Walter swanston Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I have just read an article on this week's Racing Pigeon where the author addresses the serious problem of falling membership in pigeon organisations and lays the blame partially on young bird losses.I is proposed that young bird races should be replaced by yearling races where the pigeons might be deemed to have more sense with maturity,how about no rings until 1st April?Obviously a lot to think about..Probably a step too far for most, what do site members think?I certainly know of well known and successful fanciers who do not race young birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 It would get my vote. Could start old bird racing a month later too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLDYELLOW Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I wouldn't ban yb racing however feel that we would all benefit of starting racing later by one month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemetary Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Loss owe money for the Feds for a start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiley Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I enjoy young bird racing, and think it's essential. Personally I don't think young bird losses is for the fall of membership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paullock Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Falling membership numbers is because young people are not interested in an old fashioned sport which isn’t moving forward because no one wants too apart from a few that get bullied into silence, couple that with arguing in the clubs between long term members who keep new and old members away, who in turn are at the age group where you’re sure to be visiting the local crem at least four time a year per club. I give it Ten years and Home loft racing is History. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLDYELLOW Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Falling membership has nothing to do with young bird losses everyone can choose whether or not to race or not Perhaps falling membership is because it's a sport mainly of retired old men , kids have computers no need to make a big commitment to them , then the other type of birds come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiley Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 You are right it's an aging sport that's why membership is dying has nothing to do with young birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyson Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 the fall in membership imo is due to the age of fanciers in the sport no young ones coming in also getting to expensive to keep feeding going up cost of fuel for training etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paullock Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Spot on Old yellow, you never know though it could at anytime change and interest comes back, I think it will at some point like it did in the early 1900s Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter swanston Posted December 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 All of these posts are in general correct,and Ihave to confess to being one of the retired old men referred to. However there must be something that can be done to help the sport and I for one am willing to listen to any new ideas no matter how revolutionary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Burgess Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I have just read an article on this week's Racing Pigeon where the author addresses the serious problem of falling membership in pigeon organisations and lays the blame partially on young bird losses.I is proposed that young bird races should be replaced by yearling races where the pigeons might be deemed to have more sense with maturity,how about no rings until 1st April?Obviously a lot to think about..Probably a step too far for most, what do site members think?I certainly know of well known and successful fanciers who do not race young birds.I understand your view Walter , yet honestly feel if a compulsory lapse in rearing and racing youngsters ,the majority would be un-happy with it . the season is short in comparison to the amount of effort and time we look after them anyway . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastdrop Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 A few years ago there was a book being read in primary schools called Geordie Racer. A young boy and his racing pigeons! The local school asked me to give a talk on racing pigeons. I took birds along and the kids were fascinated as well as the staff. A small tv series of programmes will work wonders but first, ALL clubs feds and regions must get together and work as one. A big ask but the alternative has already been stated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemetary Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I think the fall in membership is due to the cost of keeping racing pigeons, corn, fees, etc. A think its nonsense to scrap or even think of this, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paullock Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Another issue I find is in a club you will always have a hard core of really good fanciers who wipe the board with the rest of the members who pick up the scraps each year, me being one of them it is very difficult to keep interested and not being able to compete is frustrating, at the end of the day new members are up against it from the start and from my experience we do not get the knowledge transfer or help needed to take it seriously unless of course you have a best friend or family member to show the ropes, there are too many members telling you lots but with no substance at all. I also witness a lot of nasty competitiveness and not healthy FRIENDLY competitiveness. An idea could be to have leagues to grade flyers, I dont know really but ideas are needed defo. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just ask me Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 because we are 50 years behind the times as regards trying to advertise the sport also meetings in peoples kitchens before the club meetings to try pi ss off the best flyers in there club to push them out or find a way to get rid of them its gone beyond a joke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyleakin Lofts Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 A few years ago there was a book being read in primary schools called Geordie Racer. A young boy and his racing pigeons! The local school asked me to give a talk on racing pigeons. I took birds along and the kids were fascinated as well as the staff. A small tv series of programmes will work wonders but first, ALL clubs feds and regions must get together and work as one. A big ask but the alternative has already been stated Good post!!!Where are our leaders on this?This is one direction the Unions should be pursuing, but even they fall out like little kids and are unable to unite for the good of the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cemetary Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 because we are 50 years behind the times as regards trying to advertise the sport also meetings in peoples kitchens before the club meetings to try pi ss off the best flyers in there club to push them out or find a way to get rid of them its gone beyond a joke YOU DRUNK, :emoticon-0167-beer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just ask me Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 YOU DRUNK, :emoticon-0167-beer: on first bottle wait till later lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paullock Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 because we are 50 years behind the times as regards trying to advertise the sport also meetings in peoples kitchens before the club meetings to try pi ss off the best flyers in there club to push them out or find a way to get rid of them its gone beyond a joke I’ve attended some of the Fed meetings and the way the committee get spoken to is a disgrace, Volunteers getting abused for the love of it is criminal. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastdrop Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Go on the web site for the Tenerife one loft race that Wuldone etc race in. See how that race is marketed with their presentation including music and background statements. Compare your experience on a weekly basis during the season and see how far behind wee all are. WE have the greatest hobby sport in OUR possesion and we are flushing it down the toilet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just ask me Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I’ve attended some of the Fed meetings and the way the committee get spoken to is a disgrace, Volunteers getting abused for the love of it is criminal. Paul i agree there are a lot of good dedicated people out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeboah Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 A few years ago there was a book being read in primary schools called Geordie Racer. A young boy and his racing pigeons! The local school asked me to give a talk on racing pigeons. I took birds along and the kids were fascinated as well as the staff. A small tv series of programmes will work wonders but first, ALL clubs feds and regions must get together and work as one. A big ask but the alternative has already been statedAgree with your post,I have in the past also gave talk's to schools which was received very well but sadly that's as far as it gets ,have lived at my present address for coming on 14 years now and not one youngster has even asked about the birds ,Agree also all unions Feds need to pull as one ,As for YB racing I feel we push them to far now in the present climate if we had a limited mileage programme we could cut down on numbers reared Omho . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter swanston Posted December 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Well I will take advice on this from anyone but the sport of pigeon racing has enlivened and energised my old age and I will go anywhere and work as hard as I can to help the fancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philg50 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I have just come back to this game and yes ,63 disabled with bad health but i took the birds back to keep me sane and what i have found as regards premotion of our hobby has not improved in the 10 years that i have been away your ordinary lad on the street knows nothing as regards what goes on in fact a lot of them think they fly to the race point ,they dont know the orginisation that is going on week in week out,so what i say is lobby papers ,magazines get the media on our side, oh and let new members in for nothing pay their fees,and dont throw them out if they start winning.And by the way i will be racing 2year old and yearlings trained but never raced so i will report back on doing away with young bird racing but i have a feeling that it will be :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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