new MASTER - Australian National Pigeon Association

INSIDE
Page 16 ... Frank takes Aussie folk to
the Land of the Free
Page 18 ... Lahores - slipping away
from the Standard?
Page 20 ... Queensland Pigeon
Fanciers Society annual show
Page 22 ... From strength to strength the Australian Jacobin Club
NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2008
Page 24 ... South Australian Canary
and Pigeon Society show
Page 26 ... The European Experience
Work of a
new MASTER
The champion Fairy Swallow at the 2008 ANPA National Show was again bred by prolific winner
Darren Rafton of Mt Marshall in Queensland, who was also honoured by ANPA as a Master
Breeder. See his story on page 21.
2008 ANPA National Show SPECIAL EDITION
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
King: John Hickman
Norwich Cropper: Eddie Kloprogge
Fantail: Fanfactory
English Shortface
Tumbler: Rob Grogan
Oriental Roller:
Graham Manning
Turbit: Peter Harvey
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
26TH SHOW ANOTHER
SUCCESS STORY
FOR IPSWICH CLUB
Jacobin: Patrick Tenison
By Brad Turner
J
ohn Wiseman and the crew from the Ipswich Pigeon
Specialist Club again showed their efficiency in running the
biggest show on the pigeon calendar and welcomed visitors
with perfect weather for the three days of the ANPA National.
As expected, the show went off without a hitch, which was a
tribute to the IPSC, whose members had been working for
months to prepare for the event.
The show atracted 2950 entries and 170 exhibitors, 100 of who
made the journey from interstate and the majority of who were
able to take advantage of the freight charge arrangements
made between ANPA and Australian Air Express thanks to the
efforts of Secretary Doug McClary.
As a reminder for thiose travelling to Adelaide for the 27th
National from July 10-12, these rates apply only to the first
two boxes of pigeons, the third box will attract the usual much
higher levy.
Archangel: Frank Hayes
The two international judges at Ipswich, Christo Britz of South
Africa who cast his eye over the Modenas and the Long Face
Tumblers, and Dale Jett from the USA, who judged the frill entry
capably organised by the new Australian Oriental Frill, Owl and
Turbit Club, were kept busy.
An fundraising auction by the Frill Club on the Saturday morning
saw a host of excellent birds change hands and should ensure
growing support and competition in Adelaide next year.
The Adelaide National will be held from July 10-12 at the
showgrounds in Wayvile, and hosted by the South Australian
Canary and Pigeon Club.
For more information see page 9 or visit the ANPA website.
Modena Schietti:
Damon Pownell
English Trumpeter:
Allan Watts
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
RESULTS:
The Asian Breeds
Fantails (56 entered): Champion: Fanfactory. Opposite Sex:
Terry Lawler. Reserve: Fanfactory. Young Bird: Mal Davis (36
entered).
Indian Fantails (47): Ch:Dave Sandhoff. OS: Steve Cummings.
Res: Noel Gillett. YB: Dave Sandhoff (28).
Frillback(28): Ch: Anthony Wray.
Jacobin (193): Ch: Patrick Tenison. OS: Ian Campton. Res:
Peter Smith. YB: Clinton de Boni (100).
Lahore (24): Ch: Wayne Ralston. OS: Blenhaven Stud. Res:
Blenhaven Stud. YB: Blenhaven Stud (11).
Bokhara Trumpeter (5): Michael Spadoni.
English Trumpeter (56): Ch: Alan Watts. OS: Dianne Woodward.
Res: Alan Watts. YB: Alan Watts (22).
Old Dutch Capuchine (5) Alan Strachan.
Racing Pigeon - Show Type (54) Ch: Fred Frendo. OS: Joe
Plesko. Res: Fred Frendo. YB: Fred Frendo (25).
British Show Racer (74): Ch: Fred Frendo. OS: Dennis Murphy.
Res: James Walker. YB: Dennis Murphy (42).
Australian Showpen Homer (284): Ch: Roy Gurdler. OS: Dennis
Murphy. Res: Dennis Murphy. YB: Dennis Murphy (166).
Modena - Gazzi (21): Ch: D & A Lewis. OS: D & A Lewis. Res: D
& A Lewis. YB: D & A Lewis (15).
Modena - Schietti (103): Ch: Pownell Lofts. OS: Pownell Lofts.
Res: Jeff Thorne. YB: Pownell Lofts(61).
Damascene (6).
Egyptian Swift (16): Ch: Needham & Knight. YB: Needham &
Knight (9).
Flown Homers (28): Ch: Blenhaven Stud. OS: Blenhaven Stud.
Res: Blenhaven Stud. YB: Blenhaven Stud (8).
Pouters & Croppers
The Frills
Brunner Pouter (57): Ch: Kevin Cosgrove. OS: Kelvin Cosgrove.
Res: Kelvin Cosgrove. YB: Kelvin Cosgrove (28).
Blondinette (67): Ch Alan Pope. OS: Scotty Ross. Res: Scotty
Ross. YB: Scotty Ross (25).
Czech Ice Pouter (4): Ch: Blenhaven Stud. YB: Blenhaven Stud
(2).
Satinette (36): Ch: Alan Pope. OS: Ian Walsh. Res: Scotty Ross
YB: Elio De Boni (24).
English Pouter (6): Kelvin Cosgrove. YB: Kelvin Cosgrove (2).
African Owl (31): Ch: Peter Harvey. OS: Elio De Boni. Res: Elio
De Boni. YB: Peter Harvey (22).
Barbarisi (Syrian Owl) (13): Ch: Steve Hrup. YB: Steve Hrup (9).
Chinese Owl (42): Ch: Phil Cleghorn. OS: Phil Cleghorn. Res:
Phil Cleghorn. YB: Phil Cleghorn (18).
Turbit (33): Ch: Peter Harvey. OS: Peter Harvey. Res: Peter
Harvey. YB: Peter Harvey (18).
Any Other Frill (10): Ch: Steve Hrup.
German Toy & Colour
Saxon Field Pigeons (14): Ch: T & R Darling. YB: T & R Darling
(10).
Fairy Swallow (16): Ch: Darren Rafton. OS: T & R Darling. Res:
Darren Rafton. YB: Darren Rafton (11).
Silesian Swallow (44): Ch: Darren Rafton. OS: T & R Darling.
Res: T & R Darling. YB: T & R Darling (27).
Ice Pigeons (37): Ch: Bruce Pengelly. OS: Anthony Wray. Res:
Anthony Wray. YB: Bruce Pengelly (15).
Gimple (21): Ch: Frank Hayes. YB: Frank Hayes (10).
Lark (29): Ch: Anthony Wray. OS: Bruce Pengelly. Res: B & H
McInerney. YB: Anthony Wray (15).
Suabian (2).
Homer Varieties
English Carrier (28): Ch: Phil Lines. OS: Phil Lines. Res: Phil
Lines. YB: Phil Lines (12).
Australian Dragoon (11): Ch: Alan Strachan. YB: Allan Strachan
(11).
English Dragoon (81): Ch: Allan Makin. OS: Allan Makin. Res:
Allan Makin. YB: Greg Kelleher (47).
English Show Homer (10): Ch: Allan Makin.
Exhibition Homer (2): Ch: Alan Logan. YB: Alan Logan (2)
German Beauty Homer (64): Ch Alan Dawson. OS: Alan
Dawson. Res: Alan Dawson. YB: Alan Dawson (50).
Hana Pouter (4): Ch: Blenhaven Stud.
Holle Cropper (19): Ch: Allan Makin. YB: A. Makin (8).
Norwich Cropper (33): Ch: Eddie Kloprogge. OS: E.Kloprogge.
YB: E.Kloprogge (16).
Pigmy Pouter (72): Ch: Pownell Lofts. OS: Blenhaven Stud.
Res: Blenhaven Stud. YB: Blenhaven Stud (28).
Pomeranian Pouter (1): Ch: W.Lockie.
Reversewing Pouter (9): Ch: Phil Regan.
Voorburg Shield Cropper (24): Ch: Phil Regan. OS: Dangerfield
& Hill. Res: Kelvin Cosgrove. YB: Kelvin Cosgrove (10).
Pomeranian Pouter:
Jelovac and Lockie
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
Exhibition Tumblers
English Dragoon:
Allan Makin
Domestic Show Flight (Cap) (13): Ch: J.Krahenbring. OS:
T.Bone. Res: J.Krahenbring. YB: J.Krahenbring (11).
Domestic Show Flight (Plainhead) (16): Ch: J.Krahenbring. OS:
J.Krahenbring. Res: J.Krahenbring. YB: J.Krahenbring (12).
English Long Face (Clean Leg) (84): Ch: J.Krahenbring. OS:
J.Krahenbring. Res: J.Krahenbring. YB: J.Krahenbring (48).
English Long Face (Muffed) (53): Ch: J.Krahenbring. OS:
J.Krahenbring. Res: J.Krahenbring. YB: J.Krahenbring (32).
English L.F Marked (clean): Ch: Dave Cotsios. OS: Felice
Esposito. Res: Dave Cotsios. YB: Dave Cotsios.
English LF Marked (muff): Ch: Felice Esposito. OS: Felice
Esposito. Res: Felice Esposito. YB: Felice Esposito.
English Short Face Tumbler (74): Ch: Rob Grogan. OS: Rob
Grogan. Res: J & M Moores. YB: J & M Moores (33).
Felegyhazer Tumbler (28): Ch: Colin Seymour. YB: Colin
Seymour (11).
Helmet (Plain Head) (44): Ch: Col Campbell. OS: Col Campbell.
