CANBERRA RACING PIGEON COMBINE AUCTION AND SOCIAL DAY 2009

The Canberra Combine will be conducting its fifth pigeon auction at The Ponderosa Stud, 74 Donnelly Road, Bywong, commencing 10.30am on Sunday 22nd November 2009.

The Combine invites you and your fellow pigeon fanciers to the auction/social day and acknowledges that, without your participation and the generous support of donors, this successful day would not be possible.

THE PIGEONS
Donors will provide good quality, untried at stock, young pigeons from successful families.  We will auction approximately 90 birds of at least the same high standard of previous years. We have been very pleased to hear from a number of earlier purchasers regarding successes that they have achieved with their acquisitions.

THE DONORS
In addition to having the continued support of existing donors we are pleased to report that pigeons will be provided for auction by the following successful fanciers many of whom are household names in the sport:
John van Beers, either in his own right or in partnership with the late Brian Barlow, has won a record 25 Victorian Homing Association federation races. That record was established in 2008 when he won both the 800km and 1000km events in addition to finishing second in the combined averages. John has won the following VHA averages – old bird (2) young bird (1) ten bird (1) and combined (6).These results can only have been achieved with pigeons of the highest calibre. John has started 2009 well with a win in the VHA young bird series.
Les Fenton has an outstanding record over many years being competitive from the first young bird race to the final old bird race. This is evidenced by his 22 VHA federation wins. Amongst Les’ many achievements are 1st young bird averages in 2005 and 2006 and 3rd in the 2008 combined averages. Les regards himself as a quiet achiever-with a record like this he doesn’t have to say too much as his pigeons do the talking for him. Les has commenced the current season in top form having won 3 VHA young bird races.
Peter Phillips is currently unable to race his well-credentialled pigeons due to health issues. He does, however, breed birds for several flyers who enjoy considerable success with them. Amongst these flyers is Les Fenton, many of whose successful young bird team originate from the Phillips stock loft. Peter continued to assist in 2009 by breeding Les a VHA federation young bird winner.
Jesse Egan has built an imposing record in a short time having won no less that 27 federation races in the Greater Melbourne Pigeon Federation in five years. In that time he has topped both the old bird and young bird aggregates on 3 occasions and has won the combined aggregate 3 times. In 2007 Jesse won the Railton (Tas.) National competing against flyers from the four major Victorian bodies and continued that form in 2008 winning three more federation races including the 1000km event. Outstanding results from outstanding pigeons.
The name Wettering has been synonymous with success in VHA racing for many years. In 2008 David Wettering continued the tradition in brilliant fashion finishing 1st Old Bird averages, 1st Sprint averages, 1st Combined averages and 3rd Long Distance averages. In 21 Old Bird events David’s leading pigeon was in the first thirty VHA placings on 20 occasions – nine times in the first ten including 1st fed. Railton(Tas.). The 21 events spanned distances from 230km to 1000km. Performances of this quality can only be attained with top echelon pigeons. David has started the new season where he left off by winning a VHA young bird race.
Andrew Spiliopoulos has won 11 VHA federation races and in the past eight years has won two young bird aggregates and two combined aggregates. A regular top 10 achiever in the aggregates, he had also been runner-up in the Old Bird aggregate on two occasions. Andrew recently won the coveted VHA Young Bird Derby.
Anyone checking the VHA race results over the past few years would have noticed the name Nick Lakiotis  featuring regularly. Although relatively new to the sport he has achieved a lot in a short time. Included in his successes are 2 VHA National wins competing against the four major Victorian bodies. Taking into account what he has done in a few years Nick should be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
D. (David) & S. Browne – This partnership has won a number of VHA federation races including a Produce race. 800km and 1000km events. One of the most consistent performers in the VHA particularly in races upwards of 700km where quality distance pigeons come to the fore.
G. (Glen) & E. Perry –Another successful partnership who have won 3 VHA Old Bird aggregates. To achieve this their pigeons must clearly be highly versatile as the Old Bird series encompasses distances from approx. 250km to 1000km. Have won many VHA federation races with the most recent being the testing 800km event in 2008.
John Floros has been a member of the Victorian Racing Pigeon Union for several years and in that time has set about accruing a quality group of Goodger/Pryor pigeons. The selection process was vindicated when, in 2007, he entered 3 birds to win the gruelling 1000km from Bookaloo competing against members of the four major Victorian federations. John subsequently confirmed this form in 2008 by finishing second in the VRPU aggregate points with some performances being;2nd 730km, 3rd 1000km, 3rd (15th National) 730km, 3rd 600km, 7th Tasmania (24th National).
Gary Ellicott has for some time been one of the Newcastle Coalfields Federation’s best fanciers being a regular top 10 finisher in the NCF averages, winning the Long Distance averages in 2004. Gary has enjoyed considerable success with pigeons purchased from Eddie Furze. In recent years he has won federation races from 130km to 1100km including wins from 1100km, 900km, and 800km.  An outstanding feat has been to breed the equal winner of the Hunter Classic one loft race on 3 occasions against quality Australia-wide entries.
Eddie Furze has long been regarded as a top class pigeon breeder on the Central Coast. He now races with Greg Crawley and this partnership has proven to be extremely successful being a permanent fixture in the federation top 10 each season. Eddie has bred in excess of 30 federation winners in the pas 15 years including 2 National winners for Greg Crawley and 5 NCF federation winners for Paul Callaghan. Eddie’s family of Janssen based birds has complemented the lofts of many flyers and is responsible for the Central Cumberland federation 2007 Young Bird Derby winner and the 2008 800km winner.

