Jim Emerton

of York

a distance fancier with ease.

Jim Emerton and his mother Dorothy

With being press officer I have had reason to call Jim in the past and always found him to be a little reserved. However things have now changed and the pigeons are gone so Jim is a little bit more relaxed about talking to anyone about the pigeons and his systems. By the way the pigeons have nearly all gone to the Barkel family in Sunderland to be kept together as a family. Over the years Jim has supplied fanciers with some good winning pigeons that have gone onto breed and win for others, this has given Jim a great deal of satisfaction. Will he miss the pigeons? Hard to say but I do know that he is going to write a series of articles for the BHW in the coming weeks so after you have read this there will be more on the systems and winning ways at the distance by Jim Emerton.

Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport.                                   

A. My name is Jim Emerton and I live and have raced my pigeons in York, my father first introduced me to pigeons when I was a 3-year-old living in Skegness I am now 57 so have been around pigeons for quite a few years. In those early days we had rollers, fantails priests and various fancy breeds and crosses that we had many happy hours with. I have loved and been fascinated by pigeons since those early days. As a schoolboy I wrote an imaginary essay regarding clocking a long distance bird from MARENNES which proved to be prophetic. We settled at Holtby York in 1976 where my original starting birds were the foundation of the 30 year old EMERTON STRAIN. The birds were mainly Descamp Van Hasten Stichaulbauts with a direct cock from Emiel Denys (closely related to the TEE.) and came from Louella lofts. An old fancier called Jack Ross introduced me to St. Lawrence pigeon club and off I started on a fantastic journey into the sport. I have a very perceptive eye for a bird and love all wildlife. When I was young I had a prophetic vision of forming a dynasty of champions around my number 1 pair it was a mystical experience and true. 

Q. With your pigeon work do you have a silent partner i.e. wife, partner or friend, if so what part do they play.

A. My mother Dorothy helped with the birds until she was 91. Under my planning and guidance she carried out most of the tasks in the loft. She was a very tough and tenacious and my achievements in the sport are largely due to her she was a great friend to Eddie Newcombe and brought back many tips from Malta. Eddie was a believer in peanuts and through his success at the distance it helped to popularise them as a feed supplement for racing pigeons.

Q. Do you consider there to be any advantage having a racing partnership.

A. Yes can share tasks and work off each other to achieve all the ambitions in the sport and always remember that two united joint heads are better than one and the work can be shared. However is in all partnerships of this kind there has to be an overall boss and that was me.

Q. Are there any points that you disagree on and if so how do you compromise a situation where there is a different viewpoint?

A. Dorothy thought that racing was cruel but my vision for the future and focus always settled matters, she also believed in discipline and control with birds and loft cleanliness whereas I believe in an open loft and freedom for the birds at all times freedom brings contentment and encourages endurance pigeons to home. She also complained when I gave birds away, Jack Ross said “Good pigeons are given” Jim. In later years I was in a position to exchange well-bred pigeons with top fanciers e.g. Chris Gordon, Jim Donaldson, T.Robinson etc.

Q. Do each of you have an area within the partnership where responsibilities take control regarding a decision?

A. I made the overall decisions, my mothers help came out of love and dedication to her son. We had a formidable partnership, my mother being inspirational and very competitive.

Q. Give the readers the most memorable results that you have achieved flying as a partnership and flying on your own.

A. Barcelona Dream was 13th open BICC Barcelona 879 miles in the International 20,936 birds BICC record RPRA medal longest flying bird clock in 1995 International Dax My Girl 31st NFC Dax 04 687 miles, longest flying bird out of 17526 birds in Europe to make the result for this I was the only loft in Yorkshire to make the European rankings in 04 “Odd ball” 3rd open SBNFC Pau 735 miles and 66th open NFC Pau 735 miles Diamond Queen 72nd open NFC Pau 735 miles, Dedication and sister Damien 61st 80th open NFC Saints 569 miles on the day. Both Pau 735 miles Mystical Queen 10th open SBNFC San Sebastian 737 miles (daughter of sister Damien) winning the Denney shield for first bird over 700 mile in to England. Dax MyGirl 1st sec B 4th open Dax 687 miles SBNFC Dark Enchantment 9th 30th K Pau 735 miles verified at Barcelona International 879 miles 3 out of 6 sent at Barcelona

