Parkinson L.J                   

Most of April was a good time to train and race pigeons compared to previous years, we don’t usually get so much good training weather at that time of the year. Even so some fanciers were still struggling to get them into the early April races, when it gets like that then there is a lot of work to be done to catch up. What has been a benefit is the dryer than usual month, so even though the temperature could have been a bit higher it was still good to train. Some fanciers are only looking to compete in the channel, National and Classic races so are not too fussed is they miss a race or two in April. The problem for the more northerly fanciers is getting their birds ready for such races because the likes of the BICC do start early and getting them into a decent race prior to that isn’t always easy. Up here in Cheshire we could do with getting a coastal race in by the end of April. Then a couple of weeks with work at home as part of their preparation for the National and Classic races most of which start in mid to late May. However, I have always believed that good pigeons for the Nationals etc. don’t need all the hard training as those for the sprint races require, if they are going to win. Look at our athletes in the 100 & 200mtr races, they are mostly all muscle, and they get that through hard work in the gym as well as the track. Yes, the long-distance runners do put time in on the road but not speed training, they train at a more leisurely pace and cover greater distances. I do believe that distance pigeons cover the distance because they pace themselves, they don’t come out of the basket all guns blazing. Pigeons bred for the distance appear to have their own built-in stamina and instinctively know how to use it, so roadwork is not so essential, they can spend time on the wing around the loft and build their muscles up to suit the distance. I also think pigeons on the open hole benefit when it comes to the distance because they are coming and going all day. How far do we consider it to be a distance race, when I first started it was the Pau Grand National that stood head and shoulders above the rest and that was the race so many wanted to win, and many still go for that race as their climax to the season. The difference is the length of the country, with the shorter flying members only getting around 520 to 570mls out of The Grand National race. Whereas from the lower part of the Midlands upwards they get 600mls plus. Where we are in Cheshire, we get a good distance race out of Tarbes at nearly 700mls, which is the one I like, mind you Tarbes doesn’t have the same excitement in the name as the Pau Grand National used to have.  The fanciers in the lower part of the country can get that kind of distance out of Barcelona and I know fanciers who get the same feeling as I do when clocking out of Tarbes. So, one way or another we can all get a good distance race of around 700mls, pity there’s so much distance between the first and last droppers, here in the UK. A few years ago, through trying different systems I sorted out what suited me as well as the pigeons and had a few good results out of the Grand National races, I enjoyed them so much. The first time I clocked from Pau to finish 45^th Open 684mls, tears were running down my cheeks looking at the blue cock standing just above the loft door, and I hadn’t even opened the doors to let him in. It was only when Dave sent Elizabeth down the garden that I opened the doors and clocked him. At the time Elizabeth asked why I was not in a hurry to clock him, to which I replied, “We both know we have done our jobs, so the rest doesn’t matter”. I have still got that urge to compete from 700mls today, it has always been my ultimate target in pigeon racings. Even so, when we get going again there will be a section for a sprint team which will keep Ebony happy in her racing.  

BOP

The comments about BOP in an article from two weeks ago saw 6 calls come my way and all with the same issue, they are losing far too many pigeons to BOP. Two have said they are making this their last season because they cannot sustain these loses from their young bird teams who are the lofts future. A fancier over in Lincolnshire lost 30 from his young bird team just flying around home. His problem is he is not far from the church where they have a nesting pair of Peregrines and times such as now when they are in full swing breeding, they need a lot of pigeons to feed a nest of young. I know it’s annoying losing so many pigeons’ year after year but what is even more annoying is the Peregrines appear to leave the stray pigeons alone. They have probably learnt that they are not as tasty and they are more streetwise, we will never truly know. There are more and more area’s where the Peregrines are appearing and I am hearing many are breeding in unnatural conditions, when I say that they are having places set to tempt them to breed. It could be a case that some of these not so natural nesting sites are set up with the Ferrell pigeons in mind but if that’s the case it doesn’t appear to be working. In Middlewich, around the church area there are a lot of strays and people at the church are complaining because they are making so much mess. At one time an ex-pigeon fancier was feeding strays on top of his garage in St Ann’s Road, there were 40/50, but since he passed away, they have gradually gone from that area of the town. I suspect they are mostly now on the church or the old building opposite that looks as if it needs knocking down, having said that I suppose while they are in that building, they are keeping off the church. In many cases this is what gives racing pigeons a bad name even though back garden lofts are not to blame. One thing you can be sure about, the situation that we are in with the BOP is not going to get any better, their numbers are increasing year on year. I have kept my eye open for the Buzzard gathering, but I have not seen them since. Living in Middlewich there is one thing we can be thankful for, we don’t see many BOP in this area, odd ones now and again but that’s all, we are not being pestered with several of them day after day. I had a great comment on my 6^th call on this subject which was, “It’s like breeding wolves for the wild and them taking all the sheep, they would soon do something about it.” But as always us poor pigeon fanciers must put up and shut up. We talk about BOP the biggest problem we have in the garden are the starlings and wood pigeons. We have two bird tables and hanging feeders so it’s our own fault that they’re so attracted to the garden. The starlings certainly communicate between themselves because there are none about but then when we put the mealworms on the borders for the smaller birds you can bet a starling will appear, he will make a noise and they appear from everywhere. There are a few species that come every day but the ones that Elizabeth likes are the two robins. I know they say that you don’t get two cock Robins in the same garden but that is not the case here. We have one appearing for most of the year but the other disappears at this time of the year and comes back months later. For some reason I have it in my head that they go to breed in one of the Scandinavian countries, not sure whether that is correct. We also have bluetits, what I think is a greenfinch appearing from time to time and a pied wagtail, Robins, and sparrows. I need to get one of these kits they advertise for bird watch and check up on what they are.  

