W.D.

Hi Guys, I was just wondering if any of you have any good ideas or advice on how your Fed or Club helps to reduce the costs of racing, transport etc.? As its coming up to pre AGM meetings etc. thought it would be a good idea if you were willing to share your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance for any advice.W.D.

You used to get all the dog show news in the Daily Record on a Thursday, in the Pet page?

Ypres, was not originally a SNFC Race Lewis, it was put to the SHU who passed it on to the SNFC.It was at one time hoped to be open to the whole of Scotland regardless of which Nat they were in, but it wasn't to be unfortunately. The Belgians wanted the race, i.e. the Burghermeister of Ypres, along with Mr.Martens,who originally put it out to RPRA and other Organisations in UK, and ONLY Scotland took up the challenge, No-one else was interested. And thats what I am proud of in being a Scot. If there was a race from the North pole next year, you can bet that there will be a Scotsman first in the queue at the marking station!!!

Not true pal you won it the 1st year it was raced,Ask Douglas Owen???!!!

Think the NW Fed had a good race from there Lewis, think Wull Graham, McGarry from Camelon also well in too. Jim O'Hara was on SNFC at time, and wanted to keep one of the Belgian Racepoints in the program for following year, but it got shot down by others at AGM vote, and until Ypres came along( not by SNFC)it would never have been put back on for us to race from there.

RIP Regards to his family. He will be sorely missed, especially on here, he was always willing to help and give advice whenever he could.God Bless.

Is Billy Napper no the base of Rab Hamilton,Cambus,NW Fed.

Do you have pools if no prize money?

What type of racing are you asking about Geo?

Eh I think the guy was only asking for some feedback? Hi Pigeon man, fly in same Fed, we pay 70p inland and £2-20 over the water, dont know what the percentage is but I can find out if you want? Wish the birdage was cheaper, do you know how much the Fed charges? Also do they charge by bird or by the basket? Regards, W.D.

Just got news today of the death of one of our club members Jamie Spence, Charlton Kings FC, Cheltenham. Jamie used to live in Fife and he told me where but I cant remember, some of you Fifers may remember him? Think he left Fife when he joined the Merchant Navy for a 10-12 year stint. I'm shocked for his 14/15yr old son George, for he only just lost his Mum to illness earlier on this year, and now his Father. God help the wee man, hope he can get over this too. Rest in Peace Jamie, you were a wee gent.

Like one of the guys just said try Herbert Mckenzie who lives on the Orkney Islands and writes in the doo paper. If you pop into Wick on the way by, and go down to the harbour you will see a loft overlooking it, think it belongs to some of the Millers' from up there, well respected and former ARB Trophy winner.These lads can send to the nats from France and get them in race time, incredible!!!

Hi, I bought some of the Endurance Plus at start of O/B season,it was only £2 or so cheaper than Gerry Plus at the time, think I paid £12 for it.There is oil added to the mix, seemed there was more dust/rubbish left in troughs after feeding it than with Gerry, and the quality esp. the Dari not so good,and the maize isn't Cribs. At the moment I am using Irish mix and Y/B no maize paying £11 and £11-50 for 20kg. There is a lad in the club bulk buying and selling it cheaper than this to his mates, so if you can get together and buy a pallet load it might be worth your while? Hope this is of some help?

R.I.P.

Yes Lewis, it was Jimmy and Jean who timed them in from the last nat one year, Sartilly or Avranches.

This or similar, was tried many years ago Delboy, by the late Alex Mitchell I think? During Charlie Graham's time as secy. and he supplied two buses for the East to vote against it, and won, and it's been the same ever since. This was during the early 70's and I can remember an ad in the doo paper showing how the country was to be divided. After this there was a Continental Club, think it was called, started where you could pool your birds in the nat races, though I dont think the SNFC liked it there wasn't much they could do about it. Some the lads on here will no doubt know more about this than I can remember, as I was only a daft laddie at the time?

Yes, well done, and all credit to him for continuing.

Well done and happy birthday Jim.

Can understand your dilema Paulo, and it will get even harder to find the time once the baby comes along. Found it very difficult myself to try and please them all - work, family, and the birds. If you can't get a partner or a mate interested, then a small loft in the garden would be easier, then at least you can always nip out when you get a few spare mins. You are also maybe going to have to relax your aims a bit too regarding success, especially if its club/fed racing you wish to succeed at? We all know how dedicated these top guys are and the time they put into their birds. However no matter what you decide, pigeons will adapt to most things as long as they are fed, watered and safe. If I was in your shoes, and i am, almost, I would only concentrate on the longer races, and forget about the y/bs,its the holiday time. My girlfriend didn't want the birds either to begin with, but she accepts them now and even feeds them when I work away, got a white stray in which she wont let me race, its her pet. So just keep in there it will come, as I always tell mine, I could have been a football supporter like her brother following a team all over, or a fisher or golfer out all day.Hey babe I'm at the bottom of the garden when you need me to shout at!And she does!!! Whatever you decide I hope you can stay in the hobby, and all the very best for the new baby,I hope you'll let us know how you get on?

Yes well done Jim, What does that result tell you Muttley? If you want to win with the Doos then dont have a job???!!!

Just had a y/b come back after a couple of weeks out with ring cut off, it was wing stamped. 2 Days after I lost it along with 7 others from 20mls, I got a call from a guy who looks after a loft within the grounds of Oxford University, who said he had got this bird in with no ring no. but just a wing stamp. Went to collect it a few days later but the guy wasn't at the loft that day, and he didn't seem to mind it being there, so I said I'd collect it next time I was in the area. Has anyone else from the Oxford area had this problem or heard about this going on?

Thanks Oldyellow, you are doing not so bad yourself, well done also.

Thanks Lewis, would have been happy just to get on the result, over the moon, and so are Bob and my Dad. Dont think I've ever worked so hard to get birds set up for a race, had 10 birds either hawked or injured following attacks when training, and thats out of 18 that I had in loft at the time. Stopped training them because of this as mentally they had had enough. Sent them to last channel race, 35min behind winner at 340mls.Then some mite or something started to irritate them, asked some advice on here about Ivermectin drops, this was after dusting,spraying, and applying One Drop by Harkers without success. As the date approached risked some tosses, adding in y/bs, lost 12 of them during this as thought there might less chance of the birds that were in training getting hit. Plus the resident Sparrowhawk at home giving them a scare or two, and not to mention Brodie(4) had been firing windfall apples into the loft during the day whilst at work, bless him. If this is what its going to be like down here, I will have to re-think my methods for next year. I hope this might be of some help to anyone else who's had it rough this year to stick with it and at some point your luck must change.

I know, they seem to have forgotten about it, hope alls ok as it was late to appear earlier on due to illness?

Thanks Ian, But not had a reply since I mentioned this? Might be a blue doo and not a white one?!