John Yates 18th Dec 2021

Sat 18th December 2021 VPU Clubrooms 28 Freeman Street, Campbellfield VIC 3061 ·

Viewing 11.00 am Sale starts at 1.00pm

John holding the Winner of the 2018 $100000 450-mile race flying into a head wind clocking the only bird on the day at 11.32 pm

INTRODUCTION TO CATALOGUE FROM GODFREY STEVENS John Yates is amongst the best of Victorian Pigeon Fanciers. He has won fifteen Federation Races as well as winning a National Distance Flying Club 700 Mile Race.

He also recently won the $100,000 PRV Race from 450 miles with the only bird home on the day.

For many years, work commitments meant John had to leave home before daylight and arrive home after dark limiting the time he spent with his birds. His record would have been much better which has been evident by his performance since his retirement.

His birds are based on the family built up over 60 years by John, Doug Ince and myself.

About ten years ago, John decided to introduce an outcross. He used mainly the Smeulders Jansen & Van Loon bloodlines. Since then he has won three 500 mile Feds and had many more high positions.

In 2017 he won 5th and 6th Fed at 400 miles, 2nd and 3rd Fed 400 miles( 3 together with only 4 birds home in the Fed.) and 1st and 2nd 500 miles ( only 4 birds home in the day John having 3 of them.) These performances were all in the space of three weeks. These were hard races with head winds all the way.

In the 600 mile race in 2019, John had a bird arrive home shortly after 11 pm which was in time to win the Fed. Unfortunately it would not trap and he ended up winning 4th position at 6.15 the next morning.

Because of John’s illness, he did not keep his records up to date over the past couple of years. Some of the 20 last birds in the catalogue show no breeding. However, ALL these birds flew Fowlers Gap (500 miles) about 8 weeks ago into a strong head wind.

They then flew the VHA Race from Mt. Hope (350 miles) two weeks ago. Again strong head winds all the way.

For anyone wanting good hard day distance birds, you could not get anything better.

Godfrey Stevens

Dear Fanciers, It was a sad day when "Young John Yates” had to give up his life's work of developing and racing a family of fantastic long distance pigeons.

It all started in 1965 when he won the VHA Federation Race from Mildura 3788 birds with a velocity of 981 yards per minute, John did not know that on that day the foundation was laid for his family of pigeons.

The Mildura Fed Winner and her sister became the foundation of the strain.

John is legendary at the 500 mile (800+km) distance winning more feds (7) at this distance than anyone else in the history of the VHA. He is always willing to pass on his knowledge and is a great judge of a pigeon (I don't know any better). Many fanciers have done well with birds from John, profiting from his bloodlines.

He was always willing to work at the Diamond Valley Centre on basketing night from the start to the finish, for many years he also worked in the clock room setting and reading clocks.

John was always cheerful and lifted the spirits of many on race day.

I can recommend Johns birds to any purchaser as they have been fashioned by a dedicated and astute fancier who also is a "Great Bloke".

Stephen Kearsey

Catalogue Summary Michael West After a long battle with illness John has decided to dispose of the remaining birds in his loft.

Prior to the sale John sold several of his main winners to some close friends and what remains are many other fed birds and brothers and sisters and children to his best birds.

Background of base pigeons John Yates has raced over the last 55 years in the strong Victorian Homing Association. John started racing in 1965 with pigeons he got from Doug Ince. He won his first VHA race as a 16 year old with the now famous Mildura Fed winner 300 miles (500 km) into a head wind. This pigeon along with its brothers and sisters and sons and daughters continued to produce winners particularly in long distance head win races right through to the current race season. Fanciers lucky enough to get pigeons from John have won many races across the country particularly in head wind race.

John Yates maintains a unique record in that he is the only fancier in the history of the VHA to win seven races at 500 miles (800km). Consider for a minute the number of birds and the velocities of these races.

