Negative Fanciers - Its A No Brainer

Lightning McQueen · February 23, 2007

Just thought would post this letter which i am sending to the BHW next week about negative people who try to spoil a good idea??

The Future of the Sport..

I feel I must write this letter to demonstrate my disgust at the attitude of the kind of negative fanciers who are having a detrimental effect on this wonderful sport of ours and killing the future of the sport. I feel that I am a positive and forward thinking fancier who lets be honest is part of the younger generations of our sport and is always striving of ways to improve the sport and produce interesting and challenging schemes for the interest of genuine fanciers.

Let me enlighten you..

My name is Mark Brown I am 32yrs old and a third generation fancier, I have recently relocated with my family Clare and 2 children Mia (3) and Ben (2) down south to Hungerford from St.Helens, Merseyside. Upto last season 2006, I flew in partnership with my father Bill in the Burtonwood HS affiliated to the Merseyside federation and the Earlestown FC, affiliated to the County Fed and Two Counties Combine. During the last few years I have been instrumental in the development of Earlestown FC from a club on its bones which had to levy the membership approx 4yrs ago to purchase supplies for the following season to the 2006 balance sheet showing a plus £750 in the bank.

This was done with the introduction of a number a schemes and perhaps an initial controversial prize distribution scheme which with the help and support of the majority of members has blossomed the club to its current thriving state (BHW advert published recently in the BHW following the bumper £2000 payout at the prize giving).

During my relocation I was always going to bring the stock team with me from St.Helens to a) ease the workload on my father keep me interested/occupied during the year. Following the initial moving in period, we decided that we would have a go at the racing scheme down here and promptly applied to join the local pigeon club with a view of racing some yb in 2007. I them commenced to plan and construct a loft to suit my needs (as the stock are housed in a converted garage, and are more than happy/content).

It was during this time that we put our little girl (Mia) into the local pre-school nursery and Clare started attending the local toddler groups etc with Ben and following one of the groups they were discussing fund raising for the school, during this evening Clare was reading through the BHW and asked the question can we do anything to fund raise for the school, that was it the seed was sown.

During the next few weeks we developed a scheme which would envelope a current scheme used by Earlestown FC which its members pay £20 and nominate a bird to fly for the prize pot on a specified race, this was further developed to become the “PROPOSED” Earlestown One Loft Race, Members could pay the secretary £20 to enter the scheme and enter a bird or birds, but all birds would be transferred to me and race at my new loft in Hungerford, they would race the local clubs programme and we would choose the last race on the programme to be the actual one loft race, this race would be of a date when the Earlestown racing programme had finished therefore we could invite all competing members down to our loft to witness the race. All birds entered would be collected by me, transport down the actual race would be provided at no expense to the members etc etc.

This scheme was then presented to the club at the AGM and was passed by the members there present, not all members took part but that is their prerogative, buy we had 11 x entrants at the meeting. So upon getting the green light from the club, we set about finalising arrangements, I then arranged sponsorship for the competition at no cost to the members, we looked at producing a fair chance for all members to win prizes and agreed that my sponsor Lancasterallman would sponsor an “ACE BIRD” prize, this ace bird would be won by the bird/s accumulating most points throughout the weekly racing with the local club based on 10 points for the first returning scheme bird and 1 point for the tenth returning scheme bird etc. My sponsor donated £300 to be used for this prize and we then agreed to split £150, £100 & £50 for the overall 1st Ace Bird, 2nd Ace Bird, 3rd Ace Bird.

The prizemoney for the “Actual” race will be generated by the £20 entrant fees only, no deductions all monies held by the Earlestown club secretary. My sponsor then also donated a further £40 to fund the entrance of 2 x entrants into the competition in the name of the local school “Little Crickets Pre-School, Baydon, Manor Road, Baydon, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3JD” to which I matched this donation so that the school would have 4 x entrants into the competition (any money won by the school nominated entrants would go to school funds).

So here we have a club scheme with:-

1) We have £300 Guaranteed Prizemoney for the “Ace Birds” via MB sponsorship at no cost to members.

2) We have £220.00 Prizemoney Guaranteed from the 11 Entrants (so far) into scheme @ £20ea

3) Add to this, the potential of another say 15 birds being nominated from the entrants remaining birds following training etc @ £20ea, which could be a further £ 300 towards prizemoney.

4) We may also get another 4/5 members entering a couple to the competition, maybe a further £200 towards prizemoney.

5) We already have 2 x fantastic trophies (donated by Able Hydraulics, via Kenny Owen) for the Ace Bird & The actual nominated race winner.

So based on the above, we already have a GUARANTEED PRIZEPOT of £520 But if we are successful with items 3 & 4 - You COULD be flying for £1,020.00 in Prizes

We have agreed with the local crickets school fortnightly visits to the loft for the teachers & pupils were they can see the development of the youngsters, I will be doing demonstrations with the school to educate on the process of Racing Pigeons, The pupils will choose their entrants from the youngsters I breed with photo’s being taken and a montage will be collated at the school etc etc

Anyhow, everything was rosy and gliding along smoothly until the monthly Earlestown FC meeting 22.02.07, I had previously emailed up an update of where we are up to with the scheme, the sponsorship we have and the involvement of the local school.

