Birds were fed today, kept in as i am a big believer in rest for recovery, Monday they will be allowed loft flying only. Went to the seaside today Southend boy did i wish i had some sun cream.

Update

Just thought i would update, In the Custom house i was 1st and 2nd Club, with two cocks which made me head over heels, a terrific day and a pair of terrific results!

Race

race from peterborough had good race, sent 36 and have 3 missing. I had a 3 o Clock strike in the Newham Invitation i took the following positions 1st,2nd and 3rd. All birds were hens. Have a 7.30 strike round Custom House, but my first bird on the clock in custom house is on the clock 5 seconds after the Newham Bird, and the members who race in both clubs, I have beaten there times, however only time will tell how i will get on. Update later tonight!

cocks were at saffron walden today 40 miles to my loft all homed well, hens are at bishop stortford currently and i am waiting on there arrival. Young birds will be fed as much as they can eat this evening of the young bird mixture. Then tomorrow they will recieve a half feed of small seeds!

Birds have been training very well as of late and been very impressed on how they have been coming and preforming they were trained tuesday and today all sexes. The Mosaic cock returned today from huntingdon, he will be going newark defiantly next week.

Had ybs out today hens flew for 1 hr and 30 mins,i had the widowhood cocks out and the flew for 40mins out of site and then played about around house. Celibates i kept in. I then took them training hens had some new youngster with them so they were taken to harlow all homed in good time. Cocks celibate and widowhood both taken to bishop stortford and also homed in good time. Tomorrow hens will be going on Stevie Whites lorry and believe his going Duxford.

Xerex bilco's young bird sickness treatment have to say is a product that is irreplaceable, and i will defiantly be buying some in next year just in case next years young birds get the sickness. I cannot get over the rapid improvement of the birds, birds that looked terrible to birds that look like super stars. Xerex is also cheap as chips i know one thing its under 48 hours and I'm really impressed and 3 sachets for a tenner don't think you can go wrong, especially as its a sachet to a gallon. One things for sure my cupboard will not be without it again.

In 8 hours of using bilcos powder, the birds looked alot better less lerthagic, only few with a few ruffled feathers, droppings soliding up, which is all good stuff. Had a new fancier round today Nico and he took some nice photos which thought id share,

Huntingdon race in Newham invitation was 2nd and 6th club White Lightning scored the 6th prize. In Custom house was 8th club. Hens went training sunday Harlows, however no racing this week all hens returned but vomiting and wet droppings were noted in the hens section, sent of to bilco for some young bird sickness treatment and should be arriving tomorrow morning. Supposed to be free from the illness in 48 hours.

Again

cocks went newmarket again all came home together. Increased the maize contents and gave birds as much as they wanted. They will receive seed tomorrow about mid-day, with the drinker removed, and refilled an hour before basketting, to make sure they get a drink in the basket. Another winner arrived this morning pretty strange.

Newmarket & the Winner

Winner magazine arrived this afternoon, looks like the standards are set high once again although was a long wait will be looking forward to reading this tonight. Cocks were trained i believe at newmarket today which by road is 58.5 miles but wouldn't know how far it is by the way the bird fly's. They all came together so was really happy, its going to be a difficult task in picking the 2 bird nomination this week.Not sure whether to train cocks again tomorrow or i might rest them incase there is a cock up! chequer cock is fine now will let him out of box saturday morning, because didn't want to let out this morning as he may have adverse affect on the cocks as they have got used to him being out of the loft.

another toss from bishop stortford birds came well altogether apart from 2, 1 was the Mosaic bird who had his first stortford yesterday.Happy the way they came, tomorrow supposed to be training further supposedly newmarket.

Bishop Stortford

had a lovely toss, birds came well, chucked in 2 new ones and one made it home still waiting on one, the ones who had been educated well were all here in a matter of minutes, all the cocks went. The cock i had trouble with droppings have started to solidify and was giving a half feed if digested he will receive another feed. All birds fed at 1.30pm today

Training Toss

sunday aload of palova has been going on, a cheq cock was found vomited food in his nest box, and wet watery droppings been put in isocolation and hasnt been feed for 48 hours but will recieve half feed in the morning. Cocks were took back to wanstead flats for training toss,tossed up in groups of 3's, 5 mins imbetween each other, birds took around 5 mins each to do 6 miles.

Update

been a while since i last updated,Thursday training was canceled,Friday hens had there first toss on the lorry and had 100% returns was really happy, this morning birds were put on a cocci treatment of baycox and will be a two day course. Hoping to get another training toss on Sunday, the cocks will then go on a training up until Wednesday. First race is next Saturday.

