van Reet of Mol, Jan Hubrechts via Herman Beverdam, Benny Brothers of Plymouth, Henry Gonsalves of Bristol and more recently, Billy Lynch of Romney Marsh, and Paul Elliot of Canvey Island. Micky, is convinced that their results over the last 10 years have elevated due to their breeding system. A few years ago, their system of breeding consisted of having a winner, in every generation over 5 generations. More recently they have improved this system, by raising the winning genes, meaning both parents in each generation are winners or multiple winners. Micky and Michael are enthusiasts of the line breeding and inbreeding methods, however the occasional cross will be used to create hybrid vigour. They have found their most successful birds generally come from the mating of, Uncle to Niece, Aunt to Nephew, and Cousin to Cousin. The selection process when bringing in a cross, is the bird itself must be a multiple performance pigeon or from a multiple performance pigeon. They consider introducing new birds into their lofts is a big risk. Being a small team set up, every bird must instantly mingle with their own family of birds, they do not have the room or facilities to quarantine new arrivals, hence threatening their birds natural immunity. What is most interesting about this loft, no stock birds are kept, every bird kept must race and perform, as the key to their successful breeding method is breeding from good, healthy winners, and being extremely ruthless in their selection. The success of the family of birds has been remarkable, over the last 5 years, they have achieved 32 x 1st club, 34 x 2nd club, 36 x 3rd club, 21 x 1st fed, 10 x 2nd fed, 15 x 3rd fed, as well as 200 plus federation cards. To add to this they have been Overall East London Federation Champions 4 times, Sprint Champions 2 times, and Old Bird of the year 5 times. In 2012 the partnership won 7 out of the 10 special trophy awards given out by the federation from sprint to long distance. In 2013 the partnership won 8 out of 10 of these awards also. They are also extremely successful in the London North Road Combine, where they have won over 54 combine cards, as well as the coveted Tommy Long Trophy in 2012, awarded for the Best Average over 3 Old bird London North Road Combine races, as well as winning 3 RPRA London Region Awards. The best preparation in this partnership's eyes prior to pairing, is to never allow your breeding or racing pigeons to get out of condition. Their birds are exercised all year round, and are never allowed to put on any winter weight, with regular exercise and by feeding a constant diet of Versele Laga Gerry Plus IC throughout the year. The use of medication is a thing of the past at this loft, apart from the compulsory vaccination they have not used them for a number of years. Micky stated, that many years ago he experimented with regular canker treatments, and by doing so, he found that his birds suffered with canker problems. However, once he stopped treating for canker, the canker problems ceased. Consequently, they are big advocates of the use of cider vinegar and garlic, which they place confidence in at keeping canker issues away, and is something they use a lot of especially in the winter months. While pairing and racing the use of clean water, the partnership feel is crucial to their success, and gives them the edge over their rivals. They feel one of the major downfalls of their opponents, is believing that success comes from a supplement bottle. Many fanciers disregard the importance that water has on pigeons, by energizing the muscles, removing toxins, improves brain function and helps maintain natural bowel functions. They believe a pigeon should have no hesitation about drinking, and should hydrate as they please, which they feel is very important all year round, especially during racing and rearing. As stated the birds are fed Gerry Plus IC, and this will be used until the birds are roughly a week old, to which they will be moved onto Versele Laga Start Plus. They consider the Versele Laga Plus ranges to be the best grain on the market. They feel Versele Laga have put great deal of research into producing these mixtures, and the pellets they contain, provide the birds with all the minerals and trace elements that a pigeon need to be successful. On the other hand, when the youngsters are 10 days old, they give the youngsters Brewers Yeast tablets and Cod liver oil capsules to provide the babies with extra protein, B vitamins, Vitamin A and Vitamin D. Once weaned the 15 pair of racers are put back onto Gerry Plus IC, and are separated and put on to the Widowhood system, and are exercised twice a day. The morning exercise, consists of the birds being exercised with the doors open, and the birds can come and go as they please. Their evening exercise, is known at the lofts as the business hour, where the birds must give all their effort. At the hour of business, Young Michael, has to hide in the lofts away from sight of the widowhood cocks, as once they catch glimpse of him, they will dive bomb the lofts and trap into the lofts without a second thought. The birds are never allowed out for exercise on a marking day, as they do not want to ruin the hard work they have put into the birds all week. As they race both sexes, they keep a dozen spare hens at home, to which the cocks race back to, however the partnership feel the Old hens race back to themselves, as many of the old hens pair to them. Many years ago Georgie Fry of Custom House, provided the partnership the cornerstone of their success, a metal coffee spoon, which roughly holds half an ounce of grain. All birds housed at the loft are fed and watered exactly the same, whether that be Old Cocks, Old Hens or Young Birds. Their system starting from return from a race on Saturday, is 1 spoon measure of Versele Laga Energy Plus, with plain water in the drinker, unless the race has been testing, if so glucose will be used in the drinker. Saturday evening the birds are fed ad-lib Gerry Plus IC, fed a little bit at a time as they want their birds to