MR & MRS NIGEL SHAW

of Shavington

Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw

I have known Nigel & Wendy for many years and they have always flown a good pigeon and through my weekly articles I have reported on their wins for many years. They are a dedicated team and put in whatever time they can to get the best out of the pigeons. More recently Nigel and Wendy extended their interest in the building business by opening their own shop. To maintain their interest in pigeon racing they have combined the building side of the shop with a selection of pigeon products. The one thing that went through my mind was "I wonder how much time Nigel will be working and talking about pigeons?" Wendy has also finished her full time job to work in the shop so they are now working together with their sons. I asked Nigel what other aim he had for the shop and he showed me the plans that are already drawn up to add two metres in height to the building. Not only will this extra space accommodate the offices but also racing lofts that will allow Nigel to compete more competitively in the National and classic races. However, as with every new venture, this is still quite a way down the road because everything else needs to be sorted first because the shop and building business is their livelihood.

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

I am a 45-year-old bricklayer when I was 15 I caught 2 red pigeons on a farm belonging to the Dobsons. On taking these home I made a box on the side of the shed for them to go in then I was introduced to Marshall Kendrick who took me under his wing next thing I knew I was joining Shavington H S and my dad was buying me ten Dordin's from a local fancier.

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

I have a partner but I wouldn't call her silent my wife Wendy does the training when need be especially with young birds not so much the old birds unless we think they need some. Wendy is always there when there is a bit extra to be done with the pigeons and now is an even bigger help because she ahs finished full time employment to work in the pigeon/building shop that we now have.

Les J Parkinson & Nigel Shaw

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

Yes a definite advantage because with being self employed in the building business the time I have for pigeons is limited so Wendy will take the young birds to 8 miles every night while I clean out and await there arrival. Training does take up a lot of time and those who train put in just as much work as those who stay behind. Training is very important if you are going to win races and if you do not have the time to go up the road no matter how short or long the toss the pigeons will not perform as well.

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

We very rarely disagree about the pigeons life is to short for that, Wendy does leave the main running of the pigeons to me but at the same time a great help. It also helps if you can sit down at night and talk to your partner with the pigeons and with Wendy being my wife it is easy.

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

Not really we try to work together but sometimes she will ring me up and tell me it is too bad to liberate the pigeons and I have to tell her to let them go. I understand that is the conditions are not right Wendy rings to make certain that the right decision is being made, I then take blame if we have a bad toss.

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

We have had a few memorable performances topping the section in the national but try not to get to exited about it. One that does spring to mind is a race with the BICC on a late liberation from Falaise 300 plus miles, my club mates told me I would be to late because I had not got one at 7 o'clock but I still waited and at 7 15 the Elimar Lofts bred "BICC Cock" as now called came racing past me and you could see the joy in his eyes to be 5th open and then 3 more followed up to take 17th 25th 34th open. You cannot get a better feeling than when you see your name near the top of the national results when the races are open to the whole of the country and your pigeons have many more miles to do than many you are competing against.

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

As mentioned in the previous question we have been 5 th open but the one thing we would like to do is actually win a National because the joy of doing so must be unreal. We still race in the local clubs because we still get enjoyment out of them but at the same time do look towards the National races.

What organisations do you race with?

Shavington HS Audlem HS I am member of Middlewhich 2 bird Cheshire 2 bird Market Drayton 2 bird BICC BBC NFC MNFC MCC.

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

No I don't have any official positions because I don't feel I could do them justice, these positions need regular commitment to ensure that the club concerned is getting the best for the members at all times.

Widowhood section

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

Our lofts are 28ft long 6ft wide made of timber with a tiled roof and glass doors but our intentions if possible are to have a channel-racing loft at the builder's yard that will be built above the shop. If everything goes to plan this will be the loft where we shall race the Nationals and with the ETS now being accepted we can have everything set up with that goal in mind. We would like to compete more in the National races and if all goes well that is what our plans are for the future.

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

I can't see as it makes any difference apart from there being more room for air movement, the same movement can also be achieved without the tiled roof.

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

Yes I do have some heat in one of my widowhood lofts but they race no better than a section that has no heat in maybe if you wanted to race early on when the weather is cold it could be a benefit. The pigeons need a stable temperature for maximum performances and a heating system does help in that area of the sport.

How do you control the ventilation in your loft.

