curiosity post

[jimmy white]

just curious if any fanciers remember the old ,",milers" these were racing pigeons,  ,, but only raced one mile,

 

i remember as a boy [just a short time ago ;D] i was in dovescote park in liverpool. fishing in  dovesote  pond with the old grandad,for minnows, tadpoles,etc,,seeing a man with a pigeon basket on the back of his bike,, when approaching him and talking to him, he explained these were " milers" timed with a stop watch,, there seemed to be big betting on these,, but the thing that struck me, was , he  lifted a single pigeon, released it,, the bird flew in a straight line about 6ft high , skipping the chimney tops, going like the bars of hell,, no circling ,,just off , like lightning,, now if we could just  get birds to do this,  on the last mile of a race  ;D ;D ;D would save valuable seconds ,, anyone know of these, or remember these

[alex wight]

the bird flew in a straight line about 6ft high , skipping the chimney tops, going like the bars of hell

 

Wee hooses jimmy ;D ;D ;D interesting though. I,d prefer if they done that the whole way not just the last mile ;D

[widowhooder]

i realy weeeeee

[Guest spin cycle]

i think i read about 'miler' clubs still in barnsley in bhw, last year perhaps.

[Guest WINGS 04]

jimmy i think they still race pigeons like that in the far east or mexico as i ready in the bhw a few years a go they race them  up a gully with suportes on each side and some one holding the hen out side the loft

[Peckedhen]

, released it,, the bird flew in a straight line about 6ft high , skipping the chimney tops, going like the bars of hell,, no circling ,,just off , like lightning,,)

 

Yeah, mine do this except I don't want them to!  People want to watch the 'doves' at a release...I want them to circle not make a bee line for home! : :

 

[PIGEON_MAN]

Thought the milers were the ones that the owners would all stand in a line  and release them out of their baskets then they would fly in a straight line about 6 inches off the floor and then into a basket the other end,the other fancier would quickly shut the basket and hit a stop watch,fastest bird being the winner.

[jimmy white]

the bird flew in a straight line about 6ft high , skipping the chimney tops, going like the bars of hell

 

Wee hooses jimmy ;D ;D ;D interesting though. I,d prefer if they done that the whole way not just the last mile ;D

 

well,,,, they had to raise thir height just a wee bit [at the hooses ;D] , cause they would have gone through the front window and out the back one ;D ;D ;D [maybe the winners did this  ;D ;D ;D]  ,,,,but   believe me they were a sight to see ;D ;D ;D

[jimmy white]

i think i read about 'miler' clubs still in barnsley in bhw, last year perhaps.

 

yes, there were many" miler" clubs ,, but just wondered how they actualy done it,,

[Guest kev d]

i remember when i was a kid in the 70s in gawthorpe in west yorks , watching the milers racing

ive seen things that if you told your mates they would not beleave you , one straight mile over the fields

to there loft just missing the walls and hedges and no laps of honur straight in , and done in about 58 seconds if im right in thinking

or just over a minute , brilliant

[jimmy white]

jimmy i think they still race pigeons like that in the far east or mexico as i ready in the bhw a few years a go they race them  up a gully with suportes on each side and some one holding the hen out side the loft

 

this is true also,, the winner was the one that flew in  the fastest,and  straightest line,, most may laugh ;D but be assured this is true ;D ;D ;D

[pjc]

with the cost of fuel it could take off again!

With ets it would be easy!

[jimmy white]

 

Yeah, mine do this except I don't want them to!  People want to watch the 'doves' at a release...I want them to circle not make a bee line for home! : :

 

;D ;D ;D thats pigeons for you,, theyll do the opposite  you want them to do ;D ;D

[jimmy white]

with the cost of fuel it could take off again!

With ets it would be easy!

 

now, theres a thought ;D ;D ;D  [bet they had some fun though ]

[greenlands]

Hi Jimmy,I think my old man use to call them skimmers as they use to skim the hedges,never saw them myself.As a kid we use to race short ditty,following the railway line.One week we would fly 5/6 East the following week same West nex week 10 mile and so on.Only one clock in the club and that was in the pub window.We put the race rubber in a match box and ran like hell to the pub.An allowance was made for running distance to the pub window.One man on the clock with the sec sitting beside him writing names down,made it easier when the cock was opened.Lindsay

[jimmy white]

ive just been having a quick look at tinternet ;D   try this one,,,

stephenbodiosblogspot.com  guest post: jacob sewall on fast pigeons    

[Guest chrisss]

i think they do the same thing in belgium they fly back to boxes high up on the wall,its an old way of flying there and its dying out :B :B :B :B

[Guest]

Never saw the "milers" racing but remember some wonderful stories from the old Geordie lads who came down south and were members of the club I joined as a boy. Would love to have seen them as the picture these old boys portrayed in such graphic detail and passion, it must have been a fantastic experience. I wonder if there is any old footage if these birds racing.

[jimmy white]

Never saw the "milers" racing but remember some wonderful stories from the old Geordie lads who came down south and were members of the club I joined as a boy. Would love to have seen them as the picture these old boys portrayed in such graphic detail and passion, it must have been a fantastic experience. I wonder if there is any old footage if these birds racing.

 

yes i agree, it would be great to see any old footage of these birds,, just wonder if anyone has such a thing,, i think it quite fascinating

[Blue Chequer Pied]

I never saw any milers fly but I would have liked to. I think it is a shame that this kind of flying is dissappearing.

 

Paul.

[Tony C]

I think I've got a small book here somewhere that touches on the subject of milers. If my memory serves me right it was written by a J Pilling.

[Blue Chequer Pied]

I think I've got a small book here somewhere that touches on the subject of milers. If my memory serves me right it was written by a J Pilling.

 

I think that would be an interesting read Tony.

 

Paul.

[Williedoo]

They were on the TV a good few years ago, were letting them go out side the local pub on a Saturday afternoon and there was a few quid to be won.

[Roland]

the bird flew in a straight line about 6ft high , skipping the chimney tops, going like the bars of hell

 

Wee hooses jimmy ;D ;D ;D interesting though. I,d prefer if they done that the whole way not just the last mile ;D

 

Pretty much like the birds do flying into Antwerp Belgium. and a vast drag splitting at last throws...

[Roland]

Was called 'Street Races' also I think you will find. Only knew of one such like race... and that was a contrived affair. It was put arranged so my Dad could actually have a winner I believe .... well it was his only winner, and others were timing in an hour later. Dad took 1st and 2nd as I recall, and went to his departure happy that'd he'd won a race. Was a good club man etc. like a lot of the no hopers were.... indeed what sucessful clubs thrived on. First there, last away, dreams and whims of prayers, nothing too much trouble and still found a place of belonging in the club. Family do's and a social meetingS.

Just enjoyed the banter and love of thier pigeons.

Sorry for distracting, just throws up the 'Good ole days' eh lol.