O L D S Y C a M O R E C O T T a G E H O L T B Y T H E G E N E S I S

 

 

OLD SYCAMORE COTTAGE HOLTBY - THE GENESIS

 

In 76 we moved there from Southampton for 30 years to develop my career and strain surrounded by trees, open fields and sparrowhawks. Mother and I lived like spartan hillbillies, as the plantation, orchard and gardens grew wild-it was ecological bliss, with stoats and pheasants in the butterfly garden, and a loft of free range pigeons. The man to beat in the formative years was Denney, who at Tarbes emerged as a great flier with his own strain of mixtures. From this romantic, ideal setting our personal histories were cemented by some special racing performances that stand the test of time. My mother and i were not materialistic, with intellectual and artistic traits that were allowed to grow and mature under the guiding hand of nature. Now I reflect, with sweet nostalgia on the days when the sun shone and the birds raced with distinction to the home they loved. My main work now is to inspire others to reach for the stars, to touch them for a single moment, as destiny unfolds.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

RESULTS COUNT

 

The essence of the nature of the racing game is hard results-we are never satisfied with ours, which is a motivational source. We need more champions to come from the strain-there will be some. How do i judge a pigeon man? He has to meet my criteria-as follows-has made a lasting contribution to the collective  good of the sport, has developed a good strain of birds over 25 years plus at all distances to beyond 700 miles. One way is to mentor novices to get results and donate trophies - a kind of ego - altruism. Psychologically if you are happy with a career in birds then it is the result that counts in the end. Personally I would sacrifice all my firsts for one champion out of Barcelona Int. Racing is hard grind, and I do prefer my creative writing and mentoring the neophytes and initiates - some of them appreciate it in a genuine sense - I am aware of The Janus Face of humanity.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING

 

The top men in the game all have advanced esoteric info in their heads and at their fingertips. Mine was created from academic study and insights from breeding and racing practices. In 40 years some intuitive leaps have helped me to create a unique breeding and racing system. Others attempt to replicate it,and may become quite close, yet it remains mine. The Zsolt Talaber books are great as was Schraag, since good applied science is there to help the intelligent fancier. I use a fusion of the wild open loft with quality solid and liquid feeding, which with the man all optimise and maximise race condition that is crucial for marathon flying from Spain. What works is a fusion of all we think and do with our key genes and inner potential of the birds. The desire has always been to improve the strain - after 40years some steady progress is made.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

THE TOTAL BEING OF EACH BIRD

 

Pigeons are sentient, complex creatures in an intimate relationship with man. How do they tick, and respond to our understanding and EMPATHY? The men of old were right with love of home concepts of distance racing. A hen may flirt with you and race her heart out - stroke them on the nest and feed peanuts to each one. Today I apply science and personal insight to supply all the physiological/psychological needs of the blood/heart/brain and lungs and psyche. In bird in great form will need navigational ability/individual .solo flight, speed and endurance-some are hatched with it. A quiet, if not silent approach is key with calm handling by the master.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

ADVANCED NUTRITION FOR PIGEONS

 

I have created a real cocktail of feeds for our racers and breeders. As a base are G10 pellets in the hoppers for all birds, with Matrix in containers. We mix Versela Laga Gerry Plus with Superstar Plus, and add Wilsbridge No 2, peanuts, sunflower hearts, hormoform, tovo, hemp, brewers yeast, seed and oil mixtures. In the water is Vydex Supersix or Blitzform on certain days before basketing - stock in aviaries, old and young racers on open loft. We have won from 31 to 879 miles with the same strain on similar methods. The young are perfect and we have had 15 birds from Barcelona International over the years-no rationing and starving of the birds - no breakdown - is countenanced. A build up regime in racing prepares the birds for 710 plus miles and further-down to the race and the pigeon then.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

RACERS NEED REST

 

I like 4 wks or so loft rest at home before a marathon flight of over 700 miles. Before this and in steady increases in race distance a nice fly of up to 500 miles will be under the belt. The birds will have fuelled up on my unique feeding system and will be laden with fuel and fat reserves in the internal organs-glycogen in the liver etc. A short toss of around 100 miles in the week before basketing will add the final tuning element to the condition. Exercise at home then with no stressful basket/road training. The birds are then calmly caught for basketing and marking. Time on the wing, build up preparation is essential, with birds left at home certain week ends from the race prog -BICC/BBC/NFC. The birds are blown up with air/muscle and fat reserves for Barcelona Int. where stamina is key. We are not expecting to win this race as no uk person has done it - the essence is the majesty and awesome challenge of the Pyrenees and Spain in the greatest race on planet earth.

 

 

Jim Emerton