State of pigeon racing in Britain ?

[robinthfc]

I suppose this has been spoken about before on here, but what is the state of pigeon racing around Britain.

 

20 years a ago my club in Bedfordshire had 40 flying members sending 500 pigeons a week, the Fed [now disbanded] up to 2500 birds, and the combine [now disbanded] up to 6000 birds, and within 10 miles of me there were 6-7 healthy clubs. Now my club will be lucky to have 10 members, and soon it will be the only club in the area.

On the housing estate I live there were 15-20 flyer's, now there is only me  

 

Whats the state of affairs in other parts of Britain i.e Midlands, North of England, Scotland, Wales and even Ireland.

 

Cant be the same all over surely ??

[Guest jason]

yes, just the same in Todmorden, we've now only 8 members (we had 26 upto 3 years ago)

 

jason

[Tony C]

Pigeon racing in the UK is in freefall. Maybe the unions should formulate a questionnaire and send it out to those that have quit in the last 5 years. Find out why they packed the game in, would they return if things were different. We need new starters coming into the sport but more importantly we need to keep those that are in it to remain so.

[stevebelbin]

Refer to the "suspension" topic on this site - Enough said I think!! Bad sportsmanship!! Everyones your best friend until you beat them  :-/, and I suppose were all guilty of it to an extent - Myself included  :B

[swilcox]

Too many clubs, too many races, its time to stop sending 1/2 filled transporter around the country and join forces to organise fewer races with more substain so that people thinking of joining our great sport can see the benefits.

 

Stuart

[Guest]

:'( pretty much the same wherever you go , similar numbers gone from sport here in north wales . i raised the question at our last meeting about asking former members to return or new members to join ! or we would be 3- 4 youngest members , only ones left , reply from our chairman "dont care , most of us will be dead in 10 years "     :o :o :o            thanks mate         andy   8)

[Wiley]

its time to stop sending 1/2 filled transporter around the country and join forces

 

The sport defaintly has to stop sendind 1/2 filled transporters and federations and clubs should amalgamate as one to make the federation and clubs stronger. I don't think there should be fewer races though  :-/ :-/

 

[Wiley]

i think if Britain recacted in the way they do in the states with young members we would have alot more in the sport and it will thrive for many years.

[robinthfc]

I think there is a lot more for people to do now, when we chat at my local club often other members come up with reasons why they should pack in. Pigeon racing seem to get in the way of their lives nowadays, and they only do it because they have always done it and pigeon racing has a hold on them. Cars, more holidays, computers etc, all seeing the end of pigeon racing, that's the way it seems to me anyway.

Apparently fishing is having the same problem to a lesser extent,

[Wiley]

alot of the pigeon men down here that leave the sport only go into canary keeping

[Guest shadow]

The sport is in rapid decline in my area 4 clubs have closed in the last 3 years and many of the others there only a few members

[Tony C]

This'll never happen but would it work?

 

No prize money or cards to be won in club, (in affect clubs would just be marking stations). Prize money, pools, cards can only be won at fed level or above.

 

Would clubs then merge as there would be no benefits to be had in remaining small.

[stevebelbin]

I think there is a lot more for people to do now, when we chat at my local club often other members come up with reasons why they should pack in. Pigeon racing seem to get in the way of their lives nowadays, and they only do it because they have always done it and pigeon racing has a hold on them. Cars, more holidays, computers etc, all seeing the end of pigeon racing, that's the way it seems to me anyway.

Apparently fishing is having the same problem to a lesser extent,

 

Its the same for me. Im drawn into pigeons as Ive had them, had the buzz and now cant seem to let go. I am the type of person who wants it all, nice car, house, holidays etc etc and pigeons do and have got in the way. Ive just had to try and get round it, which means instead of trying to compete at a high level the birds are put second. Although their health is whats important to me, as long as there healthy and happy in the loft and do ok racing, thats ok for me until I have more time  :-/

 

 

[THE FIFER]

the only way we could get small clubs etc to get together,(and i agree this is the answer) is by the unions getting together to make out what u need to form clubs etc, i know there is simmilar out now regarding how many members u need etc, but its not going far enough,also areas should be made and only one club in pesific area, if ur in that area u must fly with that club, same with feds they must have ex amount of members and the same with nationals, all this small organisations is a thing of the past, or should be but instead its getting worse, don't ever see this happen but it will finish pigeon racing, as it is with small organisations starting up all over, and leaving one to go with another is not the answer.

[johno]

this is all fine if the club in your area lets you in. what happens if you are not accepted.

[robinthfc]

this is all fine if the club in your area lets you in. what happens if you are not accepted.

 

You'd think that wouldn't still be happening with the way Pigeon racing is now. Clubs should need every member they can get. Unless there's a very good reason why a fancier was not accepted.

[maverick]

IN THE AREA OF EDINBURGH WERE I STAY 10- 15 YERS AGO THERE WAS AROUND 18 RACING LOFTS NOW DOWN TO 4 SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS OUR SPORT IS IN NOW.

