This years training

[ally mac]

Been looking at my notes on training this year. Lost a lot getting the birds as far as Alexandria but after that from the other side of Glasgow never lost any more in 3 tosses. looks like i am finding some birds that can make it to me. Has given me some more optimism for the coming years.  

[Guest stb-]

hard old place to fly into but im sure if you persevere you will end up with birds that will

 

do it no problem   best of luck

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

You're not kidding.. had a wee look at the map..

 

Its a good fly from the Clubhouse to Oban..!!!

[jimmy white]

you boys deserve a medal,, stick in,, best of luck,,

[ally mac]

you boys deserve a medal,, stick in,, best of luck,,

 

Probably the doos that deserve the medal Jimmy!

 

 

[ALF]

It was never going to be easy for you were you sit Ally but good luck mate

[Guest IB]

Interesting choice of route. I would have thought Glen Ogle and Stirling would be the best approach to Oban, flying East to West Coast.

[ally mac]

Interesting choice of route. I would have thought Glen Ogle and Stirling would be the best approach to Oban, flying East to West Coast.

 

I looked at maps and google earth etc Iain, the line of flight to the farther races is down over Glasgow. Thought this was the way to go. Appreciate any other thoughts though.

[ally mac]

Interesting choice of route. I would have thought Glen Ogle and Stirling would be the best approach to Oban, flying East to West Coast.

 

 

[Guest frank dooman]

 

Probably the doos that deserve the medal Jimmy!

 

 

you as well ally, it will come you just have to try harder than the rest of us and be prepared to loose more than most at the start but you will end up with a family that can do it up in idian country hat off to you for your effort

[Guest frank dooman]

ian might be right ally no harm in trying

[ally mac]

ian might be right ally no harm in trying

 

Food for thought Frank.

 

Al.

[Guest frank dooman]

there is allways a cup of tea here when your training and you would get a bit of the drag from our birds in the races

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

I think somewhere between the Gow and Peebles would be much better...

[ALF]

IT'S ALL DOWN TO COST AS IF ALLY IS GOING TO GLASGOW OR THEREABOUTS I'M SURE THE DOOS WILL GO WITH HIM :-/

[Guest frank dooman]

no matter which way you go ally they will have to turn and face it at some point what you have to work out is which breaking point is best peebles is due south  to me it might just give you the edge to beat the glasgow birds but 1st you have to get a family of birds that can make it up there it will take you a few years but the best of luck you know i will help as much as i can

[ally mac]

IT'S ALL DOWN TO COST AS IF ALLY IS GOING TO GLASGOW OR THEREABOUTS I'M SURE THE DOOS WILL GO WITH HIM :-/

 

Your right there Alan, its certainly handy training that way, I am in Glasgow or down the Clyde quite often with work. the wifes from Glasgow too so we are down a fair bit for family etc.

[ally mac]

no matter which way you go ally they will have to turn and face it at some point what you have to work out is which breaking point is best peebles is due south  to me it might just give you the edge to beat the glasgow birds but 1st you have to get a family of birds that can make it up there it will take you a few years but the best of luck you know i will help as much as i can

 

Aye Frank, the main thing at the moments to find the right birds, I know its not going to happen overnight too. Learning all the time,I hope.

 

Al.

[Guest IB]

Hi Ally. First as others have said, hats-off to you for flying birds to that part of Bonny Scotland..

 

Agree that realistically, you train the birds from places you work. Your birds will be on their own anyway over the most difficult part of the route.

 

Think it's the hills & valleys that'll be the deciding factor. When I was 30+ I lived for a time in Helensburgh [no pigeons] and got on a motor bike for the 1st time then. Worked with the Railway, been by train to Oban & Ft William, but also used the bike to scout out old railways [history buff] so have been up the main Loch Lomondside road to Crianlarich, and from there turned east cross country through Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead? and Balquidder towards Callandar [but never in it] where the road and old railway both follow the valleys east toward Dunblane, Stirling & Edinburgh.

 

So to me, training down west coast or west side your birds fly the dog leg to get onto the road / rail route at Balloch / Helensburgh, to follow the valleys north to Crianlarich then dog-leg west again to follow the road / rail route into Oban.

