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Stuart Potter of Coalville Leicestershire

 

NFC Certificate of Merit Award winner 2017

 

by

 

John Clements

 

 

 

I am finally writing my last article on the NFC Certificate of Merit pigeons of 2017. Those who have been following this series of five champions will know the NFC Certificate of Merit is awarded to those individual pigeons that have flown Tarbes (the NFC longest race) three times at least within the first 200 positions in the open result.

 

 

 

This is no mean feat - in fact it is exceptional, for since the inception of the award in 1979 there has been less than 40 pigeons who have qualified (an average of One a Year) and are listed every year in the NFC Handbook. .

 

 

 

 

 

A Tony Cowan Idea

 

This award was first proposed by that well known auctioneer, Tony Cowan of Hampshire. Tony’s inspiration has since proved to be 'far seeing' for it has found the few exceptional pigeons that have proved themselves consistent at this distance. The view at the time the award was founded was that there would be many if not hundreds of individual pigeons who would qualify over time. Tony disagreed with this assessment. Events have proved Tony right and his critics wrong. As I have already said there have been less than 40 in 38 years.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Hard Power’ versus ‘Soft Power’

 

The usual materialistic 'hard power' approach with pigeons based on fitness acquired through work - geographical position or - how much the original stock costs, does not cover this type of pigeon. There hasn’t been a winner through the ages that has’t benefited more from a ‘Soft Power' approach aiming for mental happiness in the pigeon, contentment in the loft and friendship between fanciers.

 

 

 

Soft Power in our sport is at last becoming recognised as being more of a vital factor in marathon pigeon racing than anything else. Materialistic measurable stuff (Hard Power) of feeding and training. . do not work when it comes to cultivating a three times Tarbes pigeon. This finding is usually not spoken about because soft power is difficult to express, difficult to measure and difficult to put into words.

 

 

 

Imagain’

 

Stuart Potter’s pigeon has an unusual name. It's called 'Imagain' a name derived from Stuarts wife's remark when she sees the pigeon arrive. Stuart, for one reason or another, has never actually seen 'Imagain' arrive only his wife has seen it who then calls out ‘’it’s him again “ as the pigeon hits the loft. She must have shouted it many times over the years or at least every year for the last three years.

 

 

 

‘Imagain’ Tarbes Performances

 

Three times Tarbes 661 miles

 

10th Section 142nd Open 2015

 

3rd Section 53rd Open 2016

 

8th Section 128th Open 2017

 

 

 

‘Imagain’ - Him Again - the Potter `NFC Certificate of Merit award winner of 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Problems

 

Many things about ‘Imagain’ are typical marathon racing with ‘imagain’. For a start he is raced on the natural system. He is paired as late as April so that the moult is not too advanced when Tarbes comes around. He rears one youngster and then is sent sitting on eggs from the second round. This appears to be a laid back approach but ‘laid back’ with much planning behind it from the initial ‘pairing up’ to the big race marketing date. Everything has to go perfectly but some years this is not so. ‘Imagain’ occasionally had to be sent straight to Tarbes from an inland race point. This is not perfect - ideally there should be a prep channel race prior to Tarbes - this is the aim but problems arise but really good pigeons as I have found out writing about them, tend to overcome problems of strategy. . . . .

 

 

 

For a start Stuart has a Hawk problem - Sparrow Hawks have been known to fly into the loft and then do a rapid turn about and fly out again. Stuart has to physically stand over his pigeons when they take a bath. He also has had the odd Peregrine fly with his flock as they exercise. The Peregrine in level flight cannot hope to catch the birds and the pigeons know this. All this appears to be a risky way of managing pigeons but it has in fact turn out to be beneficial for the birds get street wise to raptors - so streetwise pigeons can look after themselves during long marathon races when all sorts of hazards are bound to crop up especially when a pigeon attempts Tarbes. In 2017 Stuart sent six pigeons to Tarbes and got four back. This is a pretty good average in this the most difficult of all NFC races.

