Joe Murphy Article 25th November 2024

sapper756 · December 2, 2024

The Joe Murphy Column

Received a lovely letter and request from Jim ‘Echo’ Dyer of North Gwent of South Wales remembering the Padfield Family of Bryn Terrace of Cwmtilliery in South Wales. ‘They say ‘Boyo Bach’ in the valleys of South Wales as only the brave make it home to their loft after flying over 700 miles into the proud valleys of home. Down the years there have been some ‘Ace’ pigeon fanciers and these 2 lads are just a few. Yes, indeed my best 4 long distance Welsh Fanciers on the South road into the ‘Land of my Fathers’ are as follows; ‘The Padfield Family of Cwmtilliery. Mr Mog Edmunds of Plant wit-Vardee; Mr Stan Curtis of Penrhiwceiber & Mr Wilf Reed of Monmouth, they were all gentlemen and pigeon scholars - that really says it all. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

Albert S Padfield; The Padfield family partnership came into being in 1988 when their father Albert and son Dave joined forces with Dave’s brother Vince. Albert had kept racing pigeons in the late 1940 & 50’s up at Cwmtilliery. Albert was an ex-miner and so was Vince, Dave travelled all around the world with his work. Albert was known as ‘Mr Woodbine’ (to the younger generation this was the name of a cigarette (which he always had in his mouth) His favourite bird was called ‘Midas’ he was a blue chequer cock rung GB81J59221; his positions won where as follows; 1^st club 2^nd Bird club, 9^th federation 10^th open NNRF 12^th section 26^th open from an entry of 4425 birds WGNFC Lerwick. Then he won 27^th Welsh Combine 10,855 birds Thurso 473 miles in 1983; yes, indeed what a great narrative. Sadly, Albert passed away in 2005 aged 80;

The foundations of their Loft

The Padfield’s family base were the Willy Clerebaut family crossed with the fabulous Morgan x Cooke of Llanhilleth i.e.; the ‘Iron Man’ bloodlines the best of long distance 600-mile family; ‘Yes indeed Boyo’, he won 7 times from Lerwick; they were very good pigeons hard as IRON with HEARTS of GOLD. The Padfield’s family won 2^nd open Lerwick WGN in 1991. Then the family had a meeting about bringing in some fresh distance blood to give them that edge on long distance racing into the Principality. So, Dave made some investigations, (Yes indeed Boyo), they wanted birds that would take the Cwmtillery Loft to the extreme distance i.e. On the South road to Pau; St Vincent; Perpignan; Palamos 741 miles and 757 miles to Barcelona the journeys end.

Dave Padfield did a lot of reading all about continental pigeons; it was very clear that the Jan Aarden’s family were part of the answer, and the best were to be found in Holland. Dave also noticed the outstanding performances of Wim Muller especially from the Barcelona race point; and he formed a partnership with Hans Eijer-Kamp. After bringing in the Wim Muller’s in late 1991; the Padfield’s performances just exploded with a lot of very good profile over distance, yes, and they were winning too. It wasn’t until the year 2000 when Dave went over to Wim Muller’s loft for the first time. When asked what was it like; he replied ‘Buckingham Palace Only Better’. What an experience Dave had with the birds similar in type to ‘The Don’ who won 2^nd open BBC Palamos for him and his brother. Dave had the ‘Gold Sovereign’ and Wim Muller had ‘The Birds’. It was no good having the brick layer without the brick’s ha ha. At the same time Frank W Perry of Pontypridd won the BICC Palamos race in 2001 with ‘LLANOVER LADY’, believe me Frank was a ‘Class Act’

Now Vince and Dave were now changing their methods and switching to roundabout, they used to fly natural. Feeding was left to Vince (who literally lived in the loft and was a very good chef to the birds) the birds had lots of beans in the winter, and in the summer, months were fed peas and tares, with 2 widowhood mixtures together and a fat mixture. All year round they can eat what they want.

Vince & Dave Padfield were both remarkable marathon pigeon fanciers, plus the fact they were flying into Wales competing again the very best distance fliers in the UK. They also had one of the most disadvantaged loft’s locations in the valley of Wales. They competed in GGDC for Wales; NFC, BICC, BBC, CSCFC; and Single Bird National; with the Welsh SRN. They both realised that in 75% of the races they had entered against fellow UK fanciers they were at a disadvantage created by the strong westerly winds.

In 1995 they won the WSR National from Pau flying a distance of 597 miles. 2010 they won Tarbes 1^st & 2^nd with Welsh NFC flying 607 miles. 2013 was an outstanding season for the partnership as they won 3 x 1^st nationals, 2 x 2^nd nationals; 2 x 3^rd nationals. Yes, indeed Boyo truly outstanding. Proving that if you have the time, money and the quality in your loft they will fly to any system; provided you have played your part and always been kind to them.

Too many fanciers say ‘If we only had time’ BUT -you must find time to be successful as nobody owns tomorrow.’

