TheSaddler

Vic, I have my website - the cost for the domain and setting it up £30 for six months... Do I have any plans to sell stuff? No... Have I have sold a pigeon? No.. What I do it for? To keep the sport alive! I agree some are there to make a quick buck - but not all of us! Here's mine: www.pigeonfancier.co.uk Cheers Lyndon

Mike, I agree - Cocks on roundabout dont hold their form quite as well as cocks on pure widowhood. But I'd say you still get about six good races out of them.. I've had 23 club prizes this year and 9 have been won by the cocks... 14 by the hens... It's difficult to balance the roundabout system - In my experience the hens fly better the more they see the cock. Its the opposite with cocks - the more they see the hen (in the week) the worse they get. I tend to concentrate on the sex that are flying the best that season - Obviously this will have a detrimental effect upon the other sex.... The art of roundabout flying for me is to get your cocks and hens to hit form at different points in the season - In effect you then have a fresh team to compete with.

Cosworth stud bought all Jim's Birds in 2001 see link, <http://www.cosworthstud.co.uk/fvw.html>

I race a family of Jim Smith FVW

100% returns and in good time

Thanks to all for the advice.

Speedbird, When you get widowhood cocks on form they fly in straight lines and at pace. When a kit of 20 cocks split into different directions it's a joy to see. Personally it's my favourite part of the season because you know you've done your job.. It's then down to the birds and the motivation. Widowhood cocks that circle and clap around are not what you want, these birds are often off form or tired. Training does ensure that the birds are doing the 'time on wing' but if overdone it will retard the birds even more. This is just my opinion though - I know people who win out of turn and they train every day of the week.

Silverwings, You can add Bobby Walton to that list - Excellent record in the Vanrobaeys Gold Ring and at Federation/Classic races.

With the hot weather in the UK this week I have noticed a reduction in the exercise times of my widowhood cocks. The hens are still exercising well though (50 mins each time at 6.00 am and 6.00pm). The cocks are exercised from 7-8 and 5-6. Have other fanciers experienced any reduction in exercise times this week? Do you prepare you birds differently for a hot race? For example electrolytes on a friday?

Worcester Fed at Newton Abbot

Alan, I might have a go this time! I'm gonna see if my Dad can take the birds when i'm at work on Friday. I'll only send a couple though. I'll let you know if I send. To be honest my birds are dipping in form at the moment, so it will take a miracle to get a good en.. You've gotta be in it to win it though!

It's a message forum - just chill out a bit.. I don't get chance to check all the mini sites - It's easier to navigate straight to the forum... I'm only interested in people's results who post on the board - not the members in their clubs!

Congratulations!

Well Done Alan - excellent result.

Stuart, Gary Downing had only one Hession Van Reet in his clearance sale - but I'll agree it was a damn good one! (The Hession Hen). Gary's loft was at least half Jim Smith FVW and these provided many of his winners!

Andy - We bought T3's, a computer and a shed to store the baskets"

Alan, I helped two clubs apply and both got grants! Don't give up.

My best pigeon is late bred!, never even raced as a young bird - she won the fed over 3000 birds as a yearling and has had many prizes (she even won this weekend). You will lose the majority of latebreds but if you train them hard as young birds you stand a chance.

Good Luck Pal - Look forward to having you back on the forum helping us out with your good advice.

Happy birthday Mate!

Jack, I respect your opinions - hopefully you've not taken offence to my post. FYI - I race roundabout because I prefer a good team of hens, I find they are easier to condition and give 100% each week.. One hen this year was 3rd Club (beaten by loft mates) 12th Fed 1200 birds, 1st Club 41st Fed 4200 birds, 1st Club 19th Fed 4800 birds - And this was in three consecutive races, the last two results where in the Worcester Federation against some of the best widowhood fanciers in the UK, if not the world.. This proves that for me my system works - A good widowhood flyer would never have sent this hen...

Mike, I timed in the hen in my avatar - She's already won the worcester fed at Kingsdown and also been 8th Worcester Fed (pipped by Houdini in 7th - last ob race 2005) - She always flys well at Kingsdown - But she never goes in the loft - shes just flutters forwards and backwards between the two lofts, its probably because I've timed her in too much over the last couple of seasons.. The wind is strong westerley by me - I'd say our area was in prime position for the fed today...

Mike, My bird in worcester fed doing 1707 - Bird sat on loft though.. Should have been doing aroung 1722. Exeter birds faster 1735 - but i've heard of birds that may be beating that. Whats the weather like at your end? We've had rain/drizzle for most of the day - I presume that many would have had trouble getting the birds in the pen today because of the conditions..

Shocking weather in the midlands today - Both feds up from Kingsdown and Exeter. Pigeons very wet - but returns good and most birds all home in minutes. Best (club racing - not MNFC) Velocities in the mid 1700's

"I doubt if anyone is going to find anything new, it has all been done before." - Very negative coment Jack - Accept change, embrace change - everything can be improved and made worse (agree here!) Standstill and others will go past you - I change my system every year - never mid season though. I write all my observations in a diary 365 days a year. In the cold winter months I look at the results sheets and the diary and then draw conculsions then make changes.