By SARAH HUDSON

PIGEON fanciers are a breed unto themselves.

Pigeons, to most of us, are rats with wings, fouling the streets and scaring the unwary with a flutter of feathers.

But to pigeon fanciers, a top homing bird can be worth as much as $135,000, with races offering millions of dollars in prize money, and winners trained like thoroughbred horses.

Across Victoria, racing pigeon enthusiasts - including three Country Living spoke to - maintain lofts of hundreds of birds, belong to a host of clubs and take part in competitions around the state.

All in the hope that one day their feathered friends - whose astonishing flying skills and homing abilities - will take them to victory.

Traralgon's Darrell Gurnick has been racing homing pigeons for 40 years, since he was given a pigeon as a pet when he was a 12-year-old.

And so enthusiastic is he that, for the first time, he has entered three birds in South Africa's $1 million Sun City race, which races in January- for which he paid an entry fee of $1100.

This followed a trip in 2008 to China to see another million-dollar homing pigeon race.

"I don't rate my chances highly, but I'm always hopeful," says Darrell, who works at Loy Yang power station.

"It's a good reason to travel to South Africa. There will be pigeon racers from all over the world, so it's a big social weekend with people as crazy as I am."

Darrell says he loves racing the birds through his local federation, not for the prize money - which over the years wouldn't even cover costs - but for the adrenaline, thrill and care for the creatures.

Each morning, for three hours, he heads out to his loft, where he keeps 150 racers and 28 breeding pairs (which don't race), flying them and cleaning their perches.

In winter, (it's too hot to race in summer), he competes in local races, tossing the birds - or releasing them - in events that range in distance from 100km to 600km away.

"I just find their instinct for homing fascinating, watching them come home. You should see how excited I get," he says.

"It's a joy to establish a family of winning pigeons."

Darrell says he couldn't commit to the time required to race and care for pigeons without the support of his wife, Nadia, who equally enjoys the racing.

He says while there's a lot of luck involved in winning, good breeding is the key, as well as a training regimen, diet and health through hygiene and medication.

Around race days he feeds the birds high carbohydrates, but less food.

"They've still got energy to race but they think they are hungry.

"People say I have a lot of secrets (to racing) but the biggest one is that I have no secrets."

When he retires, which he's hoping will be by age 55, he's contemplating moving to Melbourne to turn professional and take part in larger race events.

"It's a disease, pigeon racing," he says. "Once you get involved, it's in your blood."

This addiction is something John Van Beers understands all too well.

In 2008 John, who keeps 400 of his own pigeons at his loft in Lyndhurst, in southeast Melbourne, created the Australian Pigeon Punt, which offers the biggest prize pool in the country at $200,000, with first place earning $60,000.

Based on international competitions, entrants pay about $600 for a 500-600km race.

Curiously for the uninitiated, entrants leave their birds in John's loft in January and for eight months he trains and cares for the birds until race day, when they are all transported to the starting point and then fly back to his Lyndhurst loft.

John says this "one-loft competition" is common in the US and differs to normal competitions, which have a "single starting gate and a thousand finish lines".

"One-loft means they are all competing fairly on the same footing," John says.

"Pigeon racing can be a very unfair sport because the weather can affect the results.

"But it also means I'm the breeder, the trainer and the jockey, unlike Melbourne Cup winners who each get a specialist in those areas."

John says the aim of establishing the competition was to make a wage out of his passion, "but, unfortunately, if I had to feed the family off the income we'd starve".

"There's a fair amount of work involved in the punt. I spend five hours a day with the birds, scraping 1400 perches, just three hours scraping poo. It's not easy."

Darrell Curnick has entered John's competition for three years and says it has good odds.

"You've got a better chance of getting money from there than Tattslotto - a one-in-600 chance you'll get $60,000 and then if you do win there's the prestige and money of having a breeding bird," Darrell says.

Warrnambool dairy farmer Brian Croft is entering John's punt for the first time this year.

"John is well respected as a pigeon fancier and it's good to race against the best birds in Australia," Brian says.

Brian first became interested in pigeon racing through friends at Warrnambool North Tech 25 years ago, but seriously got involved in the late 1980s.

As a member of the Warrnambool Racing Pigeon Club, he now races 200 birds and has 60 breeding pairs.

The club has varying race distances, with one of the longest from Broken Hill.

"I just love their ability to home over long distances. It's about beating your mates too. If you're in it for the money, you're in the wrong race.

