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West of England Tumblers – Page 30 – Purebred PIGEON
Breed of the Issue - West of England Tumblers
Reduced InWests
By Bob Christman
T
he reduced colors found in the Wests of today originated in
the 1980’s from a cross made by Bob Christman of a George
Gulla reduced flying roller to a black West. The George
Gulla flying roller was a reduced black self. In appearance it had
a silvery iridescent neck, light gray body and distinct darker gray
lacing in the wingshield. A color which is referred to as a gray lace
in Wests.
After the original cross, reduced was also bred into the
west in a variety of color combinations. In addition to the black
reduced cross, reduced was also combined with blue bars, blue
Gray lace Pattern
Gray lace Baldhead
Gray White Bar Baldhead
Gray lace Andalusion Baldhead
checks, brown bars, brown checks, brown selfs, Andalusians and
eventually also recessive red. The colors where reduced was also
combined with the spread genetic factor proved to produce birds
where the colors were more even and clearer while the patterns
were also more distinct. Most of the reduced colors seen in Wests
today are also spread.
Today in the Wests the gray laces have proved to be the
most popular of the reduced colors. Other reduced colors found
in the west are gray white bars, reduced Andalusians, khaki laces,
peach laces and Isabels. The reduced Isabel color originated in
the loft of Robert Sanchez. They were bred from his family of
peach lace Wests. In appearance they were a solid pale yellow
bird with white bars that mimicked the traditional Isabels found
in the color pigeon breeds.