Blue Tooner

That's good to know, just hope I'm in on time for Breakfast ;D ;D

Cheers Robbie.

Belg 2007 6006145. A non-fancier contacted me tonight saying he has had this bird walking around his garden last 3 days. He managed to catch it and confine it in his shed, but it escaped today and is still hanging around. Anyone missing this bird?, by his description I think it's a Blue. If he catches it again he will take it to me and I will post on here.

What was it like, i.e. food, beds etc? cheers

Yep, Brian Hadden, have met him before, not sure if he is going to Blackpool or not, he wasn't with the Elgin boys that were on our bus last year.

No, but some Elgin lads did last year, they said it was okay, but not the Ritz!! We were in Melvile Hotel, just a couple of doors down last year, we had to lie down in bath to take a shower as it was one of thos plastic thing you plug into the tap ;D

Don't worry us undertakers will look after you :X It looks okay on website

Heard the New Osterley was like a morgue, that's why I booked it ;D

Where's everyone staying in Blackpool next week? Anyone on here in The New Osterley Hotel, Adelaide Street?

Agree with Robbiedoo okay during the winter but not during racing season. As Pol Bostyn said, "Long distance racing is very severe for a fancier who has not been severe with his pigeons during the winter"

Louella Jan Aarden hen (one of a matched pair for 45 quid, no pedigree) bred us 8th sect. 51st open SNFC Alencon last year

Falaise (601 miles), Alencon (632) Tours (708) to me in Peterhead!! ??) ??)

;D ;D ;D

Have you got the cold Clocky, your voice sounds a bit hearse

Our racing loft is 20' x 8' with a tiled roof, the ridge tiles are screwed on so that the stale air can escape from here. At the bottom front of the loft we have two 18" x 12" louvres. Being a smoker I always watch where the smoke goes when I light up in the loft and it always goes straight up and out at the top, so this tells me that the air is exchanging okay. The only problem with the open ridge is that the loft gets a lot of snow inside in the winter, which drives me crazy, but after watching Secrets of Champions IV, I'm not going to worry too much about it, as Paul Haelterman says - "The more snow you have in your loft in winter, the more first prizes you will have in the summer", if its good enough for him, its good enough for me. ;D ;D

The stronger the competition in a club, the better it is for all members. I would rather have one or two first prizes against top fanciers than 20 first prizes against fanciers who send for the fun of it. Hope it works out for you Delboy. Don't let them grind you down. cheers Stuart

Bang on Wiley, I started this method about 4 years ago by accident really. It came about when I was away to Blackpool show from Friday till Sunday, My dad had been given instructions to feed the birds, only problem was I had loft keys with me!! ??). On my return I couldn't believe the condition the birds were in, fantastic nick. Yes, they were hungry, or at least they looked like they were hungry. Irvine Buchan of Peterhead also has done this for many years and he is one of the top flyers in our fed and does well in the nationals also, so if it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me. Even feeding pigeons 100% barley will not guarantee to keep the weight off. I wonder how many lofts are full of overweight pigeons due to being too kind to the birds at this time of year? In my opinion, pigeons shouldn't be overweight at any time of the year cheers Stuart

80%barley 20%resting mix fed once per day 6 days a week, on the 7th day no food at all, they need to feel the winter

Had Flyin Couriers collect birds from me yesterday and they delivered them to Hartlepool today and have to say I'm delighted with the service they gave me, kept up to date at all times :). Had a good chat with Wayne when he arrived here yesterday and was impressed with his attitude, he seems to be very comitted to providing us fanciers an excellent service. We all have to have a bit of patience and give them a chance, they are trying hard to meet our needs which must be very difficult. Thanks again Flyin Couriers, keep up the good work. Cheers Stuart Maskame

Flying Couriers, have sent you a pm. Cheers

3 of us for sure Ian, plus 3 0r 4 maybe's. I will spread the word 2 others

Cracking pigeons from a top class fancier, I'm sure those who have purchased these birds will reap big rewards. We purchased 3 from Bob a few seasons ago. Bob advised us to cross them which we did with one cock being the sire of our 3rd section, 49th open Falaise, 601 miles and grandsire of our 2nd section, 83rd open Newbury, 423 miles and a direct daughter of Margaret has bred us 2nd and 3rd club Hastings, 470 miles both being beaten by a loftmate also 3rd and 4th club Hastings the next year and she is grandam of our Blue cock which scored 4th section, 202nd open eastbourne 475 miles last year and this year was 12th section, 60th open Alancon 632 miles. Our timer in this years young bird national was a half sister of the above Blue cock. The proof of the pudding is in the eating Just wish I'd had the cash to invest in these birds again :'(

The Flying undertakers will be there, cos if big Del drinks those 2 bottles it'll need the two of us to lift him :o

Just had a conversation with a fancier who is of the opinion that it would benefit the pigeons and the SNFC to go with the UNC to one or more of their channel races. Could members give their views on this and the pros and cons. Cheers.

Well done to all the above mentioned fanciers on their great performances, fantastic. I would also like to congratulate Jakie Ritchie, Inverallochy on winning 1st region G, 20th open at 352 miles. Jakie almost won this race in 2005 winning 1st region G, 4th open from Cheltenham, 396 miles and not far away again this year.