Parkinson 247 23/7/10 racing pigeons

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

We need your help

The local clubs at Middlewich need your help with raising funds to fight a case to keep our headquarters. The Middlewich FC, Middlewich 2B, Middlewich 5B and the North West Classic Club all use the same facility to mark their birds therefore there are plenty of fanciers who need the headquarters remaining the same. Mid Cheshire Fed secretary Jane Aspin is organising the sale and would appreciate your calls to 01270 761492 with young birds. This is a good cause and we need to start to stand up for the sport so make your call. All pigeons are to be sold on www.elimarpigeons.com and on this occasion Elimar will stand the cost.

Have we got it right ????

I was recently talking to Chris Knowles about the way the sport was going and he made some good points so I asked him to e-mail them for inclusion in these notes. “Hi Les, Following a conversation that we had recently, I have penned these notes which, you are welcome to use in any future articles to which they may be relevant. The format that I have used is to cover the aspects raised in our discussion and I have expanded my thoughts and viewpoint, having had time to reflect on the subject matter. With the way that our sport is moving and the constant reduction in numbers of fanciers that are racing pigeons, we are in danger of running out of time if we are to get the basics right for a sustainable future in the sport. Firstly we have to recognise that evolution is happening in pigeon racing just as it is in all other walks of sport and life in general. The two biggest aspects affecting pigeon racing with their change are “Technology” and “Climate/Weather”. They are not in any order of significance but are both having a very definite impact on the sport. I am not going to enter into details of “Technology” despite it being as tempting as it is to me, having spent the majority of my working life involved in an industry that saw computers evolve from monster machines with massive valves, to the chip based hand held versions of today. Technology has not only delivered change to timing systems, it has equally advanced solutions to transportation and environment control on transporters. Add to this the weather forecasting technology and information available and you are looking at a very different sport to the one that I grew up with in the sixties. Although some things in pigeon racing may well have changed (evolved) or are in the process of changing, they are not changing anywhere near as much or as quickly as they need to for the sport to have a chance to survive and thrive. The grass roots of our sport is, always has been and most likely, always will be club racing. It is sad to have numerous examples where fanciers of repute are no longer members of local clubs and who visit various organisations to send “Trainers” as preparation for events like the NFC programme. If this approach prevails, then local clubs, which are the only logical recruiting ground for new members and youngsters to enter the sport and learn, will disappear. Equally failure to embrace technology at this grass roots level, will only act as a deterrent to a generation that has grown up or is growing up with technology and uses it daily at school and in their other leisure activities. Do we really want a future for our sport or as is the case with other aspects of the sport, is it just another topic to talk about? Fanciers don’t need to be supporters of technological advancement if they choose not to but they do need to be aware of the consequences of preventing others, especially the future generation of the sport, from having the opportunity. Technology and its role both current and future in our sport leads me to another topic, that I believe needs to be seriously looked at. This time it is not a grass root issue where democracy and the power of the vote can provide the majority with what they desire. It is at National level, where technology has already been embraced, as it should be in the UK’s blue chip pigeon club. At national level a fair and equal playing field does not seem to be an agenda item. I know that we will never have a “LEVEL PLAYING FIELD” in pigeon races and perhaps the word “FAIR” was never a recognised word in the pigeon racing dictionary but we have a responsibility and duty of care to ALL fellow members and fanciers to make it as near to these ideals as we possibly can. With this in mind, as a fancier living in the North West of England, where races like Messac are over 370 miles, Saintes over 510 miles and Tarbes over 700 miles we need to give serious consideration and apply logic to the race programme. I have a personal view on the race points but that is linked to where I live and the associated chance of success in my Section, which is Section L. The point of these notes and the route of our original discussion was change needed for the good of our sport, so with that in mind I will leave the personal desires to one side. The points for consideration and as such, would necessitate change to the race programme, are the distances being flown by the furthest flying members and the required recovery time for the pigeons competing in those races. For example it is currently possible for a pigeon to fly the first three races of the NFC programme into the South East or South West of England and it has sufficient recovery time to have a good chance of success in all three races. However, although it is not impossible, it is highly unlikely in the North East or North West of England due to the distances being flown, for a pigeon to have an equal chance. This instantly highlights a situation, which is not fair to all members and could be improved. For example the second NFC race in the programme could be for yearlings only and perhaps if low birdage is a concern, possibly run a hen’s race in conjunction with the yearling race. Such a change will still favour the shorter flyers but shows more consideration for longer flyers and as such levels out the playing field a little. By this I mean it gives more opportunity to Northern fanciers to compete with the same team of pigeons in more races. Logic suggests that the NFC would gain better birdage and possibly members whilst elevating the standard within the races. This is only one suggestion and in no way do I suggest that it is an absolute solution but for certain there is a need for change because we certainly haven’t got it right! The only other thing that I hope for, is that fanciers associated with the NFC in official capacity, do not take this in a negative light and as a criticism. Having spent fifty years of my life associated with pigeon racing, I now give more consideration to leaving the sport than I have ever done at any time in my life. I still love pigeons and racing them as much as I have ever done but I find it increasingly difficult to understand why as a sport we hinder progress and seem to be afraid of change within the sport. As I grow older and become more aware of what approaches with old age, I am only glad that the pioneers of medicine and science were not complacent and took the view that progress was not essential for survival. Evolution is a proven process but sometimes it needs a helping hand!” Thanks Chris your contributions are always positive and welcome.

