26 / 36
SAHPA 2016 Year Book Page 26
Viv Allan – SAD (Moulamein)
SA15 02905 BBH
Viv has been racing pigeons for 40 plus
years – this follows an introduction into
a neighbour’s loft, and a subsequent
handing over of birds to Viv to breed
and race. Since then various friends
have contributed to his current loft of
pigeons which are now essentially
Warren Moyle.
Warren Moyle has been of particular
assistance. Viv has known him for most
of his life in pigeons, but over the last
twenty years or so they have become
very good friends and Viv has followed
lots of advice provided by Warren.
Other friends that have contributed to
Viv’s enjoyment of race pigeons have
included
Arthur
Ellul,
David
Thalbourne, Mark Bruggerman and
Gavin Harris.
The winning bird is 85% Warren Moyle
with a dash of Gavin Harris. She
currently is breeding in Gavin’s loft.
Viv has generally looked after the birds
on his own, however his wife Sandra was of great assistance when Viv was a working man.
Now in his retirement, he wonders how the work all got done. He finds that as a retired
person he has been able to perform better as a pigeon flyer. The extra time put into
management and planning for health and general well being is being well spent. He has
always appreciated the company of other flyers.
Viv has very fond memories of two much earlier career races. The first from Madura in
which he clocked his bird on the day when very few homed, and the second in which he won
the Bathurst 1980 National. The National winner was found in the loft at 0530 on the second
morning!
Viv considers that racing 2 and 3 year olds to be his forte. He generally lets his babies have
up to 3 races in their first year, but tosses them every week of the season.
He then likes to race cocks for another 2 years and the hens up to another 4 years. At that
time, he assesses pedigree and performance and line breeds accordingly. He brings in the
occasional outcross.
At the end of the race season he starts his breeding programme. His setup is unusual in that
most of his stock birds have open loft. He breeds from 28 pairs and in 2016 this included 4
pairs which were breeding as prisoners. Once babies are ready to be weaned, they are
transferred to the race loft where that are held for a few days to ensure eating and drinking,
then the race loft is opened, and the breeding cocks go looking for the babies and feed them
in the race loft. In due course, the babies ‘break’ themselves in – a very peaceful and simple
process – just needs all breeding birds homed to the house block!
During this time, the 2, 3 and 4 year olds are held in a very airy cage with lots of sunshine
and do not join the new babies until breeding is finished. At this time birds of both sexes and
ages are mixed for the beginning of the race season.