"For a while there it was a real obsession ... my wife and children think I'm mad."

He says the sport is not for the faint-hearted.

"There's actually been huge losses in birds of late, everyone is talking about it. Some say it's because of the growth of telecommunications or the weather, but there's also predators," says Brian, who farms 300 cows on 240ha.

"There's a lot of falcons in Victoria and some of the pigeons get ripped up and I've got to stitch them."

Brian has a tough-love approach to his birds, adding that underperforming ones are replaced after a few years.

"I get great enjoyment out of seeing the birds, but it's the same as milking cows, if a pigeon is not getting results, then you replace them.

"It's not a hotel here."

By Keith Mott's

I was very sad to hear of the recent passing of one of our best local fanciers, Fred Elliott. Fred and I go back many years and he was a brilliant pigeon racer long before we ever met. He telephoned me up about a month or so ago and in our conversation he said then that when he had his heart by-pass operation twenty odd years ago the doctors told him it would keep him going another few years, and there he was talking to me on the phone in his early eighties. Fred was noted for his after dinner speaking and his joke telling, being chairman and president of several organizations through the years. The great Fred Elliott has passed over and the sport of pigeon racing has lost another one of its great champions.

Fred Elliott had been one of the premier pigeon racers in the south of England for many years, with the highlight of his brilliant racing career being in 1994 when he won 1st open NFC Nantes. His National winner was his Busschaert windhood cock, Champion ‘Euro Lad’ and when I say champion, this cock was a champion in the truest sence of the word. His sire was Fred’s dark pied cock, ‘Euro Bird’, winner of 1st open SMT Combine Rennes. Champion ‘Euro Lad’s’ full racing performance was: 1994: 1st Section, 1st open NFC Nantes (11,400 birds) plus the car, 1993: 1st Section, 7th open NFC Nantes (12,027 birds), 1st Three Borders Federation Le Mans, 19th open L&SECC Le Mans (1,885 birds), 9th open L&SECC Tours (1,090 birds). A fantastic pigeon!

Fred had been in pigeon racing for over 60 years and his consistent outstanding performances through those years must rate him one of the all time greats of our sport. The 1987 season saw the Elliott loft win 1st SMT Combine from Rennes with his ‘ace’ dark pied Busschaert Widowhood cock, Champion 'Euro Bird', which was bred by Fred's good fiiend Mervyn Patt of North Devon. He also won 1st Three Borders Federation from Weymouth for the Elliott loft. This great cock had won several firsts inland and on the Channel and was the sire of winners including 1st open National and 1st open Federation. Fred had won 1st Federation countless times through the years, including five times 1st Three Borders Federation in 1988. The loft won the Three Borders Federation Two Longest Old Bird races from Niort (351 miles) and Bergerac (455 miles), chalking up 1st Surrey, Three Borders, South Coast Inter Federations (2,458 birds) from Begerac.

Fred started up in pigeons at the age of 10, in partnership with his elder brother, Bert, and they called themselves Elliott Bros. The two brothers kept their partnership going all those years until Fred moved to Thorpe about 30 years ago. Bert sadly died several years ago, but was an outstanding fancier in his own right. Fred said, Bert and he were the opposites in pigeon management, with Bert saving his pigeons for pre-set races and Fred racing his through the card week after week. The partner's first birds were the Gush strain from the late L. Crow of New Haw and the Moss strain from the late John Furness of Woking, a life-time friend of Fred's. When he casted his mind back Fred said he could remember L. Crow winning 1st & 2nd Section Penzance National just after the war. One of the brother's best birds in those days was a Gush red chequer cock which won several races in the Old Woking RPC (Surrey Federation). Another good pigeon was a black pied hen called 'Solo' because she was from an egg which Fred won in a card game! The Elliotts main mistake in those early days was over feeding, also the loft was self-built, with a dowelled front and bob wires. Fred told me he thought the bob wires were a mistake as they were too heavy oin the bird's back and made them slow on the trap.

For many seasons Fred had raced both Natural and Widowhood but in 1989 he went over fully on the Widowhood system, as he said the Widowhood cocks are five minutes better than the Natural. The loft was 18ft x 5ft, with two Widowhood and a young bird section. The 1989 season saw 13 cocks raced on Widowhood. Fred maintained that dryness was most important in good loft design. Fred was a scraper man, but had tried out different loft litters over the years. The Elliott loft won the Three Borders Fed from Bergerac with a Widowhood cock in 1988 and Fred said his cocks race the programme. The cock’s feed got heavier as the distance got longer and they were not trained or raced midweek during the season. The cocks were trained up to the first race and the inland races were used to prepare the birds for the Channel events. Fred once told me pigeon racing is observation and you feed to what you see they need. Correct feeding is the key to success with racing pigeons.

