LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
Many years ago a teenager at school started to come round and helped with the pigeons and his presence in the young bird loft worked. But that spell only lasted for the one season for whatever reason and it was back to normal. The young lad was Phillip Latham who has decided to come back on board and give a helping hand especially with the young bird team. This is where Phillip has his patience with young birds and if you get them settled in the early part of their lives then they are generally settled later in life and have a better love of home. You can give pigeons the best of everything but if they are not happy at home they are not going to put up the better velocities. Patience, dedication and observation are what win you races because they are a team that when taken notice of see you through a good season. Patience because you can never rush what you are doing around the pigeons and you have to wait until each individual pigeon comes into their own because they will all have their day. Patience is what the majority of people don’t have never mind pigeon fanciers who have less than the average person; the majority are always changing things around the lofts and even their birds. Dedication: you have to keep at it and don’t have to go off doing other things when you know that you should be dedicating your time to the pigeons in the loft. Observation: you don’t want to miss anything that is going on in the loft and you certainly don’t want an illness in the pigeons being overlooked with the result being the whole team going down. Get these three points right and you are well on your way to the red card position. For years I have been trying to put those little things into the right places so that I can race the pigeons and I think that I have now achieved that goal so am looking forward to the season's racing. Having said that, I had similar thoughts last year at this time and things soon changed by the end of April after the disastrous Saturday and all enthusiasm was gone. I have got a photo somewhere taken at the presentation when Phillip last raced with me.
Breeding
The pigeons have mainly gone down well but with the cold spell arriving just as some were going to nest a few decided that the change in weather was too cold. But between 9 and 11 days the first ones went down and settled onto their eggs so let’s hope that by the time they start to hatch the temperature has risen. What has surprised me is how few fanciers had paired early in Middlewich because that has not been the case in recent years. I know fanciers are not every forthcoming in admitting that they have decided there is no point in breeding early but there are a lot who now do not have early young birds. What I found out with both early bred and darkness young birds was that they do not in general manage the channel very well up here in the North West. This was of course as yearlings because when I went back to what I call normal breeding time they started to manage the channel much better. If they go across the water without stress as yearlings then the generally do better in the next few years. I suppose at the end of the day it all depends on what we want out of our pigeons. If you do have darkness or early young birds then keep them to a few sprint races as yearlings they will more often than not do the job. However I am more interested in the channel races and not a few sprint races, as always it is horse’s for courses.
Blackpool
Well another Blackpool Show is over and some were pleased while others are disappointed but as always you are never going to please all of the people all of the time. Our weekend certainly did not go as we expected but what I did get was an awful lot of good feedback on my return to these pages after a few weeks away, in fact this caught me on the hop. With missing two years there were a lot of faces that we had not seen for a long time and many faces that were put to names on the phone and there were a lot of those. That was fine for those people because they know my face and next year because there were so many I will probably not remember all of them and then I feel guilty. Not quite sure what to make of the show myself because it was not a good time for us so my mind was not on the job due to other concerns over the weekend. We were late getting there on Friday due to being at the hospital but soon made up for lost time when the Middlewich lads got together and tipped a few pints down. I must add a few too many for me and Alan was even worse because he is a good eater but next morning turned his nose up at breakfast which is unusual, I was fine by then and ate a good full Lancashire plateful. Anyway getting back to the night before when 8 from Middlewich sat round the table and became involved with the lads from the south and have joined in their gold ring race. This will be interesting because we shall no doubt see the lads again at the show in 2014 so need to send some good young birds down and win enough for Blackpool next year. Who did I meet at the show itself, well there were plenty and as always it was a pleasure to meet them all.
Derek Nicholls and Hardy Krugaer at the Blackpool Show.
There were mixed views on the show and there are a few who think the show should be moved to early December because fanciers are pairing up much earlier now and it gives them a chance to buy their birds and get them settled. It might be a case of January is now a bit late with the changes in the way most treat their pigeons, but would it be so successful if it was moved. I don’t know what the time schedule is for booking in advance so it might not be so easy to move such a big event. However it has certainly shrunk to what it used to be so would a change make a difference, not sure myself and if we don’t try changes we are never going to know if they work. What must also be taken into account is the current shows that are held in November and December would they have any affect on a move. Personally I doubt it because the Blackpool Show is the one that is far more supported because of the location. This has become the event of the year for many, a time when they meet old friends and make new ones. Yes some say it is a big booze up but why not as long as fanciers are getting together and enjoying themselves does it really make any difference who much they have to drink.
View from my office on the Friday of the blackpool Show.
No matter what the event is always a talking point at other times during the year and because it is talked about so much we must be enjoying it. A lot of hard work goes into organizing the event so well done to all concerned. Just as I was moving on I had a call over a completely different matter and with the show jus finishing my caller Mervin Stone was saying that the outside auctions are what are taking the impact of the show away from what it is meant to be. Mervin went on to make a good point and that is why don’t the RPRA issue licenses to hold sales outside of the Winter Gardens. Then if they don’t meet a high standard and conditions are met the license is not granted.
Roger & Greg Suppot with Les J Parkinson at the Blackpool Show.
NWCC
Had a call from Mark Cliffe the secretary of the North West Classic Club with the latest news asking that now I am back was I going to cover the club during the racing season. When I knew who was on the other end of the phone I knew that he wanted something, mind you I don’t mind helping someone like Mark who is always keen to get things going in the sport. The club has gone through a quiet spell and Mark was telling me that the club lost over £2000 in 2011 and £169 in 2012 and this year is hoping that trend has gone and the club will go in the opposite direction. To try and help that goal be achieved the club have slightly opened the radius so if you race distance of 365mls from Messac and west of line 2.00.00. If you want to join the club the fee is just £20 with no charge for ne members. The race programme for the coming season is; in May there are three races these being 6th Bedhampton which is an Open Race. 25th Carantan then on the Bank Holiday Monday 27th again at Bedhampton. There are two races in June the first being from Fougeres on the 8th followed by a race from Messac on the 22nd with the longest club race being from Niort on the 6th July. The young bird open is from Bedhampton on the 21st August with the club Gold Ring and club race being from Carentan on the 15th September. Gold Rings are available at £10 from Mark or at Roger Sutton’s Astbury Pigeon Supplies. Birdage fees for the arces are £2 with the land races then £3 for the channel races except the longest race from Niort which is £4. The pools for all races are as in the previous season.
Photo
My latest photo of Marjorie Woodward with one of her young bird team, I say “her” because Marjorie is the keenest of fanciers for looking after young birds. This is how the new crop for the racing loft should be treated because what happens first in life is what makes a the lasting impression that goes on to make all the difference. I must admit that husband Derek gives Marjorie the credit she deserves for looking after and educating the young birds.
Marjorie Woodward with one of this year's young birds.
Les J. Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 ONJ.
Tel/Fax; 01606 836036.
Mobile 07871 701585
