ENGLISH ICONS OF
PIGEON RACING
GEOFF & CATHERINE COOPER
of Peasedown St John
Whilst on a couple of days break in
the West Country, it was suggested
to me that it would be nice to visit
Geoff & Catherine Cooper of
Peasedown St John. This was to
prove to be a very significant
weekend because by the time that
I had managed to get hold of them
they had achieved a lifelong
ambition to win a National Flying
Club race after umpteen near misses. This explains
why the home telephone was so busy on the
Saturday with a host of friends and fellow fanciers
eager to offer congratulations.
by Mike Lakin
I added my own congratulations on the Sunday
morning when I spoke to Catherine for their
magnificent NFC win from Tarbes. I was told that
both she and especially Geoff were absolutely
elated to have succeeded in Geoff’s lifelong
ambition. She confided that
Geoff had thought that he would
always be the ‘bridesmaid but
never the bride’. This was in
reference to so many near misses
on this occasion though they
really hit the target with a full
bull’s eye.
So we were soon on our way to
Peasedown to meet and interview one of the
‘icons’ of UK pigeon racing. For anyone thinking
that I exaggerate please look at the Cooper
racing ‘list of honour’ which accompanies this
piece. I would if I may like to ‘cherry pick’ the
fact that their loft has won the L A Baker Trophy
outright for winning the Best Averages from the
NFC’s Sections C, D & G an astounding seven
times. If that doesn’t earn you an ‘iconship’ then
I don’t know what does!
The magnificent lofts of G & C Cooper.
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Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
The Roll of Honour
National Flying Club
This is the largest National club in the UK. Open to all
fanciers in the UK. The UK is divided into Sections
(Provinces). Section G is one of the largest in area as well as
members.
2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th Section G Bordeaux
1st Section G Nantes
2nd & 3rd Section G Nantes
5th, 6th, 15th Open Nantes
3rd, 4th Section G Nantes
6th & 8th Open Nantes
2nd Section G Nantes
1st, 2nd, 6th Section G Bordeaux
7th Open Bordeaux
9th, 15th Open Saintes
1st Section G Saintes
3rd Open Saintes
1st, 4th, 6th Section G Pau
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th Section G Pau
9th, 11th, 12th Open Pau
2nd Section G Pau
3rd Section G Pau
7th Open Pau
3rd, 4th Section G Pau
1st Section G Pau
3rd Open Pau
2nd, 3rd Section G Dax
7th, 12th Open Dax
4th, 5th Section G Rennes
1st Section G Sartilly
3rd Section G Sartilly
1st, 4th Section G Sartilly
1st, 2nd, 4th Section G Pontorson
1st, 2nd Section G Guernsey
9th Open Guernsey
2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 24th Section G Dax
3rd, 5th, 16t, 20th, 48th, 58th, 104th Dax
12th, 37th International Dax
93rd International Hens
4th, 7th, 15th, 34th, 45th Section G Saintes
7th, 13th, 26th, 65th, 103rd Open Saintes
Certificate of Merit Winner
and now
1st Section, 1st Open Tarbes
Winner of all applicable Average trophies, winning the L A
Baker Trophy outright (best average all races Sections C, D &
G) seven times in total.
British Barcelona Club
This is a smaller National club, with its main race from Spain.
1st, 2nd Section C Sennen Cove
2nd Open Sennen Cove
1st Section C Rennes
2nd Open Rennes
4th Section C Lamballe
6th Open Lamballe
2nd Section C Nantes
2nd Open Nantes
1st Section C Nantes
2nd Open Nantes
3rd Section C Nantes
1st Section C Palamos
2nd Open Palamos
1st Section C Palamos
6th Open Palamos
6th Section C Nantes
10th Open Nantes
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
British International Championship Club
This club races the full International programme.
1st National Falaise (2005)
1st, 2nd, 3rd Guernsey National
2nd Pau National, 350th International
2nd Perpignan, 86th International Perpignan
1st Section, 2nd Open Perpignan National
1,410th International Perpignan
The only fancier in UK to record six birds on an Open
International result, Dax 2003 and again in 2004.
Open races
1st Romsey Guernsey
1st, 2nd & 3rd Wimborne Guernsey
West of England SR Combine
A Combine of over 30 clubs racing into the south west of
England.
