frank-123

pretty sad what chance have we got of improving the fed when guys like that are holding us back aye mate he was a good laugh we had a great time

duplication race is a race open to any birds entered into the race so all duplicated birds race against each other open race means all birds must enter central marking is done after the 5th-6th race too save money and to help them get down the road on time so you can have the first yearling in the duplication race but there could be 20 yearlings in before you that were not entered into the duplication race hope that makes sense

why have an agm ?

Yes john we had a great time in great company really good to handle quality birds and ask questions as i said before everyone we met looked after us and welcomed us into there homes At the show in houten everyone we met before came over and said hello and even joined us for a beer

this loft belongs to E. & J. van der Weijden if you look at the pictures the loft has wheels that is to get around a dutch building regulation each panel can be removed and transformed into an aviary dependent on the weather

the last loft i visited was a loft full of pigeon's that are coming up for sale on the 20th of march and i reckon they will make a fortune the long distance lofts of E. & J. van der Weijden the guys told us they still have a bird in the one loft race at Tenerife it was in sixth position in the semi final

Next up was mark's father who unlike his son goes for the middle distance races the loft above the garage is his widowhood team and the loft in the corner were his stock birds

next loft up again the long distance loft of mark van den berg young guy with two kids and again small back door loft since 2003 when he started he has had some great results at the distance

next loft was off to see a long distance loft of Koop Kiekebelt i never managed any picture's this was a small back door loft and has been winning for a long time in Holland sure some of the other boys got picture's on there camera's and will post them up when i get the picture here is his old stock loft now the front has an aviary on it

next we were off to the lofts of Harm Vredeveld firstly his stock loft then followed by the best loft i have ever seen in these very large lofts was a small kitchen and the lofts were spotless at the top where the windows are at a press of a button the loft is darkened inside was a watering system running the whole length of the loft again this is a middle distance loft the whole family is involved in this operation the daughter Chantal was just back from Bangladesh where they were selling pigeons

After lunch we were taken to the local club house we can see Davie Allison and Gareth Rankin getting computer lessons the club use aluminium baskets (Yellow) with corrugated paper also had it's own bar and satellite tv

right here is some pictures from our visit the first loft we visited was Dr Franz zwols of Gramsbergin he specializes in middle distance we spent three hours viewing his birds and had lunch an absolute gentleman and could not have done more for us

All went well with the op thanks George My methods will change more fresh air more fresh grit and stop making pigeon racing hard for myself Race basket and microscope will be the way ahead for my birds

My first time visiting holland got to say I met some fantastic fanciers and they and there families made us most welcome nothing was a problem. I came home a day early as the wife has an operation in hospital tomorrow so the boys I was with are still there and have three loft visits planned for tomorrow that will mean they have seen nine lofts and handled lots of Dutch champions I personally have learned so much on my visit it really has opened my eyes to racing pigeons.!!!! Houten show was quite similar to Blackpool except there was plenty room to move around and see the stands even managed to purchase a wee cracker from Raymond moleveld

Pictures will need to wait till tomorrow as my laptop is at work using the wives I pad at the minute

Hi just back from our wee trip to holland seen some great lofts and the show was first class Funny how you go all that way and meet and meet good Lanarkshire lads Will post up photos later

Well were off bright and early tomorrow Will miss the fitba banter tomorrow but rangers to win 2-1

hope your birds make it safely for the final !!

Majority voted to go east just like Lanarkshire did you must respect the choice of the majority and if your not happy work to get it changed in the coming years. Hope all goes well for the guys who stick with the fed racing down the east still can be troublesome but I guess you will find out what is better east or west in the next few years That must be every fed down the east bar midland fed

About half a bale to three quarters just depends on how deep you want it

Great picture's John see the new camera is working well

is he not interested in the pigeons alan?

contact???

met him a couple of times Alan you are correct he is a gentleman

bbc sport scotland Celtic were second best - Lennon guess he might just get used it second best