PRESS RELEASE
BTS 20 1 August 2017
NOW WE’RE ALL ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
When we first started in the sport of racing pigeons, about fifty odd years ago, we were told by those in the know that we would take a hammering during the Old Bird season but we should find it a lot easier to be competitive when the turn of the Young Birds came around.
Well, the YB season is now upon us and maybe it is because we are slow learners. but we are still taking the hammering in Old Bird racing and so we are looking forward to the so called “level playing field” in order that we can start to demonstrate what our birds are really capable of ?? if you believe that you’ll believe anything.
Like the majority of sayings that are associated with pigeon racing there is only an element of truth in them. Some fanciers take great pride and pleasure in racing their YB’s and seem to specialise in this part of the overall season.
From our experience, we have learnt that “horses for courses” is a great truism and when it comes to young bird racing there are as many experts as there are for the old birds and those fanciers who put their heart and soul into it, undoubtedly get an enormous amount of pleasure out of their efforts. On the other hand, there are those fanciers who have little or no interest in young bird racing and look upon this part of the season as part of the learning curve for their feathered friends and preparation for many years of what they call “serious racing” ahead. As I say “you pays your money and takes your choice” and whatever your choice, we hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as those who seem to win every race in which they choose to enter.
From the Staffordshire Moorlands & District Federation’s point of view we have just put the first YB race behind us and I am delighted to say that, despite a far from perfect weather forecast for last Saturday (29 July), we had yet another fantastic show of support from our members in terms of the number of birds being sent to the race.
The prospect of challenging weather conditions posed the usual problems for the race team but with the added difficulty of clashing being caused by the huge number of “Babies” being liberated at more or less the same time from sites that are very close to each other. Careful planning was the order of the day and judging by the results shown on the early bird results, the majority of Fed members got birds at round about the same time, the planning seems to have worked. I know returns were, in some cases, “gappy” but that can often be the case with YB’s experiencing their first mass liberation.
I compare the situation to one I came across whilst giving a talk to some young school children when I asked them how they would find their way home if they were released in a strange place for the first time just like the pigeons are. One bright young man came up with the simple answer “I’d use my mobile phone and ring my mum”. Sadly, although young pigeons do have a mum, they are a little short on mobile phones!
However, some must have wealthy mums & dads that can afford the phones as demonstrated by this week’s worthy Fed Toppers, The Syndicate (otherwise known as McGraw, Clegg & Preece) from Berryhill whose bird recorded one of only two velocities over 1700YPM in this week’s race from Tewkesbury. Just for the record this gallant youngster made speed of 1736YPM and the other speed merchant was a bird raced by Mr D Nicu from Milton club doing 1715YPM. Full details of all the early birds are available on the Federation’s website.
Congratulations to all involved on a superb performance and for setting the rest of the membership such a high standard to aim at.
The rest of “The Pack” raced home in the high 1600’s so we all have to look to our laurels if we are going to catch the high flyers!
The picture accompanying this week’s little piece shows the weather conditions at the liberation point, Tewkesbury, just after the birds had been liberated and cleared the site.
The skies at Tewkesbury after the pigeons had left the site.
Although these photos are of great interest, and great help to the race team, it would also be nice to have some others to use as well. It would also indicate that someone else is reading these ramblings other than Jill and me.
That’s all I can think of for this week, I must be in need of a holiday. Never mind the end of the season is not far away!
Just before I close, I can now advise you all that we have received confirmation from Leach Bros of Hebden Bridge that they will be kindly donating a YB for auction at the Fed’s Prize Presentation and just so that you are aware there are already bids coming in for the birds I told you about last week and that are also listed on the Fed website (www.moorlandsfedpigeons.co.uk).
So if you don’t want to miss the boat you know what to do.
Cheers for now, see you next week.
Brian T Smith
Press Officer SMDF