LIBERATION SITES

by Keith Mott

I recently had a phone call from Mrs Hazel Marsh, secretary of the RPRA Southern Region, asking me if I would go over to Leatherhead Leisure Centre and give my opinion, in the form of a report, of the site for liberations. In my nine yearS as a convoyer for the L&SECC and CSCFC, I have written countless reports on liberation sites at home and abroad, but it was nice to have a run out with the wife and see another. Great inland sites, the like of ‘Lodmore’ car park in Weymouth ect, don’t come available very often these days, so it is important we keep updated on what we are using and the new ones on offer. These liberation sites change every year, with trees growing and sometimes buildings being erected, and become unusable for releasing our pigeons. I went to ‘Lodmore’ regularly for several years and rated it one of best inland sites I had visited, but each year I went there I noted a few more trees had been planted on the site or more ‘pay and display’ machines and lamp posts had been erected in the car park. In the end the great Weymouth site became dangerous and was abandoned for pigeon liberations. As I say, we need to keep updated on these release points!

As requested, I drove over to look at the Leatherhead liberation site early in February and must say I was disappointed with the car park site. In my opinion you would be hard pushed to liberate one large transporter in safety there, but space wise, would be alright with a smaller type vehicle. The site has trees and lamp posts around the whole perimeter fence. There is a line of lamp posts and trees down the middle of the car park, which must hamper the birds when exiting the site on liberation. There is a railway line running next to the chainlink fence on one side of the car park and in my opinion, if a train were to pass when the birds were being liberated, it would be very dangerous for the train and the pigeons. I must add that in my time as a convoyer, I’ve never seen a perfect pigeon transporter or been to a perfect liberation site. We don’t live in a perfect world and we can always find something to criticize, but when it comes to liberating our pigeons we must get the balance right!

Let's have a little look at best and the worst sites I visited in France!

I convoyed the CSCFC birds to the Continent in 2010 and I was very impressed with the liberation site at the Messac marina and I think it is fair to say it is one of the best sites I’ve visited in France. The birds are liberated at the top end of the picturesque marina, on a raised tarmac area which is sited between the water and open fields. The pigeons have a perfect fly out on their liberation, with no obstacles to hamper them at all and the site is very quiet, with only the odd person walking their dog passing the transporter. On our arrival on site we were given a code number to the lock of the Shower / WC block and I must say this facility was spotlessly clean.

The liberation site at Messac is brilliant and is one that I strongly recommend! The 2007 season saw me visit Pau (Code 1621) with the L&SECC pigeons for the sixth time and I think its common knowledge that I don’t like the site. The car park site, in my opinion, is far too small and it is sited next to playing fields which have large light staunching, with thick wires strewn between them. The London & South East Classic Club committee gave Tarbes a try the 2008 season on my recommendation that the Pau site was a very poor liberation site and it proved to be a good move, as it was one of the best sites in France that I’ve visited. The liberation site is the very big car park of Geant Casino Super Market in Laldbere, Tarbes and it is quiet there, being mostly empty as it is the overflow parking at the rear of the complex. The liberation area is vast, with a few light stanches in it, but they are not too close to the transporters and do not impede the safe release of the pigeons. One of the best sites in France, I think! Tarbes is a lot closer to the Pyrenees Mountains than Pau and with some wonderful clear condition; the snow covered peaks make a brilliant back drop to the liberation site.

I was very impressed with the liberation site at Bergerac and when we pulled into the sports centre the weather was brilliant. The field where the birds are liberated was nice and open, giving the pigeons a good clear fly out. The site has a WC, with showers and as I’ve stated several time before, is another of the best sites I’ve visited in France.

In 2010 I was keen to visit Carentan as everyone had been giving it rave reviews. I must agree with them, it is an excellent site, staged at the Cattle Market on the outskirts of the town. The car park liberation area is very spacious, with no obstacles and gives the birds a great fly out from the transporters. The site has a good water supply for the pigeons, nice clean toilets for the convoyer crews, but no showers. In my nine seasons convoying racing pigeons to France I’ve never met a woman site agent, but I did at Carentan, in the form of Brigitte Outrequin.

I loved convoying the pigeons through France to places like Bergerac and Tarbes, but it is very hard work, and is a young man’s game, so I retired in 2010. I think convoying racing pigeons, whether it is for a big Classic or small club race, is the most responsible and demanding job in the sport!

That’s it for this week. I include my favourite photograph of the L&SECC transporter in the South of France at the Tarbes liberation site, with the snow-capped Pyrenees Mountains in the background. Just brilliant!

I can be contacted with any pigeon ‘banter’ on telephone number: 01372 463480.

Text and photos by Keith Mott (www.keithmott.com) 

March 2013

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