Long Distance Racing Into Scotland

[Roland]

Have to agree. The buzz from any race can/could be good … But nowhere near as good as the buzz from a distance race. The further the more the buzz. The realism is simple. Most race winners are soon forgotten by then of the season and who won them etc. outside of the winner. Then even he is disappointed that no one seems to remember or care, except him or her. They have to think, and after a season it doesn't count or matter anyway.

Everyone will know who won the Longest race, whether they sent or not. Yes for years to come.

Likewise, that thrill of a bird returning and hitting the loft from a distance race is etched in both memory and the feeling. That wonderful feeling! Yes, you can win as many shorter races as you care to remember or name, but NONE even added together will be anywhere near as that Distance bird winner. Indeed many also if not winning.

Yes, money and commercialism have taken the very backbone from our so-called sport. Indeed has harmed to a detrimental state of our pigeons. Not least Constitution and immunity and homing ability but the club spirit. Was a time when the whole season abounded around the pinnacle of the season ... The'Distance' race.

Now they try to take away the very essence of the feat and merit that true warriors of the skies obtain. Yes, the fact is that everyone, but everyone remembers and spouted about a bird that flew the distance whether a winner or not.

[Delboy]

Have to agree. The buzz from any race can/could be good … But nowhere near as good as the buzz from a distance race. The further the more the buzz. The realism is simple. Most race winners are soon forgotten by then of the season and who won them etc. outside of the winner. Then even he is disappointed that no one seems to remember or care, except him or her. They have to think, and after a season it doesn't count or matter anyway.

Everyone will know who won the Longest race, whether they sent or not. Yes for years to come.

Likewise, that thrill of a bird returning and hitting the loft from a distance race is etched in both memory and the feeling. That wonderful feeling! Yes, you can win as many shorter races as you care to remember or name, but NONE even added together will be anywhere near as that Distance bird winner. Indeed many also if not winning.

Yes, money and commercialism have taken the very backbone from our so-called sport. Indeed has harmed to a detrimental state of our pigeons. Not least Constitution and immunity and homing ability but the club spirit. Was a time when the whole season abounded around the pinnacle of the season ... The'Distance' race.

Now they try to take away the very essence of the feat and merit that true warriors of the skies obtain. Yes, the fact is that everyone, but everyone remembers and spouted about a bird that flew the distance whether a winner or not.

 

Good post Roland. I remember when I was a lad and their were 36 lofts in our club. It wasn’t unheard of for more than 30 of them setting up their pigeons for the longest fed race or the Gold cup race from Rennes. No budgie racing then, everyone strived to achieve the ultimate, getting a doo on the night from the big races.

[JonesyBhoy]

Good post Roland. I remember when I was a lad and their were 36 lofts in our club. It wasn’t unheard of for more than 30 of them setting up their pigeons for the longest fed race or the Gold cup race from Rennes. No budgie racing then, everyone strived to achieve the ultimate, getting a doo on the night from the big races.

 

The way it should be

[Roland]

you know, and I'm 100% serious and truthful here, over the last 60 years of being in and around the sport, I can honestly state that the only races and names remembered are those from the distance. fanciers who won Lerwick or the Gold cup (3 longest races).

 

Was a fancier for instance that never got placed in a race … flew in Raunds a very good loft on the East side of the fed granted.

Well he had the only bird in race time from a very hard Thurso race... about 480 odd miles.

 

He is remembered for that etc.

Two tears later he fiddled a new loft. Became secretary and fiddled many races. Was caught and banned etc.

Went to court later and jailed as a paedophile.

 

Here were are 24 year later and the only think ever remembered (or brought up or mentioned) is that he won that very hard Thurso race.

 

Yes one looks back at yesteryear and they are the first names to be brought up. fact that. Ok the conversation may, or will drift to other flyers who won often, and classed as 'Were a good flyer' … But no one will tell you, or remember what races they won!

[Roland]

You know, an argument maybe put forward as such 'Well I beat 2-3 hundred birds between 2-two to three hundred miles often. (Often not club, even federation sometimes send that many sadly)'Does one do that at 500 miles or more, so that say a lot and gives me and my birds merit'!

