Old Strainnames

THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THE OLD STRAIN NAMES

 

It is amazing how history, shaped by fame and commercialism perpetuates and cements the names of Aarden and Stichelbaut in the popular consciousness of the fancy. Now the 2 men have been deceased for aeons of time and it intrigues me why some fanciers become so luminous in the eyes of men. Image is a powerful tool, since inbred families even are of diverse, assorted origins. I have organised inbreeding of some of my birds for 39 years and still they are not pure. A pigeon is a pigeon, all are unique individuals, yet for human reasons, the popular ones will continue to have fancier’s names. The archetype of humanising birds of wide origins was Buschaert. Discerning people speak of bloodlines, or based on when selling their birds to others. Old Eric Gibson said -“They re all mongrels Jimmy”. It is a sobering reality that few birds of any origin will race with real distinction, since the champion is rare and the waking reality of dreams.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

THE SPORT-A GREAT ENIGMA

The great writers, fanciers and thinkers, have made bold attempts to articulate the secrets, the wisdom, the knowledge, the essence behind the fanciers and their feathered athletes and will continue to do so in a distinctly human way. With little insights that hint at truth, we delude ourselves with the arrogance of dogma, bias and belief. The great paradox, is that with all the feeble power of human consciousness, the inner nature of the bird remains nebulous and poorly defined, the nature of navigation is opaque, yet we pursue the sport with intense fervour. The wonder, of pigeon racing is a true motivational force, that drives hardened men to fall in love with their humble racing pigeons. Thus records are broken, fortunes are made and the sting of fame is felt.

 

Jim Emerton

 

 

DAYS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

 

Head in the clouds in blissful absorption, I was captivated by the colourful acrobats of the warm summer sky. These were the birds of a young mans dream fulfilment, my Birmingham roller pigeons. Spinning and rolling and creating beautiful speed sensations, I became transfixed-my little world was complete. The aerial performance dance of these exotic birds is a true wonder and mystery of the avian world. An aesthetes delight, a truly lovely spectacle, they inspire the deepest contemplation that approaches transcendence. In the depths of the countryside, summer after summer I enjoyed the joyous detachment of these little bundles of athleticism.

 

Jim Emerton