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LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

Flying the distance is not everyone’s cup of tea because of the time element involved, it’s a case of being patient and most fanciers do not have any at all when it comes to the distance events. I was talking to a fancier who knows how to fly the distance and it would be nice to know how many fanciers do not give their birds a chance to get their best distance before parting with them. Pigeons that will stick at it will fly a land race and take all day but put them in a long distance race and they will keep flying all day and never give up and end up winners. It is the persistence that is in distance pigeons that keeps them going when others have given up for the day. Working on a percentage basis as pointed out there are not a great deal of fanciers who can race the distance because they do not have the required patience and that is why you see the majority of names in the distance events the same year after year. So why do they keep doing it, well when they first started they were observant enough to see the pigeons return after a days fly with nothing taken out of them at all. They have seen this as strength and then built on that to help them establish a team that will come good year after year. It would also be interesting to find out what percentages of pigeons in the established long distance lofts actually make the grade. There is also the point that when you purchase pigeons from a long distance loft you are going to be lucky to get the pigeons that will breed the winners at that chosen distance. I am going to put a set of questions together specifically for the long distance fanciers. I will follow up on this when I can get some more details together because there is so much that could be written about long distance pigeons and how they evolve. We know that they need it in the blood but what other ingredients do they need for the whole package.   

Hello from South Africa,

It is always interesting to hear from other fanciers around the world and here is an extract from a fancier from South Africa, “I am 61 years young and intend restarting in the sport after a break of just over 10 years. I previously raced from the age of 12 for 39 years but due to being retrenched had to give up - family first, hobby second. I had reasonable success through the years holding my own in the Malvern & Districts and later on in the extremely strong Alberton Homing Society (Johannesburg area) , both at club and Union level. Lady Luck smiled on me five years before giving up when I was fortunate enough to become purchase a stunning Jos Kessel (Germany) cock as well as a Desire Acke hen on a dispersal auction. This pair produced seven separate winners for me and their offspring carried on the 'tradition' by producing 11 winners - at Union level with up to 3600 birds competing. A hen from this pair, bred well for a very good friend and produced 7 winners in three years mated to three different cocks. Really great pigeons unfortunately the person that purchased them (all) from me passed away two years later and his ageing mother allowed all and sundry access to the birds which are now untraceable. I have completed a small breeding loft (for no more than 8 pairs), and will be competing in the Maritzburg Specialist Club, hopefully, in 2011. This club is associated to the KwaZulu Natal Combine which has around 160 members. I now live in the town of Hilton, about 135 km North-West of Durban, close to the Drakensberg Mountains. Racing appears far more relaxed here than in Johannesburg and I am keenly anticipating 2011. Distances range from about 200 km to just under 900 km with the majority of races concentrated around 550 km. Terrain covered is fairly mountainous and velocities average about 1300 m/min with a few faster up to 1800m/min. and some very tough at under 1000 m/min. especially when there is any 'east' in the wind. Weather conditions are usually good with very little rain during the racing season. Regards, TP”

Club news

The last show for the Middlewich members was the Christmas show when 70 birds were entered to be judged by Bob Smith & Tommy Hawkins. 1st 2nd went to Carol & Robert Carson who have had a good series winning the overall show trophy. Granddad Ted Carson was 3rd with Jimmy Smith 4th.  The club would like to thank all those who took part in the show series and look forward to seeing you again next season. Also a big thank you to the judges who gave their time to call in and inspect the entries each Sunday lunchtime. There is also a thnk you to everyone who helped with the buffet that was well done and they did a good job of it. Next news is from Kenny Burke who has sent the prize list from the Lostock Gralam HS who paid out £26 for the land races and £50 for each of the channel races. At the head of the list is Robert Kent with £280 and the OB & channel aves, Fougeres, Niort & longest YB trophies plus £150 noms this was after winning 9x1sts, 11x2nds, 5x3rds, 7x4ths. Keith Herbert is next on the list with the YB ave, Comb ave and Lessay trophy plus 5x1sts, 4x2nds, 6x3rds, 4x4ths and a total of £135 and also collects £42 as winner of the Gold Ring scheme. Then we have Kenny Burke who picked up the OB inland and Messac trophies after winning 4x1sts, 3x2nds, 6x3rds, 4x4ths along with £25 noms amongst a total of £118. Ian Copper came in 4th on the list with £52 and £20 noms. Other winners are K Riley & Son £28, Malc Hewitt £28, Bob Hall, N D Bloor who was also 2nd in the ring scheme, Alan Dimelow and J Lambert.

Bert Jones and Bob Smith

Alan Groom and Bob Smith

Robert Carson and Bob Smith

Jimmy Smith and Bob Smith

Judges Bob Smith and Tommy Hawkins

Kenny Lamb and Bob Smith

Ted Carson and Bob Smith

Les J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ. Tel/Fax; 01606 836036. Mobile 07871 701585 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. web-site www.elimarpigeons.com

Chris photos