4 out of 6 in clock at Pau 735 miles 3times only bird in the clock station on the winning day at Sartilly Y/B 362miles Dax 687 miles and Barcelona 879 miles- I always enjoyed it best on my own. 1st 3rd 14th open YMR Fed Stevenage sprinting with yearling widowhood hens 6066 birds twice 1st five open young bird racing twice 1st three open y/b racing, Dot’s Delight 1st open Melun YMR fed 408 miles the great “DIABOLOS” (means the DEVIL) best performance trophy YMRF and prog enter most of the above birds a son of my famed no 1 pair. Brilliant results U.K wide for others in BICC and NFC. At least 4 NFC section winner’s reported and good performances in the BICC at Barcelona and Marseille.

Q. Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve?

A. I am completely happy with my achievements in the sport from 71 to 879 mile with my strain. It has been a long journey of progression from club to International racing. In 1976 I was 1st 2nd & 4th into York in my first young bird race.

Q. What organisations do you race with?

A. I finished racing recently with the NFC and no club racing. My birds would be trained with the local federation, the Vale of York or with the North East Provincial club.

Q. Do you hold any official position and if so do you take an active part, if no what are your reasons.

A. I was a loner in this respect, but used to be a Fed delegate and a short time President. My aim was to be a friend to all and avoid nasty disputes and negative politics.

Q. What are your lofts made of and how big are they.

A. Brick built stock loft with Aviary and small back garden loft made from wood and asbestos with plastic skylights the loft was old when I bought it from Tadcaster some 30 yrs ago. The loft was a joke as many thought it would fall down but it took 15 man-hours to eventually knock it down.

Q. Do you attach any importance to having a tiled roof on a loft, if so are there any benefits.

A. Some of the modern day lofts are nice and good but pigeons don’t worry about the décor. They require space light air and dryness-tiled roof probably give advantages in terms of ventilation. My loft did not have a tiled roof and look at my overall performances.

Q. Do you use any form of heating system in any of your lofts. Do you think it would be advantages for the birds?

A. None heating probably good for early term sprinters I had no room for sprinters unless they could sprint over 700miles. The control of temperature and humidity is very important for many of the professional sprint lofts to optimise the condition of those sprinters and that is where they gain the edge.

Q. How do you control the ventilation in your loft?

A. The loft in the latter stages was left open at the top earlier ventilation controlled by aviary doors. My mother was a great help and she used to open the aviary doors for me during the day so that air was allowed to circulate through the loft structure itself. 

Q. Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there any advantages to using them.

A. No grills – far too modern pigeons like the comfort of deep litter grills are good for hygiene but not cosy for the birds. My birds would sit and lie down on deep warm 15yr old litter and were content.

Q. What families of pigeons do you keep?

A. The Emerton Strain occasional introductions from that Ace Jim Donaldson of Peterhead and I had the pick of Brian Denney’s Stichlebaut based birds his Dangerman being persistent. My birds are line and inbred over 30 yrs. I also used a cock bird given to me by Terry Robinson from his great 9th open Pau over 700mls. So over the years of breeding the strain in the loft has become the “Emerton Strain” that has also been successful used by other fanciers both as pure and as crosses into their own families.

16. Easterly or Westerly do you set any stall by the position and if so why.

A. I have no interest in wind or loft position only endurance birds not sprinters the longer and harder the better up to 1000 miles. I have always liked it when the birds have performed against the odds e.g. Barcelona Dream who won in East and North East Winds. Wining when the odds are truly against them shows the good character of a champion pigeon.

Diabolos

BREEDING AND RACE PREPARATION/PLANNING

Q. How do you go about bringing in a new family and what do you look for.

A. Only rarely have I done this must be an expert fancier with consistent National performances over 700 miles 2nd day usually e.g. with Trevor Robinson a friend from his 9th open Pau 700 plus miles. The birds are ideally inbred to “Key” pigeons with outstanding performances over 700mls such as Jim Donaldson from his Circus Boy/Dall Cock and Rennes Lass family.

Q. When you bring in that new family do you think that they need time to acclimatise, if so how long.

A. Pigeon families are not genetically pure races they need no time to acclimatise only about 1% have been good enough for me at any time. That is to say pigeons that will perform well over 700mls in top competition and remember that acclimatisation is a myth.

Q. When looking for new pigeons do you look for a particular family, one for specialist races or club races or just by name.