Thicker and faster

Birds were at bishop stortford again this morning, had 11 birds out of the 22 cocks come together, and the rest apart from one in very quick concession. i don't know if i should send cocks or hens tomorrow, due to the K index factor that is brewing up over the next 48 hours. When this K index factor has been about there has been some very dodgy racing with many losses, I will make final choice tonight, and we will find out whether i am a gambling man or not. Put alot of cardboard boxes in the hens section, and made a little town basically in the loft and hens are claiming boxes with old cocks as we speak. Hoping to get the hens down on eggs soon, they have been paired up for a while and have noticed a few looking eggy hence the reason for putting the cardboard boxes in. I am finally off college now so like always alot more time and effort will be put into the young birds as i am home all day.

First lorry toss, at bishop stortford which is 30 miles, birds where picked up at 9am and was told to expect them around midday,12.05 the first batch came, all the birds came particularly well, one late commer, but he will not be so far behind tommorow, i like birds who take a while they seem to learn hell of a lot more and hardly seem to make the same mistake from the same training point again. The birds will be going training again tommorow, by the way i have only trained the cocks on the lorry, i will be rotating the cocks and hens alternatively, the hens will get first toss on lorry on thursday. All cocks apart from the late commer were home by 12.45. At 1pm, all birds including hens were fed 1/4 of ounce. This will have to be there routinely feeding time from now on. At 4.15pm the hens were allowed freedom of the loft, was disappointed with how they flew only gave me half an hour, could it be because there on canker treatment or they are all paired up to the Old Cock birds? Who knows. at 5.15pm the hens were fed at there routinely time as much as my yb mix as they can eat till start to leave barley, then an hour after the cocks were fed at there usual time and in the same manner.

The sun is shining and what a beautiful day. The blue cock who was missing from yesterdays training toss arrived at 7.15 this morning, done slight bit of weight and has looked nakered all day god knows where he went, was kept in and rested considering also his hen laid out last night while he was away. All birds fed at 7.00 this morning a dessert spoon, which works out a quatre of an ounce. The hens went out at midday and they flew about an hour an half. Then the celibate cocks were let out at 1.30 and didnt return till 3.45, so they ranged well, and trapped even better, all were in, after a few blos of the whistle. Then the widowhood cocks were let out most apart from 3 i have paired up now so 8 in total are paired to old hens, and 3 out of the 8 hens have laid. These flew for about 30 mins, the younger cocks like the mosiac and the big blue pied are the culprits of making them drop, they didn't even range, was in sight the whole time, to top of they didnt trap very well either, so they went without food when they went in. Last night i also put them on flagyl powder in the drinkers so they will be on a 3 day course of canker that is all the young birds. The hens and celibate pigeons got fed as much as they wanted till started to leave barley after there fly, and widowhoods wasnt fed due to bad trapping. A touch of luck is that they will be lorry trained nearly every day now as i phoned round a few people and will be able to get my birds picked up tommorow morning at 9am. Im slightly on edge as its bishop stortford and the birds have only had 1 twenty one mile training toss. The days will be in rotation i will send cocks one day hens the next. Bishop Stortford is exactly 30 miles to my loft.

Harlow

Another training toss this time about 21 mile stage, had 4 birds come in half hour and the others all came within the hour, one short in the evening a widowhood cock!

5th Training toss

the fifth training toss was from loughton again 12 miles, both sets of birds done the training spin in 16 minutes, they will be taken to 20 miles on sunday, only a short blog this evening as its early hours of the morning.

Update

Was unable to get a training toss in today as mum was too tired, which was hell of a bummer, the birds need to be getting up the road, really would have liked to have had another 2 loughtons, going to have to have a rethink. Definatly going to get a training toss tommorow. Had all young birds out today, I changed my mind and decided to try and get them in using the whistle, was suprised there was no mucking about from some of the usual culprits. Then all in then fed again blowing of the whistle, think they were used to my own whistling so don't think the whistle bothered them to be honest. The birds are really looking good speck of health, lovely clean wattles, bright eyes and silky feathering, pleased how they are looking, just need to get more training under there belt. Once they get to the 30 miles stage I will relax more and not be so stressed about first race being in 3 saturdays time, huntingdon!