eat every grain placed in front of them. All day Sunday, a hopper of Tic Beans is placed in front of the birds, they are given a Brewers Yeast Tablet each and Cider Vinegar is used in the drinker, 4 bottle caps to 2 litres of water. The reasoning behind the feeding and Brewers Yeast tablets, is to increase the protein levels of the birds, the partnership feel it is very important that when muscles have been torn, which they do with every form of strenuous exercise, that the birds should receive the right nutrients to allow the muscle to repair. The Cider Vinegar is used to acidify the crop, and making it unpleasant for any bacteria or fungus that they may have picked up in the race basket. From Monday to Thursday the partnership then go onto feeding only once per day after the evening exercise. On Monday morning, the hopper of beans from the previous day is removed. Then after the evening exercise the birds are fed 1 ounce of Gerry Plus IC, and again Cider Vinegar in the drinker. On a Tuesday and Wednesday the feeding is exactly the same as Monday, 1 ounce of Gerry Plus, however in the drinker only plain water is used right through to basketing. The feeding changes somewhat on a Thursday, as after their exercise the birds are fed, 1 and ½ ounces of Versele Laga Superstar Plus. Friday morning, the birds are fed to appetite of Superstar Plus, a little at a time always having to eat the portion put before them. However the partnership stated, that over the years they have found the birds that keep on eating are usually behind come race day. The partnership do tweak the system when the distance increases. A pinch of homoform will be used before the birds feed and the use of peanuts are fed 3 weeks prior, however no peanuts will be used the week of the race. The watering system caused interest, as the water is kept in a series of recycled Milk Bottles, once used they are refilled with the cap taken off, to allow the tap waters additives to evaporate. Their system for basketing is very simple, nothing special is actually done, no showing of bowls or hens/cocks, the basket is just taken down to the lofts and the birds are basketed. The birds only see their partners on return. Micky and Young Michael are big believers that widowhood cocks do not race home to see their hens, they believe they race back home to their territory. However over the years and by reading so many books on widowhood, they go with the motions of what the authors say, hence the reason for keeping a few spare hens. The partnership believes, the cocks are motivated during the week by the use of Saddle perches positioned in-between the widowhood boxes. Micky says, that when transferring the young cocks to the widowhood loft, generally there is only lower boxes available, but the younger cocks take up a higher saddle perch, where they sit and wind up the older cocks in the higher boxes. In the past a motivational trick they used to bring out a big result was jealousy, where they would basket up all the cocks going to the race, then move over the hens and allow them to sit in their bowls in the cocks section. They would then put some rank cocks in with the hens. Once the cock was down low calling, and all cuddled up, they would release the racing cock back to his box, and all hell would brake lose. Micky said this method of motivation, was excellent but it would not work on every pigeon and it is something you could only do once a year, and he has moved on from this way, as he likes his birds to go to the races calm, and to rest in the basket. The babies are raced on the darkness system, and are placed on the dark at the end of march, although they are not placed on the dark straight from weaning. Instead the young birds must show self sufficiency before being placed on the dark, they must be eating, drinking and perching before being placed on the system. Micky feels it is important that the birds must find the drinker themselves, they will never dip a young birds head into the drinker, if they cannot find the drinker themselves, they will never have a place in the team. During this stage the birds are fed Tic beans for roughly 7 days, to make sure the birds get used to eating large grain, from then on they are placed on the stable diet of Gerry Plus IC. Once put on the darkness the birds are only left on the system for a period of 6 weeks, the reason behind this, is to ensure the young birds have a perfect moult and are not holding any nest flights at the yearling stage. The lofts that the birds are kept in is never completely black, it is best described as a moon lit night, however the ventilation in the lofts is excellent, and all ventilation holes are never blocked in and the birds have roughly 8 hours of light a day. What should also be stated is the young birds are the only birds trained at the lofts, at and only at a distance of 30 meters, on a green at front of their property. Obviously from this distance, it is only to school the babies to trap, and they will be taken here a number of times a day until it is stuck in their heads, that they must come over the roof and in. The young birds are only trained at this distance as nobody in the partnership or family drives, but they proved roughly over the last 8 or so years training is not essential to be successful. At the end of young bird racing, and to kick start the moult, the partnership will not feed the babies for 2 days and will put garlic cloves in the drinker, as well as being put on lock down for a period of two weeks. To also assist with the moult the partnership will feed Gerry Plus IC, along with Energy Plus IC to provide oily and fat based seed which are beneficial for the moult, as well as the use of regular baths. Micky and Young Michael both feel, that novices should always listen to pigeon fanciers, and they should always pick the bones out of what they say. They feel novices can benefit by sticking to a routine, and not changing their system just because they are behind or they liked what was printed in an article. Both members of the partnership admire the