Has D. Parr not got Cooremans ?? I know he sold a mate Ybs a few years back that were Cooremans but weren't much good flying up here into Derry. I would have suggested G. Delaney with his Willy Jacobs birds that seem to do well in other lofts or Harmony Lofts seem to have good results also with other fanciers flying their birds but not sure is any of these fly the Cooremans.
Its a thiefs paradise when theres such a large gathering of people together especially when their attention is focused elsewhere. Have to feel sorry for those that have had goods and money stolen but it has brought the attention that an adequate security system needs to put in place for future gatherings and checked on a regular basis to ensure that they are in working order. At the end of the day its us the fancier that will carry the blame for this and not the organised gangs that thrive on such gatherings.
I have perspex on the front of my lofts at the moment snowy but it is only put up during the winter months to keep the lofts dry from all the driving winds and heavy showers that usually come throughout the winter. I usually take the perspex down again at the end of March and open the lofts up until November comes around again. The important thing about an open loft is to ensure that it is sheltered enough to keep the loft dry.