WINTER SHUTDOWN OR NOT?

If possible I like our birds out on alternate days from October to March pairing time. They are flying athletes and love to be out in free air, rather than shut inside as domestic pets. Good, hard, weathered condition will result and with no rationing the birds continue to moult, grow and are contented in a wide ark around home-crucial for distance/marathon performances later.  Kept separate till pairing they run into ideal condition for mating without effort or rationing. This has been my practice for nearly 40 years from sprint to marathon racing. The pleasure on watching your birds in all weathers will give you a nature fix and you learn so much of bird behaviour and your place in nature. If at work or with serious falcon or hawk problems, or on controlled exercise regimes, you may have to reconsider the concept. Living 6 miles from my loft, for many, many years and a helping Mum into her 90s I worked out the easiest system imaginable that would favour the birds. It was a walk on the wild side and little or no road training is needed for young or old on my system, as conditioning evolves through time on the wing in racing from 71 to 879 miles.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

KEEPING THOSE LATE BREDS RIGHT

We keep the July onwards ones in open aviaries, exposed to the elements for condition. All fed a very rich diet; they are in heavy moult and will clean up soon. The stress is on with the moult and body growth, thus the birds are kept calm and given Supersix in the water. By the end of November they will be in shiny condition. They will become our breeders and some will go to my mentees in Ireland and Scotland-free of charge of course. In this way the strain is dispersed and tested in a wide playing ground. We seek another recognisable champion-that is the modus operandi. Watch for viruses and bacteria in these late breds as Salmonella is in many lofts. It is logical to take young off your best racers and breeders for pairing together. Always nice to breed your own good birds, rather than seeking them elsewhere and I enjoy the creative, breeding aspects of the sport best as an outward expression of thought. Some of the best birds and fanciers are in the UK and Ireland, without being mesmerised by continentals.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

THE MEANING OF RACE REALITY

The cerebral life of a young pigeon man is that of a dreamer. We set goals and aspirations to be pursued with relish and fervour. If we do it right and persist, we may have a glimpse of the rainbow over the horizon. Race reality refers to the dose of truth you feel, when the real nature of things hit you during the race. It is measured in actual race conditions that impact on the race and how you and your birds did as hard tangible results. Sporting men may become famous with what they have achieved after assessment in the real world of others and events. Without the initial desire and mind set a good race reality is not possible. Dreams may come and go in moments of inspiration, yet history can tell the true story. Take a walk on the wild side and make it happen.

 

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

REALISTIC TARGETS

Many fired by imagination, desire and dreams aim for great things. To become a great racing fancier takes time, experience, stamina and dogged persistence. The insight and knowledge needed is huge and to have it internalised belongs to the minority. However, with hard work a modicum of success can be felt early on, by setting simple targets - a few club wins here and there to progress from. After man years under the belt you may aspire to attempt great goals or press the boundaries of possibility normally beyond the scope of the novice. For many Barcelona is the benchmark of extreme difficulty. Despite all the Barcelona blood few people in the UK attempt it each year, a trend which is likely to persist. It is always an endurance race for man and bird, over a protracted period of days and nights. The bloodlines do generate a charisma, awe and appeal for sales, which the studs duly recognise. Now with the right bird in the right condition, it is a realistic target to aim at. Ireland remains the greatest of challenges, yet a clever fancier will do it, as the years drift by.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

HOURS OF DARKNESS

Racers fly when they get the urge to do so, day or night, although usually during the day. Systems have hours of darkness rules in an attempt at some control, order and an idea on fairness for competing fanciers. I have seen and heard many species of birds fly by day and night within a 24 hr cycle. Birds on the day of liberation may be timed in the hours of darkness for example Brian’s Blue - Denney at 748 miles approx. Tarbes and Impett at 747 miles in the same race. There were 5 birds over 700 miles on that day of liberation, when conditions were as they were. At the time I felt that Denney would clock on the day, with his good birds and clever management! The key to great performances is to be seen in the mirror of truth-it is with the skill of the fancier in managing his birds to great feats of speed and endurance, although great birds are rare-one in a lifetime is good in relative terms. I do love to see racers drop in the twilight on warm, summer nights, to bring awe and romance and the realisation of dreams - pure poetry.

 

JIM EMERTON

 

 

ARMCHAIR PIGEON RACING

Nine years on since I ceased to keep pigeons in the loft in my garden, I enjoy many aspects of the sport. Writing original articles is a joy and watching the results of the big races on the computer - the names and personalities as they emerge into prominence. I see the subtle tricks of the trade to sell birds, to court fame and make money. Sometimes a bird comes in to view which has the stamp of greatness and I am thinking of the dark cock of Marco Wilson-a modest man with one of the greatest marathon birds ever to grace a UK loft and up to 844 measured miles to rank with the legendary birds of the historical past. On reflection my little network of men who fly my strain are interesting characters with some success in racing from Cornwall to Scotland, Ireland and Holy Island. We live in hope of producing a great champion which is at the soul of racing pigeons=our very own, not bought from the continent. I like the reflective life of a monk - suits me.

 

JIM EMERTON