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Parkinson163 31108

 

LES J. PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

I have received quite a few calls about the decision by Elimar to resign as press officers from the National FC. This is down to time and we do want to race our pigeons in the 09 season. As most people who know me well are aware that if I do anything I am fully committed and when anyone does commit themselves then other areas suffer and in our case it is the races that we compete in. There is also another point with the club and that is as press officer for the country’s premier club the members need a contact point. With the position and the fact that fancier know that I am always available and will answer the phone 7 days a week I get numerous calls over the NFC. Through all the years that I have held a secretarial position within the sport I have always made myself available because there are many in the sport who do work for a living and if not could not race their pigeons. Contact during the day is not always convenient especially in the changing ways of management who are constantly cutting back. Those phone calls that we used to get away with are now being checked upon and people told that they must cease which makes it harder to make contact. Yes the mobile phone is available but not everyone has one and with an ever increasing senior membership that is always going to be the case. You would be surprised at the number of calls I get from younger people who are acting for their father or in some cases grandfathers behalf with the website. Also in a few cases I get calls from ladies who once the connection is made hand the phone over to their other half because they don’t like using the phone. I had a conversation with a fancier who had packed up as a secretary and could not believe how quiet it went at night and how much more time he had on his hands. I asked the question, “Why didn’t you have a cut off time” to which he replied “Because many fanciers still work and I always made myself available” My immediate thought was, not many do. Having said that the majority who race their pigeons in the bigger clubs do work because you are not going to race in the National and Classic races without an good income. I have also finished as press officer with the Europa Classic; perhaps a spell away will bring about some new ideas in publicity for both organisations.

British International Championship Club

The latest management committee meeting of the BICC saw the committee make an eventful meeting take place. Committee members present were Mrs J M Deacon, A J Deacon, J. Wills, B. V. Corbin, Russell Bradford, M. Bunney, J. M. Armitage,, A. B. Coker, R. Wills, N. Rigiani, A. J. Crathorne, J. Nicholson. Members present included N.Lane, B.Hobbs, Bill Woodall, Geoff Preece, C. Simmons, S. Nicholson. There were apologies from Joe Szarvas, (Holiday), M. Harvey, (Sickness). To help out the distribution of crates and to ease the collection of birds there were an additional 50 new crates were available for the 08 season. The additional races were always going to be a problem for the secretary because they were over running one another so changes had to be made. As a past secretary from club to combine level I understand the problems that so many races can cause and this is probably the most demanding secretaries job in the country. Only a few years ago you were talking of less than 400 members now there are in the region of 1200. The club has moved forward at a fair pace that has been unequalled in the sport over the same period. The committee discussed the race programme and there will now be 4 National races, 5 International races and a Young Bird/ Old Hens race. This is still a tough programme for the secretary but no doubt Jan and Alby will succeed. The next item on the agenda were the finances that will now be put into two accounts in the bet interest of the club. The thoughts of the committee are for the future of the club and the transportation of the birds into the future. The money will be protected with 4 signatures required. Marking stations are an important part of such a club and they need to be right and with the decision to re-instate Higham. It was also agreed to have an International Marking Station run by Dave Posey and Steve Holmes at Woodstock Oxfordshire for a trial period of 1 year. Adrian Crathorne then asked if it was possible for a Transporter to pick up from Manchester. It was explained to him that to send a 17 ton pigeon transporter up to Manchester to pick up at the best way 300 birds was not economical. Brian Long had previously told Mr Crathorne when he applied for the Marking Station that this would never be possible due to the time factor and the drivers having to reach deadlines with the ferries and the costs. This marking station was in it’s early days but with the committee decision the i/c has decided that he will no longer run the station. However if anyone else is interested in running and keeping the station open please contact the secretary. With regards to the International scene Bill Woodall, who travels with the International birds told the members that the birds were better off being transported to Gistel Marking Station to connect with the International convoy as they were well looked after with plenty of room in each crate but if they were basketed a day later then they would be kept in long queues with other transporters for hours. With Bill being a veteran of the International scene the Committee took his advice and decided to keep the marking days as they have been in the past. The officials are also negotiating with Andrew Daniels with regard to borrowing the smaller transporter for the International races. The driver/convoyer was then asked if he could make a route and departure times for all collections. In the past the club have had the privilege of the use of Brian Longs feeder lorries. We now have only the two transporters and all marking times will have to change so that he will be able to meet the ferries in time. Marking times to be advised by each station. The agreed changes for collections on the eastern side will be published in due course; the west side will remain the same. In previous years the late Brian Long has guaranteed £500 prize money but that will not now be the case so the following has been put forward, that we pay £100 for the winner and £50 for the winner of each section for the 2008 season. The race programme for 2009 will be as follows. Falaise 2nd May. Alencon 16th May. Angers 30th May. Limoges 13th June. The birdage charges will be: - 1st & 2nd National races be £2.50 per bird and for the 3rd & 4th National race  £3.00 per bird. Each marking station will deduct 20p per bird marked before banking the takings to cover all expenses incurred in the running of the station except rubbers and seals, which will be provided by the B.I.C.C. I have had a few calls about the race programme and the fact that there are now only 4 National races for next season and many are happy with that because they are handy for getting the pigeons ready for the Internationals. There are going to be some not too impressed with one less but that is the way it goes in the sport you cannot please everyone.

Photos

This week's photos were taken at the CSCFC weekend when we were invited along as guests of Alan Blake. They include one of the very likeable Brian Shepard strutting his stuff on the dance floor. It was nice to see Bill Harris at the presentation and we snapped him with Kevin Bakes and Bergerac winner of the year in the CSCFC Colin Angel. While down south we also called in to see Anna Crowley and Richard green at the lofts where many big winners have been clocked over the years. Then there is an old picture that was presented to Anna & Richard. no doubt someone will know more about it than we do.

Kevin Bakes, Bill Harris and Colin Angel Anna Crowley.

Richard Green and Les J. Parkinson.

A picture that was presented to Crowley & Green.

Brian Sheppard strutting his stuff on the dance floor at the CSCFC.

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.   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  web-site www.elimarpigeons.com 

Chris photos