Europa Classic latest

All year fancier’s look forward to one race and in the case of those who entered old birds into the Europa 500 Classic it was the longest OB National and it did not go the way fanciers wanted so here is the report from our loft Manager. “Well the old bird race has turned out to be a total disaster! And it is time for us to try and make sense of what has gone on, and this is our view for what its worth. But first of all the result Firstly congratulations to GHS Syndicate on winning the Europa 500 with the only bird in race time, the following is a list of the birds that have returned outside of race time. 2. Thailand Tigers GB09N19578. 3. Rainstorm Boys WHU0801867. 4. P Goodright & Ptnr WHU08B01084. 5. GHS Syndicate GB09Z58664. 6. Unpaid venturer GB09F26454. There were no pool birds in race time so all £2000 in pools will be returned to owners as a credit to activate young birds, pool young birds or as a cash refund on request. The £9000 first prize goes to GHS Syndicate with WHU09N05719 that also won 3rd Open Welsh Grand National a fine performance but not quite up our 1st National of last year but very creditable all the same. 2nd prize of £2000 3rd prize of £1000 4th to 10th prizes of £500 each and 11th to 20th prizes of £250 each which totals £9000 will go into 3 nomination prizes of 1st £4000. 2nd £3000. 3rd £2000. The monies not will be flown for in next years old bird race, these additional prizes for the 2011 old bird race will only be open to those who had birds in the old bird race of 2010, and of course will be free to enter nominations for those involved, full details are to follow. Now why on earth was it such a bad race? Don't get me wrong if I was offered 3rd National at the start I would gladly have taken that! but for the National to get only 4 birds in 4 days I see as just not acceptable. I never have nor never will get involved in race controller and convoyer bashing! it's a thankless task at the best of times. Let’s remember it was not just the Welsh National that let go in Thurso that morning but also the London North Road Combine, the Kent Combine and the Derby and Nottingham Federation. Needless to say they all had shocking returns with there being none on the day in the LNRC and only 30 odd on the second day from almost 1000 birds a real killer race all round. There were none quite as bad as the Welsh National but we are probably the worst located of all. As they say hind sight is a wonderful and it’s no good taking a deep breath and saying they should never have been up 2 days later. Anyway we like any other loft enter a race entrust our birds to convoyers race controllers and the British weather and hope for the best but as we all know sometimes you hit a smash race and this was one of those. The fact we have one bird reported in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands has nothing to do with and weather in the south of Scotland it was just one of those crazy unexplainable Smash races! However for a number of years now, North road racing into Wales has been very hard at the distance not helped I am sure by the shrinking number of birds on that route. That not withstanding it is probably time for us to have a change! And with this in mind negotiations are already under way with South road organizations with a view to be flying South in 2011. This radical departure for the Europa Classic YB and Europa 500 OB will also coincide with new management for 2011 which will see Derek Nicholls relinquish control of the Business to a new management structure, and a new Loft Manager in charge of the daily running of the place while I spend more time away from home, in particular at the racing lofts he is involved with in Belgium and Yorkshire. The young bird race of 2011 onwards will be South Road but of the same distance, that being 240 miles approx but over the English Channel. The old bird race will be of about 350 miles from Tours or somewhere similar. The reason is we really do not want to run races where we have a load of visitors for the main race and you just don't see any birds on the day! It’s great when it works like last years Thurso where they tumbled in from 500 miles but as we have seen this year you can take a real bashing from that distance! So we think 350 miles is long enough to test them without risking another smash race, this also helps people when they select birds to send to the race. I am also sure it will in the future become clear, that you want a classic middle distance racer not a sprinter, not a distance bird but a specialist middle distance bird to win the Europa whether it be 240 miles for youngsters or 350 miles for old birds. Anyway, this is the vision that will be taken forward by the new management team who will hope to carry with them all the existing Europa customers, and hopefully a lot of new ones as well, all inspired by the challenge of winning Classic Big Money races, while competing for national honours over the English Channel to home here at Cardiff the capital of Wales. We would now ask anyone with constructive suggestions for the new way forward to send their views to the Europa Classic europa.auctions@btinternet.com all the beswt for this years races from the Europa Team