performances and results over the years of Henry Blaker of Canning Town, who at one time was one of the best fanciers in the London North Road Combine, and Billy Lynch of Romney Marsh, as he was a fantastic flyer who was hard to beat in every race he competed in. They also admire every single member of their club, as stated earlier in the article, as each and every member is highly competitive and top draw fanciers, proved by how many years the club has won the East London Federation shield. One club member, they are very grateful for his help is Tommy Devlin of Canning Town, as without his help to get to and from the club, they would struggle to be able to get to and from the club. Micky and Michael aims for the future, would be to join the North Road Championship Club, and one day they hope to go south road, for their longer distance ambitions. What does this fantastic partnerships future hold, to be honest, Micky's favourite song describes it perfectly “The Only Way Is Up†Grasshopper 07712432824

“There are men in the village of Erith that nobody seeth or heareth, And there looms on the marge of the river barge, that nobody roweth or steerethâ€. This extract is from the famous poem 'Erith on Thames', and its subject is a district of South East London, with a Kent Post Code, called Erith, which is situated between Bexelyheath and Dartford. However, the racing fraternity in the East London Federation, and New Eltham Social Flying Club, both 'seeth and heareth' about one man's results with his family of pigeons. It would have been extremely difficult for anyone not to notice someone clocking up seven first prizes in his club, and four federations wins. To add to these achievements he was also crowned premier prize winner of his club, and the prestigious title of 'Sprint Champion of the East London'' Federation'. Hopefully by now, the hints just like the river Thames has directed you to one source, Anthony Webster. Anthony’s family have always been involved in some shape or form with racing pigeons. His fathers uncle, was a very keen pigeon fancier who raced out of West Kingstown in Kent. His mothers, parents were butchers, and they raced their birds behind their shop, which they owned and worked at. Anthony grandfather was a successful loft manager for Harry Derbyshire, of Bexleyheath. So, as you can see Anthony, had many fanciers in his close family that if he wished, he could rely on for help and advice. However it was not until 2004, that his parents decided that they would obtain some pigeons for themselves. The pigeons they first started with originated from Louis Massarrella's Kirkpatricks, and gift birds from Kathy and Ray Woodley. To put it bluntly success did not happen overnight. On the other hand, when Anthony’s parents had started, young Anthony had no interest at all. It was not until 2006, that Anthony piped up with a quote to his father “Even I can beat youâ€.This sparked the competitive flame, in his fathers heart. Anthony was duly gifted a compartment, to obtain his own birds and to back up his own claim, however they would still race under the family name. Anthony approached two fanciers Kipper Taylor of Rochdale, and Steve Surrey of Wisbech. From Kipper, Anthony purchased the family of Stef Van Reets, and from Steve, he bought the family of Van Loons. Results changed instantly with Anthonys interest, and his fathers new found competitive flame. In-fact, in Anthony’s first race he competed in, he finished second to his father, but that may have been something to do with the clock, positioned in his fathers compartment. At around this time, Anthony's best pigeon was actually bred by Steve Surrey, and was named the 'P ring cock'. Anthony was extremely pleased on how this cock performed for him in the early years, as out of the thirty one races he was sent to, this game pigeon won twenty six prize cards. Including winning all pools in the Orpington and Footcray club, consecutively for six weeks running. Kipper Taylor’s favourite saying in the early years to Anthony was “If you lay in bed, you wont top the fedâ€. This is something that has stuck in Anthony's head, and he swears by this quote today. One thing he also picked up from Kipper's regime, was how important training pigeons is. Kipper in Anthony’s own words was one of, if not the hardest trainer of pigeons he has ever known. Consequently, Anthony is an extremely hard working young man, working from six to seven days most weeks. However, with Kipper's words stuck in the back of his mind, he rises every morning much earlier then need be, to attend to his birds and to try and get the best from them. Anthony's performances year after year, improved steadily. 2013, was a golden year for him as described earlier in the article. Anthony's family of birds have changed somewhat, from the families he first started in the sport with. When obtaining his modern day family of birds, the main thing he took into consideration was how little patience he has, so he decided long distance racing would not be the best route to go down. His main priority, when purchasing the birds was if he could not buy the champion, he would only obtain direct children, if they was not available he would leave his interest behind. The family of birds he built up, were from some of the top sprint names, from the region of Berlaar, in Belgium, such as Carl & Cyriel Lambrechts, Vandenbrande Brothers, Gert Heylen, Frans De Mayer of Kessell, and Frans Laeremans of Putte. Like all of Anthony's birds, his breeders receive no medical treatment until after the moult has been complete. Around the time of the end of October, beginning of November, Anthony will give his breeders a ten to fourteen day treatment for paratyphus, with a medication of either Parastop or Baytril. He is a keen believer, when pigeons are treated, they are not treated with the same product everytime, as he does not want the birds to become immune to its ingredients. After the paratyphus treatment, his breeders then receive one days of clear and clean water, then three days of multi-vitamins and extra