Ted's Last Race 2025

[sapper756]

Yesterday was Teds last race it was from Ramsgate 234 miles and some yards with the Welsh South East National

The national was supposed to happen today but we got told Wednesday they had moved the race a day earlier and basketing would be Thursday morning for a race on Friday instead of Saturday 

Ted was excited the race was definitely happening as we weren’t to sure if it was going ahead but he was also disappointed it had moved a day earlier as he would be in school and miss the race 

Ted got home from school on Wednesday he was told the race was a day earlier, he got changed and went straight out to his loft he fed them and sat with them for over an hour before he came back out, I wasn’t to sure what he was thinking as he had a straight face on him I asked if everything was alright he nodded his head I asked are you sure he replied “I won’t be home for them” I said to him don’t worry they will be home waiting for you by the time your home

Ted took some convincing in the morning he had to go to school and the birds will be okay and they would be there waiting for him when he got home

Ted entered 6 into the Young Bird National they were basketed up and met a local fancier who very kindly offered to take them down to South Wales they were marked and we met him for the clock and basket back later that evening 

The birds were liberated at 8:00 Friday morning in a South West Wind instantly I knew this race was going to be hard for us as them winds do not suit our loft location and they’d be far wide with our young birds been flown on the south route then flicked south east for this national it was going to be a challenge regardless of the wind

There was some fanciers we knew who had entered that would keep in contact if the birds were in the area, my phone remained silent not a message or a phone call the time kept ticking on I kept my faith in Teds birds they hadn’t let us down so far I kept eagerly looking at the sky hoping one would came, I kept working out the velocity and it was turning into a slogger of a race, I kept my hopes up Teds birds would come I was pacing up and down the yard and walked back to the loft when there one was! On the top landing board she flew down and went in! She must have came low because of the wind and hopped over the trees and straight down onto the loft! The relief and sheer proudness I felt that one of Teds birds had made it was a fantastic feeling and I was disappointed that Ted hadn’t been here to experience it!! We had a phone call that a local fancier had one then I had some texts from another fancier so they were in the area 15 mins later another one came and then another 17 mins after that one all 3 clocked and I was so proud of Ted what a fantastic sight it was seeing them come home for him!! 

Ted came home from school and ran into the loft asking did he have any his face lit up with a massive smile and shouted yes!! With his hands in the air!! He was so excited and proud of his birds there was 3 sitting waiting for him!! His smile couldn’t be any bigger!!

The clock was taken down later that evening and read out and the result was posted off to South Wales as we’re on Bricon for the nationals and the marking station up here is Unikon 

We had the result through of the lads on Unikon there was only 16 birds clocked including Teds that’s how hard this race turned out to be!! 🙈🙈 I worked out Teds velocities and comparing them to the result we had sent us of the other competitors Ted should be 6th, 9th & 10th North Section!!! 😁🥳😁

It was just before Teds bedtime and I managed to tell him before he went up to bed he was so excited jumping up and down with joy shouting “my birds done it daddy” i have to be honest it brought a tear to my eye I was so proud of him

This morning Ted was up early and out with the birds feeding them making sure they were rewarded for there efforts and has been playing with them in their boxes 

Unfortunately it’s been raining most of the day here so far and hasn’t been the weather for any more birds to work their way back in, we still stand as 3 out of the 6 back

But i am so pleased for Ted and what a way to end the season!! I have absolutely loved Teds first season!! Without him I wouldn’t have sent to hardly any races because of the weather, birds of prey causing havoc and them not being ready but Ted was convinced his birds would do it and they certainly did!! I’m so proud of him!! 😁🥰 what I have experienced this year with Ted is what racing pigeons is all about! Father & Son racing together it didn’t matter if we were 1st or last we loved seeing the birds come and I loved Teds success of getting them! ❤️

Congratulations to all the winners and I hope everyone has the returns!! 🙏🕊️