Whistle While You Work

Whistle While You Work, was a nice little song during the war, but I've finally purchased two whistles, going to use them then the common phrase of 'Come On', as anyone that knows me knows i got over excited when a bird is in view, I've been whistling so far this year by using my mouth, but now I've got a cold found out its been hard to pucker up so to speak! So will be getting the birds used to the new whistle by every time feeding blowing the whistle continuously, then will introduce it to get them in gradually, this will also help as then literally anyone can get my birds in as all they will have to do is blow the whistle! The birds wasn't trained yesterday, hoping to get another loughton in today but have to rely on my mother to get in from work.

4th Toss

Took the birds to loughton today a distance to my loft 12 miles. There was alot of bother, we arrived there at 3.30pm, released the cock birds and they cleared instantly, then after clearing a batch of i would say 100 pigeons came over and, my cocks came back into sight and joined the bunch. However luckily the bunch looked as if they were heading in the direction of home. I had a phone call to say one had arrived in 20 mins, and another 2 had arrived after 30, and i got home in time to see the rest arrive home in about 50 minutes. I let the hens go at 3.50, it took them a total of 2 hours to come home, and they were litterally soaking, they had a clean hour of no rain, so if they had made it in good time they would have been dry.

Not Taking A Liking

It looks as if white lightning hasn't taken to the hen i put him with last night, still no sign of his original hen, so its pretty strange why she had gone missing! The younger widowhood cocks i think will be ready to pair up maybe after the first race, these younger cocks i haven't trained yet as there much younger then my earlier rounds. I'm hoping to get a 10 mile training toss in today with widowhood cocks, celibate cocks, and hens, but will have to play it by eye with the weather!

3rd Training Spin

Third training toss today from wanstead flats, both batches took 14 mins to reach home today, all home which is good, but it looked as if they went over and came back on themselves from the direction they came from if that makes sense. A few of the celibate cocks are really getting to grips with things with a few coming and trapping onto landing board from the air. Which is a good and something i like to see in my pigeons when they trap well, being sprint minded all the time on the air and house roofs is valuable seconds. On a sadder note, white lightnings hen went missing on her loft fly, this is a bird who returned from the LNRC stonehaven race like a rake, im submissing hit by a wire or a hawk attack. I've put another hen in with him hopefully he takes to her well, i'll soon find out, if his in his bowl tommorow calling there will be a big thumbs up within a new blog. The birds will go around about 10 miles tommorow if weather is fine. Will let you know how things pans out. But one thing i know is for definate the young birds are occupying alot of my time i have been in and out of the lofts you could litterally say all day and at 8.46pm, finally been able to rest and type my thoughts!

Success

Had a small touch of success this morning, last night was so stressed out that the young cocks who were defiantly rank, were not "pulling" so to speak. So i placed 6 out of the 12 into boxes with hens. Now i know what your going to say why only 6, as a few of the other 6 are slightly younger and missed the darkness period, so i am playing a waiting game till they mature a little bit, although they appear very up for it, i will play it by ear before introducing a hen to them. However the other 6 that i did put in widowhood boxes with hens last night, all this morning were in the nest bowls calling with the hens so im very happy, anyways i better shoot off got driving lesson and college, will update later tonight if i can get birds training!

2nd Toss

Well impressed today, I let out my young cocks today, as i believe in the old saying you have to get the flight out of the pigeons before you train them. I let them out at 2.15pm the birds didnt return to 5.00pmso if thyat didnt get the flight out of them nothing could, they kept returning over the loft and house during this time with other pigeons but they didnt drop, and for most of this period they were out of sight. Unfortuantly because of this i was unable to let out my celibate cocks, or my young hens. When the young widowers retuned, i let out my old hens with them and got all the birds in the widowhood shed and let them choose a mate.So i put some stripped down hens in with my celibate cocks for 10 mins, as i done the previous day and basketed them, in the same basket as widowhood cocks.Then i basketed my hens in a different basket. Again back to wanstead flats, The cocks were liberated at 6.00pm, and i got the phone call at 6.10pm that all the widowhood and celibate cocks were home. The celibate cocks supposably trapped like rockets, as i think there gathering the idea that hens are going to be in there shed on return, now these 11 cocks have not seen a hen since weaning so they do get really excited. Widowers took a while to get in as they are not used to going in the widowhood shed yet, but all that will soon change. Once i got the call to say all were home, I waited a further 10 minutes, i then let my team of hens go, I then got a call, while playing over the flats with my dog that they had done it slower then the cocks and they took 16 minutes! I felt rather impressed and happy they way the schooling has gone so far! They will go to wanstead flats again tommorow then they will be on to 10 miles. Happy the way things are progressing so far.