 

 

 

Pedigree

 

When it comes to pedigree or the source of blood there is a mixture but mostly from local sources. These are mainly gift pigeons; - these were from the Glover brothers from Ravenstone, J & H Williamson at Coleorton and Ron Mitcheson, These are all top distance fanciers. In the past few years Stuart’s good friend Jack Howe before his retirement bred Stuart a few late breds These were mainly Glover's crossed with Cedric Barker's, who is a very knowledgeable long distance flier from Loughborough. Again an example of soft power expressing itself through friendship by fanciers trying to achieve the same thing and not by money trying to buy success. . This method seems to disprove the theory that wads of money or huge investment is the only way to success. When it comes to Marathon racing this is not so and has been prove time and time again. . This is especially true when top individual pigeons are required to repeat their performance more than once in subsequent years. These are different pigeons - different than one good year but nothing the next season. These are pigeons that have reliability bred into them.

 

 

 

Looks and Build

 

I have attached a photograph of ‘Imagine’ which confirms my favourable view of the pigeon, it’s build and it’s posture. This is the sort of pigeon I myself would love to have in my team. A pigeon with a good head - wings wrapped around the body and a pigeon not showing pronounced wing buts more common in sprint explosive pigeons. Still staying power is there with a huge chest cavity able to process a lot of oxygen for many hours.

 

 

 

Undiscovered Gems

 

I have enjoyed writing about Certificate of Merit pigeons. I hope I have been able to express the fact that these pigeons are different. They are individual pigeons that have been allowed to express their tenacity, by virtue of their inborn natural instincts for self preservation. . For the most part this instinct responds better by being left alone rather than being interfered with. These pigeons don’t want interference they want contentment through a ‘hands off’ management style. If the fancier can restrain himself the rewards are enormous. If he can’t restrain himself he will inevitably ruin a pigeon that in other hands would turn out to be a champion. ‘Soft Power’ more than ‘Hard Power’ is the underlying message for this type of pigeon. These pigeons are one of the last undiscovered gems in a modern pigeon world that thinks mostly in terms of speed being always better than reliability.

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Stuart Potter of Coalville Leicestershire

 

NFC Certificate of Merit Award winner 2017

 

by

 

John Clements

 

 

 

I am finally writing my last article on the NFC Certificate of Merit pigeons of 2017. Those who have been following this series of five champions will know the NFC Certificate of Merit is awarded to those individual pigeons that have flown Tarbes (the NFC longest race) three times at least within the first 200 positions in the open result.

 

 

 

This is no mean feat - in fact it is exceptional, for since the inception of the award in 1979 there has been less than 40 pigeons who have qualified (an average of One a Year) and are listed every year in the NFC Handbook. .

 

 

 

 

 

A Tony Cowan Idea

 

This award was first proposed by that well known auctioneer, Tony Cowan of Hampshire. Tony’s inspiration has since proved to be 'far seeing' for it has found the few exceptional pigeons that have proved themselves consistent at this distance. The view at the time the award was founded was that there would be many if not hundreds of individual pigeons who would qualify over time. Tony disagreed with this assessment. Events have proved Tony right and his critics wrong. As I have already said there have been less than 40 in 38 years.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Hard Power’ versus ‘Soft Power’

 

The usual materialistic 'hard power' approach with pigeons based on fitness acquired through work - geographical position or - how much the original stock costs, does not cover this type of pigeon. There hasn’t been a winner through the ages that has’t benefited more from a ‘Soft Power' approach aiming for mental happiness in the pigeon, contentment in the loft and friendship between fanciers.

 

 

 

Soft Power in our sport is at last becoming recognised as being more of a vital factor in marathon pigeon racing than anything else. Materialistic measurable stuff (Hard Power) of feeding and training. . do not work when it comes to cultivating a three times Tarbes pigeon. This finding is usually not spoken about because soft power is difficult to express, difficult to measure and difficult to put into words.

 

 

 

Imagain’

 

Stuart Potter’s pigeon has an unusual name. It's called 'Imagain' a name derived from Stuarts wife's remark when she sees the pigeon arrive. Stuart, for one reason or another, has never actually seen 'Imagain' arrive only his wife has seen it who then calls out ‘’it’s him again “ as the pigeon hits the loft. She must have shouted it many times over the years or at least every year for the last three years.