The only ventilation that goes in the loft is through the eaves but I do have an extractor to remove the stale air, which runs all through the season. We have to be careful that we there is a steady air flow and not a continual draft in the loft that does not help the pigeons at all. If you get the ventilation/air flow right the pigeons are going to benefit in the long run and in theory you should get improved results.

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

I've tried grills in lofts before but can't really see any benefit to widowhood cocks because I clean them out everyday and there are little in the way of droppings to remove. If the widowhood cocks are right the droppings are more or less in the same place, a little pile so there is a minimum amount to remove in a very short time. But in one section for young birds I have grills on the floor because 2 years ago we had young bird sickness. We found that the grills stopped any other birds from eating the corn that was regurgitated through the problem. Young bird sickness is soon on you and before you can recognise and treat the problem it could quite easily have been passed on to other birds in the loft, which is why the grills are so handy the young bird section.

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

The wind does have a say as to where the pigeons will be but in the National races someone will always get a good pigeon on the opposite side and they are the pigeons to give credit to.

Top winner including 18th Open St Malo National FC bred by Elimar Lofts

BREEDING AND RACE PREPARATION/PLANNING

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

Results in the national and international races, as close to the top racer as I can get I want quality pigeons and don't mind paying when I see them. We never stand still with our pigeons and our main strains of pigeons kept at the moment are the Taveirne-Rigole and Vandersanden lines through Elimar lofts whether direct or bred by Elimar. We also have the Jan Theelan pigeons and each year we do like to buy some to race. The system has done well for us as many winners have been bred for us while still breeding a very good percentage ourselves. You cannot stand still in pigeon racing which is why we like the Vandersanden pigeons. They are bred on the artificial insemination system from National winning cocks and there are fresh pigeons introduced from time to time so we can keep bringing in a fresh National performing line. Likewise with Taverine-Rigole whose latest introduction to their loft is an Aurillac National winner. There system allows us to bring in up to date new winning blood each year.

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

When I bring in a new family I want results from the word go because there is no time to mess about time is to short. If the pigeons are bred right and from a good family there is no reason why they need time to acclimatise to your loft. We have brought in youngsters from the continent and other lofts outside the area that have won straight away as young birds and continued in later life. If a new line does not acclimatise straight away you could see a season go by without achieving your goal.

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

I used to buy pigeons for club racing but now only buy pigeons with National and Classic racing in mind the name doesn't bother me. There are a lot of good club flyers about who you never see on the national results that's why we now go for a National winning line in preference to a family that are winning 1 st prizes in the club week after week. We have found that some club winners will do well in your club but are out of their depth in national races.

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

I cant really see as it makes any difference what sex is best for breeding what I do look for is a nice pigeon to hand but having said that I have handled some so called champion breeding pigeons which I would not take home. Even so they are good pigeons but I like my own choice no matter how good they are.

Dark Cock bred by Elimar Lofts and a winner of 21st Open Cholet National FC.

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.

The size of the hen does not bother me some fanciers have excellent results with pigeons from small hens. The conformation of any pigeon needs to be right no matter what size the pigeon is and if you get that then there is no reason why they should not breed winners.

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

I like to race a first cross and breed off pigeons I think should be good together based on my own judgement. No matter how many pairs we breed from they are never always going to breed winners but if we select to a type that has done well for us then we are never far away.

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.

Many lofts don't realise what they have got until it is too late because they think that they can do better with a new breed and then they struggle to get the results they have experienced before instead of sitting back and thinking it out. If they had taken their time with a few new introductions and tested them from the word go they may have done better instead of ruining their team.

What method do you use to select your breeders.

My own judgement and to hand, many pigeons that I buy are inbred so I out cross to race as soon as they go into the stock loft. I am very critical of pigeons and those that I like mostly do what is required.

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

Many of the pigeons that I race are what I have bought in as young birds or what friends have given me to race. Then when they do well I will go in search of the parents and try to purchase so I can then breed and race from then in my own loft.

Racing and breeding lofts of Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw

What materials do you use for nesting.

There is nothing special because we will use various nesting materials including shavings, tobacco stalks, straw and whatever else can be used.

When do you pair your pigeons and why then.

The stock pigeons are normally paired in December but the races are paired in different times and in different ways so there is always something different in the loft. If they are all paired at the same time they are more or less all in the same condition when the big races come along so pairing at different times gives far more choice and conditions to race.

