Novice

Ayrshire south road seems like a good decision to me---similar forecast to today. I am wondering why we decided to race old birds into a much colder, stronger wind at the start of the season.

There will be race controllers who don't access this site I am sure. Is there a reasonable way of communicating with them?

Hurlford & District Homing Society 6059 6218 160 Michael Hilland 07772 304 819

Unless we hold another meeting the remaining Ayrshire program is 28th July----Hawick 4th August-----Hawick 11th August----Otterburn 18th August----Otterburn 25th August----Hexham 1st September Sedgefield We will probably stick with that program as the coast guys have what they want with the advantage of a super measurement restored. You may also be interested in Ayrshire North Road but I am not sure what it is. I think their numbers will have increased this year due to discontent at reverting to an east coast route.

He can only be described as Mr. Consistent. I hope he does it this time.

10 miles to fit healthy young is like a stroll in the park. Try taking them further so that they will come directly home.

Niort is on the Cherbourg peninsula line and we all know how that turned out this year. The late Jim Biss argued against liberations in Western France as the poor weather always came in from the Atlantic. There again it may have suited his location to go East.

Stuart-for some unknown reason the birds have been hitting the coast first. I have no idea where they cross over but they do. Inland lofts then need to give them about 10 miles overfly. Even at the shorter races there is very little difference in the measurements of Largs and West Kilbride. I'm not saying the measuremants are wrong but the birds take an L shaped route for some reason.

Compliments to the convoyer. All my birds were in good condition but had lost some weight. Having said that we never have the opportunity to examine them before they are released after only 2-3 days in the basket so they may always lose some weight. Home safely and that is what matters.

Good progressive thinking

As you say we will never know. You may be right or you may be wrong but on this occasion I will be happy to pick mine up. I feel cheated not having a race but as time wore on this was the right decision for me.

Somehow I had a feeling that the name of Jocky King would feature on this thread.

I only look forward to handling my own. After 8-9 days you are only judging the ones which made it home.

Come on now Gareth would you confine Paula Radcliff to a phone box and feed her inappropriate food for a week before the Marathon and expect her to give of her best?

I hope they are bringing the Ayrshire ones with then. Seems like a good decision to me.

I am in absolute agreement. I paid £40 to enter 10 birds. It's well worth sacrificing the entry fee to have them home safely. Roland you are normally noted for your logical posts. You have missed the mark with the one on this thread by a long way.

My interpretation of what I read on these sites is that the SNFC birds were liberated seperately from the rest. I have been known to be wrong before but it requires someone in authority to clarify this,

I see the fanciers from the North West Combine are already complaining about the returns from their liberation at Niort yesterday. Given this the decision to hold yesterday may have been the correct one to make. Let's hope that as this situation unfolds all decisions continue to benefit the welfare of the birds.

They are monitoring times on another site for the North West Combine race from Niort. The only bird I see recorded is 10 hours to Lower Gornal where ever that is, It's Dudley I think

This should not be about a decision to liberate or not. Weather forecasting is now more accurate than ever. Fanciers should have had the foresight to keep their birds at home and the organiser should have postponed or cancelled the race. Federation constitutions should be sufficiently flexible to allow this. Having said all this I am as guilty as anyone as I have 10 pigeons in this convoy. Before we pass judgement let's now wait and see how other organisations which liberated fare today and tomorrow.

I know 2 english organisations are liberated at Niort and Saintes this morning about 07:00. They should cross the channel at Cherbourg same as us so we must be hopeful.

No what a fiasco this has been. Sorry I bothered to send now.

Don't worry he will be fine just look at the role model he has lived with for the past 17 years. Seriously been there and done it probably to a greater extent than most. Just calm yourself and hope he has a great weekend.

I believe they did blend well with Van Hee pigeons. I can remember Captain Cutcliffe selling these several years ago. I think his birds were the base of several winners so given the fact that he did not race himself they must have been good birds.