 

 

 

‘Imagain’ Tarbes Performances

 

Three times Tarbes 661 miles

 

10th Section 142nd Open 2015

 

3rd Section 53rd Open 2016

 

8th Section 128th Open 2017

 

 

 

‘Imagain’ - Him Again - the Potter `NFC Certificate of Merit award winner of 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Problems

 

Many things about ‘Imagain’ are typical marathon racing with ‘imagain’. For a start he is raced on the natural system. He is paired as late as April so that the moult is not too advanced when Tarbes comes around. He rears one youngster and then is sent sitting on eggs from the second round. This appears to be a laid back approach but ‘laid back’ with much planning behind it from the initial ‘pairing up’ to the big race marketing date. Everything has to go perfectly but some years this is not so. ‘Imagain’ occasionally had to be sent straight to Tarbes from an inland race point. This is not perfect - ideally there should be a prep channel race prior to Tarbes - this is the aim but problems arise but really good pigeons as I have found out writing about them, tend to overcome problems of strategy. . . . .

 

 

 

For a start Stuart has a Hawk problem - Sparrow Hawks have been known to fly into the loft and then do a rapid turn about and fly out again. Stuart has to physically stand over his pigeons when they take a bath. He also has had the odd Peregrine fly with his flock as they exercise. The Peregrine in level flight cannot hope to catch the birds and the pigeons know this. All this appears to be a risky way of managing pigeons but it has in fact turn out to be beneficial for the birds get street wise to raptors - so streetwise pigeons can look after themselves during long marathon races when all sorts of hazards are bound to crop up especially when a pigeon attempts Tarbes. In 2017 Stuart sent six pigeons to Tarbes and got four back. This is a pretty good average in this the most difficult of all NFC races.

 

 

 

Pedigree

 

When it comes to pedigree or the source of blood there is a mixture but mostly from local sources. These are mainly gift pigeons; - these were from the Glover brothers from Ravenstone, J & H Williamson at Coleorton and Ron Mitcheson, These are all top distance fanciers. In the past few years Stuart’s good friend Jack Howe before his retirement bred Stuart a few late breds These were mainly Glover's crossed with Cedric Barker's, who is a very knowledgeable long distance flier from Loughborough. Again an example of soft power expressing itself through friendship by fanciers trying to achieve the same thing and not by money trying to buy success. . This method seems to disprove the theory that wads of money or huge investment is the only way to success. When it comes to Marathon racing this is not so and has been prove time and time again. . This is especially true when top individual pigeons are required to repeat their performance more than once in subsequent years. These are different pigeons - different than one good year but nothing the next season. These are pigeons that have reliability bred into them.

 

 

 

Looks and Build

 

I have attached a photograph of ‘Imagine’ which confirms my favourable view of the pigeon, it’s build and it’s posture. This is the sort of pigeon I myself would love to have in my team. A pigeon with a good head - wings wrapped around the body and a pigeon not showing pronounced wing buts more common in sprint explosive pigeons. Still staying power is there with a huge chest cavity able to process a lot of oxygen for many hours.

 

 

 

Undiscovered Gems

 

I have enjoyed writing about Certificate of Merit pigeons. I hope I have been able to express the fact that these pigeons are different. They are individual pigeons that have been allowed to express their tenacity, by virtue of their inborn natural instincts for self preservation. . For the most part this instinct responds better by being left alone rather than being interfered with. These pigeons don’t want interference they want contentment through a ‘hands off’ management style. If the fancier can restrain himself the rewards are enormous. If he can’t restrain himself he will inevitably ruin a pigeon that in other hands would turn out to be a champion. ‘Soft Power’ more than ‘Hard Power’ is the underlying message for this type of pigeon. These pigeons are one of the last undiscovered gems in a modern pigeon world that thinks mostly in terms of speed being always better than reliability.

Like its stated, gift birds are sometimes the best birds you'll ever own.

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