minerals. They will then be left, with no treatments, until the birds are sitting eggs, were Anthony feels it is important to treat for canker. The breeders will then not receive any treatments, until after the next moult, and are on clean water for the rest of the year. Anthony is a big believer in natural resistance especially for his breeders. Interesting Anthony, never cleans his drinker, the water is just topped up with a jug. His breeders are fed during the whole year Versa Laga Best All-rounder, apart from when rearing young birds were they are fed Countrywide No.1 mixture, which consists of Beans, Peas and Tares. Anthony changes his feed, while rearing as he believes this mixture helps to bring his young birds on, to grow big, strong and healthy. Anthony stated, that any of his breeders that fail to cope with breeding and rearing four rounds are removed completely from his lofts. Anthony races his old birds on his own adaptation of the roundabout system. His old birds are never exercised during the winter period. While moulting his racers are fed the same as his breeders, Versa Laga Best all-round. However he uses some supplementation to help and assist with the moult namely, garlic oil, ground nut oil and poultry spice. Anthony’s race birds, are not mated until the first of march. But what should be noted there is no treatments prior to pairing. The first treatment the birds receive is while they are on eggs, which will be with a four in one, to ensure that the parents are one hundred percent healthy before the eggs hatch. The birds as stated earlier are not flown at all during the winter, and their first exercise starts once the majority of the hens have laid. However, it should be stated that the birds are only let out on nice, clear days and they are never forced to fly. Once flying good and strong around home for roughly fourteen days, Anthony will then basket the birds for road training, always remembering his friends Kipper's words. The birds are kept slightly hungry, for the first two days of training tosses. The racers are taken two miles, ten times a day, for two consecutive days. Which sounds extreme but is done for to install into the birds heads that they must trap quickly and effectively. After the first two days of training tosses, the cocks and hens are trained separately at the breaking point of 16 miles, cocks in the morning, and the hens of a night. Once the young are weaned, and the cocks are on the drive again, the birds are trained in pairs, with the cocks chasing his hen home. The birds will then be separated before the hen has laid. Anthony does not like the cock to see a hen lay her second round of eggs. All of Anthony's race birds are fed at three periods during the day, first at six in the morning, four in the afternoon and, at eight of a night. Each period of feed is generally of a half ounce measure. Anthony also feeds on a feed table, which is at chest height, positioned behind his speed traps, which also encourages quick trapping. Starting with return from a race on a Saturday, the birds are not fed on immediate return, they will be fed on return from the club, and are fed D-200 from Versa Laga, which is a diat mixture of roughly one ounce of corn. On the grain Anthony uses, protein powder of the whey and casein type, which are fast and slow reacting proteins. Anthony would also put in the drinker a product called Gerdon I which provides the birds with essential trace minerals and elements. No birds will be let out or trained until Tuesday evening, another thing Anthony, believes in is complete rest. On a Sunday, and a Monday, the three feeds the birds receive is with the same diat formula from Versa Laga, with protein powder added again to the grain, however nothing is added to the drinker. On a Tuesday morning, the birds yet again receive D-200, it is not until the afternoon when the composition of grain is altered. At the times of four in the afternoon, and eight of a night, twenty percent of Cribbs maize will be added to the D-200. On a Wednesday the percentage of Cribbs maize is increased again, this time to thirty percent, yet again plain water. On a Thursday, the Cribbs maize is upped to forty percent, again fed alongside the D-200. However on the last feed at eight, if the birds eat all the grain put in front of them the birds are offered only Cribbs maize, and can eat as much as they like or until they have had their fill. Yet again they receive plain water, Friday the birds receive no feed and in the drinker is plain water. The only time the feeding system is adjusted, would be due to the distance of the race point exceeding one hundred and sixty miles. In this case, Anthony adds palm oil, garlic oil, and ground nut oil to the last four to five feeds, to increase the fat storage levels of the birds. As stated in Anthony's system, the birds receive no feed on a Friday, genuinely Anthony does not even go to the lofts until returning home from work at roughly three in the afternoon. Anthony attaches weight on basketing his race birds as early as possible, as he is of the opinion, the earlier you basket, the better the birds trap on race day. His basketing routine, would be to give the cocks the bowl, for up to one hour, while he takes his time to basket his hens. The cock birds are never locked in with the bowls, but once the hens are basketed, the basket is placed in front of the lofts wire doors, so the hens can see the cocks, going backwards and forwards to their bowls and calling their hens. Their roles can sometimes be reversed, with the cocks seeing into the hens, but it is truly dependant on the race point. Once both sexes are basketed, they will then be placed into the car or van, with a blanket over them for around one and a half hours, so they go calm to the club. Their is nothing Anthony, dislikes more then overexcited cock birds. Anthony's watering system, is very basic and natural, with receiving only one supplement in the drinking water all week, on return. However Anthony will use medication a week before an important race, whether