Rooster J. Cogburn

Wasn’t trying to be a smarta**e Derek. Just wanted to know the security reasons. I tend to take into account the Irish proven cheat we know of operated from a central marking station.

these are all things that can be ironed out if we get the numbers to make it worthwhile

Thats the main drawback I know an Irish man who emptied his hut in the last prep race before the Gold Cup every doo returned bar his single bird challenge entry

I know that Derek I maybe didnae word it very well but at no point did I say it was the first three birds. It was just an idea Derek,cost nothing to post it up and see if folk were interested.If you don't fancy it then fair doos

I think central marking has its pros and cons,but can you explain to me how it is more secure Derek?

Yes Derek unfortunately Joe's Challenge has run its course.I liked reading about it This is different in as much as its open to all not invitation only. The fact it was usually the first three from the previous season in the Sporting Challenge could be the reason it was never won in the West.In not many sections will the same fanciers score in the top 3 sec in consecutive years,let alone with a nominated doo. With it being open to everyone I reckon a West winner is a greater possibility. Hopefully it gathers a bit of interest on here.I see no reason why every PB member who intends to send to the Gold Cup shouldn't have a go Once we have rough numbers we can come up with some suggestions for prize money; be it a sale,small entry fee,sponsorship etc.

You'll need to have a word wi Wee Billy about that yin His favourite was lost in battle last year so hes turned his attention towards 1010

The way the Irish National do it is to have all nominations in by the middle of March.Its only a single bird nom and this bird can go on its own or as part of the team you are entering. They only take into account the open result and its not divided into sections etc. Obviously circumstances could turn against you during the season and yer nom could be injured or lost,but all in all its been very successful in Ireland and last year they had 586 entries.The top 10 in the challenge were 2nd,3rd,12th,13th,15th,18th,21st,24th,39th and 42nd on the open result The first year its was tried out with 20 fanciers who were invited to take part and the first two in the challenge ended up being 1st and 2nd in the Kings Cup,this hasnae happened again mind you and its a good chance for anybody whos intending to go to the Gold Cup to get their name in the paper and have a chance of winning the challenge and a pook at the prize money.

I follow the INFC single bird challenge every year and it’s nice to see it growing in popularity with each season. Would any members of basics, who fly in the SNFC be interested in taking part in an in-site one?? The rules are fairly straight forward. It’s open to all members of the SNFC All entrants must select a single bird that they are planning to send to this year's Gold Cup Race, entrants by 17th March The winner of the single bird challenge is the nominated bird that finishes highest in the result. This is just to see if anyone would be interested.If theres a few then I'm sure we could organise some sort of prizes

Not sure of the breeding in that hen,but shes certainly not Shellaecken

Obviously £100 pool is on the extreme end. We've never pooled a doo right through but thinks its roughly £120?? taking out a column would obviouly remove roughly a third of this. So if Davie's idea was taken up there would maybe be a demand to add something-a new pool or nom to the Section column,not so much in the Yb race but certainly the channel ones

I mentioned it earlier in thread Davie and have thought about it since. Do you think there would be a need to perhaps change the pooling or prizes if we go from three columns to two? £100 section pool? winner takes all

Young bird losses seems to be a 'hot topic' these days. Perhaps wrongfully so?? I only have around 12 years experience racing youngsters,some seasons losing more than others.Some fanciers I talk to on regular basis have 40,50 and 60 years experience racing youngsters and they can recall yb seasons back in the 'good old days' when they were left with 3 youngsters, 8 youngsters etc etc. and races where half their teams were lost from 60 miles.

good stuff One of our most steady doos is a 2010 cock whos number is 1010 and he has 10 flights on each wing,does that count?

Its a fair size school I think Frank.My mum's pal works there and think there is around 400 pupils at it so should have a decent size hall you'd imagine. If they cannae all fit in they could always spill out into Phil's garden

cheers Beginning to think I'll no even bother going to the meeting,sore head already I'm too nosey though so willnae miss it lol

Thats what I thought,but I've been told otherwise. Will need to look out the one from last year and read it over again.

Have spoken to a couple of people who believe this to be wrong. We didn't get the maps or the text with it along with the tickets and other AGM stuff,so was going on memory from last year. Seems people have interepreted the proposed change in different ways If what I have said above is wrong and in fact we will be doing away with A,B,C,D,E,F and G then I apologise.

Not sure of the word to use to describe it,but 'false' comes to mind It will create even more false postions within the club than there already are. You could have a pigeon in Eyemouth win the East Region and not win section B. You could have a pigeon in Broxburn win the Mid West Region and not win Section D and so on. This is far too complicated and another way of letting fanciers kid themselves on they are winning something. I don't think anybody will benefit out of it on the pool front and I don't think anybodies performances will be acknowledged as better or worst. Needin to just race the doos and realise the cream will float to the top be it in the North,South,East or West

Agree with what Martin is saying At the same time though I think back to an old story I was told as a wean. Its about a greedy dog and may be of interest to some members in favour of the proposed changes The dog had a nice big juicy bone that it would walk around with.It looked into a burn one day and thought to itself "That dog has a bigger bone than me". It opened it's mouth to try and grab the other dogs bone and it turned out he was looking at his own reflection I worry that the fanciers in our area may face the same fate as the greedy dog if the motion is carried.We might end up with our bone falling in a burn I'm not a psychic mind you and we will find out in due course if the proposal to change the regions has the desired affect.I have my doubts that there will be any differences worth note Again this is only an opinion and I wouldnae fall out with anyone over the issue.

The proposal and venue suggest that the main ‘target audience’ is the fanciers in Falkirk, Stirling and their surrounding areas. I’ve heard the speech about the injustice faced by the members in these locations having to pool in their region against fanciers racing into the Far East. 1) Seeing as the sections A,B,C,D,E,F and G are to remain untouched and the SNFC diplomas are only based on positions in these categories and of course open positions won, is the only real cause for change the area we’d have to pool against?? There was a SNFC race this year where a fancier in the NW fed won close to £2000 and a race 4 years ago where another loft in the fed won roughly the same sum. A race three years ago where a central fed fancier won £1100 and a NW loft won £1500(10 hours behind the first two nominated birds in Lanarkshire) etc etc 2) Would it be possible for fanciers in the NW fed who perhaps have a couple of doos on the stoat and put a few extra Xs on the sheet to win similar sums racing into a region in which many of the lofts, who beat our area as often as we beat theirs, will lay off the pools should the motion be carried or even worst not send at all?? If the answer to question 1 is yes and the answer to question 2 is no, are there any other benefits of the change to fanciers in Stirling, Falkirk and their surrounding areas?? I don’t know the answers, but it’s just something to think about for fanciers who may end up shooting themselves in the feet.

Thanks for all the comments folks Best of luck with your breeding and the 2013 race season

Cheers lads It wasnae something I wanted to entertain Derek.We’ve all got our own opinions on it, but I wanted to keep it purely to what the SNFC records show. People would have passed comment if I hadn’t included the name with that list and people done the same if I had lol

Cheers Wullie Was nice to see you and the troops when yous were up. All the best to yous all this year

Think you better watch yerself on the Golf course-hes after ye