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.

If you have to breed to many pigeons off any particular pair of stock to get a good one you have got the wrong stock pigeons. I used to have 15 pair of stock most of which had bred pigeons to win money and then a polecat-ferret got in and thinned them out for me now I keep 4 pair of stock but intend to breed off my racers. Had the polecat not visited then we would still have had the 15prs.

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

I will pair up my race birds a section at a time one section could be paired in January then parted and repaired before racing and sit 6 day eggs, the next section could rear 2 rounds of youngsters the next might not even be paired but still have a hen to race to some cocks may be paired to the same hen as the next cock. There is so much choice available to pigeon fanciers in this area of the sport but many do not take advantage of what they have available.

Do you move the hens with the young birds?

The young birds are moved on there own or sometimes I will move the hens and let the cocks finish the young birds off they seem to make a better job because they are not looking at the hen again. They then have the one aim and that si to finish feeding their young in the nest with no distractions.

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

If the old birds are trained they could go to 30 miles but the young birds are trained normally to about 8 miles with the odd 30-mile toss now and again. They are never overworked down the road but we do like to fine-tune them in preparation for any races that we may want to send them to.

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.

I don't breed of my widowhood cocks after racing and what late breeds I've had over the years have never really had any seconds with them but I know plenty that have. Late breds need a lot of looking after and if you do not have the room they can be a bit of a nuisance.

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

I don't like to boast about my pigeons so I would say not many, which I think is the case in the majority of lofts.

Nigel Shaw

RACING

How do you race your pigeons and how many.

I race my pigeons on widowhood and over the years I have raced ten cocks and twelve hens but found that competing in as many races as I do on the Saturday you could only send one or to pigeons to a race and always up against it. I now keep a team of 37 widowhood cocks to race so they are not as thin on the ground when it comes to entering the National or specialist races.

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

Club racing doesn't do anything for me anymore even though I compete so I now compete in as many Nationals as I can and that is where most of the enjoyment comes from. The only problem with National racing is you have to travel to enter them in the races so it does take time.

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

I don't compete for averages because sometimes I will miss a race, I think that some averages are false so better not bothering and let others get on with it. If you are not careful racing for the averages can ruin your loft because we can all send that one race too many when the birds are not right.

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

I like to race my pigeons as many times as I can but there is always something waiting at home for the bigger events or when we need them. Years ago I couldn't wait for the first race but now I don't bother I have learnt to be more patient. .

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

For the extreme distances it takes a special type of pigeon I am no expert at it but I feel you have to have a pigeon bred for the job you cannot just send any pigeon to those races.

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

My pigeons tend to perform a bit later in the year but that could be to do with how they have been paired as to weather they have thrown a fight.

When do you allow your racers to take a bath?

My racers take a bath on the day after the race but some people you read about give them a bath on the day they go to the race. There is nothing rigid because sometimes they wont have a bath for weeks depending on what time I have available.

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

In the racing season I like to clean out every day but in the winter my pigeons have to get used to not being cleaned out every week depends on time but on the floor in winter I use sand.

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

Years ago I always had too many young birds in a loft but they always went down to the right number for that loft. Nowadays I have a set amount in my mind and once they are in no more are added at all.

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.

I like to use branded corns but I will change if I feel necessary, as with everything else in pigeon racing you do what you think is right at the time. Whether or not we are right to change a trusted system is always debatable.  

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

In one section they will be fed in pots with a measured amount in another section they will be fed in the trough on the floor I never do the same thing in every loft. Whatever you do in pigeon racing is better varied to get the right results.

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

Grit & minerals are always in front of the pigeons I don't really let the pigeons forage outside the loft as once they have exercised they should be back n the loft.

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

Pigeons let you know in different ways sometimes it is inside the loft or outside. When they are exercising my pigeons will fly the village when they are right and coming in to form. I watch every move they make to pick one out for my pooler one time I had to go to work at 8 o'clock and the "BICC Cock" wouldn't go in he had been out since 5.30am. I had to leave him out and called back to let him in it was around 10 am I couldn't see him anywhere so I waited and made a brew. I spotted him like a dot on his own clapping across the village then he went on to win £1100.

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

There are no secrets just good honest pigeons made to work when I want them to and they have to be looked after. Do those simple things and you will get the right results.

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?

If the time is available we like to hand bathe the birds we also like to give electrolytes in the water.

