Preperation For Distance Racing

[Delboy]

1st 3rd 6th 17th 28th region E at the SNFC Gold Cup over the past seven years its no as good a record as Jim Hannahs but i am happy way it but trying to keep it going is the hard part as you know. There is nowt fancy way my methods after the last preparation race I gee them aboot a week to do what they want then its work way the flag for about an hour each night then about 5 x 50minute tosses up to the sat before basketing and I try and get them sitting aboot 12 days as I think it is the safest condition that's aboot it Derek. Oh by the way I would like to gee them longer tosses but as you know the peregrine problem is usually at its height at that time of year so its dodgy as futt for us in this area to go further.

 

Happy days Very similar to my own preps Jim

[lanarkshire lad]

What happened tae the cotton wool?

keep it in mind for this year lol.

[dal2]

keep it in mind for this year lol.

Seriously though I would have one toss in the three weeks between first inland nat and the gold cup. Inland nat 280

[lanarkshire lad]

Seriously though I would have one toss in the three weeks between first inland nat and the gold cup. Inland nat 280

Ive heard of all that kinda thing but I would feel more confident if I gave them a bit of work around the loft JMO

[dal2]

Ive heard of all that kinda thing but I would feel more confident if I gave them a bit of work around the loft JMO

Its true. many roads and all that.

 

Have scored doing both training and sitting

[peter pandy]

Long distance racing is a totally different ball game to short and middle distance racing and something you will find it virtually impossble to pick your candidate at this time of the year. Joe Murphy's Challenge competition proved that SNFC Section winners could not set individual birds up 6 months in advance of the Gold Cup as so very few made it home. There are more dissapointments when birds have to negotiate 550-650 miles than you could possibly imagine so you will have dozens of theories on which system of setting them up will be the most beneficial to you. The old saying "One mans meat is anothers poison" is not far from the truth. Depending on the family you have you may find you cannot race Y/B because they are slow developers, 150 miles as yearlings, 300 miles as 2 Y/O and anywhere at 3 Y/O is what many top distance fanciers have practiced.

There are even more pitfalls when it comes to how far to send them before they go to a distance race. In other posts some give them X races then training tosses only, others will give them nothing and others will give them every race in the club programne. Dal2 says "Many roads etc" and he is correct. To summarise I would say do your own thing and learn from your mistakes. The only advice I can give is set nothing up and only send those that are 100% rirht on marking day.

[Michael J Burden]

Hi Lads,

 

weve been flying a few yrs now and this yr we really want to have a good go at the distance.. ive seen on a few dvds that they only select a few races before the big one is this what most of you on here do? also how do u prepare a bird for the distance ie: how many races do you like them to have as a yb then yearling and when u pick a long race how many races would you like them to have and what length of time on the wing ect... really interested in all your opinions as im only just starting to fly the distance this yr so any help would be great

 

Cheers lads

 

H & M

Hi hope you try and do well. Over the years I have tried different methods be it no racing as Ybs to sending them to all the YB races right through tot he YB national at nearly 300 miles. I have sent them to their first ever race 300 miles as YBs and got them too.

 

I never start them too early as old birds picking a week end the beginning of May. Then they can go every week or just two races inland then channel. I have sent them two 400 miles races them 660 miles all as yearlings.

 

The only thing I can say is do not over train them before the race itself or flag them too much on the build up to the race you are calling a distance event. Do not under feed them either. I think it is SIMPLES really. not really.

 

The best advise is to get the right birds them send them. MJB

[walterboswell59]

Wrap them in cotton wool til basket night

more or less steven get them happy doing what they like best an open bowl the week before the national and a nice dark nest box for the last 3or4 days with plenty fats and oil seeds with a few peanuts then its up to them

ps and a lot of luck

Edited January 24, 2015 by walterboswell59

[Mossgiel]

1st 3rd 6th 17th 28th region E at the SNFC Gold Cup over the past seven years its no as good a record as Jim Hannahs but i am happy way it but trying to keep it going is the hard part as you know. There is nowt fancy way my methods after the last preparation race I gee them aboot a week to do what they want then its work way the flag for about an hour each night then about 5 x 50minute tosses up to the sat before basketing and I try and get them sitting aboot 12 days as I think it is the safest condition that's aboot it Derek. Oh by the way I would like to gee them longer tosses but as you know the peregrine problem is usually at its height at that time of year so its dodgy as futt for us in this area to go further.

 

Well done, consistency over seven years

[H & M Lofts]

Thanks for all of the replies will take all the info in to consideration.

Like you say many roads.

Let's just hope we pick a right one...

All the best for 2015