”Distance races

Its like an ongoing sage when my comments on the Barcelona and Tarbes races caused a few conversations from fanciers with varying views. The races have only just finished and therefore it is probably not the right time to say what you are going to do next year. Yes both could be classed as smashes but we have had those in the past from much shorter distances and got over them. I remember when Middlewich was a much bigger club in the mid 70’s and we had a smash from Cheltenham 88mls with young birds when if my memory is correct there were only 4 home on the day. I also remember in that race that Jimmy Green clocked a pigeon that became known as Iron Lung for some reason. When I first started racing in 1969 Tom Smallwood clocked one of a nest pair of light chequers to be the only bird on the day out of Nantes now if they don’t make it on the day we want to know why. What about the Pau race in the early 90’s when I was looking for a third time in the first 200 flying 684mls. Elimar Duke had been 45th and 176th open in the two previous races from Pau then the following year we were struggling to fill the sheet. You could pick no end of races where we have had smashes but we and our pigeons bounce back for the following year. It’s the same with starting racing too early in the season when people are saying as the season starts “For next year let’s put the races back a couple of weeks” but then everything is forgotten and at the meeting’s some are ready to start racing even earlier. No matter what fanciers think during the season and in the few days after the end of racing in nine out of ten cases that is all forgotten when the meetings come around. At that time of the year fanciers are looking for the following seasons racing and when can we start. This form of thinking does refer to the local clubs but at National level there is far more though going into the actual club itself and choosing the right way forward. Having said that the major problem is that there are too many National races about now. The bigger clubs are trying to extend their seasons racing but the problem is fanciers and birds are getting fewer and there are not enough to go round. It would be far better if the big clubs reduce the number of races that they hold and have more birds going. This then just might give more competitive races at National level because the birdage and members sending is far below what it used to be. Yes I know that the BICC and BBC have grown but they have had to get their birds from somewhere. Those two clubs are predominantly East and West by that I am referring to the fact that the BICC are mainly from the South East quarter while the BBC are South West quarter. It also looks like the BBC are gaining more from the Northern part of the country because they now have a marking station at Penkridge and what a good one it is. I am not going to go into this subject anymore in this report because Chris Knowles sent me his views and they are included above.

Strays

With having the web site I very often get none fanciers reporting lost pigeons and sorting them is a bit of a problem. So it was nice to receive the following e-mail I don’t know who the owner is but thanks for collecting the pigeon the sport need’s good publicity. “Thanks for your assistance last evening in helping me to find the identification of the pigeon we spoke about. Having found the telephone number I contacted the owner who is coming to retrieve the bird tomorrow (Saturday) from Preston. The bird was released at Warrington and from what I am told, quite a few have gone missing. Hopefully this one will make a full recovery. Thanks again. Paul Starkie” I am sorry to say that I get several reports from none fanciers who have tried the RPRA and been unlucky. The reason we can so many is because they put pigeons into google and come up with the leading name of Elimar. This can be a bit of a nuisance at time but it is all part of the sport so they have to be dealt with. I suppose the big problem is that none fanciers report them when they get home from work. They leave messages and expect a return call but the RPRA notify the owner and that delay gives them the impression that no one is interested but they are not open all hours. I then received another e-mail from a none fancier that made me smile, “We have fed and watered it, and then withdrawn the food as advised by the RPRA, who told us where it is from. We photographed the ring number from a distance. We are also told that the bird should not be captured unless it is injured. We can’t catch it anyway! It is not injured but keeps roosting on our windowsill and spends the day on next-door’s roof. It is obviously bedraggled with all this rain. It is still pecking up the leftovers, which fall from our bird feeders. The local woodpigeons and magpies are not bothered by it. We are rather tired of having it around and making a mess, yet feel sorry for it and the owner” I had this e-mail from Jenny H from EastYorkshire. “A bird has been with us since 17/07 I am unable to see the tags as it will only come down for food & water. Please pass this message to anyone who may have a bird missing. I tried to contact a club in Bridlington, perhaps you could help in contacting its owner or will it find its own way back.” These two are clearly those cases where the fancier’s can do little if the pigeon is not caught and is sitting somewhere in Bolton where Diane and John Tustin line not knowing what the fuss is all about. No doubt there are also many who get in touch with the RPRA and have similar stories but at times there is little that can be done to resolve the stray who is sitting in a none fanciers garden.

