MIDLANDS NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
MIKE LAKIN
2014 - It’s Looking Good For The Midlands National F.C.
I am delighted to be able to announce that the outlook for the coming season is a very rosy one for the M.N.F.C. and there are many good reasons for this some of which I shall highlight over the following paragraphs.
- It is now official that the membership of the club has once again shown an increase in size which is fantastic news for all who are involved with us. Considering the loss in active participation of our sport this feat by the M.N.F.C. is quite amazing.
- Our ring sales are also well in advance on this same time last year. This is due to nearly 10,000 rings being snapped up by the new members who have recently decided to swell our ranks.
- Our Gold Ring sales are also showing a likely increase on last year’s figure at this moment in time with nearly £7,500 already in the 'Prize Pot'. If the sales are maintained I can see a figure of close to £10,000 being achieved. So if you fancy your chances of a '‘flutter' then it would be wise to invest in a few. These rings are priced at £6 each and members can purchase up to a maximum of 10.
- Another thing that it is very pleasing to announce is that it would appear that the club’s initiative idea of holding '2 Bird Nominated Races' which are aligned to each of the 2014 race calendar has been well accepted as members who have commented to me say that it will be a real test of both pigeon and fancier and reveal his nominating skills. At a cost of £10 with all the money less expenses going in the races prize money it could be a real ‘money spinner’ with both good prize money and great pride available all for a ‘tenner’.
- Though our race prize money is dictated and generated by race entries because the committee refuses to compromise our budget unlike some other organisations who in truth spend beyond their means in an vain effort to hang on to our ‘coat tails’. The committee have pledged to put a nice bonus amount on each of our races for the coming season. This decision was made quite simply because the club is doing ‘just nicely’ as our President Roy Jones often says. This is the reward to the membership for the trust placed in the hands of our committee and thanks to a decent profit from 2013 so now its payback time. We are also continuing with our large glossy Handbook which is simply due to the fact that the members like it as it is a real ‘holdall’ of everything you need for the forthcoming race season. This is made possible because of efforts and the hard work of a small team of workers who once again have increased our tally of advertisers who realise with a little persuasion from our sales team that it is to their benefit to place an advert with the MNFC the most forward thinking club in the U.K.. It is most pleasing to note that many are repeat orders which must mean that it was well worth placing an ad with the club. Which means it goes out to well over two thousands of the country’s keenest fanciers. So if you are reading this piece and wish to place an advert with us there is still time, just. So contact 01782 624440 quickly as we will shortly be going to print for postal delivery in mid-April time.
What other news have I got to report? Well work is still going on with the co-operation and financial support of our governing body the R.P.R.A. to complete the website www.flyingbacktonature.com which we are convinced will help to educate our newest generation of school children to become more aware of animals and especially racing pigeons. It is hoped that if the Education Authorities support this venture which is to the benefit of all pupils and will help to produce better educated and more ‘rounded’ adults in this new often toxic computer led environment. The spin off will be that hopefully more youngsters will be attracted to our hobby and help to increase our numbers who participate in pigeon racing.
Thanks to the endeavours of a small number including Peter Humphries aided and abetted by Richard Chambers and Jim Jenner the MNFC is working closely with the RPRA and Bletchley Park to mark 100 years Anniversary since World War I and the massive involvement played by racing pigeons in both World Wars. This website which will be completed very shortly is called www.secretmessages.org.uk Believe me it will be well worth watching with a real feel factor and also another great educational tool. So I ask all readers who have either children or grandchildren at school to let their school know about these superb websites which includes the exploits of ‘Winkie’ and ‘G.I.Joe’ who both saved hundreds of our servicemens lives between them.
Another thing which the MNFC along with other concerned organisations are meeting shortly to investigate how the sport can stamp out the risk of a small minority of people racing pigeons which have been prepared and entered using illegal substances. We hope that with the support of the RPRA that we can completely guide fanciers in a clear manner just what substances are on the ‘Illegal Drugs & Substances List’. The MNFC has already selected an ‘Anti Drugs’ Committee as we are determined that all our races our flown by ‘clean pigeons’. The need has once again arisen since Belgium’s governing organisation the KBDB revealed that they have recently identified a problem in their country and they are to be applauded for the prompt way that they are tackling the problem. I on behalf of the MNFC have spoken at length to the Barrister who is dealing with the problem in Belgium and he has promised to keep me informed of his findings to which we should all be most grateful, taken on board and implemented A.S.A.P.
Finally we have placed a Subscription Form in this week’s paper so if you are within our radius and wish to join and swell our ranks even further then get it filled in along with your ring requirements and we will get you signed up to the most progressive club in the country. Then you can think just like our other members ‘Yes I want to win a National race’.
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