robinthfc

Normally in these things you have to pay for extra birds, so if you send 50, you have to pay for the extra 30..per bird.

All sounds good, but the smaller flyer's think they subsidise the bigger senders, and its maybe not helpful to getting new and keeping members.

There's no limit..just have to pay for extra birds.

Also, if you have 10-20 free birds and you only send 8 a week, you lose out and effectively pay for pigeons you haven't sent.

Usually birdage and fee's can only be decided after the balance sheet has been passed, because they have to take into account any loses made [if any] by the club the previous year and can change every year, so they can be decided at a general meeting after the AGM. But the subject should be circulated on an agenda to give members the chance of discussing it.

Happened to a club I was a member of, paid up front and had 10 free birds..it was ruled illegal by the RPRA. Also a few years ago I read an article about a club that had a rule that every member had to buy a prize presentation ticket, that as ruled out of order as well.

Check with the SHU..you'll probably find the rule will be illegal. Apart from the fact its probably out of order because it wasnt on the Agenda

Paying for birds up front is not allowed by RPRA. you are not allowed to make people pay for birds they do not send.

Seems to be the same all over...two of my local feds go to the same racepoints everyweek in two different trainsporters, and wont get together because of something that happened about 30 years ago. That was alright when thery were both getting 2-3000 birds a week, but now they're down to less then a 1000 some weeks it makes sense. I mentioned earlier about fishing having similar problems, and on the radio a couple weeks ago they were talking about young people not going into athletics. Possibly the government should do more and encourage parents to get their kids into more healthy pastimes and sports.

Not being an expert on the south and mainly being a North Roader, I should imagine Britain is at a disadvantage to the continent with mid day libs. Mid day Libs for distance races is a load of rubbish in my opinion.

Not the first time that's been said..probably due to my age :-/

I always thought a proper Lurcher was a cross between a Greyhound and a border Collie for speed and brains.

I heard it was 15 foot, metre would probably mean they were in your house. Hopefully my jack Russell keeps them at bay.

I agree with some of what you say. I stopped racing for ten years, and when I returned I quickly realised it wasn't the 'hobby' it once was, and professionalism has taken over. When I stopped racing on average I should imagine most pigeon flyers had 18 foot lofts, homing 20 - 30 race birds [cocks and hens on natural], breeding 30 yb's. Now I have my old 22' loft, a 10' and a 12'...and that still isn't enough . I've no doubt people own more pigeons but send less, Even the 'professionals' in my artea own hundreds, and only send a small percentage. But then often its these big senders that are keeping clubs going nowadays. When a friend came back into pigeons a few years ago he bought a brand new 18' loft, and he didn't believe me when I told him it wouldn't be big enough. "Its only a hobby" he said. year or so later he put another one up ;D I think a big problem for the future is new modern houses are being built with small gardens

I agree, that's why I have a lot of sympathy with the ETS, in the long run it will be good for pigeon racing in my opinion. We have to tailor pigeon racing to fit in with modern life style, life isn't the same as it was in the 50's but Pigeon racing hasn't changed that much.... just a bit more professionalism.

Matt Jamieson and his pigeons were legends..RIP Found this very good article about him by Keith Mott. http://www.iprr.co.uk/content/Article133.html

Thanks mate, but I have come to an arrangment with Ken. Hopefully be sorted next week. Thanks.

How do the clubs work in Belgium ?..I remember reading somewhere that they don't join clubs over there, but just turn up and send at any club they want. Don't know if I've got that wrong.

You'd think that wouldn't still be happening with the way Pigeon racing is now. Clubs should need every member they can get. Unless there's a very good reason why a fancier was not accepted.

I think there is a lot more for people to do now, when we chat at my local club often other members come up with reasons why they should pack in. Pigeon racing seem to get in the way of their lives nowadays, and they only do it because they have always done it and pigeon racing has a hold on them. Cars, more holidays, computers etc, all seeing the end of pigeon racing, that's the way it seems to me anyway. Apparently fishing is having the same problem to a lesser extent,

Wet and very windy here in Dunstable. I can see posts like this will be very handy during the racing season.

I stopped racing for nearly 10 years but still kept them, back in racing now though....my mate stopped racing in 1995 but still has a loft full.

I'll send you a PM shortly Ken

That sounds impressive..where abouts do you live Ken ??

His name was Jimmy Treanor, also used to throw darts for England. The combine was North Thames Combine [now disbanded], but the last ten years or so he was racing south in the London and south east classic club and national.