A. An excellent endurance family over 700 miles not just a popular family name e.g. Jim Donaldson Neil Bush they must be the best of the UK. I am most impressed by the fancier, the honesty and integrity.

Q. Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding?

A. Both sexes can have equal influences on the progeny as they carry the genes of the ancestral tree and these combine at fertilisation.

Q. Some fanciers like big hens for breeding does the size of the hen make any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds in your past experience.

A. Good breeding hens can be of any size. The internal unseen factors are paramount I prefer small to medium hens always as birds are easier to condition. The hen must carry the correct genes in combination with the cock bird to produce good strong racing winning ability.

Q. When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair Winners to winners.

A. Line bred and inbreed to inbred champions with the entire past top performances crammed into the pedigree. I liked to concentrate my breeding around “Key” past and performance breeders such as Dark Destiny, Diabolos daughter of Darkness.

Q. Do you think that fanciers change for the sake of changing or do you think a loft can breed a winning team out and lose track of the winners.

A. Fanciers are carried away with buying pigeons and spending money they like a change that is not the way to form a strain sprint men rely on method and often introduce new names for commercial reasons. It is easy to get carried away and spend large amounts of money on birds of dubious origin and a fault with many fancier sis that they like to keep up with the Jones’s and lose track of where they are going.

Q. What method do you use to select your breeders

A. Silky feathered balanced late breds from my top performances each year these I pair together in this manner I kept the performance factors in the pedigree going.

Q. Did you find your best breeding pigeon by luck or judgment?

A. It is not possible to always select the best breeders, as the best characters are invisible. You need endurance ability; homing ability and speed are in part governed by genetic traits.

Q. What materials do you use for nesting

A. Plain dandy nests warm & cosy I have experimented with tobacco stalks, twigs and natural grasses but no matter what you use the pigeons have an instinct to build nests and they will gather what is at their disposal to achieve that goal.

Q. When do you pair your pigeons and why then.

A. 10th December stock 1st – 6th March racers – to condition and retain the wing for June/July racing. In later years my birds were raced on the natural system so March pairing was preferred to retard the moult.

Q. How many stock birds do you keep and do you breed off your race team also how many pigeons do you think that you need to breed off any individual stock pair each year to see if they are quality producers.

A. About 30 pairs stock to keep the strain alive I bred off the race team as good birds can come from any pair 5 nests of a stock pair to test. One of my birds from the Golden No 1 pair bred his 1st two National performers at 10yrs of age. You need confidence and faith in your selection of stock and remember that persistence and patience pay off in the long term.

Q. Please explain the method used from pairing up until the first race.

A. Open loft National racing paired first week March no training Hens lifted into racing 90 – 110 miles cocks next at 110 – 140 miles birds on eggs for 1st race first race St Nazaire (Nantes) with NFC 466 miles lifted from the coast 200 miles 2 weeks rest then a race at about 150ml next week Grand National over 700 miles. Latterly all my birds were together and treated the same with no exceptions, my birds toed the line or failed in the process.
Q.. Do you move the hens with the young birds?

A. All my birds were together young and old when I flew part widowhood in the 90s I exercise hens with the young birds. On weaning I would move the young birds to the far end of the loft with the box perches, which resulted in harmony in the boxes.

Q. What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds?

A. I regarded 466mls with the NFC as training for old birds although I was always in the clock and many times with yearlings no training for young birds 1st time in a basket would be to race at between 90 and 140 miles 200 miles 1st toss is to far for most young birds no basket training pigeons survive on their instincts I have jumped birds 500 miles into Pau. I found that pigeons adapted to different circumstances with instincts controlling their behaviour.

Q. Do you breed off the top widowhood cocks after the racing has finished; do you breed late bred youngsters and what do you think of those later bred youngsters.

A. Late bred youngsters are fantastic for stock and these would be out of the performance races I do not like late breds for racing. When racing late breds (hatched July onwards) they are generally lost.

Q. For every 50 pigeons that you breed realistically how many of them would win at 500mls, based on your past records.

A. 500 miles is only the start of long distance racing 1000 miles is the Milestone about 1% can do well at 700 miles. In my management I jumped birds up to 500mls to discover the orientation ability of them.