Res: Col Campbell. YB: Col Campbell (28).
Helmet (Crested) (80): Ch: Geoff Nelson. OS: Phil Bachner.
Res: Geoff Nelson. YB: J & M Moores (44).
Komorner Tumbler (14): Ch: Wyatt Family.
Magpie (51): Ch: David Lewis. OS: D.Lewis. Res: D.Lewis. YB:
D.Lewis (20)
Nun (39): Ch: Anthony Wray. OS: Michael Spadoni. Res:
Michael Spadoni. YB: Anthony Wray (20).
Old Dutch Tumbler (10): Ch: Bruce Pengelly. YB: Bruce
Pengelly (4).
Vienna Long faced Tumbler (15): Ch: Barry Ross.
Flying Tumblers
Oriental Roller (6): Ch: Graham Manning. YB: Graham Manning
(4).
Aust. Performing Tumbler (69): Ch: Graham Sengstock. OS:
Graham Sengstock. Res: Graham Sengstock. YB: Graham
Sengstock (33).
Serbian Highflyer (6): Ch: Graham Manning. YB: Graham
Manning (3).
Shakhsharli Tumbler (10): Ch: Steve Hrup. YB: Steve Hrup (10).
Danzig Highflyer (9): Ch: Graham Manning.
Show Birmingham Roller (76): Ch: Geoff Nelson. OS: Tony
Ferraro. Res: Tony Ferraro. YB: Geoff Nelson (43).
Carneau:
Doug Nothdurft
Takla - Turkish Tumbler (2): Ch: Alan Hrup.
Exhibition Flying Tippler (4): Ch: Phil Bachner.
West of England Tumbler (12): Ch: Keith Kitt. YB: Keith Kitt (7).
Utility Pigeons
American Giant Runt (2): Ch: Doug Nothdurft.
1
Carneau (41): Ch: Doug Nothdurft. OS: Doug Nothdurft. Res:
Doug Nothdurft. YB: Doug Nothdurft (19).
King (189): Ch: John Hickman. OS: Phil Bachner. Res: Trevor
Bone. YB: Trevor Bone (99).
Montauben (2): Ch: John Thomas.
Roman Runt (19): Ch: Doug Nothdurft. YB: Doug Nothdurft (12).
Swiss Mondaine (19): Ch: Doug Nothdurft. YB: Doug Nothdurft
(8).
A. O. Variety (Clean Leg) (12): Ch: Doug Nothdurft, YB: Doug
Nothdurft (9).
Best Juvenile: Cooper Rafton.
Runner up Juvenile: Zoe Nothdurft.
Participation Awards: Holly Hutchison,
Madeline Wilton, Rebecca Nothdurft, Cherie
Nothdurft, Daniel Nothdurft, Billy Lockie.
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
Modena Gazzi:
D & A Lewis
Old Dutch Capuchine:
Alan Strachan
Exhibition Homer:
Allan Logan
Holle Cropper:
Allan Makin
British Show Racer:
Fred Frendo
Mario Fenech’s photographs of champions
appearing in this edition (and others)
can be purchased by contacting him at
[email protected]. For $6 he will
produce a 10 by 8 image inscribed with the
bird’s details and a border to make it even
more attractive. He will burn the image to disc
at high resolution and mail it to the buyer.
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
Ice: Bruce Pengelly
Frillback: Anthony Wray
Nun: Anthony Wray
Blondinette: Alan Pope
Crested Helmet:
Geoff Nelson
Indian Fantail: Dave Sandhoff
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
German Beauty
Homer: Alan Dawson
Damascene: Bob Morris
YOUR BIRD NOT PICTURED?
DON’T WORRY!
THERE WILL BE MANY MORE
NATIONAL PHOTOS IN THE
DECEMBER-JANUARY EDITION.
Magpie: Des Lewis
Thank you Ipswich for a Great National
Werner Zimmer --- Queensland
Breeding Quality English Longfaces CL
in Black and Andalusian based on the studs
of Jeff Krahenbring and Alan Watts
also
Breeding Turbits in various colours, originating
from Boston Bay Lofts, Peter Harvey
PH 07 54961483 Email:[email protected]
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
Pygmy Pouter:
Damon Pownell
English Show Homer:
Allan Makin
Lahore:
Wayne Ralston
Hana Pouter:
Blenhaven Stud
27th ANPA National Show - Adelaide
July 10-12, 2009, Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville
Hosted by the South Australian Canary and Pigeon Club
Official host hotel: Hurley’s Arkaba Hotel Motel
Quote ‘National Pigeon Show’ when booking
150 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton. 4 star.
Phone 08 8338 1100 - www.arkabahotel.com.au
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
Helmet Plainhead:
Colin Campbell
Chez Ice Pouter:
Blenhaven Stud
NEWS AND VIEWS – OLD EDITIONS
Barbarisi:
Steve Hrup
Vienna Tumbler:
Barry Ross
All in mint condition - $5 each plus $3 postage and packing.
Vol.12 No.2 Jan/Feb 1998 Muffed breeds special (2 available); Vol.12 No.3 Jun/July 1998 Blower special (13);
Vol.13 No.1 Oct/Nov 1998 National show special (7); Vol.13 No.2 Jan/Feb 1999 Utility breeds special (11);
Vol. 13 No.3 Jun/July 1999 Short faced breeds special (16); Vol.14 No.1 Sep/Oct 1999 – Perth National special (8)
Autumn 2001 (3); Jan/Feb. 2002 (8)
Cheques payable to ANPA c/o Doug McClary, 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930
Tel. 03 9708 8584 email [email protected].
2008 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW - July 25 - 27, Ipswich, Qld
MERITORIUS SERVICE AWARD
Bob Kennedy, Woodford, Queensland
ANPA is pleased to present one of its valued Meritorious
Service Awards to one of the stalwarts and characters of pigeon
showing in Queensland and around Australia.
In one tribute, Bob was described as being the rough diamond
of pigeon showing, but this comment was made in admiration
and respect, indicating that what you see is what you get with
this man.
He is now 65years of age and is a swimming coach/pool
manager, a position held for 35 years. Bob is a Foundation
Member of ANPA and has only missed one National Show in
now 26 years,.
He has been a constant supporter of ANPA and has previously
served on the committee for nine years. He is now back on it for
further service and guidance. He was Election Supervisor for a
period of nine years.
At National shows, when not judging, he has made himself
available to steward and has hosted overseas judges at his
home.
Bob has travelled to the United States where he judged longfaced tumblers and represented the Australian fancy. He was a
member of a committee formed to host the 1994 National show
in Queensland. He has always supported the National ring concept and has
willingly travelled to most parts of Australia to support pigeon
shows, and was a participant in the first importation of birds into
Australia.
Bob is a supporter of everything pigeon showing and was
nominated by friends and admirers in his home State.
ANPA is delighted to recognise his contribution in support of our
national association and pigeon showing in general
SERVICE TO THE FANCY AWARD
Shirley and Tom Muggeridge, Cooroy,
Queensland.
This ‘Service to the Fancy’ award is a new idea for ANPA and
recognises good, hard-working “grass roots” fanciers.
This award is also unique in that it is being made to Shirley who
is believed to be the first woman to be recognised by ANPA.
This is one way of saying the Association appreciates the work
that women do both in support of the showing of pigeons and, in
Shirley’s case, as breeders and exhibitors themselves.
Tom and Shirley are both founder members of ANPA and have
been strong and valued supporters for its 26 years. Tom has
served on the ANPA committee for two stints.
Their original club was the Caporicornia, where Tom has served
as President. They are well known in Queensland where they
have always supported the shows in the State with entries and
other work.
Their main breeds have included Nuns and Fantails but other
breeds have been kept, exhibited and enjoyed.
Shirley has often be heard to say that while penning a show
winner is always a pleasure, she gets most enjoyment from the
hobby from the people she meets through it.
ANPA is pleased to recognise the work of Shirley and Tom
Muggeridge to the pigeon fancy in Queensland and for their
unswerving support of ANPA.
Top: Bob Kennedy receives his award from
ANPA President Bob Grant.
Above: Bob presents Tom and Shirley
Muggeridge with their award.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
Frank Povah, Western Australia
Frank is a dedicated and lifelong pigeon fancier but with an
affinity to performing tumblers and highfliers and will admit to
the fact that he has never been or is he likely to be, a breeder of
show pigeons.
Yet, he states that he is awe of the birds at shows and the skill
and dedication of the fanciers who breed and exhibit them.
It was his love of pigeons, especially the historical aspect, that
led him in 2002 to produce the Australian Pigeon Fanciers
Gazette with the intention of bringing together fanciers from all
over the country.
He was later approached by ANPA to see whether he would
include the text of News and Views in the magazine and this
was the beginning of the Gazette which has just ended with
edition No.22.
For more about Frank’s future, see the story on pages 16-17.
OFFICE BEARERS
President
Bob Grant
Kemp’s Creek, NSW 2171.
(02) 9606 0666 [email protected]
Secretary
Douglas McClary 3 Kunyung Road, Mt Eliza, Vic, 3930.
(03) 9708 8584
[email protected]
Treasurer/Publicity Officer
Brad Turner
23 Alton Tce, The Gap, Qld 4061.
(07) 3300 3467
[email protected]
Ring Coordinator
Terry Darling
P.O Box 737, Loxton, S.A. 5333.
(08) 8584 1339
[email protected]
Membership Coordinator
Richard Darling, P.O. Box 1502, Loxton, S.A. 5333.
