Roland

I race my Yearlings and OLD bird is not previously sent FIRST TIME EVER in a a basket up to nigh 200 miles. Like I saay as I said. Gary trained ONLY twice - like many others. 2 training tosses as young birds THEN never trained again! Many fanciers used to just send to races FULL STOP! Whether over the waters / Shetland's etc. Sorry thought that was quite clear! P.S. no need to shout I heard you and READE your post... SEEMS YOU DIDN'T READ PROPERLY OR UNDERSTAND MAT!

Well Adee1888 does and has happened. Reported a stray 3 times... three times it came back ... and was a winner for me - Yes I did transfer it. Phoned the fancier up when it won .. He was more interested in whether I had transferred it. Was a time when many a stray was winning for others lofts. Not now though I care to believe. Most just send it up road ... a few sorry to say dispose of them. But why keep it? OK if sent to lose and keeps coming - trying it-- I feel / believe that they would report it and transfer it. Mind had a letter from RPRA regards a stray bird of mine in Grantham. Letter arrived on the Tuesday ... After I was on my way to Grantham on a training toss. No phone number, Went training again on the Thursday and called in for it. He wasn't there but wife was up set and said I couldn't have it, AND I WAS GOING TO BE REPORTED FOR NOT COMING SOONER ETC. I was wound up a bit and asked again... Long story short I eventual got it out the loft... Told it was a Fed winner and won well AND was sitting on big youngsters. I felt for the youngsters, so said keep it. All the way home I was livid thinking I should have taken it... Fed President said Report it... Thought about it, but didn't which burnt another hole in the gut. Would I do the same again in same circumstances? I have to say Probably if on young. If not I struggle from giving them a slap and would take back... AND ask for the cards and winnings. A well known once advertise in the BHW a cracking looking cock bird for sale, with many wins to it's name.... I had lost it 6 weeks previously....Another slime ball that I should have reported... Mind I did get the bird back and some stupid- lies - saying sorry etc. OFF course he must have know when he put the ring num,ber in print it was he's...

Wasn't happy with your loft and set up, so peed off. Was happy in another place / loft, or loft hopping. Something berked it so back it came ... It most likely won't stay though.... Yes one in a 1000 do, and 5% of them may do well... Maybe But don't hold your breathe. Send it up the road and let it go back to doing whatever makes it happy ... Certainly wasn't contented at yours'. As for saying it was Locked UP' some where Why? very doubtful to say the least. JMO.

Aye, then double your money selling to me eh! I see a fellow asking for a Bob Fklemings book on 'Eye Sign'. Be interested if any one has it. I would pass on details direct.

Won't hurt them none Yeboah .

Walt, always good to see/ experience. Mind I wager you have had the same experience before as have many, myself included.

Was a time when the 'Old Timers' got their youngsters basket trained on a race day Sat afternoon. Sitting high up and looking around. Many still do I'd wager. I had best results when from the nest they were fed and watered in the basket in their new loft compartment. - Then in the loft then left the door open and allowed to wander around the garden etc. till up and about. Now of course they go into the aviary first. Then open trap etc.

I have my birds Loft fit. But birds must be also mentally fit before training commences. The TWO be must in one accord before being sent up the road. I hear one say 'Best I lose them now in stead of feeding etc. Taking time and effort and money going up the road then lose them' Some truth there of course. BUT have you done them proud and gave them every chance to prove them selves? Or lose a few each step till what left is WHAT is left! I ask you. My yearlings having never been in a basket but go first race - or 5th race and perform well. True only once, one a winner. Often top 6 etc. though. Not race fit, but mentally and physically fit etc. to be sent! Ok I may lose a small percentage true ... BUT I'd wager far less losses than most lose. Flying with zest around the loft. fighting each other at the drop of the hat so to speak -- Fighting fit. These are ready mentally and physically fit and ready to train. Would I, will I train before May? Why?