1st Hexham • 1st Littlehampton • 1st Plymouth
1st Truro • 1st Cherbourg • 1st Guernsey
1st Nantes • 1st Nantes
Central Southern Classic
3rd Section, 19th Open Ramsgate
3rd, 5th Section, 6th Open Bergerac
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th NW Section Guernsey
3rd NW Section Guernsey
3rd, 4th NW Section Guernsey
5th, 6th Open Guernsey
1st, 2nd, 3rd NW Section Rennes
1st, 2nd NW Section Rennes
6th, 9th Open Rennes
2nd NW Section Rennes
3rd NW Section Rennes
2nd, 3rd NW Section Dinard
2nd NW Section Nantes
2nd NW Section Nantes
3rd, 4th NW Section Nantes
1st NW Section Nantes
2nd Open Nantes
1st NW Section Nantes
5th Open Nantes
1st, 2nd, 4th NW Section Nantes
1st, 2nd, 6th Open Nantes
3rd NW Section Nantes
10th Open Nantes
1st, 3rd NW Section Saintes
5th, 7th Open Saintes
2nd NW Section Saintes
2nd Open Saintes
3rd NW Section Bergerac
2nd NW Section Bergerac
4th Open Bergerac
3rd NW Section Pau
10th Open Pau
2nd NW Section Pau
6th Open Pau
This list of results does not cover any local club results as
there are too many prizes to list.
My family of birds are responsible for many top National and
Classic (including 1sts) and International pigeons for other
fanciers, including 1st International.
23
Before visiting them I was already very aware
that they were a successful team. During the visit
to Peasedown though I came to fully appreciate
the vast amount of top National and Classic club
results which the Cooper pigeons have
accumulated, not only for Geoff and Catherine
but also for an impressive list of other fanciers,
most of whom are well known within the pigeon
world.
2nd Open British Barcelona Club from Palamos in
1976 with a mealy hen ‘Spanish Princess’. The
birds were liberated on Friday morning and
‘Princess’ homed at 7.30 on the Saturday
evening. She had flown two full days in very hot
weather a distance of 750 miles. Four years later
a direct daughter of ‘Princess’ won 1st Section,
6th Open BBC Palamos. Incredibly ‘Maiden’ was
My hope is that with the help of the RP Pictorial
we can make fanciers more aware of the pigeons
of Geoff & Catherine Cooper. I will also attempt
to give you an insight into the reasons why
Geoff has been such a successful fancier for over
30 years.
So lets look a little into Geoff’s early and
informative years. Born and raised in the locality
young Master Cooper was always interested in
wildlife. While still a young boy he was
introduced to racing pigeons by his uncle. Soon a
loft was built in the back garden of his parents
farmhouse in Peasedown. Great pleasure but no
real successes came from these birds. Geoff
though said, “That they enabled him to learn his
‘George’ 1st NFC Tarbes.
mother to a young cock which won 1st Section,
2nd Open Rennes. This cock in turn bred a hen
named ‘Silver’ which won 2nd and 3rd Section in
NFC Pau races. Geoff believes that this proved
that good pigeons bred good pigeons. “The old
Venner blood is still in my loft and Brian
Sheppard’s pigeon ‘Legend’ the 1st International
Dax winner is part bred down from these birds,”
continued Geoff with obvious pride.
Geoff & Catherine Cooper, great flyers.
trade and acquire stock sense.” Geoff continued
that, “I really enjoyed my pigeon racing but
when I competed in longer races the birds were
either late or got lost. This soon brought home
the fact that to succeed in pigeon racing you
must have good pigeons.” So Geoff got some
pigeons from Reg Venner of Street who at the
time was flying very well in the long distances
and was without doubt the best fancier in the
area.
The wisdom of Geoff’s decision was ambly
revealed in 1976 when Geoff won 1st Section,
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In 1981 Geoff went over to Belgium on a trip.
This was an eye opener to Geoff because prior to
the visit he believed that English pigeons and
fanciers were the best. Geoff told me that the
trip was an education and he was smitten by the
results of the birds of Andre Vermote of Ostend
and Emiel Deweerdt of Kortemarke who was
winning top National prizes.
