Unfortunately, I cannot remember just exactly when I met Monty Neibel.
But, I do remember the first time I saw him, as that head of red hair stood
out like a beacon. Wiry, personable, and engaging. He was one of those type
of people you couldn't help but like.
When I first knew Monty, he his wife and three children lived in an older
part of Vancouver, the University district. A blue collar area, where the
houses were close together, lots were small. Out back, next to the alley
Monty maintained his lofts. Above them a spaghetti of wires, which the
birds had to filter though going up and coming down. Didn't matter to
Monty, he overcame, and flew great kits.
I got to know Monty very well, as we both loved to fish, hunt, and play
golf. I made many trips up to Vancouver BC over the years to do those
things he and I enjoyed.
He was the best shot I ever saw with a shot gun, witnessing many times him
downing triples of ducks and geese. He literally fed his family on the
game he shot or caught, and they were well fed.
Monty was reared in a family of modest means. His father eventually had
done well, and had accumulated several apartment houses and peices of
property.
After Montys mother passed away, he inherited some of this property, but
it didn't change him. He was still the grass roots individual I'd always
known.
He'd worked as a greens keeper on a private Golf Course. Because of his
employment, he and I had some great rounds, he besting me most of the
time.
Rollers were his passion, and he was in my estimation as good a roller
flyer as the sport had ever seen. Personally, I never regarded him as a great
roller breeder. But, there simply wasn't anyone better when it came to
flying. If a bird had it in it to perform, Monty would get it out of it.
He wasn't one dimensional, in the respect of being only a Young bird
specialist, or with Old birds. He prided himself, and rightfully so, on
the old bird kits he produced and maintained. He was a severe culler, and the
end result of his kits performances was a testament to his standards.
Like all of us, he endured the heartaches and set backs that are all to
frequent in roller flying. But he was one who didn't forget, and learned
from his mistakes.
He was part of the formation of the International Fly, and won it several
times. I was the first to win it twice in a row, and first to win it three
times. Monty first to win it three times in a row, and then go on to win it
again over a period of years.
He wasn't a braggart. To the contrary he was a humble winner and
gracious looser. But, he was also a fierce competitor, and would put forth
the effort and do what was needed to compete to the fullest of his ability.
For those who had the privilege of knowing him, we were fortunate. For
those who didn't have this advantage, you missed one of the true
characters and legends of the sport. Some may come close to duplicating
Montys abilities as a flyer and handler of Rollers, but I doubt seriously if
anyone will match him kit for kit.
I thank Mr. Hayes for the opportunity to contribute something about my
friend Monty Neible. The sport misses him, but no more than those of us
lucky enough to have known him.
Joe Houghton