Testimonials Page 2
Mark,
1) Thanks for taking the time to show Jeannie and myself around a very impressive setup we could not believe the quality of pigeon after pigeon that we handled, silky compact bodies, bright alert eyes, noble heads I could go on and on fantastic.
You are obviously passionately involved with your pigeons, that comes across very clearly and it was clear that parting with The Dark Un and the Wee pied hen was affecting you, don't worry they will be well cared for and we will give you updates on their and our progress. Please thank Sammie, Jack and Charley for accepting us so readily that was really nice, you have a very close family, please pass on our very best regards. 2) Birds have settled in OK, we split them up and kept them in the house the first night then put them in the loft next morning the Dark Un took a box straight away no problem and he has settled in with very little stress, the Wee hen is similar, both look really stunning in the light of day in the aviary, much better than pictures really stunning, we are well pleased. Once again Mark thanks for a helpful visit and will mail you soon. Best Regards Ian
Ian & Jeanie Wilson 28.11.2008, Scunthorpe
Hi Mark or should it be "Spider",
First of all congratulations on your MNFC and Warwick Fed Average awards for 2008. A super acheivement.
To anyone who doesn`t know me I have known Mark for approximately five years now since he joined the Shipston Flying Club.
In that time we were Fed delegates together and I can honestly say what a genuine down to earth bloke Mark is. Always prepared to air his views and help out in anyway he can.
I also work with Mark on a daily basis and enjoy some good "pigeon banter" with him especially during the racing season. I also ask him many different questions and he always gives me what I believe to be very truthful answers. In his words " I never lie to anyone "
Only last week while we were between jobs Mark asked me if I would help him around the lofts for a couple of days which I did.
I lost count of how many pigeons I handled during these days, breeders,race team,young birds and late breds and all I can say is this team of birds are the Manchester United of the pigeon world. They are truly outstanding all like "peas in a pod". This being down to his severe selection policies.
Anyone who is looking to add some quality to their stock in my opinion need look no further. In Marks words again " If its not good enough for me its not good enough for anyone else"
Once again Mark congratulations on your racing achievments so far, the amount of time and effort you put into your birds you deserve it.
Oh and by the way before anybody asks Mark hasn`t paid me for writing this I`m just lucky enough to have had the chance to help him out around the lofts. See you in the morning mate. Good Luck for 2009.
Hunty
Nigel Hunt 12.11.08, Burmington
What luck and good fortune to have been called by Mark Webster earlier this year reference an ETS inquiry. Mark had the foresight some years ago to purchase a Unikon ETS system. Now approved for use by the RPRA, Mark had been advised by Unikon to contact me, his local Unikon agent to upgrade his system ready for use in 2008.
I arranged for Mark to call at my home to upgrade his system and bring Mark up to speed with the club system of the ETS.
As soon as I met Mark I realised I was dealing with someone who had great passion for our sport. Mark talked real common sense and although underlying I have a reasonable knowledge of pigeon racing tecniques; meeting Mark was the catalyst in my understanding of some of the finer aspects of our great sport.
Many telephone conversations later I arranged to visit Mark to select a pigeon to purchase and pair to one of my direct Walter Docx hens. She handled, as I prefer pigeons to handle and had explained my preferences to Mark during our previous conversations. This hen in only her first year of breeding had produced two pigeons to score 2nd & 3rd prices against 300 plus YB’s in 2007. She was also the dam of ‘the 41’ a good blue cock Mark had noted in my widowhood cock team this year.
In 2004 I attended a Marketing Management Course in Zurich Switzerland ran by the famous New York business lecturer Chris Stern. I learnt from Chris how important it was to have a product or a service that provided a potential customer with the “ WOW” moment. This the moment when the customer can clearly define the product or service that you have offered exceeds their expectations.
I met Mark at his home in Ettington, had a nice cup of tea and then up to the lofts. I can only say that once in Marks loft you could have been in Belgium.
The lofts are spacious, clean and very well ventilated.
However ‘WOW’! Marks pigeons are fantastic. Full bodied, well muscled, exceptional eye pigment and above all very, very silky feathered, they just slipped through the hand. ‘WOW’! Every pigeon I handled (I handled quite a few) was of the same top quality as previously explained, awesome!
Mark has blended three or four families of pigeon together to form the Mark Webster family of pigeons and ‘WOW’ they are awesome.
I chose the pigeon that I wished to purchase; however when the time came to show Mark my pigeon I must say I was slightly embarrassed.
Having now visited Mark I shall visit him again hopefully to purchase more birds with which to strengthen my own team.
It is of no wonder then that Mark can compete with the very best in National competition, as shown by his 2007 & 2008 National results. Well-done Mark!
Thanks for a wonderful afternoon Mark you are an inspiration to me!
Ian Bull 19.10.08, Kington
Mark,
I would like to say a big thank you for the fantastic welcome you gave us "the welsh boys" today. You are a true gent, the set up and birds are top class.. The dedication and passion shown by you was immense. The birds are a credit to you. They would grace any loft and your future in the sport is at the very highest level. We handled class birds all afternoon and we could see how proud you are of them.They talked about your birds for most of the way home.
Have a fantastic 2009.