1972 1st Fed Coonamble

824km 3928 birds 1114mpm,

1977 1st Fed Fowlers Gap

805km 3474 birds 910mpm,

1980 1st Fed Bourke

860km 5294 birds 995mpm,

1988 1st Fed Fowlers Gap

805km 3803 birds 1015mpm.

2012 1st Carrieton

850 km 995 mpm

2013

1st Coonamble

850 km 1015 mpm

2017

1st 500 mile

850 km 1017 mpm

Summary of top results since 2000 in the VHA 2000 6th Launceston 612 mpm, 12th Bourke 500 m 778 mpm , 2nd Hobart 939 mpm 2001 9th Launceston 767 mpm 2002 7th Coonamble 500 mile760 mpm, 7th Hobart 1003 mpm 2003 6th Fowlers Gap 500 mile 986 mpm 2006 2nd Bourke 500 mile 776 mpm 2008 2nd & 3rd Collarenebri 600 m 919 mpm 2009 8th Bourke 500 m 1162 mpm, 8th Bookaloo 600 mile 754 mpm 2010 11th Carrieton 500 mile 986 mpm 19th Bourke 703 mpm 2012 1st Carrieton 500 mile 850 km 995 mpm ,15th Carrieton, 6th Bookaloo 600 m 882 mpm , 17 th Bookaloo 2013 3rd Tas 806 mpm. 1st Coonamble 850 km 1015 mpm 2014 3rd 400m 1306 mpm 2016 3rd 400m 983 mpm, 3rd 600m 1013 mpm 2017 4th Hay 350 km 1054 mpm, 2nd Mt Hope 500 km 1080 mpm , 4th Mt Hope 500 km 1053 mpm, 5th Cobar 650 km 945 mpm, 2nd Cobar 650 km 921 mpm, 6th 900 km 956 mpm, 1st 500 mile 850 km 1017 mpm 2018 4th 500 km 874 mpm, 7th 500 km 874 mpm, 5th Tas 1098 mpm, 7th 650 km 1362 mpm, 6th 850 km 730 mpm, 6th 850 km 1214 mpm, 10th 900 km 1493 mpm.

2019 4th 600

Around 2010 John decided that he would introduce some of the successful European bloodlines initially to be more successful in the shorter races. He introduced several birds that were to play a major part in the subsequent years.

He received 4 pigeons from Michael West and Ray Russell These were 3 Smeulders and a Van loon One of the Smeulders that was bred for him was to become his favourite Jackpot bred from G. Inv 2004 1529 BBH. Jackpot WPF 2541 2010 BBPH dam of 1.VHA 11 31649 1st Fed 500 miles 995 mpm, 28th 400m 1226 mpm; 2.VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile 1015 mpm ,15th 300-mile 1042 mpm; 3.VHA 15 25401 3rd 400m 983mpm The other a mealy cock WPF 2011 2538 was bred off G.Inv 2004 1505 BBC that bred 3rd fed 280 miles He later received G.Inv 2004 1505 BBC which at the time of writing was still breeding outstanding pigeons. He bred a double fed cock that in turn bred 4th 480 m & 2nd 500 that bred Money Bags 1st 480 m clocked in the dark The 4th bird was a Van loon cock that was down from Grenville Evans pigeons through John Dismore.

He shared a purchased of a Janssen based bird from Henry Marcinec which became known as Little Henry A Jansen based Slate hen known as Slate 1 VHA 2006 9634 from VHA legend John van Beers proved to be an outstanding producer of stock birds. This hen was mated to Little Henry to produce Slate 2 VHA 2010 11799 which went on to breed 3rd 280 miles when mated to the mealy cock WPF 2011 2538. Slate 2 when mated to a line bred cock of the old family bred 1st 500 dropping 3 together with only 4 day birds. All 3 birds go back to the 1505 cock, the slate hen and Van Loon cock and Little Henry Slate 1 VHA 2006 9634 was also mated to G. Inv 2004 1505 to produce VHA 2015 26324 BBC an outstanding cock for Russell and West that bred 8 fed birds in one year.

