Davy is correct timing a good pigeon on the night from 500+mls will over take anything else you have done in federation racing and live with you forever . Times have changed and people have changed and pigeon racing will never be what it was so just enjoy it no matter what distance you choose to race but don't knock each other just because one or other is not for you . I only race a max of 4 races a year and the gold cup is my only goal and it's very hard to get pigeons that shine at the gold cup ,at start of season I thought I had a few real champions but most went down at their prep races and the others were not good enough. Percy has almost beaten me ,my ybs are getting hammered during exercise and scared to come out loft so that is the reason pigeons will never be the same sport it used to be .