Nenad has won 3 SAHPA races. Young in 1979, Benalla 1987and Little Topar 1994.

He came from a non pigeon flying background but becameinterested through a classmate at school, Kevin Shinkfield, who was racing in junior competition at the time. "I use to ride my bike around to Shinkfield's to watch him clock. Then I’d ride around to the senior flyers places to find out what time they clocked.

 "It wasn't long before Nenad decided Matthewswas "his man". He'd visit Wally's on Saturday towait for birds, then on Sunday to clean his loftout. Wally would also take Nenad with him when tossing birds. Consequently Nenad's first birdscame from the Matthews loft, and he commenced racing pigeons in 1966 at the age of 12 years, asa member of the Hampstead Juniors.

Thecompetition was very strong at the time as therewere around 15-20 junior members and 30-40 seniors. Nenad stopped flying in 1969 beforere commencing with the North Suburban club in1972 and finally rejoining the Hampstead club in 1993.He has missed about five years flying in between 1972 and now, mainly through his involvement with greyhounds. This involvement began in the early 1970's when aworkmate brought him into a syndicate which raced dogsincluding one "Safe and Easy" which won 36 races includingthe Port Pirie Cup.

Nenad dispersed his pigeons in 1983 and took up traininggreyhounds himself for a syndicate, with as he puts it, "nosuccess and a lot of expense".He recommenced racing pigeons in 1986 but still retained aninterest in greyhounds which saw him part own "Robin'sHelper", a very successful dog which won a lot of races and about $18,000 in a short career which included victory in the Gawler Derby. "Robin's Helper" is now at stud and Nenad is watching the progress of his progeny with interest. Nenad is married and has five daughters, "I only believe inhens", and whilst the family is interested and will help out ifasked, they are not pushed.that WallyWhen I asked Nenad what was his biggest thrill in pigeon racing, he nominated three. "Without doubt the three Association winners".

In the 1979 Young race he sent 15 pigeons and took 6 SAHPApositions including 1st and 8th. If he had clocked his first ten  birds he would have taken all ten positions in the club.In the 1987 Benalla race there were no birds on the day but it was felt that they would be very close. Nenad was veryconfident of getting one in the dark and was sitting waitingwith the lights turned on when at 8.30pm he saw a bird land.Blue Bar Pied Hen SA92 36567 1st SAHPA Juniors Little Topar Open1994 35 flyers, 140 birds. Arrived with 1st SAHPA Topar in theseniors. Distance 481.578km, time 8hr.20min.23sec. Velocity962.418mpm.

Sire: son of Nenad's Wovie Star"

Dam: daughter of Tony Turner's Woney Bags".

He ended up winning what turned out to be a very hard race.In the 1994 first Little Topar race Nenad landed two birdstogether, one was his and one belonged to his daughter Lauren who was competing in the SAHPA juniors.

Nenad won 1st SAHPA in the seniors whilst Lauren won 1st SAHPA in thejuniors. Lauren's velocity would have placed her second to her father in the seniors.

RACE TEAM
Nenad has around 230 birds in the loft just after breeding around 30 of which will be old birds, and 60-70 will be cocks.This number however is culled heavily and regularly. Nenad willcull all year round and at any stage of a birds life.The sexes are kept together and flown to the perch only, however if a few birds should mate up these will be left together.Old birds are flown to win the short races as well as the longones. "Old hens are generally raced every fortnight in the club races but I will use my discretion".

Cocks are raced every fortnight if possible, whilst young birdsare raced once a month.Young birds will fly the whole program if going well, however ifthey are performing moderately, a good number will be put asidefor next year. As an example of this, Nenad stopped 50 babiesearly in 1992. These birds were a major factor in Nenad winning the club points in Hampstead in 1993.When selecting birds to compete in 3 bird races, Nenad will usea variety of indicators regarding fitness. These include bright eyes, good feather sheen, white wattle, dampness around nostril, pink throat, open cleft in mouth and sharp reflexes when a birds wing is opened up.The loft is cleaned twice a day starting two months before racing season.The loft is also sprayed with Malawash once a year, and youngsters are dipped in Malawash before being placed intothe flying loft

TRAINING
Tossing starts one month before the first race. "I like them to be flying well around the loft for about a month before I start tossing".The first toss is Dublin and they'll get three in three days beforea few days off. The next stage is Port Wakefield where this scenario is repeated (three in three days) before moving on to Bute or the equivalent distance for one toss, then back to Port Wakefield.

