Pompey Mick

My Federation,The Solent Fed, has decided to place itself above the RPRA and insist that pads must be sealed in position within the loft. Should this ruling remain can anyone give me some ideas how you can securely fix a seal from a pad to a wooden loft.

'Moxidectin' is produced by the Australian Pigeon Company for use on pigeons & cage birds for worming, it also eradicates external parasites. http://www.auspigeonco.com.au/

Portsmouth 07.30, Fine & Sunny, Calm Birds up at 07.00 from Yelverton, should be a troublefree race (hopefully) Local weather site: http://www.clanfieldweather.co.uk/index.html

Solent Fed liberated at 7.00am No wind at Yelverton

The maximum amount of 'overfly' between fanciers is the distance between the two lofts, and that only happens when both lofts are in a direct line with the racepoint. The reason that overfly can help in clubs is that the pigeons velocity is the minimum speed it has achieved, not taking into consideration time lost on lib, deviation of line and time lost on trapping. The pigeons are always flying at a faster speed than they are credited with. Obviously as the 'overfly' distance increases a multitude of other factors come into play, some favourable, some not.

Latest from the RPRA: Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in cattle, in Surrey Posted 2256 hrs 3 August 2007 Following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease by Animal Health on a holding near Guildford in Surrey, laboratory results have this evening indicated that the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus is present in samples from cattle on the premises. On the basis of the initial laboratory results Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease. In accordance with the legislation and contingency planning arrangements all the cattle on the premises will be culled. A Protection Zone of three kilometres radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres has been placed around the premises, and a GB wide national movement ban of all ruminants and pigs has been imposed. This FMD outbreak has no immediate implications for pigeon racing in the UK. Racing and training carries on as normal unless and until we are advised to the contrary. Peter Bryant General Manager

Portsmouth 07.00, Almost cloudless blue sky, very light SW wind, Clear. Strong moon visible high in the sky.

Here's an interesting report: http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/avian_flu/

I had a very poor race with the Solent from Kingsdown,92mls, 6 out of 15 on what looked to be an excellent flying day, with a tail wind, Quite a few losses in the club as well, average 40%.

Solent up at 8.00am Lt West wind from Kingsdown

Portsmouth 07.00, Clear blue sky, westerly breeze. Lets hope the racing matches the weather. First Young Bird race for me today.

Hi Mark, They will have when we buy them. Just browsing at the moment but we intend to have every thing in place for the 2008 season.

Many thanks to Tammy for his invaluable assistance when I made an application to the 'Awards for All' lottery fund which has resulted in a £10,000 cheque for the Milton Homing Society (Portsmouth) for 25 ETS systems and a new laptop computer. I know he put in a lot of work sending out the information to me and I don't think I would have been successful without it. Also a thank you to Doostalker for his input which was also very helpful. Its good to be involved in a sport where total strangers freely give their time and advice to help a fellow fancier.

Solent Fed at Kingsdown ,first YB race.

Congratulations Carl (and your Dad) A very happy birthday indeed. Any photos?

Thans a lot Jack, definately interested, PM me any details.

Babelfish translation of French communication posted on PIPA.be COMMUNICATE FRENCH to PIGEON FANCIER FEDERATION ALL the PIGEON FANCIERS the RACES OF CARRIER PIGEONS TAKE again EC WEEKEND OF JULY 21/22, 2007 After two weeks a forced stop our dispach riders can, again, travel freely. Our pigeons "demonstrators" already put in cabins Wednesday and Thursday will be joined by their colleagues, this Friday and Saturday in an immense demonstration symbolic system. The hundreds of thousands of released travellers this weekend will be carrying the message NEVER AGAIN "CA" This message will be addressed to the authorities which have in load the management of this serious problem of Influenza aviary of which we are interdependent and Co-managers, concerning the carrier pigeons, because we let us have of it the obligation from the Law n° 94-508 of June 23, 1994. This is why, our mail of July 31, 2006, proposing a specific plan of management of the carrier pigeons in the event of presence of virus H5N1 on our country, will be reactivated and we wish to give it again, in clean hands, this time, the services of the Directorate-General of the Food (DGAL) because, the application of this plan allowed us, if it had been retained, to safeguard all the pigeon fancier activity while remaining in conformity with the declaration of March 09, 2006 of the Standing Committee of the Food chain and Animal Health (European Commission) and obeyed, also, with the principle of precaution so expensive by times which run.... France is not only the country of the Humans right, France is also the country from which all the departures of the races of carrier pigeons take place towards Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg. For this reason, the role of French the Pigeon fancier Federation is fundamental in the management of all this transit which it is necessary to authorize, manage and control. I thank these friendly countries for their solidarity and expression of sympathy with the French pigeon fanciers, in particular, Germany in the person of his President, Mr H. Menzel, whose future support will be invaluable for us. This interruption of the races of pigeons, which should never have taken place, ends in this weekend of July the 21 and 22 thanks to the implication of Mister the Minister for the Agriculture which understood perfectly that the cut off date of this weekend was vital for the safeguard of the carrier pigeon. I thank - Mr Benoît Caillez, person in charge for the newspaper French pigeon fancier "France Pigeon fancier" for his writing informed, relevant, right and neutral on this complex subject which is the aviary influenza and which contributed to the good management of this difficult period. - Mr Jean Pierre Decool and Doctor CH Arnoult for their devotion and the provision of their competences specific to the service of this cause. And finally, the national board of directors, for its determination to take the action of great decisive scale to the releasing of this ubuesque situation and to save the season pigeon fancier 2007. (the date which had been advanced by the Ministry, during the meeting on July 11, was 1st fortnight of August). I thank, also, all those which encouraged me and supported in this difficult test, of short duration, but which seemed to me interminable. Good end of season pigeon fancier, good holidays and with the pleasure of meeting you, Yours sincerely, President National, SOUSA Translate again

