Roland

Only good thing is - as far as I am concerned - is for the public's benefit. Novelty value mostly as they seldom open a wing, or even know it has been stamped ... I reckon the SHU NHU etc could do tye same with Rings ... outside of racing purposes they take no notice of the rings even, let alone 'Wing Stamps' ;D ;D ;D

And a decent P.R Firm would be the first 'Must'!

Personally I think that that has good merits.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Vanrobaeys+pigeon+supplies&spell=1 Should help som e I feel.

the only fact about 'Eye Sign' is that it is a theory. Hence no data is forcoming ever, scientific or otherwise.

Why? Never happen yet so why does one think anything will ever change. Favoured few / positioned will get in again with the ole school tie scenario. Indeed they have a wierd sense that because it is a 'Name' and what is in their interest then it must be cosher. Will be the same mark my words. First proper and sensible step would be - though they can well afford it any way - to levy a little £1 and attain a PR Firm! To put our countless qualms into the media via a proper professional body. One that is not 'Pigeon Orenitated, as they would see the way forward from a proper A. Joe public view, and B. they have built in 'Think Tanks' and C. the means to Lobby and also access to the all important 'Corridor' politic.

Ah, but will the French allow us to fly over their terrain ... regardless of what they have said / statd to the Goverment body! I wouldn't give a fickled rats *expletive removed* on that! Indeed they would still probably ban us! Now that is worth a wager so to speak!

Click it into Google or like, and ...

Never heard of him ... but know stacks like him, and ALL seemed to have / had great success. Like when a 8 x6 housed 10 pairs and their young - 12 pairs was regarded as a 'Mob Flyer' by plebes standards - and flew well nigh EVERY race, - training was more than restricted, and at seasons end had to worry about the culls that hadn't earnt it's corn, let alone a perch to make room each year for the next round. March end the norm for breeding and few batch hatches...

Ermm ... No comment.

Yep Vic... like when a lad, and bird egging was lega,all eggs collected were blown into seperate cups after the water test and fried. Moorhen's eggs, for instance, are by far the most delicous eggs ever.

100% right, am really suprised by Tammy's comment , a comment from such a well forward thinking realistic chappie a that! Must have been still sleeping ... Never mind what is the hardest rd, what matters to most is gaining a litle credit for deserving birds, and owners hard earnt endeavours. Why not have a secondary program n place? I'll tell you one reason... It's so the priledges few can race from such silly liberation points as Sennon Cove and claim 'National' creedance. It's a Fast, and one that should have long been done away with. Secondarily, and even more to the bone is the worry that if they turn courses fanciers won't reverse back! And for sure many other - well deserving names - would no doubt have a spell, if only for a season or two, placings at the top. Merit all too often having not been coming, yet well deserving.

Agree wholeheartly with the above two posts ... Unforetunately in regards the RPRA, Dafra and any other concern regards pigeons, nothing will alter. Been too long where the 'Positined' and hence the governing bodies ahve done just as they've pleased. Now the Welsh are ideal situated distance wise for inland / shetland races. Who and why are these not available... because it didn't, and hasn't suited the 'Well positioned boys'. Tell you wha, it is a good bird that does the Lerwick into wales and make no mistake about that, especially a day / or hard race bird. Never had the merit due though, and concerns that could have, indeed should have looked after them, and many more didn't, and consequently many packed up. Any and every bigger 'Race Concern' should have in place a North / east or whatever already in place for when the Channel racing isn't available later! But they won't, they will make money with senile Sennon Cove crap!

A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's h ard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic! 1. Don't change horses ... until they stop running. 2. Strike while the ... bug is close. 3. It's always darkest before ... Daylight Saving Time. 4. Never underestimate the power of ... termites. 5. You can lead a horse to water but .. How? 6. Don't bite the hand that ... looks dirty. 7. No news is ... impossible 8. A miss is as good as a ... Mr. 9. You can't teach an old dog new .. Math 10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll ... stink in the morning. 11. Love all, trust ... Me. 12. The pen is mightier than the ... pigs. 13. An idle mind is ... the best way to relax . 14. Where there's smoke there's ... pollution. 15. Happy the bride who ... gets all the presents. 16. A penny saved is ... not much. 17. Two's company, three's ... the Musketeers. 18. Don't put off till tomorrow what ... you put on to go to bed. 19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and ... You have to blow your nose. 20. There are none so blind as ... Stevie Wonder. 21. Children should be seen and not ... spanked or grounded. 22. If at first you don't succeed ... get new batteries. 23. You get out of something only what you ... See in the picture on the box 24. When the blind lead the blind ... get out of the way. 25. A bird in the hand ... is going to poop on you. And the WINNER and last one! 26. Better late than ... Pregnant

