VIEW FROM THE REDDINGS

[Guest CS]

VIEW FROM THE REDDINGS

 

DEFRA MEETING

 

At long last we have been informed of the Stakeholders meeting with DEFRA to discuss racing in 2007. It will be on 14th December in London and Pat Mitchell and I will attend from the RPRA. The first thing to say is that I do not expect any firm decisions to be made by DEFRA on that day and I’ll tell you why. I have been busy over the last couple of weeks collating information from various sources and will have prepared a briefing document for DEFRA which will be presented to them a week or so before the meeting. In short it will indicate the problems we had in the 2006 season both financially and operationally, the contradiction in their policy to only let us race 400 miles from the south coast, a copy of the very latest AI Pigeon research and our considerations on what we would like to see in the 2007 licence. I have mentioned in previous Views that the rationale they gave for the 400 mile limit was because if pigeons landed on an infected French farm the pigeons could bring the disease back to the UK mechanically. However, this seems to contradict other advice on the DEFRA website about how long AI remains active and I am hoping that my argument will blow theirs for a restriction on distance out of the water. Coupled with that the fact that there were no outbreaks of AI in France after the spring and certainly whilst we were racing it also makes their restriction of no young bird racing rather implausible. Pat and I, along with Presidents of the other unions will do our best for you but I do feel that we are in a much stronger position than we were last year. I would expect to hear from DEFRA sometime early in the New Year about how they anticipate the licence to go. I am sure that we all respect the fact that should there be an AI outbreak then stricter restrictions would follow. The crux is that the RPRA cannot take another racing season as we have had and I know that organisations face the same financial problems. I have already had to take measures here at the Reddings with staff considerations.

 

Lobby, lobby, lobby!

 

I was privileged to attend the Midland National’s recent prize presentation and it was a splendid evening. As is the case when you present the prizes, one normally has to ‘sing for your supper’ and so I did say a few words. All gathered did want to know what the latest was on continental racing and of course there was little progress to report other than to say, with earnest, that I would try my very hardest to get things returned to some normality for 2007. What I did say however was that it is everyone’s responsibility, everyone that is in fact reading this View, to make representations to their MP to tell them the difficulties you have had as individual flyers and as clubs. Pressure your MPs to pressure DEFRA. Before the meal Dr Geoff Richmond told me that he had recently had the opportunity to go to a meeting attended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. The meeting was ostensibly about training in the workplace but Geoff managed to hand Mr Brown a letter with his concerns about pigeon racing and the DEFRA restrictions. Mr Brown agreed to read the letter later. Well done Geoff is all I say, there is nothing like grasping the nettle when you have an opportunity.

 

Me and 2 legends

 

The previous weekend I was invited as a guest to the Lancashire Social Circle’s Centenary dinner at Southport. It was a truly splendid evening and my thanks to the Committee and members there for the invitation. Some genius placed me between 2 real legends at the dinner table. I was sat between Guy Barrett, always good company and a young man called Joe Haworth. Joe had me in stitches for most of the evening, he has a very infectious laugh and I couldn’t quite believe how much his son Spencer was like his Dad, even down to the same laugh. I was sorry to hear that John Archer was not well. I met John at a previous LSC dinner and we got on really well particularly as I learnt that he used to play soccer for my team, Bristol City. I hope you are feeling better soon John.

 

Alvin Langham

 

It seems we had no sooner bid farewell to one member of Council in Bill Peacock when we received the news that Alvin Langham had also died. Alvin had been on Council for only about 3 or 4 years, taking over from Dennis Read as an East Midland region representative. His quite persona at the Council meeting did not however replicate into the sort of worker for the pigeon world that he was. I know that he worked hard as secretary of the Leicestershire NR Federation as well as other clubs, so a stalwart. We shall miss Alvin and our thoughts are with his family.

 

DDA/ETS

 

There is no doubt which topic seems to be on everyone’s minds at present, that of ETS and whether this will be accepted, must be accepted or will never be accepted. It is good to bring these issues into the open and the debate appears to be healthy. I reiterate that we (you) need to address the issue of the Disability Discrimination Act so whether ETS will fit the bill remains to be seen. It truly is an emotive issue but as I said in response to a letter recently, I am yet to see any plausible alternatives from the anti ETS brigade as to how we can meet the remit of the DDA amendment. We must do something. I have said previously that without such alternative the only solution I can see is the introduction of ETS but perhaps with a 10 or 20 second penalty for anyone using it, disabled or not. I am sure that these comments will cause further debate so if you are going to disagree with me please be constructive, tell us what you would do to fulfil the DDA.