(08) 8584 1268
[email protected]
Webmaster
Alan Strachan
(02) 4822 0329
[email protected]
Election Supervisor
Larry Horder
(02) 4995 6050
Victoria/Tasmania
Vice President
Michael Spadoni 360 Tower Hill Drive, Lovely Banks, Geelong, 3221
(03) 5275 5625; 0402 078 695
[email protected]
Committee
Joe Puglia (03) 9775 6516
[email protected] Mark Tung
835 Main Rd, Panton Hill. 3759.
(03) 9719 7300
New South Wales/A.C.T
Vice President
Allan Makin,
West Pennant Hills, NSW 2125.
(02) 9871 4093
[email protected]
Committee
Alan Strachan,
P.O Box 330, Goulburn NSW 2580
(02) 4822 0329
[email protected]
Bob Weekes,
P.O Box 28, Town Centre,
Mt Druitt NSW 2770
(03) 9628 1081
[email protected]
Queensland
Vice President
Bob Kennedy
(07) 5496 4094; 0428 282 901
[email protected]
Committee
Ian Walsh
(07) 5534 7997; 0404 011 300
[email protected]
Western Australia
Vice President
Peter Tripoli
79 Hale Rd, Forrestfield, 6058.
(08) 9453 9172; 041 995 3239
email: [email protected]
Committee
Dick Milner
6 Irwin Place, Maida Vale, 6057
(08) 9352 8993
[email protected]
South Australia/Northern Territory
Vice President
Terry Darling,
PO Box 737, Loxton, S.A. 5333 (08) 8584 1339 [email protected]
Committee
David Lewis
21 Young St, Blackwood. S.A. 5051
(08) 8178 0947
[email protected]
The ANPA Newsletter is the official publication of the Australian National Pigeon Association.
Material has been sourced from a number of contributors.
For permission to reproduce the contents, contact Brad Turner on (07) 3300 3467.
The next edition will be published in December 08-January 09.
Send contributions to 23 Alton Terrace, The Gap, 4061, Queensland, or to [email protected] by
Deadline for contributions: November
30, 2008.
Advertising costs are $80 for a full page; $40 for a half page and $20 for a quarter page.
Printed by: Rivercity Printing, Brisbane.
Visit the ANPA website at www.anpa.com.au
SIMPLY
SPECTACULAR!
Last January, Queensland Pigeon Fanciers
Society Secretary BARRY ROSS was offered
a free display site at the SPECTACULAR
PETACULAR to be held at the showgrounds
in Brisbane in June.
M
ost corporate site fees were from $600 to $6000, so the
offer was too good to refuse. After a few phone calls to
committee members the decision was soon taken. That was the
easy part.
Then the organising had to take place. Firstly, who would man
the stand? This was decided at the next general meeting with
seven members willing to help out.
The next step was to arrange pigeons and cages for the display.
Three members repaired and painted the cages needed and
another member provided two bays (16) of freshly painted
wooden show boxes for the smaller pigeons.
That meant a total of 60 pens, so 60 different breeds of pigeons
were needed. A few phone calls later and around 50 different
pigeons were available. They only had to be picked up and
taken to the showground. Next step, leaflets had to be printed
and posters and pigeon pictures had to be arranged.
Then display stands were required to mount the posters on and
to partition the stall area.
Barry Ross then approached a Government department office
near the showground to see if he could borrow display screens.
The timing was great as they had just renovated the building
and were getting rid of nine near-new screens, now QPFS.
property.
It was decided the members at the display would wear t shirts
bearing the new club logo. These were provided free to the
helpers thanks to sponsorship by a local embroidery firm.
SET UP DAY: FRIDAY
Barry Ross, Tom Mayberry and Werner Zimmer arrived at noon
to survey the area provided and were pleasantly surprised when
told they could take as much space as needed.
Tom and Werner set up the show cages. Barry went home
and got the pigeons, which had been picked up from all over
Brisbane.
John Thomas also arrived with a few breeds including rarer
varieties, and stayed to help as the area started to take
shape. A new medium was used on the floor of the cages,
COMMENTS FROM VISITORS:
Do they fold their tails up at night? - a lady
looking at the Fantails.
Can they be used as a feather duster? - a little
girl looking at the Jacobins.
What do they suck? - a boy when told pigeons
feed the squeakers milk.
A man looking at the inflated Pouters jokingly
said to a woman “you need a pair of those down
your blouse” - she replied “what, fantails?”
A man when told the large pigeon was a runt - “I
would like to see the rest of the litter!”
“Do you feed them straw?”- referring to the cage
litter.
Several people thought the frillback had been to
the pet parlour for a crimping.
A little boy - “look mummy, ducks!”
The hardest question: Why are pigeons with
short beaks called longfaces?
lucerne mulch, which proved very successful as it did not blow
everywhere and smelt great. Three hours later the area was
looking good. The banner was then put up to complete the
display.
DAY ONE: SATURDAY
Members arrived early to man the display and to make sure the
pigeons were all alert and healthy.
Breed name signs had been made up by Barry featuring the
country of origin of the breeds. Two round walking pens were
set up and fantails and several breeds of blowers were put in.
The start to the day was slow, as it was also local government
voting day. Around noon the crowd started to increase as Dr
Harry Cooper of TV fame was giving his lectures.
The QPFS stand was staffed by Max Vangeet, Barry Ross,
Trevor Rogers, Tom Mayberry, Werner Zimmer, Kim Wright and
Lola Talbot.
Dr Harry passed by and said he would come back later, and
he did so in the quiet of the evening. He said it was, “one of
the best rare breed pigeon displays I have seen.” He was also
intrigued with the yellow diamond doves of Tom Mayberry.
DAY TWO: SUNDAY
Tom Mayberry (left) and Barry Ross with Dr Harry Cooper at the
Spectacular Petacular at Brisbane’s RNA showgrounds.
Tom Mayberry was there early and had all the birds fed and
watered while Werner swept up. Barry was approached by the
organiser who said Dr Harry was keen to talk fancy pigeons.
Dr Harry later visited and spent around half an hour talking to
Barry, Tom and Werner. The main subject, of course, was fancy
pigeons, but got around to poultry and even pet rats.
Dr Harry said he keeps nuns, helmets, swifts and various
tumblers.He asked if the QPFS would like to be featured in a TV
segment later in the year, and took one of the new club handouts with him as a referral document.
We will hear from his producer in due course.
The crowd on the second day was greater, with lots of younger
families with children. The main drawcard were the pigeons in
the walking pens. The blowers were performing well and the
Jacobin and Frillbacks were really crowd pullers.
Editor’s note: The QPFS deserves credit for this initiative.
FROM THE SECRETARY - Doug McClary
F
or some reason it has been an
extremely busy year for me. The rings
were finally ordered from Horst Stengels
of Germany and delivered on time.
The pricing proved to be a problem but
we played it safe, and will hopefully be
able to reduce prices when the situation
is better proved.
The one good thing was that we
managed a deal with Qantas and
Australian Air Express for the carriage of
our birds by air.
We have a very favourable deal indeed
for our members.
John Hanson, Max Healey, Bob Kennedy,
Frank Hayes, Bill Vost, Keith Fitzgerald,
Tom Muggeridge, David Lewis, Colin
Seymour, Allan Makin, Rob McCoombes,
Bob Weekes.Others did not sign
attendance register. Apologies: John
Murphy, Joe Puglia, Terry Darling, Shirley
Muggeridge, Chris Schutz, Ron Pollock
Minutes of the AGM of 21st July 2007
were summarised by the secretary. It
was proposed by Peter Tripoli, seconded
by Phil Cleghorn that they be accepted
as a true record. This was carried.
Matters Arising: Nil
It has been a difficult year for fanciers,
with higher costs all round and this is
bound to have an affect on shows and
showing.
Reports
You can be sure that ANPA will continue
to represent the needs of pigeon showing
in Australia and perhaps our biggest task
is to convince the ordinary fancier that
ANPA is for them and for their benefit.
NSW: Allan Makin (Vice President), Alan
Strachan and Bob Weekes.
We must all aim to work together and
hopefully a new look working committee
will help bring this about. Our new web
site will soon be under development and
members will soon see the new in house
newsletter which is being prepared and
circulated by Brad Turner.
Our current operation includes the
judging criteria which has been taken on
by some of the more progressive clubs
,the new web site, the newsletter and
we are preparing a model set of show
rules which we hope that clubs will wish
to adopt at their shows as a protection to
themselves and their members.
My thanks for the support of Bob Grant
as a tower of strength and to Brad Turner
as an “always present”.
It is wrong to mention only some, but I
must mention the father/son duo of Terry
and Richie Darling who work quietly
without fuss, but their contribution to
ANPA often passes unrecognised and
to all fellow members of the committee
for their wise counsel to me as a nonAustralian trying to administer an
Australian organisation.
The President stated that his report would
be printed in the newsletter. He gave the
election results of 2008 as follows:
Victoria: Michael Spadoni (VP), Joe
Puglia and Mark Tung.
Queensland: Bob Kennedy (VP) and Ian
Walsh.
WA: The vacancy of Vice President had
been filled by Peter Tripoli and Dick
Milner was co-opted on to the committee.
A question was raised as to what right
the committee had to fill a vacancy in this
way. The wording of the Constitution was
pointed out, permitting the appointment.
Secretary: The secretary read his
report, a copy of which appears in this
newsletter.
Treasurer: Brad Turner presented a
written report which revealed that net
assets had increased to $47601, an
increase of $9988 from last year. This
increase was largely to sales of the Book
of Standards and 81 copies still held.
Ring sales produced a profit of $2540 but
subscription receipts dropped by $370.
He answered some questions from the
floor. Ian Walsh proposed acceptance of
the report, seconded by David Lewis and
carried.
