THE PHILIP HODSON, BARCELONA STORY BY JIM EMERTON
Good afternoon Jim has asked me to fill in a small questionnaire to help get a bit of background to how I clocked a pigeon 849 miles in the bicc Barcelona race which might at the time of writing be able to receive the Jim Everton trophy
1 Tell us all about yourself Philip.
Well I now have been retired for about 5 years. And have been keeping Pigeons for the 1st time since April 2019 purchasing stock birds through Elimar auctions manly from the original Etienne Meirleen family .
2 What or who inspired you to take up pigeon racing?
This journey was started with a boys outing to Belgium to purchase Pigeons for Stev Carroll who took us to several loft visits and then to Lier pigeon market where I was taken back by the amount of people who were involved with Pigeons.
I asked Stev to explain what the difference is in sprint...middle...and long distance races which he did but followed by saying but that's not for you probably need the extreme distance. A Barcelona race is as far as possible to me. Well I didn't know the full enormity of what was involved but he said it was possible. On return to the UK I thought that I would like to have a new challenge and said that if I can get a pigeon back from Barcelona race then I will Walk it back. (Don't ask someone to do something that you are not prepared to do yourself)
And that's how I got in to Pigeons for the first time.
3 Do you like books or film on the subject?
Having never kept a pigeon I now started to look on the Internet for information and found a book on pigeon racing by Jim Emerton which is now falling to bits pages falling out etc etc it's been read that much.
Later I purchased pigeon man by Jim and now I am qualifying for one of his trophy s how surreal is that.
4 Describe your location and loft set up.
The start up to locate my loft has been made difficult because the land to the rear of the house is under discussion for compulsory purchase order so I bought a 40 foot box trailer and parked on the land much to the dismay of the enforcement officers when I turned into a mobile pigeon loft....it’s still here but for how long I am not sure.
5 Are you still learning the sport?
I have had to learn about Pigeons quick with the cpo in the back of my mind, so the Barcelona challenge begins with the Pigeons from Elimar auctions purchased and then joined the local flying club registering the loft etc there is so much to getting started for the first time.
6 What was your preparation for Barcelona International this year?
Two and a half years later I was debating had I been beaten.
No more channel racing without a cph number.
Well with a few phone calls to rpra Richard Chambers convinced me that it has to be done. THANKS again for your help Richard
7 Did you have a dream of clocking at 849 miles?
But next was the distance to mark your birds Sudbury Middlesex a 400 mile round trip. But I had a bit of luck travelling in luxury with Alan Wicker in his new car who had previously arranged for me to join the BICC with help of Carol Francis Thank you again.
8 What was your feeling when a 2 year old hen fell out of the sky in the BICC North West section for you?
Well that was it, two and a half years later on
All the hard work was done and the birds were on their way. Was all the extra sunflower hart's, peanuts oats going to be enough Well I was happy with the birds.
The race started Friday morning and I was debating when if anyone was going to time in nobody did. I sat watching the let board day after day not moving from 5 till 10 each day I was convinced that I would get birds back and I wanted to see it, but just being there was consuming that felt like a marathon session. I never give up kept saying I can I will get a bird back just goes to show the power of an affirmation if you want 
you have to give it and on the 7.14 22 at 6.56.52 I let my sons Yong birds out after a few minutes one of his birds landed with a bruised wing as I was looking up to followed another which landed on my let board which I thought was maybe a young bird of mine in with his I returned to the loft to see the Barcelona hen looking at her empty bowl then back at me then back at the empty bowl Well with tears in my eyes I said out load YOU can have as much as you want. She had completed the St Philbert masters race on the 2 July timed in the BICC and NFC and then clocked in Barcelona on the 14 July 2022 now that is what I call an Extreme distance pigeon bar none. So happy to complete the first part of the challenge with such a accomplished partner ..
9 At the moment of writing you may win 2 of my trophies, are you pleased with the prospect of that, with the race still on?
I was still in tears and the phone rang it was Jim Emerton to say I was eligible for one or more of his trophies that felt a bit strange, a bit surreal how can that happen was it fate or had I been willing for the bird to return a bit too hard I read every page in his books he needed to know I have been reading his books and how much a had appreciated his thoughts.
So I continued to tell him and he said well that's good to know something good has been accomplished with his written work...
So I would like to say a great big thank you to you Jim Emerton
