WINTER LATE-BRED TRAINING - PART 4

by John Clements

The Economics of Marathon Pigeon Racing

I was really happy with the winter training of my now 19 late-breds (started with 20) and of course really happy with the ‘late-breds’ themselves. They came through their testing regime well. If I wanted to sell them I would think these nineteen late pigeons with training behind them would sell for about fifty quid each. If they did this they would provide a really good start for anyone who wanted to build a loft of marathon pigeons. They would certainly be as good in value as any nineteen birds bought from some other well advertised sources. When I make my choices I keep a future potential legacy in mind. Unfortunately when it comes to buyers of pigeons most think little of possible legacy - the current ‘dream factor’ is more important. The ‘dream factor’ is usually provided by a famous pigeon person, a fashionable strain, a fancy pedigree or all three marketed on full power. Legacy on the other hand is a realistic attempt to assess what the pigeons will contribute in the future, particularly in your location. 

The future of these nineteen birds is of course still uncertain, but I maintain I have added ‘value’ to them by subjecting them to training from different directions in various conditions. They have also been released in small groups and come through it all pretty much unscathed. This kind of training from my point of view adds value. This coupled with the fact that they originate from a small loft that has a good Tarbes track-record is a bonus for those interested in marathon racing. If you think marathon racing is a complete bore and you find it difficult waiting and endlessly watching the sky, then this kind of pigeon and this kind of training is not for you.

Extending the late-bred scenario to the future, say two or three years’ time, if only two of these nineteen pigeons fly 700 miles in the NFC Tarbes these two survivors could be worth say 400 pounds each. This will leave me with an economic shortfall. Tarbes is always a big ask for during the last two years only 10 pigeons have made it by the second day flying over 700 miles. In most years there are 20 or 30 pigeons each year flying over 700 miles by day two but the last two years were especially hard and more to the point, not a single individual pigeon did it twice, though two came close.

To sum up, the original nineteen at £50 equals £950. If lucky, the two Tarbes pigeons (a reasonable year) that emerge are worth £800 or thereabouts. If this is the case then I am £150 pounds short. Of course I may be very lucky and out of my original nineteen pigeons get three (very unlikely) pigeons to do Tarbes. If that happens then I am in profit but (there is always a but in situations like this) we know pigeon luck can run both ways and I may get nothing and have to be happy with the enjoyment of testing myself, testing the pigeons and hopefully enjoying it.  If that is the case I will have made a huge financial loss. There are not many fanciers prepared to take that chance and race pigeons just for the reward of the task.

I have to admit economics in my case does not come into it. I enjoy the spirit of the chase. There is nothing better than basketing a pigeon for a 700-mile flight knowing the pigeon is certainly in with a chance. Even more rewarding is the training, conditioning and the thought behind it all. Thinking differently and thinking creatively is the real buzz.

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Elimar - December 2014