Membership Coordinator’s report: Richie
Darling reported that there were 302
members which includes 29 affiliated
clubs and three specialist clubs.
The committee had voted not to increase
subscription rates and stated that they
would decide the price of 2009 rings
when more information was available
about the affects of the dual membership
and pricing strategy and other factors
such as the exchange rate and tax rates.
It was proposed by Werner Zimmer,
seconded by Allan Makin that all reports
be accepted. This was carried.
Elections – as recommended in
committee. President: Bob Grant.
Publicity/newsletter: Brad Turner. Auditor:
Bert Girle of P.B.Irwin and Associates,
The Gap, Qld. Election supervisor: Larry
Horder. Judging Coordinator: Bill Vost. At
this point Phil Cleghorn said he believed
we needed a new judges coordinator on
the basis that invitations to judges had
been sent out late. Bill Vost explained the
reasons for this and stated that he would
work very closely to the 2009 National
organiser (David Lewis) to ensure
maximum communication.
The election of Bill Vost was confirmed.
Standards Committee: The President,
Colin Seymour, Allan Makin and Alan
Strachan.Juniors’ Coordinator: Brad
Turner who reminded State committees
and Vice Presidents that funds were
available for the promotion of activities
of Junior exhibitors. Webmaster: Alan
Strachan.Membership Coordinator:
Richie Darling.Ring Coordinator: Terry
Darling.
Presentation of awards: The President
outlined the awards which would be
made that evening at the dinner, namely
a Master Breeder for Darren Rafton,
Meritorious Service awards for Bob
Kennedy and Frank Povah, and an award
for valuable service to ANPA and the
fancy in Queensland, to Shirley and Tom
Muggeridge.
Ipswich Saturday the 26th July 2008 at
2pm.
Ring Coordinator’s report: In the absence
of Terry Darling, the report was provided
by Richie Darling who stated that of
the 63550 rings purchased, 53320 had
already been sold, compared to 51780
at the same time last year. It is likely that
late ring sales will dispose of most of the
remaining 5360 rings held.
Colin Seymour reminded the meeting that
these must be approved by the majority
at the AGM. Brad read the four citations
in full. It was proposed by Peter Tripoli,
seconded by Keith Fitzgerald that the
awards be presented as approved by the
committee.
Present: Bob Grant, president, Doug
McClary secretary, Brad Turner treasurer,
Peter Tripoli, Dick Milner, Michael
Spadoni, Werner Zimmer, Graeme
Jubb, Richie Darling, Alan Strachan,
Phil Cleghorn, Colin Burton, Ian Walsh,
Richard Kurschner, Graham Manning,
Max Healy asked why we had changed
our ring prefix to ANPA instead of NPA.
It was stated that this was done to
differentiate between our rings and those
used in other countries using NPA. The
Constitution had been changed to allow
this to be done.
Proposition brought by the committee.
ANPA
Minutes of Annual General Meeting –
This was carried without dissent.
In Clause 8 of the Constitution (election
of officers) in (b) add the following
‘Financial members on the 1st January will
be eligible to vote in the elections This
was proposed by David Lewis, seconded
by Alan Strachan and carried.
FROM THE PRESIDENT - Bob Grant
Business brought forward by the
committee: Nil.
Any other business: John Hanson raised
the issue of what ANPA should be doing
with its funds. This was lightly discussed.
Graeme Jubb asked about the Gazette
and the newsletter. Brad outlined the
situation with regard to his newsletter and
negotiations with the Australasian Poultry
Magazine, as well as progress towards a
new ANPA website. Graeme mentioned
other aspects of the sport including
the using of funds. John Hanson and
Bob Weekes stated that they would be
submitting a claim from the PFS to host a
National Young Bird show at Fairfield.
Eddie Kloprogge mentioned that he
felt that he was deserving of a Master
Breeder award, but as he belonged to
no club other than ANPA, he felt the
committee should nominate him.
The President advised that it was not
a committee responsibility to nominate
Master Breeder Awards, as this might be
construed as favouritism or nepotism.
Nominations should come from within the
peer group of that particular breed.
Eddie was given the copy of the
extensive nomination that had been
tabled in nomination of Darren Rafton
Date of next AGM At Adelaide during the
2009 National, 10th to 12th July.
A
gain Ipswich has staged an excellent
National, thanks to John Wiseman
and the dedicated lot who assist.
Nearly 3000 birds were entered and
more importantly 170 exhibitors took part,
including nearly 100 interstaters. It was
good to note the increased participation
by specialist clubs in the running of their
sections; as always the Show Pen Homer
and Jacobin sections were well set-up,
and of course the King Club always have
a good time.
The newly-formed Frill Club staged
a good display with Dale Jett (USA)
officiating and the Long-Face and
Modena fraternities shared in the
expertise of Christo Britz (South Africa).
The ambience was especially friendly
in all sections and exhibitors socialised
in various venues after hours, the
presentation night was a great success
with a full-house attendance. There were
many juniors in attendance and also quite
a lot in the 18 to 25 demographic .
Thanks also to the photographers who
covered the event: Mario Fenech spent
many hours, covered in shavings,
photographing the Champions. These
photos will be available individually ,
on CD (framed and in large format)
Knox Bird Veterinary Clinic
Dr Colin Walker, BSc, BVSc, MACVS (Avian Health)
Avian Veterinarian
11 Henry Road, Wantirna South,Victoria 3152
Ph: 03 9800 5311
Email: [email protected]
www.auspigeonco.com.au
35 years experience racing his own team of
pigeons and exhibitor of German Beauty Homers,
Damascenes, Nuremburg Larks, Australian
Suabians, British Show Racers and Syrian Tarbesh
Available for phone advice
Full range of pigeon medications and health
supplements in stock
for printing, details elsewhere. Nabil
Yuossef provided a CD of the ANPA
award presentations. Ray Mathiesen has
supplied two hours of video and stills
of the judging, as he did in 2002. After
release of the newsletter these photos
will be uploaded to the website.
Jamie Line has also donated copies of
his 25th Anniversary disc to be awarded
as prizes in the future, a few copies
will be presented in Germany this year,
Thanks Jamie. Copies are still available,
see link on website.
Elections saw NSW positions unchanged.
In Victoria we welcome Mark Tung. I
would like to thank vacating member
John Murphy for his consistent and
considered input and also Paul Sulja for
his efforts in staging the 25th Anniversary
National.
In WA, we welcome Dick Milner to
replace Steve Redmond who retired
due to pressing outside commitments.
Queensland has a new committee in Bob
Kennedy and Ian Walsh. Brad Turner has
taken over the role of Publicity Officer, as
well as continuing as Treasurer. And of
course, thanks to Douglas McClary, it’s
hard for me to fathom the amount of time
and typing Doug puts in, I hope members
and the fancy realise his contribution.
The committee has been active over the
last year, with 1500 emails processed.
The two-tiered membership system,
in conjunction with ring discount, has
been implemented. The change of ring
has seen a cost saving to clubs, to
members and to prospective members. It
appears not all major clubs are advising
ring-buyers of the discounted ANPA
membership, please visit the ANPA
website for details.
Due to available finance the Junior
Fund has been revitalised: $50 will be
available, administered by State VPs,
for allocation to junior awards at shows
in their states (on a rotational basis). All
juniors were presented with valuable
books at the National.
In 2005 , Dave Spencley (treasurer)
warned that ANPA funds were increasing
only minimally each year. Since then
through the dedication of Colin Seymour
and the fervour of some committee
members (in pursuance of advertising)
we have achieved an increase in funds
from sales of the Standards Book.
Finally, congratulations to the recipients
of this year’s ANPA awards, as detailed
elsewhere in the newsletter.
Wishing all a good breeding season and
looking forward to another successful
National in Adelaide 2009.
What you didn’t know about ...
FRANK POVAH
ANPA’s long-serving publicity officer and
Australasian Pigeon Fancier’s Gazette editor
Frank Povah is relocating to the USA later
this year for the next adventure in a quite
remarkable life, as DOUGLAS McCLARY
discovered.
F
rank Povah was born in Western Australia in 1940.
His paternal forebears were Irish and Welsh, while on the
maternal side he is of Cornish, Afghani and Aboriginal lineage –
and a politician once had the temerity to ask him why he was a
republican.
The war years aside, Frank’s pre-teens were spent in rural
WA including Cockatoo Island, in the Kimberley’s Buccaneer
Archipelago.
Among his grandparents were a long-distance drover, a
crocodile trapper and maternal grandparents who managed
a Papua New Guinea plantation in the early years of the 20th
Century.
Growing up with these people and the characters that populated
their world gave Frank an abiding love of tradition, folklore and
music and the natural world.
His teenage years were spent in Willagee, the then-new State
Housing suburb of Fremantle.
In Fremantle he was apprenticed for six years as a hand
compositor and it was in Fremantle that he began seriously
singing and playing guitar semi-professionally – a hobby that led
him away from WA in about 1962.
Credited with being possibly the first Australian to sing and play
traditional blues – from about 1956 – Frank became intensely
interested in this musical form, along with the traditional old-time
“hillbilly” music of the US.
Though these are the two styles he mostly plays, concert
performances will also include traditional Australian and Celtic
tunes, along with popular songs of the late 1800s and early
1900s, learned from his grandparents and great-grandparents.
In the 1980s he was paid the compliment of being filmed and
recorded by one of Australia’s most respected folklorists, the
late John Meredith, for the collection of the National Library.
A short excerpt from this project was published in a book titled
Real Folk.
