Is theer going to be a future for pigeon racing so

[bluepiedcock]

I write this with a heavy heart. This Tuesday ill bury my Uncle who passed away last Tuesday aged 58 and possibly the end of an Era for my family. He has raced pigeons since the ripe old age of 7 firstly with my grandpa and then on his own after my Grandpa passing. As far as I can remember theres always been pigeons around and racing season but things might not just ever be the same again. I couldve joined in partnership with my uncle but I was never sure whether I wanted to do other things or race the doos I never went ahead and done it. I helped him for 2 years and results were great but I wanted to be my own man and raced on my own for a couple of years before packing it in. Ive fluttered with restarting many times and even got some doos but gave in rather quickly when other things popped up in my life. Then this year I decided to restart and get going again- i got some birds then was floored by stomach and bowel problems for 2 months. I remember when I was younger there was 25 members in my club and some real great doo man, these days I think all the best men in  my area are gone and havent been replaced by the same quality of pigeon man. Im 35 and would be the youngest in my club unlike years ago when there were others younger than me. I was thinking is there any future when all the members are over 60??? in 5 years there could be 3 men in my area with pigeons which saddens me greatly...any thoughts on the subject?????

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Bluepiedcock sad story in more ways than one.

 

I have just return to the sport and find it hard that we have allowed things to get so bad.

 

There are many reasons we find ourselfs here but weak leadership,with little mind for change has played a big part in our demise.

 

Enjoy your birds

 

Good luck

[invalidusername]

bluepiedcock - thought provoking about the future of pigeon racing and the sport in general.  But you know?  All I can think, and say is that I'm so sorry for you and your family of your uncle who died so young.  Best wishes.

[Ronnie]

Bluepiedcock , enjoy it why you can is what i say.Do your bit to encourage anyone who shows a bit of interest and just enjoy the bird's.I hohnestly think it will pick up again ,the way the country is at present pple are starting to go back to there root's and allthough money is tight for most(especially me with the way my missus spends) some may choose to invest in a loft and a few birds to keep the kids of the street.

[Guest bigda]

yes it is a sad and sorry state to be in, but we are all to blame

as not Manny on here, promote pigeons  and all you get from them is its a hobby, it needs to be more than a hobby  a sport, the greyhound man and whippet man have all but gone for they held onto the flapping tracks and that was there down fall as it was not a sport, we are in charge of our own destiny  and its the least we could do to help preserve it for the future. so  take heed

the big studs, the noise from them is deafening, they are taking but giving nothing back. :(

 

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

David,

 

You entrence into our sport has help lift many on this site.Your thread and the way it has unfolded,has been inspiring to many.

 

In addition to this we all love a happy ending

 

Well done ma man

 

Cheers

 

Rab Smith

[square_peg]

Bluepiedcock sad story in more ways than one.

 

I have just return to the sport and find it hard that we have allowed things to get so bad.

 

There are many reasons we find ourselfs here but weak leadership,with little mind for change has played a big part in our demise.

 

Enjoy your birds

 

Good luck

 

what posistion do you hold  ?

[ChrisMaidment08]

blue pied fly in memory of the one you loved take no heed of times gone by look to the future and be positive   worry on today tommow may not come

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

O dear was thinking the tomorrow may not come arguement,is just whats got us here

 

Yes/No

[invalidusername]

David,

 

You entrence into our sport has help lift many on this site.Your thread and the way it has unfolded,has been inspiring to many.

 

In addition to this we all love a happy ending

 

Well done ma man

 

Cheers

 

Rab Smith

 

Rab, if it's me you mean, may I just say that I've learnt so much about pigeon racing and the sport in general that I can't believe it - and I only know about  0.0002% about it.  Everyone I talk to (friends and work colleagues) know I have some pigeons, and because it's so out of character for me, they ask about them.  They get the full run-down about homing pigeons and the dedication of fanciers.  They also get a full rendition about War Pigeons!  I know that the people I talk to are never going to be fanciers, but if I can at least get them interested in this wonderful pastime (sport), and get people to see these magnificent and majestic creatures in their full light - well, I'm happy!

