Thank you to all who supported our sale especially those from Arbroath, Dundee, Montrose and Gourdon who donated or bought young birds. Good luck to all for the coming season!
Forfar RPC Breeder-Buyer Sale will be held in our club room on Sunday 16th April. Sale starts at 1.00 pm. Young birds from club members and friends from Angus and Dundee federations. Breeder Buyer race is Grampian Combine from Wakefield on 9th September
I don't think pigeons are too much of a concern. They are more concerned about the effects on the free range poultry industry. As long as we keep our pigeons from mixing with wild birds and carry out the biosecurity measures we should be ok
The SHU have today forwarded an email received from the Scottish Government dated today. This is a new declaration which runs from 28th February until 30th April. The full declaration is available on the Scottish government website. Basically it says birds can be let out provided enhanced biosecurity measures are in place. I assume all federation secretaries have received the same email.
OLD BIRDS 22nd April - Lauder 29th April - Ridsdale 6th May - Tow Law 13th May - Ripon 20th May - Wakefield 27th May - Newark 3rd June - Leicester 10th June - Tow Law 17th June - Bedhampton 24th June - Ridsdale 8th July - Ridsdale 21st July - Falaise YOUNG BIRDS 29th July - Arniston 5th August - Arniston 12th August - Lauder 19th August - Ridsdale 26th August - Tow Law 2nd September - Ripon 9th September - Wakefield
I am not saying it's a bad idea. I am looking at it from the point of view of federations who set their programme to tie in with the SNFC. Not sure about it helping the entry for the gold cup from this area. 400+ miles ten days before race marking with the risk of holdovers is not ideal preparation.
Yes hopefully common sense will prevail. The status quo was Ypres as one of the duplication races. A simple amendment to the proposal will do. I am more concerned with why they want to move the two inland races forward a week. If that passes it will cause problems for the federations who duplicate in one or both.
A few random thoughts on the proposals Portsmouth was changed to Littlehampton last year on the recommendation of the convoyers because of fog problems. What's changed? Reims was the majority decision of members last year. Why do the committee go against the members wishes? Falaise. Why? Roye was the committee recommendation last year and was a good race. No reason to change. On all the above I have no problem with any of the race points I just don't see the need to chop and change every year for no reason. Hours of darkness - never read so much rubbish in my life. 23 hour rule. Again why? I would assume it is to do with the longer races and the time from the first birds being timed to the close of race. Could they not modify the times for the longer races. 36 hours seems a bit ridiculous for inland races.
Like I said central marking for gold cup,wouldn't bother me. I remember going to Gorgie Cattle market and then Dalkeith. 160 mile round trip. And back with your clock if you timed in!
There are very few from Dundee & Angus go to the gold cup now. And if there was central marking it would be even less. I wouldn't have a problem with it but there are many who would. There is a simple solution to getting a Wednesday marking for the gold cup but it won't happen. Move the marking time forward 4 hours and they could leave Gretna by 7.00 pm. Like I say it won't happen