VIEWING OF PIGEONS
The birds will be displayed from 8.30am until the commencement of the auction at which time the display cages will be sealed.

THE AUCTIONEER
Alan Kerr has again kindly agreed to auction the birds in his entertaining and professional manner. To assist purchasers each lot will be displayed on a screen at the time of its sale.

FOOD AND DRINKS
Egg and Bacon Rolls until 10.00am, a BBQ lunch, cool drinks and beer will be available for purchase.
Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day.

ACCOMMODATION
We had an enjoyable pre-auction function on the Saturday evening last year and the standard of the accommodation was excellent.
Accordingly, we have booked the same venue the facilities of which are outlined in the enclosed brochure.
The hotel is conveniently located at the northern entrance to Canberra and also permits easy access to Ponderosa Stud. For those people coming from Sydney-continue along the Federal Highway which becomes Northbourne Ave after the Barton Highway T junction. For those arriving via Barton Highway merely turn right into Northbourne Ave at the T junction. The venue is Quality Hotel Dickson at the corner of Badham and Cape St Dickson.
The Tradies Club is attached to the hotel. There are numerous restaurants and places of interest nearby. Undercover parking is provided.
MOST IMPORTANTLY-The Hotel has set aside until October 31st a block of rooms for the evenings of Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, and Sunday 22nd November 2009.
They have set a fixed rate of $135 per standard room per night.  The rooms are spacious and of a good standard. The Hotel has rooms that will accommodate four adults at a similar price.
People wishing to utilise this accommodation should advise Peter D’Arcy (02) 62382801 NO LATER THAT OCTOBER 31ST.
The bookings then will be relayed to our contact at the Hotel.  We have made the date of booking confirmation as late as possible in order that people can be sure of their availability to attend.

SATURDAY EVENING MEAL
We have arranged for the function rooms to be set aside for pigeon guests to enjoy the Saturday evening meal. We have been assured that a buffet/smorgasbord meal will be provided to meet our expectations at approximately $40 per head. A temporary bar will be available.
Please confirm your attendance at the Saturday night function with Peter by no later than October 31st.
During the evening prizes will be presented to the section/overall winners of the Country 5 Bird National.

CHARITY AUCTION
A yearling hen, generously donated by John Van Beers, will be auctioned prior to the commencement of the Sunday Auction with proceeds being donated to the McGrath Foundation. John describes her as “probably the best hen he raced in 2008” racing 5 times gaining two VHA Federation placings in testing races when returns were very poor. 13th Parkes Produce 600Km – 3074 birds,
15th Coonamble 840km – 817 birds. The Combine acknowledges John’s ready support when asked to assist.

PONDEROSA STUD PIGEONS
George will be happy to conduct a tour of the stud and have pigeons available for purchase. Should anyone have a request for a specific pigeon George will be happy to attend to this at the end of the auction.

PARKES SINGLE LOFT RACE
At the time of writing the Parkes club had still not resolved the format for their 2010 race. Information regarding the race will be forwarded with catalogues. Members of the Parkes club will be present on 22nd November to accept pigeons nominated for their race.

CATALOGUE
We expect that it will be ready for posting around October 23rd giving you about four weeks to work your way through it.
Once again we look forward to your company over this weekend and cordially invite you to attend. 

Best Wishes
Peter D’Arcy (02) 62382801      Robert Sigismundi (02) 62588885 (M) 0408487695
Auction Committee Members