Once in a lifetime pigeons are simply that !  SA 76 51397 BCPH (see front cover) is one such pigeon who certainly fits this description.  51397 was bred and raced by Grant Paterson of Hampstead club, as a racebird she was clocked on 3 ocassions and placed 2nd Club Mittyack, however as a breeder she was nothing short of sensational.

When Con Moukas purchased SA 76 51397 BCPH (REF B in Grant Paterson’s 1983 sale) he probably could only dream of what his expectations for this hen could be.  After all, she was a Reference pigeon, bred by Grant Paterson she contained the bloodlines of Grant’s cousin the famous Allen Goodger.  51397 had already been a top producer for Grant, having bred 4th, 10th & 15th SAHPA Mitiamo (550 km) and 14th SAHPA Ceduna (550 km) in her first few years in stock.  Her success as a granddam was also becoming evident with a 4th SAHPA Little Topar (485 km), 29th SAHPA Nullarbor (820 km) and 2nd club from Poochera & Pinnaroo up to the time of the sale.

51397 BCPH was sired by Lot 21 in Allen Goodgers sale, who was a son of 2nd SAHPA Oodnodatta (REF B A Goodger’s sale) a grand daughter of the famous Elliot hen.  Her dam was 16th SAHPA Finke (1100 km) for Grant Paterson and was sired by a brother to 1st SAHPA Cook (900 km) for A Goodger.  Con Moukas initial outlay of $500 for the hen was immediately justified with the hen being an instant success for Con as she was for her previous owner Grant Paterson.  A son SA 81 273 RCPC also purchased by Con Moukas was producing also, as was his brother SA 81 202 RCC purchased by Ron & Graham Eitzen.  Another son SA 79 84 BBPC also turned out to be the No 1 Stock cock for Caird & Myers (West Torrens club).  Con was winning numerous races also with a large percentage coming down from this hen.

One of the key factors in the life story of 51397 BCPH occurred in the 1986 breeding season.  After she had already produced with many different cocks, she was loaned to one of Con’s clubmates at the time a Mr John Pryor to mate to his stock cock SA 82 11829 BCC (who later turned out to be his No 1 Cock).  11829 is also off the Goodger pigeons, being a direct son of Lots 53 & 60 in Allen Goodger’s sale.  Con Moukas and John Pryor went halves in the youngsters produced, and from this pairing many outstanding producers have evolved.  One son SA 86 24469 BBC, owned by J Pryor was kept for stock and immediately produced 6th SAHPA Mt Willoughby (890 Km).  The 6th Mt Willoughby cock in turn immediately produced 1st SAHPA Emmdale (630 km).  The 6th Mt Willoughby cock was sold to The Netherlands in 1990 and produced a national position and is the Great grandsire of 4th National Bergerac in 1999.  SA 86 24469 BBC over time has produced 17 SAHPA places for John Pryor including 1st SAHPA Morundah 1993 (710 km), 7th SAHPA Temora (820 km) and 8th SAHPA Booroorban (560 km) etc.

The 1st SAHPA Morundah hen (SA 91 16453 BBH) was also placed 25th SAHPA Temora 2 weeks prior to winning Morundah and immediately proved herself as being a top producer.  She has produced 4th, 19th & 26th SAHPA Marla (1000km), 18th SAHPA Temora (820 km) and 6th & 11th SAHPA Alice Springs 1996 & 1998 (1320 km).  The 6th & 11th Alice Springs hen has since produced 1st SAHPA Cooberpedy (740 km) 1999, clocked at 10:37 pm being the only bird on the day.  The Cooberpedy winner herself placed twice previously being a 15th SAHPA Booroorban Spec. and 22nd SAHPA Springhurst 1998.  The Morundah winner was rated by John Pryor as his top hen not only as a dam of top pigeons, but also as a grand dam she has been phenomenal.  Three of her sons (full brothers) produced 1st, 2nd & 3rd SAHPA Coleambally No 2 1997 in one race.  The Coleambally No 2 winner was also previously placed 9th SAHPA Farina, 22nd SAHPA Temora and 1st Club Hattah (fastest state) and won the Hampstead club Bird of the Year in 1997.  The Coleambally No 2 winner also produced John’s 1st SAHPA Hamilton Special in 1999.  Another grandson of the Morundah winner produced 1st SAHPA Coleambally No 1 in 1997.  There are too many other places in the Top 30 in SAHPA racing to list.

Another outstanding producer which came from the John Pryor No 1 cock/51397 mating has been SA 86 24405 BBPC owned by Con Moukas.  He has been responsible for Con’s 1st SAHPA Cobar, 8th SAHPA Alice Springs, 9th & 15th SAHPA Booroorban Derby (560 km) and others.  However, his children and grandchildren particularly when mated to his sister SA 86 24468 BCPH (dam of 13th SAHPA Alice Springs) have been nothing short of remarkable.  A son of the brother/sister mating was the sire of SA 94 49721 BBPC who is the sire of 21 SAHPA places in 3 seasons for Con.  Incidently 49721 is a direct son of Con’s Cobar winner (daughter of 24405).  49721 has produced 1st SAHPA Alice Springs 1997 and 1st SAHPA Farina Sires Produce 1997 ($3000 winner), he is a grandson of 51397 BCPH.  Other high placings Con has achieved down from her include 1st & 2nd SAHPA Farina Sires Produce 1992 (only 2 entered), 2nd SAHPA Farina Derby with over 9000 entries, 2nd, 4th & 21st SAHPA Booroorban Derby, 3rd SAHPA Cooberpedy and 4th SAHPA Mt Willoughby and Cooberpedy.

TWO CHAMPION CHILDREN OF THE J PRYOR NO 1 COCK & SA 76 51397
SA 86 24405 BBPC                                                                        SA 86 24468 BCPH

Another champion grand daughter of SA 86 24405 is SA 91 7639 BCH bred by C Moukas, the SAHPA bird of the year in 1993.  7639 gained 2nd SAHPA Temora and 2nd SAHPA Morundah within a fortnight with only a handful of birds hom on the day each time.  7639 is also establishing herself as a fine dam and grand dam of good performers also.
SA 91 7639 BCH –SAHPA BIRD OF THE YEAR 1993

Grant Paterson the breeder and original owner of 51397 BCPH was fortunate enough to obtain a cock from the J Pryor Cock X 51397 mating at an auction sale of Con Moukas pigeons.  This cock rung PTL 84 1062 BCPC (86) has like his other brothers and sisters been a truly wonderful pigeon for Grant.  1062 is the sire of 2nd & 4th SAHPA Mt Gambier Special (430 km) 2 full sisters, 18th SAHPA Glendambo, 19th SAHPA Wilcannia, 30th & 32nd SAHPA Booroorban and 31st SAHPA Cobar.  At least seven children of 1062 have also produced SAHPA placings.  One daughter producing 7th SAHPA Temora for R & B Seedsman.

SA 94 49721 BBPC                                                              SA 91 7678 BBPH
–SIRE OF 21 SAHPA PLACES                                      1ST SAHPA COBAR 1993