Somewhat true … But then one is 'Finishing ahead of two to three hundreds birds that should ALL be able to that with easze. in fact any pigeon bred.. Indeed as the saying goes 'A paper Bag'. let's face it, outside of B.O.P. etc. the loft is mostly likely better off without them. Saves corn and breeding culls maybe.

 

Then let's take that scenario a step further. Many, many more actually do go, AND have to be beaten. Further in the main these are proven hard day and distance birds … Bird that have 'Founded' nigh all strains for starters. Yes so call sprint birds etc. alike nigh all come from proven birds of that calibre. Proven too for constitution and immunity. If the go Lerwich / pau or any other such, many, many more are actually raced against than any club and most feds.

 

P.s. I believed and proved many time any decent pigeon will fly 500 miles... if only the fancier would aloow thyem the chance. . Mine once all did three longest races. 600 miles takes well bred and carewd for system to do that ... especially on the day.

Can one really, in all honesty, really compare a 200 mile bird beating 140 birds to that! Of course not!

[St Finnan Loft]

I agree with you, long distance racing is struggling into Scotland, and middle distance racing has took over, the easy options to national racing

In my opinion,

fanciers now don’t want 500/ 550/600 mile to hard for most, but all the greatest names of the past would be turning in there graves seeing what the national has become,

Too many races not enough Doo.s

I like to win at all national races, but 500 mile + racing is different class, for me, the knocks are harder when you don’t get one, but when you get one at the distance nothing compares to that feeling,

For me it would be sartilly ,Rennes, Nantes, and one coast race for yearlings only,

We all love the feeling of elation in our own back yard when timing from the long races.A phone call from a friend to inform you no birds in our district and none expected tonight. The feeling of despair as you turn from the loft then the sudden realization the sound from the movement of a bird as it alights on the lander,the rush of adrinolin as you watch in awe an old favourite enter the loft aches and pains vanish as a once old man rushes to greet his warrior. Who can beat that excitment a feeling that will never be forgotten than will sustain you after the season is gone during long winter nights. This of course is a big attraction to the sport nothing is simple if it was we would loose interest,top distance racers are superior to most other pigeons,the genetic package that these birds have is thanks to generation upon generation of pigeons raced from 500 to 775 miles. The Scottish National Flying Club has been a great platform to enable the creation of wonderfull true distance birds evolved over the years and we must not consider any trend that would endanger this.

Edited July 19, 2019 by St Finnan Loft

[Delboy]

This shows you what a long distance pigeon can do on its own, unbelievable.

[Wee wull]

This shows you what a long distance pigeon can do on its own, unbelievable.

Great video and what a pigeon.

[eastcoaster]

This shows you what a long distance pigeon can do on its own, unbelievable.

Great stuff that is why wee keep them .

I had a blue pied hen here that came in during racing and she came from Slovenia ,I kept her all winter letting her out with the other hens but showed no sign of leaving but during the breeding season she would not pair up and sat herself all the time ,then one weekend she went missing for a few hours but came back then next day the same then the following week I watched her on the house roof and knew she was going to try to get home and never seen her again ,never found out if she did or not as lost owners details but shows they know where they want to be .

[Delboy]

Great stuff that is why wee keep them .

I had a blue pied hen here that came in during racing and she came from Slovenia ,I kept her all winter letting her out with the other hens but showed no sign of leaving but during the breeding season she would not pair up and sat herself all the time ,then one weekend she went missing for a few hours but came back then next day the same then the following week I watched her on the house roof and knew she was going to try to get home and never seen her again ,never found out if she did or not as lost owners details but shows they know where they want to be .

 

Ive got her here Colin lol.

[eastcoaster]

Ive got her here Colin lol.

Lol

[Dave barrie]

+ive a russin or a polack whatever, gran lookin cock bird, lives here free board, ets got ring no, phoned it , all i got was neit , si i said f off , but doo still here so must be a duffer ha ha .ps hell get his ra\tion dinna worry.53