During the race season Nenad will give his birds a long toss on the Saturday, backed up immediately by a shorter toss on theSunday.This pattern continues up to the Derbies, from then a toss of approximately two hours is given on a Saturday, then, work permitting, short tosses in the late.afternoon are given as often as possible. Birds are flown around the loft for three quarters of an hour and are flagged if necessary. They are tossed in any direction. The birds are given open loft and bath once a week. Condes Crystals and cooking salt is added to their bath water. Nenad has found that half a box of Epsom Salts to 8 or 10 litres of drinking water seems to pick the birds up. if they are not 'doing well". It is also excellent for relieving muscle soreness when given in their bath water.

FEEDING
During breeding season birds are fed a mix of peas maize, a small amount of wheat, small seed and milo.For early racing up to the Derby, a mix of 4 parts peas, 1 partwheat, 1 part barley and 1/4 canary mix if fed. After the derbies  the wheat is cut down to 1/4, barley to 1/4, peas and canary mixremains the same and 1 part maize is added. "The longer they go the more maize they get". Stock birds during winter are fed wheat, barley and peas Silverbeet and spinach is given to the birds once a week during the breeding season. No greens are given during racing.

VITAMINS AND MEDICATION
Ornithon is used from the Derby onwards and cod live oil is mixed with the grain twice a week. Nenad doesn' strictly measure the vitamins as he believes the birds wi only take inwhat they need and will reject the rest.Dynamutilin and Flagyll tablets are the only medication used. Nenad hasn't wormed his birds for several year "I can't say enough about the benefits of Flagyll tablets They'll fix anything. A 1/2 tablet is very potent for canker. Dynamutilin has been found to be an excellent cure for any respiratory trouble the birds might have. Nenad will treat a sick bird once and if it shows no sign of improvement it will be disposed of.

BREEDING
"I like to pair up in late October to early November. Anything up to 55 pairs are likely to be put down. "I us to believe in eyesign, but now I just like a good coloured but I won't breed to it. I breed performance to performancean pedigree to pedigree".Nenad likes to inbreed for stock and outcross for racing. He also likes to vary his matings as he says he has neve hadsuccess with birds paired the same in successiv years.Nenad's loft these days consists mainly of birds from thbloodlines of Alvin Richardson, Bob Rust, Terr Underdownand Peter Matthews. As with most to flyers, Nenad has had a few top stock birds dominate hi loft.A hen from Alvin Richardson bred 16 SAHPA place matedwith 5 or 6 different cocks. A violet eyed he purchased fromStan Ferguson's sale in 1977 bred man winners and outstanding stock birds including "Movi Star", grandsire of 5SAHPA winners.Another top producer for Nenad and others has been th"Broken Wing" hen. "She has bred success generation aftgeneration and has never thrown a dud". The broken win he nis Rust x W Matthews bloodlines. Nenad is always on the lookout for new pigeons to t but is yet to take up the import option. "No. It's har enough to sort outyour own birds let alone importing them Importing pigeonswas a big mistake, the cost of buying an pigeons has skyrocketed because of inflated prices being as for imports. I can't fault the type of the imports but I won have them. "

LOFT REPORT
Jim Ferguson - Tea Tree Gully Club
For several years now, 1 have endeavoured to coax a reluctantand very modest Jim Ferguson of Tea Tree Gully club, intoproviding me with information for a loft report. Imagine mydelight when at our club sires produce sale on Saturday last,Jim handed me an envelope with the basis for a loft report. Ofcourse 1 have added a few bits and pieces to complete thepicture of one of our senior association members who has added significantly to our sport.

Let me start by saying that jim, as we understand, is severalyears older than brother Stan. In the thirteen years I've beenassociated with the Tea Tree Gully club, 1 don't ever recall Jim actually telling anyone his precise age but he has certainlybeen the "old man" of the club as long as anyone can remember.

Most in the sport in South Australia at least will be familiarwith the Ferguson name. Indeed my own early years in the sport in the sixties were shaped to some degree by Stan Ferguson and his early night flying success, which at the time was something to really fire the imagination. Any wonder then that I am going to start this report about brother Jim by talking about what must be one of the best night flying pigeons everto fly into Adelaide. Jim's mealy hen is often talked about byclub members in the know who can remember her. This remarkable pigeon was clocked at 12.07am from Coober Pedyin 1986,10.37pm from Mt Willoughby in 1987 and remarkably,11.53pm from Coober Pedy in 1988! This great hen was placednumerous times at club, group and association level and has certainly left her mark in the Tea Tree Gully pigeon lore! I understand her parents are still breeding for jim and have left other top pigeons.

After waiting this long Jimmy I am certainly not going to spareyou I'm afraid! Jim as I have said is affectionately seen as theclub senior, with many a youngster having to work hard to gainhis respect, and I don't just mean the juniors! jim has certainlybeen a club stalwart through some difficult times and thosewho have known him since he started at "The Gully", as well as those newer flyers in the club have recognised him as being toTea Tree Gully club What Wally Miller is to the Norwood footy club or Fos Williams to Port. Although Jim has stated that 1996will almost certainly be his last in the sport, 1 am certain that hisdedication to the sport and the club will carry him on again inthe same way it has for the last few seasons of failing health, Which jim and his wife Mabel have unfortunately suffered. In fact, Sean Relin has a way to go if he is to ever catch up with Jim in his remarkable capacity to overcome the odds and return for yet another year of challenging the younger flyers!

Jim commenced in the sport in 1964 and flew with the oldMagill club with success for a number of years. In 1982 Jimand Mabel moved to their present home in Modbury North and jim commenced racing in the Tea TreeGully club that year. As long as I can remember, Jim has been aflyer to watch for in the club. just when you feel his birds havehad their run for the year or maybe out of form (he has usually won a couple by this stage), jim will bob up and win again.Never one to focus on the extremes of distance, Jim has specialised in short and middle distance flying with significantsuccess at all levels of competition.

His birds are alwaysr emarkably well presented and a credit to him and I am suremost club members could pick a Ferguson stray in their lofts inseconds, such is the type of pigeon he has cultivated and the condition they are always in.

Jim's birds originate from several sources as is the norm He used some of brother Stan's, being Clay Barker and Smuts'with Barker from Harry Schultz and two birds from Bill Verco.Quite recently, Jim has introduced some Janssen blood in an endeavour to keep them quick. (Jim has just won his secondclub race in a row!)

Jim's loft is 22 feet long, 6 feet 6 high and 7feet deep.Back, roof and half of each side is galvanised iron withthe remainder wire. The floor is earth covered in sandand shell grit. Jim uses 12 inch box perches soovercrowding is pretty much impossible.

The loft is setup with an ordinary house alarm as a warning device.Jim says it rigs pretty loud around midnight!
Training is pretty simple, with two from St.Kilda before onenorth of Gawler and then on to the units for nearly all otherwork. Jim believes in two tosses per week up until the derbiesand less after.jim starts with about 65 birds, 25 of them old hens. In 1984 after he went all but blind, Jim put his reds on the north andblues on the south. He pretty much sticks to this today even though his sight has improved, and this is always good for a laugh or two down at the club.

When racing, Jim feeds three parts peas and one of wheat,with small amounts of linseed, milo and maize. The maize is used largely as a trapping incentive. Breeding birds are fed three peas and one wheat, with 50/50 during the off season .Lettuce and spinach are available to all birds all year round. Jim uses a breaking cage for his youngsters which he leavesup for a week before opening one side to allow the youngbirds their freedom.
Jim prefers to race his pigeons monthly, and he has generallyhad his best results this way, but he is not averse to flying them on a fortnight or six weeks from time to time. He prefers two lines of flight along the lines of this season, and although he says this is almost certainly his last year as age is certainlycatching up with him, some of us expect him to front up next year as he has every other!

Jim's wife Mabel has been a great help to him over the yearsbut her health is also failing in recent years and has not beenable to help Jim out when he has been hospitalised as she has traditionally done. Jim says the lofts are always cleaner and the birds fitter when he comes home after a stint at the Modbury hospital! Jim has given away many pigeons to new flyers over the years and says that the best advice he can give is for new flyers to obtain three or four good quality pairs from a good local flyer, breed some young and train them only for the first year, using the local toss units. In this way, experience can be gained without the harsh disappointment suffered by many first year flyers. When I asked Jim for any further words of wisdom, he quickly replied that the best thing that could happen would be for the Association to introduce a ten bird limit for all races. He  firmly believes that we would end up with better birds, more leisure time, more money, more even competition, cheaper transport ona smaller unit and ultimately, more members. He believes that ifwe don't do it, the councils will do it for us before long. Finally, Jim says he has made some great friends in the pigeon world, and had many good times when the clocks go in. Heasked me to wish all pigeon flyers and their families all the best for the season and future years, with faster pigeons and the best of health!

1900-1996
L.A.G. (Boysie) PITT
The South Australian Homing Pigeon Association's Patron, Boysie Pitt, passed away in his 96th year on Thursday 21st June 1996. He was the oldest competing fancier in the SAHPA.

Over Boysie's long racing career he has won four SAHPA races and in 1965 he won the SAHPA Aggregate points. In addition he has won over ten young bird derbies at club level.

In his long life time, Boysie served his community in th district in which he resided as an Alderman on the Payneham Council,  undefeated for 35 years. Boysie retired from this position in 1991 and, for his services, the Payneham Council presented him with the Key to  the City of Payneham, an award he treasured proudly. In 1992 Boysie was also awarded the title of Citizen of the Year in the Payneham  District and was also known for his service as a Justice of the Peace.

Boysie started his working life in a market garden at the age of 13, his ambition was to become a carpenter and this opportunity presented itself when he was 16 when he was offered an apprenticeship by Arthur Hubbard. After serving his apprenticeship Boysie was employed by W Cook & Son and this builder is still in operation today.

In later years he purchased a milk round in the district and worked it to the age of 70 when he retired.

Only 12 months after retiring Boysie lost his wife to cancer.

Boysie leaves behind his daughter Marge and she has been a real comfort to her father over many years.

Boysie revealed to me many times that "Marge was worth her weight in gold".

Finally, two of Boysie's favourite hobbies were racing pigeons and, last but not least, his vegetable garden. He lived for and loved greatly his vegie garden and he received great pleasure in giving away the vegetables he grew to his friends.

    Farewell Boysie . . .
    LARRY MAYNE.

The "new" Airsac Disease
Dear Alan, I enclose the article on the new airsac diseasefor your magazine. Alsoincluded is the pre-breeding season program which can be included atthis time which is the appropriate time, or next issue if you believe itis too early for South Australian breeding.I have decided to write for the SA magazine and the WA magazine rather than the Melbourne Magazine, so will supply you with articles on a regular basis. Please remember the articles are my property and as such are copyright to me, ie no other magazines, books can use the content in these articles without my prior permission. The reason for this request, is that the content of the articles are my original thoughts and remain my intellectual property. I have been caught out previously and therefore do not want anyone to benefit professionally or financially from my work anymore.Also I can offer my services to look after the health of the SA $10,000 race which operates on the same lines as the Newcastle Classic. I have been looking after the health of the Newcastle Classic for more than 5 years (it may be 9 years). I check the droppings regularly at no chargeand advise on a medication program. There are significant health challenges in such a loft where many birds from differing situations are being introduced together. I can provide the medicines at a reduced rate (10% off and donate 5 Dr. Stam books as prizes. The Newcastle Classic has been extremely pleased with the health of their flock in the past. Perhaps you can phone Mr. Ham for his opinions onhealth matters with the Newcastle Classic. All the best , ROB MARSHALL

My mission as Health Officer is to inform every fancier of thelatest advances in health matters pertaining to racingpigeons. My principle responsibility is the welfare of thepigeon that is to be sent to the race. Pigeons that are not100% healthy are less likely to return from a race because all illnesses lower the fitness level of the competing pigeon. As well, many illnesses affect the ability of the pigeon to homesuccessfully. It is therefore vitally important for you to beable to recognise illness in your flocks. However, someillnesses are difficult to recognise, even for the most experienced fanciers. One such illness is the "new" airsacdisease which 1 will discuss in this article.

The "new" airsac disease infects the race team very quicklyand before any signs of a real health problem are visible, thefancier experiences heavy losses and very poor results froma team which has been performing well. This disease iscaught from infected birds in the race basket and for this reason I refer to it as a race basket disease. The disease infects the flocks of even the best managed lofts and both old Australian families of birds as well as the less resistant recent imported European families.