From the St Vincent International with the BICC a distance of 566 miles; they won 1^st Gwent Greatest Distance Club; Preece Brothers and son were 2^nd & 3^rd. 2015 they won 1^st Welsh National from Pau and were 21^st 41^st & 55^th BICC open, also winning 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd Gwent GDC. BICC International Barcelona they were 2^nd 6^th & 9^th open, 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd west section, their first bird was Padfield’s ‘Blue Badge’ this cock was also 1^st Gwent Greater Distance Club. 330^th open International out of 20,000 birds, which was a distance of 757 miles to journeys end. Their top 3 birds out of Barcelona were; ‘Padfield Blue Badge’; ‘Padfield Jean’ & ‘Padfield Baroness’. I must not forget that they were also 2^nd BICC Barcelona with ‘Padfield Invincible’.

From the 2016 season Barcelona race they were 2^nd & 7^th west section 1^st Gwent GDC with a velocity of 367.172 with a blue hen GB10N70420. From the BICC Agen International they were 10^th open & 25^th open from an entry of 771 birds, 1^st & 8^th west section; 1^st & 2^nd Gwent DC 550 miles. From the NFC Tarbes race a distance of 607 miles winning 301^st open; Messac 277 miles won 283 open from 6440 birds; Gwent GDC 1^st Agen 550 miles; Barcelona 757 miles; 1^st & 7^th open and 2^nd WS. These are just a few results.

The good news and bad news in 2017 this was their Barcelona dream to win the ‘BIG ONE’ their lifetimes ambition was achieved by winning the BICC Barcelona Open flying 757 miles to Bryn Terrace. Make no mistake Boyo they all worked hard Albert, Dave and loft manager Vince, who make up the Padfield Family. After finishing 2^nd open on 2 occasions; now on the 7^th of the 7^th in 2017 for them it was like beating the All Blacks’. Yes, they had that Welsh Passion for the long-distance racing.

Padfield’s Keysle was 1^st open Barcelona International and 1^st WS with a velocity 560.479 plus 1^st Gwent GDC flying 757 miles winning the ‘Brian Corten Cup’, The Terry Ash Cup, they were also 3^rd open 2^nd West Section velocity 553. It was named after Vince’s son who had NO INTEREST IN PIGEONS, They had 4 out of 5 birds’ home from Mont-de-Maran international race on 24^th June 2017; winning 43^rd open 2^nd WS from St Vincent International then on 15^th July 2017; they won 7^th open 2^ndWS from 564 miles.

In 2017 Dave Padfield sadly lost his brave fight against Cancer aged 66; all the Padfield family were devastated especially his wife Pat. After an outstanding year it all fell apart. At this Vince did not know what to do; nobody can ever say that they were ‘lucky’ they had worked hard at everything they did with their pigeons.

Roll of Honour

Their last season but what a season they have in 2017; From Barcelona on the 7^th -7^th -2017; they won the Geoff Hunt & Son Cup; Frans Van Den Heuvel Cup, 2^nd bird average BEWER Trophy; The best average Pau & Barcelona- Jim Emerton Trophy, The longest flying over 750 miles with the highest velocity. The Jim Emerton Mensa Trophy for the 2-bird average Barcelona International. The individual Europa Winner for 2017 for Barcelona.

Gwent Greater Distance Club; 1^st BICC Barcelona, Brian Corten Cup, The Terry Ash Perpetual Cup, 1^st St Vincent BICC, Strawbridge Family Cup, D Watkins & D Cockcroft Perpetual Cup for highest position in the BICC Races. They won the Barcelona race 8^th times out of the 10 since 2007 to 2017. Since Vince found it very hard on his own, he was lost without Dave as they had been the Padfield Partnership since 1988, as we all know no one can turn the clock back as time goes so fast when you get older. Vince was a very clever man, it was he who came up with the concept of back-to-back next box design to assist with the move to the roundabout system, and this is now being used by many pigeon fanciers. Vince Padfield would have made a good engineer. All the pigeons were sold to Mr Steve Wright of the House of Aarden; and in 2018 Vince knocked down the loft. Vince was now 73, he loved walking the Coity Mountain overlooking Cwmtillery, sometimes with his son Gareth. Twice a year Vince and his wife Jean would go down to Bournemouth that is where he would relax by the sea. After coming back from holiday in the September 2023 Vince fell ill, and it was with deep regret and sadness that Vince passed away at home on the 23^rd of November 2023, just a few days before his 79^th birthday. (Hopefully this article will appear on the weekend of Vince’s anniversary; RIP Joe Murphy)

They were a genuine pigeon family and they were 2 remarkable brothers who dedicated themselves to long distance racing, they were Champion fanciers with Champion birds, and without doubt they were the ‘Best of the Best’.

Remembering the Padfield Family of Cwmtillery near Abertillery in South Wales; till we meet again Jim Dyer.

Thy Way

Yes, life is a song when you have your health.

For Vince asked from No Riches Nor Gold.

For he was a coal miner.

The things that he valued Money can’t buy.

So, help him to walk alright more by faith and less by sight.

So, teach him thy way O’Lord.

When them storms O’er spread in the skies.

Teach him thy way.

Shine through the clouds and rain. T

Through sorrow, toil and pain.

Please O’Lord make his pathway plain.

Teach him the way.

Yes, indeed they say

Butty Bach Out of Sight and out of Mind.

Until that race is run, Until the journeys Done.

Until the Barcelona Crown is Won. Teach him thy way.

For Vince, was a good man.

So, Lord show him the way.

In memory of Vince Padfield 23/11/2023. By Jim Dyer

Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com - cogeco.ca -forum@pigeonbasics.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland