This is a time line of my years in the American Show Roller hobby. (if memory serves, correct me if I'm wrong)
1986 - I acquired my first Show Roller and Baldhead Show Rollers. The Show Rollers came from many generous breeders, but the Baldheads came from the Mr. Baldhead himself, Bill Murkley of Wisconsin. At this time my interest and focus was in the Baldheads. 1988 - After several years of lack of competition with the Baldheads, I caught the fever for the keen competition in Show Rollers. I purchased several pair from George Petro. This started a great friendship and a serious interest in his National Champion family of birds. 1990 - I won 2nd Reserve Champion Breeder at the Northeast Breeder's Futurity. 1991 - After a few years of learning the ropes and studying George's pedigrees I purchased the foundation of my original family...MVRC 89 901, his father MVRC 88 883 and two half sisters to 901 out of MVRC 88 908 (883's brother) and SRC 87 3708 (901's mother). This was all blood surrounding the old Emerson hen #470. I won Reserve Champion Breeder at the Northeast Breeder's Futurity. 1992 - The afore mentioned birds produced well. I won the Northeast Breeder's Futurity with a 901 son and at the same show took Open Division Reserve Champion with another 901 son (George won the Open). 1993 - I introduced some new blood into my family. I added URC 93 P 308 Blue Check Self Cock. This was some blood that George had been introducing from the loft of Dennis Barton. It centered around a little hen #6429. My family needed a bit more roll in the cage and I hoped this was the cure. 1995 - I won my first National. It was the URC/PRC YB National hosted in Baltimore, MD with George Petro and Bill "Doc" Koenig judging. They picked ChRC 95 558 Blue Check Beard Cock. He was directly out of #308 and a hen from my foundation stock .
In '93 George added some newer Emerson blood to his loft. In 1995, he paired a half brother and half sister. This pair would become known as the Sweet Anna Pair. I picked out a daughter of this pair, NSRA 95 2941 Medium Tort W/F to introduce to my family. She became a foundation to a whole new line for me. 1996 - George Petro and Reed Toney judged the Western Pennsylvania Roller Club show that year. 2941 showed that she would have an immediate impact on my loft. I showed four YBs out of her and all four won their classes with NSRA 96 3268 being BYH and Champion and NSRA 96 3226 being BYC and a Reserve. Every year she bred winners with whatever she was mated too. 1997 - Probably the best and worst year I have had in pigeons and as an adult so far. I won my second YB National with URC 97 C 782 Dark Tort Self hen in Louisville at the NYBS. She was directly out of George's newest line, the Sweet Anna Pair, SRC 94 4406 Dark Tort Beard x SRC 94 1759 Dark Tort Mark. #1759 also produced a YH that was BYH and 2nd Reserve at the URC/PRC National in Baltimore. I also had a District Champion earlier in the year, URC 97 C 754 Medium Tort W/F Hen that pushed me over the top for enough points to earn my URCA Master Breeder Award. That was all the best news.
The worst began in April when I received a phone call from George telling me he had cancer. That spring I brought home ten birds that he would continue with when he recovered. He died December 7 at the young age of 48.
We held the last Western Pennsylvania Roller Club show that fall attendance was way down as it had been declining for several years. But this year just wasn't the same without George there or having our annual late night visit to his loft. 1998 - I judged my first national show. It was the URC/PRC National held in Des Moines, IA. I had the honor of judging with Allen Brock. It was at this show that I received my URCA Master Breeder Award. 1999 - I won my first All Age National, Sacramento CA. You can find details of my trip in the article, "California Here I Come", on the articles page. NSRA 99 3904 won the show for me. He was an outstanding YC and went on to win the NSRA Breeder's Cup Classic the same show season. I sealed some very good friendships on that trip and hope to make many more trips out there. 2000 - As I recall I judged at Louisville (my memory slips me.) The All Age National was in Sydney OH. I managed BYC and BYH, with the YC going on to win Reserve Champion . Both YBs were out of the super Sweet Anna hen. 2001 - I won the Louisville NYBS, which was the URCA YB National with URC 01 P 116, Dark Tort W/F YH. I took BYC, BYH, 2nd BOC and Reserve Champion at the URCA All Age National in Oklahoma City, OK. Jimmy Gaetz and I made the trip. It was 21 hours one way for me. I picked Jimmy up in Nashville, TN, about 11 hours into the trip and we drove straight through. Had a great time at the show. 2002 - The URCA YB National was hosted by the Western Roller Club in Sacramento, CA. My best show ever. I swept the top five taking YB National Champion with URC 02 P 265, Dark Tort W/F YH. She also went on to win the combined District show at the same time. The All Age National was right here in my hometown. Hosted and set up by myself and my good friend Greg Sherman of York, PA. I had BOH, BYH, 1st, 2nd and 4th Reserve Champion. 2003 - I have had to take a hiatus from showing. I have also limited my breeding due to a chronic heart condition. Hopefully surgery in October of 2005 will fix the problem and I will be back full force in 2006. Please keep your fingers crossed. Reports from friends across the country say that my blood is winning for them or has at least improved their show records. 2007 - I decided to sell out my family in the spring. I had just lost my interest in the Show Roller hobby. I really think this began with the death of my good friend George Petro, but other things really made the decision inevitable. I have passed 4 pair of foundation quality birds on to my great friends, Greg Sherman and John Geiger. The remainder of the family went to Tony and Lori Rill. I hope they will carry the family on. The End | 