 

If you look at your map Coldstream / Otterburn / Oban 'straight' takes you nearer Edinburgh and Stirling, than Glasgow. And the valleys in the scottish eastern borders also appear to run the birds that way. If you were able to get into Stirlingshire at all, your birds have almost the width of the Trossachs to funnel them NW towards and into Glen Ogle.

 

PS Like the map. What software package is it?

[OLDYELLOW]

Hi Ally. First as others have said, hats-off to you for flying birds to that part of Bonny Scotland..

 

Agree that realistically, you train the birds from places you work. Your birds will be on their own anyway over the most difficult part of the route.

 

Think it's the hills & valleys that'll be the deciding factor. When I was 30+ I lived for a time in Helensburgh [no pigeons] and got on a motor bike for the 1st time then. Worked with the Railway, been by train to Oban & Ft William, but also used the bike to scout out old railways [history buff] so have been up the main Loch Lomondside road to Crianlarich, and from there turned east cross country through Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead? and Balquidder towards Callandar [but never in it] where the road and old railway both follow the valleys east toward Dunblane, Stirling & Edinburgh.

 

So to me, training down west coast or west side your birds fly the dog leg to get onto the road / rail route at Balloch / Helensburgh, to follow the valleys north to Crianlarich then dog-leg west again to follow the road / rail route into Oban.

 

If you look at your map Coldstream / Otterburn / Oban 'straight' takes you nearer Edinburgh and Stirling, than Glasgow. And the valleys in the scottish eastern borders also appear to run the birds that way. If you were able to get into Stirlingshire at all, your birds have almost the width of the Trossachs to funnel them NW towards and into Glen Ogle.

 

PS Like the map. What software package is it?

 

google maps

[ally mac]

Hi Ally. First as others have said, hats-off to you for flying birds to that part of Bonny Scotland..

 

Agree that realistically, you train the birds from places you work. Your birds will be on their own anyway over the most difficult part of the route.

 

Think it's the hills & valleys that'll be the deciding factor. When I was 30+ I lived for a time in Helensburgh [no pigeons] and got on a motor bike for the 1st time then. Worked with the Railway, been by train to Oban & Ft William, but also used the bike to scout out old railways [history buff] so have been up the main Loch Lomondside road to Crianlarich, and from there turned east cross country through Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead? and Balquidder towards Callandar [but never in it] where the road and old railway both follow the valleys east toward Dunblane, Stirling & Edinburgh.

 

So to me, training down west coast or west side your birds fly the dog leg to get onto the road / rail route at Balloch / Helensburgh, to follow the valleys north to Crianlarich then dog-leg west again to follow the road / rail route into Oban.

 

If you look at your map Coldstream / Otterburn / Oban 'straight' takes you nearer Edinburgh and Stirling, than Glasgow. And the valleys in the scottish eastern borders also appear to run the birds that way. If you were able to get into Stirlingshire at all, your birds have almost the width of the Trossachs to funnel them NW towards and into Glen Ogle.

 

PS Like the map. What software package is it?

 

 

Thanks Ian, and everyone else, for your thoughts. I will probably try as i am for a few years maybe. I think I would need something to compare a change of route to if i was to try a different tack.

 

The maps from google earth. handy for sussing things out.

 

Al.

[Guest]

why not split the yb team (as far as training goes). might give you a unit of measure?? maybe hens one direction ,cocks the other or pieds and blues one way chequers grizzles the other?? best of luck ,                                andy.

[ally mac]

why not split the yb team (as far as training goes). might give you a unit of measure?? maybe hens one direction ,cocks the other or pieds and blues one way chequers grizzles the other?? best of luck ,                                andy.

 

That would be an option Andy but its difficult enough to get the birds trained in the one direction. Even a 15 mile toss is an hour  and a quarter round trip.

 

Al.

[Guest]

 

That would be an option Andy but its difficult enough to get the birds trained in the one direction. Even a 15 mile toss is an hour  and a quarter round trip.

 

Al.

i know pal ,apprecite what youre up against ,was just a train of thought "thinking out the box" best of luck .          andy.

 

 

[ally mac]

i know pal ,apprecite what youre up against ,was just a train of thought "thinking out the box" best of luck .          andy.

 

 

Appreciate all the thoughts Andy, all food for thought.

 

Al.