GLOBAL COMMUNICATION OF THE SPORT
I would like to see further expansion of the word of UK writers and personalities. This is growing in the form of rapid computor communication of websites like Parkies Elimar. We are now reaching many countries like Australia/America and Canada,and i would like to see inroads into Asia and other areas with the use of translation facilities,in an ongoing world expansion in ideas,news and knowledge. There will be the usual coomercial implications and fame issues with this information generation. Today many little men can enjoy their moments in the spotlight and why not? It is a fame -driven global society,where stars are born,fade and die.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAN YOU NOT TRAIN YBS IN THE BIRTH YEAR?
Each bird is born with a race potential that can be realised by the environment. With frailty,age or disability a wise fancier can just exercise the team and let them run or range about the area,wherever they want,and grow them on over winter. However my young bird racing days were rewarding which i practiced for many years in the days when i was young and keen-it was all part of the club tradition and culture,and is what we all did. In reality some good old birds are the result of resting or racing ybs. Every fancier operates a different system,where the chief factor is race condition-pigeons tolerate many people,methods and housing and feeding regimes. You can learn from the people who do it best ,as many will hepl or advise you in print or vocally. The essence is how you learn tp practice what you see and hear with your brain.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTS THAT WORK
After research and practical racing we have found some supplements that improve health and condition. They are liquid and solid as additional feeds. Give them a try and observe the condition of your young and old birds. For water solution we administer Vydex Supersix, Rohnfried Blitzform,and Aviform Ultimate. To the corn mix add peanuts, sunflower hearts,hemp,oils,brewers yeast,hormoform and tovo. As a mineral boost we give Gem Matrix,and G10 pellets in the solid food mix. Any Soya and Barley will be in the pellets. I created this amalgam of foods and believe me the birds shine with well being. I have success from 71 to 879 miles in racing to my old ramshackled loft at Holtby. Variations on this diet suit all the birds right through the year.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTUMN TRAINING OF LATEBREDS.
This applies to young hatched after the end of June. They need to be out everyday to range about at will,if you can,and to eat as much as they desire,as they are growing and moulting. They will be worth overwintering if you toss them to 50 miles by the end of October. Some good old birds have never trained as YBs-i do like to sort the out early. Raced/trained birds do inspire some confidence when you look at them . The ideal scenario is to keep bringing fresh birds into the team for the future as marathon racing takes no prisoners. Progeny testing of your family evey year is crucial to long term success. I like early morning tosses to give all day for the birds to work back home. In race reality a minority of birds from any origin or breeding will cut the mustard-a sobering truth of pigeon racing.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPEED/ENDURANCE.
Speed often decreases with distances over 600 miles where stamina and endurance are more of a premium. Most racers,UK, have had enough at around 750 miles,no matter who has raced or bred the bird. In avian terms it is NOT very far,that is why 800 miles stretches the best of the birds. All these are endurance birds,often raced by marathon men. Lots of the best of specialist feeding may fuel a racer up for the task in hand. These days Trevor Robinson knows how to do it,since birds are the result of a man and his system-it does not matter one jot the cost of the stock,it is if you can fly them or not. I like birds with both qualities of speed/endurance that can score from sprint to marathon,yet 800 milers tend to be out and out marathon pigeons-a rare minority for individualists.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THINGS TO DO IN THE AUTUMN.
We maintain the marathon mix of foods and supplements to aid body growth and the moult. Birds are on open loft as usual to bathe and do exactly what their behaviours and instincts demand. The stock are in aviaries,yet we do not confine or ration the racers as birds are born to fly in free air and all the elements. Closed in pigeons will not normally race in excess of 700 miles marathons will they?? Use up all the race mixes as commercial mouting mixes are unnecessary. In November the supplements and additives can be reduced for the winter. Now the sun will help to put a condition gloss on your young birds-freedom is the watchword for fit ,healthy pigeons. Watch those latebreds for pests and diseases at this time.
Jim Emerton
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHY I LOVE PIGEONS.
Sixty-five years ago at 3 years of age ,i felt the delight and pleasure in my first pigeons. We had canaries and a blue budgie called Joey too. A bird has an intrinsic beauty and character of its own,and like folk each one is distinct. My system recognises the value of each bird,although the method is a generalised blueprint or pattern. In my 11 years in study at colleges and Universities my love of racers never died,and i caught many a strag everywhere i went ,as far as The Himalaya to the roof of the world. I must have been imprinted on them at a deep and profound level. They are a harmless species well habituated to man,hardy and versatile. I see no reason to not find them fascinating.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE CERTAINTIES OF PIGEON RACING
It is a truism that you will lose many birds and races,and you will feel down at times. Rewards favour years of dedication,and the genius is obsessed from start to finish ,leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of knowledge. Success will come with the mastery of a system,which will be original and peculiar to you. Another truth is that really good birds are rare no matter what the cost,origin and type of system-ace fanciers will breed and race more than most,because of who they are. If you do well fellow competitors in your clubs will resent it as you are rivals-it reflects human emotionality. If you keep sending the same birds over the years ,they will get the message and strag. The great races are unlikely to be won,yet small fish are sweet. Too much stress and effort to be top prise winner will make you worn out and depressed-so float like a butterfly sting like a bee-shoulders like a bullock brain like a pea! The whole game is psychological and personality based.
Jim Emerton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
