THE NEW BEGINNING

After 40 years of strain building from 71 to 879 miles, the birds are now in the hands of various enthusiasts who will leave their own mark of destiny on the genes I have cultivated. We hope to realise dreams and create some racing champions. Some of the leading men on the chessboard are Nick Harvey/ Michael Feeney/Alan Kelly/Chris Little/Booth and Shipley/Gilbert Chappell/Jim Patterson and John Ghent. All individuals, they will stamp their personality on the birds they evolve. On 25th Jan 2016, I was 67 chronological years, with a 64 year interest in pigeons. I have looked for doves and pigeons in 52 countries and Islands. Now I see beauty in certain birds that have framed my obsession, they inspire me to both poetry and philosophy, in the realms of higher consciousness, and because a little boy fell in love with a humble pigeon.

Jim Emerton

WHAT MAKES A DISTANCE PIGEON TICK?

You know 1 when you race 1, 5 to 700 miles. It is the inner total physical and non physical being that decides the issue. A human brain/mind may perceive some of these qualities. I aimed to form a mental image of each bird, some linger 40 years on. The power and vitality of a champion can sometimes be sensed, especially post race. Every bird has a character of its own. In racing terms they can navigate over great distances, and maintain stamina and endurance levels over many days. To time from Barce. Int. into the UK means difficulty and patience and a touch of masochistic madness - it will make you hard for a while. My greatest breeder/racer was CHAMPION DIABOLOS - he lived beyond 22 years. Every bird now some 33 years later is born out of his genes-the ancestor of champions. It was a prophetic move when I retired him at 2 - I had him spotted you see.

Jim Emerton

KEY BIRDS AS WELL AS MY 7 FOUNDATION PIGEONS

Nice to visualise some of the proven key birds that were used in my strain formation, in the later stages of evolution. They are spotlighted for leaving behind good birds after 40 years of progeny testing. I chose direct birds from marathon strains of the masters in UK racing and breeding. The pedigrees show 3 direct children of Circus Boy of Jim Donaldson, one with Rennes Lass, a son of his Nantes Hen at over 700 miles. Here we have the genes of the blue Dall Cock/ Rennes Lass and Circus Boy and his record National Winner Doonann. All these are tough endurance birds for difficult days. Four direct Denney birds left their mark from Dangerman/Darkman and Pau Hen/002 and Continental Queen lines. I have also used a son of 9th open Pau of Trev. Robinson, and a Dtr. of Spitfire of Ken Hanby. Due to intense inbreeding of the former birds, modern intros are Schlepphorst Stichelbauts/Wrights/Shepherd and Marco Wilson - all marathon genes at a very high level-they will show us their worth in race reality.

Jim Emerton

SOME OF OUR EXPERIMENTAL PAIRINGS

We are inbreeding and outbreeding to related and unrelated marathon performance birds. All our birds will be of some potential, and will look interesting. Many are from Musgrove Unique our peerless No 1 stock hen-The Steve Wain hen. The progeny will share a common factor - all are destined for Barcelona - the perfect test race. The system producers many homers, with a few that can be clocked within 3 days into Somerset. With a rise in interest in Ireland our bloodlines of 844 mile and 879 mile blood are in demand by dreamers, optimists and fanatics who aim for glory and satisfaction. Some of our birds will sprint too-a combination of bird and system. Outbreeding birds we use are 757 and 844 mile Barce. Blood from race champions. In race reality only rare birds are good enough for this type of racing, which will always serve the minority. The pull of the race, as an awesome spectacle grips the psyche like no other - you have to be barking to pursue it.

Jim Emerton

LOVELY DIRECT SON OF MARCO WILSONS CHAMPION TARBES AND BARCELONA IN TERNATIONAL  COCK-844 MILES  2014-WITH US FOR INBRED/OUTBREEDING

DARK DYNAMO

An inbred son of Diabolos and Dots Delight, I bred him in 1986. My reflection to him goes back 30 years, as a super bird in the strain. Small bodied and shiny, satin dark chequer, he glowed with vitality and from a luminous recessive violet eye, I thought we have one year. His descendents race up to Barce. today from a Bordeaux sect k winner in the NFC to Musgrove Addiction - his genes, and of his ancestors have and will make history from sprint to marathon racing. The obsession with the strain continues in the hands of other perfection seeking people, who are the future of the cultivation. Soon we will have lost count of the frequency of my 7 foundation birds in the pedigrees - it is in excess of 100 at this juncture. Who will time the next champion? Nick Harvey and I have raced 1 - we need some more. Our top stock hen was a peerless breeding bird for us - Musgrove Unique.

Jim Emerton