Personality Pr Ofile With Craig Wilkinson

 

Personality Profile With Craig Wilkinson

Via Questions From Jim Emerton

Q1: In your formative years what was the genesis for your love of racing pigeons?
 I have always been around pigeons since as long as I can remember, I have always loved the competitive side of the racing and still as addicted now as I can remember.

   Q2: Do your family have a keen dedication to the sport??
 I was born into a pigeon family my father David John Wilkinson has had pigeons all of his life his mother and father John and Elizabeth Wilkinson had pigeons too we have trophies that were my grandads and his brothers they are dated 1953 they used to race as Wilkinson Bros in the same town as me and dad still race in now.

            
        Craig showing his love for pigeons from a very early age  -    Craig at 4 years of age

 Q3:   What are your motives and ambitions within the sport?  
Well I'm 28 years old so hopefully have lots of racing left ambitions are I have a team of sprint pigeons I race weekly as I enjoy weekly club racing and also to keep my kids involved and I'm building a team of pigeons to compete in races 500 + miles i.e. Tarbes and Barcelona

 Q4:  What is the current origin of your stock birds?
The stock loft has a team of distance stock our original Taveirne Rigole birds that have served us very well winning lots across the channel Inc many times only bird on the day Niort 481 miles and 1st three counties combine Niort 2,054 pigeons, we have introduced with the help of Jim Emmerton Stichlebaut and Aarden pigeons to give us the extra 200 mile based on Jim’s line of his old Barcelona birds.

   Q5:  Are you impressed with Barcelona International, the birds and the fanciers??
Yes very much so people always look in on the Barcelona race unfolding must be a thrill to get one in this country, I Hope to find out for myself one day our attempt will hopefully be 2020 .

Craig Wilkinson (Right) with father David holing, a 1st fed winner and a 1st 2 bird specialist winner

 Q6:   Are books and articles of interest to you and good learning tools??
  Yes I am always reading and watching everyday I read about pigeons it's very easy now with the Internet you can read all current and archive articles.

Q7:  How will you feed, race and manage all your birds in the future? 
My team of distance pigeons will start this year 2017 I will have around 50 young these will be raced every other week in my fed I will keep what's left as yearlings these will go to a 400 mile National then as 2yr every bird will go to 550/600 mile international race Agen or something like that then all 3 yr at my house will go to Barcelona international, at Dad's we try and master Tarbes NFC, As for feeding we will hopper feed and use pellets and increase the fats the last few weeks

Q8: What are the qualities of a top racing man and the birds i.e.  champions.
 My view on a top racing man is someone who gives everything to get where he wants to get 110% everyday 365 days of the year, a champion pigeon is not just a one of winner it's a pigeon that is constantly excelling in its field sprint, middle or long distance racing.

Craig with sons Lewis, Harley and Ollie having won the all bird land average in the local club

 Q19: Are you seeking fame and global recognition for success?
  It would be nice to be known globally I'm sure if we can reach the top in the pigeon game maybe one day.

Q10: How can you contribute to the greater good of the fancy??
I think we all could help the fancy by bringing n new starters, and helping them as much as we physically can.

Youngest son Noah walking in dad's footsteps

 Q11: Kindly give us the benefit of your thoughts on any other aspects of pigeons and the natural world??  
In my time racing pigeons I have seen and heard many changes like Toulet then T3 and now ETS for the better yes definitely anything that stands still goes backwards, in my local club I am the youngest at 28 the majority are 50+, my latest son Noah has a very keen interest in the birds hopefully he will pass the Wilkinson name on in the future.

The new loft where hopefully it will all happen