Lightning Strikes

First training toss at Wanstead Flats went a treat, only a very small distance of about 5 mile, birds cleared well, considering the weather i felt they done well, a few came back with red wattles but with rain about was expected. They took 20 mins, but will be at this stage to they start clocking better times. White lightning made it so im very happy, trapped like a bullet as well. Hopefully will get them back to the flats yet again sunday evening!

White Lightning

Everyone knows the story of the hare and the tortoise, but in this case, you could say its the chequer and the white. A friend of mine on pigeonbasics.com, kindly bred me a pair of white babies for exchange of an ER ring. So everything forward, put them on the darkness and both moulted out perfectly, few days after taking them of the darkness the white hen off she went never to be seen again. However her sibbling stayed. Now her nestmate, is the total opposite to what she was, she was always full of flying and life, and to be honest he is a lazy bugger. Always struggling to keep up flying around the loft, and always the first pigeon to land.My dad said i will lose it on its first training toss, he most probably is correct, but id be so happy to get this one over him. This white cock has now been seperated from the sexes. Then after a week or so ill let the cocks claim a box and i will pair the cocks up with the old hens. First training toss will hopefully be today if the weather clears up, if not will have to wait another day , but the weather has been absolutly terrible!I think we all can agree though the white cock does look the part, but can he prove an old man wrong, I certainly hope so.

Please Don't Get Me Started!

Please don't get me started! Please don't get me started! Cant believe how pissed off i am! Just when i really fancied my chances of once again stealing another win of the season, The East London Federation have canceled the race from Newark! Its a right bummer as had a different motivation technique suggested to me, and i personally thought it would up the gears of my Blue Tasker cock! My money would have defiantly been on him! Its really so depressing, when I could see the birds meant buisness this week! This week was planned to be my last old bird race, as I did not intend to send to the London North Road Combine to Thurso! We'll gives me more time to spend with young birds now, and hopefully if weather permitting i will able to give them quiet a few training tosses upto the 30 miles stage prior to the first young bird race. Over the last three weeks i had been getting the young birds tamer, as with old bird racing, young bird racing normal takes a back seat! The young birds that were in the American style loft have been tame and fighting me from weaning, and I still play with them everyday! But my main objective has been latly taming the birds in main young bird shed. The young cocks from the main young bird shed will be split from the hens and transfered into the widowhood shed, this coming saturday, will give them a few days to claim a perch, then get them on the widowhood. But i will not let them rear a youngster will only allow them to sit for ten days, hopefully i can get them on eggs and sitting prior to the first race. But i shouldnt be so premature as they havent even entered the training basket yet!

Welcome Home Message

Had a Chequer Pied Cock, Return from the LNRC Race from Stonehaven, yesterday afternoon! All the LNRC memebers who sent to the race will know exactly how hard the race turned out to be, with many birds missing and only a very few people timed in on the day! Well ive had 3 return in 3 days. One Blue Pied hen who had seemed to put up an effort, red raw wattle and litterally could shave with her. A Blue pied cock the following day who had suffered from being shot. Then this lazy so and so, who turned up had obviously been in someones loft as there was pigeon dropping on his feet, and hadnt dropped an ounce of fat. He wouldnt have been here if he hadnt had won a 5th Amalgamation couple years back. Well he defiantly will be going friday night basketing to newark, to my loft 114 miles 1440 yards. It will be his last chance to prove himself, hopefully the love of home may motivate him to pull up his socks. Tonight i let him out of his box and my Blue Cock had to show him who runs the joint from now on! Just thought i would add the Blue Cock in this video is in an entirely different section to the Blue Cock in the "King of The Ring" blog!

King Of Ring

Entering the ring , weighing in at no more then 5 ounces, wearing the blue trunks with the black stripes is none of then the 'Hitman' Himself Ricky Hatton! Amazing latly been letting my widowhoods have some playtime around the loft after there exercise with doors open and such, and its amazing how some have turned really aggressive! Above should be a video clip of a yearling Blue Cock, who must have thought he is ruling the roost, its funny ya never hear a peep of the pigeon normally, but for some reason he must think he is king of the ring. Roll up, roll up as he takes on all comers! Bit disappointed though with video for some reason seems 3 times faster, and doesnt show the full clip, may work for some of my readers, its just a shame as it doesnt show the full aggressive attitiude this cock had!