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

Normally around five weeks if looked after correctly some cocks this year won early season then scored well in the section and open later in the season. If they are in the right condition and frame of mind they can go on for most of the season.

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.

I think that a pigeon can be prepared for fortnightly races with a controlled by feeding regime.

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

If the team went off form during the season I would lock them up for a week and break them down then start again. If they go off form there is obviously a reason so a week in the loft should go a long way to sorting the problem out.

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.

My pigeons have to continue without there mate or have there mate replaced with afresh one, but some of the cocks race to 2 hens anyway, having been paired to 2 hens in the winter.

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

A favourable loft location must favour pigeons in certain winds for sprint racing and sometimes I feel it's a false win.

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

I don't really treat them any different for classic racing but I do like to be able to step the pigeons up another gear when the time is right. We do have to change because the competition is much stronger and from a wider area.

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?

As said before I think distance pigeons are bred for the job, but 500 mile pigeons still compete well in sprint races depending on how they are fed and I think that after 550 miles it becomes a different race altogether.

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

My pigeons all have to work and if fit and healthy get as many channel races as possible and after the season is over it is not so hard to pick pigeons that are reliable for next season distance races are to me around 500 miles and over.

Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinters or distance pigeons and why.

I was always told it takes five years to get a good team of pigeons around you, sprint or distance but I mean reliable pigeons not just fed performance pigeons. You do not breed that many top class pigeons in your lifetime.

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

I feel there is a lot of difference not just the feed, distance pigeons are breed for the job and I don't mean pigeons that win at 500 miles with the wind behind them.

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

Something I wasn't for years BE PATIENT and you will achieve your goal whatever you do in life not just racing pigeons.

How far do you race your yearlings?

I am not soft with the yearlings as I expect them to work for their perch so they are sent to 512 miles and the odd one goes to Bergerac 585 miles and Tarbes 670mls.

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

Normally the pigeons will have 2 club races then 400 miles one yearling hen had every club race to Wincanton 138 miles of which she won then Tarbes 670mls to be 3rd clock station then Bergerac 585 miles where she finished 117th open on widowhood.

Where do you house your widow hens?

Widowhood hens are kept in a small compartment next to the ybs but when I raced 12 hens for a year they were kept in boxes all day and it did them no harm whatsoever.  

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

Preparation for distance is normally 2 club races then 400 miles then between 500 & 600 miles.

YOUNG BIRDS

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

Yes I have had young bird sickness and for treatment in the young bird loft I took all feed away from pigeons for 24 hours at least and then re-introduced feed with depurative. I then put YBS in the drinker but I kept the pigeons in then there doesn't seem to be a problem there after.

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.

My young birds are trained well with plenty of 8 mile tosses and when everybody else's birds are being trained 30-40 miles mine are still exercising around home then , they are sent to most of the young bird races. All young birds will go over the channel if fit and well and some twice.

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.

I don't get involved, I just listen because a lot of people are stuck in their ways and will never move on, pigeon racing must move on to survive with the times.

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.

One of my racing cocks fell ill one year and I was going away, he was on deaths door so I rang my mate he came round and gave the cock some antibiotics which brought the pigeon around , the next year he won over £600.

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

Good pigeons will not necessarily win in any position but good pigeons will put up some good performances when the wind isn't in their favour.

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

The fanciers that purchase good quality stock and never make the grade need to look at themselves. Sit back and think about how to get the best out of the pigeons instead of blaming the pigeons, they are blamed far too often when it is not their fault.

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?

No I don't give any precautions against anything they may have picked up.

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.

We use the darkness on the young birds from March to 21st June my neighbour will come round and take the boards down. I personally don't think it bothers them in later life but many do think this causes them problems.

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.

My young birds are fed heavy when weaned then when they start to go outside the corn is cut down a bit but never really hungry or they wont exercise around the village, they are still growing so need to be fed correctly. 

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.

We do look to see if a pigeon has cast a flight but that is all.

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

If a test was carried out on my pigeons I don't think there would be a problem if there was I would want to know why and where it came from.

THE MOULT/WINTER

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

I do like the pigeons to have a good moult but I just leave them to it with feed and water.

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

The birds have the usual treatment, worming canker pmv and paramyxo.

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

I use Johnson's tonic and multivits, tried garlic but never really found it a benefit so don't use it anymore.

