dazza

To Pigeon Man please don't tell me that ETS doesn't make your pigeons come quicker, i am a bit tired off that line now. Of course it shows the true velocity of every bird because you don't lose time clocking them in especially if you get 3/4 together. I think that it is also fair to say that some members will pack it in if they perceive that it is unfair. There have been several on here who have mentioned it. Why was their such a rush to bring it in immediately, why not give people time to prepare/save up. As i originally wrote i would like to have ETS but only on the basis that it is fair for everyone. You might not care but i race in a club of 6 members if a couple of them decide to quit as they have indicated where do we go from there, where do i race then if the club folds.

Ets is great as it shows the real velocity of every bird but as it stands at the moment it is simply not fair. In a time when the sport is declining why would a governing body take the chance of losing more members? The sensible decision would of been to say - we feel as the governing body that Ets is the way forward for various different reasons and will be brought in to effect from the beginning of the 08 or 09 racing season. This would have given everyone the opportunity to carefully consider the options/cost etc. As it stands now i fear many members will decide to pack in at the end of this season. I personally would like ETS but am not prepared to ruin my local club by getting it as i know there are certain members who can not afford it, even though i am putting myself at abig disadvantage when competing at higher levels.

33/37 1st 3rd 4th 5th club - 4 together.

Paulo you don't need to train young birds to get them fit there fit already or at least they should be. Only my opinion but i would rather see mine racing up and down the village morning and night rather than continually sticking them in a basket. Sammy how do you TRAIN them to fly home the fastest and shortest way possible i'm intrigued to know? don't they do that anyway.

No they have had a number of tosses previously but now they've had this experience i see no need to trail down the road anymore. The point of my post was to say that the birds and there experiences should guide you as to how much/little they need training. There is no need to be rigid in your approach. Some posts have said that they have 10 tosses at 5 miles and then 10 tosses at 15 miles etc - whats the point if the birds have been roaming for a couple of hours at a time they obviously know where there going.

Don't think it was that hard to follow. My point was that for the pigeons that spent 3-4 hours working their way back yesterday taking them on more 10/15 mile tosses is a waste of my time and theirs. cheers dazza

Agree with Stuart. Once the birds are settled and confident with you, don't let them drop on the roof. Whenever they land there gently get them back in the air and keep repeating until they land where you want them to. You will be amazed at how quickly they catch on.

I do train young birds but often feel that its more for my benefit than theirs. Before i even put mine in the basket they are flying away from the loft for an hour or so and i think that they learn far more ranging themselves than my training. Training to me depends on what experiences the birds have had for example took 49 yesterday got 1 cock followed by 24 together and another 23 spent the rest of the day working there way back independently, 1 still missing. The 23 that all worked back throughout yesterday will have learn't more than any training tosses i could give them. Given normal circumstances i would be confident that those birds with a bit of luck will now be able to sort themselves out form the first race on Saturday from 76 miles.

GB 05 Z 82905 was mine, a lovely mealy cock that was lost from the first MNFC from falaise. Wish i could find the sicko that did this. I would have paid or even travelled to Wales to get this pigeon back.

Which Mark Evans is it - is it the one that has won 20+ Nationals!!!!!!!

Its a tricky subject we can only clock 2 in our club. I disagree with Stuart that the big senders keep the sport alive on the contrary it is the smaller fanciers who continue to send for the love of the sport knowing they are up against it flying against teams of 70,80 100 pigeons every week that keep the sport alive. I love to see the Nationals won by someone who sends 4 or 5!

It seems there must have been thousands of birds that never left the south coast on saturday morning.

returns from MNFC appalling round me, seems that all the birds have gone down the west side of the country. I have 1 from 12 and have heard stories of 1/70 and 4/45 etc. Have had 2 reported 1 in Stoke and 1 in Cannock. Thanks to those people who reported. Have heard that the weather was bad at Portsmouth saturday morning anyone confirm or deny? cheers dazza

I guess it would have been a struggle for you to do well in the fed with the strong west wind. Haven't seen result for fed yet for last week but i think we have finished in the top 15 which was pretty good given the conditions.

Good thanks - looking forward to MNFC race this weekend.

Always interested in keeping options open. Fly as M&D Pooley Whitley Bridge.

Thanks

Is it 12 miles in all directions?

wasn't particularly referring to you stuart - more the link to the website. I think i will advertise my business on here as well, seems a cheap option to me!

Can we all advertise on here for free?

One of our best cocks first in clock MNFC 2bcc winner multiple club and fed scorer lost him from 18 miles absolutely gutted, he had won from nantes 450 - absolutely gutted. Turned up on a sunday evening 2 1/2 weeks later. May offer some hope. dazza

In my experience there is no benefit in singling pigeons up. What you need is the birds with the ability to be prepared to break from the masses on a saturday and then the guts and heart to carry through that effort. If you single up a bird what does it race back with? Surely you want your birds to have the habit of returning asap which will happen most often when racing with a bunch. Anyone raced a 2 bird race alongside a fed race, the majority of the time the higher numbered race will produce the faster velocities. The only advantage i see in singling is possibly against the raptor threat and the ensuing panic of a large bunch. My thoughts only. cheers dazza

it is ridiculous to blindly send same pigeons training twice a day. Pigeons are like any other athletic competitor they are all individual with different make ups and what suits one will be detremental to others. The skill of a good pigeon man/woman is to know the birds individually.