Rooster J. Cogburn

I don't think decrying the eyesign theory to the lowest of the low is necessary.Even if there is no scientific weight to it,its a great conversation piece for many fanciers and some will enjoy many hours studying the eyes of birds be it their own or various other champions.Theres more to keeping racing pigeons than winning races. I'm ignorant to it and would not know what to look for regarding signs.I was handed an eyeglass recently and didn't know how to use.I do however think there is something to be learnt from looking into pigeons eyes,not neccessary from the "sign" point of view but on visiting a couple of top long distance fanciers they have lead me onto a thing they call "family eye".This is not looking for a sign to determine whether or not this bird will breed winners,this bird will win etc etc. but these fancier have worked with their line of birds for nearly half a century and today's winners are related in someway to yesterday's.So basically they look for characteristics in their young hopefuls that were present in their past winners,the eye being one.I've been quite amazed at the similarities when looking at photos of recent winning birds and their eyes compared to those of their ancestors.

ye cannae claim that Ye were 9 minutes out

Well done everybody who timed.Some excellant performances today Watched the race at a clubmates,three birds racing into the West right over the top of us at around 1440.They could've been anything but they do tie in with the Sec D times.

Sorry to see you leave Frank. wish you all the best and hope ye get the handicap down What you playing off at the minute? Hope you still pop on pigeonbasics from time to time

It is that Hard to believe thats another season's racing coming to an end.Flies in!! Just about time to get oot the hammer and paint brush

Still undecided on top of a wee blip last weekend didn't have the best of training tosses today.Will see what tomorrow brings good luck to you and your dad

Best of luck to all sending. Hope you finish your season on a high

thats one thing about the way the Irish have their clock stations,difficult to guage at the clocks how well the race has went as some folk could be well in but have to drive 3 hours to get to their clock read Well done all,many of the usual suspects up with the front runners

Sorry for providing misinformation in that case. Must've been more birds in than Davie knew of Glad its turned out a good race and still hopeful they win the INFC championship

Sticky race with many lofts without a pigeon at 6 o'clock.Winners look to be in the South Spoke to Davie on the phone.At half 5 there were only 10 birds into their clock station,the Blacks have 6 of them.Another dropped to them just before I spoke to him. He doesn't want to tempt fate but believes they will have a couple feature in the top 20 and are well enough in to clench the Championship. Very well done

The birds were due to go today but held.Lead to believe they will be up around 9 tomorrow morning. Got fingers and toes crossed for Davie Black and the family.They lead the championship by an hour and a bit as it stands but its make or break tomorrow. A good one would see them become the first loft in the history of the INFC to win the Championship for best average in all races two years in succession. Best of luck

There are some natural birds in good feather and still scoring be they early bred or laterbred with the occasional mad scraggly one popping up but would imagine if you look at any federation result in the country of the last couple of weeks over 75% of the birds featured will have been darkened and in some areas perhaps even lightened

Our first bird from each of the four SNFC races entered(Cheltenham,Alencon,Ypres and Clermont)all had Black of Dromore blood in them.Hopeful there is more to come from these pigeons

Cheers for the reply lads

are fanciers outwith the West Section boundary allowed to send birds as trainers?

Well done Davie

don't leave us hanging like that

Met him twice I think although once when I still watched wrestling and he was probably too inebriated to remember

154 miles and a bit

Should have between 20-30 for Ripon with the NW fed.Will make final decisions tomorrow

The best record in the SNFC of the last 30 years Worthiest of winners PS when ye getting me a visit so I can mooch some youngyins??

Watched keenly over the year at Lanarkshire's returns and racing as the West is where I'd like to race my pigeons.Not of course if its suicide,but yous seems to be getting some good racing with he youngsters and from what I've gathered Longtown is the one thats needs looking at. Heres a thought The reason the old bird losses were so high(excluding weather which seems to be the reason given by most East racing feds for this season's high losses) was because these birds had been raced and trained East since birth??Which poses the question if yous switch back to the East next year many,many yearlings will be lost??

Went to the Clarkston and District presentation night with Davie Elliot as guest.He talked about it a bit and seeing the birds so high on Sunday made me think back to it. Suppose it will all be determined by weather and wind on the day as to the height the birds will choose to fly to make it easiest fro themselves.He was of the belief though that a number of national winning birds in the past were high fliers and touched on the thinner air offering less resistance in flight,being one of the reasons aircrafts fly at the altitude they do.He said he himself has actually witnessed birds flying at these heights through a set of field glasses on a clear day as well as telling a story of a pilot friend of his and Eddie Newcombe who has seen the heights some of the migratory birds fly at first hand. Was interesting to listen to even if its just theory. I often wonder if wind direction is different with height as well There will be some science to it I'm sure, but its all above my head(quite literally)

First thing I heard about it that got me thinking was in a conversation with Jim Hannah a few years ago.He told me about his hen "Westsound" and the day she was 1st West Section 4th Open SNFC Rennes.It was in 1984 and one of the nicest days he'd ever raced the Gold Cup on.The pigeon looked as if it came from North of the loft but he thinks thats just where he seen the bird on its spiral down. Upon clocking the bird he said it was like holding a block of ice but the birds felt normal 10 minutes later. Also heard Eddie Newcombe's 1st,2nd and 3rd Avranches felt frozen to the touch on arrival as well. Whats the difference air wise the further up you go? Could flying at this height be easier for the pigeon on certain days?