He is arguably the greatest living pigeon flier in Australia. He has won almost everything

that there is to win over the past 50 years. He is Trevor Steed of Blacktown.

Like any legend, many stories and articles have been written about this great man, however as the winner of the overall point score average for the Central Cumberland Racing Pigeon Federation in the 2003 race season, we visit the master's lofts once again to take another look at this champion of Australian racing.

It is "my" first visit to the home of Jean and Trevor Steed, and as I pull into the driveway I am immediately taken aback by the immaculate presentation of the property. With lawns and gardens that would give any avid green finger a run for their money, it is obvious that the owners of this modest suburban dwelling in Sydney's West take enormous pride in their home.

Trevor lives not far off Sunnyholt Road, and in pigeon terms this is by no means the "box seat" with regards to location. Close friends of Trevor's including one of the countries best sprint fliers - Steve Pickett, also of Blacktown, often comment that Trevor's success is even more impressive to the fact that he really doesn't live in the best spot to race pigeons.

I am welcomed in by Trevor and his lovely wife Jean, and as I walk through the side gate, I wonder what number visitor I would be to these winning lofts, considering the couple have resided here for 50 years. I am sure that many reading this article have also had the fortune of viewing Trevor's set-up first hand.

The backyard is a classic 1950's "pearler", from the days when a backyard was a backyard. Yet considering the size of the property, every pathway and garden edge has been manicured to perfection. Trevor is quick to praise Jean as the gardener of the family, and what a fantastic job she has done!

The pigeon loft stretches across the yard, and with its gleaming white paint and timber frame it reflects a period from the 60's when pigeon racing was thriving in this country. A time when kids roamed the streets with pigeons stuffed down the front of their shirts, and Clubs boasted 50 flying members. A good old fashioned Australian designed pigeon loft. No pitched roofs or high-tech ventilation systems, this loft oozes with Aussie character.

Back in 1942 at the age of eleven, young Trevor was gifted his first pair of pigeons from a Frank Elliot. Little would Frank have known at the time, but at that moment he had just kick started one of the finest racing careers in the history of pigeon racing in this country.

As a junior flying alongside Edgar Philmah, Kenny Woods, Gordon Holmes and Ted Newes, and with his borrowed Tin Lizzy clock from the senior members, Trevor launched his racing career, racing from the Sunday Club tosses with the Blacktown juniors. The year was 1942, but Trevor remembers it like yesterday. Soon after, he joined the senior ranks at Blacktown with the likes of Don Winton, Frank Elliot, Bunny Woods, Kevin Micheo, Dave Stone, Jack Smith, Ted Jacobson and Archie Johnson.

Success was not immediate as competition was fierce. Trevor had his moments of shine like winning the 1950 Young Bird Derby from Tocumwal with only three birds home on the day, but it wouldn't be until 15 years later whilst building a brick fireplace for a Rube Crounet that

Trevor's career took a huge turn. Trevor was a brick layer and at the completion of the job was asked "how much?" The two negotiated that the fee would be waved in return for a pair of Rube's Midget Barker's. Trevor was given a mealy cock and a blue bar hen. Off this pair of champions he was able to build the base for one of the strongest strains of Australian pigeons to date. Later crossing in the McLean's blood and South Australian Balderson blood given to him by close friend Steve Bond, the family only became stronger.

Today Trevor's family of pigeons are still largely dominated by this bloodline. Tony Sienkiewicz's "yellow eyes" line, bred down from Tony's famous "Newcastle Cock" has also been heavily introduced with great success.

Trevor, Steve Bond and Tony Sienkiewicz still trade pigeons today, and it is no wonder that all three of them remain immensely competitive on the Sydney scene.

Trevor goes on to explain that Steve Bond's most recent introduction to Trevor's loft has been a grizzle cock. It seems that Steve (famous for his family of pied pigeons) was keen to introduce a bit of colour to Trevor's lofts that is currently saturated with blue bars and blue chequers. Wife Jean has welcomed the colour with great enthusiasm. Kevin Waters bought her a red at a recent squeaker sale also, so look out Sydney, Jean has arrived!

I am not going to bore you with a huge list 

of Trevor's achievements,

but I can tell you that he has won the Cumberland Flyer Of The Year trophy

5 times, the overall point score average 5 times, numerous Cumberland "section" point scores, 3 Cumberland Federation Young Bird Derby's, 2 All Age Derby's, 1 F.R.P Young Bird Derby, a car, unlimited Squeaker Sales, his Club averages 25 times in the past 30 years, and 51 cards for the 2003 race season alone. which includes Federation, Club and special races. All signs point to the fact that Trevor has no intention of slowing up now either. He has not missed a season in over 50 years, and going by the spring in this mans step. he still has many more races to come.

One of Trevor's most famous wins. and certainly the one that remains closest to his heart occurred at 4.00 pm one afternoon when he looked up to see 3 pigeons flying in a diamond formation, with one out front and the other 2 in sequence slightly behind either side. A spectacular sight Trevor explains. It was the Cumberland Federations All Age Derby, and to Trevor·s amazement all birds belonged to him. Sending 3 hens (all sisters) and 2 cocks, he got the 3 hens in a drop from Emmadale to win the Federation convincingly against almost 400 competitors, many of which struggled to get 1 bird, let alone 3 in a drop. The birds were later christened "Charlies  Angels"  by  Trevor· daughter Rhonda, and close friend Jim Buchanan.

Another of his greatest memories was winning the Cumberland Federation from Cunnamulla (500 miles) timing in at 5.30pm with one of Charlies Angel's daughters. While Trevor was walking out of his loft from clocking her, another bird flew straight into his head! and Trevor laughs that this could explain what is wrong with him today.

I'm sure we could go on forever with finest moments, but for now we will touch on Trevor's techniques. He starts the year with around 150 pigeons, comprising mainly of yearlings. He is a big fan of yearlings, and "hates·· 2 year old cocks. He tosses 2 - 3 times a week in preparation for the race season, then drops back to 1 - 2. He doesn't club toss, but has no problem with liberating with a club toss, he just prefers to toss his own pigeons. He has 30 pairs of stock pigeons, kept in a stock loft that once belonged to Steve Bond. The standard of pigeon in this stock loft has to be seen to be believed. Some of the old stock cocks were "huge·' and looked like they could bend the wire on the cage if they wanted. Pure power.

He is not big on medication, and uses many of the older methods including Condies Crystals and Epsom Salts. Another interesting point was that he only worms his stock pigeons. If a race bird looks off colour during the season he will drop a worm tablet down their throat.

He is not big on recently imported pigeons, and points out that the day they catch up to his family of pigeons is the day that he will look at introducing them. After all, his current family of pigeons have put him at the top of the point score ladder. His family of "Steed's Aussies" remain to dominate the Sydney racing scene.

With regards to feeding, he uses a mix of Hard Wheat, Safflower, Stripe Sunflower, Black Sunflower, Peanuts, Rape, and Dunn or Maple Pea's. He feeds 50% Wheat early in the season, and hopper feeds after Thursday night basketing.

He trains his hens and cocks together in the morning, and then they are separated. Flags are used for 1 hour, but they often fly for much longer than this. If the cocks begin to play up later in the season he· will train them in the afternoon as well.

These are methods learnt by Trevor over 50 long, hard years of trial and error. A champion in his own right, who just so happens to be a great bloke as well. A person who is in a position to financially exploit our sport by marketing his knowledge and experience gained over many years, yet this man is interested in only one aspect, and that is watching his birds come home.

We thank Trevor for taking the time to talk to us today, and would like to congratulate him once again for taking the honours as Sydney's No. 1 for 2003.