' .... . with out any doub't . can we call this one a compremise . we take the best they have , and make them better ,,,ch pied. Undoubtedly do most seasons. I believe our fanciers are on parr with any worldwide personally. Golly there are so any that are in and out of Belgiun - and other countries that it amuses me to think that some believe they have special powers and birds! Top flyers the world over have always been in close contact. Remember that the railway platform was often full when Frankie George sent birds abroad. Golly train loads went even to China in the 50's. Just look back at the Ole writings about the discussion, like eyesign was a big debate nigh a 100years ago between the Brits and Continentals... though there is still no such thing as 'Eye Sign' in Begium, not even a word for it! Ricky Maris ... well the beat goes on!

Won't be if they keep dying Would have put me ofs big time. Mind I doubt very much that I would have ever .... so ... Everyone to their own I guess 8)

Often done two nigh 500 / or more back to back, with another a fortnight later, and then another 500 two week - ends after. The Canadians think nothing of sending y/b's doing 2/3 400 milers back to back. The Australian's y/b's go 500 or more then as yearlings then go 700 miles or so. Pince Jackson a hundred years ago was getting yearlings at the 1000 miles... go figure, are our birds not bred to do it now? or is it that they never get the chance?

Mr & Mrs Collin Hill havesome beauifull looking birds. Would grace any photo album.... and the cards no doubt a wall, whilst the cups wouldn't look out of place on any sideboard in any lounge. Real nice.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Electric+Fences&btnG=Google+Search&meta= My favourite is http://www.rutland-electric-fencing.co.uk/ as they are very helpful, knowing and cost effective.

In regards Line and incest breeding I often think this story of a 'Stray' makes interesting reading. One day, a stray bird trapped into a fancier's loft. The bird was sickly, it's tail was much to long and it looked neither like a cock nor a hen. The fancier was so disappointed with the health and build of the bird that he thought he would be doing the owner a favor if he just got rid of the bird. In fact, the fancier thought the bird was not even fit for the soup pot. However, he relented and offered the stray to a friend. The friend after handling the bird refused the offer. Eventually he gave the bird to his young nephew Andre, who was a new flyer. Andre also was disappointed with the bird but he kept it and learned that the bird had strayed from the loft of a Mr. Desprets who was the son-in-law of Mr. Commine of Leers-Noord. The bird was settled to Andre's loft and Andre bred him to a hen from a Mr. R. Benoot of Olsene. From this pairing a youngster was born that year, this bird would later be known as "The Bull" because one of the prizes it won from the Clermont race was a bull. One day down at the clubhouse, after "The Bull" had again topped all competition (1st prize Angoulème 385 miles ~ 2,267 birds), Mr. Commine walked in and asked Andre what was the breeding of this wonderful pigeon. Andre, told Mr. Commine that "the bird is from you". When Mr. Commine heard the story of how Andre acquired the bird he said, "You are lucky, because the cock-pigeon in question seems to be one from 'Napoleon' mated to the 'Lamote pigeon' ". Mr. Commine did not ask for the bird back but required that Andre give him two yearlings off of "The Bull". Anyone who knows the history of the Belgium Strains knows that the Commine pigeons were the foundation of many of the best flyers of the time. Commine got his start flying the Wegge strain. He bought the best Wegges from Michel Fache and more from Vandevelde, of Oudenburg. The "Napoleon" was bred out of a hen from Vandevelde mated to Commine's famous "Checker White Flight Cock". The Lamote hen was of course bred by Leopold LAMOTE from Moeskroen. A very famous flyer of his time. The "Napoleon" became famous as he had more 1st place finishes then any other position (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th ,etc.) in his racing career. Napoleon was 16 years old when he bred 'the stray' and the Lamote hen was about the same age or slightly younger. Interestingly, Dr. Bricoux also found great success when he introduced children of Commine's "Napoleon" mated to the "Lamote Hen", into his loft. After Commine's death a good number of his birds went to Maurice Ameel. So, now we know where some of the Ameel bloodlines originated. When "The Bull" was 15 years old, he was bred on a Gurney hen and produced the "Jonge Stier" (Young Bull). The "Jonge Stier" went on to win 1st National Libourne and 1st International Pau, both wins in the same year! A year later, "The Bull" was bred to a stichelbaut hen and produced "Tarzan" who won 1st International San Sebastian. A daughter of the "Jonge Stier" was then mated to the "OUDEN ZWARTEN" (1st National Chateauroux for D. Labeeuw of Bissegem) and a son from that mating was bred to a daughter of "Tarzan". This mating produced the 1st International Barcelona Winner! The young fancier with these fantastic results was none other than Andre Van Bruaene, who soon became one of the most respected flyer/breeders of all time and without a doubt he was the greatest Barcelona flyer ever, winning 1st International Barcelona twice ('66, '84). Three years in a row (‘83, ‘84, ‘85) the International Barcelona winners were all 100% Van Bruaene bloodlines. In 1962, a 50% Van Bruaene bird won 2nd International Barcelona, this same bird won 1st International Barcelona in 1964. In 1987, the Barcelona race was extremely hard with less than 25% of the birds making it home after many days. Andre astounded the racing pigeon community when he clocked all eight of his entries placing; 101st, 157th, 163rd, 217th, 260th, 273rd, 313th and 1847th against 21,545 birds. So, an ugly, ill formed, sickly "stray" became the foundation of the greatest extreme long distance family of birds ever raced. He was the sire of two International Winners (Pau and San Sebastian), and gr.grandsire of the 1966 Barcelona International Winner. The 1966 Barcelona International Winner later became the ancestor of at least three* additional International Barcelona winners (1984, 1995, 2003). Not bad for a stray! * If I knew the breeding of the 1983 and 1985 Barcelona International winners (also Van Bruaene bloodlines) I am sure that the 1966 Barcelona winner would also be in these pedigrees making him the ancestor of five (5) Barcelona International Winners.

