Eryri Fed News 3/3/10

REPORTS & ARTICLES BY EWEN STEVENS

Well as I pen these notes winter is back with us once again. We have again seen more heavy snowfalls and in my case it’s a walk up to the lofts pictured as the track is covered in snow and impassable with the van. Oh the joys of keeping racing pigeons!!!

There seems to be a lot going on within the Fed at the moment with trying to organise the Federation young bird auction and various other ongoing maters all of a positive nature, I might add, which is excellent news for us. We have had a great response to our Fed young bird auction which, is to take place on Friday 26th March at the Village Hall, Trefnant, North Wales at 7.30pm. We have had donations and youngsters promised from a number of top fanciers from all over the UK and parts of Southern and Northern Ireland. We would like to thank Royal Lofts (Her Majesty the Queen); Cosmin Talas, Oxford; C& D Hughes (Welsh South East National winners); Pompey boys 2nd international SCMDPR 2009; Rob Jones; Gary Leighton, Wirral; Paul & Dave Mcarthy; Fred Jones; Peter Hughes; Alan Clamp, Derby; John Nash, Southern Ireland; Vince Sheedy; Plantation Lofts, Northern Ireland; Tennison Tipper, South Wales; Ian Gibb & Henry Byrne (Europa classic Winners 2007); Bob Fennech (Lightning Fast); Tim Christmas; Elimar.com; Premier stud, (2 yearlings donated); Mick Barlow, Blackpool; Alistair Hogg, Scotland; Stuart Cuthbert; Richie Elliot; Paul Bamford, South Wales; John Fellows (UNC); John Wittaker; Paul Phelps; Brian Wall, (Gem Supplements 2 ybs donated). Or what about a football signed by the Manchester City Players which I’m led to believe has a bid so far of £150. There are also more promises of youngsters so if I have omitted anyone from the above please except my apologies.

The main purpose of the sale is to help young members within the Fed who wish either to start up in the sport or need help in some way with regard to the sport. Any surplus will be kept for future support or Federation needs. This year we are going to help a young lad called Dominic George from Rhyl, he is 16 years old and suffers from Autism, his father used to keep pigeons but for one reason or another had to give up the sport. Dominic as a young boy used to always be in the loft with his dad and the pigeon bug took hold. The aim, if possible is to provide him with a new loft and clock for this year's YB season, hopefully with the wonderful support we have had from the above fanciers this should be achieved. So come on lads lets see you at the sale digging deep for this worthy cause.

I can now also confirm for 2010 the following sponsorship for our Federation which we are very grateful for and sincere thanks are conveyed from our membership to each individual and business for their valuable support this year as with previous years sponsorship. Brian Wall, Gem Supplements, £50 voucher towards our Federation Gold Ring Race. Les Parkinson, Elimar Lofts. Les has always supported the Fed with free publicity and use of his excellent website www.elimarpigeons.com for our Fed fundraising sales. Europa Classic need no introduction. Derek, Russell and the team have always supported the Fed. Blakes Lofts. I believe Mark Williams our Fed secretary has negotiated a splendid deal with regard to a new loft for Dominic George.

Raptors

On now to another subject that we up in North Wales continue to be plagued with the Peregrine and Sparrowhawk, losses have already occurred with the few fanciers who are exercising their birds. The problem is that this is having a significant bearing on when and how we exercise our birds, training then becomes an even bigger problem. Most members on completion of the final young bird race keep the birds in all winter due to the persistent problems encountered. Two members who have already reported losses to the peregrine are Dave Puckle, the Deganwy Flying Club secretary who has recently moved house, what an idyllic location it is. The views are breathtaking and what a super location compared to his old house (were the birds were coming back to him and he had to give overfly). His new location should certainly be more advantageous and hopefully winning ways will follow. Anyway Dave has been in the process of breaking his pigeons into his new lofts and within a couple of days he had suffered losses to the Peregrine. The two photos below show Dave’s new set up.

I also have had a report from Dave (Skitch) & Sandra Hughes that he has lost his best young hen from last season, she was taken by a Peregrine whilst out exercising. This young hen was 8th open Welsh South East combine Maidstone 4,199 birds; 5th Fed 9th north section Folkestone National; 1st club, 3rd Fed, 10th section; 104th open welsh South East National Lillers. She flew the three WSE national young bird races and was in the top ten of the north section on three occasions a class hen who now will never have the opportunity to show her real potential. Dave is gutted to say the least. What amazes me is that the protectionist bodies feel that the racing pigeon is the problem.

A recent conversation I had with a bird watcher (Twitcher as they like to be called) was trying to blame the pigeon fancy. He stated that it was our fault as we race our birds across territory where the Falcons are. In this part of North Wales our birds have no alternative because of the mountainous terrain. Our line of flight for the last few miles has a number of established breeding pairs of Peregrines and it is common on race days for members to phone to say the Peregrine is going into the race batches. We not only have to encounter the falcon in its natural environment but we now, in North Wales, have pairs being located on to man made structures and the protectionists feel this is fine, well I’m afraid I cannot see the logic behind this. This mentality will only lead to the demise of the gentler species, the songbirds etc.

More positive news for the Fed is that at our recent Fed meeting we again saw clubs wishing to join the ranks of the Eryri Federation, on this occasion the application came from the Mostyn Eryri club. The application was read out and I am pleased to say was accepted by the delegates present so again can I extend a warm welcome to the new club and its members. At the present time the Fed is moving in a very positive manner and bodes well for the future. Another point raised at the meeting was a request from a small number of Brymbo club members in Wrexham asking for a facility to be convoyed by the Fed, in the past we have transported birds for these members as trainers. The request was accepted with the proviso that Brymbo commit to a guarantee of 5 crates at an agreed price this will not only be a commitment to the club from the Fed but will also cover the Feds financial cost of picking their birds up. The feeling was that as a Fed we would try and facilitate and help local clubs wherever possible. The Federation programme has now been accepted as below.

Race Point	Dispatch	Liberation
	Old Bird Racing
Stafford	Friday, 2nd April	Saturday, 3rd April
Coventry	Friday, 9th April	Saturday, 10th April
Kettering 1	Friday, 16th April	Saturday, 17th April
Kettering 2	Friday, 23rd April	Saturday, 24th April
St. Albans	Friday, 30th April	Saturday, 1st May
	Combine/National
Folkestone	Friday, am of 7th May	Saturday, 8th May
Folkestone	Friday, am of 14th May	Saturday, 15th May
	Channel
Lillers	Thursday, am of 27th May	Saturday, 29th May
Reims	Wednesday, am of 9th June	Friday, 11th June
Metz	Wednesday, am of 23rd June	Friday, 25th June
Saverne	Wednesday, am of 7th July	Friday, 9th July
	Young Bird Racing
Stafford	Friday, 16th July	Saturday, 17th July
Stafford	Friday, 23rd July	Saturday, 24th July
Coventry	Friday, 30th July	Saturday, 31st July
Kettering	Friday, 6th August	Saturday, 7th August
St. Albans	Friday, 13th August	Saturday, 14th August
	Combine/National
Tonbridge Wells	Saturday, am of 21st August	Sunday, 22nd August
Folkestone	Saturday, am of 4th September	Sunday, 5th September
Lillers	Friday, am of 10th September	Sunday, 12th September

Well that’s me just about done for this week. Any news and constructive views please to me Ewan Stevens 07881 835952.