Slate 1 VHA 2006 9634 was mated to 2502 off Russell And West Van loon cock that bred a BCP double fed hen that in turn bred VHA 2016 23295 4th Fed 300 m 1053 mpm and a double Fed hen VHA 15 17774 BBH 12th 400 8th 300 When mated to a Son of 1505 they bred two sisters PRV 17 924 4th 450m $100000 & VHA 16 23279 2nd 500 that bred PRV 17 916 1st 450 $100000 987 mpm when mated to another line bred Yates .

John mated VHA 11 31649 his first winner off Jackpot in 2012 to NDIC 2010 2772 BBC from Steven Kearsey that was 13th 500 m in the same race. Progeny of this mating proved outstanding. This cock was later mated to Jackpot that also produce outstanding stock pigeons.

He also mated the VHA 12 4104 500 winner off Jackpot in 2013 to VHA 2012 4279 10 th Fed 500 in same race raced by Geoff Weaver . A son of that pair bred when mated to a sister to VHA 11 31649 VHA 2015 25461 19th Fed 500 miles and 3rd Fed 600 1013 mpm that in turn bred VHA 2016 23344 8th Fed 300, 14th Fed 400 and in time for 10th Fed 500

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010 DAM: 1st 500 mile, 1st 500 mile, 3rd 400m, 28th 400m, 14th 300 mile, GG DAM: 3rd 600 mile, 3rd 400m, 7th 400m, 14th 600m mile, 16th 400m, 19th 500 mile, 28th Fed 280m GGG DAM: 2nd 500 mile, 2nd 400m, 2nd 400m, 2nd 300 mile, 8th 300 mile, 10th 500 mile, 12th 400m, 14th 400m, 18th 300 miles

VHA 2011 31649 1st Fed 500 miles 995 mpm 28th 400m 1226 mpm

,

VHA 2012 4104 BB 1st Fed 500-mile 1015 15th Fed 300

G.INV 2004 1505 Uncle of Jackpot. Blue Bar Cock Smeulders ( Owned by Russell & West) SIRE 13th fed 300 m VHA 14 26649 13th Fed 300 G SIRE 2nd 500, (VHA 2016 23279) Dam of 1st $100000 Wilcannia 450 miles 997 mpm.

3rd 280, 4th 450m Small Change $100 000 Wilcannia 886mpm, (PRV 2017 924), 6th 400, 7th 400, 9th 300, 11th 150, 12th 300, 15th 400, 16th 400, 16th 150, 17th 500, 20th 300, 24th 400, 24th 120, 31st Tas GG SIRE 1st $100000 Wilcannia 450 miles PRV 2017 916 997 mpm. Clocked at 11.35pm. Money Bags

VHA 14 26649 13th Fed 300 (Sister in sale Lot 27 )

2nd 500, VHA 2016 23279 (Sister in Sale Lot 18)

Unrung Mealy Sire of VHA 2012 4104 BB

1st 500 2017 VHA 16 23328

PRV 17 916 Money Bags 1st 450 (Daughter in Sale Lot 29)

Kearsey Cock 13th 500

12504 2nd and 7th 400m

Birds For Sale The pedigrees are as accurate as we can ascertain from John’s records

1

11 VHA 31610

BBH

Sister to 1st 500 2012

2

13 VHA 22807

BBH

3

13 VHA 22902

4

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

Sister to 1st 500 m 2012 Dam of equal 3rd 400 m

VHA 10 BB 12392 Old Line VHA 10 BB 12392 Old Line

BBH

The very best of the old bloodlines

Godfrey Stevens Brother to 1st 600 x VHA 24704 2nd 500

16th 600 same as 6th 600 Old Bloodlines

14 VHA 26419

BBH

14 WPF 1277

BBH

6

14 VHA 26650

BBH

Godfrey Stevens Brother to 1st 600 x VHA 24704 2nd 500 Smeulders related to Jackpot G.Inv 2004 1505 BBC

600 CB Line Bred

5

The very best of the old bloodlines CB 500

7

14 VHA 26335

BCH

8

14 VHA 14130

BBPH

9

14 VHA 26387

BCH

10 14 VHA 26498

BBH

11 15 VHA 25308

BBPH

12 15 VHA 25476

Sister to VHA 14 26649 13th Fed 300 that bred 2nd 500 ,4th 450 m .

