Mel & Sue King of Blandford Forum

Mel & Sue King of Blandford Forum

Could this partnership have a better name, because they really are the reigning
monarchs of the pigeon world.
They have had an exceptional season even compared to their own high standards.
             1st B.I.C.C falaise – 1st B.B.C Poitiers – 1st C.S.C.F.C Truro
Here’s a little about them.
Mel is a self employed builder, Sue works for the local Council. This partnership is
not just in name. Mel and Sue both do their fair share. Mel says that without Sue’s
input, they would struggle to race as successfully as they do.
They were married in the late 70’s and they have two grown up children still at home.
Neither are interested in pigeons. Mel was born in a village between Blandford and
Dorchester called Milborne St Andrew. While Mel was growing up, there were
several fanciers in the village, including his school friend who raced with his father as
Bright & Son. Mel’s older brother Barry also had a keen fondness for our feathered
friends and kept them on and off.
Mel’s pigeon career was started quite by accident after taking a racing pigeon home
that had a broken wing. Not intending to keep it! He made some enquiries locally to
find the owner but to no avail, so he ended up keeping it. Mel’s old school pal gave
him a mate to pair with it and so it all began. Another local fancier Brian Kevern also
gave Mel and Sue some birds. Incidentally, their first winner was bred from that
broken winged bird Mel had rescued. (Which just goes to show you there are some
people that you could give a streeter to and they would win with it). This partnership
are in that category.
Now, just sit back a minute, close your eyes and imagine winning three Nantes
N.F.C’s. Yes three, because that’s all we can do is imagine. This husband and wife
team have done it. That’s something magical. In total they have won seven Nationals
and two Central Southern Classics.
The racing loft is 32ft, with four sections for the widowers and a centre section used
as a corn store. The loft has a corridor along its length with two double door openings
for open door trapping to each section. The second loft, is an 8ft x 6ft stock loft with a
6ft x 6ft aviary to the front to give plenty of space for the birds. A 20ft loft houses the
widow hens plus the natural young birds in the other section. Lastly, a 10ft x 8ft loft
joined onto the garage houses the darkness young birds. Mel has tried deep litter with
the young birds but suffers with Asthma and finds it too dusty, so now uses grills.
Mel and Sue race a standard widowhood system. The first three sections have only
eight cocks each and the fourth with twelve, so no over crowding at these lofts.
The race birds are paired between Christmas and the New Year. The old birds are
trained 20 miles to the coast before the season begins. Training through the season
depends upon whether Mel thinks they need it or not. They do not race every pigeon
every week as they prepare certain birds for certain races. The birds stay on
widowhood throughout the old bird programme, not being re-paired for the long