This resulted in two birds being purchased off
Vermote with the intention of purchasing two
off Deweerdt and using them as a cross,
unfortunately the price was too high for Geoff
to afford them off Emiel Deweerdt. Geoff was
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
The fabulous view from Geoff & Catherine’s loft.
determined to stick to his principles of only
buying the best birds available, refusing to
compromise and buy cheaper pigeons. So he
ordered two birds for the next year which
allowed him time to save up for his new
introductions.
The following year the two young birds arrived
and Geoff could not wait to open the box and
examining his ‘future’ blood. I will let Geoff
continue, “I took out the first youngster a small
hen bred off ‘Filip’ one of Deweerdts base
breeders. I was not too impressed by her size to
be honest but when I inspected the second
young bird my heart hit the floor. He was big,
awkward and thoroughly ugly. At the time I
thought what have I paid for? The next year I
paired my ‘odd couple’ fully expecting to breed
rubbish. How could a big ungainly cock like this
one be able to breed anything else? After
breeding three rounds of youngsters from the
pair the cock met with an accident in the loft
and killed himself. At the time I was not too
upset because I did not like the bird anyway. It
was only when the offspring were raced that the
‘odd couple’ showed that they were in fact
superb breeders. One of them was a bird I
named ‘Bernard’ which won 1st Combine from
Nantes and flew well right through to Pau.
Another was ‘Stumpy’ who also raced through to
Pau. A third son was known as the ‘Old
Deweerdt Cock’ and he was a super breeder. In
fact pigeons down from the original pair were
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
responsible for 1st National Pau for Harding Bros
of Bristol.”
Geoff was very impressed with he birds off Emiel
Deweerdt and his sons. In 1984 on another visit
after their friendship had grown, Emiel said,
“We had something special for you Geoff.” It
was a daughter from ‘Liesbet’ the 1981 National
winner from Barcelona. “To my dismay she was
yet another of those big ugly bodied pigeons. I
thanked the Deweerdt’s and hid my
disappointment.” Once in the Cooper loft she
like the previous purchases simply churned out
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Prize winning National and Classic pigeons bred from Geoff
Cooper’s family of Cooper x Deweerdt pigeons.
‘Ashgrove King’ 1st Open NFC Pau for Harding Bros
‘Scott’s Boy’ 1st Open NFC Saintes for Stan Dangerfield
‘Court Out’ 1st Open Pau Classic for Witney & Reed
‘Morning Glory’ 2x2nds Open Pau NFC for Paul Kendall
‘The Narrow Cock’ 2nd National BICC Dax, 10th NFC Pau for
G & M Gilbert
‘Southfield Supreme’ 1st International Dax, 1st NFC Dax for
Mark Gilbert (‘Daybreak’ lines)
1st Perth Classic for John Haynes
1st Guernsey YB Classic for John Haynes
‘Cooper Boy’ 2x2nds Open MNFC for Richard Boylin
1st National BICC Pau for Kevin Hitchcock
‘Birthday Boy’ 1st Section E NFC Nantes for Alan Thompson
1st Section F NFC for Nigel Finch
The latest
1st Section MNFC Saintes for Hand Bros of Stoke on Trent
excellent racing pigeons. So Geoff was beginning
to think maybe judging pigeons by ‘the hand’ is
a possible mistake. The final straw was when I
borrowed a hen from the late Bob Ashman of
Hagley who had won well with the Deweerdt
pigeons including 1st & 2nd Midlands National
Angouleme. This hen which I called ‘The Ashman
Hen’ had won six races including 1st Saintes and
1st Section Pau. Everyone including myself
through her the ugliest pigeon ever when in the
hand but one in the stock loft she was pure
gold. After this I now never judge a pigeon by
hand, shape is a theory like eyesign and so many
other opinions. Now I consider only two things,
pedigree and performance, and let ‘Mr Basket’
decide.”
This I believe is a common sense and sensible
way of selecting good racing pigeons as a loose
analogy, were Linford Christie or Paula Radcliffe
selected for
England because
of their eye or
body shape? Of
course not it was
for one reason –
because they win
races.
The new electronic nest boxes
making life easy.