Following the update provided to the members, the competitors who had entered the scheme were very happy with the progress, the ones who had chose not to participate were respectful in their silence until one member voiced his opinion.

I was very dismayed no actually disgusted at the comments from this member who was totally derogatory to the thoughts behind the scheme and basically accused me of “scrounging” young birds for my own benefit.

Just for the record, let me clarify a few facts:-

This scheme is of no benefit to me personally whatsoever, if anything I am putting myself at risk financially by arranging Amtrak to repatriate these competition birds back into the scheme should they get lost.

I have arranged sponsorship of £300 to be flown for by the members of this scheme.

I will be paying all entrance fees/corn etc for these birds to compete in the race programme.

I will be arranging weekly updates to be sent to members showing progress of their birds.

I am committing my time with the scheme, even though I have a young demanding family.

I will be providing transport for the training of these birds, ensuring they are capable of competing.

I will be organising a “day out” with refreshments etc on the day of the actual final race.

Also can someone please explain to me, why I would need to scrounge this members birds:-

I have a team of 12 x stock birds down with me at Hungerford, ALL have either bred Club, Fed, Combine and Classic winners.

Last season we were highest prizewinners in our clubs, Burtonwood HS 6 x 1st Prizes, Earlestown FC 6 x 1st Prizes, Midweek 5 x 1st Prizes (NO DUPLICATIONS) also we won 3 x 1st Merseyside Federation, 3 x 1st County Federation, 3 x 1st Two counties combine and 2 x 1st section North West Classic Club, winners of numerous averages etc.

My race team will comprise of 2 x rounds of 24 birds ea via the stock loft, plus donations via good friend Ken Owen out of his stock.

Again let me explain, the competition was arranged to provide a bit of interest for the genuine members of Earlestown Flying Club and as stated, competition birds from outside sources which are left at the end of the race programme will be offered back to the initial breeding loft, any not wishing them back would be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to the local school.

It is people like this “with their short-sighted, negative, vindictive & thoughtless comments, who are killing this our wonderful sport!!”

So I am now left feeling extremely bitter following all the efforts of the people involved in trying to get this scheme up and running, I have also produced all the results for the club for the last 2 years (even committed to continue from a distance of 200mile, at no cost to the club whatsoever) and I now feel is it worth it………

May I take this opportunity, to thank the genuine members of Earlestown FC for their support in this venture, wish them all the success in the future and apologise in advance if following this if I decide to revoke all my involvement with the club in the future..

February 23, 2007

do u think there will be enough pages in the bhw to hold that letter?.lol...best of luck m8....paul

Ian McKay · February 23, 2007

Keep going. Never mind the disgruntled one the others will see through him come time. Do not give up

Sally McQueen · February 23, 2007

Mark (Lightning) was quite upset about the comments, he's a true hard working fancier who puts alot of time and dedication into what he does.

gangster · February 23, 2007

MARK AS I READ IT YOU DONT GAIN ANYTHING HERE ONLY PRAISE FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP PROMOTE THIS SPORT, AND 1 MUPPET IS CAUSING GRIEF WELL HARD LUCK FOR HIM MISERABLE GET!!!! CARRY ON DONT LET HIM RUIN YOUR GOOD WORK.................AND THIS IS WHY THE GOOD GUYS STOP DOING ANYTHING !!! > > > > > >:(TO THE MISERABLE GET HERE U MAKE ME (puke) U LOSER.......

February 23, 2007

If you haven't yet sent off the letter, Mark, I suggest you cut out the only negative bit in it ... all references to a single 'spoiler' in the club ... and send it off as a positive 'future of the sport' idea for other clubs to adopt.

I think yours was a really good community idea and one that will show us all in a favourable light, even those that might not deserve it.

jimmy white · February 23, 2007

best of luck to you mark and sally , it is very annoying when you get the likes of this ,, but as time passes theyll see what idiots theve made out themselves ,,,,best of luck, to you both

friendsloft · February 24, 2007

I know mark very well, and he has put alot of time effort and money out of his own pocket to get this idea off the ground, the idiot in question caused alot of ill feeling , but this is not the first time, mark was going to forget the idea thinking why bother, but after a lolt of thinking talking to him on the phone e-mails u name it he is going to carry on, it will be a huge success because mark will make sure of it. MARK is a true gentleman and pigeon fancier some one who our club needs yet we have idiots that try to drive him away by making nasty remarks which were totally uncalled for.Mark keep going chin up 97% of the club fully support you. and ur new club have gained one hell of an asset in you. thyanks for all you have done to make ours one of the best.

friendsloft