KINGDOM RACING PIGEON ASSOCIATION
by Stuart Bowman
Hello again folks, hope everyone had an eventful and peaceful festive season. I would like to wish you all a happy new year and a successful season in 2009.
What will the 2009 season be like, who knows because no two seasons are exactly the same. One thing is for sure though, the same names will reappear at or near the top of the list, as they have done for many a year! There will of course be the odd exception to the rule. Good luck to all who compete, whether it is short, middle or long distance racing you aspire to!
It has been a bit quiet over the festive season in the pigeon sport, but this is usually the case at that time of the year. I was away with the Family visiting relatives in Cumbria on Christmas Eve, returning on the 28th after an enjoyable break from the hustle and bustle.
On Dec 30th a letter appeared from Matt Shields the St . Serfs Club, secy with some details of their Prize list from 2008.
Chris ( Buster ) Brown a dear friend to the club was on hand to present the Prizes. John Proctor won the Reims trophy and p money. John Methven, p money. Bob Blyth p money. Dod Harley p money. Davie Whyte p money. Climbing a little bit more up the ladder, Dave Burns won the OB Ave, the Arras Trophy and £69. Sandy Proctor won the lowest winning velocity, plus £34 prize Money. Jackie Wishart £26 prize money. Jim Anderson Combined Ave, Y. B Ave trophy and £30 prize money.
Highest Prize winner was Matt Shields winning the Huntingdon trophy, Wanstead Flats trophy, Wakefield Y.B trophy, Best Ave 3 Association Open races, the best 2 bird Huntingdon yearlings Ave trophy and £155 prize money. Not a bad lift and the club prize money payout was £350.
The club wishes to say a big thank you to all who sponsored them during 2008 , namely Joe Bowman, Andy Gibson, Jim Anderson, The Village Inn, Alistair Birkett, John Proctor, Matt Shields and Peter Holt. They would also again like to thank Chris Brown for coming along to present their Prizes.
The members have also mentioned that they send their best wishes to Davie Burns who has just went through a triple bye pass operation. As far as I know Davie is on the road to recovery, and we at the Kingdom hope this continues. So get Well Soon Davie we will see you before long. Many thanks to Matt Shields for the information and best wishes to the members for 2009.
Well still not too much happening at the moment, January too is usually a quiet month. Some fanciers are busy though as they paired up late November and December. I don’t envy them though, down to the loft early at this time of year with frozen water in the drinkers, sometimes solid ice! On some days they won’t be able to go away for too long before it ices over again. Some fanciers have their loft lights come on early morning to help rear the babies in the nest and they are on longer in the evening to give a little more light for the same reason. This is fine if that’s what you want to do. If there are any fanciers who can’t stand the thought of their birds drinking almost ice, you know when it’s part broken or almost slush. Try this, after the birds have all been fed and have had plenty of time to get a drink. Go back into the loft when the lights go out or are put out and throw out the evening water. That way you will be guaranteed to be with your birds at first light with fresh water and no ice in it, if you want to rear sound youngsters with no set backs! These y.b’s should be able to go all the way with age on their side whether they are put on Darkness or not.
Personally I will be waiting til February before I pair the stock, and some yearlings up. I have never paired early, always waiting til about the middle of February to pair the stock ones. Not necessarily because it’s better, it’s just something I prefer to do and am in no hurry. It’s a good job because I feel they are a little over weight at the moment. However I have since the new year put more Barley into them and they only get about 20% mixture. They look better for it but I am now in the process of cutting down the amount, and it’s so far so good. The real problem though is that they have not been out enough, simply because I refuse to supply endless meals on wheels for the raptures all winter! Over the next 3-4 weeks I will start getting them out a bit more, still keeping an eye on their feed. All this should help when they are paired and ready to lay, as we all know pigeons which are fat and not in condition will not lay on time.
I have about 24 pairs including stock at the moment so don’t need to pair early, I’ve got a little bit of work to do yet to get them into breeding condition. About 10-14 days before they are paired I will gradually reduce the amount of barley and increase the mixture in the diet, ensuring that no pigeon gets more than one ounce. Before I used to cut out the barley completely at this stage, but this year I might keep about 20% barley or depurative in the mix depending on what’s left at the time. It will more or less be the same when I pair the ob’s up about the first week in March. Hopefully like everyone else i will be able to rear some good yb’s this year which will go through the program and beyond. Plenty of water will go under the bridge before then though!
Dale Newcome
I was very sorry to learn of Dale Newcome of Macmerry who sadly passed away on the morning of the 4th January. Dale was a keen fancier since he was a young lad, and had a lot to live up to flying against his Father Eddie, Uncles Sid and Joe, and Brother Clive, all household names. However Dale managed two Rennes National victories, and quite a few other near misses to prove that he would always be someone to be reckoned with! He certainly was and is one of only 3 fanciers to win the Rennes race twice! That says a lot about Dale's character. A highly respected lad and a well kent face in Distance racing circles across the UK. Sadly he is no more after a battle with illness which he fought to the end. To his wife Karen and the Newcome Family, may we the members of the KRPA, express our Sincere condolences to you at this very sad time.
Coming to the end of this short report i would just like to remind fanciers that the SNRPC AGM at Newbridge is just around the corner In mid February. So if you have anything to say about the balance sheet, proposals or the future of the club then be there. Similarly the Kingdoms AGM will be shortly afterwards and again you know where to be, it could be important.
I won’t be at the Blackpool show this year, but there’s always next year, I’m sure it will be a great show as usual and hope everyone thoroughly enjoys it even though it will be one week later this year.
The SNRPC’s Presentation on Sat 31st January will be another event I won’t be at this year even although it will be a brilliant night ! I should be counting sheep by the time everything is in full swing at the Prize night, but I’ll have a clear head in the morning!!! Seriously I hope everyone has a fantastic night and that the event as always lives up to another memorable occasion!
Until next time, I can be contacted at 118 Sinclair Drive Cowdenbeath Fife ky4- 9rg, tel 01383- 518471, or email to