26
So Geoff’s
opinion is
pedigree and
performance,
which is based
on facts not any
theory. Geoff
laughed and told
me that years
ago he was an
avid believer in eyesign and he said that he had
files with photos of hundreds of birds and that
he had spent many hours studying the eye
theory. He chuckled, “Now I can’t even see the
eye without my spectacles and consider it not
really relevant.”
I was by now ‘champion at the bit’ to get and
see the birds. So when Geoff said, “Would you
like to have a look at my breeders?” I thought,
“Do bees make honey?” So off we went into
Geoff and Catherine’s lovely garden. Catherine
says, “That it is very low maintenance,” but I am
sure she spends quite a lot of time keeping it in
its present condition.
We were told that the 80 foot loft is a new
construction. Brick built and rendered with a
pantiled roof it is a credit to Geoff who told us
that it was mainly self built and “nearly killed
him” but that he is now very pleased with the
end product which is a real credit to him and
Three of Catherine’s paintings of Geoff’s birds.
looks grand at the top of his elevated garden
facing south and overlooking the Somerset
countryside. I commented that, “I bet you can
see the birds coming from miles away,” to this
Geoff chuckled and replied, “Not usually I’m
looking but they just seem to appear from
nowhere.”
Once inside I saw that all sections had grille
flooring with the continental hardwood slated
panels and that it was all decked out with
Hermes self cleaning nest boxes and young bird
perches and it all looked a treat. I asked, “Do
you like the boxes?” The reply was, “Well they
were expensive but I thought that I would treat
myself and I must say I really love them, it makes
life so much easier.”
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
As we looked the loft over Geoff explained that
his biggest fear had always been as to the
ventilation as it was so important to get it right.
But he said that he is very pleased with the end
result. The only downside he felt and he was
candidly honest was that he thought that some
being prepared, if necessary, to save up the
funds. The rewards are sitting in every nest box
with the likes of ‘Titch’, ‘Farm Boy’, ‘Bernard’,
‘Emiel II’, and so many more super quality
pigeons which are bred out of generations of
superb long distance performers. You must
remember that Emiel Deweerdt got his birds
mainly from Charles Van Der Espt. Emiel
Deweerdt went to Van Der Espt after a stay in
hospital when everyday he watched Van Der
Espt’s birds exercising as he lay in his bed. Van
Der Espt let Emiel have the very best of his
Stichelbaut based bloodlines.
So it is no real surprise that these pigeons gave
fantastic results on the long flights. All long
distance fanciers will be well aware that Alois
Stichelbaut’s pigeons are in the pedigrees of
many champions right up to the present time.
Lets not kid ourselves its very simple the very
best of stock when looked after well will do
what comes naturally – win top prizes. It’s not
‘rocket science’. Geoff knows it and he doesn’t
worry about shape or size or colour, its pedigree
and performance, plus of course an honest man
writing out the pedigree.
of his older birds had ‘lost their love of home’
just a little and that his loses had been higher
than normal this season. I understand what he
means as pigeons like most animals simply hate
change even when its for the better. We humans
are very similar, pointing to ETS as an example of
this.
I think that Geoff is a little too critical here as
this season has been what the politicians would
describe as ‘very testing’. Personally I would
label 2008 as ‘bloody awful’ racing wise with so
many wet or north easterly winds. Geoff laughed
and said, “It seems odd to say that my birds have
lost a bit of love of home because of the new
loft with two National wins with 1st British
International Championship Club from Falaise
and now 1st National Flying Club Tarbes.” At
that we all laughed and I thought I wish my
birds hated my loft as much as Geoff and
Catherine’s, if it would result in two 1st
Nationals.
As we entered into the stock section I believe we
found out the reasons the loft has been so
amazingly successful and can be answered in two
words – the birds. The more complete answer
though is in the quality of the pigeons. As
explained previously Geoff has never been afraid
of getting out his wallet to purchase the very
best stock totally regardless of the initial cost
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
I have digressed somewhat. Both ‘JW’ and
‘George’ are now in the stock loft also after
winning 1st BICC Falaise and 1st NFC Tarbes
respectively. I was very fortunate to be able to
handle many of Geoff and Catherine’s fantastic
breeders. As expected they are very similar in
both looks and shape, dark chequer is the
dominant colour with the odd slightly pied or
white flighted bird. In the hand the similarity is
very evident. Though some show slightly more
keel than others and one or two show a
variation in size,
predominantly
the inmates are
large to medium
size with a
strong bone
structure which
is so necessary to
compete in long
testing races.