[Guest bristolkev]

its the same down here in bristol,lots of smaller clubs racing in this and that fed or combine,not letting the so called better flyers in the club due to getting beaten by him.Or keeping a small boundry so flyers that live a bit futher from the race point can`t get in the club coz there scared of getting beat by the overfly,its total rubbish.i reckon their should be 2 clubs in bristol 1 north road and 1 south road possible under the same roof.clubs further afield should be accepted too.so you should have 2 clubs with lots of members,birdage and better pools,then if fanciers are racing well then they know their flying well against the top fanciers with big birdage.then the trouble is if this did happen and the better flyers were`nt doing as well they would`nt like it!

[jimmy white]

ihave quite a few fanciers visit me , all are great decent good living lads , and would help anybody, one of my freinds who has an empty loft all equipment , often ready to start, takes one look at all the arguments then refuses to start ,, is that what you all want,,,, my own opinion, for what its worth , is look forward ,not backwards , there are many ways in which each individual fancier can help the sport survive , one is by helping one another,not running down one another, supporting one another,  the political arguments in the sport are ruining it, new starters will just not be bothered when they see all that. all organizations should attract , not chase away.,,,,,need a new soap box now  ;D ;D ;D

[Guest jason]

ihave quite a few fanciers visit me , all are great decent good living lads , and would help anybody, one of my freinds who has an empty loft all equipment , often ready to start, takes one look at all the arguments then refuses to start ,, is that what you all want,,,, my own opinion, for what its worth , is look forward ,not backwards , there are many ways in which each individual fancier can help the sport survive , one is by helping one another,not running down one another, supporting one another,  the political arguments in the sport are ruining it, new starters will just not be bothered when they see all that. all organizations should attract , not chase away.,,,,,need a new soap box now  ;D ;D ;D

 

couldn't agree more, jimmy. all our club members pull together to make it a club, with there only being 8 members if there was any falling out, it would just fold.

 

jason

[Guest]

just sit down and count the cost all up on what you spend on a full year keeping pigeons ie, racing training feeding subs pool monies everything you spend and see what it amounts to and thats for us thats in the game so what will it cost someone to come into it that is why it is declinning ,and as for clubs getting smaller thats all i have heard about for the past 15 or more years that we all have to get together face facts its never goping to happen cause there is that many people got there head stuck that far up there own a--- that they cant see the damage that they are doing only what they want ,hey jimmy can ye git me a soap box as well lol

[penelope]

I reckon the problem is that we all compete against each other when racing yet we need to work together to save the sport as well. It's a simple conflict of interests isn't it? We want to win the race and if we're pissed off cos we haven't we are hardly going to volunteer to stay at the club for hours working out the result only to see our name on the bottom of the sheet! Coupled with that the age of members is increasing and many aren't capable of doing the work they once did anymore. Plus, there's not exactly a huge influx of new blood to take their place. In the 21st century people want instant results, not ages of waiting and working out. They manage this on the continent and in America because the whole sport is computerised with ETS. I'm not one for technology myself but the world outside of pigeon racing is - you obviously are because you are sat at your computer looking at this now!

 

Stands to reason really and if someone could let me know how all this technology works I'd probably be for it myself! As it is I have a very fast whippet and would recommend we go back to using runners to send a telegram from the local post office as I'd win then hands down!

 

Whatever else I do know that pigeon racing needs to take a long hard look at itself and sort out its problems before it's too late. Above all we all want to enjoy our birds don't we? Have a pint or two and a bit of a laugh? Recount the old tales of the one that got away etc. That's what it used to be like didn't it? Change is very hard, I'm the first to admit that as I am a complete idiot on a computer. But someone somewhere has to bite the bullet and get to grips with it surely?

 

Looking forward to seeing the pigeon basics badges at Blackpool by the way!

 

LOL

[Guest WINGS 04]

 

You'd think that wouldn't still be happening with the way Pigeon racing is now. Clubs should need every member they can get. Unless there's a very good reason why a fancier was not accepte

 

 

I CAN TELL YOU IT DOES HAPPEN AS THIS YEAR MY CLUB IS FOLDING AND THERE IS A CLUB THAT IS ONLY 500 YARDS FROM MY LOFT AND THEY WILL NOT LET ME IN THIS IS THE NEW STVENESTON CLUB THEY BROKE AWAY FROM MY OLD CLUB LAST YEAR AND WOULD NOT LET ME IN NOW THERE ARE 7 MEMBERS GOING TO DAZIEL CLUB NOW THERE IS ONLY 4 MEMBERS LEFT NOT ENOUGH FOR A CLUB

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

IF WE CAN DO SOMETING ABOUT IT  WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO LETS PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND GET SOME POSSIBLE IDEAS OF GETTING MORE YOUNGSTERS

[swilcox]

Sammy

 

Your right and next weekend we will raise 1000,s at blackpool and it all goes to buying a few more mini buses which i know is a great cause but it time to save our sport!!!!!!!