Novice

I doubt it but maybe by prior arrangement. Best give Mary a phone in advance.

As true as we can expect then. Sorry I was thinking back about 20 years ago. Bring back DDT and other toxic pesticides.

If the forecast doesn't change much I think it will be a good true race. My team trust sneak into double figures but no decision made yet.

Well done you guys. A visit to the winners enclosure just at the right time.

Good Graham. That seems like a good pigeon to me. Ralph will be happy with that.

I believe 14a 7771 is mine. It should be a chequer hen. If Eben is in the area that's good and well. If not ( provided the pigeon is fit) just liberate her in the Glasgow area. I'm only about 8 miles from Glasgow airport so she should handle that no bother. Thanks for reporting her.

Lol

Maybe if he extends it to the birds then he could be on a winner.

You might also want to consider increasing your blood Magnesium content. Holland and Barrett do an effervescent drink which I think is called Zero. It's a balance of 4 salts. The alternative would be the occasional drink of Epsom Salts. Some believe that muscle cramps are caused by a lack of Magnesium. It's low cost and worth a try to get a good nights sleep. I realise that you are taking Quinine when you drink tonic water. It's also nice diluted with gin.

If you are on Facebook Jake Green may be able to tell you when Munster fed will be racing from here. Their normal race points are Mauchline and Hamilton.

Well done Alan!

His hard work is paying off. A big well done to him.

When I read the title I thought this thread was going to be about a new fashionable Belgian family of pigeons.

I noted your remarks but good returns are normally attributed to good management rather than luck. What I really meant to say was that some fanciers are claiming that some of their birds which returned were in very poor condition and some actually died after arrival at their home loft. I know that the claims will probably be exaggerated but I was wondering how realistic they were and also if this was attributed to any single factor.

I read a great deal of controversy surrounding last weeks U.N.C. race. I wonder if this is without foundation. Your own returns are good.

Losing pigeons from a hard race is no problem. Losing pigeons from a freak race from just over 100 miles is a problem. There are issues which have evolved over time and we need to resolve these. On Sunday conditions were just not right for pigeons to orientate it's as simple as that. Personally I didn't send because I felt that there was an element of a gamble involved at the weekend. I certainly had no intention of subjecting my birds to 3 hours extra in a basket ( race marking postponed by 21 hours) to accommodate the Saturday night p*ss heads. Everyone's birds deserve better than that. Note- I don't send with Ayrshire.

David, I tried to mail you on Thursday but your inbox must be full. However, I spoke to Ian Noble on Thursday. I am sorry I missed you it would have been good to have had a chat. You are welcome any time. Robert

If you are home and at the dookit you have some constitution!

I know the feeling!

Reading everything again in context I think you are correct. Please excuse the senior moment on my behalf. Yes they are close friends and I am more than certain some pigeons are exchanged.

I just checked her Facebook post there. She says "we were 5th National with Mark Gilbert in the centre taking the first 3. All 3 were bred in the stock loft so that proves we have it right there." She doesn't say whose stock loft but infers it is Coopers. Maybe they share a stock loft I don't know. It's a bit ambiguous.

I think I may have read something from CAthrine Cooper at the weekend saying they had bred Marks first 3 birds. I could be wrong but that was the conclusion I drew from her post.

What do you feed mid week?

Hi Stuart, in my opinion you had the liberation spot on yesterday. It was not unreasonable to wait for some heat in the air. Once the birds are released its really in the lap of the gods. Last year both Ayrshire federation and Glasgow had poor young bird races from Otterburn on the same day. I competed in both events and had several youngsters work back about 2 weeks later. Like most fanciers you never think before you act and I bet most of these youngsters which failed last year went back this year as old birds and repeated the mistake. For the record any pigeons I have missing now we're either hawked previously or inexperienced. Race Control is a very big responsibility and even though you give it 100% it can occasionally go belly up. The misinformed criticism which is printed on here and on other web sites mainly populated by muppets helps no one. Results from Otterburn over the years have not been good so perhaps the criticism should be aimed at those who didn't attend the AGM to propose an alternative.

I thought the severe weather warning was for Friday.