A Rant

[Roland]

You know, some fanciers never cease to amaze me and others fanciers of course.

A young man had a stray in so reported it. It was actually a 'National winner, and sire of some good birds. The fancier went and fetched the pigeon himself. He spent much time bragging and relating his' own exploits as to how good HE was etc. Yes, he well impressed this young man. The finder was a newbie and struggling to build a team. Was also a mite short, of course of money. The fancier promised him, not only some youngsters but one off this National winner! Of course, the newbie couldn't believe his luck and was over the moon telling many how fortunate he was. He needn't have bothered. It never happened!

Later a couple of friends of the newbie, one a scribe for a racing magazine, visited to this so - called fancier and 'Good Sport' regards this. The fancier said, when realising he was found out, he had forgotten. That it had slipped his mind... Yeah right, and I give slices of Moon cheese for toast eh! I bet anyone any amount of money he never forgot the time his national winner went into another loft! Nor the youngster that reported it!

Same as today, it never ceases to amaze me how many club members have, and do, promised Newbies a helping hand, free advice and some youngsters to help them set up.

It's sadly likened to striving after the wind. For so many times, once the bragging rights, and chest swelling IS OVER they become scare. The youngsters! Yer having a laff ent yer!

Happen to me when I first started up. I've never forget it, or them. In fact I never have a good word to say to them, let alone about them. Though a couple of real good fanciers did indeed help me with some youngsters. One whom my dad had set up when he first started and another a real genuine man. Others promised much but treated me as a joke. Promises! Telling me to be at such and such, and they would pick the birds up for training, yes a few I did do that, believing ... more hoping I guess that they would! So I would struggle carrying two basket of pigeons to be picked up. Of course that never happened. Always an excuse when meeting them at the club etc. as to why. Why only has one answer... Because,... scum springs to mind.

Is it any wonder that the sport is down spiralling down hill so fast? Gosh, when new fanciers are needed so much in this so-called sport! Then these hollow promises from these shysters who aren't as good as their' last word! Just what would be the feeling prevailed to these newbies??? Disappointments. Of course. Hurt feelings! Definitely! Feeling of being let down and betrayal, and the Wee - Wee extracted!. Thinking that the sport is full of shysters of the highest degree and level! Most likely.

Sadly this bears a lot of merit as to the discredit, and poor thoughts regards honesty in this so-called sport. Gosh, what better way to advertise the sport eh! How these people look and smirk in the mirror beats me. Me, I'd bow my head in shame and hide under a stone with other slugs! ... but they won't. They just pass it off and say 'Well I'm only human' eek! What a sad state of affairs eh! Human? Yer having a laugh mate'!

You know, another sad thing is the reality that ALL genuine fanciers, those that play the game, who are pleased to help and donate birds etc. Whom raise money for a good causes, who will go out their' way to be kind, considerate and helpful ARE TARRED WITH the same brush and become ridiculed for the happenings of these shysters.

 

Wouldn't it be better, and get a lot more respect, if they kept their gobs shut, and didn't lie, promise this and that etc. and not deliver!

Edited May 30, 2018 by Roland

[Mattydoos79]

Totally agree and I’m a newbie

[grdkeith]

What a load of P***

[Buff]

Have to say this is my 1st ever team of young birds and can’t thank some amazing people for there amazing generosity. Scott McArdle . Thomson Bros , Rab Walker , Andrew Suckle and Dougie Hamilton. Top class guys who gave me a fantastic start in this great sport ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘

[Buff]

And not only the giving of Birds , the help and advice from them and loads of others on here and in loft visits is priceless also . Thanks everyone

[Roland]

Like I say the are many great and generous fanciers, no two ways about that... Shame about the other eh!

 

What a load of P***

 

 

' ...........all members are equal but some are more equal than others !!

 

now that says it all eh!

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Roland, I sense you are upset about some injustice you have heard about.

 

All I am able to say is that when I started I bought most of my pigeons and was unable to break any of them losing them all until buying a pair of rally young squeekers, one of which I did break. Breaking others became easier after that because they tended to follow the one I had. I was gifted some YB's after that by a fancier who was only too welcoming and had the club boundaries opened to allow me admission.

The following year, I didn't realise that the now yearlings had to be loft fit before training, so took them for a first trainer to 20 miles and lost the majority. Possibly one of my best seasons, certainly within the aims I had set myself. Flew the programme to the yearling stage, every race (around 6), with only about 7 pigeons ending with 5. The initial setback, found me an established fancier on this site who was extremely supportive as well as offering pigeons. Several others followed suit, to the extent that I had too many offers. I have received gifts since then.