Just saw the words of wisdom from 'border terrier lofts'! Sad to say TRUTH will again be ignore come mid winter break and voting regards race programs. This wonder of the air ARE birds, not machines! Time to take care of them NOW and in the close season with our power of votes... and don't say 'I would ... but it's the others!! You are the others to the others.

Fanciers own worst enemy. Fought and got earlier start to racing. Bred earlier then to support as such. Bad East still in the winds is highly taboo and WELL KNOWN for a fact! Later starting far more sensible, with a bit of sun on their backs etc. Better weather for y/b's later start till mid / end of September finish. Fact! Like the clamouring on the North Rd of Nearest to June 22nd for supposedly extra light for the Distance races ... Hot and unsettled the Norm. July 10 minutes short day light. SO what! Better weather invariably.

Most years. Indeed yearlings and the odd 2 y.o. go first time in basket of 150 miles and often finish well... Top 10 etc. When I was a lad, a few years back, most fanciers did just that. In the 50's early 60's etc. it was nigh the norm. 20 miles on the Train cost 2/- and 50 miles 2/6. Depending on weight etc. Most could not afford, or merit such costs. Hence Club members trained for pacific races I.e. Berwick for Lerwick. Getting the mileage under the wing to sharpen them up. Remarkably the fact was each season end, in the moult when not looking at their best, Fanciers were having to decide which were to go, to make room for the next year yearlings as there wouldn't be enough Nest boxes ... Meant a bird had to merit it's place, or make way for another bird. Gary Edmunds - the most prolific winner I ever knew. only trained his youngsters twice. Once at 20 mile and another 50. Old birds were never trained! He would state 'If they can do 20 miles, they can do 50 miles. If they can do 50 miles they can go any where. He proved it in and out in the years he raced. He won every thing there was. Held the record for most fed wins on the trot of the Northampton Fed (5)... till his uncle Barry Andrews, a real great racer to boot, beat it via one. Barry trained hard on the natural favouring the 'Hen' especially at the distance and hard races. Gary flew strictly cock birds on widowerhood, never racing a hen

I, personally believe that John looks for something to say and be noticed. Met him at a moot and seemed Ok. But many of his opinions and writings lack actual substance tend to be a. a bit dated, or more so a bit in the land of never never. Mind I am all for his readings and honour his right to voice his opinions. Mind having said that, I maybe no better ... Indeed some may say 'Look who's talking'! :emoticon-0140-rofl:

The Pigeon World is especially vulnerable to the ‘old’ mechanical thinking, a lot of fanciers have yet to come to terms with entering ring or other data into the new ETS systems. They want the benefits but somehow reject the understanding, and as a consequence find themselves being ripped off by the price of new mysterious systems. If we all understood the simplicity of electronic systems we would surely demand an ETS equivalent from China that would cost at the most between £25 and £50. Wouldn't, won't nor ever HAPPEN! Back in the mid 80's there came on the market a 'Glass clock'. so called. It was an off shoot of benefits - OF SO VERY MANY - xperiments that did and still do hit the home market etc. Never lost or gain a second in a year.... Simple structure. When a top clock cost £400 oddky masters etc. obsolete and Linells was 'King of the Roost'. I recall meetings of the East Midlands which I attended regularly. Price ....£80. Had just the two meetings for discussions etc. before thrown out! Many were more than peeved I can tell you ... Funnily enough none of the more affluent that could afford easily the £400 etc. Even now as then Technological advancements have created clocks that are efficient and easy to maintain. The most common clock on the market is a quartz clock. It uses a small quartz crystal and electrical currents to keep the time. These clocks are so easy to maintain that you usually only need to replace the battery when they stop working. If the clock gives you problems in spite of a new battery, you should check to make sure the hands aren’t hitting any other part of the clock. Beyond that, it is faster and cheaper to replace the clock movement (the assembly that keeps time) than to try to repair it. But the ones offered to the Pigeon Faternity etc. had NO moving parts so ... I was one who tested for them so don't recall the full gist as such, but reports were GOOD ...

Nothing will ever happen ... unless the Money makes it worth while. Never mind 'For the good' or 'The betterment'.... Unless it's worth while money wise, it ....