Fred paired up on Boxing Day and the hens were taken away with the youngsters at about 18 days old. The hens then finished off the squeakers in the young bird section. The birds were hopper fed when the youngsters were in the nest and Fred said an early morning feed is very important. The birds were re-paired after about 14 days and the cocks were trained while sitting the second round of eggs. The cocks werer put on Widowhood after sitting ten days and were not trained any more after this. The cocks were let out one hour in the early morning and an hour at night. Fred said they didn’t fly around home very well early in the week, but improve as the week progresses and by Thursday and Friday flew around well. Most of Fred's team were Busschaerts from Mervyn Patt and Oliver Gittings both from North Devon. Fred was a self-employed plumber and only had limited time for his birds, so he said the Widowhood was the best system for him. He weaned the young birds early and hopper fed peas to begin with, but maintains that the most important thing is to get the youngsters out and flying as soon as you can.

Fred's positions won in one of his best seasons in the Three Borders Federation was 1988 and he recorded: 1st, 2nd, 7th, 12th Federation Blandford; 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th Federation Weymouth; 1st, 12th Federation Exeter; 11th, 21st Federation Weymouth; 11th Federation Alencon; 19th Federation Exeter; 2nd, 8th Federation Le Mans; 6th Federation Weymouth; 25th Federation Tours; 1st, 3rd Federation Niort; 25th Federation Plymouth; 7th Federation Weymouth; 1st, 17th Federation, 1st Inter Federations (2,458 birds) Bergerac; 1st Federation Blandford; 8th Federation Weymouth; 7th, 19th Federation Exeter; 2nd, 6th, 15th, 16th Federation Wadebridge. Fred was premier prize-winner in the very strong Sunningdale and Surrey Championship clubs in 1988, lifting a wonderful array of trophies in the Sunningdale RPC. The Elliott loft won eight times 1st club, four times 2nd club, six times 3rd club and five times 4th club in the 1988 season, which was a fantastic performance as it was one of the strongest clubs in the Three Borders Federation. Fred's Bergerac Inter-Fed winner was a two year old Busschaert blue chequer cock called, ‘Overdrive’, and he had won the Federation several times on Widowhood. The dam was a late bred hen from Mervyn Patt and the sire was bred by Fred from the Rapido Busschaert lines. He said he got a greater satisfaction from seeing his friends getting success, such as John Furness winning 1st SMT Combine Marmande and George Burgess and Jed Jackson winning the Pau National. Fred was very proud of the fact that he was president of the Sunningdale RPC and the Three Borders Federation for many years. He liked any distance when it came to racing and said he was trying every week.

He told me he is was great believer in culling pigeons and couldn’t understand why some fanciers keep pigeons in their lofts that have never scored on the road. Every pigeon in the Elliott loft had to earn its perch and once they got too old to race they have to go. Fred kept the very minimum in numbers, but all the birds that were retained each season for racing were sound and had previous form. When it came to young bird training Fred gave them hell, and almost tried to loose them, but his method produced better pigeons. The youngsters were generally trained to line, but were also tossed from the east and west in an effort to teach them if they were taken off line in races. Fred was interested in eyesign and judged many eyesign classes every season. He said, if you have a family of pigeons and you know your family, eyesign is a shortcut to the good pigeons.

Fred said that there is to much toing and froing at Federation meetings and club delegates should be allowed to vote on matters without mandates. When delegates have to keep taking matters back to clubs it wastes so much time and delegates should be responsible and vote off their own backs. Fred told new starters in the sport not to pay big money for birds and no youngster is worth more than about £15. Fred didn't believe there are sprint or long distance pigeons; a pigeon is a pigeon and will perform, no matter what the distance, on how it is managed. Fred judged lots of shows in the winter months, but only showed his Busschaerts in his club shows to give some support. He liked inbreeding his Busschaerts, but said you must be very careful with this, but has bred good pigeons from a brother and sister mating. For the moult he fed the best and tried to get it over with as quickly as he can. He thought the quality of racing over the past 30 years had improved because fanciers these days had transport for training and so have improved their performance. Fred's very nice home was near Thorpe Park in Surrey and a small stream ran behind the loft. Several yards beyond the stream there was a massive gravel pit which is very strong in pike, bream and roach. The Elliott's home was a pigeon fancier's and angler's dream.