races. The cocks are mostly shown their hen on marking night and always on return
from twenty minutes up to two hours.
The partnership feed a standard branded widowhood mix. This is supplemented with
Gem G10 pellets at the recommended ration for three days after returning from a race.
The cocks are fed individually in their own box. Most of the birds race to the 400 mile
Stage.
Mel and sue are starting to build a long distance team and these are already showing
their quality, winning 1st Open B.B.C Poitiers and 1st Open C.S.C.F.C Young Bird
Ramsgate. The bloodlines of these are M. White and Son, Patrick Brothers (Jan
Aardens), Guselbrecht, R. Vereecke and Eric Limbourg. Mel and Sue joined the
B.I.C.C in 2007 and hopes to test the off spring of the above families in the
International races. I think they are pretty optimistic that they will do well. I for one
wouldn’ t bet against them winning a International event.
The partners main family are Gaby Vandenabeeles from M & D Evans. These pigeons
bred winners from the very first nest and have gone on to win right up to 1st Open
N.F.C. Nantes. They are also responsible for the majority of Mel and Sue’ s big
winners.
The stock pairs are also paired between Christmas and New Year. They are fed a
branded breeding mix and whilst rearing have all they need. Any new birds making it
to the stock loft, must come from a loft that is successful at national level. Preferably
with current successes. New stock have two seasons to prove their worth, probably
paired differently the second year. If in that time it hasn’ t proved itself, then it must
go. So any bird lasting for threes seasons or more will be breeding winners regularly.
This loft practices all types of line breeding and cross breeding with various different
pairs. Most cross breeding is done with the best race winners. Mel says they don’ t
keep late breds for racing they are kept for stock purposes only.
Mel and Sue prefer to have tame pigeons about the loft, but have found no difference
in performance, tame or otherwise. Around eighty young birds are reared, forty five to
fifty are on the darkness system from weaning until the first week in June. The
remaining youngsters are raced naturally. No separation of sexes, nor fancy food and
water programmes are followed here. Versele Laga young bird plus with Gem G10
pellets added, on occasion multi vits or probiotic added to clean water.
The darkness youngsters are allowed to pair if they wish in preparation for Classic
and National races from the channel. The young birds pair amongst themselves. They
are not encouraged by pairing them with old birds. The young birds will race every
week (when permitted), some young cocks will be stopped after the 100 mile stage
and some are selected for the longer channel events with the bigger clubs. Who could
argue with this management. In 2007 taking the first 6 Open positions from C.S.C.F.C
Truro also taking 12th Open and that’ s flying against the best of the best.
Winter time all birds are separated after weaning late breds from the widowers. After
young bird racing has finished all birds go on a moulting mix until the moult is over,
then it’ s time to prepare for breeding again.
Mel says he likes all pigeon racing short and long but has not sent to too many of the
longer races over the last few years, having concentrated on their middle distance
team. Well, I think it is fair to say they have that one right. In recent years winning
fifteen x 1st section Classic and National, over eighty times in the top ten in their
Classic and National section, over twenty times between 2nd – 15th open National and
Classic, several Open race winners, 2006 Best Average all races B.B.C and 2006 Best
Average Y.B C.S.C.F.C. To list all their performances would be impossible. We will

just have to look out for those distance performances now they are blending their own
distance team.
There are many people Mel and Sue admire in the pigeon world. It would be unfair to
single out one or two as so many fanciers concentrate on different aspects of the sport,
sprint, Fed, racing long distance, National Etc.
That’ s about it from the Kings lofts apart from saying what an absolutely smashing
and genuine couple Mel and Sue are and what a remarkable achievement in 2007 it
was to win 3 major races. 1st Open B.I.C.C Falaise, 1st Open B.B.C. Poitiers and 1st
Open C.S.C.F.C Truro. Just incredible.

If you would like to join the Classic, please write to me, Clare Norman, 133 Laundry
Road, Shirley Warren, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6AR, Email:
secretary@cscfc.com or print off an application form from our Website: cscfc.com
All Subs are now due £15 also any Young Bird Nominations at £5 per bird.

Don’ t forget we have the Lifetime Ring Nomination. You have until July 31st 2008 to
enter. £ 5 per ring, £ 100 guaranteed, paid out per pigeon every time it appears in the
top 100 of the Open result in the classic. (Old hens races and yearling races are
excluded). The birds first race is Lessay Young Bird. Just send me your ring list of
birds you wish to nominate before the closing date. Once your bird appears in the top
100 of the open you have 7 days in which to claim from when the result is published.
We have paid out so far, in 2007 £ 1800, in 2006 £ 1800 and in 2005 £ 600. (This was
the year it started so this was only for young bird racing).
2007 Winners were:
Fougeres:        J. Ross £100 – Mannor Lofts £100 - Miss S. Jorro £100 – S. Stokes
£100.
Cholet:          G. Wood £100.

Pau:           D. Wells £100.

Guernsey:      B & D. Young £100 – T. Cowan £100 – Mannor Lofts £100.

Truro YB:   T. Cowan £100 – R. Hoare & Claire £500 – J & D. Staddon £200 –
B & D. Young £100.