Looking back in time

[Devo1956]

Over the years i have been involved in the sport of racing pigeons, racing greyhounds and race horses. And I must say it cost me a few bob to be involved in these sports.
Over the years, I have always wanted to try my hand at breeding horses. The thought of breeding a young foal ,and taking it to the top level. Would be mind blowing for me.
So what about other members?

[NeilA]

Not really into horses mate although my grandad had a couple of shire horses as he use to work with them on the coal rounds he kept a couple to he was in his 60’s
it must be nice to have more interests I use to go football every home game but kind of drifted when football seemed to lose it’s loyalty and having a few local lads playing plus the price is madness
I’m only into pigeon racing and even then I stopped for must be 18 years at one point when I was off away working then lived back in London for a bit with no real garden
At times I could do with a year or two out now but to be honest I’m not sure how long we have left anyway . I often think I wish I had another hobby I was into particularly in the winter

Jimmy bamling who was a top fancier with his Busschaert trains Greyhounds now Devo he’s a really nice bloke been a good help to me

[Devo1956]

Not really into horses mate although my grandad had a couple of shire horses as he use to work with them on the coal rounds he kept a couple to he was in his 60’s
it must be nice to have more interests I use to go football every home game but kind of drifted when football seemed to lose it’s loyalty and having a few local lads playing plus the price is madness
I’m only into pigeon racing and even then I stopped for must be 18 years at one point when I was off away working then lived back in London for a bit with no real garden
At times I could do with a year or two out now but to be honest I’m not sure how long we have left anyway . I often think I wish I had another hobby I was into particularly in the winter

Jimmy bamling who was a top fancier with his Busschaert trains Greyhounds now Devo he’s a really nice bloke been a good help to me

Yes Neil, Dean Childs another good trainer of Greyhounds. Also a very good flyer of Racing pigeons.

[NeilA]

Yes that’s another one Devo forgot him

[Trev]

These 3 hobbies do seem to have crossed over quite a bit over the years, of course the Masserella family started off with a long and successful career with horses, both on the breeding and competing side !!
Duncan Ferguson was also one who had pigeons and race horses too.

As you know Andy and I have farming backgrounds so genetic improvement was something we always strived for, I was only in the milking/beef side but Andy also got into the showing side of it.
We were also competitive swimmers and water polo players, I also played Football and Rugby. These days with the body rapidly failing me I'll make do with my pigeons, for me from March to September it's all about the hands on breeding and racing, over the winter it's about getting my paperwork up to date and going through what I have in the loft in preparation for the next season.

[Bowbroom]

My great uncle Bill used to look after the pit ponies in the area and also used to be called in by the Massarella family from time to time when they were at Kirby Muxloe and before that in the Doncaster area,

[Devo1956]

I remember going down to Liverpool docks, plenty of horse and carts in action. I loved to see the big cruise liners coming in, well not that big now but still great to watch. The empress of Canada would look so small today, compared to the cruise ships that arrive now in the pool.

[Murray]

As most of you know I left school at 15 to become an apprentice jockey in New Zealand. That was in 1970. At 16 I was offered a chance to go to Australia and did my first 3 years riding here before returning to NZ. I did some things and went some places, so I was very lucky.
After an accident ended my career at 23 I trained Greyhounds before turning to racehorses with a degree of success.
All the time the pigeons were in my mind, as I had them as a kid. When I remarried I started with a few, and when we moved back to Australia 20 years ago I sort of eased into to the sport.
I suppose it's just part of my nature. I need something to train and care for.

[Andy]

As most of you know I left school at 15 to become an apprentice jockey in New Zealand. That was in 1970. At 16 I was offered a chance to go to Australia and did my first 3 years riding here before returning to NZ. I did some things and went some places, so I was very lucky.
After an accident ended my career at 23 I trained Greyhounds before turning to racehorses with a degree of success.
All the time the pigeons were in my mind, as I had them as a kid. When I remarried I started with a few, and when we moved back to Australia 20 years ago I sort of eased into to the sport.
I suppose it's just part of my nature. I need something to train and care for.

Same as me really Murray. I left school at 15 too and went straight into farming. I was in farming until I was 42 when I left because of DEFRA not liking the new robotic parlour I had just spent 160K on and threatened to take my license away if I kept using it. After 2 and a half years and 60K on solicitors fees I got an out of court settlement. Not enough to continue in farming though so brought our pet shop instead. Always had the pigeons all the time apart from a 10 year period just after buying the shop and getting divorced. As you say Murray, once working with livestock it’s always in your blood.