Throughout the 60s and 70s Frank travelled widely in Australia,
New Zealand and elsewhere, working at jobs ranging from
casual wharf labourer to mutton cutter.
Over the past couple of years, he has worked as an editor and
columnist for Australian Geographic, contributing the feature
“Dinkum Lingo”, a celebration of the Australian vernacular.
He also has a reputation as a folklorist and in the 1980s
collected on tape the folklore of the so-called “urban
Aboriginals” in rural NSW.
The Australian Folk Trust, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Island Studies, and Albert Ludwig University in
Germany, holds this collection.
has also been used as evidence in several Land Rights cases.
But what of pigeons? Like so many born in the 40s and early
50s, pigeons and backyard poultry were part of the background
of everyday life – especially among those people whom we now
call the “working poor”.
Frank started keeping pigeons – trapped along railway lines and
in the wake of wheat trucks – when he was about 12 and even
in his roving years, if he stuck at an address for six months he
would keep a few pigeons.
Among the birds he kept as a teenager was a small, yellow–
brown hen with muffed feet and a roundish head.
The first time she was let out to fly, she climbed above the rest
of the mob and then proceeded to drop in a series of leisurely
back flips till she was not much more than head height above
the ground.
Frank’s love affair with performing tumblers had begun.
Frank’s interests lie with the tumblers and highfliers and he is
the first to admit that he is not – and never will be – a breeder of
show pigeons.
However, in his own words, he is “in awe of” the birds exhibited
at shows and of the skill and dedication of the fanciers who
breed and show them.
As a keen student of folklore and “humanised history”, it’s not
surprising that Frank is deeply interested in the history of the
pigeon fancy, arguably among the world’s oldest hobbies, and
ardently believes in the concept of one big, worldwide family
of pigeon people who share a common interest – love and
admiration for domesticated pigeons.
It is this belief that was in part the motivation for founding the
Australasian Pigeon Fanciers Gazette.
Living mostly in the country since the late 1970s, Frank became
frustrated with keeping pigeons in isolation, with having no-one
to share his love of and enthusiasm for the hobby, and felt that
there must be many other people in similar situations.
However, it wasn’t until the summer of 2002, in Tasmania, that
he was able to realise a long ambition and produce a magazine
aimed at bringing together pigeon people from all over the
country.
A UK university for a time used transcripts in its journalism
studies as examples of unobtrusive editing.
Starting from scratch, the first issue was mostly a rehash of
articles from old APJs and other sources, but there was a trickle
of contributions for the next three.
Frank produced a small book from parts of this project and it
It was an expensive exercise, but Frank stuck with it. Then, later
that year, he was approached by ANPA to see if he would be
interested in including its newsletter, News and Views, with the
Gazette in return for ANPA’s covering of costs of copies sent to
its members.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Now on the verge of another great adventure, Frank has
reluctantly wound up the Gazette.
He hopes it will be remembered by Australia’s pigeon people as
a genuine attempt to unite fanciers in friendship and to spread
the pigeon word.
A couple of serious operations got in the way for a while, but all
in all he would like to think that the Gazette has been a positive
thing and that it has been enjoyed by fanciers.
Though he’ll be living in the US, he intends to remain a member
of ANPA and knows that Australian fanciers will stand behind
ANPA to make it strong.
Our ancient hobby is under threat from many quarters and more
than ever needs the good will of its adherents.
While in the US he intends to work towards an International
confederation of pigeon people.
He believes that we can use friendship among pigeon keepers
worldwide to negate some of the rot that governments,
ideologies and multinational corporations are inflicting on the
world.
A priest once said that if all the world’s holiest men were put in
to one room to discuss their views of God, the silence would be
deafening.
And Frank believes that if every pigeon breeder in the world
was put into a room and asked by a journalist why they were
fascinated by pigeons, the result would be similar.
Frank has a dream that one day we can hold a virtual show,
using the wonders of the internet to have a panel of international
judges comment on the best bird from each country in a Pigeon
Universe competition.
Top judges in the birds’ home countries will comment on the
“handle” and “feel” of the bird they picked as top exhibit then an
international panel will judge them by sight alone. Crazy?
Maybe, but in line with the Povah vivid imagination.
Opposite page: Frank shows his folk music
roots in concert and below on the long tracks
with Sweet Daddy Hambone.
Above: Hard at work as usual behind the
counter at the 2003 National.
LAHORES ...
FRANK POVAH speaks to
Ray Clifton of Western
Australia about the future of
one of his favourite breeds,
the Lahore.
R
eaders will remember Ray Clifton’s
Saddlebacks in issue 17 of the
Australasian Pigeon Fanciers Gazette
A fancier with an interest going back
to the 1940s and known for his
Saddlebacks, Ray is thought to be one of
the first in Australia to keep Lahores and
maintains a keen interest in the breed.
Over the years I’ve known him, we’ve
had many conversations about what he
believes are shortcomings in Lahores.
Though he no longer keeps the breed,
Ray often judges in WA shows. He
became interested in Lahores when he
saw photos of the breed while visiting Dr
Hannaford Schafer in Melbourne in the
1960s.
I’ve often assisted Ray when he’s been
judging Lahores in WA and have been
struck by his comments about the
modern bird in this State.
“Breeders don’t seem to be paying
attention to colour pattern or faults in their
birds. Many of the birds I’ve seen don’t
belong in the show pen. I can’t speak
for the East, but from what I’ve seen in
WA, I believe the birds have declined
considerably in the past few years.
“Badly marked birds are common. You
see birds with coloured hocks and
often with bad foot feather, too sparsely
muffed. The Lahore is supposed to be
heavily groused, not to the extent that a
Dutch Tumbler is, but dense all the same.
“If they haven’t got grouse muff there,
and legs feathers densely coming right
up to the body, they look very strange.
The expression ‘hawk-like’ describes the
fault perfectly.
“The leg feathering should come right up
to the body in a line flowing on under the
tail. There should be no gap in feather
between the body and the foot.
One fault that’s often overlooked,
according to Ray, is in the neck feather.
“You’ll see a bird standing there that,
to the untrained eye, looks quite good.
However, if you take the bird’s head
between your fingers and gently pull
it forward so that the feathers begin to
rise, a white line will often appear where
the neck meets the body. This is a
disqualification,” he says.
“Other colour faults you see a lot are
colour down on the hocks and under the
wings and colour which will creep round
onto the breast.
“When you’re showing, you’re supposed
to be showing a bird of excellence and
you shouldn’t have any other colour
marks bar that on the wings and the
stripe over the head.
“Another fault I’ve seen a lot judging
is birds with only 11 tail feathers – and
that’s a disqualification – and that always
says to me, ‘that bird has had a coloured
tail feather pulled out’, and that’s a
disqualification as well.
“Do not breed from a bird with a coloured
tail feather. If you do – and I’ve done it
– you’ll end up with one, then two, then
three. I’ve actually seen a bird in the East
with a completely coloured tail caused by
breeding from the wrong stock.
“Same with the flights. Never breed
from a white flight. I’ve let mine go
occasionally, self select, and if you do
you’ll end up with all white flights and just
a coloured wing shield.”
I asked Ray what he looks for in a line-up
of Lahores. What catches his eye?
“You look for the shape and the stance of
the bird – the way it stands – first up. The
size of the bird, well the new Standard
calls for 14cm across the breast.
“A King is only supposed to be that much
across the breast, or a little less even, so
I feel they’ve misinterpreted the breed.
“The drawing in the [Australian] Standard,
is an American bird, and looks like it’s
been crossed with a Giant Runt or
Rumbler.
“Then you go to sheen and colour, and
if there’s any mismarked birds, you
wouldn’t go for one of those. You should
look for the density of colour, they are a
colour bird and that’s what you should
look for, and the sheen.
“Always handle the birds. Turn them in
the light to see the sheen. Feel for body
tone, look under the wings.
“When you’re breeding – and this applies
to any breed – always breed from the
best you can get to avoid breeding faults
into your birds. If you’ve got an eyemark,
colour coming down the face, or white
slipping away from the Standard?
across the bridge of the nose, you don’t
breed from that.
two-and-a-half wide and about 25-35mm
longer than the wings.
“If you’re desperate and have to use a
mismarked bird, you’re imprinting that
gene in there, and it will crop up again
some time, even if it’s years later.
“The new Standard says the tail should
be one to one-and-a-quarter feathers
wide, but I believe that’s ridiculous for a
Lahore.
“If you want to retain a black sheen in
Lahores, always breed black to black. To
create good red in a Saddleback you can
cross a black and a yellow – my reds are
from that strain – but if you did that with
Lahores, you’d be way off the mark.
“When you’re looking at head markings,
you should be very aware of your
matings. Never breed from a pair of wide
stripes, or a pair of narrow stripes.
“You must breed red to red, and if you
want to get your depth in your yellow, you
must breed red to yellow. But don’t put
those back into your reds, because you’ll
weaken your colour. Put that cross back
into your yellows.
“If you cross a lavender, as far as I’m
concerned, you’ll muck all your colours
up.
“You must keep all your lavenders to
themselves or you’ll end up with things
like a flat black, black dun. I suppose,
they’re all right to breed into your
lavenders, but if you put them with your
blacks you’ll ruin them for good.
“The same into the reds. You’ll end up
with blue flights or blue background
into the red, the plum colour you get in
tumblers.
“At one time. I was desperately short
of hens, so I tried all sorts of crosses:
Saddlebacks, but the white flights came
through; Kings, but they were too patchy,
I had the most success with the Carneau.
“The first one I used was a dun, back to
the yellows, and I got some nice yellows
and from there I progressed on.”
