THE GOOD, THE BAD OR THE UGLY??

No, it?s not the candidates for the forthcoming Election or the political parties they represent, it?s the aggravating subject of websites.
Just recently I have had cause to visit several club and Federation websites to try and gain information for one reason or another, and have been appalled by so many aspects of their presentations.
I don?t think some organisations realise the enormous benefits this means of communication can offer by enabling officials to pass information to their members in a form that can be easily digested and understood.
Of course, the above statement is only true if some vitally important criteria are adhered to in the form of style of presentation, user friendliness and regular updating of content are concerned.
To say that I found it extremely difficult to find my way around some of the sites, is the understatement of the year and then when I got my head round that problem I was presented with outdated information that was of no use to me at all.
Not on all sites, I must admit but there were quite a few offenders on this particular front.
Next came the way information was being presented. Can I please make a plea for clear and precise presentation, in order to make sure that what the writers are trying to convey, is easy to read and to understand. All too often the messages were capable of misinterpretation and therefore, as a result the readers were left in doubt regarding what action they should take, thus leaving them even more confused than they were before!
Finally, please make greater use of pictures someone once said they are worth a thousand words (and take a lot less typing). I know good photos are hard to come by and, like information are in even shorter supply from contributors but they really are worth the effort almost everyone likes to see their picture in the Press or on the website (as long as it doesn?t have a number printed immediately under it!).
Just about everyone has a mobile phone these days and they all take pretty good pictures, so support your Webmaster/Press Officer and send him or her some pictures to help liven up, or should I say illustrate the written word.
Your website is just about the most important means of communication that your club or Federation has of keeping you informed about what is going on and if the few points I have highlighted earlier are taken into consideration will avoid the unacceptable rumour mongering that goes on on some social media sites, because YOU have control of YOUR website.

Now to the latest Staffordshire Moorlands & District Federation race news.
Yesterday, 27 May, we raced from Kingsdown, which for non-racers is near Sidmouth in Devon and represents a journey of approximately 180 miles as the pigeon flies to the centre of our Federation.

The race team again had a tricky set of circumstances to take into consideration this week. If you take a look at the Chat Lines you will see that some contributors were even doubting whether there would be any racing at all on the day because of the forecasted weather conditions.
The race team considered all the available options and decided on Friday night as usual and planned for a liberation at about 11am on Saturday if the conditions were right. Just to give you an idea of what we had to take into consideration I am publishing a couple of pictures that show the weather conditions at Kingsdown, one earlier in the day and one at liberation time. They illustrate far better than any words can do how, with a little patience and good judgment, the race controller and convoyer can give us excellent racing conditions I think that should become the new motto for the SMDF.

SMDF for racing excellence
The race itself was just about the fastest that I have ever known with birds exceeding the 70mph mark for the whole of their journey.
Yes, I know we had a rushing South East wind but just remember that our feathered friends also have to know when to stop.
This week?s outstanding performances come from all over the Federation with the Usain Bolt of the pigeon world being flown by the Berryhill partnership of A & S Rushton by looking as though they will be the Fed Toppers this week with the phenomenal velocity of 2171.606ypm. That bird really did want to get home and certainly knew when & where to stop! A wonderful pigeon flown by a super partnership. Congratulations from all in the Fed. Coming close to the Fed Topper were another partnership, this time from the Milton Club. Messrs Holdway & Tansley whose bird recorded a brilliant 2171.194ypm. This bird also deserves a place in the hall of fame and no doubt has earned its perch for the Winter.
As usual we have several other cream rising to the top performances Paul Beck took the first three at Longdendale and Mr & Mrs Hargreaves at Blythe Bridge also did the one, two and three at Blythe Bridge, whilst at Shelton Dave Yeomans also completed the hat-trick.
Full details of velocities etc can be found on the Federation website (www.moorlandsfedpigeons.co.uk).
That?s the end of my little contribution for this week but before a sign off can I rub salt in the wounds of some Feds by congratulating all our membership on the magnificent birdage they are maintaining. You must all be agreeing with our new motto.

Thank you all very much indeed.

Cheers for now.

Brian T Smith

Press Officer SMDF