The Rockhampton “Rock”

This years best and fairest award for Rockvagas is Noel the “Rock” Ballinger. At the youthful age of 60, which seems to be the new age 40s now days, the “Rock” has found his passion once again with the Rockhampton Invitational Pigeon Association with 19 members, after starting way back in 1975.

Over 30 years flying at his best Noel Ballinger has only missed being in the top three flyers in Rockhampton 4 times.

In the flying career of the “Rock”, his most cherish joy over the years has been only ever missing getting a result from one final race of the year in Rockhampton in 1996, in which Norm Milner won the Race from Kempsey at 3:30 am in the morning on the second day, with not many birds making it home from that race.

Other special moments include winning Newcastle to Rockhampton with the first two birds in 1995 and holding the distance record of 660 miles in so they say the open era. Also in his collection is winning the Middleton 600 mile race in 2000.

How the “Rock” won the best and fairest award in the RIPA, was winning the Club Championship over 27 events, winning the Long Series over 10 events, winning the Breeders plate race by an hour, Winning 5 X 1^{st Open} Races and running 3^rd in the Dr Rob Marshall Series.

Noels infantry consists of 30 pairs of stockies, which the “Rock” says is too many. Race team is about 120 birds broken down to 100 youngsters and 20 two year olds. Backbone bloodline in Noels loft are the Old Alex Barry Pigeons, Vin Blanded birds, Goodgers down from the $1900 cock and some Scrumpy Van Loons chucked in for some speed.

An Electronic timing clock (Benz) is fitted to the flyers loft and the “Rock” used this system with great success this year for the first time.

In the off season Noel lets his birds free loft most of the time around the loft to develop muscle and character, most focus is on keeping the birds clean from lice (with use of Madison 50) and worms and prefers to let birds immunity system develop.

During the Race season birds are fed from a Hopper twice a day from feed brought from a local Produce place, which consists of Peas, wheat, Maize, Milo, Linseed, and French white Millett. The “Rock” mixes 3 parts Milo, 1 part Peas, 2 parts wheat, 2 parts Corn and once Racing begins at 200 miles, a handful of French white millet and Linseed are added. Additives to which Noel uses are Iron on the feed, Vitamin A on the feed and New Zealand Manuka Honey (One Teaspoon per 2 litres of water). The birds are let out once a day for an hour exercise. The “Rock” loft location in town is 50/50 split in terms of position, from the North and West, Noel sits in an advantage spot, but from the South and South-West Noel is in a disadvantage spot.

Road training starts 5 weeks before the first race at 5 kilometres and the birds usually have 9 tosses up to and including a 40-kilometre toss. Once the race season has commenced, one 40 kilometres toss is all the “Rock gives his birds a week. Tossing is also usually around the clock, so birds develop a better sense of direction and location. The lofts are cleaned once a day in the morning.

The “Rock” believes treating birds only when Training starts and treats for Wet Canker (use of EMTRYL ¼ teaspoon to 2 litres every 4 weeks),

Baycock 1ml to the litre every 4 weeks, Epsom salts after 200 miles every Sunday, and Wormer after 200 miles (birds usually given Avitrol plus individually a week before their race). Resfite for Respiratory problems when required.

Pairing the Stock birds usually happens in June after the Rockhampton Show has hit town. These breeders are fed twice a day on a hopper system like the Flyers are as well. Noel adds extra peas and safflower to his basic mix brought from Rocky Feed and Seed. The breeding birds are usually well-bred birds that have flown to the last race point. The breeding method usually is simply only the best birds will do, whether inbreed, cross, line bred or out of the exceptional racing pigeons. Noel reckons that the key in getting good birds is ensuring the birds are from well proven and tried birds from Old Fanciers.

For the new flyer or newcomer, The “Rock” believes the key to starting out is ensuring that we don’t overcrowd our birds for a start. Then we should concentrate on the proven Aussie Birds before trying the new Imports. Time is well spent on researching a family of pigeon’s performances before obtaining them. Noel believes the Sport of racing Pigeons will only improve by encouraging younger people to fly pigeons in the motto of enjoying the birds coming home and competing against good sportsmanship minded fanciers. For the novice fancier looking to improve, Noel likes sound body pigeons with good immunity system and few health problems and that is what Noel believes the Novice flyer should be looking for as well. Money spent on a few real good ones is better then spending next to nothing obtaining a mob of birds with unproven / unknown performances. Noel also like to have the breeders and youngsters in the off-season as natural as possible to promote good strong healthy immunity.

Also attached are four of the “Rock” 2009 champions.

If interested in Noel Birds , you can contact Noel on 0749282838

Red Grizzle Hen number 24 TRPC 08 , bred by Redenius Family Townsville ( Bushranger cross Jan-arden) Unoffical Bird of the Year .

2nd Single Bird Derby 5/17 home after two days.

2nd Two Bird Derby

7th Breeders Plate Race 17/120 home after two days.

Photo No 2. Blue Chequer Pied hen number 171 RRPC 07 , bred by Noel himself all Alex Barry blood.

Three Bird Derby Winner from Yabulu 400 miles, first bird home in Rockhampton from Yabulu and Cardwell Race.

