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JIMMY &
SUSAN DICKENS
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The
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Appollo |
Big
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Over the last few years I have increasingly come into contact with Jimmy and Susan through the North West Classic Club and have found them to be very honest and constructive in their views on the sport. So I hope that you gain something from reading this article. at the time of completing the first part in this series I have yet to visit their lofts but by the time the next one appears you can be sure that we will have been and gained even more information on what makes them tick. So like the last series if you have anything that you want to know and it is a sensible question why not drop me a line. However what you must remember is that there are going to be some 50 plus questions appearing in this series so be the time we have finished all your question's may well have been answered.
Q. What organisations do you race with.
A. Firstly our two Saturday clubs, are Leigh and District Homing Society which is part of the Warrington Federation, which we have been a member of since, starting racing pigeons in 1975. .Our loft location is one of the most westerly flyers both for the Club and the Warrington Federation. We are also members of the There on Homing Society which is part of the New Lancashire Federation, our position in this Club and Federation is the shortest flying member, we have been flying in this Club since 1997. We also are members of the Leigh Midweek Flying Club that we use mostly for training our pigeons. The specialist Clubs that we are in, are the North West Classic Club, The Midland National Flying Club. The North West Grand National Club. We enjoying flying in these specialist Clubs, mainly because they are flying mostly over the Channel from France, which tests our pigeons to the best of their abilities. This also gives you the opportunity to fly against competitors and the top fanciers from the North West, and from fanciers flying 100 miles less than ourselves and also flying into Yorkshire in the Midlands National.
Q. You have quoted your position on being Easterly or Westerly do you set any stall by the position and if so why.
A. If you had asked us this question in the late seventies and early eighties, we would have said position dose not matter that much, in those days we were one of the very few lofts flying the widowhood system, most people were flying the Natural system. Our birds were winning out of turn or most weeks, whatever the wind be it, North, South, East or West. Flying in the strong South Lancashire Combine with over 5,000 pigeons every week, we had a three week run of 1,2nd,3rd, twice and 2,3rd,and 4th position in the Combine. We had the Busschaert's back in 1978, one of our top pigeons was "Flying Solo" he won 12-1st Prizes his son Oscar won 11-1st Prizes in one season, we lost him at a training toss 20 miles down the road. Now the majority of pigeon fanciers are on the widowhood system it is much more difficult to win especially when the odds are against you, it can be done, but it takes a special pigeon wanting to get home. But more often than not the weight of the pigeons and the wind determine where the winners are. We have done well with the wind against us but it is difficult, the longer distance the wind doesn't matter as much, but still plays a part. It has never deterred us entering a race.
Q. Give the readers the basic results that you have achieved as a partnership.
A. Our basic results as a partnership, we started flying in 1975, but we did not keep records as far back as that, even though we achieved great results in the late seventies early eighties. Starting from 1991 when we really got going with the Staf-Van-Reets.1991; 14 x1st, 20 x nds, 10 x 3rds, 6 x 4ths. 1992 - 34 x 1st, 27 x 2nds, 25 x 3rds,15 x 4ths. 1993 41 x1st, 41 x 2nds, 25 x 3rds, 14 x 4ths. 1994 33 x 1st, 27 x 2nds, 35 x 3rds, 20 x 4ths. 1995 - 40 x1st, 30 x 2nds, 28 x 3rds, 22 x 4ths 1996 40 x 1st, 40 x 2nds, 28 x 3rds, 27 x 4ths, 1997 45 x 1st, 33 x 2nds, 27 x 3rds, 19 x 4ths. 1998 57 x 1sts, 32 x 2nds, 20 x 3rds, 12 x 4ths. 1999 59 x 1sts, 30-2nds, 31-3rds, 22 x 4ths. 2000 - Up to writing this answer, we have won 48 -1st prizes, 29 - 2nd prizes, 22 - 3rd prizes and 14 - 4th prizes, with good results at Classic level.