Established 1979 Company Number: 11693988 VAT Registration Number: 284 0522 13 +44 (0)1606 836036 +44 (0)7871 701585 elimarpigeons@gmail.com

Parkinson72 141106

 

LES J.PARKINSON'S

NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES

 

Amtrak

I have tried to contact Amtrak at Bristol about the form to become an account holder for pigeon fanciers but at the moment I have had no luck. So with no response by the time I put these notes together I decided to send them a fax outlining what fanciers see as a problem. First of all the forms are set out for a business so the everyday fancier would not see it as an easy form to complete because of certain requirements, there are fields that cannot be completed. People who are not used to such forms become a little uncertain as to what they should do and many give up.

ETS

Had a few interesting letters/e-mails/conversations on my comments in last weeks notes, what I cannot understand is why some are going against the advice of the RPRA solicitors in the fact that they say we have to do something.  There’s no back door job just a straightforward decision to be made in line with the law of the land. I had a good conversation with a fancier who described himself as “At 35 I am one of the younger members of the sport” He had quite a few questions all based on why the system is not being accepted and had quite a few points to put forward. His major concern was that he had been told that the system could be moved to the most favourable position around the garden or set outside the loft. I know what he was getting at because it was even said that you could put the pad on a long pole and when the pigeon was flying round the censor would clock a pigeon in that way, some people also live with the fairies. The pad is connected to a cable that goes into the clocking base unit so is limited as to where the system can be set. Besides I would think that any club worth it’s salt would have inspections and agreements where the pads are acceptable and even sealed in position. What fanciers must remember is where these stories come from in the first place and you can bet that they are from those who object to the system in the first place and not from a genuine concerned fancier. The pads need to be set within the framework of the lofts and that should be the only place where they are acceptable. There is nothing whatsoever stopping the clubs putting a seal on them once they are in position; all rules concerning the system could be at the clubs discretion. What about the number of birds clocked in, again if the club want a limit then why not set one because there are already clubs with 2 bird limits at club level but the rest can go forward to the federation or combine. Such limits would probably be best suited to races up to a certain distance because they are the only ones where a fancier is likely to clock the first ten or so in the club. I know there is a possibility that it can be done from across the channel into the North West but that is only when they have a helping wind. Why not go for lottery grants to purchase the system, that’s the best option and then the club owns and controls them. I am more than confident that the makers will be more than pleased to help any club to get the system up and running with such a venture. The cost of rings is high but I would think that most fanciers would not fit them until they are getting close to the actual races. By doing this fanciers would limit their loss of valuable rings. The other big problem is when pigeons with these ETS rings on go into other lofts we know that some are being removed by vindictive people. There have been a few returns to the Europa Classic minus their ETS ring and when we were in Las Vegas last year Ed Sittner was telling us that the same thing happens in the USA so it is not just a UK problem. There is not an obstacle against the system that cannot quite easily be resolved at club level. all the sport needs is for the RPRA to take a step forward and accept the system before it all brings racing pigeons in disrepute.

North West Classic Club

This weekend sees the AGM of the NWCC at the Boars Head Hotel Middlewich but we will not be present, as I have pointed out I have resigned as secretary due to the workload. It’s a job that I have enjoyed but there comes a point when you can only stretch yourself so far and we have reached that point. The website is taking up more and more of my time everything has affected some of the things that I like doing in the sport such as visiting and writing about winning fanciers. The club has not had the best of years because like others they have suffered with the avian flu business, which as we saw in Peter Bryant’s report that it has seriously affected the profit margins of the governing body.

Shows

This year has seen Jane Aspin and Dave Healey organise shows for the Middlewich clubs being held on a Sunday lunchtime. Most of the local fanciers who liked to show their pigeons used to go to the Meadowbank club Winsford but where banned after winning too much in the show races. So far there have been two shows and both have been successful with 70 plus in the first old hens class and 80 plus for the old cocks. They are also having pools to go with the nom so a bit of extra interest for those competing. The first show saw Dave & Lynn Healey collect the red card with a 4y blue pied hen that has won in the pen before. A ylg blue chequer Starview Busschaert that was raced as a young bird was 2nd for Billy Whisker. The single bird nom went to Phil Buckton who was 3rd with a Dordin blue pied hen in her first show with a blue Dordin also being 4th for Geoff Matthews. Peter & Dawn Latham were Res with a dark ylg hen while Carol & Robert Carson saw a 2y black pied Busschaert collect vhc. Parkinson & Wilkinson were hc with a Dordin silver leaving the com card to a 3y tick eyed chequer belonging to Jimmy Smith. 

Photos

Chris Knowles sent me a couple of photos that he took at the Lancashire Social Circle Centenary even earlier this month. I was also talking to Geoff Kirkland who had been there and said that he enjoyed the whole weekend because there were many very good fanciers present and plenty of good conversations. I have also included one from the past of a Mid Cheshire fed presentation.

Mid Cheshire Fed Prize Presentation some 20 or so years ago.

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