Walter swanston

Pigeons Basic gives a voice to gentlemen and the occasional lady who are interesting and knowledgeable about racing pigeons.I read it everyday,.By contrast Facbook and most other forms of social media are a playground for nutters.

Good luck to you maybe we'll meet sometime.

Andy Murray is the greatest sportsman Scotland has produced in the modern era.Ad has been said on here he will probably be offered a knighthood I can only hope that he turns down that tawdry honour which classes him alongside failed politicians and questionable business persons.

The BHW on page 11 this morning declines to comment or to print corrrespondenc recieved on the events surrounding the recent Tarbes race.This despite the fact that this debacle has been all over social media and indeed tabloid newspapers.I am aware of the need to wait until an enquiry has been completed but the decision to stop any comment in "the voice of pigeon racing" seems curious.

I personally do not know of anyone around here who treats pigeons in so ruthless a manner although I attended a moot some years ago where a highly respected Lanarkshire fancier stated that the fanciers best friend is the bin.I cannot and will not subscribe to this viewpoint so maybe I am a bad fancier.

John Quinn who is a highly respected pigeon fancier and rightly so started this thread but so far it remains uncertain what makes a good fancier in my case I freely admit to not being as competitive as some and I have no record of serious wins in races to point to.So perhaps this makes me a bad fancier. On the other hand I have kept dos now for about 20 years and I have enjoyed every minute of my time in pigeons,buy the time Christmas comes I will know each bird individually and when the 2017 season starts I will I will race them and deeply regret each loss?However I will let my pigeons out each day ,weather permitting and enjoy seeing them circling which means as much to me as winning races does to others.Someone on this site disparagingly describes this practice as pigeon keeping rather fancying maybe he is right and I would hesitate to describe myself as a good fancier but I definitely enjoy my pigeons.

Nith Valley Racing Pigeon Club.Secretary Mrs M Russel Tel.01387 255053

Yeah I know what should have happened!!!

We can talk and discuss all we want about clocking systems and the alleged deficiencies and loopholes in the various methods but at the end of the day what we we appear to have here is a situation where a prominent figure in pigeon racing is proved by his own admission to be fundamentally dishonest.I don't know how others feel it the whole scene fills me with despair.

I have never liked that saying about cream rising to the top Roland because in my not inconsiderable experience so does scum rise to the top of life's cesspool

This is an interesting subject to me and I am genuinely at a loss to describe a good pigeon fancier.I know of guys who work very hard for the pigeon fancy but seldom win anything.I know of fanciers where you could eat your dinner off the floor and they are not consistent winners.I know of lofts where the pigeon droppings are piled high and their birds seem to do okay.As far as I can see the pigeon fancy is composed of men and women from all walks of life and despite occasional disagreement I consider pigeon men to be the salt of the earth and I am privileged to be involved in racing pigeons at nearly 84 years of age.However I still am not sure why makes a good fancier.

That's right Frank we are told it all the time we are too wee,too puir and too stupid to possibly take care of our own country.

If the British Goverment want to renew Trident let them go ahead and do it but move them to somewhere in England where their elected representatives voted for their renewal.It is perfectly clear that the people of Scotland have made it clear that they have no use for weapons of mass destruction based on the Clyde.I make this comment safe in the knowledge that my credentials are impeccable as I bore arms for the British monarchy as a young man.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have gone to the courts and have been successful in blocking the building of an offshore wind farm in the Firth of Forth which would have supplied about 75% of Scotland's power needs.The RSPB eloquently pled the cause of the gannets on the Bass Rock.Aren't we lucky to have the RSPB looking out for gannets.

Sure.y there are better ways of spending 205 billion pounds of our money

Scotland is being frogmarched out of Europe by a gang of the Scarecrow Right.

Very well done to you and Julie many congratulations.

All this stuff about space for pigeons is interesting and valid.However the position is that too many fanciers want half trained or untrained young birds away to races and loudly claim that they have paid their dues and it is the responsibility of the conveying organisation to cater to them.I apologise to genuine and caring pigeon fanciers reading this but I only relate what I have seen and I will certainly not send my birds to the first three young bird races and indeed might not bother with young bird racing.

This post is timeous and long overdue.Everything that Delboy says is correct.I have seen only this week enormous teams of young birds out training and I know that fanciers will turn up at the race marking DEMANDING that their pigeons be basketed.I have had stand up rammies with experienced fanciers who should know better claiming "I have paid my fed dues so the fed is duty bound to convey my pigeons".Solutions to this difficulty can be and must be found.

Glad to hear that

Dark Chequer pigeon GB 15C 26244 property of Hendry brothers Hamilton released at Abington at 11.30.Hope it gets home OK

There are gun dealers in Carlisle and Longtown offering to buy air weapons in good condition as an alternative to surrender with no compensation.

No thanks I am not in the business of making any new enemies

Yes sure I completely understand the problem and expense in getting birds back but why put a phone number on its leg.I repeat I ain't killing pigeons because the fancier cannot afford to have it collected,I have repatriated strays for years but to to be asked to dispose of the bird I thought was a bit much

Sometimes I get weary of this game.A pigeon arrives here , I phone the number on its leg , the fancier asks me to "dispose" of the pigeon.A lovely chequer cock by the way.I have absolutely no intention of "disposing " of the bird.