Myths & Legends

When the legends die, the dreams end, and there is no more greatness, and nothing can die harder then the legends and myths of our ancestors. These stories passed down through generations, about heroic individuals, spectacular events and powerful gods. These myths symbolize cultural beliefs some are fictional while others are based on real people and events. But a lot of people do not see there educational value or power.
When I was knee high I always remember the ancient Legend of ‘The Wise’ King
Solomon, who wore a many magic rings that allowed him to possess certain powers. The one ring that stuck back in my mind to this day was the ring that allowed King Solomon, the power to talk to the birds.
I think every experienced fancier has a replica of King Solomon’s great magic ring that allows us to talk and interact with our feathered friends. During the week the birds say whether or not they are prepared for the coming weeks race by the way the boast and are full of confidence saying “Put your money on me this week”. On they’re return from the race, the bird will say to me “I enjoyed that” or “That was a struggle, I had to face many obstacles along the way” but I common thing you hear no matter how hard or how easy they found their journey is “Its so good to be home”. However they never seem to tell you where you are going wrong.
The London North Road combine were at Berwick, the weather the week building up to the race was exceptional, lovely clear blue skies with sunshine that tanned my milk bottle legs. The race they had to face on the Saturday was a hard and testing one with many birds missing on the night. On the night I had eight return out of my eleven entries, and was pleased how they came really. One returned the following morning very flown out, and done a lot of body weight. The other two returned later in the week. In my club and marking station Custom House, Ron Lowe won the station, the five pound side bet, and also the five hundred pound gift to whoever won the station kindly donated by Davy Hunt & son.
I only have one club result from the Berwick Combine race and that is from the Tilbury Homing Society of The West Essex Federation. They had 7 members and sent 148 birds. 1st T & T MCCARTHY 1464, 2nd R WEST 1457, 3rd R & J MOSS 1416, 4th J CAMERON 1406.
The following week after Berwick a lot of the London and Essex federation where up at Wetherby, a lot of fanciers was not happy that every federation in the London and Essex area liberations were all done in between fifteen minute gaps. The race yet again wasn’t the easiest especially if the birds that went Berwick was not rested, Did not get many results posted to me this week, but the Dagenham Trades Hall of West Essex Federation’s winner was P MAHONEY who only had joined the club this season and has his first win under his belt. S VIALLS & SON partnership has been ever present in the Trades Hall result was 2nd club yet again. Ex LNRC J WILSON then came in third.
Now to be up to date with the results all the London and Essex Federations once again were all at same race point, this week they were at Newark. Most federations birds went up in a light North wind. The weather was perfect racing weather, my own federation decided to hold out until 11am before liberating. In most federations I am lead to believe that the winning birds took on average the 2 hour 10 minute mark. Yet again the Dagenham Trades Hall of West Essex Federation 14 members sent 239 birds. 1st S VIALLS & SON who have been consistent so far this year. 2nd T WILLIAMS who also has been very consistent this year, and I believe that both T WILLIAMS and S VIALLS & SON are on equal par with the amount of races they have won so far this year, so creating an interesting rivalry. 3rd yet again S VIALLS & SON. 4th T WILLIAMS.

Silverhall Hs of the West Essex also sent a result this week. 1st and 2nd club was D O’NEAL. 3rd was D SOPER.
Next week is yet again a London North Road Combine race and we are at Stonehaven which is a distance to my loft of around 388 miles to my loft, which I predict will be full of fun and games, you do get a buzz when the birds start doing some distance. I wish everyone racing the best of luck for the race. Any news, views or results don’t hesitate to contact. Sayonara For Now!

Grasshopper
Racing-pigeon@hotmail.co.uk

'Funny How Time Flies'

‘It’s amazing how times have changed’ is a common saying I hear from the more experienced members in society, but I never realized what it really meant. The year 2007 compared to the year 1907, was like two entirely different worlds in the sport of pigeon racing. However the ironic thing is that when researching England’s present and past, that they only mention disasters. But I suppose like the saying goes ‘No news is good news’, however the news of both these era’s are probably there only similarity, depressing.
I mention the specific date of 1907, as I am currently reading through The ‘Homing Pigeon’ Annual, and as I mentioned the sport is entirely different to what we know of it today. There was no mention of fancy methods, such as widowhood, celibacy, darkness and light systems, everyone stuck by the beliefs of keeping everything near enough as close to nature as possible. The fancier’s photographs were some what different, to what they are of today, fanciers never seemed to be casually dressed down at the lofts at 1907, but always seemed to be wearing there best attire, and had wonderful long and upturned moustaches. One thing is for certain the price tag on everything back then was a lot cheaper, compared to the prices associated with the sport today. I understand the price rates where a lot different compared to today but I would love to buy a pair of squeakers for a pound, in today’s day and age this would be an impossible mission to find top quality birds at such a price.

