Pompey Mick

The Solent federation are at Exeter (110mls back to Portsmouth) tomorrow, I've got 8/9 to send. Sunny with a Lt NE is the forecast. Then that's it.

Is this a performance enhancing stimulant? If so, be careful.

On Unikon Champ to re-assign a new ETS ring to an already assigned ring does not require the use of the laptop, it is all done via the Club Marker which can be done during marking. You can come out of marking go to assignment, type in the Ring No. (last 4 digits) then delete the defective ring using the red button, reassign a new ETS ring and then return to marking. Page 14,15 & 16 of the Unikon booklet for Clubs & Secretaries.

I'm at Kingsdown comeback race with the Solent Fed (91 mls) hoping to enter 10, with the Southampton & Dist NR Fed I'm racing from Leicester (125 mls) with 4 birds, all subject to the moult (non-darkness)

I purchased 6 YBs from peter66 at the Anna Flaws Charity Auction 4 for me and 2 for fellow Clubmate Bomber Mellis. We sent 3 of them to Stratford last Sat, Bomber was 1,2,3. Southampton & Dist NR Fed and his purchase took 2nd Fed, I was 4th&5th Fed and both of mine were the Auction birds. Well done to Pete Edwards for breeding us some good quality Young Birds.

On Unikon when an ETS ring is scanned for a race I was under the impression that a security code is implanted in the ring for that race, effectively race marking that particular ETS ring. If that is the case then it wouldn't matter how may 'clones' there are because it would only be the ETS ring that was scanned which would be relevant to that race.

SOUTHAMPTON & DIST NR FED. 28/07 WINDRUSH 75mls 4/08 UPPER HEYFORD 78mls 11/08 STRATFORD 100mls 18/08 WINDRUSH 25/08 UPPER HEYFORD 1/09 STRATFORD 8/09 LEICESTER 125mls 15/09 STRATFORD 22/09 NEWARK 158mls A nice gentle programme which we need after the OBs.

Its situated on the seafront road just west of the Barracks near to Canoe Lake and before you reach the pier http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=sfx507gx9vgk&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=o&form=LMLTCC

This is the Rose Gardens in Lumps Fort at Southsea, Portsmouth. It is designated as the Cockleshell Heroes Garden of Remembrance as they were based at Lumps Fort.

Try this website for some real old photos. http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw016904?search=Portsmouth&ref=8

I fully agree that the confinement of our birds during the Winter months (to force the Raptors to decimate all other forms of wild birdlife) is the only way that the raptor population will be controlled. If you ask Joe Public what he thinks about Raptors eating pigeons he will probably say that its a good thing, having been brain-washed by local councils that all pigeons are no more than 'flying rats'. We will get a different opinion when the only birds left in the skies are raptors and all more popular song birds and finches are no more because of the massive artificial imbalance in the Predator/Prey ratio. I am going to construct a mobile aviary so that I can allow all my birds an outside bath while they are confined throughout the Winter. I may just breed a few latebreds to give me a bit of interest in the Winter months.

Pompey's up for sale, and we've got enough Scottish ex-RN exiles down here to fill the stadium.

Pompey have a creditors meeting on Monday, we may be facing the same outcome as Rangers, but we haven't got the support or clout that Rangers have so it'll Blue Square South for us if the Council buys Fratton Park as promised.

The suggestion that we supply the BOP with an alternative food source just serves to reinforce the fact that these raptor support groups realise that the current numbers level of BOP are only sustainable because they are feeding on a non-natural food source, domestic pigeons. It is all very well to bring Raptors up to pre-war levels if their natural food source sustain the same growth, unfortunately we know and they MUST know that this is not the case. It is a case of Raptors above all with the Racing Pigeon Fraternity having to pick up the tab. How does 'providing an alternative source of prey' help any fancier, what kind of 'suggestion' is this. Do these groups think that if we let out these 'sacrificial lambs to the slaughter' the BOPs will merrily feast and then when we let out our prize birds they will somehow leave them alone. The word 'ridiculous' doesn't even come into it.

