West Route

[Fair Play]

How is the racing down the West route any better than the East heard returns were pretty poor so thought I would ask from the men who are racing it.

[Novice]

Mine are ok. I have lost fewer birds racing down the west than I did down the east last year.

I have lost more training than I have racing.

[johnc]

started with 26 now after 7 races im left with 15 racing down the east with Glasgow

[geordie1234]

Started with 11 hens 19 cocks

 

Now have 6 hens 9 cocks

[Dmurray]

After 6 races I have lost 12 birds flying down the east with south lanarkshire.

[hotrod]

Think both are bad with plenty BOPs , but think if it's bad down the west it's very bad , I've heard some horror story,s .

[Fair Play]

Stuart - That is why I asked the question from the lads that are flying it instead of listening to stories,stories tend to grow arms and legs

[Novice]

I had a visit last night from a young fancier who witnessed his youngsters being herded into a ball last year by 2 adult Peregrines. They kept the pigeons in this formation to allow the young peregrines to dive into them several times. Obviously this is their training routine. This happened in South Ayrshire and my birds must find their way through this irrespective of where they are liberated.

 

The bonus is that when they are close at hand we can start work to alleviate the problem.

[Kyleakin Lofts]

4 Races North with Ayrshire North Road Fed and I have 6 left from 9 at the start. 33% losses. Raced out to 130 Miles.

5 Races South with Glasgow Fed on the East and I have 10 left from 23 at the start. 57% losses. Raced out to 180 Miles.

 

Don't know if any of this is relevant, but it does show there are losses of similar magnitude no matter the direction you race.

 

5th North Race this weekend will be from 170 Miles and will give a fairer comparison by then. I appreciate the North losses are half the South losses, but the distance is different at the moment.

[philg50]

4 Races North with Ayrshire North Road Fed and I have 6 left from 9 at the start. 33% losses. Raced out to 130 Miles.

5 Races South with Glasgow Fed on the East and I have 10 left from 23 at the start. 57% losses. Raced out to 180 Miles.

 

Don't know if any of this is relevant, but it does show there are losses of similar magnitude no matter the direction you race.

 

5th North Race this weekend will be from 170 Miles and will give a fairer comparison by then. I appreciate the North losses are half the South losses, but the distance is different at the moment.

We fly on the east side ,and i think Ayr NR fed are at Newpitsligo am i right this weekend ,we suffer losses up this way to flying into the north ,if you dont have losses count yourself very lucky i would say ,on any side .

[b.massey]

I honestly don't think much difference although I feel east into our area as more Feds coming this route! Would love too see more Feds work together and libb as one! I am certain it's north west or central birds cross right over my head on Saturdays! So I'd happily lib from any distance with pentland, northwest, central or almond valley! East or west for losses seems same tbh

[walterboswell59]

Stuart - That is why I asked the question from the lads that are flying it instead of listening to stories,stories tend to grow arms and legs

same reason i asked fair play i now dont think one is better or worse than the other but what i would say is when we get a bad one on the west side birds still home days later if there healthy when we get a bad race from the east side we dont hear from them again there gone for good so maybe there is more escape routes down the west for us but we have the added problem that if the wind is south east we lose birds then on the east side we were clashing with so many feds racing that side so imo ones as bad as the other but no matter which side of the country we race at this distance if your birds are not fit and healthy your in trouble and just now the sickness is rife every where and if the young birds have it its attacking the old birds to no dout about it

[yeboah]

Pigeon racing as we all know nowadays is very difficult

As I see it there are many factors

In the glory years of the seventies I purchased 30 rings

They were well schooled out to Shap 60mls before the first race which was the same racepoint

Could race them to Cheltenham 240 mls and be left with 20 or 20 plus

As yearlings down to the coast

2yo olds France if it scored well big chance it would better itself the following year

Fast forward 2014

Breed 100 or plus which is shear madness at the most they may get trained to Gretna or carlisle at a push but not to the extent of the seventies

If I bred 30 now trained them hard to Shap would not have any come racing

All I am doing is playing the laws of average to continue in the sport I love

Got to agree very difficult trying to get them properly match fit now with crazy injuries from silly distances

Many birds I get in are not near in good enough condition to race but still they go

The fancier may not be totally at fault he may live where it is impossible to loft train them making race day the only option

The stress birds are under today must go along way in promoting ill health and disease

Was hoping one day when I retire to carry on enjoying the doos but the big question can we sustain these losses

It ain't cheap,I have raced ets and think there is no better way

But no way going to put them on for first races just throwing money away

Clashing and bad weather also plays its hand but surely Feds coming in the same direction should be going up together after 200mls if they can't sort themselves out what chance have they breaking at national level

Good luck to all that stick at it by Christ we need it

[andy Burgess]

Pigeon racing as we all know nowadays is very difficult

As I see it there are many factors

In the glory years of the seventies I purchased 30 rings

They were well schooled out to Shap 60mls before the first race which was the same racepoint

Could race them to Cheltenham 240 mls and be left with 20 or 20 plus

As yearlings down to the coast

2yo olds France if it scored well big chance it would better itself the following year

Fast forward 2014

Breed 100 or plus which is shear madness at the most they may get trained to Gretna or carlisle at a push but not to the extent of the seventies

If I bred 30 now trained them hard to Shap would not have any come racing

All I am doing is playing the laws of average to continue in the sport I love

Got to agree very difficult trying to get them properly match fit now with crazy injuries from silly distances

Many birds I get in are not near in good enough condition to race but still they go

The fancier may not be totally at fault he may live where it is impossible to loft train them making race day the only option

The stress birds are under today must go along way in promoting ill health and disease

Was hoping one day when I retire to carry on enjoying the doos but the big question can we sustain these losses

It ain't cheap,I have raced ets and think there is no better way

But no way going to put them on for first races just throwing money away

Clashing and bad weather also plays its hand but surely Feds coming in the same direction should be going up together after 200mls if they can't sort themselves out what chance have they breaking at national level

Good luck to all that stick at it by Christ we need it

great post Mick , especially the details about the changes over time.