RACING

Q. How do you race your pigeons and how many.

A. Natural all yearlings 466 miles NFC all old birds 700 miles Feeding 3 good mixes together with peanuts hormoform yeast red band layers pellets in hoppers Thursday, Friday mix oil on corn Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday lemon juice on corn Wednesday Bovril & probiotic (Vydex) in water Thursday Aviform and in water Pre big race a boost of Mycosan”t” Chlortetracycline in water.

I would normally have 20/30 birds and all would be entered into races over 700mls once they reached 2yrs old.

Q. Do you compete in the National events, if not why not? Or are you happy to race in the club.

A. Only National and international racing no club clocking for donkeys years I would spend a lot of time just planning around individual good pigeons that I knew would do the job.

Q. Do you ever think of competing for averages, if not why not?

A. Averages of No importance only performances in long to marathon endurance races in the latter stages I had no interest in beating others only my own performances. I always strived to be my own man and yes at times a little eccentric.

Q. Do you race your pigeons every week or do you prefer to condition them for a specific race.

A. The yearlings that fly 466 miles NFC are the natural selections for the planned big races as 2 yr olds everything has to be perfect for the big ones the methods I used encouraged form for the marathon races.

Q. In your view do you think that a loft needs different pigeons for different distances?

A. Out and out sprinters will only sprint some of my birds would win from inland to Pau some birds are only good for 700 miles All pigeons are individuals and there are good and bad in most strains. My lovely hen Dark dedication scored from the inland races, Saintes 569mls on the day and Pau 735mls with the NFC on the second day.

Q. Is there any specific condition that your pigeons perform best at, or any particular time of the year?

A. Some hens are brilliant on small babies or eggs they vary as individuals most of my good birds were hens because I flew the hens method. Of course pigeons are individuals but you must always remember that good health and condition are paramount if you want to achieve the top results.

Q. When do you allow your racers to take a bath?

A. Anytime whether its in the house pond or the roof they were allowed to bathe where and when they could, I do have a zinc bath that Jack Ross gave me 30yrs ago.

Q. Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily.

A. Perches scraped out daily (mother was famous for that) deep litter (15yr old) of shavings and easy bed providing the excreta is dry, religious cleaning is not necessary for pigeons.

Q. Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons?

A. I tended to be over crowded with the young birds in but didn’t matter on open loft, my birds had free access to the great un-crowded sky’s. 

Q. How do you feed the cocks and what do you feed them on, a branded mix or do you buy separate corns and mix your own.

A. All ages and sexes fed the same see previous answer as a flock.

Q. Do you measure the amount that you give to each pigeon, or are they fed according to the individual pigeon.

A. Hopper fed layers pellets and all the corn mix they will eat the pigeons ate what they required as we humans do.                                                                                                      

Q. Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons get what they want they are out of the loft.

A. Grit’s and minerals never given to the race loft as they found their own mixed grit minerals for stock. My races walked the fields for their requirements; remember that pellets are a complete feed.

Q. Is there a way that your pigeons let you know when they are in form?

A. Buoyancy/Lightness change in personality good performances in race build up. In the early days I won many pools by picking birds displaying vigour and positive changes in personality.                                 

Q. Do you have any secrets about what you do with your pigeons and how you get them right?

A. I have used Mycosan’t’ in the early 80s from the vet and pet connect in Switzerland I also mixed chlortetracycline & with it on vets advice peanuts for long distance. When I am looking to send birds to the big one at Pau I like the birds to have had at least a 10hr fly before they go and if they have they are on their way.

Q. Do the pigeons need any special treatment on their return from the race to help them relax? Is any such treatment needed for the short or long distance races or the hard races compared to the easy races?

A. The multivitamin that I use in the water is Chevita plus peanuts on trapping and rest. I use the Chivita multivit because it detoxifies and regenerates the muscle tissue. 

Q. How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain its form on the widowhood system for both cocks and hens?

A. Depends on birds up to 10 weeks may be possible; it depends on the individual pigeon and methods used.

Q. Does this include channel races or are the specified number of weeks for sprint races and do you think that a pigeon can be prepared at fortnightly intervals for the channel races.

A. A bird needs 2-3 weeks complete rest no road training before a big International race its internal organs need to be lined with fat like a swallow emigrating to Africa. Birds can fly short channel races to say 400mls at 14 day intervals especially when they are on the widowhood system.

Q. If your race team went off form during the season what action would you take to restore their condition?

A. I would nest them and check for illness but many antibiotics are ineffective because many diseased birds have viruses. It is advantages to feed pellets and depurative because it is easily digested.