A partnership in my Club ,the Milton Homing Society, Kevin & John Zerafa decided to race from Fougeres (170 ml)for their first Channel race of the season. They won with a 2yo Hen having its first sortie across the Channel, as it was a fast race,1861ypm, with a flying time of 2h 41m they decided to basket her again that night for the North Road race from Newark 158ml which had been put back to Sunday because of the weather. It was a completely different race with a fresh SW against her but the hen completed the double for Kevin & John with a velocity of 1244. it is provisionally 5th Fed in the Solent and prov. 2nd fed in the Southampton & Dist NR FED. To win two races over one weekend flying from opposite directions with opposite wind conditions makes this pigeon a quality bird in my opinion.

The Solent Federation has been instrumental in forming the Wessex Combine consisting of The Solent, South Coast, Wiltshire & Berkshire federations for mainly Channel racing. Unfortunately this gives a Channel frontage in excess of 100mls and when the shortest race is approx 170ml the wind & drag play a major part in the outcome of the race. Pigeon Fanciers all have their own agendas when it comes to racing and they seek to use their vote to suit their individual requirements, the 'Greater good' does not come into it, all competitive fanciers will strive to obtain the best possible racing terms for their own needs. It is coming to the point where all meaningful races of any distance will only be available through National & Specialist Clubs, Federations will just supply economic, competitive training races. Down here on the South Coast we are awash with the opportunity to race National & Classic from 100ml -600ml, 30 races in total OB & YB (starting on the 28th April)are open to members of my Club, and this is having a serious effect on Federation birdage numbers on all races which will eventually impact on the economic viability of my Federation.

Fougeres, 170mls, with the Solent Federation, sent 10, and Newark 165 mls with the Southampton & Dist NR Fed,to which I will not be sending.

It would seem that during the update the clock was synchronised with the data in the computer which has overidden the data in the clock. I have re-assigned lots of rings and not come up against this scenario. Perhaps it's wiser to make sure all deleted life rings are removed from the computer memory before reassignment, I will bear this in mind in future. The ring could have been re-assigned at the marking station without the computer being connected as long as the pigeon in question ring number is in the clock.

Hopefully the NW wind will keep them out of our way, we're racing from Newark.

HYPNOTIST It was entertainment night at the Senior Citizens Centre. Claude the hypnotist explained: "I'm here to put you into a trance; I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience." The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from his coat. "I want you each to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my family for six generations" He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting, "Watch the watch, watch the watch, watch the watch. .. ." The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface. Hundreds of pairs eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, the chain broke, it slipped from the hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor, breaking into a hundred pieces. "sh**!" said the Hypnotist. It took three days to clean up the Senior Citizens Centre. Claude was never invited back to entertain.......................

Well its gloomy, overcast with drizzle and a cold NE wind here in 'sunny Southsea' . We are at Leicester & Carentan today, I think the weather will improve enough for a lib from Leicester, not so sure about Carentan.