A few fanciers have already started to make a big impact on my own East London Federation, when viewing the federation sheet each week, these two names keep cropping up constantly. They have made an impressive start to the season so far. John Henderson & Daughter Carly and the partnership of Colin & Karen Porter of Mr. & Mrs. Porter, I must say there season has started of with a big punch, and on Colin’s article in the RP of the 18th May, he showed that he wasn’t afraid to give out a few tips to get the extra yard out of your birds.
A lot of the London and Essex area federations were on the Newark Race site on the 19th May, a comeback race before the up and coming London North Road Combine from Berwick. The Saturday for the fourth day running of the week, the weather man had got the weather wrong. The 19th turned out a beautiful warm, day and ideal for racing. The East London federation was up at Newark, which is 114 miles to my loft, at 7.45am in a south wind. I believe the winning times in my federation were in at 2 hours 20 minutes flying time, which I believe provisionally is won by Mr. & Mrs. Thorpe of Ilford and District. My own birds I was very happy on how they came and I had all 17 birds sent in a matter of six minutes.
The West Essex Federation were also at Newark, and there birds were liberated at 8.00am. Dagenham Trades Hall had fifteen members send 337 birds. There winner with I believe his second win of the season, was the Trades Halls highest prize winner last season, 1st T WILLIAMS, who has had a great start to the season gaining some top positions in his club. S VIALLS & SON was 2nd club this week, this partnership have also had a terrific start to the season with two wins under there belt. Taking the 3rd and 4th position in the club was once again T WILLIAMS.
Silverhall HS had five members send 51 birds. The Silverhalls winner in 1st place was F
BUTCHER velocity 1408, with the same pigeon they won the club with last week. 2nd and 3rd club was D O’NEAL velocities 1384 & 1358.
Well ladies and Gentlemen; think that’s it for another week from me, any news or views
don’t hesitate to email me at racing-pigeon@hotmail.co.uk Sayonara for now!

'Run Hard when its hard to run'

‘Run hard, when its hard to run’, was a famous saying from my old sports teacher, and On the 12th May the birds certainly had to fly hard, when the weather made it hard to fly. Nearly all the elements were against the birds on this weekend, Rain, Storm and a Strong head on wind, making the velocities low.
Talking on my own federations experience the East London, we so far this year have had fairly easy races, as the weather and wind had been favorable. However, this week we was at scotch corner, which is around 216 miles to my loft, and with the weather as bad as it was supposed to be, many predicted a held over. Consequently, Saturday morning came and the birds were up at seven fifteen in the morning. I predicted the birds to take around the five hour mark, but with the elements against us thought it may have predicted the result. The early birds were all around the five hours, so my prediction was accurate. However the birds were few and far between, and many members mentioned the huge lengths of waiting times for there next birds, some even clocking in twenty to thirty minutes behind there first birds. Speaking to members of two different other North road federations their races were very similar.
I have one result from the Dagenham Trades Hall of the West Essex Federation, who was at Ripon a distance of around 191 miles to some of the flyers in their federation. Seventeen members sent 354 birds. This weeks winner is B&J WILLSON clocking a velocity of 1282.9, 2nd club was B SCOTT beaten by a decimal at 1282.2, 3rd club was T WILLIAMS doing 1280, 4th A TAYLOR & SON doing 1279.
I noticed a few month back that ‘The RP’, had been publishing articles about Red Rose’s starter lofts. I made one of these a few months prior to those articles being published but I went around an easy way about it by purchasing a 6 x 4 garden shed, so all that I was left to do was to build the trap and aviary/landing board. I had for a while spoke to Linda who’s website it was over msn messenger about constructing one for my young birds. So in the end we finally got round to putting the 6 x 4 shed up, and then constructing the aviary/landing board to 6 x 3 and this took the majority of the time, by constructing it and putting wire mesh on the flooring and door. Then had to fit it out with perches and such, and once it was finally finished I was extremely happy with the results. I am only keeping 11 young birds in this shed maximum, and I tried to get them used to using the trap from weaning. This is my only loft in my garden with a trap, so I have had no experience of getting pigeons used to a trap before. But what I did the first time was show them how to use the trap, so as I put them through I made sure the hopper was filled with food, so they used this as an association, that when the go in there was food there. Then from there on then they got the hang of it, and were going in through there own accord. The lofts are a great design, and you can get the birds used to there surroundings before they are even big enough to fly, and as I mentioned earlier get them used to trapping even when the birds are not even out. If you are interested in building your own loft please visit www.redroselofts.com there is also some other interesting bits and bobs on the site that fanciers may find of interest. Another website I must mention that fanciers may find of interest and help to them is www.pigeonbasics.com/forum where there is many fanciers willing to help one another. Two similar site is www.pigeonland.co.uk and www.pigeon-chat.com .
A little message to Dicky Flint and his wife Pat, hope that you are both keeping well, and the weather is shining brightly, I just hope that during your retirement in sunny Spain, that you don’t drink to much Spanish Sangria, I bet you cannot buy that in the Custom House Working Man Club.
Well ladies and Gentlemen; think that’s it for another week from me, any news or views don’t hesitate to email me at racing-pigeon@hotmail.co.uk Sayonara for now!