14th 600 m Children have bred multiple fed birds including 26649 Sire of 2nd 500 hen clocked at 400m, 500, 600m G Steven Sister to 1st 500.

Dam of 3rd 400m when mated to VHA 15 25638

WPF 11 6051 J McCormack Br bred 1st 500

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

Red Fox Jansens x Lucifer van loons VHA 26335 14th 600 m Off 6051 J McCormack x Sister to 1st 500 Sister to 1st 500 Lot 1 VHA 31610

Clocked Tassie and 500 m .

These pigeons are behind Money Bags and Small Change.

Br bred 10th 600 , 2nd 400 , sister bred 9th & 17th 500

Son of little henry

Tassie hen back to Van loon cock and Slate 1

VHA 3789 Son of 13 th S Kearsey 500 x 1st 500 BB Weaver Ince

VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile VHA 22807 Sister to 1st 500

BBPH

Sister to 1st 500. 4104 and 3rd 400m

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

13 15 VHA 25342

BBH

The very best of the old bloodlines

Unrung Mealy . J McCormack Sire of 1st 500m Old line.

Son off Brother to 1st 600 x 2nd 500 J Yates

14 15 VHA 25349

BBH

2nd Fed Mt Hope

Smeulders

15 15 VHA 25494

BBH

16 15 VHA 25326

BBPH

Br bred 10th 600 , 2nd 400 , sister bred 9th & 17th 500 18th fed 500m

17 15 VHA 25352

BCH

9th Fed 500m

VHA 3789 Son of 13th 500 m S Kearsey X 1st 500 VHA 12 3788 Son of 13 th 500 x 1st 500m BBC off 12th 500m

Daughter of 2nd 500 x Van Loon VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile 16th 600 same as 6th 600

12th 600 Line bred

7th 500m

18 15 VHA 25372

BBH

Sister to 18th 500 m.

VHA 12 3788 Son of 13 th S Kearsey 500 x 1st 500

16th 600 same as 6th 600

19 15 VHA 25408

BBH

Sister to 18th 500 m.

16th 600 same as 6th 600

20 15 VHA 25445

BBPH

21 15 VHA 25463

BBH

The very best of the old bloodlines Sister to 18th 500 m

22 15 VHA 25461

BBPH

23 16 VHA 23576

BBH

VHA 12 3788 Son of 1st 500m Son off Brother to 1st 600 x 2nd 500m VHA 12 3788 Son of 1st 500m Unrung Mealy Sire of 1st 500 4104 Sire J Brislin Gabby

24 16 VHA 23242

BBH

3rd 400 m 941 mpm

25 16 VHA 23295

BCH

4th Mt Hope 1714 mpm

VHA 15 25638 13th 500 x 1st 500 BBC Off 12th 500

Sister to 1st 500 G Stevens Lot 8 Half sister to SLATE 1

26 16 VHA 23382

BBH

6th Cobar 945 mpm

VHA 31436 Line bred

Sister to 1st 500

27 16 VHA 23314

RCH

Sister to Gwen 1st 500

28 16 VHA 23208

BBH

Sister to 1st 500 2013

29 17

BB

SMALL CHANGE 4th 480 m Sister to 2nd 500 Sister to VHA 14 26649 13th Fed 300 that bred 2nd 500m 4TH 450 M Half sister to 2 x1st 500 miles 3rd Breeders plate 400 m 7th Fed Dubbo 400m

VHA 2008 13268 CB 500 headwind.

