BLACKPOOL - A FUTURE OR HISTORY?

[VMS]

vincent we always agree  you just don't like to admit it

 

:-/ :-/ ;D ;D ;D

 

[Guest lenwadebob]

Very interesting to here peoples views. But for me the Blackpool show is not about sightseeing, it's about PIGEONS and PEOPLE. And there isn't a show anywhere in this country where there is so much nostalgia and comradeship. As I have said, for me there isn't a gathering of pigeon fanciers anywhere in the country to remotely compare with Blackpool. If there was, why is it that we don't see the hype for these other shows that Blackpool attracts.

[showman]

ive never been to blackpool ,but i would say that even smaller shows have lost their sparkle.

what i find is fanciers saying  'its the same as last year'..i dont think the people who arrange such shows realise that to keep fanciers turning up there needs to be something to draw them there.

 

i dunno how they would change things but in any successful event there needs to be something to pull in the punters.

i think one draw to these shows is a good P*** up

anyhow i hope you all have a good time

 

One of the difficulties with show organisation is to 'draw a crowd'. In general, what do you do ? More classes, better prize money, stalls, sales...what ? What has happened, in my opinion, has been a morphosis over time from a genuine pigeon show to a general selling free for all for anything concerned with pigeon racing / showing. Yes, some of the sparkle has gone, but it's a problem of our own making. There are still quite a considerable amount of people who go to a show for its primary function...a pigeon show. Your observation that ' one draw to these shows is a good P*** up'........ Over the past years at Dunoon the attendance for the dinner / prize giving / dance has dwindled from approx 100 to 40ish. On the Friday night at the 'welcome' evening we would again have had about 60 persons..last time we were down to about 24...and most of them were involved with the show organisation. Geographically, Dunoon is at a distinct disadvantage, but the show itself can still attract up to 900 entries.  Personally, I would love to get 1000 plus entries at Dunoon, will that be possible.......I don't know, but I prefer to remain optomistic and not pessimistic, and hopefully the 'good old days' of shows may return. I'm sure the organisers for 'Blackpool' are also facing many problems and concerns, as are most show organisers I would think. However...onwards and upwards, and to all going to Blackpool I too wish you a great weekend, and for everyone to enjoy themselves :)

[gulkie]

hi i went to blackpool for about 15 years

but aint been for 6 or 7 years now ,i do beleive

those were the best years ,but u guys in ten

years time will say the same.every one thats going

have a great time,just watch ur pockets dont get dipped.

 

                                                wullie g

[Guest Gareth Rankin]

the place is dirty you cant move in the show but

drink, talk doos, have a laugh look for the golden hen or cock its all part and parcel

mini bus leaving early friday with 12 on it carry out in the back and some right good crack all the way to blackpool ;D

cant wait its fantastic

 

Make sure the drinks no finished before you pick me up in Larkhall, Frank i'll settle for a golden hen you can have the latter.

 

PS

i thought you were the reserve driver

 

 

[frank-123]

 

Make sure the drinks no finished before you pick me up in Larkhall, Frank i'll settle for a golden hen you can have the latter.

 

PS

i thought you were the reserve driver

 

 

wee billy will have done a bottle of whisky before we get to larky and we will sit you beside him

as for your other comment..........i could start a story but i wont ;D :B

the drivers brother is reserve driver

[Guest gladdo]

the great thing about blackpool is you learn so much about pigeons from the top fanciers and dont forget the voice recorder !!!!!! great show it is .... interesting to see what its like this year with the way recession is starting to float all over the country...mikey

[marmite]

giving it a miss this year  but have been for last 15yrs  tbh i wont miss it as its gettin very run down + i can do without the 9 hr drive each way

[DOVEScot]

Come on you lot, it wouldn't matter if it was in posh centre, a marque or an Anderson shelter it would be a great W/E. Although Blackpool itself along with The Winter Gardens is needing refurbished because the age of the place and because in the current climate if it were to shut for repairs it would lose a massive amount of money and regular bookings like pigeon shows. There is no other place in the country that could duplicate Blackpool unless you head down to the south coast holiday resorts that close for the winter. Whether they would open again just for the w/e or whether fanciers would travel from Scotland, Ireland or Northern England the same as they do to Blackpool :-/

[Guest TAMMY_1]

My original statement was not so much about the Blackpool weekend experience but more the winter gardens - For several years are stand has been on the Olympia Balcony but this year it has been moved due to less trade stands, prior to this we were in the very top car park area but this has been closed off for 2 years.

