Roland

Some truth there. Todays Racing cannot be compared to the glory years of the 70's .... Says it all ... Never liked Bob Dylan's The Times They are a Changing Never heard Bob Marley's version. Only reason that they change is because of us ... and sadly not for the betterment eh!

Gary Edmunds, a wizard and best flyer I've ever known. Took no prisoners. Said and did. Y/bs being generous One chuck 20 miles. If they can't do that, then I've lost nothing. If they can do 20 miles, then they can do 50 miles, if not ... Then they can fly from any where. Old birds would be lucky if they ever got a training toss. Maybe one more of 20 miles in their life time. No prisoners. A Lerwick fed winner dropped in a loft in Middlesbrough next season1 Fancier phoned him on the Sat night. 'Will youi let it up on Wednesday please says Gary. 'Will it make it' asked he. Yep says Gary. Wednesday Night straight into the loft and picked it up ... Never went any where else. We waste time and money taking training leaps of a few miles further, some 2 - 3 times same place as they work up the road a piece systematically losing them each week. Why!

We had Frankie George, - Masserealla etc after Logan here abouts. Frankie Paid- like louellar world record prices for pigeons. Yes Frankie had large lofts with managers in different locations and feds. One would see the railways platform full of pigeons going to China etc. But I'll tell straight and for a fact NO stray bird of his ever got back in the loft! For instance - and this shows the difference between my dad - who couldn't fly a kite, and his managers. When a stray came into our loft of Frankie's Horace came and collected it. Usual price was 3/6p about 17 pence. He gave my dad 10 bob (50p) and the bird went into the dustbin. Horace too as my dad grabbed him by the throat and state 'I never do that to any pigeon, especially so if the kids are about'! THEY weren't molly coddled. They had to earn a perch, let alone a nest box! Nopw what he sold.... well that might have been .... who knows, BUT one from a stray was NEVER sold! Maybe the parents that didn't excell in the stock lofts...

Would say 2 things ... Stock Lofts were a rarity until the mid, late 80's, especially for the back garden lofts. A fact. Yes we are far far, too molley - coddling too, and for our birds ... much to their' costs. A start to a downward slope, which continues every more so every year! Things like 'What 187 miles ...no way am I sending there with my youngsters'. Pigeons use to HAVE to earn a perch, let alone a nest bow. Times when 12 pairs was akin to becoming a 'Mobb Flyer'. Now too many are breeding inferior pigeons via relying on numbers against losses! Fact is, when I was in Canada, y/bs were sent up to 500 miles BACK to Back weeks. Yes and losses weren't / aren't great! I've sent 479 mile and had them back in very good time in a REALLY bad weather! Fact! Eddie New, whatever his name was stated a very wise and good reality when he stated in 'Scotland's Own', 'I use to hold up the List above me! Yes I spent well and listen and thought I'd take a leave out of the so called 'Great Fanciers'. Names and money did nowt! I one winter I decided that they earn a perch. Show a want to be in the loft! If not happy they could go else where! I made a present to any one reporting my birds! After the winter I had a lot less pigeons. BUT they proved first off that they wanted to be there! Next season I moved up the ladder. Youngsters started to show well and win some. I stuck with that till I became a good and respected fancier. P.s. If your pigeons don't care / want to hurry home... then there is no motivation in the world that will alter that!

Was in the era when of the 'Starlets' that were loved by their' supporters who excelled. Yet frown on by governing bodies who curtailed their' chances of playing for their' country. There was a clutch of them ... Frank Worthington, for example, another not so good was certainly ignored - not rightly - from attaining an England place. ... Nobby Stiles character was great, - and not so loud off the pitch so to speak - who actively came through. BUT then Sir Alf did things his way (Mostly) and bucked the board often ... indeed it cost him his job, and was curtailed often and badly. Plus of course the British media that loved to slaughter AND MAIM so many of the 'Stars' when achieving the high platform ... which ever road, or sport, that they participate in.

A little rest and time needed to get them over the jolt etc. But will be better for the experience.

Fantastic, great to hear. Well Steve and dad.

King of the Johns, behave and grow up. That is the actual ruling of FIFA etc. Still would have known you wouldn't know, no, not even have an inkling lol. So keep practising with the marbles and in time, when age - wise prehistoric - makes you caplable, try learning then the times tables... up to 3 WOULD BE A GOOD STARTER FOR YOU LOL. :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Not many times do we see refs change their' minds. Indeed it often beggars belief that they don't ... sometimes of course another official has an input. Now the England V Spain match shows a brave and right decision when changing her first ruling to actually abide and admit the ruling was wrong AFTER a defender reminded her of the rulings - which were actually given to all teams before the kick off. So justice was done, no two ways about that when one reads the Rulings along side of the Video. Another good thing is that now Scotland, with a win on Thursday, can now also go through. What do the laws say? According to the Fifa's 2016-17 laws of the game, handling the ball is the "deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm". It says the following must be considered: The movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand); The distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball); The position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement; Touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shin guard etc.) is an infringement; Hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shin guard etc.) is an infringement.

Why? Are we racing our pigeons against planes now Alf :emoticon-0136-giggle: Yes is the answer, and pollution will have a dire effect.

Nice day here. Me! Well I'm of to see the British Athletic ... and the Brilliant Scot lassie Laura Muir.

Yes, of course we are.