Unrung Mealy. Sire of 1st 500 4104 VHA 26649 Sire of 2nd 500m, 4th 400 G.INV 2004 1505

13th 500 Kearsey VHA 23566 6th 600m 2017

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

PRV 17 916 Money Bags 1st 450 m $100000

PRV 17 924 Small Change 4th 450

VHA 26649 Sire of 2nd 500 m, 4th 400 VHA 23566 6th 600m 2017 Godfrey Stevens Off Brother to 1st 600

17774 Dam 2nd 500,4th 400 VHA 16 23328 1st 500 m 2017 VHA 27404 / 2005 2nd 500m

NDIC 10 2772 13th fed 500 S Kearsey

VHA 11 31649 1st Fed 500

VHA 4279 10th 500 Weaver

VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile BBH off 20th 500 m 2014 Headwind Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

PRV 924

30 17 VHA 10204

BCH

31 17 VHA 10320

BBH

32 17 WPF 12504

BBH

33 18 VHA 12415

BBH

34 18 VHA 10475

BBH

35 18 VHA 12208

BBH

Sister to 1st 500 m & 3rd 400m 5th Fed Cobar 400m 945 mpm

Off 1st & 4th 480 m headwind $100 000 race Same as 2nd 500m and 4th 480.

Same as 7th 400

36 11 VHA 11859

BBC

37

12 VHA 3789

BBC

38 13 VHA 22841

BBPC

39 14 VHA 26430

BBC

14 VHA 26641

MC

40

Old Lines G Sire of 3rd Cobar. Siblings bred 9th 500,17th 500,3rd 400,10th 600,2nd 400 bred 2nd 400 White Tail Cock Sire of 3rd 600

VHA 10 12392 off 3rd 500m . Sire of 1st 500 2013 Unrung Mealy Sire of 1st 500 Brother to 1st 500 ,3rd 400m 4104

Line bred 16th 600 Jackpot WPF 2541 2010 Dam 8th Fed 500 Old Blood

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010 17774 Dam 2nd 500,4th 400 VHA 26335 14th 600mm

VHA 16 23328 1st 500 m 2017

41 14 VHA 26480

BBC

Grand son of 12th 500 All old lines

42 15 VHA 25430

BBC

Son of 1st 500

43 15 VHA 25413

BBC

Son of 1st 500

15 VHA 563

BCP

Andrew Spiliopoulos Sire 3rd 400 . Siblings bred 9th 500, 17th 500, 3rd 400, 10th 600, etc

44 45 15 VHA 25638

BBC

46 th

15 VHA 25376

BBC

Sister bred 4 600 m

15 VHA 25405

BBC

Half brother to 2 x 1st 500

15 VHA 25433

BBC

47

Off Godfrey Stevens Brother to 1st 600 x VHA 24704 2nd 500 Off Godfrey Stevens Brother to 1st 600 x VHA 24704 2nd 500 Herman Ceusters

VHA 11 31649 1st 500

VHA 11 31649 1st Fed 500

NDIC 10 2772 13th fed 500 S Kearsey

VHA 11 31649 1st Fed 500

Son of 1st 600 G Weaver Old Blood NDIC 10 2772 13th fed 500 Kearsey

5 x 5 Hen 5 500m winners in background.

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

VHA 12 3789 Son of 13 th S Kearsey 500m x 1st 500 Fenech cock Bred 2nd fed Produce

VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile

48 49 15 VHA 23215

BBC

Siblings bred 9th 500,17th 500,3rd 400,10th 600,2nd 400 bred 2nd 400

50 16 VHA 23414

BBC

G Weaver

51

BBP J Yates 16 VHA 6012

BBC

Kenny Crawford.

16 VHA 308

BBC

Andrew Spiliopoulos Brother to 1st 500. 4104 and 3rd 400

Sister to 1st National 400m, responsible for multiple Fed birds.