 

RPRA 2007 One Loft Race

 

I have just received the open race licence numbers and so the 2007 One Loft race will be advertised in the BHW shortly (probably the week of 8th December). The entry form will also appear from this date on the RPRA website. We are in the process of revamping the RPRA, BHW and 1LR websites, they will soon all appear under the RPRA banner but I cannot confirm exactly when that will happen so the rules will go on the RPRA website just to make sure. Our loft managers Jeremy Davies and Paul Stocker will also be at Blackpool to sell the remaining spaces so you will find them in the ballroom next to the RPRA stand. We sold out by February this year so if you do not want to be disappointed then don’t delay to get your deposit in. If you are not in it then you cannot win it! What a great Christmas pressie an entry would make!!

 

More Publicity

 

I am pleased to say that we continue to receive good publicity for the sport. After the press release on our financial losses Gerry Francis eventually appeared on Radio 4. I also wrote to the Guardian about the DEFRA culling policy, or lack of one, after I read that goats in Snowdonia were to be culled. We almost got a slot on the Today problem about predation. Anyway there is positive news about pigeon racing for 2007. I was in touch with a television production company earlier this year who wanted to do something on our One Loft Race in conjunction with the South African one. I did suggest that I thought it would be better to do a whole season rather than just come in at the end for the final race. Well the production team went back to their backers who have now given them a contract to produce 4 films so they will be covering the Blackpool Show, the Olympiad in Ostend the following weekend, then off to South Africa for the million dollar race, and covering the RPRA and Europa one loft races. All in all some good anticipated coverage.

 

 

Peter Bryant

 

General Manager

 

[Guest]

Is he living in Magic powder Land 10/20 second penalty for ETS, that's a joke

[Williedoo]

I can not see how any race can be a true race if you do not get the time recorded by your clock ETS or not.

[Guest]

ETS is such an emotive issue you need to take the advantage / disadvantage & cost issues out of it. Level 'clocking' playing field for all. Achieved by fitting whole club, club not fancier's equipment, & grant to pay for it. Penalties etc, are yesterday's thinking.

[dandydoo]

Just goes to prove that you cant please all factions all of the time ...either make the decision introduce it or not as a timing device.

 

Stop hiding behind the DDA cos that has been there since 1995 ......if they were serious they would be undertaking a full disability audit with things like accessibility for premises, Braille Rings and rulebooks etc etc.

 

So stop trying to bring in ETS at the expense of disabled Fanciers do it or dont

[Roland]

Hyacinth may I suggest that you place some  sensible thought on that rather silly comment that you spouted. It is a realistically proven fact. No just by many pigeon fanciers but independant bodies that did a throurough examination. Just a few years back about 5 Brittian was was praised by it's stance over the ET and many things that came up have been altered by the America's and the continent. IT cost the RPRA a lot of money to commission it. and two weeks spred in the BHW and Racing Pigeon as well.

That is  NOT the problem though as I see it. For those that agree first of and say fine now with kick up dirt and moan and whinge a little down the line spout how hard done by they are, and it is fair and they are being penalised for having somehing that everyone else can have if they want. The mere fact that most can't due to costs and their cloth will quickly be pushed aside as they greedily go for broke. Yes they will agree to anything to get it in. All sorts of sweetener and low introductionary costs etc. Which again only the more able will be able to take advantage of.

No  Hyacinth I suggest you  think twice and then thrice more before you say silly things like that.

And the time is for birds not trap shy of course, which EVERY week the ET will gain a little more.

And finally remember it is the Hyped up bird that is usually in front, and due to that condition extra alert and thinking / noticing.

[Roland]

Rose can see where you at, you seem to me to be lost in the mist lol.

Doesn't take a genious to work out how long to walk the 10 feet or more with out scaring the bird(s) and then when there is two or three. I's say 17 seconds on every bird would be fair. but those that can afford will certainly not like that. For in factuality they believe - rightly or wrongly - that they are entitled to their cake and eat it, and elbow power to every advantage to themselves.

