THE SPORTING LIFE AFTER MONEY.
Money rules many people and is revered like a god. There is life after the pursuit of money, which is less tangible. It lies in the pursuit of excellence, if not obsessive perfectionism and self-improvement. I like to see the raising of the bar to new heights both for the fancier and the performances of the birds. A focused eye can see the level aspired to in International level racing, especially at Barcelona. It is the formula 1 of global pigeon racing, placing great demands on quality of man and bird. You cannot buy the feeling of timing a good one from this epic migration. The feelings are existential on a higher plane and may be mystical.
Jim Emerton.
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DOMINANCE BEHAVIOUR
Within human groups is a distinct pecking order within a hierarchy. There are dominants and subordinates in all sexes. The wise man avoids getting his own head pecked, through being sharp, shrewd and perceptive. With foresight and acumen you can see it coming within the power struggle for control and dominance and bullying often due to aggressive personality traits. I see dominance behaviour in birds, dogs and many lifeforms within the natural world. It is driven from within the brain and psyche of the individual. It is one reason why I am a bit of an isolate in terms of my own inner being-an existentialist of a singular mindset.
Jim Emerton.
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Learning How to Practice Pigeon Racing.
I feel a basic understanding of nature and livestock is important as a child-I was 3 when starting with pigeons and birds! Read all you can in the media of books, magazines and the net and study the sciences if you can. Get out and about in the natural world and make a study of all the birds and animals you meet. As you mature it is time to talk to your local pigeon fanciers, great and small. Later befriend the local ace and learn from him and his methods in first-hand experience ,when he answers your loaded questions. Join a club as a boy and learn as you go to fly club sprint races and know the meaning of the red card. Be ambitious and rise up the ladder to International level of racing. Starting as a boy apprentice, I have now 8 books on Amazon.co.uk and a DVD film on my life in racing pigeons-it is amazing what dedication can bring-
Jim Emerton.
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THE RECLUSIVE FANCIER.
I know a few men, great fanciers, who are private, non-commercial and stay under the radar. They do not need or want the fuss of fame and all the power and ego games in mainstream, popular consciousness. Personal satisfaction is the modus Vivendi, without splashing egos and conceit about. Neil Bush and Nick Harvey are the personifications of these traits. I do admire their monasterial dedication to marathon racing, pure and simple. Both men have a touch of genius about them in terms of specialist strain building by individuals.
Jim Emerton.
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LETTER FROM AUTHOR JIM EMERTON.
An idea I have long expressed is the concept of National and International racing made available for all in the UK and Ireland. It is at the highest, hardest and most advanced level of the pigeon sport, so make it wide open for all to see how good they are and the birds, in a series of races as far as Barcelona in Spain. In practice, the reality could be a series of meetings to discuss and finalise the politics/personalities/logistics and finer detail of this idea of greater unity of action for all serious competitors. The whole nature of the change can, with the right will transform racing as we know with a rocket up the backside of its foundations.
Jim Emerton.
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