Pigeonbasics.com

Hi All

As you know we live down near Dover, in Kent.
we fly south road along the coast our first race point this season was
Littlehampton 96miles
Fareham / Portsmouth 105miles
Wincanton 147miles
Exerter 200 miles

But i think we could come up with a better programe if we do not get to go over
the water next season.

RAY

Hi Ray,
          I`ve never understood why south coast clubs don`t still fly northroad,i bet you get 500miles to thurso,and it would be really cheap.
                

Ben ,

Some clubs in the South coast clubs race north road.

It is not that well liked down here as we are not in a good area for the birds
to come on a good line,

I think that terry johnson race's north road, so he could give you a better idear
why north road is not so well liked.

Ray

650 - 700 miles from Lerwick, now would that not be a challenge!?

Would have thought that it would be worth a go.
but as i said it appears not to be liked down in this corner of Kent


RAY

650 - 700 miles from Lerwick, now would that not be a challenge!?

Lerwick to me 614 miles. I dont think its liked in this part of East Kent because of the early liberations & also that last bit of water from say Southend to Ramsgate, why that short stretch should make any difference after crossing 2/400 miles of water beats me --- but it certainly does. Last year after the race I discovered that I was the only entrant in section G of the NRCC to send to Lerwick --- not much fun competing against yourself !!. I have now resigned but would certainly consider joining again if there was a few more sending from east Kent.

Hi Terry

Do you think that if more fanciers down in east kent sent north road
it would make a differance to the way the bird's came home.

RAY

No Ray I don't think it would make any difference. I think what is needed is a lot of single ups from say Colchester but to drive there is about a 200mile round trip & all you would get is approx 40 mile toss.

Terry

You mentioned single ups, not an idea I'm very ken on, if you single toss the bird will just "wend" it's way home, but if you toss 3 at a time, the birds have the incentive to race against each other.

Just my two penneth

Whilst I agree with you in short races I think its a bit different for the long'ns, after 600 miles a bird is normally on its own especially if you are the longest flier in the race. If a bird takes on the sea on its own after that many miles it is not only a very very special bird but I think I can help them by training them to do it whilst they are fresh. Anyway Hyacinth I am just so thankful to see one home that I really could'nt give a monkies if they are racing the last few miles !!!!    Just my three penneth. Happy new year.

North road flying just doesnt seem to get the coverage and publicity that south road channel racing does personally i dont see why Lerwick cant be an easy racepoint for any bird and they deserve as much credit for doing it as a bird that races from Pau I couldnt race north where i am even if i wanted to there is no north road club to join what about a real challenge bird to do both routes Lerwick and Pau they used to do it before years ago with birds wonder how many would be willing to have a go at it now  I agree with u Terry what u say about singling up for the sort of racing we do u need birds that think and not follow

JW and myself had an interesting session in the chat room several weeks ago with Hooky, who races in Northern Territory, Australia. Seems they regularly change the distance races and routes from one season to the next: East to West, South to North, etc which Hooky reckons helps to keep the pigeons on their toes, and ensures no gripes of one single area securing 'advantage' all the time.

I live on the South Coast and the distance from THURSO is 545 miles to my loft, Berwick is a good fly at 350 mls and YB's are flown up to Yorkshire 210mls +.
I flew NR regularly up to 2003 when I decided to concentrate on the South with the Solent SR Fed.
From the point of view of training and preparation North Road is much better as I can at least get line of flight training with my birds and time in the basket is normally less for North Road races. However it doesnt seem to carry the same glamour as South Road racepoints especially as most of the Classic races are on the South Route and even more so with the International scene, but it does provide very good and exciting racing in its own right.