INTRODUCTION
Stan Roberts was born in 1956 and is married with 4 children.  Stan lives at One Tree Hill and is a full time farmer.  Stan first started racing pigeons in 1973 in the Glynde club.  Stan’s dad and grandfather both flew before he took up the sport.  In 1989 Stan moved from the Payneham area to his property at One Tree Hill and started racing with the Para club.

BEST ACHIEVEMENTS
5 times Aggregate points winner in the Glynde club.
1993 & 1999 Para club Aggregate points winner.
4 SAHPA wins from Eucla, Pakenham, Lyndhurst special & Cooberpedy special.
SAHPA Bird of the year 1976- 1st & 2nd SAHPA
2 association wins in the 1999 season.
All three of Stan’s sons also flew in the SAHPA juniors.  Grant his eldest son is still actively involved and won the junior aggregate points and a few SAHPA races.

Stan, what families of pigeons do you keep and where do they originate?
When I first started Vin Blanden’s and Allan Pearce’s birds which were both primarily Stassart & Bricoux.
Allen Goodgers were first introduced in 1979, the first few pair were direct from Allen.  Also since from G Hodgins, R Rowe and G Paterson.  I also purchased 3 at Colin Elliot’s sale, including his “Good Hen” 3 times SAHPA placed.
Colin Nelsen pigeons were also purchased to bring back into Stan’s original families.  Some were similar in blood to the Sire of R Dangerfield’s Mt Willoughby hen.

Stan, what is the best bird you have ever owned?
As an individual breeder, the old Nelsen RCC rung in 1978 would be, he is still alive.
In terms of pairs, a ½ brother sister mating from the “Darwin Cock” (purchased at A Goodger sale) would be the best pair at the moment.  Another good pair is a son of the Darwin Cock pair X W Walford Ace Red hen/Blanden, they have also produced an SAHPA winner.

Stan, what do you believe to be the best bird ever in SA?
Any pigeon that has more than one SAHPA place would rate as a good one.  I don’t follow that a lot.

Stan, what would be your biggest highlight in pigeon racing?
Any association winner is always good.  My 1st & 2nd Assoc Eucla & Nullarbor hen within a fortnight and won the SAHPA bird of the year would be the best.
I’ve found it a highlight that most people that have got birds from me have done well over the years.  Alan Brown also of the Para club won a hard Mt Willoughby (890 km) SAHPA race off a hen bred by Stan.

Stan, what would be the biggest disappointment for you in pigeon racing?
No new flyers coming through is my biggest disappointment.  A few years ago there were more juniors but it seems to have all died down.

Stan, your pigeons have gone well for others, particularly in stock.  What suggestions do you have for breeding birds for stock?
I am a heavy inbreeder, I like to follow lines down.  I’ll even mate mother to son to keep the blood.  I mate ½ brother & sister together often.  Many good stock also seem to come down from brothers and sisters to the good winners and not the winners themselves.  This year I have particularly paired for stock as I don’t anticpate flying.

Stan, what would you like to see in SA pigeon racing?
There are not enough long races on the current program.  Long distance families will disappear and may not be needed if we keep with the current trend.  SA has long been regarded as the state with the best long distance pigeons and I would hate to see us lose that reputation.

Thanks for your time Stan.

Tim Fawcett