E T the bird swoops in, the fancier makes their sound whatever it may be It lands, mostly pauses and heads through the trap. Most drive through with the stick. And this is also used of course every feed time.

NO manual trapping is anything like as fast, not stall traps even, espeacially when you lose a lot of time on the second third birds. ET they walk through nigh together. and never get trap shy.

But it will be here sooner than later, not for the good of the sport etc. nor the many good attributes it has, which are many, no for those wishing to gain a little over the others that can't, and to allow all in the clocks etc.with a feeble, wel couldn't as it was... etc. Because no - wants a card, a place if they are told that certain ones have already knocked out some birds from the clock ...

[Guest]

Roland,

 

I'm not saying "Silly " things, I am speaking with the voice of experience having used ETS for 7 seasons now, about 4 seasons ago we had an intermittant fault on the Benzing Atis Top we were using at the time and just to make sure we could time in we rubberd the birds and borrowed a T3 clock, I timed 4 birds in the T3 and they also registered on the ETS, time difference between the T3 and the ETS - 5 seconds, so if a 20 second penalty is being bandied about I still say the RPRA need to do a bit more, boots on the ground, comparisons before introducing any sort of time penalty.  The only difference with the T3's in the States, we don't use thimbles, the first bird has to go in the first chamber but any subsequent rubbers can be placed in the next chamber, so in other words the first rubber was in the first chamber and the next three in the next chamber

[Williedoo]

Even on the forum ETS causes arguements about the timing,thats why I think it should be taken as it is or not at all.

[Guest]

To back-up Hyacinth's experience of time difference ets / conventional clocks, a club mate timed a pigeon in the inland national, using clock / rubber. The bird was still carrying its ets ring and was recorded coming over the pad. The difference was 8 seconds.

 

And fully support Roland in the ets advantage of timing in the second and following pigeons, especially if they have flown and trapped as a team ... the time difference between the pigeons can be seconds with 11 pigeons in the clock in something like 15 seconds - can't do that with a conventional clock.

 

Another advantage is ets is always a correct clock, conventional isn't, so you can lose a second or two if someone is a bit quick or a bit slow 'dunting' the conventional clock.

[Guest]

Thats something I cant understand either dandydoo wouldnt it mean all clubs and facilities would have to be able to cater for anyone that was disabled or are they telling us the only thing that is covered by the DDA is clocks and how any person could time in their birds

 

Kinda agree with Dandydoo too on the disability thing. It has always been there, but maybe some folks were slow to wake up to others needs. Quite correct about facilities ... shops, sports, business etc premises are supposed to be fully accessible to wheelchair users, with either ramps or lifts fitted / provided. The most striking example is probably buses, taxis and trains have ramps, while most shops and business premises don't. Our club has two flights of steps. Steps are a problem for 'able' folks too, especially when carrying baskets loaded with pigeons.

[Roland]

Hyacyncths great, and John Pepper use to clock thenm to he's hand in the lofts open door. and he couldn't have done that, so I grant you you are Billy Whizz of the clockinhg, to release an bird and pik another up even in your dreams would take longer.

Now most have tp stand back and call etc. then approach the loft etc. . Sorry don't know why I bother with peoples imaginations put forward as a fact.

  It takes me 3 seconds to get to the trap, let alone take out a pigeon and then  take a rubber off, then release the bird, then put rubber in the thimble before placing the thimble in the clock, before I turn it.

And I you can do another 3 as well - if not scared of the trap when the first went in, let alone the other two.... Yes ET is great, but I think that one mustn't get carried away with their pro imaginations and stick to reality.

Bully for those that have two on one shoulder, and one on the other waiting to be clocking in .... even then Jesus would have to intervene  to do four in 4 seconds.... Mind boggles.

Yes obviously ET has advantages for both those able to use them and those that have them.... Have seen two thimbles in the clock ... instead of one being a few seconds ahead, you have lost time ... 2/3rd fine.

Remember Bary having two together and asking if I'd had put them both in  one thimble.... I said no, needn't prove they arrive, or better stil prove they clocked together.

That's right Roly, Pete was a part second behing the first clocked bird and well in front of my second.... a few seconds different obviously to time them both in.... Like he said, if I 'd have put both in I'd been second and third, not 1st and 3rd.

