TRAINING

by Jim Emerton

The essence of racing pigeons is condition. How this is achieved is a variable proposition. In my ardent youth I spent miles and miles with baskets of birds on the road, sometimes with good effect. Then I began to realise, that entry in races as a build up to key events was the way forward with targeted race points along the route. On an open loft system, in the country, where birds obeyed their instincts, I had the happy realisation that for my objectives no additional road training was required to peak birds in July. The NFC Nantes was my key conditioner for all yearlings and upwards at 466 miles, every year. Maximum feeding is essential for this rigorous regime. Home exercise then is the quintessence of the art/science fusion - they can be flagged, on regular out/in periods of controlled flight, with some road training if needed.

In marathon racing i.e. over 700 miles the objective is the conservation of energy, and a gradual increase in musculature for International competition. I like my birds plump in April, to withstand the survival severity of complex and difficult tasks ahead. It is all about the realisation of long term goals, as opposed to the rapid buzz and instant gratification of shorter distance events, where fire and aggression constitute psychological readiness. I find that racing is an outward expression of personality and psychological type of man and bird. We all have dreams/ambitions/theories and aspirations, yet the cutting edge of reality for breeders and racers is to enter the flying birds into the fireblade of competition, when race conditions act as the final arbiter.

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Elimar - March 2014