Southampton & District North Road Federation Secretary: SALLY OSBORNE Stratford on Avon on 28/04/2012 at 14:00 hrs 86 Members sent birds 1313 Federation Birds. MODERATE NORTH EAST WIND Pos Name Club AFT Clocked Distance Bird Velocity 1 M.Chalmers POR 01:52:22 15:52:22 96m350y GB10N80363CPC 1506.764 2 L.Willett MIL 01:56:44 15:56:44 98m824y GB09E47370BLH 1484.432 3 M.Johnson MIL 01:58:54 15:58:54 100m126y GB10N30717CHC 1481.295 4 Drain&DrainLoft2 POR 01:54:36 15:54:36 95m1614y GB10V14683DKC 1473.072 5 E.Evans POR 01:55:00 15:55:00 95m1731y GB10P33009RPC 1468.772 6 F.Smith POR 01:55:01 15:55:01 95m1470y GB11N15030CHC 1466.483 7 MrsJ.Dimmick MED 02:04:27 16:04:27 102m1615y GB11K23222BLC 1455.484 8 M/MMulholland GOS 01:59:01 15:59:01 96m1323y GB11E12179BLC 1430.749 9 T.Sails&Son EAS 01:47:52 15:47:48 87m676y BIH111089733BLH 1425.734 10 J.Cullen VOS 01:57:27 15:57:26 90m447y GB08T14467CLC 1352.314 11 G.Mattews ELM 02:02:58 16:02:58 94m472y GB08N67714CHH 1349.244 12 G.Mattews ELM 02:02:59 16:02:59 94m472y GB10N14911BPH 1349.061 13 E.Rann MED 02:21:52 16:21:50 107m680y GB08N20429BLC 1332.157 14 E.Rann MED 02:22:29 16:22:27 107m680y GB07N74518CHC 1326.391 15 S.a.Benham MIL 02:11:36 16:11:36 98m1043y GB11N09878CHC 1318.418 16 C.Nutbeen VOS 02:03:31 16:03:45 90m1667y GB09N04042BLC 1295.817 17 E.Evans POR 02:10:23 16:10:23 95m1731y GB11P36041BLH 1295.496 18 E.Evans POR 02:10:47 16:10:47 95m1731y GB11P36022BLH 1291.534 19 C&DWillettBros&Grandsons MIL 02:16:59 16:16:59 100m783y GB11E08858CPC 1290.544 20 E.Evans POR 02:11:00 16:11:00 95m1731y GB10P33016BLH 1289.399 21 B.Upton GOS 02:14:59 16:15:01 98m461y GB08F28923BLH 1281.177 22 G.Dingley EAS 01:58:43 15:59:23 86m519y GB11F30692BKC 1279.307 23 M&S.Brick VOS 02:06:59 16:06:58 92m61y GB10N64692CHC 1275.475 24 Mr&MrsJ.Genge POR 02:13:15 16:13:15 96m903y GB11P36008BLH 1274.769 25 J.Jagodzinski GOS 02:13:36 16:13:37 96m767y GB11D19829BLC 1270.399 26 M.Chalmers POR 02:13:52 16:13:52 96m350y GB09P26519CHC 1264.766 27 P.Cullen VOS 02:08:53 16:08:52 92m742y GB09T17720BLC 1261.957 28 A.Wareham BED 02:16:56 16:16:56 96m408y GB11P20502CHH 1236.732 29 G.Deacon MED 02:29:05 16:29:05 103m923y GB06A01824BLC 1222.155 30 G.Paintin BED 02:19:47 16:19:47 96m495y GB11T17779BLC 1212.141 31 P.Newnham MED 02:31:59 16:31:59 104m1020y GB09R17122BCC 1211.054 32 W.Walker LP 02:21:33 16:21:33 96m1277y GB11J17876BCC 1202.663 33 S.Thomas BED 02:20:55 16:20:55 96m27y GB10R31616BLH 1199.073 34 P.Crespin BED 02:21:19 16:21:19 95m1644y GB11P45781CPC 1194.667 35 A.Jerrett GOS 02:25:45 16:25:45 98m698y GB10H34208WFC 1188.059 36 G&SAttwood GOS 02:24:41 16:24:41 96m1036y GB11K44370CHH 1174.952 37 K&JZerafa MIL 02:29:48 16:29:48 99m1334y GB10R42112DCC 1172.056 38 P.Nightingale MIL 02:29:20 16:29:20 98m1382y GB11J15815BLC 1164.254 39 D.Harris&D.Hardy GOS 02:29:01 16:29:02 98m668y GB11N01316BPH 1161.928 40 D.Harris&D.Hardy GOS 02:30:14 16:30:15 98m668y GB09N41952BLH 1152.518 41 B.Upton GOS 02:30:07 16:30:09 98m461y GB10H24198BCH 1152.026 42 M.Chalmers POR 02:27:23 16:27:23 96m350y GB11P36206BLC 1148.773 43 L.&R.Hodges MED 02:40:24 16:40:24 104m638y GB09V29986DCC 1145.125 44 T.Kirby CHA 02:29:51 16:29:51 97m131y GB11L39444CHC 1140.147 45 P.Newnham MED 02:43:15 16:43:15 104m1020y GB09R17133DCC 1127.473 46 S.Thomas BED 02:30:21 16:30:21 96m27y GB08C65636RPH 1123.846 47 R.New BED 02:30:49 16:30:49 96m61y GB11H35014BLC 1120.705 48 E.Mellis MIL 02:37:44 16:37:44 100m243y GB10N58316BLC 1117.243 49 E.Mellis MIL 02:37:55 16:37:55 100m243y GB11N50508BLH 1115.946 50 P.Newnham MED 02:45:19 16:45:19 104m1020y GB11E34013BLC 1113.378

