Rob Woolliss talks pigeons
Fancier profile Roger Hollinrake & Sherman Mallinson

Sherman Mallinson & Roger Hollinrake

Well hello once again to all B.H.W. readers!

Its been a while again folks I know since ive put pen to paper but here we go with a loft report on a partnership from the South Yorkshire region and on reading it I don’t think that any fancier anywhere could argue the fact that these two fanciers truly deserve this small bit of recognition for the success that they achieved during the 2006 season “only” and god help anyone flying against them this season 2007 if last year is to be repeated!

This being one of my topics features where ill pick out a region then seek out any up and coming stars in that vacinity and the new partnership that I am highlighting here in this feature have both been involved in pigeon racing for some years now in the Doncaster area as individuals and have both won their fare share of the spoils in this fine sport! But now or should I say from 2006 they have joined forces and an immediate impact was made on the results sheets in the Doncaster area! I suppose I could coin an old phrase here maybe (Two Heads Are Better Than One) and you racing men reading this will know that it is a double-header when the two heads are both successful pigeon men! Their results go to show that both of their ideas management skills and racing techniques definitely must compliment each other, these two fanciers have known each other for around 25 years, when I asked what do they call this part of “Donny” where you live roger replied Wheatley Hills is about 2 miles from the town centre and 2 miles from the Doncaster race course. I asked roger just how successful he was flying in his own right to which he replied I`ve been consistent for many years now averaging 10 x 1sts a year, I then asked him so why the partnership? To which he replied, I have suffered from pigeon lung for the last few years and I`ve found it difficult to do all that I should for the pigeons and Sherman helped me last year 2006 and just look at the results! (yes my friend you cant argue with them) roger has given much deserved credit to sherman telling me that his patience is second to none and his management and dedication with the youngbird team has to be seen to be believed, I can believe this I`ve seen how tame some of the big winners are with Sherman even to the point of coming up the garden walking into rogers conservatory and flying up onto the coffee table Showing to sherman! They only have to hear his voice! These are fanciers that are both in their element around their pigeons and it shows in every way.

Right lads now we can move onto the questionnaire that I put to both sherman and Roger the questions are the same but the answers were done individually I thought it best doing a partnership profile if we got the two of them to answer all the questions so we can get a real insight into this pair of true pigeon fanciers, read on and enjoy! Then make your own minds up but I think that this partnership are heading for the very top of this sport so lets begin,

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Roger Hollinrake:

1.I started with pigeons when I was 10 years old but found out about girls
therefore pigeons took a back seat for a few years.

2. Gordon Parker of Florida lofts, he gave me a pair of dordins from which I
had my first 1st.position (later Mick Foley and Rob Feniche).

3.After I got married when I was around 21.

4.I prefer sprint, middle and long distance, I think you need a specialist type
of pigeon for the extreme distance.

5.I prefer the larger Herman type pigeon for sprinting and the compact apple
bodied type for the longer distances (but any type that win are o.k. by me).

6. More so my partner but I’m definitely believing in it more and more.

7. I just like silky feathering.

8. I’ve tried natural, widowhood, natural jealousy and the roundabout system
but the easiest system is total widowhood with the older pigeons. And darkness
for the youngest, if your not on the darkness system you’ll be 15minutes
behind after the first couple of races.

9. Gabby Van-de-beale are excellent from 60 to 400 miles but Mr Consistent
Herman’s are the most reliable all round pigeons.

10. Not really as long as they win they become prettier.

11. No, in our loft the basket is our pedigree.

12. Dry and well ventilated.

13. Racing- Good widowhood mixture with bits and bobs added when
necessary.
Breeding- All year round mix plus protein on a night time.
Malting- Good malting mixture followed after the malt by beans and
barley.

14. When first separated feed a good young bird mix with no maize (morning).
Then protein peas and beans plus bits and bobs when required (night time).

15. Fresh grit and minerals daily, multi vitamins twice a week, garlic and
honey and as the youngsters mature I start them on various Ronfried products.

16. When the widowhoods are parted I begin to clean out morning and night.

17. If its not broken don’t mend it, but if the pigeons are poorly we will
treat them if necessary with antibiotics.

18. 1Club, 1 Fed, Midlands National and the North East Provincial Club.

19. Even if a youngster has performed well and we like its eye and the feel of
its body we wont hesitate to put it in the stock loft.
20. We have done in the past, but now we’ve got some quality stock birds so we
don’t have to, if we bred a quality young bird with a breeders eye we wouldn’t
think twice about putting it in stock.

21. We start with the first 4 tosses at 1-2miles only, followed by 4 at
5miles, 2 at 10 miles if they clear o.k. we then fly them up to a maximum of 40
miles before they are ready for racing.

22. Darkness- Darkness is the only way once they are through the moult they
are just like yearlings, however natural youngsters are the opposite they begin
to malt and look like a bag of rags therefore they have little or no chance of
winning racers against the darkness superstars.

23. I’ve really covered this question when answering question 21.
The only other thing I can add is you must have them ranging before training
them.

24. I believe I have answered this question in no.9.

25. We’ve searched the globe to bring in the very best breeding and racing
pigeons, we’ve acquired some of the best of Dicky and Mark Evans gabby Van-de-
beelies pigeons via Gabby himself, Dicky Evans, John and David Hawkins and Kirk
brothers from Rossington. Also we have obtained the very best of the Herman
pigeons, money being no option. Are lines include the best of the Alwyn Paddy
lines, Ward brothers, Tennent and Co, and Dicky Evans lines.