One I also feel was Hayes V that 6foot 8 Russian so called Value. Hayes landed 3 to he 'Value's 2 eh! Have always thought to get a 'World title' you had to WIN it!

I see the overtures seem to have started in earnest regards Joshua V Wilder! Also, a bit concerning for me, is the worry to have the fight before compulsories defencing kicks in. The Wilder fight of course is the 'Money' at the moment, and maybe taken sooner than one would wish ... never knowing what is around the corner, and the chance of missing out big time! I, personally, don't think Joshua is ready for the fight yet - if ever. I feel he is a might short to tangle with Wilder, .... and that may always be the case. If so, maybe his management feel 'Grab the Pot' now, and maybe HAVE another one or two even! Personally, I fear thAT Wilder is the real beast and will always beat Josh. But how happy I would be if wrong!

Will let the East go from the wind and the warmth of in first. never go first two races or so any way for other reasons relating to that. Also for other reasons...

Yep Walter, I am the same ... Like to see them out and about and around the loft / garden. To be honest I hate to lose any, but take that as part and partial to the game / so called sport. Never raced last season, not even a one. Never missed it really to be honest. Haven't raced young birds for years. Seldom train in years gone by ... Just enter them in races. Used to be: Youngsters, half go first two races. Other half the second two. then right through if in good condition. No training. But haven't sent as said for a few year y/b's. For 3 years prior to last season, yearlings and older, first time in basket 150 odd miles ... always in top 10. Maybe they go two races. If I have to lose them etc. then saves time, effort and money this way ... though glad to say losses few. Was geared up - per usual, for this season... This Wednesday I will pay out £00 all but a fiver for club / fed fees etc. This afternoon the good lady says 'Race them... use the pot or get off it'! So she who must be obeyed - so she thinks - means that they will be tossed end of April / early May and sent this year. Next year Then may decide to 'Just keep some'.

They receive well over a 100 million in donations and wills EACH year! Mostly from the elderly wills that believe that they are protection their' Garden Birds... And those donations from such that like to see the Peregrine and believe it is a bird close to distinction ...

5th largest land owner with: 324,000 acres The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) of England, Wales and Scotland is the UK's fifth biggest landowner. The charity has a total of 324,000 acres of farmland, wildlife sanctuaries and more throughout Britain.

Saw the first where he stood up to Wilder, fought back and gave Wilder a run for his money ... only one up till then that had, or since! Thought it would a good test for Joshua for Joshua at that time. Now after time out Bertie was well pole axed and a different class / state. Or was wilder! Wilder is some mean animal that's for sure. Have rated him number one for a few years now. Always said Joshua needs a few tough 'Journey men' to learn from and test his metal. Use to say 'Third Rate Yanks' that went the distance and gave their' all .. just lacked that extra class, but test any one and a great learning curve for up and comers. Is Joshua up to it now? Always said, even this past few months, next mid Year personally. Then he will know he has been in a fight win or lose. Still think Joshua isn't the finished article yet .... but will be. Been managed well and sensibly.... I, personally, hope it's a year of 'Topic Talk' till next year! Would be for prestige and to be number one! Money - though immense, would be, as it should be, and used to be 'Secondarily'!

A voice of wisdom there. Been a curse - and unfairly used - too many times and too often. Was a time when the Americans were called for such tactics. Simple truth is ONE has to use any advantage and protect himself in any way sensible. Some dance on toes hit and run, other get inside and work. Just WHO are these refs working for when they dictate a fight eh!

Congratulations mate to you and the good wife. Good to see you back ... You will need the pigeons mate to give you respite sometimes from Marriage lol Good luck mate in both ventures and trips

Phone the RPRA or such Rep / Committee man. Seen a lot of skull doggery and .... Phone!

Never know from one night to another. Odd times want a pee ... I ignore that and go back to sleep. It that's stops that habit from starting like it did 20 years ago. When down I go bed real early, even at 7. till I wake up next day at say 12. Better now, I get average 8 hours a night mostly.