I asked Geoff, one of the world's greatest fanciers, the following questions...
1. Describe how it feels to have won the Grand Slam of racing i.e. the N.F.C, BBC and the BICC Nationals.
Jim, to say that this gives me a lot of pleasure would be an understatement. I have worked towards this for many years but I could not say when I started out that this sort of thing would happen. I am not an arrogant or boastful man but it does give me a warm feeling deep down that no one can take this away from me, and who knows, I may yet win a few more.
2. Do you enjoy the teaching side of the sport of pigeon racing through your book, videos and written articles?
I enjoy it a lot and there is no better feeling than someone ringing me and saying I did just what you said and have just won the Fed or National.
3. What is you favourite performance and why?
Probably my best racing performance was from Angouleme when I clocked 9 birds in 47 mins, this from almost 500 miles, winning 1st 3rd 4th 7th 9th 23rd 24th 27th 30th open National from an entry of only 12 birds into a head wind. But another one which gave me personal satisfaction was winning 1st National Falaise with the BICC to my new address, flying twice as far as the 2nd and 3rd (this being my 10th first National). Satisfaction because a lot of people had said I would never win another National where I had gone to live 30 miles further on up into North Staffordshire. I am also proud to have won best average all races in both the NFC and MNFC being the only fancier to have done this.
4. Are you looking forward to some international racing, and what are your targets as a future racing man?
I am looking forward a lot to having a go at Tarbes in the International with the NFC. This is something that should have happened years ago. My targets for the future are mainly based on one-day long distance National racing. We are fortunate in this area to have a lot of good class opposition and wealth of National type races and even the Federations are staging good specialist races with good prizes. But I shall always have a small team of extreme distance racers because there is nothing like seeing one of them drop in from 687 miles.
5. Do you think that the sport can be changed for the better?
I think the sport could be improved in several ways. The National type clubs should get together and go all on the same day. Full transporters and big savings. All you would have to do if you wanted to compete in two or more races would be to put in an extra entry sheet for duplication. Why do they insist on going on their own even to the same races on the same day? all that they do is rob each other of entries. I know it would probably never happen because of too many egos involved with some clubs thinking they are superior to the others, but I think some day it will have to happen.
6. What are some of the negative aspects of the sport?
Unfortunately, Jim, the negative aspects are all too frequent within the sport. Just look at all the furore about ETS clocking. The professional objectors came out in force trying to rule what other people are doing instead of minding their own business and try to win something with their own pigeons. Why is it that people with the least to say on any subject make the most noise about it, even though they have never had any experience of it? Negativity at its worse. If every fancier thought the same we would still be running into the post office.
7. Do you have some definite fixed views on pigeon racing?
Like every body else, I do have definite views on pigeon racing but I like to think that if a view was put to me that I thought was better I would be open minded enough to give it a try. I am not so tunnel versioned that I think my views are the only ones.
Geoff on a trip to Belgium
8. Does it please you when others have success with your birds?
I get a great kick out of my birds being successful for others and I get many phone calls every season from fanciers doing just that. Of course, some people never let you know but I very often see reports in the fancy press saying that they have come from me and done very well for them.
9. What is your favourite bird of all time?
This is a difficult question as I have had so many good pigeons. But it is probably “PEST”, a great character and a winner of two National races and many top prizes, easy to race and a friend. My second pick would be “SNAKE”, a different type of pigeon, a very regular pigeon who always did his best but could be difficult. He did not like being handled and liked to do his own thing. He had several quirks which I had to work around but was a real champion racer and producer.
10. Do you value the support and friendship of fellow fanciers?
I value support of my good friends in the sport and am proud to say I have known some of them for may years, which says a lot about the friendship on both sides. It is a big help if you have trust in someone.
11. Geoff how do you wish to be remembered?
With fondness by my piers who remember me for being a good fancier and hard racer who left a few records behind him which will be talked about in years to come. I would like my family to remember me as a good grandfather and a very gentle man.
