Alen Gibb

I believe Bath Racecourse is no longer a racepoint. The Bath racepoint on the RPRA website is at Swainswick.

The name’s Alen by the way. I have three bays on my loft, each designed around my trapping system with the pads inside the bays. I cannot lower my pads in order for the birds to drop through bobs on to the pads because that would leave insufficient space for the birds to fly from the loft. I would need completely new bays at a cost of around £400. Don’t make uninformed comments about things you don’t know about. The original rule was not unjust – just poorly put together but that it is not the fault of the fancier. A rule is a rule, however poorly worded and everyone is obliged to follow that rule as it is worded. I have no doubt that the ‘spirit’ of the rule was quite basic – a bird should not be allowed to clocked merely by alighting on a landing board or other external surface. I fully agree with that and can see no argument. The new rule implied that the bird had to be confined within the loft or trap This of course would have lead to the absolutely farcical situation where a fancier flying to open door with his pads in a corridor would have to close the door after each bird before it could be clocked. This led to some debate at the March meeting which resulted in a clarification. It was decided that so long as, at the time of clocking, the pigeon is inside the loft, then it is legally clocked. I have no problem with that. In effect the clarification negates the fact that a bird must be confined. When my birds are clocked they are inside the loft but, as with the open door fancier, they are not confined. Is it fair? Probably not. What is in pigeon racing? Is it fair that for years I trapped via let boards and sputniks when my mates had stall traps? No – but it didn’t bother me – it was my choice and, at the time, my pocket didn’t allow for the expense. Is it fair that the old and disabled have to catch their birds with difficulty when they are competing with young and fit fanciers who sometimes have two, three or more helpers at the loft? No it’s not. Is it fair that with the new clarification, the open door fancier can have his bird fly straight into the loft and land on his pads to be clocked while mine is still on the landing board deciding on whether to go through the tunnels or not? No it’s not – but again it doesn’t bother me. The important thing is that our birds have arrived home and have entered the loft – confined or not. Finally Roland, I really admire people like you – having spent hundreds on a timing system I must applaud your motives for not using it because it gave you an unfair advantage over manual clockers. I can’t think of many who would do that – fair play to you.

Roland - you are completely missing the point. Hundreds have purchased or designed traps which complied with the original rule. I have no idea what 'the spirit' of the rule was but I complied with it. The spirit of the drink drive laws is that you shouldn't drink and drive - the law on the part of the police must be carried out to the letter and, even if you're blind drunk and they haven't followed the correct procedures, you'll get away with it 'on a technicality'. But I suppose all you people who go on about the 'spirit of the rule' wouldn't take advantage of a technicality if you got caught! IF I had to change my system (and I don't think I will need to) it would cost me in the region of £400 - "I don't want a 'botched up job" on my loft and so cannot simply alter my current traps. If I knew how to post photos I would show you. I am not interested in short 'flapping' races and never expect to get multiple arrivals - I often have only one bird read when others below me want four or more read. I did not buy ETS for an advantage in timing; it's nice to win but I get my pleasure from seeing my birds home in a reasonable time. ETS saves me from stressing the birds, saves me writing out entry sheets and gives me an accurate records of my birds' arrival times. The fact I might save a few seconds means nothing to me - I usually need to save minutes rather than seconds even on short blow homes! Have the good grace to accept someone else's point of view especially someone who you don't know and whose character and integrity as regards pigeon racing has never been questioned.

Roland - whoever you are - I am not a cheat. I have spent good money on fitting my loft with traps which complied with the original rule. I believe they still comply. I would welcome any one to object to anything I might win in the coming seasons. I strongly believe in complying with rules and I am sure that my set-up would not be faulted should the need ever arise. Try not to insult people with unfounded accusations.

Read it again Tony - where a bird goes through an open door and is then clocked there will be no need to close the door behind it. I take the view that a folding landing board which is used to close the loft is also a door.

The way I read it is that most if not all the commercial traps which have been sold do comply with the new rule if you regard a folding landing board capable of closing the loft to be a 'door'. Provided the ETS sensors are inside the loft the bird will be legally clocked whether or not the 'door' is closed behind it. JMO but I am sticking to it until proved otherwise. As an ETS official of my club I am advising all members of my thoughts.

Sprint races are silly and meaningless to me personally but I have every respect for those who think differently. I am sure it is very difficult to consistently win these short races and to be successful you must be dedicated - they just don't interest me at all - although it is always nice to win at any distance, which doesn't happen very often for me!

Unikon - bought myself - so much easier for the officials to use

Always had that trouble with sputniks - got bob wires now across ETS tunnels - some can still get out - what will we do to comply with the new rule 241?!

Same thing happened in Cornwall a few months back - buzzard taking a Jack Russell

My mate has plastic decoys and moves them around. He also has a rotating amber light - hasn't made the slightest difference - still plagued by sparrow-hawks. One SH unfortunately killed herself on a window whilst attacking his birds but was replaced by another within 24 hours.

Mate of mine ordered a vacuum from B & R back in September - not delivered - kept promising 'in the next 10 days' - it never arrived. He asked for his money back just before Christmas but has still not received his refund.

The race programme was chosen yesterday, however information from the RPRA yesterday said that no liberation sites had been confirmed by the French authorities so it would be advisable to select a second choice in case the first choice was not available, we were also informed that there was a possibility that Nantes would be back on the list. Race programme Old Birds St Malo or Vire Messac or Tours Nantes or Poitiers Tarbes international Saintes Young birds Lessay or Cherbourg young birds only St Malo or Vire old hens and special A ring race

If you win a prize presumably you are a winner

If you win a prize presumably you are a winner