Factss

[johnny11]

When you read things like that just makes be believe even more in that we need someone running the show who has some knowledge of pigeons and racing  :-/

 

 

Rose

 

I feel this is abit unfair. i personally feel that he does a good job, some will agree with me and some wont. I think him not having anything to do with racing himself is only a good thing because he will not have any agenda of his own.

 

He should not need an excuse to bring it in just do it. we are so far behind the times as usual so lets go with the times. No wonder pigeon racing will be doomed in 10 years as it will not move forward and it leaves us in ****

 

just my opinion

 

John

 

[Henrik]

So Mr Bryant reckons the RPRA cannot sustain another season like last year. Read somewhere about a loss of some £33,000. I just wonder if the Scottish members will be calling foul and asking for an Audit commitee to be set up as they did when they tried to discredit the SHU who once again show a surplus on the year.

[dandydoo]

What was the loss attributed to ....Bird Flu or what ??????

 

 

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :P :P :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

[dandydoo]

or Christmas parties or hospitality or accomodation ...RPRA are OK aren't they ...they have a substantial monthly income from the BHW

[Roland]

I agree with you John.... But lets bring in because it is a blumming good thing to bring in, and one that every one can benefit from.

I have seen them in use in this country (England) and both america's etc. besides the continent, as you well know. And yes with 'Terms' available, a little forethought to help it be able for any and everyone then it will take off. And so it should. Whether they would still be able to be used on the allottments etc. you would obviously know better than me.

And yes ET doesn't make the birds fly faster, but isn't cool that they can just swoop in without even seeing you, let alone havng to be handled.

Let's hope what it is precieved to be, and the codswallop that it is a legistattrating thing be kicked into touch as they should be. Lets have the honesty that one wants one for a few reasons other than gaining a few seconds each bird. After all one can use them now for training etc. etc. and nothing said as it is all fine and above board.

So I say that for the next 20 years a rule applied that can be broke, that Et are penalised 17 seconds per bird.... after 20 years everyone will have one any way. And let's not have the sweeteners put forward till certain bodies have  it passed then go back for the skin!

Yes we have all had birs crashing nigh to get in ... but not often, and certainly not after been trap shy. Most have to be enticed or coax, called in. and that takes time. Also remember that widowerhood normttrap faster, and more nad more are flying the natural, which don't tend to trap as fast.

Thanks John for the advice... I had only given just under half the dosage.... fingers crossed

[Guest TAMMY_1]

So Mr Bryant reckons the RPRA cannot sustain another season like last year. Read somewhere about a loss of some £33,000. I just wonder if the Scottish members will be calling foul and asking for an Audit commitee to be set up as they did when they tried to discredit the SHU who once again show a surplus on the year.

 

YOURE RIGHT HENRIK WE CANNAE BE IN THAT BIG A MESS WHEN YET AGAIN THE SHU HAS MADE A PROFIT, JUST SHOWS ALL THE GLOOM AND DOOM MERCHANTS WHO A FEW YEARS BACK WERE TELLING ALL THAT WOULD LISTEN THAT THE SHU WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE AND ALL THE MONEY WAS MISSING. THINK THEY WERE WRONG

[Guest TAMMY_1]

 

 

 

              YOU TELL THEM ROLAND

[Guest]

If Roland wasn't a naysayer to evrything I posted I would tell him how I did it lol

[Guest TAMMY_1]

If Roland wasn't a naysayer to evrything I posted I would tell him how I did it lol

 

DID WHAT ?

[Guest]

or Christmas parties or hospitality or accomodation ...RPRA are OK aren't they ...they have a substantial monthly income from the BHW

 

Quite apart from the income, BHW gives them very good publicity, as basically they have an in-house Press Office which will print anything RPRA sends to it. On the other hand, BHW doesn't always print stuff other people send in.

 

Think people should remember that, when they talk about other Unions, and communication.

[Guest]

Put 4 birds in a T3 and only had a 5 second lag with the reading on the electronic Clock

[Guest]

We have heard the view from the Readings on Electronic timing, what is the stance of the NWHU AND The NEUH

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Put 4 birds in a T3 and only had a 5 second lag with the reading on the electronic Clock

 

MUST HAVE BEEN AWFY WEE BIRDS OR AN AWFY BIG CLOCK