AR
Hill of St Just, Cornwall
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Cornwall
lies at the foot of the island of Britain.
It has national and cultural roots which
confirms it as being more than an English
county. Like Ireland its people are a
river of different streams but there is
something distinct about them. As of part
Celtic origins I detect something in the
psyche of the natives of Cornwall akin
to my own. Perhaps the sharing of a similar
imperialistic history makes us overcome
historical subjection and reach for the
stars. Being not content with minor tasks
and seeking in our pigeons the same characteristic
disposition. A determination to send beyond
the normal and conquer what has to be
conquered. A characteristic added by and
partly influenced by the geographical
reality of the western isles of Europe.
Now the reader may not be in agreement
with the contents of this introduction
but the contents of my thought arises
from the unique results of the Hill family
of racing thoroughbreds. Results emanating
from a top managerial system and blue
blooded stock.
The
Hill family were based upon Hill's old
grizzle family and the Kirkpatrick's at
the Atlantic Lofts in
the north of Penzance in Cornwall. Where
they won prizes galore for their master
and from where many left to conquer the
long and marathon distances throughout
the rest of the world. Pigeons like Silver
Lady who won from every race point up
until Luxembourg at 530 miles.
Then there was Lionheart who was never
a night out in his life and who was clocked
from Antwerp being 15 hours and 25 minutes
on the wing. To be followed by being 7th
Open Luxembourg and again scoring from
the same race point flying fifteen and
a quarter hours on the day. Not forgetting
the Leggy Cock who scored from many short
races but who flew over 1000
miles in his last three races in a two
weeks period as a yearling, always amongst
the leaders. Then
amongst others there was the great Grizzle
cock bird Cornish Supreme who was 1st
Open from Luxembourg, beating the 2nd
bird by 200 yards per minute as well as
flying over 100 miles further. Cornish
Supreme had other successes during his
working life.
A.R.Hill
placed much emphasis on the principle
of observation which he insisted must
be in play at all times in and around
the loft. Insisting that all fanciers
should not take a willy- nilly attitude
to the sport nor to management. He believed
in feeding well and with the best produce
and ensuring clean water at all times,
at least twice daily during winter. To
overcrowding he was totally opposed and
looked upon it with anathema. At breeding
time he patiently faced the anxious character
of its reality and knew if the past moult
was good then all could be met with patience
as an armour. Although acknowledging that
there were no hard or fast rules with
pigeon racing he trained knowing that
many roads led to Rome so to speak. In
fact if a bird was in condition Hill was
never afraid to jump it into its chosen
event.
What Bob McDonnell was to the north of
the island of Britain Arthur Hill was
to the south of the
island and there is no doubt that they
shared a commitment to the sport with
a managerial ability that is not the gift
of many. The younger fancier today could
do worse than take both as genuine role
models.

by: Liam O Comain
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