South East Ireland
with
Billy Walsh
It is important to push boundaries. Experiment. See what works, develop it, and chalk the failures down to experience. It’s only pigeons. It’s not life in the real sense; there are other concerns. I have been house hunting lately and finally settled on a cottage outside of town. Now the rest of the sane world thinks it’s a nice cottage. It has room to expand and room for “your birds”. Pigeon fanciers will only ask is it a good location?You could live in a shack. But has it a good drop? Triple glazing? Who cares about that. Which way do the birds come. Some will check their maps and convince themselves the birds come over my house.The same fanciers will also say the birds come over the house of another fancier 15 miles away. They also apparently come over the house of fanciers in Wexford, Kilkenny, and Passage East. Locations that are in all compass directions and certainly anything but a straight line. Oh no doubt some fanciers intentionally move to a “good spot” in order to boost results.But I haven’t actually met any.
To where I have moved is not a good location for racing. It’s probably as bad as it can get in and around Waterford. Several miles west of the club house and the bulk of the members.But at this stage of my live it is a good location for me. An more importantly, a good location for my daughter. I am tired of the narrow mindedness, the bitterness, the acrimony, the begrudging nature of the few within our sport who ruin it for the rest. No, destroy it. The negative people who have no initiatives of their own and decry the initiatives of others. I need space. With the sunny sky above. Thought peace might be easier to come by than sunny skies in this climate. I have met some great people through pigeons since I came back. People I now call friends; in the proper and true sense of the word. But I have also encountered the other kind. The have no conversation other than pigeons, no thoughts other than pigeon thoughts and pigeon people thoughts. They concern themselves with other people’s birds, and lofts, and methods, and where they live, and what way the bind blows, and what they had for their breakfast, what their sisters and brothers had for breakfast, than they do minding their own business. Pigeon racing should not become an obsession. When it does you will spend your life at war. You will inevitably draw others to “choose sides” in your obsession.This is where the break ups begin.
Ad Schaerlaeckens is a writer I enjoy, not always because of what he says, but I admire the way he writes. Ad has made many famous, some even rich no doubt, simply by mentioning their name or letting it drip from his cigarette ash. Many have quoted Ad’s opinion that birds fly at the same pace, they do not overtake each other. I have had that story quoted to me often enough for me to think about it. The race, according to the Dutch Oracle, is won at the race point. But I’m not so sure.
Not for the sake of disagreeing; though it would be an interesting debate. We have all seen flocks of birds passing over all flying at the same speed. True. But by then they have settled into a pattern rather like a group of joggers. They are not “racing”. In every passing flock from the same liberation there will be the sprint type, the distance type, and the good steady birds, birds that are winners of previous eventt. It may be a leading flock, or a tail end flock. But are the leading flock flying at the same pace as the tail enders?
The flaw in Ad’s argument is this. The sprint pigeon. You can see it is a different species to the long distance type. Long distance types are generally one paced. You can almost set your watch to their return time. Their velocity each week will be pretty similar. The modern sprint pigeon is a different type of pigeon physically to days of yore. If it is only the ability to orientate at the race point is the deciding factor, then why have they developed so physically different? If it is purely a mental attribute that dictates the winner then it is the size of their brain not their muscles that would have been enlarged? Just an opinion. But if you’re going to write an opinion it’s probably a good idea to make it your own. And it’s certainly more fulfilling that worrying which house the birds fly over or who had what for breakfast.
Someone who I have never heard complain is always in great form, and going on results must own a house on every street in Gorey, is the one and only Owen Kirwan. A more likable and well liked individual you will seldom encounter. The most jovial of characters you will encounter. After the recent South Central Super Club Breeder Buyer I had a terrific night out in the company of Owen, Declan Wilson as ever riding shotgun. The IHUNFC treasurer Fred Malone and Ed Dwyer from Kilkenny. Excellent company. During the recent Apache revolt in Gorey, Owen, to his credit, remained loyal to the National Flying Club. A decision which proved a wise one as most have now returned to the reservation.
Owen flies on the roundabout system. Where as previously he had some terrific results with widowhood cocks he felt it was a waste of good hens. The race team are allowed to rear a nest before racing being allowed to sit approx 7 days on the second nest before being parted. The birds get out for an hour morning and evening being trained every day from 10 miles for 2 weeks prior to the first race,. The birds are let together for 5 minutes before sending to the race. They are left together for a time afterward depending on the length of the race. Al birds are expected to fly the full inland program.
The birds are repaired at the end of May for the first big channel race for Owen which is the yearling National with the INFC. They fly right through to France on the natural system.
Owen’s famiy of birds contain a mix of Vandenheede, Roodhoft, Janssens, Daniel Aereans, and more recently Thyjs-Peter & some Van Den Bulcke lines.
Racing season will soon be with us. The one loft scene will soon be upon us also. Pat Maher sends the following info from the Algarve.
The Lofts in Olhao are becoming a hive of activity as final preparations are being carried out for the 2nd edition of this new One loft race. The lofts have been fitted with new Speed antennas capable of recording more than 1000 birds per minute without missing a single record using the brand new Benzing live system.As the main man himself Sergio Ferreira has been busy travelling around to all the Spring Fairs in Holland , Belgium and also the pigeon market in Heemskerk Holland.
Almost 300 Birds have been collected in Houten from 8 different countries with Germany having the most with 100 birds in the first shipment.
The UK have there first representatives in the loft from the Compton Bassett Missles from Crowley and Green.
And while on a recent trip to see his friend jan Hooymans , Jos Rielly Team Ireland met up with Sergio and the Team at there Stand at Houten Spring Fair.
Jos Signed up and booked his team in for the 2nd edition of this new and exciting race.
USA are even represented from the one and only Tysons Corner syndicate .
With birds arriving everyday things are shaping up nicely and all signs are looking good for a great 2nd edition.
All information can be found in our website : www.algarvegreatderby.com
Looking ahead plans are being laid at the moment for an Irish Night with the Stars. The intention is to purchase a transport system for the I.H.U.N.F.C. And elite sale and moot will be held in the winter, Gerry Mc Court on the hammer. Already Geoff Cooper has agreed to come over for the event which will most likely be held in Dublin.
As I keep saying, it's your national.
Wear it with pride.
Fly with distinction.
Prometheus
