Rooster J. Cogburn

I've been in contact with a fancier for a few years now who I could only describe as the hardest task master I've met.Because he has been doing this type of flying for so long his losses are minimal.He lost two YBs last season all of them flew the programme out to 300miles. The bird of prey problem is taking its toll,but like you say if we were to take a leaf out of these fanciers books we'd probably do ourselves a favour. I think a big reason for losses nowadays is YBS.Not just at the young bird stage but at the yearling stage as well,these pigeons have missed some or all of their education in the year of their birth which can only be detremental to them in my opinion. Have spoken with fanciers who predicted 20-30 years ago that pigeons would become faster,losses would become greater and pigeons would be far more difficult to keep healthy.As a result more disillusioned fanciers/folk packing in.One of them told me he believes this is due the countries increased interest in sprint racing and a lack of testing pigeons over 300miles onwards-eliminating those with any flaws in their make up. Another thing that came up in the conversation was how fanciers keep more "stock pigeons" now than ever before ie.birds that have never been in a race basket. Supplementation and medication were other things discussed.He said you can give your birds all these products we see advertised and they come out the nest looking like champions,but is this really perfect health or a way of masking weaknesses within the birds?There are only a very small percentage of pigeons nowadays that show complete natural health and vitality,is that not what we should aim for? When the s*it hits the fan these propped up molly coddled pigeon will go a miss. Basically the only way to achieve perfect health in a loft is to remove anything that isn't perfectly healthy? The same fancier said to me he loses very few pigeons racing,but he culls a lot of birds.If we were to look closely in our loft and see what we see,not what we want to see would we perhaps help ourselves when it comes to losses?

well done Danny and all

well done Martin Your having a great season

well done Frank and Davie

Cheers Frank bit of a squeaky bum race-last race for the doos am hopin tae send to Alencon and was looking for them tae get a good 6,7,8 hours on the wing.7 races down and team still intact,so if they can survive round the loft and the few hundred miles ae training til the 26th ae June I'll sleep a lot easier Best of luck to yersel the morra bad day at the office Andy?

better lucky than good as they say

currently sitting with 30/32 from Newark with the NW fed,won the club timing at 1313 from 0745 lib but not a threat to the fed toppers.still time for more to work in tonight

stranger things have happened

Roy Orbison and Crying Thats me fer the night,enjoy yer night all and best of luck with the weekends racing

yip hes one of my favourite guitar players

Simple Minds

I've seem him a couple ae times,a good bit passed his peak mind you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYDeHQlg7c Eric Clapton on the OGWT playing Double Trouble crackin guitar player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7UtBQEFNGs Quicksilver Messenger Service had this on a cd I made up when I was going long tosses wi the doos last season. Got a van over the winter and it doesnae have a cd player will have to make up a tape for this years training

Long Train Running

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxoRoqRMBHU Tom had the edge when it came to dance moves mind you He moves like a young Lewis McCalley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oso0ieD8-tI Santa Esmeralda

He was a class act in his time

cause he didnae sing this tell me Quando Quando Quando

The Faces-Maybe I'm Amazed Rod Stewart when he was cool

was nice to meet you and the family andy(briefly as you say ) glad we could help and good luck with yer open race tomorrow

I always like reading over the Andrew Deans stuff in the old Scotlands own books. He raises a lot of good points when it comes to building a team of doos to score from the long distance races. Liked what he said on what actually constitutes a "good" pigeon.He says he doesnae really rate pigeons that have scored once(even top open positions)too highly.That the fancier has sent the pigeon in great condition and it may have just got into the right batch on the day.Once they have scored two or three times he starts to take note. Again this getting doos to score multiple times fi across the channel is getting a lot harder nowadays with some of the eratic inland racing alone. Theres boys still manage though

Theres training pigeons and theres straining pigeons Theres training racing pigeons and theres training pigeons to race

that reminds me-we were talking about Tattie and the Harry Ramsden's "challenge" up the club on Friday night sorry for hijacking the thread with Avonbrig trivia JAM