[hotrod]

I've spoken to guys racing east route two of these guys race good teams of pigeons each week , one has only lost 3 pigeons since the start of racing , the other I think has lost only 2 , I will name them wullie Johnstone from Carluke , and John Callan from lesmahagow , this is fact . , and listening to some of the Lanarkshire guys there all losing birds each week , one guy. Lost 66 in one week that's racing down the west , others 16 ,s and 17 ,s in one race . No story's with arms and legs. Just facts . Ok yes some racing down the east are losing birds each week , but don't think as many as the west races .

[Kennybhoy]

I've spoken to guys racing east route two of these guys race good teams of pigeons each week , one has only lost 3 pigeons since the start of racing , the other I think has lost only 2 , I will name them wullie Johnstone from Carluke , and John Callan from lesmahagow , this is fact . , and listening to some of the Lanarkshire guys there all losing birds each week , one guy. Lost 66 in one week that's racing down the west , others 16 ,s and 17 ,s in one race . No story's with arms and legs. Just facts . Ok yes some racing down the east are losing birds each week , but don't think as many as the west races .

Aye might be rite but how long before we start taking the same hit down the east as west unless we can deal with Percy were all feckked..jmo,m8

[Guest bigda]

hope these sick birds, make the culprits sick if they are taking 1,500 doos on a Saturday why no gee them 1,500 on a sunday. twice a year

[Fair Play]

The East side is like the M1 birds are flying in all directions at least on the West there will be no "clashing" with Feds going South as there are many heading that way.There are also the Scottish Feds going North up the East side.I think percy is a problem but not as big as we think, there are so many others which have all been aired on different forums.I think b.Massey hit it on the head Feds have the get together large liberations are part of the way forward strength in numbers.We all try to enter the "Nationals" I am sure they do not liberate say Glasgow Fed first then Kingdom no they are all up as one and I for one say the 15min between libs does no one any favours especially as controllers do not speak to each other some may but as you found a few weeks ago Stuart some don't.Thanks for all the replys keep them coming, Maybe we could be try to fool Percy by carving a swathe down the centre

or has that been tried.

[walterboswell59]

hope these sick birds, make the culprits sick if they are taking 1,500 doos on a Saturday why no gee them 1,500 on a sunday. twice a year

now yer talkin

[Guest stb-]

Now guys if the clashing down the east is the problem why not mark on thursday race on a friday or mark sat race sunday , then not libbing on days with north roaders etc and got sky to your selfs the clashing if it does happen is usually about the 5 or 6th race once down the road a bit should not be same prob im sure lanarkshire on the east and not libbing same days as north roaders would make for better racing although percy needs attending to all over .

[HOMER49]

I've spoken to guys racing east route two of these guys race good teams of pigeons each week , one has only lost 3 pigeons since the start of racing , the other I think has lost only 2 , I will name them wullie Johnstone from Carluke , and John Callan from lesmahagow , this is fact . , and listening to some of the Lanarkshire guys there all losing birds each week , one guy. Lost 66 in one week that's racing down the west , others 16 ,s and 17 ,s in one race . No story's with arms and legs. Just facts . Ok yes some racing down the east are losing birds each week , but don't think as many as the west races .

 

Hi Stuart

You scored a goal in one

Cheers

Homer 49

[frankdooman]

Wee will all rant and rave for a few weeks then it will all be forgotten and wee will have the same old argument at agm time and round in circles wee go and miss the main event cause I actually think the problem isn't east/ west it's north/ south there is a area from Penrith to Lancaster and otter burn to ripping on the east side that causes the damage once past tease areas it seems to settle down now they areas might not match up exactly but they are not far away jumping past them is not a big problem with old birds but y/ birds are different so let's think about that

[hotrod]

Now guys if the clashing down the east is the problem why not mark on thursday race on a friday or mark sat race sunday , then not libbing on days with north roaders etc and got sky to your selfs the clashing if it does happen is usually about the 5 or 6th race once down the road a bit should not be same prob im sure lanarkshire on the east and not libbing same days as north roaders would make for better racing although percy needs attending to all over .

We've let go when no English mobs could lib ,we were only birds in sky ??????? Mmmmmmmm guess what rab scudded bad race ,

[hotrod]

Hi Stuart

You scored a goal in one

Cheers

Homer 49

 

Alex I heard that some Lanarkshire guys entered birds with s, Lanark last Saturday as trainers , and was informed they had great returns with only an odd bird AWOL.

 

And for fair play , east/ west is. East side of the Pennines or west of them , west is just about down the middle , and oh the Renfrew fed tried down the west and I mean west right on the west coast that was in the 80 ,s yes got it in one bad races even back then so this is no new thing .only thing is now the same ones are losing year in year out , and the same guys are not , mirror mirror on the wall ?????????

[gulkie]

Now guys if the clashing down the east is the problem why not mark on thursday race on a friday or mark sat race sunday , then not libbing on days with north roaders etc and got sky to your selfs the clashing if it does happen is usually about the 5 or 6th race once down the road a bit should not be same prob im sure lanarkshire on the east and not libbing same days as north roaders would make for better racing although percy needs attending to all over .

I agree with what you are saying but try to get the fed s to agree to it . this crap about one fed not talking to another and the same at nat level were not flying with them .in the name of the sport/hobby they need to stop acting like children and grow up .it is safety in numbers.if we do not join together our fate is sealed.