2nd 500m for Ken Crawford

52 53 16 VHA 23207

MC

17 VHA 10278

BBC

54 55

17 VHA 10339

BBC

Half Brother to 1st 500 and 1st 480 m Money Bags and son of 2nd 500m

BBC

Half brother to 2nd 500 4th 480

56 17 VHA 10350

Unrung Mealy Sire of 1st 500 4104 VHA 12 3789 off 13 th 500 x 1st 500 VHA 10 BB 12392 Sire of 1st 500 2012

Goodger

57 17 VHA 10351

BBC

17 VHA 10332

BBC

17 VHA 10334

BBC

BCP Spiliopoulos Unrung BBPC off 3788 x 14th 600m VHA 16 23215 Off 1st 500 4104

17 VHA 10276

BBC

BBPC off Br to 1st 500 2012 Clocked twice

18 VHA 12404

BBC

18 VHA 12237

BBC

58 59 60

61 62 17th 500m

VHA 563 VHA 12 3788 Son of 13 th 500m x 1st 500

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010 VHA 12 4104 1st 500 mile VHA 16 23279 2nd 500 1015

17774 Double fed hen 12th 400 8th 300 BBH 23246 Off 3789 x 6th 600 BBH 15th 600m BCPH 16 23237 dam 12th 500 old line Daughter of 2nd 500m The very best off the old lines 7th Dubbo off 6th Fed 600 x 1st 500 16th 600 same as 6th 600

The following birds flew Mildura 300 m, Fowlers Gap 500 m when tossed with 700 birds. Liberated in headwind .

They also flew the recent VHA race from Mt Hope 340 m again a strong headwind all the way.

63 19

VHA 10082

BBH

Bred By Bob Stukel

19

VHA 10328

BBH

Pedigree unknown

19

VHA 10333

BBH

15TH Fed Mt Hope 2021 Sister to 1st 500 2013

64 65 66 19

VHA 10355

BBPH

19

VHA 10359

BBH

Unrung Mealy. Sire of 1st 500 4104

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

PRV 17 916 Money Bags 1st 450 m

VHA 16 23328 1st 500 m 2017

Unrung Mealy. Sire of 1st 500 4104

Jackpot WPF 2541 2010

Vha 12 4168 Sire of Money Bags VHA 19623 5th 500 732 mpm G Stevens J Brislin Gabby/Houben

VHA 16 23279 2nd 500 VHA 10311 6th 500 J Yates Yates egg Off 13th 500 (Kearsey) x 1st 500 “Baby Jackpot “off 13th 500 x Jackpot

67 68 19

VHA 10372

BBH

19

VHA 10399

BBH

18

VHA 10427

BCH

69

Pedigree unknown Super Breeding

Pedigree unknown

70

Pedigree unknown

71

Pedigree unknown 19

VHA 10449

BB

72

Pedigree unknown 19

VHA 10472

BBH

73

Pedigree unknown 19

VHA 10822

BB Sister to 1st 500 2013

74 18

VHA 12411

BBPH

18

VHA 12526

BCH

75 76 st

19

VHA 15393

BBH

Sister to Money Bags 1 480m

19

VHA 16445

BBH

Shared mating between Godfrey

19

VHA 16599

BBH

Sister to 2nd 400 m G Stevens Bred by G Stevens Sister to 2nd 400 Pedigree unknown

77 78

79 19

VHA 16615

BBH

19

VHA 10424

BB

80 81

3rd 400 m G Stevens Only 3 day birds

Pedigree unknown 19

VHA 10381

BB

19

VHA 15395

BB

19

VHA 10411

BB

19

VHA 10305

BB

19

VHA 10387

BB

82

Pedigree unknown

83

Pedigree unknown

84

Pedigree unknown

85

Vha 12 4168 Sister to Money Bags 1st 480m

VHA 16 23279 2nd 500