Progressonmymentoring.

 

 

PROGRESS ON MY MENTORING

 

All the lads take pleasure from the birds, which is the main thing. Nick continues to refine the strain by race testing out to Barcelona. My man in Scotland is assembling a race team for the extreme distance and Chris Booth is building for the NFC races. Michael Feeney is starting out with a stud, on Face Book and later as a website under the name of Safe Haven lofts. These lads are all keen in various aspects of the sport from marathons to articles. I enjoy making a positive contribution to their impact in the sport. We source and exchange birds of excellent origins from as far as Poland. I like the personality aspect of it all as kindred spirits. We seek another racing champion as the ultimate goal of our collective enterprises and I am keen on the Irish BICC connection.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

 

SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 750 AND 850 MILE RACING

The difficulty of these distances is compounded by The Barcelona International race. No one has ever timed in this over 800 miles on the 2nd day into the UK and Ireland - the challenge remains an onerous one.  The Padfields manage 757 miles very well. I consider and perceive that Vince is a racing Genius, with huge insight and rare knowledge into racing management and the preparation to tackle the marathon distance with birds of mixed origins. It would enhance our knowledge if he were to consent to an interview via Dave or a third party-original knowledge in print! Around 800 miles and most birds have stopped to rest, forage and perhaps to stray. A rare minority of any breeding will press on beyond the 850 mark. Some reasons for this may be in reduced energy reserves, poor navigational ability and inner resolve to home, as pigeons are not the best migratory birds in the world. In my minds eye the champion bird of the last few years is The Marco Wilson Dark Cock - BICC, 844 MILES, 3rd day in difficult conditions. My bias is evident, yet the old lad has a string of Tarbes performances over 700 miles and is sire of an 844 mile hen. Dreamers and oddballs-the pioneers-will continue to race on the edge of possibility and to challenge probability.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

 

LIMITATIONS OF THE RACING PIGEON

 

 

They are not the longest flying migratory birds in the world by any means.  In the UK, few will crack on over 800 miles in race time, yet  748 miles has been achieved on the day of liberation, when the old school thought that 500 miles was a long way. Fuel them up with fats and supplements and they still need to rest, drink and forage en route. Many birds feed on the wing, or fly at night. With over 100 miles an hour a possibility, some racers can sure speed on home.  There is a race each year, which will show the navigational and homing potential of pigeons - it is The Barcelona International in July - it tests all the theories and answers all the questions believe me. At distances over 700 miles, many racers do it in stages over weeks and sometimes much faster the next year.  Each individual bird has a performance potential and the clever fancier discovers this in practice. There is a strong link between the bird and the limitation of the human flying it.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

HOW HUMBLE BIRDS BECOME RACING CHAMPIONS

 

 

A bird is born with a racing potential, which is in part influenced by genes. Some of these may be performance related in terms of racing and could be isolated, analysed and coded. In a racing career a pigeon, with its inner potential comes under many environmental influences including the personal impact of the fancier and his total management regime including the loft and the intricacies of his racing system. On liberation the bird is influenced by raw nature in many guises such as weather, possible predation and assorted risks en route to base loft. To become a racing champion in the eyes of man, all the facets of the diamond need to sparkle as a brilliant whole, so that the bird realises its innate potential in racing. The expert fancier has the esoteric knowledge to assist the production of optimal condition. I take a holistic approach and attempt to influence the entire being of the bird on a physiological and psychological level. There is much more to a bird than our current literature on it suggests and can be studied from many human perspectives. In reality the limitation is human consciousness-this hints at both psychology and philosophy and language, as aids to an incomplete understanding of the humble pigeon.

 

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

 

ESSENTIAL SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF PIGEON RACING

 

 

The harmony with, empathy for and the relationship between man and his birds is both deeply felt and profound. In the endless search for results, the spiritual aspect can be the catalyst that fires a loft to greatness. This sensitive relationship can be absent where hardened men treat the birds as objects and machines, in neglect of the fact that each bird is a sentient being. Being quiet and kind with your birds, creates contentment in the loft which is tangible. The little old boy sat with his corn tin, in the rose garden knew this well. Modern society with rampant materialism and a scientific bias neglects the spirit and soul of man to his peril, which accounts for much mental disorder. The essence is peace and harmony in the loft.  Race condition is to be found in a bird with an optimal level of physiological and psychological functioning-men of rare talent cultivate these essentials through devotion to and love of the birds. I like a monasterial approach to the sport.

 

 

Jim Emerton