The problem with the "new" airsac disease is that it is very difficult to detect in its early stages, because it is essentiallya disease of the airsacs alone. An understanding of what theairsacs do is therefore necessary if we are to totally understand this perplexing disease.

The airsacs are a major part of the reason why our thoroughbred racing pigeons can fly at top speed for up to 18hours at a time without resting. They act like a bellows which pumps oxygen into the lungs. Remarkably, the oxygen can enter the circulation both during inhalation (breathing in) andexhalation (breathing out), thereby fuelling the muscles with oxygen continuously. The process differs to that seen in animals (e.g. human athletes, racing greyhounds or thoroughbred race horses) where the oxygen "fuel" is delivered to the blood only during inhaling (i.e. breathing in).In the racing pigeon oxygen is delivered to the body bothduring inhaling anc exhaling via the actions of the airsacs.The airsacs therefore provide the key to top performance inracing pigeons. An) damage or disease to the airsac lowersracing performance.

Any disease of the airsac diminishes the racing pigeon'sabilit~ to race. The muscles of the bird with airsac diseasetire quicki~ because of the decreased levels of oxygenreaching them and also because the removal of the working muscle waste products becomes inefficient. The build up ofthe waste products in the muscles, which has come aboutbecause the airsacs are not functioning properly causesmuscle cramping of what we refer to as "tying up". We can compare the "tying up" of the muscle to an engine which ceases when the oil is not replaced. The racing pigeon with airsac disease has muscle, which may cramp during a race and when this happens the birc can no longer fly. The result is heavy losses and slow birds.

We, as fanciers, can recognise cramping or "tying up" by feelin( ahardness (knotting) of the breast muscles (pectorals) as the) passalong the keel bone. We also know that this hardness or "tying up" is painful and sore, and because it is the same cramping which wehave all experienced ourselves at one time or other. Cramping canobviously occur in the healthy pigeor during the process of trainingfor race fitness and we have al noticed this in our birds. The challenge for us is to distinguist the cramping associated with poor fitness levels from the cramping which occurs because of the "new"airsac disease Birds with hard "crampy" muscles must not be sent to the race irrespective of the cause of the cramping, but the following notes will help you determine the cause of the cramping, so that the appropriate remedy can be initiated as quickly as possible.

Airsac disease has been in pigeons for many years, but this "new" form of the airsac disease is perplexing both experienced and inexperienced fanciers.The "new" form of airsac disease not only affects the airsacs but also affects the bowel and othe body systems. It was first noticed in the South Coast Federation of N.S.W.in 1994, and later that year recognised in the Sydne, Federations. In1995, the disease had reached Melbourne Brisbane and Perth. In1996 it has been recognised ii Adelaide.In the early stages the "new" form of the airsac disease is very difficult to detect. All that the fancier may experience is suddei heavylosses and poor results (l/2 - 1 hour behind leadin, clock). Theproblem may arise very quickly, so that the flye may win well oneweek and the next week be behind witl heavy losses. Subsequent weeks give no joy with further heav losses and very poor raceresults. The birds will still look very good in the well managed flock loft, fly well and even toss wel but when it comes to the race there are heavy losses.

Handling is the key to recognising this disease. You must feel and lookat the pectoral (breast) muscles. The earliest signs of the disease arefound in the subtle muscle changes which occur, but even the besthandlers can experience difficulties picking up these changes. As well, handle the birds in the early morning to determine how quickly the crop is emptying. The best fanciers pick up most illnessesby observing the behaviour of their flock and constant observation is vital to the continuing health of the race team and especially for the early detection of this disease.

The observant and informed fancier can protect his/her flock from heavy losses by looking for the following early signs of this disease. The microscopic examination of the droppings can confirm the presence of this illness even in its very earliest stages. Send the droppings express mail to me if you feel there is a problem.

SIGNS OF THE VEW" AIRSAC DISEASE
DELAYED CROP EMPTYING
The new form of the airsac disease infects the food pipe and a common first sign of infection is a crop which fails to empty overnight.Some birds may even vomit overnight. The fancier needs to check the perches for vomited seed before sunlight, after which time the birdswill re-ingest the vomited grains. Delayed crop emptying is a sign thatthe bird is "not right and such birds should not be sent to the race anyway. Certainly you will not clock such birds.

