Parkinson. L.J.
I am like many more fanciers, when I first started we never heard of drugs and medication like we do today in the modern age of racing pigeons. Yes, I know we have written about this before and it is something that is not going to go away, or at least I don't expect it to there is too much at stake. I was recently talking to Dave Chow about how things have changed since he restarted in comparison to when he first had pigeons. Things were so simple many years ago, but I am still of the same opinion and that is the health of our pigeons being of the utmost importance but how we get there is always a difference of opinion.
The continental fanciers have always been regular visitors to the vets which was not the case in the UK until fanciers started visiting the continent. Years ago, pigeon fanciers used to look after their own stock here in the UK because they knew more about pigeons than the vets did and even though in the main there are still fanciers who do there are also fanciers who do not and need help. This is where they started to learn how they kept their pigeons in good condition, this did not happen in all cases but it did with those who had that bit extra money in their pockets to visit the vets who are and never have been the cheapest of people to visit.
The amount of money here in the UK was relatively low when I started but not nowadays it has now become the religion of many fanciers. The problem is it has caused a lot of fanciers to leave the sport because they can no longer afford to keep pigeons never mind race them. Money in any kind of sport or hobby is a good thing but it is also the downfall of many things in the world especially when greed takes over. Football is no different there are now so many mercenaries playing the game they are ruining it along with their agents. Can this trend be changed, no it cannot because more wants more, yes, I do have a business in the sport but I keep the costs down as much as possible and do things for nothing as a gesture of goodwill so that I am also putting back into pigeons to help the sport go round and there are many more who are doing the same. I enjoy pigeons and all that goes with them too much to drain it like so many are doing.
Let's get back to the change that drugs have made and how fanciers are always looking to try something else to win and gain the upper ground to sell pigeons. I do believe that most fanciers are still quite happy to race their pigeons no matter what the costs are but not all. What I will say is the others who are in the sport more for financial gain are raising the profile of pigeon racing and that cannot be a bad thing. So, all in all there are different types of people and for one reason or another we probably need them all. Getting back to drugs it really is one of those things that we will not get away from. Why, because as soon as they crack down on a new drug someone somewhere will come up with another that will be added to the long list that we already have that cannot legally be used in the sport.
Will we get back to the normal days of racing, no we won't because as I said earlier, there is too much money involved. I know that there are a lot of pigeons going missing in the races and even dying and the BOP get all the blame. However, I do believe that there are viral problems that cause far more losses than BOP and this is down to ignorance of these health issues. I don’t blame the everyday fanciers for this, it is a fact of life, we have not been educated as well as we really need to do to keep on top of the problems that arise in the sport. On the continent, they are more up to date than here in the UK with the health of the pigeons but they are now catching up and getting on top of those issues in the lofts around the country. As Chris K said to me we have to get real these issues are not going to go away and spend a bit more on testing and that would save us money long term because we would not have so many losses.
There have been some interesting things going on in the world this last 12 months and what annoys me is the way the losers are kicking up against the winners after a democratic vote. There are groups causing no end of trouble just because they are beaten and for what, if we get away from the democratic vote then we are going to be far worse off than we are at the moment. The problem in the sport is we have delegates in power and they represent the general fancy but very often those people who get these jobs are the ones who are in the position to attend meetings etc. Having said that there are some good representatives but it is a fact that they are more often than not out voted by the majority who are there because they have the time to go to the meetings. Over the years, I have seen some good fanciers with good ideas get into a position to do more for the sport but they are very often drummed out of the position because it does not suit a few, seen it happen many times. When I was working at Rolls Royce I attended many meetings and saw how new members into some of the committees were quietly persuaded to go along with the major players on the committee concerned. Now look at it on a bigger scale where the committees are concerned and the majority given the chance to have a vote would in most cases not vote to go down the same road as the committee's do. The sport is nowhere near as well off as it should be but moving forward is so often restricted because the wrong people are too often in the jobs that matter. Some people who do not have the foresight to move in the right direction and stick to a line instead of standing up and being counted, oh I forgot for a minute, if you do that they get rid of you one way or another, that's life.
Thanks to the staff at the BHW for thinking up the 40yrs pages some good reading, enjoyed it over a good Port & Brandy. This is what a lot like to see and remember when pigeon racing was more enjoyable, less jealousy and back biting. There was a good team of us at Blackpool this year with some being on their first trip. Philip has been a few times and was telling his soon to be wife Cara about the good times had at the Blackpool weekend over the years so she also decided to take a look at what the fuss was about. That was the same for his brother Reece whose girlfriend had not been to the show either so a new experience for those two. I have to say that all said that they enjoyed it and are looking forward to next year when they will be at the Hilton for the 41st BHW Show of the Year. I must say that I was a little apprehensive about this one and to be honest I have no idea why because we have been to so many over the years in fact we have been to most of them. I was talking to Chris Knowles on the Monday morning after the show and he said that he also enjoyed the weekend saying he thought it was better than ever. I have not been drinking much for years and I cannot remember the last time I drank as much as I did over this weekend, I went to the show walking one sided with the weight of my wallet and came away straight up and an empty wallet. No matter what I spent it was well worth it and that was the feeling of so many who I spoke to. There were certainly crowds on the Saturday when everyone in some areas were shoulder to shoulder. There was plenty of activity around the stands and it looked like they were doing a good trade. When fighting our way around the Winter Gardens it looked as though the area used was being reduced and that is probably why areas were getting congested. When we went on the Sunday there was certainly a lot less people and getting around was much easier and less rubbing of shoulders.
I was talking to Mark Williams on the Gran Canaria OLR stand and he was telling me that he has now moved out to the Island to take up the position of General Manager in the organisation. So, we will have to get more from him and find out how he is finding moving to that part of the world. It will be interesting to see what he has to say from a UK racing point of view on racing out there compared to back home. Just thought I would mention that the film show put on by the GCOLR saw large crowds gathering to watch it with many good responses. The camera on the back of one of the pigeons really gave a “Birds Eye View” very interesting. I have a good team here now with Lizzie and Kim so we might go out for the final race on the 22nd March, a week in the sun will do us good. Kim took a few photos on her phone and they include one of Elizabeth with a couple of the g-g-children which was for a small birthday party that we had on the Saturday night at the Hilton. Obviously the big party was on the following Saturday when 120 family and friends have said that they will be calling in at the Kinderton hotel Middlewich.
Elizabeth with Evie and Graysen - Les enjoys some lunch
Guillaume Vanneste, Elizabeth and Nathanaelle Verbruye
Rafael with John and a friend - Ray Scriven, Mick Barlow and Mark Williams
As I type this article there are 2 days to go so who knows who will have appeared at this surprise party. There is one of myself that I was told I should include, having a bite to eat. And there is one of Guillaume Vanneste and Nathanaelle Verbruye who were here to see the show before the Fugare Show in Kortrijk, they were either side of birthday girl Elizabeth. I actually met Rafael from the GCOLR for the first time after many articles and he is with one or the UK organisers John and an entrant who I don’t know, sorry. The other from the Gran Canaria stand is Ray Scriven, Mick Barlow and Mark Williams. There are a few more photos and information collected at the show that I will use next week.
Les J Parkinson.
11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich,
Cheshire, CW10 0NJ.
01606836036 Mobile 07871701585.
Email
web site www.elimarpigeons.com