I asked Ray what he thought caused the
declining standards in WA’s Lahores.
“Ignorance. By that I mean lack of
knowledge; people not understanding the
bird. Not knowing what they’ve got and
“You need to balance your pairs – a
narrower stripe with a wide stripe would
be okay, to maintain that – 5mm I think it
is – clearance from the eye.
mis-mating, especially with the colours,”
he says.
“If people want to learn about their birds,
they should steward with someone who
knows the breed.
“And judges have to mark the birds
strictly. If you put up a bird that’s
mismarked and a judge gives it first
because it’s the best of a bad lot, then
you feel that’s how the birds should be.
You’ll judge your other birds at home
against it, and it goes on.”
Ray believes the Lahore deserves wider
popularity.
“They breed well and they’re an excellent
foster for other breeds. They also make
an excellent table bird.
“Lahores and Saddlebacks are the
only pigeon in the world with that head
marking, and you’ll see Saddlebacks that
sit flat and some people say they must
be Lahore crosses, but a good Lahore
stands at a 35-45° angle, so those
Saddlebacks have been crossed with
something else.
“Breed in quantity and then be very
selective, that’s the only way to get your
standard up.
“Once you get that standard, it’s not hard
to maintain as long as you keep paying
close attention – especially to the colours.
“It’s important to always breed from your
largest birds. Discard any runty ones.
It’s the same with Saddlebacks, we keep
switching back, the old Saddle standard
called for 16 ounces [approx. 453g] and
you always picked the largest birds.
“If I remember rightly there’s no weight
given for them or Lahores in the modern
standard, and that’s a shame. The
Lahore should be much heavier than the
Saddleback.
“Look for tails longer than the wing and I
believe the tail should be two feathers or
“The same rule applies with Saddlebacks.
If you keep mating narrow stripes you’ll
end up with a Spot variety.
“Be aware too that as Lahores get older,
the feathers seem to bulk up a bit and
can reach the eye if you’ve started too
wide. So always balance your matings.
“In the Lahore, you’re looking for the
stripe to come from the edge of the wattle
in a nice clean sweep down to the edge
of the wing and the line taken up by the
bottom of the wing right to the end of the
flights A nice, sweeping S shape.
“The American bird in the Standard, I
disagree with the head and so on, but
that’s the way the marking should be.
“The photo (bottom left this page)
from the German book [Illustriertes
Rassetauben Buch, Muller and
Relovsky], I think the markings are a bit
out of line, but the shape is real good. If
you combined the two…
“I still have my reservations regards the
bird in the new Standard book. Why alter
the breed? Now look at the Germans.
“You’ll see thousands of Lahores at their
shows and they look nothing like that.
“It’s too bull at the back of the head and
the beak looks more like a Long Face
Tumbler beak. It’s not a Lahore, it’s like
turning a Modena into a Fantail.
“Why not call it the American Lahore?
The marking is the only nice thing I’ve got
to say about that bird.
“The American drawing, seems to have
three individual toes with separate muffs.
Well that’s wrong too.
I told Ray that I’d bear all his comments
in mind when I went to live in the US –
and try to remember to keep my mouth
shut.
I may even import a few of his
Saddlebacks to the US and see if we
can’t take a card or two there.
QUEENSLAND PIGEON FANCIERS SOCIETY ANNUAL
Bob Kennedy
with his show
champion
Held at Caboolture, June 7
Champion Bird of Show:
King - Bob Kennedy
Reserve Champion:
Crested Helmet - Gordon Jones
Best Junior Exhibit:
Monk - Sebastian Sethi
Best Toy and Colour:
Archangel - Allan Stack
Best Pouter & Cropper:
Pigmy Pouter - C&L Mason
Best Asian Breed:
Fantail - Muggeridge & Love
Best Flying Tumbler:
Old Dutch Tumbler - Max Vangeet
Best Exhibition Tumbler:
Crested Helmet - Gordon Jones
Best Utility:
King - Bob Kennedy
Best Homer Breed:
British Show Racer - MW Lofts
BEST OF BREED
Archangel - Allan Stack
Ice Muffed- Rea Family
Starling -Trevor Rogers
Pigmy Pouter - C&L Mason
Norwich Cropper - Jim Harkess
King- Bob Kennedy
Carneau - Nabil Youssef
Show Birmingham Roller - Bruno Blaese
Australian Perf. Tumbler - Max Vangeet
Nun - Barry Ross
German Beauty Homer - C&L Mason
Australian Show Pen Homer - MW Lofts
Show Racer - MW Lofts
British Show Racer - MW Lofts
Modena Schietti - C&L Mason
English Dragoon - K.Anderson
Monk - PR Lofts
Silesian Swallow - PR Lofts
Nuernberg Lark - PR Lofts
Egyptian Swift - PR Lofts
Brunner Pouter - Ross Hollywood
ReverseWing Pouter - PR Lofts
Holle Cropper - PR Lofts
Indian Fantail - Sebastian Sethi
Fantail - Muggeridge & Love
Fantail Saddle - C&L Mason
Lahore - PR Lofts
Jacobin - Gordon Jones
Takla (Turkish Roller) - Sebastian Sethi
Australian Saddleback - PR Lofts
Flying Tippler - Rea Family
Old Dutch Tumbler - Max Vangeet
Domestic Flight Plain - Bob Kennedy
Domestic Flight Cap - Bob Kennedy
Helmet Plainhead - Gordon Jones
Helmet Crested - Gordon Jones
Magpie - PR Lofts
Vienna Tumbler - PR Lofts
English Shortface Tumbler - Bob
Kennedy
Komorner Tumbler - PR Lofts
Carrier - PR Lofts
Exhibition Homer - PR Lofts
Racing Pigeon - C&L Mason
MASTER BREEDER - Darren Rafton
The ANPA Committee has
unanimously supported
this proposal by RON
WILTON nominating Darren
Rafton of Queensland to
be recognised as a Master
Breeder of Fairy Swallows
and Silesian Swallows.
D
arren first started breeding Fairy
Swallows in the early 80’s from stock
obtained from Nick Baker in Queensland.
In the next few years Darren acquired
birds from Ron Wilton and Bob Grant’s
blood.
In the early years, Blue W/B and an odd
Blue Spangle were his colours. Darren’s
first National was in 1986 and his support
has been continuous.
In the mid 90’s Darren had the foresight
to import some new blood from overseas.
The bird’s Darren obtained were a pair of
Blue W/B’s, different from what anyone
had ever seen in Australia.
This was where Darren’s breeding talents
became obvious. Darren obtained some
more imports with Black W/B’s like the
Swallow fancy had never seen.
Darren receives his award from
ANPA President Bob Grant.
On his way home from the Melbourne
National in 1995, Darren obtained Dave
Willans’ stud of Swallows which included
Silesian Swallows, and also Ron Wilton’s
stud of Red Swallows.
In 1997, Darren imported Black W/B
Fairy’s, Blue Check Silesian, Blue Black
Bar Silesian, Black Barless Silesian, Blue
Barless Silesian and a Red W/B Silesian.
Darren had an agreement with Bill
Griebel from the USA, who supplied most
of these birds. The agreement was to
help foster swallow pigeons in Australia.
When Bill was judging in 2003 he asked
if Darren had tried to promote Swallows
in Australia, and the answer was yes,
Darren had improved the quality of
Swallows and had supplied stock birds to
people including Cliff Whitely (deceased),
Richie Darling, Carl Planke, Bob Grant,
Gavin Woods, Gary Jacques, Glen
Welstead, Vic Volwes, Kevin Smith,
Keith Fitzgerald, Ron Wilton and Colin
Seymour.
Bill made several comments:
•
•
Darren’s Blue W/B Silesian Swallows
were some of the best he had seen
and he ordered birds for his stud. Bill
rated the young hen 97E, the highest
rating that can be given; and
Darren’s Black W/B Fairy’s had
improved so much, Bill was so
impressed, he could not help him
improve anymore, but Darren could
help improve his birds.
was Black W/B Fairy hen which Hans had
picked as Outstanding, but Darren had
over trimmed her.
In 2002 Hans Schipper from Holland
judged swallows at the National in
Queensland. Hans is one of the top
colour pigeon judges in the world.
Hans said the hen was “as good as any
in Europe and would have rated her
97E”. Clearly, Darren’s breeding skills
are not only brilliant in Australia but are
outstanding on a world scale.
Darren won both Fairy and Silesian
swallow with rating of 96HS, but there
Darren is now making Pale Flighted
(Reisserflugel) Swallows of quality.
From strength to strength ...
The Australian JACOBIN Club
By Ian Campton
The popularity of the Jacobin in Australia is directly a result of
the efforts of a small but dedicated group of breeders spread
over our vast continent.
Thanks to the foresight of a few breeders the Australian Jacobin
Club was founded around 1993 to promote Jacobins in Australia
and we presently have some 20 plus members.
We try to send out a newsletter (bulletin) every few months and
have an excellent website: http://austjacobins.homestead.com/
ajc.html
The Australian Jacobin Club supports the ANPA, the National
body, and we hold our annual show at the National Show.
The Australian Jacobin Club has adopted the USA standard and
we have tried to develop our birds to meet this standard.
We have also adopted what we call the American style of
judging and at most of our shows a large gallery usually can be
found enjoying the spectacle of these true show birds in all their
glory.
To provide an overview of the AJC, I figured is easiest done by
letting you know about some of our more prominent members,
as I cannot cover them all.
In July 2007, while we were returning from our National Show
in Melbourne, we learnt of the passing of our own “Mr. Jacobin”
Darcy Cook.