Sat 28th dawned as one of the worst Saturdays I've experienced for a long time, cold, heavy overcast and rain were not what we were looking for, though it had been forecast.Due to the forecast birdage was down with 8 members mustering 72 birds. Though the wind was cold it was a helping wind and after waiting for the local rain to clear the birds were liberated in overcast but clear conditions at 14.00. First to clock and eventual winner was Lee Willett who clocked his 3yo hen at 15.56 to record a fast velocity of 1484, this hen had been sitting her eggs all week having lost her cock the previous week, Lee's faith in her was repaid with the £60.00 nom money as well as 1st position, he also clocked his other two entries for 100% returns. Yours truly, Mick Johnson, was right on Lee's tail doing 1481 with a natural cock sitting eggs, these two pigeons were 15mins clear of the rest and are prov. 3rd & 4th Fed. In 3rd position we have Steve Benham, new to the North Road this year,who clocked a yearling doing 1318, Steve clocked 4 of his 9 yearlings he sent which was great flying on such a difficult day. Velocities started to tumble with big gaps for a 100ml OB race and in 4th were Chris/Danny Willett & Grandsons with another yearling on 1290, another 15 mins passed before Kevin & John Zerafa & Pete Nightingale clocked for 5th & 6th respectively on 1172 & 1164. A very trying race with leading birds making the expected speeds but with massive gaps in timings after that. The Club didn't do too badly with 23 clocked out of 72 entered compared to other clubs in the Fed.

The third race of the season was scheduled to be our first Channel race of the season from Carentan. After the birds had been dispatched we were notified that due to the low birdage and poor weather forecast the race would be switched to Honiton near Seaton to hopefully get an early lib before the weather set in. Unfortunately the promised early slot of good weather never materialised and we were in for a long wait, the decision to holdover was made after a fruitless wait for an improvement in the diabolical weather conditions. It was hoped for a lib late on Sunday but once again the weather refused to improve so the birds were held until Monday. Monday dawned no better but at least there was hope as better weather was forecast, the weather in the Portsmouth/Southampton area was indeed good but persistent rain and low cloud at the racepoint forced the transport to be moved to Kingsdown where a liberation was effected at 13.00 into a fresh SE wind, all this for a 90ml race. However all these shenanigans had no effect on the in-form loft of Bryce & Lloyd Scutt who recorded their hat-trick of wins doing 1146ypm plus 4th position as well, hot on their heels for the third time were the widowers of Barry Robertson who took 2nd & 3rd on 1124 & 1123ypm. Filling the top six positions were Pete Nightingale on 5th & John & Tom Austin coming in 6th with their first race of the season. Barry Robertson wins £40.00 pools and Cyril Hallett (CHEF) wins £14.00 pools Chris & Danny Willett & Gsons win the £10.00 side bet, a nice £70.00. All in all good returns despite all the problems.

Not sure what you mean when you say the computer says the pigeon has not got an ets ring assigned to it. I use ECS to assign rings and after you have entered the rings , synchronised the clock and then assigned the rings you need to synchronize the clock back to the computer so that it has a record of ETS rings assigned to the life ring. If you don't do this the computer will not show any ETS ring assigned to that pigeon even though it has one in the clock. You can delete the ETS ring via the clock and Club System but the life ring No will stay in the clock until deleted from the ring register via the Club Computer.