For this excursion I was well prepared. No high heels for this one. I had been warned that the climb to Maury's loft required stout shoes, and quite possibly oxygen, or at least a stop for a breather on the way! His lofts are on one of the highest points in Southampton. The outlook is breathtaking (or was I still recovering from the climb?). As soon as his birds leave the lofts they are 200ft in the air over the houses below. These lofts are directly on the flight paths in and out of Eastleigh Airport. Maury doesn't need a wind vane. He can determine whether the wind is north or south by whether the planes are taking off or landing over his head. When the planes are landing they are so low, Maury can wave at the pilots, who regularly wave back. This poses the question, has he ever lost pigeons due to the aircraft? Maury assures me, never. His birds take not the blindest bit of notice of them, but casually keep out of the way. The sire of his 1st Club, 2nd fed is a Van Reet. Maury went to the Blackpool show a few years ago with a group of friends as he usually does, but decided that he wouldn't attend the Bert Hessian sale, because it was a little too far outside Blackpool. Trevor Buckle did go and purchased on his behalf a blue cock. Now called 'The Hessian cock', this later sired his 1st Section, NFC Guernsey YB as well as a host of other winners. The sire, a son, raced once, won once, and Maury decided that he liked him so much that he put him in the stock loft. The 2nd fed was a result of him being paired with a Van De Rhee hen from his good friend John Edwards. This year had been unusual for him in the way he has raced his team. Usually he would have a strong team of widowhood cocks, and race just a smaller team on natural. Last year (virtually all through the YB season), he was hospitalised. His wife, Hazel, with the help of Len Painter looked after his birds,( for which he is eternally grateful to both) but it did mean that he wintered a mass of young birds that had not been raced. Having so many birds, he decided that to give hens a try, he would race the whole lot naturally. Obviously there have been a greater number of casualties than he would normally expect, but thinks now that it has been a worthwhile exercise as he has some lovely yearlings showing good potential. Maury's favourite races are any around the 250 mile mark. Four times he has been in the first four from Nantes in the NFC, and has been 2nd Open CSCFC from Rennes as well as winning the Solent South Road Federation six times. He recalls one win from Rennes when John Maclaren was 2nd in Cowplain, and the 3rd place was won in Bournemouth. Now Maury's lofts are not beautiful, but they are all very airy, light and dry. I spent a lovely three hours with Maury. We sat on the loft veranda and watched his birds. Where the birds swoop both above and below you, it is a though you are really among them. I'm sure Maury won't mind me telling you that he is 78 yrs young. Of course with age comes a degree of sense. Well, you'd think so wouldn't you? I heard lots of stories during my time at the Collins loft, but one will share with you. Maury decided that the air vents at the back of his loft needed scorching to clear them. To cut the story short, he didn't appreciate the amount of leaves on the back of the roof, and they caught alight. There must have been plenty of smoke as residents of the neighbouring flats came running with buckets of water. The legend that is Lenny Painter was at the loft at the time. Now, Lenny is well over seventy, but ever the gymnast, he scaled up the back of the loft (two stories high, remember), to clear the offending debris. While he was doing that, Maury got out a hose. What happened next would have been suitable farce for a 'Carry on' movie. Maury was running the hose down the corrugated roof panels, Lenny was against the back wall and copped all the water, ending up like a drowned rat, and was nearly washed away. You two, honestly, what pair of silly old buggers, you could have both been hurt!
Billy Gilbert's birds have retained their form throughout the season. He took 1st club, 7th fed in the Camrose RPC with his 2 yr old black Herman cock on 1944 ypm. Known at hone as 'Eddie', this is the first time he has scored, but has always been a steady pigeon. 2nd club, 23rd fed was A Finn with his blue cheq Busschaert cock on 1890 ypm. Billy was again in the frame, taking 3rd club, 26th fed with a blue yearling hen on 1879 ypm. This birds was bred from club mate Peter Campbell's birds, and has previously won 3rd Exeter as a Young Bird.
What a super race the members of Romsey SRFC club had? 1st club, 8th fed was club secretary Gerry Worrall with a two year old Van Reet blue cheq cock on 1938 ypm. This pigeon is bred from his very good R & B Smith Van Reet stock team. Gerry always works hard for the club, and all the members are delighted to see him doing so well, taking a 1st prize. Richard Bull & Charlie Vincent are enjoying a good spell with their pigeons at the moment. They won 2nd club, 10th fed with a four year old blue cheq Jannsen cock on 1928 ypm. This pigeon is a H & O Wal Zooten which won 1st club Lessay a few weeks ago. Colin Edwards was 3rd club, 11th fed with a blue cheq Jannsen hen on 1926 ypm. The only previous cards for this bird have been in show cards.
1st club, 14th fed at Test Valley was Andy Jones with his two year old blue white flight cock on 1909 ypm. Mr & Mrs T Green were 2nd club, 16th fed with a Vandenabeele yearling hen on 1905 ypm. Taking 3rd club, 20th fed was Mr & Mrs M Gower with a two year old blue pied Janssen hen on 1894 ypm.
1st club, 24th fed in The Channel SRFC was K & L Cleife with a yearling widowhood cheq hen on 1885 ypm. This pigeon was bred by A Harris of Paulsgrove. 2nd club, was M Skidmore with his two year old Busschaert blue pied hen. She is a full sister to his 2nd Solent Fed Bergerac prize winner in 2006 and is a widowhood hen. M Skidmore also took 3rd club with a yearling Busschaert widowhood cock on 1793 ypm.
