The Late Legendary Keith Wickham was one of the toughest competitors in the South Australian Homing Pigeon Association … he won the Overall Aggregate Points title 7 times …. and 19 Association races, plus numerous placings when the SAHPA was at its height – with over 400 flyers – in the middle of last century.
He was born in Clarence Park, in Adelaide in 1916 and started racing pigeons in 1933.
Wickham founded his famous stain in the late 1940’s after importing 8 racing pigeons from England, where he had served during the second World War, and his birds became a dominent force in pigeon racing South Australia and several other states
Four of the original imports were from the Sharrock Brothers, two from fellow Liverpool flyer Jack Howard, and two from Mr E Bradshaw, of Manchester.
The main bloodlines were Gits, Bricoux, Sion, with one cock a Havenith Logan
All of the imports produced winner for Wickham, but a Gits Red Chequer Pied Hen – a full sister to a 16-racewinning Scottish champion – was the outstanding producer, matriach to Alice Springs, Oodnadatta, Ballan, Marree, Ararat and Benalla winners
In 1949 Keith’s imports produced three top hens who took his racing to the next level, with one of them, a blue chequer pied (26930) going on to become his best ever stock hen
Wickham raced against the best and won even though he was in an unfavourable position in the South Eastern corner or Adelaide.
His birds won in all conditions over all distances and even darkness couldn’t stop his phenomenal birds – courtesy of his incredible pigeon training and knowledge
One trait of his birds was feathered legs, which can still be found in relatives of his birds in Australian racing pigeon lofts today.
Wickham was still at the top of his game when illhealth force him to sell out in 1989
HARD FLYER TO BEAT – courtesy ‘The Chronicle” – 1972
South Australia’s top pigeon flyer for 1972, Keith Wickham of Mitcham. is not just an overnight success
He has held the yearly crown on atleast 7 occasions since he first began racing in 1933
In his career, which spans almost 40 years, he has built up a reputation as one of the hardest flyers to beat anywhere in Australia
his twin brother, Ross, is also a very formidable opponent. His loft is at Clapham
The two Wickham’s began in the sport together and have founded their lofts on similar bloodlines.
Ross has diversified a little from the stricter breeding beliefs of his brother, who has 95 per cent original blood dating back to four imported pairs
During the war Keith was based in England for almost four years, and it was durin g this time that he cemented friendships with several top British flyers
In 1946 he imported four pairs from the Lofts of the Sharrock Brothers and Jack Howard (Both based near Liverpool) and Ted bradshaw in Manchester
Restrictions were placed on such imports in the early 1950’s and this limited the available blood
The imported birds were based mainly on the Gits and Bricoux families. However Logan and Stassart blood was also present
Clever linebreeding from these originals has proved the undoing of many a good flyer
Keith, who is a member of the Hyde Park Homing Pigeon Club, has kept his family close-knitted – and the result has been success
He is a member of the management committee of his club as well as a member of the 5 man committee which administers the affairs of the South Australian Homing Pigeon Association
All of his flying, with the exception of one year (1967) with the SA Homing Pigeon Union, HAS BEEN WITH THE ASSOCIATION
he built a large two storey loft in his backyard in 1946 and this has gone largely unaltered since
His racebirds appreciate their living conditions and the treatment they are given, and this shows up in their results.
Most of his birds have a racing life of four years, before they are put to stock. And in his experience it has been his top racing hens which have produced his new champions
Keith races 75 per cent hens, and most of the birds which have won him 17 assocaition races since 1933 have been hens
The family started to become prominent in association races in 1952 when his favourite mealy hen won from Alice Springs.
His tally is one better than the previous record set by the late Bert Minerds
In addition to wins Keith has also had his birds placed 2nd in 12 association events
Since the War he has amassed about 200 SAHPA race certificates
His birds have womn every racepoint except ararat and Maryborough. The best he has been able to manage there has been two seconds and a third
A buyer for Simpson Pope at Dudley Park, Keith is married with two children.
His wife Nancy is regarded by Keith as the mainstay of his success. Keith starts the season with about 90 to 100 flyers and Nancy feeds and exercises them while Keith is at work
‘If you haven’t got a co-operative wife to help you out in this sport you might as well give it away”, says Keith. “It;s no sport for the lazy”.
‘I have always tried to consider pigeon racinbg as a recreation rather than business. The game is however becoming far more professional than it used to be , therefore you have to try a lot harder.
“Once you had a chance if your birds were fit, but now they have to be super fit”, he added
“Main essentials to success are careful observation, correct deduction, determination, and regularity and attention to the laws of hygiene” he says.