I find it interesting that in their Risk Assessment for Parks & Open spaces there is no mention by DEFRA of that ubiquitous park dweller the feral pigeon. Pigeons would seem to pose no risk in Urban parks. ' Of importance to public parks and open waters the susceptible species include all varieties of ducks and geese.' However when it comes to healthy racing pigeons a different attitude prevails, pigeons become top of the list. http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/documents/AIParksandOpenWatersRiskAssessment-July2006_000.pdf

So the poultry industry get minimal restrictions and we get blanket bans. Since H5N1 is primarily a chicken disease 100% mortality it is obvious that DEFRA's priorities are nothing to do with disease spread and all to do with the Economy. Banning pigeon racing is nothing more than a Public Relations exercise which has minimal effect on the National Economy and maximum effect on our Sport.

What is the position with poultry imports from France at the present time? With the probable link of the Bernard Matthews outbreak with infected farms in Europe, what restrictions are currently in place with France & German imports? With that in mind this article throws a different point of view on the spread of Avian Flu. http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/publications/pdfs_and_word/BirdFlu_June06.pdf

Many of you will I am sure already know that in the great French tradition, the French federation has announced that they intend to ignore the French pigeon racing ban as a protest and recommence racing. Clearly it is too early to consider the implications of this and in any case DEFRA is a different kettle of fish. However, at their meeting yesterday the RPRA President and Vice Presidents unanimously decided that all members of Council were to be canvassed with a view to seeking legal advice on whether any challenge to the DEFRA would be likely to succeed. I will advise the outcome of this next week. In the meantime, there is no change to the situation with regards to racing and the current DEFRA ban on racing only within the UK. The President and Vice Presidents do not consider that we should enflame the situation unless and until we seek constructive legal advice as to our position. Regards Peter Bryant General Manager The Royal Pigeon Racing Association The Reddings

It would seem that DEFRA have a different view on the risk of contracting Avian Flu by people than it has with pigeons. Considering that the Human species has more documented cases of Avian Flu than racing pigeons one must wonder why.As you will see if you read this publication, the risk of contracting & spreading Avian Flu in the wild is minimalized, even in areas where Avian Flu is in existance. What's the difference between pigeons landing in a field or people walking in a park and why is pigeon racing treated differently? http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/avian/documents/AIParksandOpenWatersRiskAssessment-July2006_000.pdf These are the areas we need to tackle DEFRA on, are we being unfairly discriminated against.

All the people involved are all of the highest integrity, Brian Long's reputation speaks for itself, Brian Wall, Jimmy Wearn, Mick Bunney, Albie & Jan Deacon are all long established genuine pigeon fanciers who only have the future of the Sport at heart. Your money couldn't be in safer hands. All I will say, is this a good time to fight DEFRA with the extensive number of cases on the Continent, in fact we shouldn't fight DEFRA at all, they are merely working to the scientific risk assessments they have been provided with, they know very little about Avian Flu, relying on the advice of others to make their decisions, What we need to do is get the Risk Assessment re-assessed. It would be useful to find out why Eire's risk assessment differs from DEFRA's as they have no 7 day ruling, why? . What are the Continental Risk Assessments on Avian Flu and pigeons, it would seem they are less draconian than ours, why is this ? It's the same disease, the same pigeons, the same risk. This is the area we should be active in. DEFRA is no different to any other Government department, they will agree to anything as long as they can blame someone else if it all goes wrong.We need to educate DEFRA not fight them, we have to be on their side, while looking after our own interests, after all their job is to protect the health of the Nation, and I'm afraid pigeon racing is pretty small beer compared to that. http://www.pigeon-chat.com/viewtopic.php?t=5566&sid=0de22b06b8664df8989c9ff648d363b1

This is part of the latest VFTR, 'VIEW FROM THE REDDINGS AI Update The news form Germany is not good. German Authorities have confirmed more than 100 new cases of H5N1 in wild birds over last weekend. Disease control zones have been established in line with EU legislation. So what does that mean for us in the UK. Well the other glitch which is outside of our control is that the French Government will not review the pigeon racing ban until the 2nd August. We will however be pushing DEFRA to allow us to race from Belgium as the authorities there have stated that there are no restrictions in racing from Belgium. We do have a few weeks to let things settle down abroad but it would be good to get something formalized so that young bird programmes can at least look a little more certain.' 'not good' is a bit of an understatement methinks.

I'm not trying to justify anything, just pointing out that cost is not a reason or excuse for penalising anyone or anything. If you are a competitive pigeon fancier and something comes onto the market that will increase your chances of winning, be it pills, potions ,pigeons or clocking systems, (the last one was the T3 and its thimble holder)you will do your best to obtain it. As for ETS, I will not buy one, I am happy with the T3 and open door, but I will race against ETS systems without crying my eyes out. That said, I will have one if its by courtesy of a grant, I'd be a fool not to, and so would every member of the anti-ETS brigade.