South East Ireland
with
Billy Walsh
Curious comment from a fellow Irish scribes on a recent issue and the comparison, a misguided comparison in my view, of the fanciers who are out to slaughter the opposition, who, he believed, would quit pigeons if they didn't win. Compared to the nonchalant divil may care sure what else would you do with your day but look up at an empty sky type of fancier. The good old fashioned salt of the earth types who are and were good and honest pigeon men who would still be winning the odd races today if someone hadn't changed the shape of the ball.
And I am referring to what might best be described as rural Ireland. Because this butcherism has been going onesewhere for many year now. Modern racing pigeons are fast on the wing hence the multiple drops that occur when a fancier introduces modern sprint lines.
But is this desire to "Boocher em" as my friends from Sunderland are fond often of saying, a new phenomena?
The other complaint, and related to the first, I hear is how the "working man" or the "ordinary fancier" is being priced out of certain birds. I know what is meant though the description might not be accurate. There are fanciers with wads of cash, the best of pigeons, but are still ordinary fanciers.
Let's deal with this second complaint first.
Some pigeons have always been beyond the reach of the majority. Fred Shaw of Denton paid Renier Gurnay a King's Ransom for pigeons in the 1920s. A time of extraordinary hardship. And Shaw went on to butcher the 250 member Manchester Flying Club long before it became a fashion item to do so. J.W Logan was hardly a stray catcher. Or the Cattrysse Bros. Bricoux. Gurnay himself was an extremely wealthy man. George Busschaert. Their legacy, and the legacy of many more who dug deep, and deeper still, in the pursuit of excellence, enriched this sport to the betterment of the species. And in turn to the betterment of the sport. This sport needs the wealthy just as it needs the hard workers. The race markers. The raffle ticket sellers.
The modern racing pigeon is a different animal to what existed in days of yore. In the long hot summers of our youth spent courting in the hay. It hasn't developed because of the divil may care type. Mozart could hear entire symphonies in his head long before he wrote a note. Piggot was a genius with a horse. Some pigeon fanciers have the same gift. They hear the music walking down the garden path. The cocks spinning in the bowels are as musical as the ivory keys on a grand piano. He plays them. The true master knows every chord, every note. His loft is perfectly in tune. It is in harmony.
Pigeon racing at it's purest is not just a hobby, it is not merely a sport. It is an art form. It is music.
Roger Bannister didn't run break the 4 minute mile because he liked to jog around Hyde Park with his poodle in tow. He didn't do it because he wanted to butcher the opposition either. He done it because he was driven to do it...... for himself. The greats only ever compete, by nature, with themselves. To expect otherwise you may as well ask the pigeon not to race. The horse not to run.. Mozart to have no longer heard the the music.
Such men leave others with but 2 choices. Some will resort to petty jealousy. Gossip. Even quit. Break up clubs, Exclude.
Others rise to the challenge. You cannot have an orchestra of one. They meet the challenge and let the devil take the hindmost. This is what improves. What drives men on to greater heights. Competition. It is the desire and the ability to compete that creates progress in everything. It's why black and white television gave way to colour. Why we have mobile phones. Faster cars.
When I returned to this sport I thought I would be meeting the same faces. Just older. Ears sprouting hairs where none previously germinated. I was sure it was a dying sport. But not so. True, you don't see teenagers running around littered with shavings. But there are plenty in their 30s and 40s to keep the sport and to grow it. Modernise it.
Let them butcher to their hears content. Meet the challenge.
Pigeon racing is more affordable than ever. Where once fancier carted 2 stone bags of high velocity under their oxter they now buy feed by the truckload. Keep large teams. Fashionable lofts. We no longer have the crib on the ground trying to catch the big wattled stray. The glorified NU rung.
Progress through competition.
The Shamrock Club in New Ross was of immeasurable to the Tower Invitation in getting it going here in Waterford and I take this opportunity to thank Paul, Ken and the rest of the club. Outstanding has been Keith Gardiner. Dedicated to the North Road but planning an assault South in 2016. Keith Gardiner from New Ross is a terrific example of the potential this sport has, the newer blood, knowledgeable about modern bloodlines and methods. Feeding, veterinary requirements, nutrition, different birds for different days and distances. Internet savvy. A hard worker for his club he has been terrific help when we were setting up the Tower Invitation in Waterford and the South Central Super Club. He is open minded and forward thinking. Competitive. Gives credit where due and acknowledges the efforts and results of his competitors and resolves to meet the challenge head on. It is in fact refreshing.
Keith's father raced pigeons in the 80s and 90s and after a break from the sport father and son raced in partnership raced from 2005. Success was immediate winning the young bird national that year from Malin Head. Sadly, Keith's father passed away only a year later leaving Keith to continue to race on the North Road. Keith prefers what he calls the steadier racing from the North Road in preference to the whiz bang of the South Road inland. On this we do tend to disagree. I understand the attraction of the North Road. The longer inland program and the unpredictability of it all. If our own club finds steadier racing in thee Leinster NR than they had with Munster, and if the route can be developed and numbers grown, then yes, it has terrific potential. On that Keith and myself are in complete agreement.
Keith Gardiner of the Shamrock Club in New Ross holding his good Blue Vandenabeele Cock "Battleship" winner of 3 x1 club 1st Sect 2nd open LNRF.
The Gaby Vandenabeele pigeons and Staff Van Rests have been very successful and in recent years Brasspennings from Ron Mckelvy up in Newry have made their way to New Ross. Success was immediate winning from the get go including taking the first eight in Fed from Trim.
Showing his own potential and keenness Keith follows the NIPA and Irish South Road Fed results closely as he believe the birds and fanciers in Ireland are as good, if not better, than those on the Continent. Not technically better, but it is a tough old route and does require a certain temperament.
Keith is adamant competition in Leinster North road fed is as keen as that in the Leinster South Road. Fanciers of the caliber of Roly Brennan in Carlow, Edward Holden Kilkenny and Lyn Griffith's from Wexford just some of the top fanciers at federation level. Keith races in the highly competitive New Ross and District RPC although with the introduction of the South Central Super Club he is looking forward to racing on the South Road this year with the Shamrock RPC and the South Leinster Federation, although his priority will continue to be North Road. Keith believes there are new fanciers coming through determined to see the federation go from strength to strength.
I have said previously the Leinster NR are to be complimented for having the foresight, the ambition, the open mindedness to accept the application from the Tower Invitation in Waterford. If such a new and forward thinking mindset could be given a name it would be that of Keith Gardiner.
A reminder if needed the South Central Super Club breeder buyer will be held in the Roanmore GAA Club in Waterford April 2nd. The entry list is now closed. Had a quick chat with Darren Ede Southampton he his partner have spent large and wise in pursuit of excellence. The best of Rik Hermans, Wily Daniels, Jan Hooymans etc. Darren will have 2 entries.
Steve Goulding is another entrant I had a more than interesting conversation with this week. He is a riot. A trip across is planned to see the set up and visit the Cavern Club and Ferry across the Mersey. If Steve is Mozart however then Stephen Milner, who rides shotgun in the partnership, is Beethoven.
He has learned how to turn a deaf ear.
Read the next edition for a reminder of the entries from the Midands. Chris Hickman, T & K Garman, P & D, Gary Downing, Arthur & Adam Weathall, Futuristic Lofts, etc.
Gary Downing is the drop off for the courier in this area.
News and half-sensible views to
Promethius.