Q. What happens when you are racing either widowhood or the roundabout when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex, how do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate.

A. 2 cocks with 1 hen 2 hens with 1 cock fresh young hens in with the cocks or celibate, pigeons are adaptable and soon go with fresh mates or can be flown without a mate at all because their homing ability overcomes everything else.

Q. Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing.

A. Yes and good racing methods, many fanciers prefer the north east corner with the prevailing south westerly winds.

Q. Do you treat pigeons differently with their preparation if they are to go to the bigger races whether National, Classic, Specialist club or open.

A. Yes they have more rest carry more body weight and can be jumped 500 miles, all my birds had to go to national and/or International races.

Q. Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races? Also what distance can a pigeon actually still “RACE” as opposed to homing from any race point?

A. Pigeons are individuals not just names some can race the entire programme of distance e.g. is my dedication that scared inland to Pau 735 miles. Pigeons can race 800 plus miles 2nd day. note that the Dutch pigeons racing 800mls on the second day into Holland from Barcelona.

Q. What proportion of you pigeons get better on subsequent trips to the long distance races and what do you call distance.

A. Distance starts at 500 miles most races are finished after 2 x 700 miles, many of the past Champions were made by being lost for weeks before homing.

Q. Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinter’s or distance pigeons and why.

A. More difficult to establish 700mls, as few will do it because it is relatively easy to build a team of sprinters based on the fact that more pigeons can fly shorter distances.

Q. Sprinter or distance, there is no difference; it is all in the feeding.

A. Depends on the fancier (his methods) and the pigeon feeds for the distance need to be very rich in fats for body weight.

Q. If you could pass on one piece of advice or tip, at this point to fanciers old and young, what would it be?

A. Be ambitious be your own person and dedicate all to your objectives make your own strain famous and do no be intimidated by jealous, aggressive or negative individuals.

Q. What problems do you think are most detrimental to race condition in modern day racing, both Old Bird and Young Bird?

A. The many diseases affecting health e.g. Adenovirus Herpes Circovirus, many diseases do not respond to antibiotics or manifest immunity.

Q. How far do you race your yearlings?

A. Always 466 miles they have the same programme as the old birds to National level on my natural methods.

Q. What races do you send your long distance candidates to before their chosen race?

A. Old birds 466 mile usually as training from the coast 220mile they go all the way to the coast and then lifted to any chosen race at the time.

Q. Where do you house your widow hens?

A. I had them in the same loft but were kept out of sight at one end.

Q. Can you tell the readers your routine for preparing pigeons for the longer races? Do you look forward to the channel racing?

A. Explained earlier 466 miles then onwards and I only had a clock set for the National or international races.

YOUNG BIRDS

Q. Young bird sickness is a problem; have you had this in your loft and if so what have you treated them with.

A. All sorts of young bird illness I use to let them run through the loft for immunity antibiotics often ineffective, although antibiotics can be used against the secondary bacterial infections e.g. ecoli or salmonella.

Q. Do you race your young birds, if so how many races, if not why, do you think they are better off in the longer events if they are only raced lightly.

A. Laterally I did not race young birds; individuals can come from no training to sending them to the coast 220 miles. In the early years I was a young bird specialist and best in my area. They had plenty of training then latterly no basket training and jumped into 140 miles for racing. I always liked my pigeons to have some experience of orientation home.

Q. What do you think the sport should do to change things for the better, in relation to your points made a couple of questions ago.

A. Controlled environment in transporters like the new NFC transporters, less stressful training trips for young birds.

Q. Do you use any preventative medication? If a pigeon goes ill do you try to put it right or does the bird have to go.

A. Coccidiosis  Bayox, worms Moxidectin, canker Metronidazole Dimetridazole. Ornithosis complex Doxy “t” Baytril, Tiamulin Linco Spectin. Visually I cull infected birds unless champions, I liked the birds to build a natural immunity, this made them stronger and able to cope better.

Q. Earlier in the article we discussed the wind direction, do you consider that good pigeons will win in any position.

A. My Barcelona dream raced in a North East wind depends on the particular race. Usually birds win with a favoured wind and dreg especially in the shorter races. Sometimes birds win against the odds and they may fly in the hours of darkness. 

Q. Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade, why do you consider that this happens.

