Jim Emerton Talks to the great Roger Lowe
How did the fascination with pigeons begin Roger? I first had fancy pigeons just for something to keep and watch. I then started talking to a neighbour Bill Huggings who kept racing pigeons. And after a while that was it I was hooked I had a loft with a few racers in and from those humble beginnings I am what I am today.
Did you love and learn from nature as a child? As a child I guess I was the same as any other kid no particular fascination in nature just the normal kid things like fishing ,watching where the birds nested ,finding the odd grass snake ect. All normal kid stuff.
Were famil and friends involved with pigeons and livestock? When I first started racing pigeons my family and friends were not interested in the birds I have over the years made many good friends in the sport.
You are a colourful character in the sport, do you have an interesting story to tell us? You could say I am quite a colourful character in the sport, it’s not all serious stuff and I have some colourful friends too, but not sure some of our finest moments could be published, let’s just say we enjoy ourselves at times I have some very good friends .
How did you climb the ranks, from humble beginings to be at the top of the National Game- what personal qualities are required to be outstanding? It took some time for me to climb the ladder of success, if it was easy we would all be at the top. But over the years I have tried to buy from the best, learn from the best, work hard to become one of the best and been dedicated to my birds and the sport. I have changed many things over the years, feeding methods loft design and how the birds are raced, it has all been a learning curve. I would hope after 40 odd years to have achieved the rewards I am now reaping.
Can you tell us any aspects of your methodology which may account for your success? Methods I believe that have helped in gaining my status of today is keeping bird’s healthy, good ventilation and no overcrowding in the lofts. Loft design is quite important. Good quality feeds nice clean corn. Management of the birds, routines and good training no molly codling, the birds are here to do a job if they cannot return from training tosses that may prove to be a bit difficult, they will not return from a hard race. And of course you need a decent kit of birds that are up to the job, so buy from proven stock. Breed from your best birds only to keep standards high introducing new blood to keep moving forward.
Do supplements make a difference? Supplements within the loft are necessary for birds to get all the nutrients required, these are offered at regular times to keep the birds in top condition.
How do you weight the fancier/bird percentage in your many successes? I believe the fancier to bird ratio for success is a 50/50 match. A top class winning pigeon will not perform if I fail to keep it in top condition. Likewise if I have a no hope pigeon I cannot make it win races if it’s not got it in it.
What are your loves, hates and highlights in pigeons? My love, hate and highlights of the sport. Don’t get me started on this one I could go on and on. But in a nutshell,I love the sport of racing pigeons with a passion, I hate that sometimes we don’t move forward, there are solutions and choices in everything in life and it appears at times we are stuck in the past in this sport because fanciers do not see the bigger picture. The highlights for me have been my success at specialist and national club racing these past few years.
What are the responsibilities of a top man within the sport and his impact in the wider field of knowledge, publicity etc?
Responsibilities of any fancier at the top of the game , is to be level headed ,help others to achieve success pass on helpful tips and ideas support young fanciers coming into the sport. Help promote racing pigeons, our membership falls each year. Support your clubs federations and specialist clubs in any way you can. Share your knowledge with others through Moots or Articles, those that want to learn from it can or they can ignore it.
Roger, how do you select a bird to value or keep? Selection of birds to keep is 99% percent proven qualities and abilities to either win or breed winners.
Roger Lowe's "My Little Diamond"
Any comments on the way the game is going or characters?
I think more fanciers that want to achieve are turning more and more to the specialist racing clubs like NFC, BICC, CSCFC and BBC, I think that’s where it’s at today.
Caversham members.
Do you have a fondest memory, a final houur in your bird life?
My fondest memories is probably CONIMIX DREAM who won the Lambell BBC National when there was only 5 home on the mainland on the day out of 2,315 birds in 2005. I had wait till 12 o’clock the following day to have it confirmed. My other fondest was wining NFC y/b National in 2007 with MY LITTLE DIAMOND having her only race ever.
My Little Diamond see text above.
Have you any other comments, ideas or insights to add to add further depth to this little chat?
There is no secret in pigeon racing; it’s in the basket that tells.
The BBC Winner "Fast as Lightning" Winner of BBC by 25 mins.
Roger Lowe's fabulous NFC YB team of 2012
Jim Emerton