INCREASED THIRST
One of the earliest signs of this disease is an increased thirst afterexercise. This reflects a lowered fitness level and also a malfunctioning airsac system. The airsacs play a vital role in water conservation in the pigeon.Look for a sudden increase in thirst in the flock. After a toss or racecheek if the birds go to feed or to water first. Check with your fellow fanciers if their returning race or toss birds went to water first aswell. If not then you've got a problem. Look for the change in drinking habits. As well, check the level of the drinking container and the droppings after exercise. If the droppings are well formed before exercise (in the early morning) and then become watery after exercise (in the afternoon) then a fitness problem exists. If you experience this, then look for the other signs of "airsac*problems or submit a dropping for analysis.

MUSCLE CHANGES
(Colour change, cramping) The Pectoral muscles of pigeons with airsac disease turns from rosepink to blue. This reflects the decreased ability of the airsac to provideoxygen to the working muscle. My opinion is that any bird with a bluishmuscle should not be sent to the race irrespective of the cause of theblue muscle. The fit, healthy pigeon has a rose pink pectoral muscle.The muscle becomes hard along the length of the keel bone in birdswith airsac disease-This is actually "tying up" or the aftermath of cramping. Birds with muscles like this must not be sent to the race,irrespective of the cause of the cramping. Birds with airsac disease fail to ,blow out". The muscle "deflates"along the borders of the keel bone and fanciers find it difficult to blowout the muscle with methods which have worked well in the past. This phenomenon is described in detail in the 1995 "Superhealth" video. The keel of the healthy fit pigeon should be white rather than pink. Thepink keel is seen in birds with airsac disease.

 EYE CHANGES
The sparkle in the eye of the fit healthy pigeon suddenly disappearswhen it becomes infected with the "new" airsac disease. Thisdisease causes a fever in its early stages and I feel this is the cause of the dull eyes. A slow blink develops as well.

 POOR LOFT FLYING
Suddenly the race team with "airsac" disease will not want to leave the loft to exercise. Instead of exploding out of the loft, the team needs to be pushed out for exercise. The flock "floats" rather thanflying with vigour and birds will start to land in trees or on roofs withtheir mouths gaping. Birds may even be seen flying with their mouths open. This is a more advanced stage of the airsac disease and other diseases may have entered the loft because of the lowered health ofthe flock. Recovery in such flocks will be complicated and moreprolonged than in the flock which is identified and treated early.

POOR TOSSING TIMES
Suddenly tossing times will be slow because the team will not leavethe toss point quickly and will not be able to race home. You may notice fatigue and excessive thirst in the returning birds. The flock willfail to recover quickly from a hard toss or fail to benefit from a long "hitout" toss. There will be no noisy, boisterous cocks, or diving andducking or victory rolls when the birds reach home, instead the birdswill "float" in and look fatigued even after a short training flight. The birds may not go to food at all for several minutes whilst they recover from the exertion of the toss.

DROPPING CHANGES (WATERY, GREEN)
At first there is no change in the dropping consistency. Then the droppings become watery after exercise due to increased thirst and then turn green and mushy as other diseases infect the weakened, fatigued birds.

FEATHER CHANGES (NO BLOOM, DRY)
The feather suddenly loses its bloom and becomes "sticky" and dry.In the very early stages of the disease "dirty" tails will start appearing in a seemingly fit and healthy flock. The fancier is usually very confused by the dirty tails, because he feels the race team are doing pretty well. Then suddenly bad things start happening. Take heed ofthe early signs!

HEAVY LOSSES (RACES AND TOSSES)
Often heavy race losses are the first indication of a health problem tothe fancier. Once these are seen then it is best to identify the causeand treat. Sometimes it is wise to miss a race so that a complete course of treatment is possible

TREATMENT OF THE "NEW"AIRSAC DISEASE
During the South Coast outbreak of 1994 1 developed a newmedication specifically designed to treat the "new" airsac disease because the normal medicines were not effective. The length of timeand dosage varies from loft to loft and it is best to phone me for advice concerning initial treatment and follow up preventative medicine. For all SAHPA, W12F, Nepean Fed. IPFIF members and my personalclients, consult my medicine book for special instructions regarding the treatment of this disease.Please phone me with any questions you may have concerning this disease.