No transfer

When I had the pigeon reportedI just saw the number and picked up on the last three because they were the same as one I had lost in the NFC race from Messac when we had three reported in Northern Ireland. I sent an e-mail to get John Miller to collect for me which he duly did and dropped it off. I put the pigeon in the left hand section and thought that was that but next day when I let the others outshe went over my head and away.I could not understand her not returning so checked the number with the report sheet from theRPRA and to my astonishment it was not the pigeon I thought she was. So the pigeon is now somewhere flying around mainland UK where it probably does not want to be. This is one of those cases where the fancier who purchased the pigeon had failed to transfer her and she was reported to me, shame because she is a nice hen. There is alwaysa story behindpigeons because this onewas sold atauction in Northern Ireland and the fancier did not transfer it.

Section M NFC

On Wednesday 21st July as an appreciation of their custom Dave Thornton & Julie Barber of U.K. Pigeon Couriers undertook a 476 mile round trip to collect the N.F.C Saintes pigeons to deliver to Crewe to meet up with the transporter. There are always going to be a few Gallant fanciers from section M in Scotland who are looking to have a go at the longer races and this Saintes race is the ideal opportunity. The distance to Scotland for these birds is around 700 miles minimum so it is a good test of their spirit. Well done to those fanciers for having a go it takes real determination and quality pigeons to get up into Scotland from Saintes because the route gets harder and the hazards increase the further North they go.

Left to Right. Frank Bailee, Robert (STB), Julie Barber, G.Geddes, Vincent (smith). UK Pigeon Couriers collecting from Section M in the NFC.

