THE HARDEST RACE ROUTES INTO THE UK?
A REPLY by Gareth Rankin
This has always been an interesting subject and one that has been covered many times, more so on internet websites than the weekly papers of the BHW & the RP. Anyhow my own personal view on the matter is that Scotland, especially the WEST OF SCOTLAND, is the hardest route to fly into the UK. The reason I come to this view is because of what the pigeons have to endure on the last 130 miles of the journey, flying from our longest race, which generally has been Tours at a distance of 611 miles.
After flying 470 miles, which takes the birds into the start of Cumbria, they have got to endure the flight of hell which takes them into the most mountainous end-of-journey flight into the UK. First of all the pigeon has to deal with the Cumbrian Hills and Mountains which have an extensive range that exceeds 2000ft. Once they conquer this area they then move onto the Southern uplands of Scotland which begin just over the border from England up to Lanarkshire, a distance of approx 60 miles, and again the pigeons have to deal with a range of hills that exceed 2000ft. In total on this last leg of the journey they have approximately 80 hills and mountains of the Southern uplands over 2000ft to race through, not easy for them as with every mountain on their flight path there is extra mileage put on a pigeon's total flying distance, which reminds me of the comment of a top Scottish exile who now resides in the Midlands quoting that a 500 mile race into Scotland is the equivalent of a Midlands and southern pigeon flying 600 miles.
Another point that makes this the hardest route of all is that the pigeons have to deal with the greatest fluctuation in temperatures of all race routes in the UK. These pigeons are liberated in France and within hours they have to deal with the soaring heat of France, then the South of England, then whilst coming up through England the temperature gradually decreases, but then as they approach the last part of their journey, i.e. Scotland at the 550 mile stage, the temperature takes a dramatic dip. A coldness with a damp feel takes hold, which is typical for the west of Scotland. This temperature will be around 6 to 8 degrees lower than fanciers' pigeons ending their journeys into the southern half of England. It is noted that even in late June and early July the temperatures in this region at night can drop to 5 degrees celcius. This change of temperature must have a detrimental effect on the pigeons' muscles, causing cramping and tiredness, and yet they have to stay sharp enough to avoid the peregrine and have the mental strength to carry on.
What also has to be taken into consideration for these gallant birds is that after being on the wing generally for 14 hours from a long distance race, it is certain that a degree of tiredness will have crept in. The pigeons at this stage have to combat the peregrines in what is known as the heaviest populated area within the UK. The Scottish southern uplands at this time of the night, 19.00, become a like a darkened dungeon, this because of the sun setting to the west and because of the vast range of hills and mountains; the sun has no influence in helping pigeons find there passage through here. I have driven many times through these hills and at 19.00 you would not stop for a picnic and let your kids out of the car. Yes that is how terrorising this area of Scotland is, and this, along with the other points raised, makes flying into the west of Scotland the hardest race route in the UK.
Of course this is only my biased opinion and I am sure there are many others who have their own view. On that note I have viewed Alan Baker’s point of view on Elimar and to an extent I would have to agree with him that racing into Ireland is not the hardest route. Perhaps at one time it was, this when they had regular races from Nantes and Les Sables. Nowadays there is only a very small percentage of Irish fanciers that race over 500 miles. It was only 2 years ago whilst my late father sat on a quiz panel in his homeland of Northern Ireland, that he told them that they should attend the the AGM of the INFC and propose that a race of the 600 mile mark be put back on the club's calendar as they had lost their way a little when it came to long distance racing.
Although the races into Ireland have become shorter, there is no doubt in my mind that some of the most gallant pigeons fly into Ireland. I say this because of the English channel that they have to cross, then on top of this the Irish sea has got to be dealt with. What I have noticed is that when the conditions are bad then it’s really bad, on the other hand, when calm conditions are to be had for that liberation day then the distance of their longest race becomes no more than that of a middle distance race to 95% of the Irish fanciers.
Jim Emerton!! What have you started, lol.
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