Blue Tooner

Got another 5 so now up to 43/67

Daughter phoned me at 9.15am to say that there were 7 more on the loft, so that's now 38/67, sky is clearing up a bit now so fingers crossed

Had 20 sitting on the loft roof at 6am, so thats now 31/67 but since then we have had the heaviest rain I think I have ever seen in my life and their has been severe thunder & lightning since 7am :'( :'( just hope the others are sitting it out not too far away Again, like the ones that made it last night, the 20 morning arrivals are quite happy and some were in the bath :-/ It is torrential rain as I type this and the sky is black as coal

We always toss them in the evenings as this is the only time we can do it due to work commitments and by the time we basket them all up it's usually about 6 - 6.30pm before we head off with them, no other option :-/ but I know it is a risk but on the other hand, as stb says they are restricted from going to far away because of lack of daylight hours. reading the replies about fanciers having similar tosses and getting most back the next day has cheered me up so thanks for that guys, I'll put the rope back in the garage for now ;D

Hope so stb, you need nerves of steel for training young birds, it ain't for the faint hearted

Tossed 67 youngsters from around 15 miles at 7 pm tonight. Got 1 at 9.30pm then another at 9.40pm then 9 dropped together at 10.20pm. :( which leaves 56 awol :'( The ones that are back seem totally unfazed by it all :-/ Sick as a parrott, just hope some work back tomorrow. Year in year out we put our youngbirds through the hoops and then seem to get slapped. This team was the healthiest we've had yet, only had to dispose of 2 that went back. Not one lost off the loft and they are flying and ranging well, so what goes wrong? It can't all be B.O.P. surely :-/

Got a phonecall from an ex fancier today who has a stray youngster in his posession ring number is - ESP RFCE 2009 174505 it has an ets ring on, I presume this must come from a one loft race somewhere :-/ Any ideas? Gracias ;D

Had one reported from Eastbourne in Newburgh Fife. When I spoke to him and told him where she was racing from he said that the bird had no rubber or ets ring on so he presumed it was a stock pigeon. If the ets rings are being taken for their own use, then the person who assigns them in their club should ask for proof that the ets ring belongs to them as it alerts you that the ring is assigned to a different loft number :-/

Newbury 1/5 Eastbourne 1/3 Alencon 1/1 Ypres 1/2 Andrezel 1/3 Total 5/14 but no complaints, probably a look in the mirror job :-/

I'll echo that well done Nobby 8) 8) Just got our first one from Andrezel about 10am this morning, slightly injured. Glad to see him though.

Fantastic performance Davie, enjoy the Macallan Couldn't happen to a nicer guy Well done

Cracking pigeon, well done Davie 8) 8)

Well done m8, great performance ;)

Well done Derek

The golden grain ;)

I'm 8 out of 21 from Hastings, just got one 5 mins ago :-/ they have been coming out of the north and west :-/

Well done Walter, a good day for you all round

mines not working either :-/

Just timed from Ypres, 19.41 over the moon

Pigeon in Teeside 14.35 from Andrezel, not sure of distance

Thanks for the comments, they really are very much appreciated. Craig will buy you all a pint at the presentation ;D ;D 8) cheers

Cheer lads, it hasnae sunk in yet, maybe after this next Bacardi........

We won it, got it confirmed last night by Joe, to say that we are over the moon would be an understatement. Our little Blue cock, Richmondhill Maverick has a heart of a lion, he has now scored 3 times in the national being 4th North section, 204th open Eastbourne 475 mls in 2007 then was 12th North section, 60th Open Alencon 632 mls last year and now 2nd North section Alencon. What a buzz when he hit the loft even on the 3rd day It was dissapointing to hear that there were so many fantastic pigeons missing from this race, hope they have been working their way home.

Right birds in the right hands eh Clocky ;D ;D

Good to see them making their way home, Irvine Buchan, Peterhead had 2 back today