A. Some fanciers don’t apply the correct management techniques the fancier makes the bird.

Q. Do you give any special treatments when the pigeons return from the race as a precaution against anything that they may have picked up in the basket?

A. I have used Gambakociod and Nifuramycine, these are Rhonfried products and good against canker and Cocci.

Q. Do you use the darkness system for the young birds, if so for how long and do you think it affects them later in life.

A. Absolutely not may affect individuals in later life, although I have no evidence of this.

Q. Are there any feeding methods for the young birds i.e. do you break them down, do you keep them hungry for control purposes, do you give them a trapping seed mix.

A. Young birds fed same as old birds all they can eat all the time.

Q. Do you attach any real importance to the pigeon’s wing i.e. back wing, end four flights and do you look at the wing to see if they have cast before a race. Any other comments on the wing.

A. I do not adhere to many theories apart from no more than four flights cast on racing. As long as the pigeons have the correct wing then they will prove themselves racing.

Q. If random drugs tests were carried out on your pigeons, would it reveal any substance, illegal or otherwise?

A. Not as far as I know although the list is changing all the time I can see Creatine and L Carnitine being banned. Stimulants are banned yet many are sold freely.

THE MOULT/WINTER

Q. What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following seasons racing and breeding?

A. Food health rest plenty of exercise and good feeding NO RATIONING I like birds to be plumb at the start of the season. Excess weight is soon taken off by driving cocks and rearing.

Q. Are there any special treatments that you give your birds once the season has finished what do you recommend the readers to do with the birds

A. Control worms and canker give plenty of rich food for the moult separated my racers in January to rest them and prepare them for pairing in March My stock were never separated.

Q. What were the last four things that you put in your drinking water, when and why and did you notice any benefits.

A. Bovril Aviform Ultimate Mycosan”t”c.ccs Vydex super six all I believe to be good before racing for health/vitality. It is difficult to test the efforts of supplements what we believe top be good is important.

Q. If you could only give your pigeons one supplement what would it be.

A. Mycosan “T” contains Arsanillic Acid and Erithromycin, I believed it to be beneficial as I have faith in Chevita.

GENERAL

80. Irrespective of how your pigeons have flown, what are your views on the past season whether good or bad or the management of the sport in general.

A. A lot of unrest in the big clubs NFC with some controversial decisions go to North Road or very important to the loft the ban on continental racing due to the avian flu although it was correct for the world health authorities to react in a serious manor. Too much emphasis has been placed in French racing rather than Barcelona from Spain which is the top race in the sport All will be resolved.

Q. Taking into account distance, which is more difficult racing to your area, is it; a case of a 600ml race is a 600ml race regardless of competition or route.

A. The most difficult race at the moment is the Barcelona International at nearly 900 miles 600mls can be easily achieved.

Q. Which fancier has influenced you most, in the way in which you fly your pigeons?

A. Emiel Denys with his cocks and hens out to Barcelona also Geoff Kirkland’s methods, Emiel was a specialist with hen s and he won the Golden Wing at Barcelona twice. .

Q. Which Champion pigeons over the years have left an impression on you and perhaps influenced your direction in the sport.

A. The great ‘Tee’ of Emiel Denys and Lancashire Rose of J.O. Warren. Tee was regarded as being the best Barcelona bird of his generation. 

Q. Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeon’s eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance in (a) the breeding, (b) distance races (c) sprint races. (d) The pigeon’s health. Or do you steer clear of the subject and if so why.

A. I like to see a bright coloured eye but eye-sign takes a religious or mystical proportion – there is no basis in scientific fact for its predictive power.

Q. Who do you consider being the best fanciers in the Country and for what reasons.

A. Neil Bush best records over 700 miles at Pau Chris Gordon best all round fancier. Neil bush’s open results at Pau are fantastic he ahs the best marathon Pau record in the country

Q. What do you think can be done to take the sport forward?

A. Allow E.T.S for all more National and International racing allow fanciers free excess to clubs more freedoms for all we need to be united for the common good of the big clubs.

Q. What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for Management and pigeons and why.

A. 100% management because without the correct management the birds do not exist in the loft environment that the fancier creates the strain, his methods produce the results. Here in the UK we have become carried away with popular names of pigeons and not the quality.

Q. What past mistakes have you learned from?

A. Incorrect training, too early mating of racers listening to ill advice, you need to gradually learn by your mistakes and try to perfect the system that suits you and your birds.

