Profile on Nigel Solly - Apr 1997

Nigel Solly

13 Fordlands

Moretonhampstead

South Devon

TQ13 8LR

Tel No. 01647 440536

Catering For West of England Tumblers,

Exhibition and Flying Tipplers,

Exhibition  and Flying Rollers

National Federation

THE FEDERATION WESTERLY PROFILE

Fancier – Nigel Solly

Location – Moretonhampstead, Devon

Nigel and his good lady Kim live in a beautiful part of the country ‑a picture postcard area surrounded by countryside. Nigel has certainly had his fair share of top honours at some very prestigious flying breed shows. He is a highly respected West and Tippler judge.

Whilst visiting Nigel I asked him the following questions:

Q. How long have you kept pigeons?

A. Twenty years; I started showing my birds in 1983, with show stock bred from Freddie Squires' bloodline of Show Tipplers.

Q. What breeds did you start with?

A. Flying Tipplers, just bred and flown for pleasure.

Q. What breeds have you kept through the years?

A. Flying Tipplers, Show Tipplers and West of England Tumblers.

Q. What breeds do you keep now, what colours and how many?

A. Ten Show Tipplers in silver and twenty‑four West of England in silver, blue and black.

Q. What do you look for in your birds?

A. In my Tipplers I first look for a good body structure and good type, of course. As a flying breed they should carry good feather, a pearl eye is desirable, but the correct expression is a must. In my West’s, much the same as the Tipplers in structure and feather although the West is smaller bodied generally with a totally different expression and should carry a pearl or white eye.

Q. What size is your present loft?

A. 18 ft long, 5.5 ft high and 10 ft deep split into three 6 ft x 10 ft compartments all with very good light and ventilation.

Q. How many pairs will you be breeding from this season and how many youngsters do you intend to breed?

A. Hopefully, about twenty‑five West’s and ten to fifteen Tipplers. Obvious selections I always make before ringing, other selections are made as the birds mature.

Q. What are your future aims?

A. To continually improve my stud by selective breeding within my own bloodlines and the occasional outcross to an outside bloodline possessing a quality I want to introduce.

Q. Have you any comments or views on the Fancy in general?

A. I enjoy showing under various judges, both fancy and flying, and respect their opinions. Fanciers should voice their opinions on the birds with the appropriate officials at the shows. I do not agree with birds placed for best of section carrying faults that should have been previously noticed by the section judge; this puts the judge's ability to judge in doubt! Birds should ne. be put forward for best of section carrying many faults, winning c, body condition alone. A bird should be faultless to win best of section. It is good to see fancy judges judging our flying breeds, to experience the general condition and handling properties of fit flyers. It is great when partners get involved with the birds; Kim is a real help with my birds and is very much involved with the Fancy itself.

Q. What advice have you for novices in the flying breeds?

A. Never take advice from just one fancier; listen and learn. Try to obtain your stock from no more than two successful fanciers. Keep a small breeding stock and study the results; be patient, success doesn't happen overnight. Try to win with your own stock, not with the birds you have brought in. Learn and realise the value of stock birds. Don't be disappointed with one judge's opinion shown in show placings. Don't be disheartened when you do take a knock‑back with a bird you see as one of your best ‑ all the top flying men experience the knock­ back sometimes ‑ by all means, talk to the judge, ask him why? Then listen and learn. Fanciers should never be afraid to ask advice of more experienced fanciers and judges.

I would like to thank Nigel and Kim and hopefully I can find another victim for my next Westerly Profile ‑ so watch out you flying men!

Best of luck for the breeding season to you all.

IAN JOHNSON