Anthony, Bryan and Glyn, The Welsh Amigos, 05.10.08
I first met Mark at the Trent Flying Club in Bedworth, Warwickshire, where he had been asked by the Coventry Fed to create a sale to add interest to their winter show. At that time, I was very much a novice but, despite my lack of knowledge, I immediately recognised the quality of his birds. Although I didn’t have the confidence or intention to buy, Mark approached me to see if I needed any help, discussing the birds with me and quite openly answering my questions. He suggested a pairing that he felt would help build my stock and he subsequently invited me to his loft.
Although we had only met once before, Mark willingly spent time giving me advice and tips in both a sincere and straightforward manner. He showed me numerous birds all with the same delightful balance and silky feathering. It was clear how focussed he was and how he had researched his passion for racing extensively and in a most professional manner. I was most impressed with the pair that I bought and, true to his word, Mark contacted me the following year about a pair of youngsters he said he would find me, which were equally as impressive.
Two years on and Mark’s help has enabled me to enjoy relative success in my first racing seasons. His focus and professionalism have been reflected in his magnificent results in the Nationals in 2008. Well done, Mark – and thanks.
Peter McConkey, Coventry, September 2008.
Being a friend of Marks I have been one of the privileged few to visit his lofts. The first thing that you cannot fail to notice is the super visual condition of his birds which is not only down to their own quality but also the wonderful lofts that they are housed in.
In the hand they are a joy to hold and are of a medium size,strongly built with fantastic feather quality and would be very easy to condition for racing.
It was obvious to me that Mark has spent a number of years perfecting a family of pigeons because every one that I handled was of the same type and anyone looking to introduce new stock will not be disappointed with them.
KEITH ARNOLD
LEAMINGTON SPA
RPRA UK SPRINT CHAMPION 2006 & 2007 11.09.09
I have known Mark for quite a few years now after regularly bumping into him at various open races, Gold ring races classics and Nationals. Mark is one of those flyers who will always have ago at anything always striving to fly against the best and test his birds out to the max.
When I went to visit Mark earlier this year I was very impressed with his set up and when I first stepped into the loft the first thing that struck me was the fantastic condition the birds were in they were glowing and on handling them it all added up! and just a week later he won 1st section 2nd open M.N.F.C Tours to which I was not at all surprised. When he handed me some of his top racers I asked what sort they were? to which Mark replied "its hard to keep track to be honest I guess they are my own family now".
Geoff Kirkland once said the apple never falls far from the tree well I can tell you Mark has many trees in his stock pen, He is what I would describe as a common sense stockman as he does not look for pedigree this or that but instead the best performing pigeons he can find regardless of names etc... I know he has spent a great deal of time and money sourcing his stock team from on the continent and is now blending them to form his own family of pigeons and in case your wondering how they are doing just look at his National results this season!
Mark is as genuine a man and pigeon flyer as you could wish to meet always a worker for the sport and willing to help others.
We could certainly do with more like you in the sport Mark! good luck mate.
Ian Wheatley of the partnership Armstrong & Wheatley 10.09.08
I have known Mark for about six years when we started racing against each other, he is a fierce competitor and I'm glad to say a very close friend. We have had many fivers on each race we have competed in, Mark winning most of the sprint races and me making a comeback over the water, until recently, when he decided to concentrate on the Nationals where he certainly gave me and many others a run for our money.
I consider myself very lucky in that I have probably spent more time in Marks lofts than any other fancier, handling a large majority of his birds. He is extremely particular in his choice of birds, more so than any fancier I know, coupled with his expertise in preparing pigeons for racing that makes him a formidable opponent in any race.
I have had many birds from Mark over the last few years, both youngsters and older birds for stock, the prizes they have won for me are honestly too many to mention here but they do include nine first clubs inland taking well placed fed positions and thats only with the youngsters I have had from him (some of which are out of The Dark Cock and The Grizzle on the home page. I can honestly say I've never had a bad un because he would never let you have anything he wouldn't keep himself. Only this last weekend I have won 1st South Midlands Fed from Wincanton by 90 yrds plus with a Blue cock bred from a stock cock of Mark paired to one of my own hens. Marks birds not only breed winners when paired to each other but have such strength in depth that they make excellent crosses and I believe would make valuable additions to any loft. If my old mate Dixie Cartmell can win with them then theres hope for everyone! Good luck Mark and I'm looking forward to a battle again next year, I know I've gotta pull out all the stops. Your friend and competitor
Jim Bryan 09.09.08, Stratford Upon Avon.
In 2005 I visited Mark Websters lofts to collect a bird that had been promised to replace the one that I had lost from his auction the year previous. The set up is first class, I handled all the top inmates at his lofts, the sheer quality oozed out of each bird and the determination to produce a family of birds that will fly any distance, at any level of competition was there for all to see. Mark took the time out to ask me about my birds and my future plans that I had. After a lengthy discussion I was presented with six birds to form the basis for my future team. I had a pair off his No 1 stock pair and at present all the off spring from this pair are in my stock loft and are the corner stone for me to build a strong base.
I could not recommend the birds or the man any higher, their blood lines are impeccable, and I have every confidence that these birds will prove capable of breeding winners at all levels for me and others.
Robert Lee, Coventry 09.09.08.
Earlier testimonials continued on Page 1
