A GOOD NEW IDEA

by John Clements

Dear Sirs

For some time now I have been searching for an imaginative way to get those who are in charge of our sport, those who make the decisions in major clubs and institutions to become well known. I think I have come up with a truly imaginative idea. We could copy the television programme called ‘University Challenge’ where students compete with other universities answering technical and general knowledge questions.

I envisage the pigeon version to be teams from major UK clubs – the RPRA Council  - the Lancashire Social Circle  - The Midlands Social Circle competing on a knockout basis for the honour of being the top club or institution based on questions about pigeons and all things connected with pigeons.

Each team would be represented by four competitors where each competitor would announce him or herself as to their position or interest in the sport, for example:- Jim Jones - South Road long distance fancier or Fred Blogs - middle distance specialist and National winner or Bill Smith - RPRA Councillor (Finance & General purposes committee).  

In effect the various clubs would be our universities of the pigeon world. The real benefit of an idea like this would be to give exposure to relatively unknown individuals from well-known institutions and clubs who work behind the scenes by means of a light hearted quiz competition. The idea, if it took off, might well grow to include other teams apart from those of major clubs. The other teams may well be teams of BHW ‘letter writers’ -  teams of  pigeon auctioneers -  teams from stud owners  and other vital elements of the sport that presently are not that well known on a personal basis.

I would be quite willing to set the questions if someone could come up with a venue and organise the first two teams. The whole idea would for it to be run in a light-hearted manner with people brave enough to take part.  I am sure any there would be no problem getting an audience to watch such a show - we could even charge an admission for an event like this.

If any major club or institution would like to field a team and take part please get in touch with me so that I can begin to arrange everything. There is a lot of knowledge out there waiting to be tapped - any profits made could be forwarded to a charity set up to further develop imaginative schemes to save the sport.

John Clements, December 2012.

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