FACTORS INFLUENCING UK TARBES & BARCELONA OUTCOMES

by Jim Emerton

A monitored tracking device on the birds may reveal valid, objective information and may put some speculative, seemingly logical rationales to bed. The fancier and innate race quality of the birds are worthy of consideration - how do we perceive or quantify these variables? It is thought that navigational leaders and followers exist and that the convoy splits into smaller and smaller flocks, with some solo fliers as time and distance increase. Do some Barcelona birds attempt to navigate the Pyrenees? I suspect so. Are the routes taken from both race points dictated by wind, drag and other environmental factors, and the country of destination e.g. Poland or Denmark? It would appear that the east of England e.g. Dover is an early landing place for some entries, as opposed to Scotland and Ireland where terrain and time on the wing and distance would tend to magnify the difficulty. With Tarbes a helping wind flow to fanciers flying over 650 miles may increase the chances of a marathon open win or key position in the race - all very exciting.

Now the race entry into the UK is often a mixture of British/Dutch/Belgian and other origins, although Nigel Lane won Barcelona UK with a bird of continental breeding. It is a fact that all racers have diverse ancestral origins, and most will not tackle Barcelona International into the UK and Ireland.

A large influence is the skill and expertise of the fancier - applied knowledge counts. The same old guard continue to excel, and therein lies a story and perhaps a mystery.

My advice is to have a go, dream it, and think about it for yourself. The arrival or non arrival of a good bird will be your PERSONAL RACE REALITY - BIG INNER BUZZ TIME.

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Elimar - January 2015