Jim Emerton
I refer to the inner, spiritual nature of a person. You can walk around as a physical being, with the inner man remaining obscured from view by others. In my perception this is the real person behind any act. Mask or role play used in interpersonal contact. The true personality reveals the inner truth in contact with others in talk or print or other behaviours. Masking is not good for a sound psyche and may be symptomatic of mental health issues! Jim Emerton.
The race of your life is The Barcelona International pigeon race. It really is as good as it gets, taking skill, dedication and great birds in the peak of speed/endurance condition. Success is no fluke, not by chance as each bird will have innate navigational ability and respond to excellent management by the fancier and up to and over 800 miles post liberation. Birds in the clock are all true and worthy along with the men who send them. We are breeding off our timers now and have formed a strain around 9 separate timings at over 700 miles of measured racing. Our gene pool is now closed as we do not introduce fresh pigeons. The fancier needs a persistent cool head with intense concentration and planning. If at first you fail then shit or bust, push the peddle to the metal and go for it-THE RACE OF YOUR LIFE!
The essence of our Barcelona success is allowing the birds freedom to develop as individuals, whilst exercising a minimum of human, external control. We manage the birds with housing and feeding and develop the condition, contentment and personality of each bird. It is the drive to return home that motivates them at Barcelona. We feel and empathise with each bird, working gradually on race condition as the season progresses up to July. It takes an organised pattern and system of thought and action by us humans, something which is difficult to teach and replicate in other peoples birds. The real nature of a system dies with the death of the fancier -think about it.
A racing pigeon, like a human is born with an inbuilt, innate potential, based to a degree in its genetic blueprint. It may or may not express the full potential in relation to external life stimuli. The onus is on the personality of the fancier to develop and utilise the full character of each individual bird, by the correct management system. The wise fancier studies the finer points and nuances of his flock of individuals, to produce the best possible racing results. Some of my great marathon hens have been quiet, calm, restful birds that conserve energy, whilst some cocks are noted for their fiery, dominant nature and behaviour. Humans and birds then, are the result of the impact of the external world on the natural tendencies and potential of the individual-Jim Emerton.
In races over 700 miles, especially at Barcelona, it is what you can expect from the races. The birds have to navigate, feed and drink often and find their way home in wind, weather and changing landscapes or seas. We breed always from our birds in the clock to form a strain with persistent and dogged stamina. Here the inner nature of the birds is the key factor, where outer looks are less important-they can be big, small, balanced or imbalanced. With good birds, the genes are proven on arrival home! A fancier needs patience, planning, persistence and a cool head for this type of racing from France and Spain. It is a hard-old game, yet nice when you get one. It solves the mystery and answers the questions-such is the lure and fascination of The Barcelona International race. Jim Emerton.