Results

The last day of April saw mixed fortunes for fanciers with some having good races while others suffered. I was looking at the BICC result where there were drops in the velocities that we don’t expect in such competitive races. I know that a few gaps will be filled in, second/third pigeons etc. when the result is published. This is one of those cases where we ask ourselves, “If they have done it what has happened to the rest from the same liberation” I had a text from an excited Wayne on the night saying that on first times he was 4^th section 118^th Open which I don’t think is a bad pigeon over at Newmarket. I say that because when you look at the result the majority have come up the west side of the country, we know this will change later but he was happy because these are the races that he wants to have a go at. He does have some good friends over there who have been very helpful, including John Black, John Searle and Dave Downing plus a few others. There have always been fanciers to talk to and no doubt Wayne has picked up bits of information from here and there. When Wayne moved to Newmarket Dave Downing gave him two young birds, it was a cock out of this pair that has proven to be his best pigeon having been 4^th section 269^th Open Guernsey last year and on first times 4^th section 118^th Open in the BICC Race. I have included an eye shot and one of Wayne with the BICC Cock.

This is the kind of help and encouragement that fanciers need in the sport, especially after he has had a few setbacks with health issues that he now looks to have got over. In the Acton Bridge club who now mark their birds at the Middlewich FC headquarters it was a clean sweep for Curtis-Wall-Lunt take the first 4 with 3 yearlings and a 2yo recording vels of 1714ypm (2) and 1711ypm (2). In the South West Cheshire Fed Billy (King) Wilson has done it again in the club taking the top two positions and has also topped the fed plus being 3^rd recording vels of 1624/1619ypm. Charlie Peel is having a good run in the races this year with 1^st club 2^nd fed on 1619ypm. 4^th Fed goes to Mark Smith in his first race of the season with a vel of 1599ypm, Mark flew well in both clubs and is happy with the way they came. 1^st & 2^nd in the Winsford club go to Mike & Keith Hitchin on 1612/1610ypm. Mr & Mrs Nigel Shaw are at it again taking the first three in the club plus 7^th 8^th 9^th Fed clocking up vels of 1610 (2) & 1608ypm. That leaves 10^th to Mr & Mrs Richard Young who once again top the list in the Crewe West End recording a vel of 1608ypm. Always nice to see the winners of each club getting on the fed sheet where they only list the first 10 in the fed, when it goes round everyone is happy. The Mid Cheshire Fed are going well with their birdage after seeing 2,629 entered by 139 members in the Cheltenham 2 race were liberated at 10.45am. The top 4 positions go to Mr & Mrs Carl Hickman racing in the Acton Bridge club to record vels of 1731/1721/1720 (2) ypm. The next 4 go to the ever-present Curtis-Wall-Lunt team as can be seen in the Acton Bridge club above. L Owen from Sankey Bridge cover the other two positions in the top 10 recording vels of 17.3/1702ypm. Sankey Bridge were the biggest senders in the fed with 334 birds from 11 members taking 15 of the top 40 positions, so, some tough competition going on there. I was looking at the ages of the pigeons and there were 17 yearlings and 16 x 2yo’s in the top 40 of the federation which shows where the strength is in these early races. I would expect these figures to change the further down the road we go, mind you there are still fanciers who like to get their yearlings as far as possible and achieve success with them. Here in Middlewich the members are doing well in the two federations, as can be seen above “King” Billy with the 5B takes the top two in the SWC Fed. The Middlewich FC was won by M & H Smith who is also 2^nd & 3^rd North section 18^th & 19^th Open in the MCF. This is the first weekends racing for Mark who was also 3^rd in the 5B club.

Caught up.

Yes, I have caught up to date with my breeding records in the stock loft, it was quite easy when they had gone down a second time. Mind you it is one mistake that I will not make again, making myself extra work. After so many calls I have decided to stock Vior once again for two reasons, 1. I believe it is the best pigeon product on the market and 2 it works otherwise there would not be so many fanciers after it. There will be adverts in the BHW shortly.

Les Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.

Tel: +44 (0)1606 836036. Mob: +44 (0)7871 701585.

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Web site: http://www.elimarpigeons.com