Club/fed news

Winsford PO Rob Bebbington catches up this week when 1st place went to Dave Dickinson on 1511ypm with one bred in 08 but no other info. In 2nd position is Rob Bebbington on 1501ypm with an 08 bred cock who has 3 x 1st and other prizes to his credit. He is a dark chequer whose sireis a grandson of Natrix of Jim Biss fame while the dam is a Camphius being line bred to the very popular winning line of the Wonderboys. In 3rd place on 1499ypm are Mr & Mrs mike O’Grady with a yearling late bred cock and is bred from Mr & Mrs Chapman cross Arnold Tweets birds raced on semi widowhood. Back again in 4th position are the Mr & Mrs Mike O’Grady partnership on 1485ypm with another yearling late bred cock again being out of a hen from Mr & Mrs Chapman and the sire is a blue cock from Dennis Dall of Scotland. The pools this week were won by Mr & Mrs Albert Austin with a yearling who was 6th club on 1479ypm. In the clubs Niort race the only news we have been given is from the 1st prize winners Mr & Mrs Mike O’Grady. The winning bird is a 3 yr old black hen out of Elimar Lofts Barcelona cock crossed with a daughter of Taylor Bros Kings Cup winner this is her 3rd prize from Niort and she also wins the clubs nom that has not been won all season so when it gets paid out club PO Rob tells me that he will be stood next to Mick at the bar lol. The old bird season for the club finished with two races on the same day from both sides of the water the channel we have already covered and here is the land race from Ludlow. The red card position went to Ronnie Simpson doing well over a mile a minute to record a vel of 1811ypm. 2nd place went to A Jones & Son clocking up 1751ypm while next we have Rob Bebbington on 1591ypm followed by Ronnie Simpson on 1573ypm to take the pools. Young bird racing has now started so hopefully anyone who is there in the prizes we are hoping that you will pass on the info of there winner’s a.s.a.p and Rob can get them sent off for the paper. Meanwhile over in the Middlewich FC we have the result of the first young bird race where work has come to the front. The race was from Kempsey when the top two positions went to Ted Carson on 1363/1357ypm with two chequer cocks. Ted has been working these pigeons and I am told that this is the third time that they have been down to the races. David & Craig Wilkinson continue to be in the prizes after clocking a chequer w/f cock on 1346ypm. The breeding is excellent distance blood with the sire being a direct son of Full Try 1st National Ace Pigeon long distance. The dam is a grand daughter of 3 x 1sts Palomos and Pau winners. 4th goes to the ever consistent loft of Alan Groom who took the rubber off a blue w/f Van Den Bosch hen on 1340ypm. The Middlewich 5B were at Cheltenham when the top two positions went to Alan Groom on 1461/1458ypm with a blue w/f hen and blue cock that are Van Den Bosch a nest pair. Billy Whisker and better half Jane are 3rd with a blue Vandenabeele hen recording a vel of 1404ypm with Ted Carson being 4th on 1243ypm but no more info on this one. The two young bird races were certainly different with the higher velocities being from Cheltenham while the better race returns were from Kempsey where I am told the tumbled in. Kevin Bowers PO for the Macclesfield club reports on the first young bird race of the season from Kempsey when 7 members sent 150 birds that were liberated in a West South West wind. The partnership of father and son in-law George Greenwood & Paul Beaden had a very good days racing having 7 drop together taking the first 5 positions with vels of 1415.8/1415.3/1414/1413/1412ypm. First in the clock a Sootjenn bought in this time off Jim Green of Birmingham coming to the perch. 2nd is a Rene Van De Weyer bred by them off both parents from Paul Beck of Duckinfield. 3rd is a Willy Thas the sire from Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland while the dam comes from Paul Beck this one sent sitting. The first 3 are all hens while 4th is a Sootjenn cock home bred by the lads whose sire won the 1st race this time. 5th is another hen again bred by them it and is a Hybrecht bred through birds from A & I Painter of the West Midlands. On checking the provisional result looks like the lads take the first five in the Staffs Moorland fed as well so very well done from all the members. Sandbach were also on their first young bird race when the red card went to John Allbutt on 1475ypm with a blue pied hen Staf Van Reet hen. The breeding is top draw being out of the RPRA award winner Gladstone Superstar who was paired to a daughter of Gladstone Fancy. 2nd goes to Wayne & Roy Beverley on 1386ypm after taking the rubber off a blue w/f cock brother of J.A. South West Fed 2 x 1sts fed and was sent sitting 10 days. Eric Taylor is 3rd & 4th clocking up 1383/1380ypm with a blue hen off his Verhey/McDonald stock followed home by a Sangers/McDonald blue cock. Just received the result of the Niort race for the Middlewich 2B club when Ronnie Fisher took the red card pooled to G and also the single nom collecting £108. Syd Latham & Son are 2nd & 8th pooled to F and the 2BA. 3rd & 7th go to Joe Glover all poos with O’Hare & Woodward 4th are also all pools and double nom. Mark & Heather Smith are 5th just ahead of Mr & Mrs Albert Austin 6th to collect GH pools. David & Craig Wilkinson are 9th with Mr & Mrs Mike O’Grady 10th. John Lawson sends news on the Royal Wires race from Niort when the birds were up at 6.30aminto a light South West wind. John won the race with a blue Janssen/Wal Zoontjen cock being raced on the natural coming home to a big youngster to record a vel of 826ypm. 2nd goes to John Deakin with a self bred 4yo cock and this cock has won before. John went on to say that the race turned out to be a good one for some clubs and as in all 500ml races a hard race for others. John is looking to have a go with the young birds but did say that a lot have already been lost. The Moulton FC were also at Kempsey with the first four positions going to four different fanciers. The red card went to Harry Vernon with a blue hen on 1324ypm followed by Mr & Mrs Chris Herbert who also clocked a blue hen on 1249ypm. The race was well spread out with 3rd going to Mr & Mrs Phil Buckton on 1204ypm with a chequer cock leaving 4th to Mel Bratt on 1051ypm with a chequer hen. At the Poynton RBLHS 9 members sent 143 birds to Frome approx 150 miles. Poynton had a field day taking the first 5 positions in the Fed in a very tight finish. Pete Stanway was 1st & 2nd Club/Fed 118/1472 bird’s vels 1630.8 & 1630.1. Pete’s winner and Fed topper was 1st Club, 2nd Fed the previous week from Poole. His second bird was a Janssen X Staf Van Reet that has prized previously. Bradbury & Barnes were 3rd & 4th Club/Fed vels 1626 & 1628. There first bird was a van Camp whilst the other was a van De Meure X Janssen that has previously prized. Poynton’s next race was from Saintes approx 530 miles. Bradbury & Barnes were 1st & 3rd Club and 4th Fed 81/507 vels 1374 & 1244. Their winner also won the Saintes race in 2009 and was 1st Club Vire a few weeks ago, their other bird was a Hagen. Mike Webb was 2nd Club vel 1291 with a Lefebre Dhaenen. Plant Bros & Shillcock in their first full season followed up their success at Messac with 4th Club vel 1189. This bird is bred out of birds from Billy Walton of Stockport.