 

My opinion is that the magic of the show is disappearing - Many people i feel would be happy to go for the weekend without actually going near the winter gardens.

 

Why on earth would anybody want to go to Blackpool in mid January without going near the winter gardens to see the birds ? And from what I have heard there are plans to re furbish the winter gardens and I doubt if there is anywhere else that would feel the same hosting the show of the year.JMO

[DOVEScot]

 

Why on earth would anybody want to go to Blackpool in mid January without going near the winter gardens to see the birds ? And from what I have heard there are plans to re furbish the winter gardens and I doubt if there is anywhere else that would feel the same hosting the show of the year.JMO

 

I have met a few that never seen the show, they just get bladdered and pick up lonely Scotsmen  

[Guest TAMMY_1]

 

I have met a few that never seen the show, they just get bladdered and pick up lonely Scotsmen  

 

Aye and  I have seen a lot that are just bladdered and see nothing.

[DOVEScot]

 

Aye and  I have seen a lot that are just bladdered and see nothing.

 

Aye god knows what Chrissy see in you PAL she must have been well bladdered

[sherbs]

Don't you all think that the RPRA is missing a trick with Blackpool ? It is the one and only time in the whole year when a large proportion of the rank and file members get together and the only thing to occupy their time is to get pissed and buy birds they don't really want or need. Don't get me wrong I like a pint and the crack just as much as the next man and I know I'm probably gonna come home with a pair of stock birds I had no intention of buying Friday morning, but I feel there could be so much more to do. Why no meetings or get togethers about the problems of the sport such as raptors or encouraging new members ? Why not get experts in to give talks about various aspects of the sport such as pigeon health or even planning laws etc. Why not organise some really good moots with top class fanciers who people like me would never get the chance to listen to coming from the wilds of North Devon as I do. All this would take some organising but isn't that what a Governing body is for? I attended Blackpool for the first time in 15 years last year and let's face it two hours walking round the stands and you're done so it's hit the bars and try to drink out the thought that you're in Blackpool in the middle of winter. I know Blackpool is primarily a show but reading some of the comments on this thread I think too many people are living in the past and if it is to survive then it has to adapt and offer so much more to the fancier, and this is maybe why the sport of pigeon racing is dying, our governing body thinks it can simply offer the same things it did 30 years ago when the sport was at it's height and expect the sport to flourish, it ain't gonna.

If you want Blackpool and the sport to survive start getting creative offer more and stop just expecting and hoping people will turn up.

Sorry went on a bit there ,

Mark.

 

[Guest]

good speech Sherbs ,well said and some good thoughts too.        andy.

[sammy]

 

Aye god knows what Chrissy see in you PAL she must have been well bladdered

 

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Guest stevie-b]

will miss blackpool this year the banter is good and met some world class doomen through our good friend mr jannsen himself tony bates a true gent

[DOVEScot]

 

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

Stop laughing Sammy, its no funny

[blue bar]

Hi been to blackpool twice in the last 4years the olympaide last year as well enjoyed every minute there the only thing that got me was how much the venue had deterated how many years are left in the winter gardens

[Guest stevie-b]

winter gardens is supposed to be undergoing major refurbishment

[Guest mr mrs arnold sons]

i think the winter gardens has had it day

me and my wife have been lots of times over the years and seen it year by year falling down

and the show betting smaller as rooms locked off

it is ok for the money men and the big drinkers

but  for the family man with a team of birds and the fees for clubs,rpra,fed,and racing week in week out i think the show has had its day

[degi]

been going from mid 90s used to take wife and kids, then just the Mrs & myself . last  yr  was  their with the mates & the brother

spend most time meeting old & new friends. hope to b going down every year till whenever ? always something new to discover looking forward to see use all next wk end

[andy]

been going from mid 90s used to take wife and kids, then just the Mrs & myself . last  yr  was  their with the mates & the brother

spend most time meeting old & new friends. hope to b going down every year till whenever ? always something new to discover looking forward to see use all next wk end

Aye,

and your on the bell big man ;D ;D

 

[dal2]

Well said Degi. I go Every year for years in the same group of six when am the only fancier. A dae the show on the saturday and then out wae them at night. MAGIC

[degi]

see u doon thier andy & the troops