My Personal Journey By Nicholas Harvey of Taunton, Somerset

Details: Published: 01 January 2020; Hits: 2244

THE ELIMAR INTERVIEW

BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

by Nicholas Harvey of Taunton, Somerset

Interviewer: Jim Emerton

Allow me to introduce you to Nicholas Harvey of Taunton, Somerset. Initially, having enjoyed my insights through my various articles, he wrote me a warm, enthusiastic letter. Our friendship has bloomed into a loyal, dedicated partnership aimed at the Barcelona International. A joint conception and a single objective. His feel and empathy is second to none and Nic is destined for greatness with the help of my strain of birds.

Before I start this interview I need to say that, although I race in my name alone, my achievements this year would not have been possible without the advice, system, knowledge and complete belief in how to prepare a pigeon to fly extreme distances from Jim Emerton. And my mate, Gibbo, who has built lofts and aviaries and who helps with all the training, constant trips to corn merchants, all the paperwork and makes sure the birds get to the BBC and BICC marking stations. I class these two gentlemen as silent partners.

I have tried for seven years to achieve an arrival from Barcelona without success, waiting, watching the skies, not leaving the house until dark, just in case, but always failing until this year. But let’s not go into that!

Who or what inspired you on this incredible journey?

All the small loft fanciers who dedicate their lives to producing birds to fly extreme distances: Des Coulter, Mick Parish, Denney, Emerton, Bush brothers. But the final piece in the puzzle was the Emerton interview with Frank Kay. That really made me wake up and think: ‘Right, let’s go for it!’

Musgrove Insights - 2nd Section C 27th Open BBC Barcelona International 710 miles 2012

Describe the evolution of your ambitions in pigeon racing.

I only have one ambition and that is to get better results from the Barcelona International each year. This is my passion and if I couldn’t race it, I most probably would not race pigeons.

What personal qualities are needed of dedicated fanciers?

Passion, addiction, obsession, single-mindedness that no matter what, every day of the year, you are preparing your birds for the ultimate goal. I am a hospital porter, living in a council house. I’m always skint. The birds always have the best before I even think of my own food. When I send to BBC or BICC races, you can guarantee that the rent officer will be on the phone for back rent. We’re even on first name terms. LOL! What I am trying to say is that total commitment brings results. I’ve lost count of the number of women who have walked out on me because I have put the birds first!

Can you describe the details of your total management system, please.

Open loft every day of the year is, in my humble opinion, the biggest thing. The birds love it and I’m sure they fight just that little bit harder to get home. G10 pellets, hopper fed, all year. They shine on them. Race birds this year were paired 15th April on open loft, of course, put straight on pot eggs and after one 60-mile trainer and one short south road combine race, were ready for the three BBC shorter races. No other racing. Maybe a couple of 50-mile trainers if needed. Gerry Plus, peanuts, Hormoform and a little bit of hemp is the evening feed for these early races with Superstar Plus replacing the Gerry Plus before the International races.

Musgrove Gibbo - 3rd Section C 31st Open Barcelona International 2012

What is the way to test in reality a bird’s ability to race long and marathon distances?

There is only one way to test a bird’s ability: send, send, send to the hardest races you can think of. Don’t let it cross your mind that you might fail. Don’t be side-tracked or put off by negative thinkers. Be confident that if you have done your job and the birds are right, you will get something. I sent 18 yearlings last year to Marmande, 474 miles. It was every yearling in my loft. Result: 10 on the day; 17 home; dropped one.

In what races do you send as trainers for the test of tests?

Every single race from baby races to the BBC and BICC races I class as trainers for Barcelona. I don’t take the baby races - maybe 100 miles maximum - too seriously, although I always have a clock set.

How do you feel about International racing into the UK as a yearling test?

I sent my yearling team to Marmande last year with the South Road Combine and was planning the same this year. I sent all my 21 birds - every bird in the loft that was able to go. There were six or seven left at home (late returns, a couple injured) and, although low down in the result, I got every one of them. It was then that, while chatting to you Jim, you planted a seed in my brain: Agen International with yearlings. The idea terrified me, but the seed grew and, with the Frank Kay interview in my mind, I decided that they were going.