While I would
not describe the
pigeons as
The widow hens perches with
inserts to help prevent hens
beautiful looks
coupling.
wise, they do
exhibit an air of both curiosity and intelligence.
Though Geoff says that he no longer puts any
great store in eyesign, believe me the
Cooper/Deweerts have excellent eyes and push
all the required buttons. With strong dark
27
colours, loads of character in the eye and
eyesign in abundance. I would not stake my life
on it but I cannot remember seeing a light wishy
washy eye during my visit. The hens were
particularly similar with the predominant dark
chequer rich colour and nut brown eyes.
I put a rather unfair question to Geoff by asking
him which he considered his best breeder? This
made him huff and puff a little and I could tell
that he was stumped by my question. Finally he
said, “Well my favourite is ‘Farm Boy’ but that is
The wing of ‘George’ 1st NFC Tarbes 2008.
more to do with his character than his breeding
ability. To be truthful I could not really answer
the question. I suppose ‘Titch’ has bred the most
winners but he is now 14 years old so many of
the younger birds could actually produce more
good pigeons, I can’t really say.”
the breeding loft having just been coupled to
two excellent hens. ‘JW’ is a very nice handling
bird with several good results to his name
including 26th NFC Saintes and 9th NFC Dax
before winning 1st BICC Falaise in 2008. So he
has very little to prove. ‘George’ is now living
the life of luxury after helping Geoff and
Catherine to fulfil the dream. I bet Geoff thinks
back to the original pair which raised so much
doubt as to the wisdom of his purchases. He now
knows that it was money very well spent which
has repaid his bold move one hundred times
over.
I asked Geoff as we moved from the breeders,
how did the Vermote cross work out? And in his
own honest style he told me, “It was a mistake,
though the Vermote birds were good pigeons
using them as I intended as a cross to build my
own family just did not work.” I pushed things a
little further by asking but didn’t the Deweerdt
family use the Vermote birds as a cross and was
it not successful? “That is true,” explained Geoff,
“But they only used the Vermote birds as an
injection into their family. So it was put in then
the successful offspring were put straight back
into the Deweerdt gene pool and the Vermote
blood was then diluted into the dominant base
blood. That is
what I should
have done.”
I was quite impressed with Geoff’s honest
answer. One thing I did pick up on was the fact
that though ‘Titch’ is a 1994 bred pigeon he is
still fertile, a sure sign of the family’s longevity
which is a trait of good long distance pigeons. It
would I feel be a good thing to look at ‘Titch’s’
racing CV, which highlights the fact that the
Cooper’s birds are birds for all ‘seasons’ as he is a
winner from start to finish. Winning three times
from 100 miles right through to Pau which is
well over 500 miles up to Peasedown. Birds like
these are like gold, very hard to find and very
precious. They are the type of pigeon which all
back garden fanciers need. Dual purpose pigeons
which will be up with the leaders inland and
over the Channel and are extremely rare like
‘rocking horse do do’ in fact.
I thought about
this one long
and hard after
the conversation
and by using two
separate families
of pigeons and
crossing them
you are really
just producing
hybrid vigour
The widow hens, absolute
from what is,
beauties.
and I use the
term loosely, a created mongrel breed which
may fly very well in the first generation but
thereafter you have nowhere to go if the bird is
not put back into one side of the base family.
That is why the fanciers like Geoff Cooper who
have a family of pigeons stay at the top for years
and not just burst on the scene like a firework,
soon go out never to be seen again. A good
friend of mine from Belgian calls these fanciers
‘one summer butterflies’, very beautiful but only
lasting for one season.
As I wrote earlier, ‘JW’ and ‘George’ are now in
We then moved on into the young bird section
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Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
and it was like mirror images, with 90% of the
birds dark ones. I enquired what does the future
hold for these pigeons? Geoff explained that he
only races the cocks as old ones at the present so
the hens go to as many races as can be found
from across the Channel, so that he can
thoroughly test them. The cocks though, he
continued, have things a little easier with
probably a single Channel crossing or no crossing
at all for selected
birds. This
selection is once
again by
pedigree only
and not by the
hand selection
process.
