A Frizington pigeon fancier has been celebrating a top performance at the RPRA’s Show of the Year in Blackpool.
John Barnes won the Supreme Champion award with a two-year-old red hen he had bred himself.
Because the 2023 show was cancelled last January there were two shows in one this year. It was the 2023 top award that went to the West Cumbrian fancier.
“As soon as I bred this particular pigeon I knew she was going to be a good one.
“As a young bird she won the four shows I entered her in and as a yearling was best in show at Birmingham.
“Being awarded Supreme Champion in Blackpool is the highlight of my time in the fancy,” he says.
John had started racing pigeons in the Frizington club and the highlight was topping the West Cumberland Federation from Fareham in the 1980s.
It was not until 2006 that he was encouraged to try the showing side of the sport by a prominent and successful West Cumbrian show man in Alan Spedding.
“Alan got me interested and later when he packed in I bought a lot of his stock. He still comes up and gives me a bit of advice, especially on pairing the birds.
“I didn’t exhibit in the top shows until I had got a decent team together and had my first two winners in 2016 at Blackpool,” he says.
He keeps about 30 pairs of birds and as well as advice from Alan on mating, acknowledges the tips from Irish friend Timmy McWhinney on conditioning the birds.