26. My very first 1st was bred off 2 pigeons given to me by Gordon Parker of
Florida Lofts.

27. A very good Herman hen who has scored 2(3rds) and an 11th Fed, this bird
could have had 2 1st Feds because in one race we took the 1st 5 positions in
the Fed and the other race the 1st 8 positions in the Fed all dropping
together, the Federation was South Yorkshire.

28. Three pigeons dropping together from 210miles taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd open
NAPC Gold ring Race winning over £3000.

29. Total Widowhood, full commitment and dedication (tell you hopefully next
year).

30. Find a successful and small team flyer and obtain some of his birds and try
and get some kind of system off of him.

31. The pigeon fraternity do tremendous charity work raising many tens of
thousands of pounds for good causes. We get lots of coverage from the Homing
World and the Racing Pigeon but I think its about time we got recognition from
the national papers, we seem to get adverse publicity from the national media I.
e. the flying rats etc.

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Sherman Mallinson:

1. 25 years off an on.

2. 15 years of age.

3. My now partner Roger, he gave me my very first pigeon.

4. Sprint Just love sprinting up to 210miles.

5. Big bold cocks (light and corky).

6. Breeding- Rich eye with full circle
Racers- Don’t bother unless good enough for stock, then take
eye in to
Consideration, eye sign is essential for me when
sorting out stock birds
the actual pedigrees mean nothing to me.

7. Prefer silky, tight feathering.

8. We’ve tried them all but prefer Widowhood with the old pigeons, and darkness
with the youngsters.

9. Hermans and Van-Reets.

10. Losers, fat ones and wild ones.

11. No, the basket is the pedigree.

12. Nice dry, roomy loft with perfect ventilation.

13. Good Widowhood mix, malting mixture and 4 weeks before pairing up beans and
barley.

14. Young bird, no maize (morning) and protein mix, peas and beans (night).

15. Multi vitamins twice a week all year round, fresh grit and minerals, pick
stone garlic etc.

16. Scraper twice a day.

17. If its not broke don’t mend it.

18. Last year one club old birds, and 1 club young birds, NEPC and Midlands
National F.C. 2007 we will compete in two Feds.
19. If its performed well as a youngster and has an outstanding eye we wont
hesitate to put it in the stock loft.

20. We’ve got to many brilliant stock birds so we don’t breed out of the race
birds.

21. Same as Roger.

22. Darkness because after two or three racers they are fifteen minutes in
front of the naturals.

23. Got to be ranging and trained really well.

24. Hermans, Gabbies and Soojens.

25. We’ve searched the globe for the very best Herman pigeons. We’ve bought the
very best of Dicky and Mark Evans (all their best Herman lines).We’ve also
bought the Ward brothers and Tennant and Co, and some of the best Alwynn Paddy
lines, we’ve also bought Gabbies off Dicky and Mark’s Jester and Ladies of the
Rings (paid over £2500 for these 2). We have also purchased pigeons off John
and Dave Hawkins the winners of the first 10 Northern Classic and numerous
great achievements in the Midlands National. We’ve also obtained the very best
off Kirk brothers winners of the Midlands National.

26. My first 1st when I was 15 years old.

27. Three come to mind, in the NEPC Gold Ring Race, three dropped together
taking 1st, 2nd an 3rd open winning over £3000.

28. Taking the first 5 positions in South Yorkshire Fed and 2 weeks later
taking the first 8 positions in the South Yorkshire Fed.

29. Good pigeons and good management.

30. Same as Roger.

31. I would like the small clubs and feds to join together (UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL).

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Results:

Roger Hollinrake and Sherman Mallinson
Results for Grove Lofts
Year 2006 (only)
Club Results 10 X 1sts, 12 X 2nds, 11 X 3rds, 10 x 4ths, 12 X 5ths, 11 X 6ths, = 66 prizes at club level in the first six!
Federation Results 2 X 1sts, 2 X 2nds, 2 X 3rds, 2 X 4ths, 2 x 6ths, 1 X 8th, 2 X 10ths, 2 X 12ths, 2 X 13ths, 2 X 14ths, 3 X 15ths, 3 X 18ths and 1 X 19th fed among these awesome results these lofts took the First Five Federation prizes one week!

Then only two weeks later took the first Eight Federation positions, totally brilliant by anybodys standards I think!
Racing with the North-East-Provincial Club Gold Ring Race 06 this partnership took 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, with three dropping together from a 210 mile race winning over £3,000 in prize money as well as winning all the pools from Littlehampton.

Still with the Provincial the lads won 1st and 2nd Section 2nd and 7th open from Lulworth
And 5th section 11th open from Portsmouth, and I am sure that our readers will be aware that this is racing against some of the top fanciers and professional outfits around that area.

Racing with the Midlands National F.C. from Lulworth 3924 pigeons this loft finished 5th,15th, and 45th, section 156th, 210th, 336th, open.

Midland National F.C. Gold ring Classic race from Lulworth this loft finished 3rd,section 26th open, winning £240.00
Midlands National Old Bird Portsmouth with 5,772 pigeons competing This loft finished 30th, 126th 222nd 245th,276th section 180th, 344th,358th,481st,497th, Open. Midland National F.C. Yearling Classic race 1258 pigeons competing from Portsmouth and the lads finished 7th, 38th,56th,61st,93rd, Section 26th, 65th,84th, 92nd,137th, Open and the last result I am putting in is from the Doncaster Feds Portsmouth Championship Race where the partners finished 7th, and 15th, I am sure that everyone will agree 2006 was a hell of a season for Doncasters Hollinrake and Mallinson! And before I head off I would just like to say that these two guys Roger and Sherman are real nice people straight talking and very easy to get along with, it was a pleasure meeting them both and being in their company and mark my words these guys mean Business, till next time enjoy the game!

Rob Woolliss..