11 members sent 104 birds over from the East Cowes FC. Taking top honours was Mr Eric Churches with a yearling (wait for it!) Jack Van De Wagagin!? (Mmmm, not sure about that one?) blue cheq hen on 1875 ypm, also securing the 27th fed card. She had 3 races as a young bird, and was 2nd club from Kingsdown. Jimmy Wheeler was 2nd club with a dk cheq Janssen widowhood cock on 1769 ypm. He was pleased with this result as he feels this pigeon is improving all the time. Jimmy also took 3rd club with a blue cheq widowhood Janssen hen on 1700 ypm.
At Bitterne Park FC 8 members sent 40 birds. 1st club, 35th fed was Graham Matthews with a two year old mealy Staf Van Reet cock on 1864 ypm. This was one of a kit of six he bought from Louella lofts and he is pleased that it has been a very consistent racer for him. 2nd club, 36th fed, 3rd club, 45th fed, and 4th fed, 66th fed was K & S Francis with their super Janssen family, all flown naturally and all are yearlings. 1st, a blue hen, and then two blue cocks, doing velocities 1863, 1846, and 1800.
Eastleigh Irish RPC saw 7 members send 55 birds to this race. 1st club, 41st fed was N Elcock with his blue yearling Harthog hen on 1854 ypm. S Sollitt timed in another yearling to win 2nd club. This time it was a blue Busschaert cock that has already a 3rd Club Messac to his credit. He also secured third spot with a yearling blue pied Busschaert hen on 1716 ypm. This hen has won 3rd Yelverton as a yb and 4th Falaise earlier this year.
13 members sent 91 birds at the Parade FC. Winning 1st club, 54th fed was Tony Hounsell with his blue cheq yearling Cattrysse on 1827 ypm. This cock is flown naturally, and was sent to the race sitting11 day old eggs. Tony also took 2nd spot with a yearling dark cheq Southwell cock on 1753 ypm. This bird was a gift bird from Timmy Joy to the late Joey Hopkins, and then passed given to Tony from Joey. Flown naturally, this bird was sent to the race driving to the nest. Hamid Laakland was third. His three year old blue cheq Busschaert widowhood cock attained a velocity of 1739 ypm. This cock is of the John Byne bloodline. In the 2006 season he was 1st club, 8th fed from Stratford and has won 6th fed from Cholet. He was sent to the race driving to the nest. The loft in the money was Horn Bros loft 1 who won the £5 club noms.
At Wootton & Bashley WMFC where 7 members sent 75 birds, taking 1st and second spot was Ray Hoare and Claire. Another winner for the offspring of my 'Golden Cock', a Mardon Van Reet who's offspring have now won numerous cards including NFC, Classic, BICC. Second was a dark family hen. Have you ever had a hen that whenever you want to send her she never seems to right in the nest? That is this hen. When I do get her there she is useful! Rod Berry and Eric Matthews took 3rd & 4th with their Jos Thone/Curtis Wall & Lunt Janssens.
Milton HS saw 13 members send 79 birds to this race. 1st club was John Good with a yearling blue pied Camphius Janssen cock on 1797 ypm. Flown on widowhood, this pigeon is from the Wearn Bros bloodlines. Robertson & Vaizey were 2nd club with a blue yearling Van Reet hen on 1758 ypm. She was a late bred last year and was sent to this race unpaired. John Good secured the 3rd spot with a two year old cheq Berger cock on 1648 ypm. Flown on widowhood, this De Klak x Camphuis Janssen has already won 2nd, 3rd and 4th club cards.
Bognor & Chichester SRFC had 7 members send 75 birds to this race. 1st club was Joe Langbridge with a yearling blue cheq cock from his own family on 1645 ypm. His bird was he 2nd Lessay 2 on 21st June. He is a grandson of Vialli winner, winning RPRA Gold Medal x grandson Gold Cup winner. Taking second position was Robin Hampton with a yearling blue cheq Luc Van Coppenol/Janssen on 1542 ypm. LVC Sire won his section in the BBC Bordeaux. Dam, 'Wendy', 1st Bergerac, 11th Sect, 133rd Open San Sebastian on the day. 3rd club was Richard Horton's yearling Halterman/Holbin blue cock on 1537 ypm. He was raced to a young bird, with his hen just having laid again. Sire was from Tony Richards stock, and his dam, a Holban from Albert Hand, a great flyer from Doncaster.
Portsmouth Manor Park saw another win for Mark Drackett. His yearling blue hen was doing 1715 ypm. A Saunders was second club with a two year oldcheq pied hen on 1669 ypm. Mark was in the frame again with a blue pied hen on 1661 ypm taking 3rd club.
Conveyers Report.Arrived on site at 0820 hrs. All birds watered. Tony called for a weather update, which was good all the way, but to get away as soon as possible because it would change later in the day. We agreed for a 0930 hrs liberation, giving the birds an hour or so to get water. Birds liberated into broken cloud, blue sky and sunshine, but a very Strong West to South West wind. Birds out of sight in seconds to the north.
Many Thanks as always to the club press reporters.
Claire Mills c.mills59@btinternet.com
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