that be an Essex and Kent Amalgamation or a London North Road Combine race. These treatments will be rotated, whether it be a wormer, 4-1 treatment or treatment for canker. A motivational trick, Anthony likes to use for good results, is placing a bird in a strange environment for three days. Ideally he likes to place them in a position where they can see their lofts but cannot get to it. When in this position the said bird, is never allowed access to their lofts, they are under lock and key with complete rest. Anthony likes them to see their loft mates out, and about and enjoying themselves. As well as being removed from the lofts, they can see the fun their friends are having, Anthony believes this helps fuel the motivation. Anthony prefers a good racing hen over a racing cock. He believes the hens are not easily lead like cock birds, they are always focused on the task at hand and the recover rate is phenomenal. Anthony’s feeding system for his sixteen pair of cocks, hens and forty young birds is exactly the same, though their training methods differ slightly. Anthony’s mindset is that youngsters must be trained at nine weeks of age. They start of at two miles, to which they go a period of six times. They will then be moved on to five miles, but interestingly at this stage they are taken five miles at every point of the campus, approximately two times each. Afterwards, they are taken back onto the line of flight, at eight miles, twelve miles and then sixteen miles, twice a day. However at these stages, they are only pushed on once they leave the baskets straight away without any circling. When quizzed on what piece of advice he would give a novice looking for success, Anthony stated what he was about to say was harsh but, he swears the worst mistake a novice can do is accepting gift birds of club members. Although it would be the cheaper option to get started in the sport, he insists it will put the fancier back for years. He suggests the best option would be to save your pennies, do some research and invest in late breds of multiple federation winners, and breed of them. There are three fanciers that Anthony, really admires in the sport today. Those being Ken Salt of Derby, Arthur Farrar from the West Midlands, and Colin Fagg Of Kent. Anthony swears that his success is down to the help and advice that Ken, has offered him. Anthony says that Ken, transformed his results in only one season, transforming him to an average flyer to premier prize winner He is also very thankful to Arthur, as it is through Arthur’s birds, that Anthony bred 'Best young bird of the East London Federation. Anthony is also truly grateful to his very good friend Colin for his help and advice for races over two hundred miles. In conclusion, I would like to thank Anthony, and his family for their hospitality while I was at their home and lofts, and I would like to wish them the best of luck and good health with their expanding family, and wish them all the luck for the forthcoming racing season.

Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and is situated in London’s legendary East End. Stepney’s foundations stemmed from a medieval village that grew around its famous St Dunstan's Church, where the bells that hang in its belfry are mentioned in the nursery rhyme 'Oranges & Lemons'. Many elite fanciers to sprout from this district, but regarding the fanciers winning the prestigious Tommy Long Trophy, the powerful bells kept ringing the same rhyme “When will that be, says the bells of Stepneyâ€. In 2013, one of Stepney's indigenous children stepped up to the plate and silenced the bells, to be crowned king of the London North Road Combine and against all the odd that pigeon racing places. However unlike most coronations it was not through a Line of Successions, to be seated at the London North Road Combine throne, but by the will, power and performance of two of his monumental Dames, to arise as King Dennis Nunn of Stepney. It could be said that Dennis' was always set up to be a fancier, as for all his life he has been surrounded by pigeons. Dennis' late father, raced pigeons before and after the war, and Dennis' brother Tommy also raced. Dennis' interest really started when he was gifted some fancy pigeons while he was still in full time education, and this is where he learnt the essentials of care and observance in pigeon keeping. After a number of years, Dennis got married to his wife Barbara and moved into there marital home and was only without pigeons for a very short while. It wasn't until Dennis nephew asked if they could obtain some Show racers, to which Dennis obliged and once a team was established the 3 years they presented the birds at shows they were highly successful. Then in 1970, Dennis' journey in pigeons took a different direction, persuaded by his his brother and a number of cousins, Dennis took the plunge into the racing fraternity and joined the very big Stepney Green club. Success was instant, as it could be said Dennis' dominated the first two races he competed in, taking 1st, 4th and 5th the first race, 1st 2nd and 4th the following week, in a club with huge membership and enormous birdage. At this time Dennis first birds were Janssen's from his brother Tommy and pigeons from Freddie Clayton of Red Flash Black Flash Fame. In the 70's Dennis like the majority of fanciers only raced natural, and his employment at the time enabled him to train his natural pigeons on all dials of the compass, north, east, south and west. In the early days Dennis' biggest influence was his father. Dennis always remembers that his father gave him two bits of advice “Never start racing pigeons†to which Dennis ignored, the second was the most valuable piece of advice any pigeon fancier can receive “When ever you go into your shed, look for one to remove, and only when you can be honest with yourself you'll end up with a good team of pigeonsâ€. This piece of advice has been invaluable in Dennis career in pigeons and helped him to achieve being premier prizewinner of the Stepney Green club for 23 years and to be an exceptional competitor in the London North Road Combine to which Dennis has now won a total of 3 times. Another mentor in the game who’s advise still rings true today is that of Freddie Clayton. Freddie always advised young Dennis that you can be too kind to pigeons, to be successful you must be strict and you must be ruthless. Then a little bit later on in his racing adventure, Dennis says he owes a lot of his success flying widowhood to Johnny Porter, as he spent many hours questioning and listening to Johnny, and from these conversation it helped build Dennis' modern day methods to which we will explain now. Dennis is a big believer that the moult is a very important time of the year, and the work done in the winter dictates how well you will fly the forthcoming season. Dennis states to bring the birds into the moult quickly, especially the darkness young birds Dennis feels the birds must be fed new wheat, as it is high in protein as well as being rich in sulphur, which is highly documented to be very helpful in the moult. Dennis will also use a mix high in fat seeds as he believes this helps the birds through the moult to produce nice soft feathering. During this period Dennis will also use for a number of days Garlic oil combined with Brewers yeast, to help provide all the necessary vitamins and proteins that the birds require during this period. Consequently fresh grit is provided on a daily basis, as well as a bath once a week. The best preparation in Dennis' eyes prior to pairing is that the birds must be extremely healthy, and to achieve this Dennis is a big fan of garlic and uses it on a daily basis all throughout the winter. Dennis believes garlic to have a natural antibiotic affect on the birds and helps to keep disease building bacteria, fungus and yeast at bay, as well as helping to boost the birds immune system. Dennis is also a supporter of the use of vinegar, both in the drinker and as a solution in a spray bottle to be sprayed around the loft, and he is adherent to its antibacterial, fungus and mould killing effects. Dennis' also feels that is essential that during the winter period the birds never be allowed to put on any excess weight, and to prevent this Dennis keeps his birds rationed to 1 ¼ ounces of food per pigeon. Though Dennis does state that hens must be monitored closely and exercised regular during this period as they are more prone to putting on fat, and if he notices the hens are putting on weight he will lower the quantity of grain to 1 ounce each, and would be on a rising plane 4 to 5 days prior to being paired. Prior to paring however Dennis' uses a Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole combination treatment for a total of 5 days, to be 100% sure that the birds are completely clear of any harmful diseases that the birds can pass onto their young. The birds will be paired up then around about the end of January or beginning of February. 18 cocks and 18 hens once paired and settled, receive an open loft from morning till night, so by the time racing starts the birds have worked themselves into a natural fitness, but they have also become street wise to the local sparrow-hawks and peregrines, which Dennis is plaqued with since a local fancy stopped keeping fancy pigeons. The birds at this time are fed GEM's Breeding mix, and they stay on this mixture until young birds are weaned. Much like the moulting season plenty of Garlic oil and Brewers Yeast is used to help produce big and robust young birds. Once weaned the sexes are split, and exercised at routine times until training commences by friend and club mate Georgie Fry, where they will receive 4 to 6 training tosses from 30 to 50 miles. Once racing commences the cocks are trained no longer, but the hens are still trained as their season does not start until the birds are racing at the 170 mile stage as their main aim is combine racing. The day to day exercise regime is cocks out for 1 hour in the morning, they are then followed by the hens for an hour. The hens are trained in the afternoon 2 to 3 times per week all through the old bird season. The cocks then go out in the evening again for an hour, and the hens go out again for an hour after the cocks. The hens are exercised and trained really hard as they must be super fit as their aim is 300 to 500 mile racing. Dennis has a firm belief that 1 ¼ ounces is sufficient for a pigeon to race, and exercise well on. Starting on a Saturday the birds are fed on a mixture known as Gems Sprint mixture 1 ¼ ounces in one feed, and in the drinker the birds only receive clean water. Sunday to Monday the feeding is split into a morning and night feed equalling again the 1 ¼ ounces, however the composition of grain is a 50/50 concoction of 50% Gems Sprint and 50% of Gems Depurative mixture, with a herbal tea in the drinker that either Dennis boils himself or the Naturaline tea made by Natural grains. Wednesday the birds receive 100% Gems Sprint again 1 ¼ ounces with either a multivitamin or vinegar added to the drinker. Thursday the birds are fed again Gems Sprint however the birds are fed to appetite. Friday morning the birds are fed early in the morning 1 ounces and whatever the birds leave is taken out 2 hours later. Dennis does state that the birds will eat very little on a Friday, and his water treatments may very as from time to time he will use products like Orego-Stim and probiotics, from what Dennis observes in the loft. The system does change however leading up to London North Road Combine Races. Dennis buys various seeds, such as Canary Mixture, Hemp, Rape Seed and Long Grain Rice and mixes the ingredients all together, this will then be feed ½ teaspoon per pigeon in their boxes after they have had their feeds, and this will be fed 4-5 days leading up to the Combines Thursday basketing. Dennis does many different forms of motivation on basketing night he does not give the cock or hen a chance to get bored. Sometimes he will only show the hen, sometimes he will only allow the birds the bowl, sometimes he will only let the hen into the box. However when