 

 

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Well done david

 

And thanks agin for that great thread

 

All the best mate

 

Rab

[OLDYELLOW]

if new prospective pigeon racers read all this doom and gloom that will be enough for them not to invest in a new pigeon loft and birds to put in it , as for there not been many pigeon fliers in an area it will continue just clubs boundarys either have to open up or just die a death , if it came to a point that i was the last loft standing no competion and no way of increasing membership i'd be the first to move into an area where i could compete

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Seem a lot, however i would comend you move to Holland or Belgum

[OLDYELLOW]

yup i read the birdage on the up north combine definately an area where pigeons are ingrained and wont die , thats looking at there birdage at present , and i cant seem to think i need to exit any board or passport control to get there

[JADE]

sorry to hear about your uncle. YOU are the future of the sport the younger generation who are not afraid of change. There are too many stuck in their ways and are holding the sport back. Numbers are dwindling and there is not a lot we can do about it as there are too many other things to take up folks time nowadays and keeping pigeons or any type of livestock is a 365 day a year job. Clubs (and federations) will have to amalgamate as there are far too many clubs with four or five competing members. When I started most clubs had 20+ members. I have seen results in the papers with 3, 2 or even 1 member flying. How can that give any pleasure? Competition breeds success. Dont be afraid to fly against the best. There are also too many fanciers who sit back and expect others to do all the work and fill the official positions in clubs but they are the first to moan if things dont go their way. Sorry to ramble on but I hope you stay in the sport

[Ian McKay]

sorry to hear about your uncle. YOU are the future of the sport the younger generation who are not afraid of change. There are too many stuck in their ways and are holding the sport back. Numbers are dwindling and there is not a lot we can do about it as there are too many other things to take up folks time nowadays and keeping pigeons or any type of livestock is a 365 day a year job. Clubs (and federations) will have to amalgamate as there are far too many clubs with four or five competing members. When I started most clubs had 20+ members. I have seen results in the papers with 3, 2 or even 1 member flying. How can that give any pleasure? Competition breeds success. Dont be afraid to fly against the best. There are also too many fanciers who sit back and expect others to do all the work and fill the official positions in clubs but they are the first to moan if things dont go their way. Sorry to ramble on but I hope you stay in the sport

 

 

How correct Jade is an excellent reply. This should make us all think including Jade who refused to inform me who she /he was of a post he/she made on my Federation. It is easy to post anonymously but as I see it we need to stand up and be counted before our sport disapears.

 

[Guest]

my advice would be take a back seat for the next 2 or  3 years because i think things will either take a turn for the worse or some one some where will grab this great hobby by the short and curleys and sort some of the  problems out ,exept for the hawk situation there is only one way to do that ATB les.

[Guest lvlasked]

sorry to hear about whats happed m8 and the racing sport wont die im 19 and been doin it with my grandad since i was like 10 and i love every min of it and im glad my grandad helped me build was first shed i have 1 team of about 40 birds and all mixed and i use to win the young award most years and im greatful for that and no matter what happens theres allways a new life when i new bird is born into the family

[Fair Play]

Bluepiedcock's uncle was the reason I am back in the sport he persuaded me to start up again after a long absence,our club has potentionally lost including "Hammy" (Alexandria RPC) 5 members who for one reason or another have decided to give up the sport. I would love to see kids getting involved in the sport I know it's difficult with computor games and all sorts of things that have come our way in this so called progressive age but I think the RPRA,SHU,WHU and the Irish associations should be going round the schools with birds and giving a lecture to kids about the joy of pigeon the highs of breeding your first younster waiting for its return and the ultimate of seeing your bird home from France it's one of the greatest feelings I have experienced never one anything but what a high. It is no use puting adverts in the papers grassroots (schools) are where the potential fanciers of tomorrow are "Lets capture THEM" sorry to bore you on a bank holiday it's pouring down here so i am away out to the birds.

[DOVEScot]

Sorry to hear about your uncle, I could have been writing the same story about Billy a few months ago. Billy has encouraged me to start racing so there is still hope for new members but I think changing social and economic climates nowadays will never see pigeon racing back to it's former glory

Also houses being built nowadays you are lucky if you have room or a clause in your missives that allow you to keep a rabbit never mind a loft :-/

[Guest shadow]

the future is very bleak as clubs get smaller then fold very little new blood comes into the sport and now the cost of living and the prospect of job losses in ten years time it may be down to one loft races and a few national clubs raced my a privileged few