Champion 'Euro Bird' and his nestmate 'On A Promise' must have been the dream brothers as both these two Widowhood cocks won the Federation twice. The nest pair were bred by Mervyn Patt of North Devon from Corbett / Sarah's Busschaerts and their grandsire was the champion cock 'Sheer Class'. 'Euro Bird' was also proving outstanding at stock, being the sire of several good racers including the pied cock 'Oly' winner of 2nd Three Borders Fed Le Mans and 2nd Three Borders Fed Blandford (beaten by loftmate). Fred's 1988 Bergerac inter-Federation winner was the handsome Busschaert blue chequer cock 'Overdrive' and this cock must have been the ultimate in a racing pigeon, winning the Federation from the shortest and longest races. This cock was bred at the Elliott loft and his racing record reads: 1st club, 1st Federation Blandford (1,576 birds); 1st club, 1st Federation Weymouth (vel 2495); 1st club, 1st Three Borders Federation, 1st Surrey / Three Borders / South Coast Inter-Federation (2,458 birds) Bergerac. ‘Overdrive’s’ grandsire was Fred's good dark cock 'Boyt's Boy' and he won 1st Three Borders Federation Niort in 1988. This great pigeon had previously won 1st Basingstoke Open race, 3rd Bedfont Open race and was sire and grandsire of Federation winners. Another ace pigeon direct from Mervyn Patt was the dark cock, 'Storm Bird', and he has chalked up 1st Three Borders Federation Weymouth and 2nd Three Borders Federation Weymouth.

There you have it, the late Fred Elliott of Thorpe, one of the all time greats of the Three Borders Federation!

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.

By Nichole Coleman

Ceremonial Bird Release

WHO: Dale Rogers’ “White Doves of Love”

WHAT: Releases white birds (homing pigeons) for weddings, funerals, veteran memorials, cermonies, parties and other events.

COST: $125 to $200

CONTACT: 984-3046

HOMEWARD BOUND:

Ceremonial bird releases test nature of homing flock in North Tonawanda

On any given evening, a flock of small white birds can be found circling the sky above Dale Rogers’ backyard in North Tonawanda. Wings spread, they rise in unison, enjoying the brief moment of freedom before disappearing through the metal gate into their coop at the end of the yard.

At first glance, they appear to be doves — a symbol of hope and peace. Rogers squints up at his homing pigeons flying overhead, whistling softly to himself. He knows that when their wings eventually tire, they will return home. They always return home.

Always a lover of the two-winged creatures, it wasn’t until a few years ago when a friend of his at the local American Legion Post was looking to pass on the tradition of training homing pigeons for veteran memorials and cermonies, that he considered raising them for himself. He now has about 55.

Used for symbolic release at weddings, funerals and parties, Rogers places them in white wicker baskets or a church-shaped box in groups of two or more until it is time for their 15 minutes of fame. Once released, the birds are able to find their way home from as far as 50 to 60 miles away.

“It’s just phenomenal how they have this instinct,” Rogers said, who works as a senior engineering technician for the city of North Tonawanda. “I’m still amazed. There’s all kinds of theories on how they do it.”

The releases, ranging in price from $75 to $200, help pay for the feed and upkeep. Occasionally, they are also released for elementary school classes.

Known by many as the mysterious Towpath Tiller columnist for the Tonawanda News — a columnist who always keeps his face concealed — Rogers knows the history of every bird in his flock. He inoculates them against avian diseases and fixes them up when they’re ill. When they nest early in the spring and again a few months later, he’s there to make sure the new chicks are doing OK.

“Now see that bird hopping up and down, he’s courting that hen,” Rogers said, pointing at a large one he refers to as the “Stallion” or “Playboy.” “He likes all the ladies. He’ll puff himself up and dance around.”

Every spring Rogers begins training the new birds, gradually releasing them farther and farther from home so that they can orient themselves with the area. Some become lost in the process, but once trained, the homing pigeons will return to the same spot for life and cannot be retrained.

Their motivation? Food and love. With a life span of 10 to 12 years, most of the birds only mate with one other bird. When deciding which birds to bring to a release, Rogers said he will often separate couples as extra motivation for them to return home.

“You can almost sense they’re happy they found their way back,” Rogers said.

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