Some of you would know of Darcy and many even had met him,
his character was unique and his legacy is strong, but as with
all good friends and quality breeders they are sorely missed and
he cannot be replicated, so we that shared some of his time are
blessed for it.
Darcy fell short of 90 years by a handful of days. We have one
other current Master Breeder in Bryan Frost of Melbourne, who
has dominated our National shows in recent years.
Bryan’s attention to his fine stud of Jacobins and his showing
ability are unsurpassed and would compete favorably on the
Jacobin world stage (if it were possible).
Bryan has visited the USA on several occasions and had the
honour to judge Jacobins at a National show a few years back.
Gordon Jones from Queensland was a founding member of our
club and is the catalyst of the Australian Jacobin Club and was
the backbone during those formative years.
Gordon is totally responsible for our wonderful website and our
world wide presence on the “net”. He established this website
and maintains it to a standard which is widely recognized as
one of the better pigeon websites around.
A club needs this sort of dedication to survive and Gordon also
finds time to produce many high-class Jacobins.
Peter Smith from rural Queensland is another prominent
member who has a very strong opinion on his idea of a Jacobin
and has been a very successful showman as well.
Peter always produces large numbers from the breeding pen
and always shows with a strong team supporting most of the
colours we have in Jacobins.
Peter is always in the mix when a judge is looking for his
Champion Jacobin and has won several National Shows.
In recent years Peter has exported his birds to the Middle East,
UK and South Africa.
Our members in Western Australia make up for the tyranny of
distance with an abundance of enthusiasm, and have the most
breeders of Jacobins of any State. Breeders such as Susan
Australian Jacobin Club members photographed at the 2007 ANPA National Show.
Tomeo, Nick Mancini, Trevor Banfield, Blake Atthowe and
Clinton DeBoni make up a strong support of the Jacobin in the
West.
As many of you would know, the enthusiasm of Clinton is such
that the Australian Jacobin will be in good shape for many years
to come.
Clinton from a young age has always been seeking more and
more information from the more senior guys and has continually
produced Jacobins of a high standard.
As he has matured he has developed his own strong idea of the
Jacobin and is a highly capable judge who we will see more of
at club, region and National level. Clinton earlier this year toured
North America and met most of the true legends in the world of
Jacobins.
He left their shores leaving a strong imprint of the strength of
the Australian Jacobin and its future. A credit to his family and
the pigeon fancy in this country as a whole.
South Australia has several of our longer term Jacobin breeders
in our current President Dale Lewis and Secretary/Treasurer
Brian McInerney.
Dale produces good numbers of quality Jacobins each year and
is always in the pen at the right end of the show and has had his
share of success at the National Show.
Brian is what is good about the pigeon hobby, warm, friendly
and always smiling. Brian is always at the shows with a strong if
not smaller team of Jacobins.
New South Wales has a spread of members from Patrick
Tenison in country Wagga Wagga and some newer members in
Sydney, where I reside.
The Hall family are relatively new to the fancy hobby after
hugely successful years in the racing pigeon game. I call them
the Hall family because Wayne and Tracey have made their
successful foray into the fancy world a family affair and can
Below: Brian McInerney judges the splashes at
the 2008 Ipswich National.
be seen at shows as such. Their professional approach to
the fancy has already bought them success and they always
present a strong show team at our Nationals.
As for myself, I live in Sydney. I am having fun with Browns and
Bars at present and do not show at too many shows any more,
but I am always keen to meet up at a National each year to see
where I am at and to avoid the loft blindness problem that can
trap us all.
We have had several overseas judges, Dennis Soares has
made the trip twice. Ebrahim Shaji started the ball rolling back
in 1996 I think and Tally Mezzanato did a great job one year and
we have had Jim McGarrigle from Ireland do the honors as well.
Below: A truly striking Jacobin at its very best:
Bryan Frost’s 2003 National Champion.
S.A. CANARY AND PIGEON SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW
RESULTS:
Entries: 1555.
Largest entries: Modena Schietti 268;
Australian Showpen Homer 90.
Nuremburg Lark - Bruce Pengelly; King - Chris Schutz;
Fantail - Tony Miglori; Indian Fantail - Clyde Bevan; Frillback
- David August; Jacobin - D & S Lewis; Lahore Clive Sanderson; Bokhara Trumpeter - Mark Thomas;
Longface Tumbler - Boston Bay Lofts; English Shortfaced
Tumbler - M & J Moores; English SF Tumbler Marked - M & J
Moores; Komorner Tumbler - David August;
Vienna LF Tumbler - Anthony Ferguson; Blondinette - Alan
Pope; Satinette - Alan Pope; Turbit - Boston Bay Lofts;
African Owl - Boston Bay Lofts; Chinese Owl - M & J Moores;
Saxon Monk - Mark Thomas; Gimple - David August; Ice Bruce Pengelly; Starling - Shane Leedham; Fairy Swallow - T
& R Darling; Silesian Swallow - T & R Darling; Australian
Showpen Homer - Peter Colbey; English Carrier - Phil LInes;
English Dragoon - G & L Lipsys; Exhibition Homer - David
August; English Show Homer - Geoff Davis; German Beauty
Homer - Alan Dawson; Egyptian Swift - David August; Show
Type Racing Homer - Robert Oates; British Show Racer - D
& B Cunningham; Modena Gazzi - D Lewis & Sons; Modena
Schietti - Luke Hinchey; Brunner Pouter - D Lewis & Sons;
English Pouter - K & J Allcock; Holle Cropper - T & R Darling;
Norwich Cropper - David August; Pigmy Pouter - Pownell
Lofts; Voorburg Shield Cropper - Clive Sanderson; Domestic
Show Flight - M & J Moores; Medium Faced Helmet - M & J
Moores; Magpie - D & S Lewis; Nun - Mark Thomas;
Australian Performing Tumbler - Geoff Davis; Old Dutch
Tumbler - Bruce Pengelly; Show Birmingham Roller - M & J
Moores; Flying Tippler - Clive Sanderson; Show Tippler - Noel
Blum; West Of England Tumbler - Clive Sanderson; Serbian
Highflier - Charlie Davidovic; Danzig Highflier - Charlie Davidovic; Carneau - Noel Blum; Runt - Aub Schutz; Montauben Aub Schutz; Swiss Mondain - Aub Schutz; Coburg Lark - Noel
Blum; Polish Lynx - Noel Blum; Junior Utility - Shawn King;
Junior Feather Legged - Jack Darling; Junior Clean Legged Kimberley Darling.
S.A. CANARY AND PIGEON SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW
By David Lewis, President
This year’s Annual Show was held
over the weekend of June 14-15 at the
Adelaide Showgrounds.
The committee was pleased with the
entry of 1540 birds, up on previous years.
The SA Modena Club holds its show
in conjunction with this show and 320
Modenas were benched.
The club is committed to improving the
quality of the show and one way of doing
this is providing judges from interstate.
This year we were pleased to have Alan
Makin and Kelvin Cosgrove from NSW,
Elio and Clint De Boni from Western
Australian and Phil Smith from Sydney
who judged the Modenas.
It is fantastic to have these guys over and
it adds a lot to the show to have the birds
judged by such quality pigeon people.
The biggest entry areas outside of the
Modena’s were Showpen Homers won
by Peter Colbey and the Jacobins won by
Dale Lewis. It was pleasing to see a great
line up of Fantails, with Tony Miglori from
Western Australia taking the champion.
The show was held in wonderful sprit and
the Arkaba Hotel catch up on Saturday
night with all the country and interstate
exhibitors and judges was great fun.
A big thank you to Terry & Richie Darling
who do nearly all the paperwork and
organising and along with a hard working
committee help to put on a great show.
The club is excited about hosting the
‘National’ next year.
The European
By Dick Milner
I
n November and December 2006, Eric Brown, formerly Fancy
and Utility Pigeon Society President, and Chris Schutz, King
breeder and, amongst other achievements, international King
judge and I ventured into Germany, France and England to
attend the two major shows on the 2006 Show Calendar.
EXPERIENCE
Over the three week period there were many experiences
worthy of sharing with you.
Probably the most memorable pigeon related experience was
attending a car park sale of mainly high flying variety of pigeons,
most never seen in this country.
Over many years I have heard many tales, much shrouded in
secrecy, of fanciers sneaking out the Eastern Bloc countries and
attending the sale to sell pigeons.
These tales create images of bearded men, dressed in black,
wearing the traditional black fabric cap with peak, riding
horse- driven hay carts with crates of unusual types of pigeons
onboard. There are stories of the sales moving around to avoid
the authorities, particularly immigration.
On our trip we got to hear of a pending car park sale in
Germany. The suspense leading up to our attendance was full
of intrigue and images in our minds of what we might expect to
see and perhaps how we may be accepted.
After a two-hour trip from were we staying near the FrenchGerman border, we finally arrived at our destination.
We tried to be discreet by parking away from the car park but
in the street to avoid suspicion. After all, we didn’t know what to
expect.
So at this early stage, digital cameras were kept out of sight as
we approached the car park sale.
The car park was adjacent to a major furniture store which
we later found out that the owners gave full blessing to the
organisers to allow the car park to be used a place where
pigeons could be bought, sold or exchanged.
As we approached one felt that all eyes were on us, after all this
was new territory for us. An honor box of what appeared to be a
gold coin entry fee was situated part way along the driveway.
This for me was an invitation and acceptance for entry to the
sale. I estimated there were over 100 cars within the car park,
the drivers of which were proudly displaying their pigeons for
sale.