he does show the hen and bowls together, there is no set time limit that Dennis runs them together, he states the right time is when the cock gets low in the bowl and the hen standing above him, then it is time to basket them for the club. When Dennis is looking for a big motivational trick, he will lock all the cocks in his corridor, and put all the hens in the cocks section, and then Dennis will take one cock and put him amongst all the hens, with all the cock loft mates watching and trying to get in. Dennis' sets his stall at winning all races, but he has to admit his true love is racing hens especially at the longer distance events. Dennis feels these hens are more reliable, and honest, and they recover much quicker then what a widowhood cock does from races of 300 mile plus. Dennis' very rarely treats in the racing season but he says if he hears there is any illness knocking about locally in the clubs he will treat with the Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole combination treatment for 4 days. Dennis races his 30 young birds on the darkness system, x and he feels they must have at least 10 hours daylight. The loft is never completely dark it is more like a moonlit night, enough light to see the drinker. Dennis only darkens his young birds for 8 weeks only, to which they go on the system on the march equinox and he feels these 8 weeks darkness is the reason why since racing the darkness system he has never suffered with young bird sickness. Dennis has firm beliefs that young bird sickness is caused by leaving the young birds on the darkness for too long. He also states that young birds must be trained by the time the birds reach 12 weeks of age, these early lessons in life will give them a much brighter future and he is a reason why he suffers so few losses. As soon as they are flying for 40 minutes, they are basketed and trained 10 miles up to 30 miles, then trained on local trainer Georgie Fry. No extended use of lights are used once of the dark to try and keep the young birds in good feather, although the sexes are kept together and they can do as they wish, and sitting and rearing young will naturally make the birds hold any feathers for the big races in September. The young bird feeding system only difference to his old birds system is the quantity of grain, of which they will receive 1 ½ ounces as they are still growing and are not the finished article of a pigeon. When introducing new stock, Dennis does not venture far from home. He approaches good local fanciers and buys of their best. He does not believe in any theories any longer, although at one time he spent years studying the eye until an eye sign expert evaluated his pigeons eyes, he then released him and the eye sign expert did not see eye to eye, and he had wasted 15 years of his time devoted to the theory. Dennis ideal pigeon when introducing new birds to stock is that the bird must fit comfortably in his hand. His modern day family of pigeons originate from Brian Hawes Leo Van Rijin's, Stuart Elvin's Busschaerts and Jutla Brothers Peter Van Der Merwe's which he has blended together successfully. One of the best pigeons in Dennis' loft must be 'Champion Olivia'. This special Van Rijin Cross Van Der Merwe latebred was never raced or trained as a young bird, but eventually when she was raced Dennis could not look back. She is a winner of 1st Open London North Road Combine Berwick, 9th Open North Road North Thames Combine Thurso, 44th London North Road Combine Stonehaven, 45th Open North Road North Thames Combine Alnwick, 50th Open London North Road Combine Thurso, she is also a winner of 3 x 1st Club, 2 x 2nd Club, and 2 x 4th Club. Another exceptional Dame of his round table is 'Champion Denise' a winner of 3rd Open London North Road Combine Thurso, 3rd Open Essex and Kent & London North Road Combine Amalgmation Thurso, 12th Open North Road North Thames Combine Alnwick, 28th London North Road Combine Stonehaven, 39th London North Road Combine Thurso, 43rd North Road North Thames Combine Stonehaven, 69th Open London North Road Combine Berwick, as well as being a winner of 5 x 1st club. Both Olivia and Denise could call themselves solely responsible for Dennis' fantastic London North Road Combine Tommy Long Trophy win. 'Champion Blue Nunn' another fantastic hen winner of 1st Open London North Road Combine Berwick Yearling, 2nd Open London North Road Combine Berwick(beaten by Olivia), and a winner of 3 x 1st club. Blue Nunn's sire is also a rather special pigeon in the Nunn lofts, and he is known as 'Champion Jack', he himself is a winner of 6 x 1st Club, 11th Open London North Road Combine and Sire of Blue Nunn and many other winners. If Dennis could offer any advice to novices just entering the sport, it would be that they must be ruthless, do not keep to many pigeons, keep things simple and buy pigeons that are winning locally in your area. Dennis admires many people in the sport, especially people like Mark Gilbert as his results are phenomenal, Micky Connolly and Son for their performances at club, federation and combine as well as breeding winners for different fanciers, Mark Bulled is someone that Dennis rates as one of the best fanciers the country has seen North or South road. Unfortunately due to problems with his legs Dennis has to completely finish in the pigeon sport as he is finding mobility difficult, and will be having an entire clearance sale on the 16th Novemeber at the Cundy Community Centre, Hartington Road, Custom House, E16 3PN. I would like to thank Terry Peart for allowing me to use his fantastic photographs for this article. Grasshopper 07712432824

Touch up? Are you on about photos? We use photoshop if so

Normally i look at the sales and generally their is something that will interest me, as im a big believer in crossing birds so usually something will be introduced but gotta be honest this year nothing is standing out to me that may change when i have a few more hours to myself and read the book deeply but i doubt it......so will just pick up another pair of figuritas for the boy.