King John of the 'Johns' - Come to think of it Many call 'Crap Houses' Johns lol. Seems apt for you eh! Beside sitting on side waiting to have a dig and feign cleverness lol Read again 'John' - well a good few times I suppose, THEN get a 10 year old to decipher the post for you. ................................ Geeze They walk amongst us lol P.s You never heard of a 'Hold Over' I's say

Sad to say that they lost 4 hours of good flying time by late lib. I'm a great believer in giving them all the help they can. - Agreed I don't know yet why such a late lib. Of course the video of the lib weather looked good. Good luck Del I really hope you time in well ... if only for the Scottish / British birds. Chin up.

Good luck to all. Too late a lib to give all a fair chance I fear.

I'd wager mate, he starts and prepares them as y/b's and gives them all the time and patience. And feeds for the job in hand.

Perhaps ought to start another topic page in this regards. But with fads as 'Motivating Birds for instance, it can't be done. If a bird nary care how long, or if it cares not whether , or when it homes you can't motivate it... The work, and contentment, the love of home / perch has to be encouraged from the off. A system that suits etc. 'Love of Home' and a wanting to be there is the first must. Open lofts excel in many cases, but again 'Horses for Courses. A reason many lose some at start of season for instance if that they are mentally fit first. Then loft fit ... then of course Race fit. Any system can do that granted ... if rushed etc. one can lose some good birds. Any pigeon that has a love of home and in condition should easily do the 500 miles. A great example was that the Bussearts were only sprint to middle distance birds, Rubbish, they excel at any distance if the spade work and patience has been done. Used to say You can get a Distant bird to sprint, but not a sprint bird to do the distance. Rubbish. many times this myth is squashed every season. Mind if one feeds small grains and no body enhancing feeds, then of course they will flounder. The fancier HASN'T done his home work and given the birds a chance... Hence the 'Well they come well, even excel up to 350 or so, then I lose them or they come back like skeletons and take a long time, if ever to get back to race trim ... they just can't do it'! Which means that they hadn't carried the fuel and came back having had to burn the muscle heat and are full of toxin! then most likely because they had sat around fluffed up the fancier may have given it a small toss or so ... More toxin. Rest and more rest... Plus prepare the pigeon for the distance and hard days!

Obviously very true. Plus of course system, and what the fancier's prefer distances are. Any and all decent pigeons can do 500 miles - if not shouldn't be in loft. Many don't send saying 'They can't do the distance! Friend, a very good supposedly short to middle distance flyer say as such and never sent. Had a couple of old, lightly race birds. So sent Frazerbough, Thurso and Lerwick, as he said didn't expect to see them... certainly not in race time ... He won the Feds Gold cup! Plus won Thurso and Lerwick! System had ben change.

Careful Ian... the RSPB will cull any Eagle owl. Illegally granted. Sad for your loss.

Be far better and cheaper to use a car battery IMO. JMO. Just needs a spare and that they are charged up before using each race.

Good to see you've BEAN there then lol.

Must say 'Well done' to the performances of so many Scottish athletes over the last few day in the British Championships'. Feel this must be at least on par with any other tally of wins. Scotland will be well represented in this coming World Championship' for sure. - Think they may well have topped the representatives table. Plus Laura will be there of course, and has her first race after illness this coming Thursday! Well done all.

Look at the properties of their feed. One thing that so many fail to see, or don't want to, is the fact that the 'Carbs etc. are gone after 15 to 25 minutes. Hence only any good for a quick start in shorter races etc. One may look at the break down of the units of heat used that they fly on to see, and take note, of what is needed in a hard race. Too many return with toxin in their' blood due to burning up the muscles. John's needn't give a reply or reply, or such, as they are excused due their not being able to understand basics ... hence save those that do, the hassle of bumping heads against hard things. :emoticon-0136-giggle:

A man goes into a pet shop and asks for two wasps. 'Two wasps ... We don't sale wasps'! said the owner. 'Well' the man replied 'You had two in the window yesterday'! My grand dad never threw away anything. He was a hoarder. He died in the WW2 ... Holding on to two hand grenades.

A friend went to Beijing recently and was given this brochure by the hotel. It is precious. She is keeping it and reading it whenever she feels depressed. Obviously, it has been translated directly, word for word from Mandarin to English. Getting There: Our representative will make you wait at the airport. The bus to the hotel runs along the lake shore. Soon you will feel pleasure in passing water. You will know that you are getting near the hotel, because you will go round the bend. The manager will await you in the entrance hall. He always tries to have intercourse with all new guests. The Hotel: This is a family hotel, so children are very welcome. We of course are Always pleased to accept adultery. Highly skilled nurses are available in the evenings to put down your children. Guests are invited to conjugate in the bar and expose themselves to others. But please note that ladies are not allowed to have babies in the bar. We organize social games, so no guest is ever left alone to play with them self. The Restaurant: Our menus have been carefully chosen to be ordinary and unexciting. At dinner, our quartet will circulate from table to table, and fiddle with you. Your Room: Every room has excellent facilities for your private parts. In winter, every room is on heat.      Each room has a balcony offering views of outstanding obscenity! ... You will not be disturbed by traffic noise, since the road between the hotel and the lake is used only by pederasts. Bed: Your bed has been made in accordance with local tradition. If you have any other ideas please ring for the chambermaid. Please take advantage of her. She will be very pleased to squash your shirts, blouses and underwear. If asked, she will also squeeze your trousers. Above All: ................... When you leave us at the end of your holiday, you will have no hope. You will struggle to forget it.