I now have to buy pigeons, because although I am still a novice, I am no longer a new start and they are more deserving than I am. one club member, in particular, still occasionally gifts me pigeons, however the others tend to gift my kids on occasions. I am grateful to all the fanciers who have gifted me pigeons and offered words of wisdom.

From my introduction to racing pigeons, through the times when I was unable to have my own, to this present time of now keeping them, my opinion has never changed. Racing pigeon fanciers are, in the main, salt of the earth types.

 

I am sure you will reverse this young man's initial impression by giving him the support, both verbally and through some gift pigeons.

[Buff]

Roland, I sense you are upset about some injustice you have heard about.

 

All I am able to say is that when I started I bought most of my pigeons and was unable to break any of them losing them all until buying a pair of rally young squeekers, one of which I did break. Breaking others became easier after that because they tended to follow the one I had. I was gifted some YB's after that by a fancier who was only too welcoming and had the club boundaries opened to allow me admission.

The following year, I didn't realise that the now yearlings had to be loft fit before training, so took them for a first trainer to 20 miles and lost the majority. Possibly one of my best seasons, certainly within the aims I had set myself. Flew the programme to the yearling stage, every race (around 6), with only about 7 pigeons ending with 5. The initial setback, found me an established fancier on this site who was extremely supportive as well as offering pigeons. Several others followed suit, to the extent that I had too many offers. I have received gifts since then.

I now have to buy pigeons, because although I am still a novice, I am no longer a new start and they are more deserving than I am. one club member, in particular, still occasionally gifts me pigeons, however the others tend to gift my kids on occasions. I am grateful to all the fanciers who have gifted me pigeons and offered words of wisdom.

From my introduction to racing pigeons, through the times when I was unable to have my own, to this present time of now keeping them, my opinion has never changed. Racing pigeon fanciers are, in the main, salt of the earth types.

 

I am sure you will reverse this young man's initial impression by giving him the support, both verbally and through some gift pigeons.

ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘

[Roland]

Yes Kyleakin Lofts I have seen and heard your' story many times, so I, like so many others can relate to that.

 

I learnt in the first year how to use a needle and thread to sow up my youngsters. Am I grateful?

Well yes and know. I was training my birds down 'Stitch Valley' Had been told in an innocence way that that was the way to train.

They would come that way and there was some many pylons casualties were inevitable.

Instead of one laughing when showing how to sow them up, I believe it would have been better telling not to go that way. 12 miles I peddled.

So one could say 2 valuable lessons learned eh!

 

But I Kyleakin Lofts am certainly not discrediting the good and honest and helpful fanciers am I!

 

Sadly a large majority do do the fancy a disservice. Often those that are really very good themselves at the sport ... Maybe a chance to impress comes their way and jump at the chance first off. then don't.or can't live up to their promises... made I'd believe at the time in good faith etc.

 

Here's another true tale. A very good friend of mine, I was his best man at his wedding and much more.

Just three years back in front of my loft shock his head and said 'Sorry Roly, I must say it. I can't see how you can be in such a bad , I think nigh evil sport as pigeons'!

Well now I couldn't believe my ears. Long story short, he'd been on a holiday Camp. At night they would go for a quiet drink and had made friends with a few. they would huddle around and chat as the norm. then this one guy stated he was a Pigeon fancier. Yes some, indeed most knew next to nothing about the sport of course. He then, over the next few nights took the lime light and tell them about how to keep them, how to race and the made theme each time was how to Cull. !!! Even from babies you had to have an eye what was going to be any good ... so went into a bucket! the excuses then of why became very many. Too dastardly and uncalled for to put up on a site.

Now it seemed to my mate that if you didn't cull at least 70% to 80% you would never be any good at the game.

A disservice to our sport surely.

Indeed the £000's of pounds raised every year and the good we do goes out the window, through a thoughtless and silly, and most likely a dishonest so called fancier.

Sadly in in our grass roots there are too many thoughtless comments and talk. The Romany's call it 'Tavern Talk' for good reason.

Are we to say that that so - called fancier's bragging rights did our sport any good? Indeed doesn't that in it's self distract from all the good fanciers and good that they do for others, members charities concerns?

Of course it does.

So what I would say, suggest, is the hat fits, get shot of it and look in the mirror.

Self praise is indeed no praise, but I can, personally, look not only in the mirror but ANTY pigeon fanciers and say I am without spot!

I could list umpteen deeds I've done for clubs and feds ... Very few sadly to say appreciated. BUT I still did good for any member or club or fed. fact.

 

 

 

 

As many now / or may know I'm not even a health wreck these days.