The
Nicholson Strain of England
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This
is what has been termed a relatively young
strain based in
Rochester, Kent, England. Its creators
is a father and son combination
and the birds are housed in a modest 19ft
x 6ft loft based upon the
natural system which has witnessed some
of the best distance
performances in recent years. The father
is John who suffers from Pigeon
fanciers lung disease and as a result
wears a mask when around the lofts
whereas the son is Spencer. Both are good
pigeon managers otherwise they
would not be in the position of having
entered in one year 56 pigeons in
6 races between 530-700 miles and lose
only 5 of the candidates. Such
results are outstanding!
The
Nicholsons are totally and absolutely
committed to the longer races and the
latter are primarily organised by the
National Flying Club and the British International
Championship Club. Having set their sight
on competing in 6 long and marathon type
races per year it is obvious that they
had to have the proper material therefore
their family of pigeons are based mainly
upon the family of Eddie Newcombe of Macmerry.
The original stock came from this source
in 1980 including the bloodlines of Trellis,
Live Circuit, Blue Grotto and Red Laddie.
It was a wise choice and reflects the
thinking approach that the partnership
brings to their participation in the sport.
This
approach has paid off for how many of
the larger establishments can boast, for
example, of winning 1st BICC Pau, followed
by 16th open NFC Pau on the same weekend,
and in the young bird national being 6th
and 13th open. That was accomplished in
one year, 1998. The loft also recorded
in pursuit of the Europa Trophy: 13th
and 19th Pau; 4th, 15th and 20th Barcelona;
4th, 25th, 26th and 32nd Dax; 9th Marseille,
2nd, 5th, 17th, 18th and 22nd open Perpignan.
Fantastic flying by any standards and
bearing in mind that their pigeons have
to cross a sea and overcome other geographical
configurations and predators etc, while
fighting the drag of the rest of Europe
to get home.
Management
wise the Nicholsons will bring in a cross
when they think it is required but they
shy away from housing stock birds preferring
to breed off their own winners. Naturally
they would not have the space for too
many stock birds. A cardinal belief being
that the winners are not necessarily the
best breeders therefore they rely upon
the second generation for better breeding
results re possible winners.
Pairing
wise the partners pair their birds in
March each year but not all their stock
is apparently paired. Those who are paired
the partners prefer that the young are
reared and the latter wean themselves.
It is then after they are sitting on their
2nd nest that training begins. The short
channel races are used as preparation
for the
longer events where the birds face the
latter sitting on eggs. Of course this
plan has produced the goods and based
upon good stock their commitment ensures
success.
The
partnership believes in having a good
relationship with their pigeons preferring
tameness where quietness is a basis for
the right preparation for the rigours
and the stresses of long distance racing.
Apparently a mixture containing 30% of
maize and maple peas plus about 20% of
beans with wheat, barley and dari. Grit
and minerals are available and some greens.
Garlic is also used with multi-vitamins
on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
It
is good to know that there are relatively
small lofts planning with what they have
thoughtfully procured to reach for the
heights of marathon and long distance
racing of which the Nicholsons are amongst
the elite. I look forward to see the heights
which I am sure they will reach in the
new millennium. The photo is of Kate,
one of their recent winners: 1st Greater
Distance Club of Britain (2005) from Palamos,
Spain.

by: Liam O Comain
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