What happened when you sent 16 yearlings to Agen International (504 miles)?

The first problem was getting to Bath for the marking. My mate, Gibbo, was working – a very rare occurrence! I texted Alan Baker and after a few days he said he’d take me.

I turned up at the marking and looked around. Halstead, Cooper, Green, Newton. I looked at the crates the Welsh boys had brought over. Every one of them a household name. I’m telling you, I nearly picked up my crates and said ‘F*** this! I’m going home!’ Anyway, I held my nerve and had a couple of fags. Richard Green and Geoff Cooper put my birds through. S***! I was out of my league. Alan and I were left wondering what on earth I was doing.

They went up on Saturday morning and I sat waiting till dark with nothing. I was feeling a bit despondent until a couple of mates with computers and some idea what to do with them rang me. Only 20 birds home. That made me feel much better.

Up at 4.00 am on Sunday morning, 2 cups of rocket fuel (coffee) and I had to get my Barcelona birds for marking. Paul Addicott picked them up at 8.00 am. I stood back, waiting and was beginning to think that I was really crazy, when my dark hen, crammed full of the best Emerton lines, dropped. It was maybe the best moment of my life – so far – to record 58th Open, 12th West Section. I had three more that day: 90th Open, 13th Sec; 112th Open, 16th Sec and 147th Open, 27th Sec. To more seasoned flyers that might seem average, but, to me, it was amazing.

Musgrove Delight - 58th Open BICC Agen International 504 miles as a yearling, 1 of 10 to the loft

What now are your plans for these yearlings?

There is only one plan for these yearlings in due course: Barcelona International.

Please describe some of your best bloodlines.

I have two aviaries. In the first, I have all the Emertons - some from the stock lofts of Booth & Shipley of York and a pair sent from Ireland from your originals Jim. I think I have birds from some of the best. In the other loft, I have my bits and pieces: Mick Parish, Des Coulter, British Barcelona Stud and a couple of cock birds from Paul Addicott’s top birds.

Are there people you admire in the sport?

Anyone who strives against all odds to fly birds at the extreme distance.

Can you please describe your personal routine on a race day.

When flying the Nationals and Internationals, full of nervous energy, I can fly off the handle in a second. But once I’ve got one, I relax and enjoy it.

Musgrove Obsession - 4th Section C 35th open BBC Barcelona International 2012

In your opinion, why is Barcelona International at the top echelon of racing?

For me, it’s the only race in the world. Every baby hatched is for one purpose only: the Barcelona International.

How did your Barcelona 2012 race unfold?

The nervous energy had only just died down from Agen, then it was Barcelona – up Friday dinnertime. I’d managed to get 10 of the 16 yearlings, so even though it made me a little more confident, I had failed so many times, I was really on edge, waiting. Saturday and Sunday: not many home and only one in my section. Monday morning: up at 4.00 am. It got to 8.30 am, I turned around to put the toast in the toaster and my blue Parish/BBC Stud cock was on the trap! I’d done it!

The feeling was indescribable. Even though I’d rehearsed the verification procedure a hundred times, I fell to pieces, but I did manage. I was in shock all day.

Then at 5.30 pm, my chequer cock (Parish/BBC Stud breeding again] hit the trap so hard he nearly went through it! Amazing! When I picked him up there was nothing on him. He wouldn’t have gone another 20 miles. I was in shock. It was like it was happening to someone else.

I hardly slept that night, managed to crawl out of bed about 5.30 am, multiple cups of rocket fuel, then at 8.50 am, my cheq cock came diving out of the sky. This was my Marmande winner as a yearling and full brother to two of the yearlings in the clock from Agen.

The next three days went by in a haze. Saturday morning came and I wasn’t sure what time the race closed. I was just thinking that I would need one more to make everything perfect and my little cheq hen dropped – a half sister to the Marmande winner and the two yearlings. What a stock hen! Two yearlings in the clock from Agen and two 2-year-olds in the clock from Barcelona. She was a gift bird from Steve Wain of Derbyshire, containing your top lines Jim.

My Barcelona 2012 result: At 710 miles into Taunton! 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th Section C BBC. Only 9 in race time in Sect C. BBC Open - 27th, 31st, 35th, 46th.