Grasshopper

Busy,Busy,Busy

‘The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.’, was a famous quote from the famous American inventor Thomas Edison, lately I have been a busy bee and has put Me, right behind with my writing for The RP. College work these days just seems to be very consistent and since December, I have to say feels like the days are never ending some nights I am typing essays to the early hours of the morning, and to sit down in front of a computer again to type articles just lately has taken last priority unfortunately, but on the bright side with all the work been put in front of me hopefully one day it will help me to achieve great things. However the coursework period is over and the exam season beckons, but Least there’s no more essays for me to do so I can find time to type up weekly
through my breaks of revision. But to get back to pigeon business I have to catch up with the backlog of articles I was due to write. A while back I was invited to do an article for the Dagenham Trades Hall club which are under the West Essex Federation, and due to the circumstances mentioned earlier I just couldn’t get round to putting my hands to the keyboard. Its amazing how oblivious federations that are only separated by in some cases half a mile of the other, in some cases do not know much about each others federations, this came apparent on the night when talking to many fanciers of the Dagenham Trades
Hall. I for one have to admit I didn’t know much about the West Essex Federation until on the night, just shows how stubborn one can become, but I can for certain defiantly say I will be keeping my eyes on a lot of federation around the London and Essex area this year.
The venue for the evening was lovely; all was laid out very nice, with finger snacks and traditional dishes, as well as a DJ who played various songs throughout the evening, and he defiantly must have done his job right as he got the boys and girls dancing throughout the evening. I took a sneak peak at the presentation table before the evening had begun, and I have to say the Trades Halls trophies was a credit to them, its very rare for clubs in this day and era to have a presentation, and it was a great sight to see that it was very well supported by the fanciers friends and families. The special guest was Mr. & Mrs. Collins from Portsmouth, who are a very nice Couple and are friends Of Trades hall member Tony Calverley and myself, were we all became pals via the internet on www.pigeonbasics.com/forum . I know that Mark and Tracey have had there fair share of big wins and very good performances with there good family of Van Reets.
The first person to the table and highest prizewinner in the Dagenham Trades Hall for the 2006 season was T. Williams, with 7 x 1st, 7 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 6 x 4th, 2 x 5th and 6 x 6th and collecting the sum total of £237. 90. As it was clear to see T.Williams had a marvelous season taking the top honor’s in his club, and has been a top flyer for many years. T. Williams also took home the W. Hudd Trophy, E. Parrer Trophy, F. Case Trophy, and the Points trophy.
D. Brand was second highest prizewinner; he bagged 5 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd 3 x 4th, 6 x 5th, and 3 x 6ths, and the total sum of £136.50. The Following trophies D. Brand won was the young bird averages, The Ted Eagles Trophy, The Northallerton Cup, J. Hopwood Trophy, R. Hart Trophy, A Foster Trophy, and lastly the Stonehaven Cup, to rand up an impressive season and to compete so well against very strong competition in the Trades Hall.
S. Vialls & Son won 6 x 2nd, 5 x 3rd, 2 x 4th, 5 x 5th, and 2 x 6th with a nice sum of £117 as well as the Ted Burke Trophy.
P. Brand was next to the table collecting throughout the season 4 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 4 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 2 x 6th as well as pocketing £113.10. P. Brand’s trophy cabinet defiantly will not be bare as he collected the Old bird average, the Scottish Averages, the Combine Averages, the Combined Averages, The G. Tubey Cup, The C. Nunn Trophy, W. Thorne Trophy, J. Brand Trophy, The Dunbar Cup and the Thurso Cup.
R. Scott was next in line winning 2 x 1st, 2 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 4 x 5th and 7 x 6th and winning the total of £81.90. R. Scott can also add to his collection of Prizes the A. Doerr Trophy.
Mr. & Mrs. T Calverley followed next winning 3 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd, 3 x 4th, 1 x 5th, and 4 x 6th with a money total of £78.00.
B & J Willson were up next with 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd , 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th and the total of £39.00, they also bagged two trophies which where the Combine Trophy, and the Witton Castle Cup.
L. Jenkins & Jones then followed, the partnership won 1 x 1st, 1 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th as well as £27.30 prize money. The Lion won the Watney cup.
A. Taylor & Son were next winning the following prizes 2 x 2nd and 1 x 5th with £23.40 prize money.
J. Costello had 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd, 1 x 5th winning £19.50. Next up was T. Green scored 1 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th and £11.70. R. Davis was to follow with 1 x 3rd and £7.80, and last but not least Mr.& Mrs. Fowler with 1 x 4th and £3.90.
That was that on the prize list front of the Dagenham Trades Hall presentation, I Have to say it was an enjoyable evening, and allowed me to gain some new Friends and to get a wider view of the sport around the London and Essex area. I would like to close this part of the article with saying that it was a great honor to be asked to write about this evening and was very sorry due to the delay. The pictures of the evening was not the best of quality I have to say but I have entered those of better quality with this article. Also to add the Dagenham trades Hall this season held a breeder and buyer sale, it was very well supported with pigeons from around the country and fanciers were not afraid to dig deep. I believe due to the great response received an additional £500 will be up for grabs and the prize listing will be as follows:

BREEDER BUYER TOTAL
£250 £250 £500
£100 £100 £200
£75 £75 £150
£50 £50 £100
£50 £50 £100

£50 £50 £100

£50 £50 £100
£50 £50 £100
£50 £50 £100
£25 £25 £50 =£1500

Mentioning the Dagenham Trades Hall or West Essex Breeder/ Buyer Mr. & Mrs. Collins made another visit down to put in a young bird into the sale, and they also brought down a lovely man who is also a member of www.pigeonbasics.com/forum who I talk to on a regular basis, Jimmy White from Scotland. Now, just like to take a moment to thank Jimmy, although I have talked to Jimmy via the internet, it was the first time I met this chap, and he purchased Mr. & Mrs. Collins bird for me to race along with the bird I purchased earlier in the sale. This goes to show there is some very genuine people in this sport, I just hope I can do Jimmy White and Mark and Tracey a favour and win them a nice pot of cash. It was a brilliant day for an auction, and it was a year to the day that myself and my girlfriend Amy had been courting. So well she cannot complain that I don’t take her anywhere, now can she! You could say I am an old romantic.
The start to the racing season so far has been very good, lovely bright and clear days just ideal for racing and to be fair the birds have had it easy for the north roader’s with these North winds that have been blowing making the races very quick and you could lose the race within a blink of an eye. So far the dominant west wind haven’t been so dominant this part of the season. I have a few results from the Dagenham Trades Hall members of the West Essex federation. On the 14/04/07 there birds were at Kettering, liberated in a North East Wind at 11.45am. 15 members sent 376 in the Dagenham Trades Hall, First and topping the West Essex Federation was S VIALLS & SON with a blue pied hen, 2nd P BRAND with a blue chequer cock, 3rd T WILLIAMS with a blue pied cock, and 4th P MAHONEY with a blue pied cock.

The following week the West Essex was at Newark 21/4/07. 16 Members from the Dagenham Trades Hall sent 394 birds. Winning the club and federation making it two on the trot for the Trades Hall so far was T WILLIAMS with a blue chequer pied cock, 2nd P MAHONEY with a blue pied cock, 3rd S VIALLS & SON with a chequer hen, and 4th W EADY & SON with a blue chequer cock.
The week after the West Essex was at Newark yet again on the 28/4/07. Dagenham Trades Hall had 17 members with 399 birds. They made it three weeks on the trot of topping there federation with MR. & MRS. T CALVERLEY topping the federation with a blue cock. 2nd and 3rd was S VIALLS & SON with a dark chequer hen and a blue cock. 4th was T GREEN with blue pied cock.
This week the West Essex was at Wetherby. Dagenham Trades Halls winner was S VIALLS & SON as well as taking 2nd and 3rd postion.
Well ladies and Gentlemen that’s all I have to offer for this installment, I’ll be
back next with another, and hopefully a few more results. If anyone wish for the
results to be published, or any news don’t hesitate to get in contact . Sayonara for now!

Grasshopper