As long as the darkness is longer then the light it will work, ours get around 9 hours light, but it would still work if it was 11.30 hours light. Have a look at thr secrets of champions series theyd explain it all in depth to you.

Congrats

When rearing young i give it most days, when racing once a week usually on a sunday

Thats why they are rearing Peter because of the light, u mentioned the weather down south, so i gave an example of the bitter north on the irish sea where they are rearing when the weather is bad, but the use of lights effects their hormones making them breed, and not where the weather is kinder.

"The earlier pairing of breeding pigeons would also be a precaution against disease in young animals. It's just the way it is that youngsters, which are bred in December or January, at the beginning of the young bird races in the UK are already six, seven and eight months old. I always label these youngsters as pseudo-year-old. They are not proper aged pigeons yet (rather pseudo-year-old), however, due to their age they are in the growth phase in which they are developing the immune system of an adult pigeon. A youngster, which comes into the world, has an immune system that is mainly controlled by the immune organ Bursa Fabrici. However, this immune organ is precisely the main point open to attack by the circo virus in racing pigeons. It would therefore be more correct if we were not to speak of the "adeno virus" in the case young bird sickness, but rather of the "circo virus". Almost every pigeon fancier (approx. 90%) has circo virus in their loft population. This is only a logical consequence of the selling, buying and exchanging of racing pigeons in the last twenty years. If the immune organ Bursa Fabrici is affected by the circo virus it will no longer be able to fulfil it main task of warding off diseases, bacteria and germs. The youngster is particularly vulnerable, unprotected, without immunity and will now acquire that which we recognize as young bird sickness: coli germs, trichomonads, hexamita, fungi etc.! Luckily the immune organ Bursa Fabrici, which is affected by the circo virus does not control the immune system for the life of the youngster. At the age of six, seven and eight months, the immune organ reduces in size, degenerates and other immune systems replace the immune activity in squabs. The youngster becomes an adult pigeon, the new immune system functions and the the Bursa Fabrici and the circo virus no longer plays a role. Hence young bird sickness is again manageable or simply expressed: You cure and the youngster (the pseudo-year-old) remains healthy. Now you understand why it is a great advantage to pair earlier and to be able to deal with young bird races with older youngsters. Since most UK racing pigeon breeders breed one, two or three rounds, they perhaps repeatedly place younger pigeons in the young bird section in many cases, which are more susceptible to disease in young animals and thus also co-infect the older youngsters again and again. A separation of the various rounds would be an optimal solution. Many breeders would then realize that the older youngsters are more stable and do not repeatedly fall ill with young bird sickness. The above is from Tollisan Schroeder a vetinerian on why breeding young birds earlier is the best preventative for young bird sickness. Regarding weather it has no effect on pigeons, the only thing that effects pigeons from pairing is the length of day light like all nature. Just look at the streeters at blackpool rearing big youngsters at blackpool weekend.

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A and c

Racers 2 days time, stock after blackpool

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there is a pigeon at the moment online thats bred a few prize winning pigeons, himself a grandson of Euro Diamond, going fairly cheap considering the amount these birds fetch, he is currently at £110, his father himself was a good national pigeon winning 25th national barcelona, 33rd national Marseille, 66th Nationa Narrbonne, 79th national barcelona, 87th international barcelona 25,716 birds, 91st National Narrbonne.his mother was a direct daughter of euro diamond.