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

Johnson's tonic I am a big believer in this product, it has been around a long time.

GENERAL

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.

We would have preferred to race more on the channel but you have to make the most of what you have got. I think Peter Bryant has done a very good job for the sport.

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.

Not all pigeons will come from 600 miles and not everybody can prepare a pigeon for this sort of event. Even on a relatively easy day 600mls is still a lot of miles to cover for a racing pigeon. Wild birds do cover long distances but a racing pigeon has one aim and that is to get home as quickly as possible but wild birds are not in the same hurry and cover much less miles in any one-day.

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

There are many but I think Geoff Kirkland and it gave me great pleasure to get one either side of him in the section in the NFC. Geoff has been winning National races for many years, he ahs been consistent year on year. I also think that Geoff has been the best fancier in the country for many years.

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

Chris Gordons "Snydale Express" Roy Hardings Pau cock, Terry Williams Saints cock, which was probably the best pigeon to fly in to Cheshire and Mick Hassall's 30 all good pigeons that stick out in my mind. There are always good pigeons around but some are always going to be ahead of the rest.

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

People always look at a pigeons eye I am no expert on this subject but I can tell when a pigeon is in good condition from it.

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

Schools, if schools had pigeon lofts maybe some children would take an interest, the sport needs to press such things or we are going to continue to decrease in numbers.

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

Most of my pigeons have won money or they wouldn't be here so it is down to management.

What past mistakes have you learned from?

Not to overcrowd, only send pigeons when they are fit and healthy and be patient.

Who or what motivates you to remain successful?

I am always motivated but if somebody said something it would drive me on all the more. A conversation I had over the phone about my club performances was a typical point of motivation.

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".

Fanciers need to be consistent each year to the highest level to be called a top fancier but there are a lot of top fanciers out there that never get the recognition they deserve. A lot of recognition is down to scribes who cover the winners; some are highlighted more than others even though they have inferior performances.

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?

If fanciers choose to race just at club level that is up to them but if club results are used for sales purposes sometimes it can be misleading. The reason being that you can have a club with a lot of members but only a couple of top flyers, which take the majority of the prizes. On the other hand you can have a small club with just a few members but three or four top flyers then the first prizes are harder to come by.

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

No we are not professional pigeon fanciers and we don't claim to be, we enjoy pigeon racing as a hobby.

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.

I agree to limiting prizes per loft but if a fancier wants to send a loft of pigeons let them after all they are paying. I prefer to send one and take one and put some money on them it gives me more pleasure. Fanciers should not get disheartened and move to another club or leave the sport they should get there act together they are only kidding themselves when they move to an easier club.

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.

I believe you can still win against the big team man, some people that I know race to a small loft with pigeons from everywhere but they still put up excellent performances against top winning lofts with plenty of money behind them, plenty of birds and professional set-ups.

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?

Never really been interested in moots and panels but if people want to have them let them. Different fanciers get their enjoyment in different ways.

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

I don't totally agree with vaccination but if you have got to do it so be it, as for long term affects I have not noticed any but it is not natural to be injecting a body with anything when it is not needed.

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

The only time I took a pigeon to the vets I ended up telling her more about the pigeon and then getting charged for it so no more. If I have a problem with a pigeon I ring a friend or if he doesn't know he will know someone that does.

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?

I consider the British to be equal or if not better than the continentals in pigeon racing but when you listen to them we are 20 years behind. I bet they wouldn't like to move next door to some of our top fanciers look at Brian Shepard

What is your view on pigeon shows and showing?

We used to do quit a bit of showing but now prefer to leave the birds in the loft but if people want to show I think it is a good thing socialising over the winter months.

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

I never stop reading anything to do with pigeons articles you can never stop learning and listening if you think you can you are mistaken.

What aspect of the sport interests you the most?

All aspects of the sport are interesting and I enjoy it all otherwise what is the point of racing pigeons in the first place.

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

I feel people need to move on and not get stuck in their ways and I don't think clubs should be able to pick and choose who they want in.

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.

If I was given the opportunity to do so I would be very confident coming out with a good pair might not be the pair that they say are the best but my choice could be different to there's.

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

My loft of pigeons is stronger than it has been for years because it takes time to build a good reliable team I have live at this address for 7 years.

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

Life is too short to be falling out at the end of the day its only pigeon racing get out and enjoy it while you can.