Q. Who or what motivates you to remain successful?

A. No one as I have retired from the sport and donated my strain of approximately 140 birds to the National FC secretary Sid Barkel for his family to use, I have given all my pigeons away. 

Q. What qualities do you think must be present for a fancier to be classed as a top fancier and at what level must he/she have achieved results to be rightfully so-called a “Champion”.

A. Intelligence foresight patience ambition dedication success at National and International racing a fancier needs an absolute and sustained long-term focus.

Q. Do you think winning fanciers should move on from club racing once they have reached a certain level of consistency? Are club performances paramount for personal satisfaction or sales purposes?

A. Fanciers should move towards the top many club wins could be a parameter for sales I like to see a progression of top performances at all levels.

Q. To term a phrase are you a professional pigeon fancier and do your circumstances make a big difference.

A. I have acted in a professional manner and was lucky to have a country loft I sold many birds up to 9 yrs ago see 1990 Squills advert that has a nice montage of some of my key birds.

Q. You are a successful fancier, there are far too many leaving the sport, to encourage fanciers to either join or stay in the sport what do you think about limiting prizes to two per race per loft. If not Why. If yes Why.

A. No limits fanciers should jump into the deep end and sink or swim, learn to take knocks on the chin in pursuit of your set goals.

Q. Is pigeon racing as a hobby going beyond the average working man? Is it becoming too technical and complicated or can you keep everything simple and still win with the pigeons.

A. Everything is simple with pigeons and can be made so at the marathon distance natural birds still continue to win. Good birds can be given and Layers pellets at £6 per bag second hand wood is cheap and try to befriend a fancier who will help you to get your system right and on the road to success.

Q. What is your view on pigeon "moots" or "panels", are they over played and outdated and what do you think may bring as much or more interest to the quiet season when racing is not taking place?

A. Moots or panels are as good as the questions asked in the quiet season fanciers should be thinking and planning there future success and dreaming of what they can achieve. I believe in the self-fulfilling prophecy, see yourself achieving your goals.

Q. What do you think about the vaccination programme for the pigeons and do you think it affects the pigeon’s long term.

A. Vaccination is good although the vaccine is too dear it is one of the modern myths that the vaccine affects the performance of the pigeon.

Q. What do you think of veterinarians in the UK and have you had any dealings with them.

A. Some of the vets are excellent e.g. Gregor Grant be your own vet and read  Zsolt Talaber whose book is the complete guide for the self vet.

Q. How do you consider that the British sport is going compared to the continentals and do they have any ideas that you think would benefit the sport in the UK?

A. Quite good more international racing as this is the best in Europe, the Belgium pooling systems are very good and their International organisation is the best.                                   

Q. What is your view on pigeon shows and showing?

A. Very good for the show people not for me and is a good pastime for the experts.

Q. Do you read many magazines/Articles, if so which type of article do you find interesting and why.

A. BHW/RP all the books especially an extreme distance racing and Zsolt Talaber’s vet article books.

Q. What aspect of the sport interests you the most?

A. International racing as this defers the biggest and best racing in Europe.

Q. Is there anything that you do not like about the sport, something that you feel needs changing for the good of the sport?

A. Petty jealousies and club politics pigeon racing should be free to all in all areas too much emphasis on sprint racing

Q. If you went into another fanciers loft and were given the opportunity to leave with a pair of pigeons, how confident would you be that you had selected the best pair, or in other words do you consider that you are a good judge of a pigeon.

A. I like a nice bird but the factors that interest me are invisible to hand or eye, stamina, orientation and the general potential are visible.

Q. Is your loft of pigeons as strong as it was 5yrs ago?

A. I have given all my birds away to a good home along with all pigeon things they are better than ever long may the strain live.

Q. Do you have any further comments about anything that we may have missed in any area of the sport.

A. I have travelled the world to cover over 52 countries and islands qualified for MENSA and applied everything I knew to my birds I have three entries in the Squills list of record performances. I think I have used my education and experience to good effect.

LJP.

Jim has left the details of how he looked at and competed in racing pigeons until he had achieved everything that he wanted to in the sport. After this report has been published Jim is going to extend his views on the sport in a series of articles in the BHW where you may be able to find more information on how to build and race a team of distance pigeons. Thanks for your time Jim and we wish you all the best in retirement, that is apart from the articles.