People were shoulder to shoulder deep looking for a pigeon
bargain. Whilst there was a food caravan doing brisk business
with a cue of up to 15 people, many of the sellers sat back
alongside their cars or even perched on the tail board of a
Above: Fanciers trading pigeons in Germany
and (bottom left) a car roof makes an ideal
exhibition space among the bustling sale.
station wagon, some had made real day out by bringing a few
chairs and a small table from which to eat traditional types of
smoked or some other cured pork, accompanied by slices of
cheese and plenty of what we know as French bread rolls.
Of course there was the normal consumption of alcohol, mainly
wine and liqueurs.
As we moved around the rows of cars looking at crates of
pigeons on the ground, on roof tops in open car boots and
backs of station wagons I felt more comfortable.
We openly mingled and tried to communicate with the sellers,
mainly men who had either no or limited understanding of the
English language.
We estimated in excess of 150 people at this gathering and
upwards of 600 pigeons on sale. The number of pigeon varieties
on view, most of which don’t appear in pigeon publications in
this country is truly hard to guage, but enough for one to walk
around bewildered by how politics between the west and east
has hampered the free movement of many fascinating and
unique pigeon varieties in Europe.
My images of cloak and dagger were quickly dispelled after this
memorable experience. After all they are pigeon fanciers like us
sharing their pigeons around to anyone interested.
Many of this people struggle financially and to sell a few
pigeons is a welcome way ahead.
We then moved on to France, which was no less cold and wet
as Germany.
Having said that, not as cold as when we visited the same
region in 2004, as part of our bi-annual pigeon pilgrimage.
We arrived at the show hall at Jebsheim in the early Thursday
evening of December 1 after driving around hopelessly as we
couldn’t get directions, that we understood from the locals in
each of the small villages we travelled through.
It is not the fault of the French if they only speak French.
Anyway that aside, Jebsheim is a small community in the
country side not that far from the German border, a place with
considerable history from the World Wars when these small
communities were in conflict with Germany.
The quality and presentation of pigeons generally is good,
despite the cold and damp environment in which most birds are
housed at this time of the year.
In the middle of this we were pleasantly surprised by local
dignitaries, dressed in suit and tie to visit the show. In doing so
they took the opportunity to not only view the pigeons but to
take time out to meet the Aussies.
By late Saturday all judging had been completed, and it was
time to kick back, with our hosts and friends of the fancy, and
enjoy an ale and snack before retiring to the lounge for dinner
and trophy presentations.
Around 1600 locals were killed near Jebsheim and there is a
memorial constructed that proudly identifies those who lost
their lives. A place that celebrates the lives of those of their
community who fell during these sad times. A place where their
flags fly graciously. A place that the locals can go to reflect what
was and what could have been!
When you interact with the French it is extremely difficult to
understand why anyone would wish or inflict any pain on them.
Their war time experiences have only harden their resolve to be
great people in their own right.
They are beautiful and fun loving. And we witnessed plenty of
that. From my own experience I found them to be very kind and
friendly and they openly extend their hand in friendship.
Now back to the main reason for being there. Jebsheim was the
venue for the combined Colmar Pigeon Club and French King
Club Show. The venue despite being old and in need of some
maintenance was spacious and relatively warm compared to the
outside.
There were, like you come to expect of the French, plenty of
food and drinks at reasonable prices.There were around 350
Kings benched and around 300 fancy pigeons ready for judging.
The set up was well laid out and presented, an absolute credit
to the organizers. Of course the main purpose of our travel to
Jebshiem was the invitation extended by the French King Club
to Chris Schulz to judge the Kings in totality.
The European method of judging, points system is very different
to the way pigeons are judged in this country.
On the Friday, Chris had an enormous task to judge 350 King
Pigeons, the owners of which were all keenly watching and
waiting for verbal feedback occasionally offered by Chris.
And then there would be whispering by those present agreeing
or disagreeing with the elimination. The practice adopted in the
judging of King Pigeons on this occasion was one of all pigeons
in the same class being benched in separate cages at the rear
of the venue and then through the process of elimination, only
the very, very good birds were left until finally first place.
The next task after judging all the individual classes, Chris was
then faced with the challenge of judging the first place winners.
This became more important to the owners as it is a worthy
milestone to be having your pigeon judged as “Champion”. So
as you can imagine there was a lot of interest in which pigeons
were being eliminated right to the end.
Simultaneously, the fancy pigeons were being judged by a band
of very knowledgeable and accredited judges, a task that hardly
drew a blink from those present as the focus was on the King
judging, the method of judging fancy pigeons was under the
European points scoring method.
There were a number of pigeon races not seen in this country,
and that is not surprising when you visit the big shows, where
there are numerous races not kept here.
A visit to Jebsheim would not be complete without visiting my
good friends in Hugues Peche, President of the Colmar Pigeon
Club and his son Thierry.
Hughes and Thierry provided me with my first French Mondains
and subsequent additional birds. We were fortunate to stay for
almost a week in accommodation attached to Hugues home just
opposite the show venue.
We visited Thierry, his wife and two daughters who live in a two
storey home in the main street of Jebsheim.
This was my first real experience of seeing a flock of French
Mondains sharing the feed tray with domesticated wild ducks
and openly wandering about the yard at both Hughes’ and
Theirry’s homes.
After inspecting the dozens of Mondians and Peches’ hospitality
it was time to be on our way back to Germany..
* To be continued in the December/January newsletter.
Top left: Chris Schutz at work and (below)
French KIng Club president Jean-Pierre
Talarmain interprets during judging and (bottom)
Combined French King Club and Colmar Fancy
Pigeon show hall 2006.
The history of the
English Carrier
in South Australia
By Phil Lines
B
eing a devotee of the English Carrier for many years, I had
many times wondered about the origins of them in Australia. Who had imported them? When, how many? What colours etc?
I had asked many fellow fanciers over the years and had varied
responses and information. I gradually built up an information
file but unfortunately none of it was authenticated, as all was by
word of mouth.
You can imagine my surprise and delight when I heard that one
of our greatest Carrier breeders, John Hartley Thomas, was still
living. I immediately thought “who better to ratify my findings?”,
providing he was well enough at the ripe old age of 101 years
young.
I found him living in a nursing home and totally blind, but very
helpful indeed. So over a couple of afternoons, I recited my prior
findings and asked him of his understandings of their origins. I will detail his recollections of the origins of them in South
Australia. For those who don’t know him he is affectionately
known as Janner Thomas.
My early information had told me that two brothers by the name
of Palmer from Magill, a suburb of Adelaide, had imported 11
birds to South Australia from England in 1887, which Janner
confirmed, except for the date, he had in mind the mid 1890’s. I was always under the impression there were 11 birds but
Janner said 12 was the number on the shipping docket, but one
bird had perished en route.
The birds were supplied from a leading fancier at the time by
the name of Melbourne from Luton, near London. I was of the
understanding that several fanciers from England had supplied
the birds but Janner had said all came from Mr Melbourne.
No such problems in those days with quarantine, the Palmers
picked the birds straight from the docks at Port Adelaide and
took them home.
I pressed him as to what colours were in the shipment if
he could confirm what I had earlier learned. From our joint
collaboration, we deduced that the 11 surviving birds were
made up of 3 blacks, 2 whites, I black pied, 2 blues 2 browns
and a recessive yellow hen.
One could only speculate that the one that died was probably
going to be the mate to the yellow and possibly was a red or
yellow cock, but I guess that will never be known.
The colours had already been ratified by the late Gordon
Jungfer, telling me many years before, in one of our early
conversations, that his dad had said he saw a yellow Carrier
hen there and had tried to buy it several times but couldn’t.
The Palmers were great importers of all manner of birds pigeons, poultry and other exotics - and even dogs, so it was
possibly never their intention to be serious breeders of them,
but more of a business.
They kept them for many years, supplying most of our early
fanciers, as Janner had acknowledged that his had come
directly from the Palmers, and Joe Thomas’ had come from him.
He said also that the Palmers had supplied other great Carriers
breeder names like my great friend and mentor Len Morley,
Fred Jungfer (Gordon and Ian’s father) and from him they went
Inset above: A magnificently wattled Black hen owned by the
author. Main photograph, a White young hen shows the contrast
age brings to the English Carrier wattle.
West to Arthur Banfield (father of Terry, Ron and Trevor) also
East to Alex Xavier, as well as countless non Carrier specialists
that kept a pair or two of various breeds.
My Carriers came from the lofts of Len Morley, Janner and Joe
Thomas, and remain a pure line, save for some swaps with
fellow fanciers, to this day -approx 40 years on. This brings up another point as to why the Carriers are so good
in this country. John Heppner from the USA, while judging our
National last July, commented on the quality of our birds and
said they would stand against any he had seen in the world.
He thought we have had regular imports from other countries,
such as Germany, and was amazed when I told him that we had
exported Carriers, never imported any since the late 1800’s.
I think, because of the limited introductions in over 100 years,
we can be justly proud of the quality of our birds. The original
11 birds must have been of an excellent standard. I think it’s
important to document these points of pigeon history before the
ones that do know pass on.
This is only part of the history of our great bird that deals only
with importation into South Australia. I’m aware of another
importation into NSW but have not much information on that
one.I would be grateful to hear from anyone that could fill in the
gaps.
My thanks must go to Janner, for without his great memory and
input of accuracy this article could not have happened.
Peter Tripoli adds: Further to the article above, Janner
Thomas, who provided some of the information, wished to make
it known that credit also needs to go to the late Dr Hannaford
Schaeffer for assisting in the research. Some may recall that Dr
Schaeffer was the creator of what is arguably Australia’s only
true breed creation, the Australian Saddleback Tumbler.