I asked Geoff
about his system
with young
birds. I was told
that from an
early age he likes
the babies to be
outside which he
believes gets
The wonderful painting by
Catherine of their young son.
them prepared
for the perils of
life with hawks etc, which he finds by getting
them out early in life helps make them
‘streetwise’ as he puts it. Also he finds that this
keeps losses off the loft to a minimum as the
birds spend a lot of time striking off and get to
know the area far better than birds with
restricted exercise periods.
“Tell me about
‘George’?” I
asked. Catherine
explained, “He is
named ‘George’
after a friend,
George Ridge
from North
Devon, who was
there when
‘George’ won
2nd Section from
Bordeaux in
2006. So that’s
how he got his
name.” On the
day of the Tarbes
A view of the breeding boxes.
National race
George Ridge
was again at Geoff and Catherine’s home. Geoff
said that, “The winner would do 53mph by his
calculations,” and off he went to prepare for the
arrivals, and that there were food and water in
the pots. Suddenly ‘George’ dropped from
nowhere and stood on the dropboard trembling
They are fed with Versele Laga Sport mix with
barley added which Geoff believes in good
pigeon food and a good appetite indicator as
they only pick up barley when their appetite is
good. So when they stop picking up the barley
the feeding is stopped. In this way the young
birds get enough food but not too much.
We moved on to the widower sections where the
cocks were resting ready for the future races or
should that be ‘battles’ because that is how 2008
has been with so many very hard races. I asked
Geoff about his feeding and he said we use Versele
Laga and Willsbridge sports food mixing them and
adding bits of this and that, so that the balance of
carbs, fats and protein is right. Peanuts are used
but only if the source is known and trusted. Geoff
said, “In the past I stopped using peanuts because
of fear of toxins etc, but providing I know it is of
sound quality then peanuts are an excellent source
of energy and fats.”
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
and looking to quote Catherine in “brilliant”
condition. In no time he flew over Geoff’s
shoulder and into his box, taking Geoff by
complete surprise.
On inspection ‘George’s’ wattles were reddened
having encountered some adverse weather but
the partners were delighted by his overall
condition, confident he could have flown on
without any problems. Catherine said, “That it
29
was a long wait after being told that we were
the leading verification expecting to hear they
had been beaten by further flying pigeons. So it
was a great feeling to be confirmed as the
winners of 1st Section, 1st Open Tarbes. The
dream has been achieved, we are all thrilled to
bits.”
I asked about his previous racing record and its
‘pretty damn’ impressive, 42nd BBC from Saran,
30th BBC from Carlisle when the club briefly sent
North Road. Proving that ‘George’ had a good
head on his shoulders. He then went on to win
150th Central Southern Classic Club Cholet; 2nd
Section, 102nd Open Bordeaux with the NFC;
207th National Tarbes and 130th CSCFC
Fougeres. So as you can see he is an excellent
pigeon and part of a family capable of winning
from 60-600 miles.
simple Widowhood. The first pairing takes place
in January with a round of young birds taken.
The birds are then paired and repaired at the
end of March. They sit for four-six days with the
hens then removed. Then its exercise twice a day
and a couple of training tosses. The birds are
then ready to race. Geoff explains that he
doesn’t normally show the hens before a race,
but never lets them down on their homecoming
His sire is a brother of ‘JW’ the 2008 BICC Falaise
winner who is a son off ‘Titch’ which was
mentioned previously. His grandmother is a
Deweerdt pigeon being a daughter of ‘Boris’
which won 38th International from Perpignan.
The mother of ‘George’ is a sister to ‘Mr
The Cooper’s young bird team resting.
with their hen waiting in the box. Geoff thinks
this keeps the birds calmer while in the basket,
so reducing the stress factor.
I asked how far the yearlings are expected to fly.
The answers was 300-400 miles. This is
dependent on how hard the 300 mile race is. The
two year olds up to 450 miles normally if the
racing is easy. Some may go to 500 miles, it all
depends on the season. Three year olds are
expected to go to Tarbes, Dax or Pau.
The National winner back home with his hen.