Photo no 3 . Blue Chequer Hen 5814 QPF 07 , unknown breeder from Brisbane , as the pigeon was brought as a breeders plate pigeon in 2008.

This is the Carwell winner 450 miles .

Photo no 4. 2009 RIPA Breeders plate winner , winning over over 5 000 dollars. 16409 AUST 08 Dark Chequer Pied,

Bred by Ted Lewis Mackay . Old Brisbane family cross Goodger.

Ken “Reggie” Tucker

In his own words Ken “Reggie” Tucker believes he is one of Australia’s luckiest fanciers. As I produce “Reggie” one loft profile, I think most of us will hypothesize that “Reggie” has a genuine ability in identifying talent. As a follow competitor in both local Pigeon racing and one loft racing, as well as knowing “Reggie” for over Twenty years,”Reggie” loves racing his pigeons in Racing Fashion.

At 75 years young, “Reggie” hasn’t shown any signs in his spirit in slowing down. Ken has memberships in both local clubs (Rockhampton Invitational Pigeon Association and Rockhampton Racing Pigeon Club Inc). “Reggie” first started as an 11 year old in the Rockhampton Homing Society in 1946.

Highlights of “Reggie” Racing Pigeon career are many and far, but his noticeable ones are:

Winning the Mallee Classic One Loft race in 2007 and $11500 prize money.

Equal Winner Mid North Coast Classic One loft race 2007 with 9 birds in the drop.

Crown East Coast Champion 2008 between Taree 15 000 and Gympie 10 000 one Loft Races.

Equal Winner Bundy 500 one loft race in 2009, two birds in the drop from 500 miles.

Locally winning three years in a row the Three Bird Derbies and getting a Pigeon on the day from Winton to Rockhampton (which has only been officially done once in Club history), which ran second club.

The number of Stockies at “Reggie” place number 50 pair and the number of Racers is around 200. The families that Ken has are Staff Van Reet (Des Sippets and Barry Devine), Van Loons (Steve Pradella), Quinn Evans (Barry Devine), Bob Eaton’s, and Kirkpatrick’s.

Electronic Timing system (Unikon) is used by Ken, which Ken was one of the very first to use back in the late 90s. The birds are flown around the lofts twice a day for approx 3 hours. Ken lives in a disadvantage spot and loves his white pigeons being clocked, Ken is always stating “it takes a good man to fly whites”. Feeding is done via a hopper feeder twice a day for both Racers and breeders. A local Commercial mix is used as with feed from local Farmers. Naturally the Racers get Racing Pigeon mix with some Canary seeds, and as the longer races come Ken introduces more Corn (up to 10 % of Corn to the Mix). The Breeders get mostly Farmers feed, that being Wheat, Corn, Milo, Safflower, Mung Beans and some Breeders pellets. The Breeders don’t get rations, they always have feed in front of them. Probactin is used in the water for the birds during the racing season.

Training of the birds starts 4 weeks before the First schedule race at 1 km, basically Ken likes to get the birds relaxed with the idea of the basket, before conditioning and fitness. Twelve training tossing are usually given at a maximum of 45 kms before the first Race. After racing has started Ken usually only gives the Birds one 45 km training toss a week. Sprinters are treated differently as they are raced every week in the short series. Locations of the Training runs usually start out on the line of flight, but work into a location that is user friendly. Wire floors in the lofts make cleaning easy, as Ken usually cleans out the trays under the Wire floors once a month. Medication is usually given every Saturday, Sunday, Monday and sometimes Tuesday when racing. Ken tries to keep on top of Canker levels, Respiratory problems, coccidiosis, and worms / lices, which is done on a monthly basis.

When starting to mate the stockies, Ken puts his breeders together in June. Birds bred for stock and the best-performed birds are used in the breeding programme. The best source of stock birds are sometimes given to you (Ken was given some green ringers by Barry Devine a few years ago, which have proven to be some top birds that were given to Larry Pearson and himself), as well as going to sales. Reggie believes studying the history of the birds at sales is very important and make a selection based on what you like.

There are more losses these days according to Ken, based on percentages. Birds just aren’t coming through on the second day and third day like they did years ago.

When I asked Ken about what can be done to improve the sport of racing pigeons and ensure it future, Ken believes we are still using systems and race programmes from 100 years ago and should modernize flying patterns of our birds based on weather conditions and terrain. Ken would like a computerized formula (Breaking point) worked out week in and week out to ensure the best birds are wining the races and to ensure that loft position dose not play a role in club results.

Kens advice for new and struggling flyers is obtaining good stock birds to begin with from a Reputable dealer. Keep out of Political issues with in your club and federation. Enjoy your pigeon racing (Kens loves clocking his white pigeons) and may the Gods be kind to you like they have been with me (Ken). As far as One loft racing goes, “Reggie” breaks all youngsters in before selecting them for a one-loft race.

Anyone interested in obtaining some of the best one-loft birds around, can contact Ken on 0749275139.

The two pictures supplied are firstly Kens, Fitness and conditioning Coach (Jack Russel), and secondly Kens Race loft.