[OLDYELLOW]

i think a few of the doom and gloom merchants need to get the sandwhich boards on and write 'the end is nigh' on them and walk around town , they be laughed at , im very optomistic about the future of pigeon racing , probably one of the most taken up activitys when people retire , yes people work and thats a deterent but ets will help a few more back , the last thing any new starter needs is to look at these type of threads and think bloody hell may as well get the latest console game at least they'll be able to buy the games for them , as for one loft races taking over it will never happen . Theres a few types of fanciers theres the ones that are in it purely for money and to line there pockets and theres the get rich quick via one loft racing due to the prestige it could bring and win big bucks , and theres the one's that loves there pigeons and the enjoyment they bring whether on top or on the bottom of the game . Those that have lost there heart for there pigeons arent fanciers there senders of pigeons i suggest that the latter are the doom and gloom merchants , and yes i do know of several clubs that will go to the wall because of lack of members but im sure theres solutions for the remaining members , such as flying with a nearby club , even if it means just flying for federation honors

[Lennut Tar]

Sorry to hear about your uncle, I could have been writing the same story about Billy a few months ago. Billy has encouraged me to start racing so there is still hope for new members but I think changing social and economic climates nowadays will never see pigeon racing back to it's former glory

Also houses being built nowadays you are lucky if you have room or a clause in your missives that allow you to keep a rabbit never mind a loft :-/

 

Spot on !!!!!!!!!  ;D ;D ;D most of them here also are like dolls houses, they are that small etc. But no matter what happens where ever one may live, the sport will continue to survive in the future in my view. Thou many changes will take place, compared to the style of racing we have today etc. Just think of Electronic clocks as a good example   ;) , & the change over from rail to road transport as another example. the biggest killer will be the apathy of members etc, who for their own reasons stick their head in the sand & say nothing can be done to improve our situation, in this great sport. Now !!!!!!!!! "PMSL" All you Emu's out there ?????????? start thinking of ways to advance our sport   ;) because I have no doubt in my mind what so ever some of you could save the day if you think in a positive manner.

Enjoy.

 

 

[Guest spin cycle]

i think a few of the doom and gloom merchants need to get the sandwhich boards on and write 'the end is nigh' on them and walk around town , they be laughed at , im very optomistic about the future of pigeon racing , probably one of the most taken up activitys when people retire , yes people work and thats a deterent but ets will help a few more back , the last thing any new starter needs is to look at these type of threads and think bloody hell may as well get the latest console game at least they'll be able to buy the games for them , as for one loft races taking over it will never happen . Theres a few types of fanciers theres the ones that are in it purely for money and to line there pockets and theres the get rich quick via one loft racing due to the prestige it could bring and win big bucks , and theres the one's that loves there pigeons and the enjoyment they bring whether on top or on the bottom of the game . Those that have lost there heart for there pigeons arent fanciers there senders of pigeons i suggest that the latter are the doom and gloom merchants , and yes i do know of several clubs that will go to the wall because of lack of members but im sure theres solutions for the remaining members , such as flying with a nearby club , even if it means just flying for federation honors

 

couldn't agree more. its no good talking ourselves into the abyss. we've all just to get on with it...perhaps it will pick up. i take the view that keeping my club going is part of 'my' hobby...if more took this attitude they'd be more workers and less ' i only want to fly my birds' . we need more clubs in areas where there arn't any. sorry but in my view i lofters is not the answer...the losses are so high it could be a pr disaster

[Guest spin cycle]

I write this with a heavy heart. This Tuesday ill bury my Uncle who passed away last Tuesday aged 58 and possibly the end of an Era for my family. He has raced pigeons since the ripe old age of 7 firstly with my grandpa and then on his own after my Grandpa passing. As far as I can remember theres always been pigeons around and racing season but things might not just ever be the same again. I couldve joined in partnership with my uncle but I was never sure whether I wanted to do other things or race the doos I never went ahead and done it. I helped him for 2 years and results were great but I wanted to be my own man and raced on my own for a couple of years before packing it in. Ive fluttered with restarting many times and even got some doos but gave in rather quickly when other things popped up in my life. Then this year I decided to restart and get going again- i got some birds then was floored by stomach and bowel problems for 2 months. I remember when I was younger there was 25 members in my club and some real great doo man, these days I think all the best men in  my area are gone and havent been replaced by the same quality of pigeon man. Im 35 and would be the youngest in my club unlike years ago when there were others younger than me. I was thinking is there any future when all the members are over 60??? in 5 years there could be 3 men in my area with pigeons which saddens me greatly...any thoughts on the subject?????

forgot on my last post to add my condolences..sorry and best wishes