Consistent’ which won 5th NFC Dax and 37th
International Dax. She is bred from ‘Emiel III’ a
son of ‘Emiel’ winner of 1st International
Bordeaux. Her mother is a sister of ‘Nicholls’ 3rd
NFC Pau and 4th CSCC Bergerac and ‘21’ an
excellent racer breeder and also ‘Fiddle’ 2nd
Perpignan and 9th Pau both with the BICC. All I
can say is what fantastic breeding. Endorsing
everything which Geoff believes in. Talk about
‘apples and the trees’.
I asked Geoff about his system and he said basic,
30
Geoff is a little concerned at the lack of longer
distance young bird races as most clubs only
compete from top end of the Peninsula from
Picauville or Lessay. With this in mind High
Littleton Pigeon Club is due to hold a race
organised by Geoff from Tours which is 300 miles
to Geoff’s loft. This imaginative race will test the
very best pigeons. The race is planned to be
open to all of England and Wales I believe.
Geoff told me that apart from good birds three
other things are necessary, they are health,
fitness and motivation. If the birds are looked
after health is not a problem. Sound corn, grit
and a good loft will enable good health. This in
turn is the building block for fitness because
healthy birds just love to fly so fitness will soon
be achieved. Motivation is down to you the
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
fancier. There are many ways to encourage a fit
bird to race. That though is down to your
imagination. Simple things can motivate a
pigeon, a new perch, a hiding place, access to a
fresh nest box.
I could not help but notice Geoff’s widow hens
and what a cracking lot they looked, bright
eyed, tight feathered. I am sure that they would
give the cocks a run for their money if they were
afforded the opportunity. That is the problem
with Widowhood, it wastes so many good hens
and the Coopers have some beauties, believe me.
When back in the conservatory I asked Catherine
how the partnership worked. She told me that
Geoff is the manager and she just helps out
when she is needed. Then reminded me that she
is a busy lady who loves to paint. Several of her
paintings are hung on the walls. The pigeon
portraits are superb but the picture of their
young son when he was just a toddler is my
favourite. It captures everything and I am sure
that it will be treasured for years to come.
Catherine certainly is a very talented lady.
Proof of the couples love of animals is present
with a Jack Russell dog, a large aquarium with a
super collection of tropical fish and ‘Fredo’ the
parrot who is a very good talker. He is always
telling you when he is hungry. In my opinion
animals help to make a house a real home and
the Cooper’s must think likewise.
It was a real delight to spend time with a lovely
couple who have just fulfilled their outstanding
ambitions. When I commented on this Geoff said
not quite, I would now love to win an
International. That’s a tall order but as they had
a hand in their friend Brian Sheppard’s pigeon
‘Legend’ which won 1st International Dax and
Mark Gilbert’s ‘Southfield Supreme’ which
repeated the feat, not so long after, I for one
would not put it past the Coopers if they made
it a hat-trick of International UK victories. One
thing is certain they have the tools to do it!
at last AVAILABLE ON DVD
ARound Antwerp Volumes 7 and 8
These two greats are now available on dvd
Volume 7 – Jos Jossens and Jimmy Brands
Long Distance
Jimmy Brands and Jos Joosens are highly regarded and well known by
most of the long distance fanciers. They fly in the very competitive area
of Antwerp and each of the two fanciers compete in at least thirteen
races of 500 miles per season and they are successful.
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Volume 8 – Van Herle-Reyskens
and Patricia Verhaegen Sprint/Middle
This is an absolute must for all sprint fanciers.
Van Herle-Reyskens are twice Sprint Champions of All Belgium
2002-2003 with just 16 Widowhood cocks. Patricia Verhaegen and
her husband Francois were Champion Middle Distance fanciers of
all Belgium in 2003 with just 13 Widowhood hens.
only £20 uk each DVD or order both for £30
europe £22 (one dvd) or £32 (two DVDs) • worldwide £25 (one dVD) or £35 (Two DVDs)
To order simply send a cheque/PO made payable to ‘The Racing Pigeon’ to Unit G5, The Seedbed Centre,
Wyncolls Road, Colchester, Essex CO4 9HT. OR use your credit card and phone us on 01206 843456.
You can also fax your order to us, stating your credit card number, name, address and phone number, the number
is 01206 843442 or email [email protected].
Racing Pigeon Pictorial International — No 459
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