Well whilst I 100% agree with Nancy's post above, the reason one buys is A. the 'Blood' and B. to use as 'Foundation only' when out crosses are quickly needed. I mean I would personally buy them double grandchildren as y/b's to fly, but get another Family / starin to mix with etc. Yes I rated Massarell as top three stockman of all time... My personal favourite though is Buessart and a toss up for second between Massarella and Janssen. Regards Busschearts George had many outstanding performances, and so did others that had his birds! Take his friend Ron Hallam. Flew 1973 the longest race in the Bergerac National. This has gone on record as the greatest - possibly forever more. Sent four pure Busschearts. 1,2,3, Open etc. and only four timed in on the day. A hard and long race. This was after the second arrival had then only one month previously won Nantes. Combine the lot. Then there was 'Louise' What a great hen 8 races 8 WINS! Including Topping the Combine from the 3 longest races. 2nd open giving the winner 40 miles top ten placed others. In Belgium Busscheart hold the record for points when awarded the 'Asduff' award. Then there is the record of say DE 88.Winner of top prizes at national and international races. One year alone this cock bird did the following.2nd Interprovincial 330 miles. 1st National Limages 370 miles, 5549 birds, 4th National Perigeux 400 miles.... after a stupendous 1967 race campaign taking 3 national places in top 90 . 16th, 90th, 63rd. Unfortunately the 85 returned home from his last races in 1969 badly shot and died three days later. No Busscheart has a tremendous success rate in Belgium too.. He won just about anything and every thing. But the legacy of his birds here has been phenomenal. They are still sought after bird time, and ALL who have the - supposedly pure - strain are pestered full time for them. Even Louella has decided that Ron Williamson’s bird to be cross with Busschearts As you will all know the last few years Ron has been regarded as the continents top flyer. Also with his birds being classed as the No ones... Millennium Star etc... Done the same last year with another.. and backed that up with 4th..... etc. etc. Well Louella, as you all must know, not only has a lot of the world’s greatest strains. but their pigeons,- and the top three world recorded prices paid for them - and as I have often posted what I think of his ability as a stockman, it shows just how great, the results, records Busscheart is esteemed here. Undoubted regarded as the tops. There are countless records set, some still to be broken, such was Georges' performances back home in Belgium. - Where it was his brother - in - law that flew his pigeon also there, though not a partnership. Again another great.

10 for one, and 20 odd for my local clubs. 45 for the NRCC

I know that it will never happen - mores the pity really I guess, But wouldn't it be just dandy for two seasons to curtail the O/B season to 6 weeks or even longer, but start from the Middle of June. Yes y/b's as norm. Will never happen, and I like most would be a bit peeved. But the hawks would go hungry at the right time with youngsters. Yes keep them in till June! Then after two seasons be danged and back to normal.

Whats it called Cumbernauld, no disrespect, for your points are valid as to how well a fanciers flys. But that is really for another topic, heading, I.e. This is for when is it 'Your' ' Family or Strain. As to whether they are any good or not doesn't arise, though possibly only a few of us would be proud of a loft full losers and dud .. 'Yep they are rubbish.... But are me own familyl ;D ;D

How far back ... grandchildren and crossed double grandchildren bought off Louella have won Nationals and an international. Many top flight flyers have as such. Even Belguims have won national buying off Louella. But one must remember that these are off remarkable class 'Winners' and well looked after.