Just to give readers an insight into how pigeons are raced. There are 2 basic methods Natural and Widowhood.
With Natural system the pigeons are paired together and sent to the races either sitting on eggs or feeding babies.
The widowhood system both sexes can be raced with the sexes being kept apart and only get together for some fun on the return from the race. ( Anyone who has worked away from home will get the gist of what I mean).Pigeons are really resilient to survive and hold up if lost, and survive feeding from bird feeders etc until they feel fit enough to leave. A change of wind direction or a thunderstorm that clears the heat out of the air usually results with birds returning after said events.
Regarding racing there are 3 main levels in this country.1. Club racing where fanciers race against other fanciers in theirarea.2. Federation racing against other fanciers in their county andfinally3. National racing which is self-explanatory.
My son and I race all 3 which most fanciers do. We belong to The Diss & District for club racing, The Norfolk & Suffolk Championship Club for Federation racing, and The North Road Championship Club which broadly covers from Retford down to London.The preferred route at the present time is North into Scotland as far as Lerwick approximately 550 miles.
We used to fly South into France with The British International Championship Club as far as Pau – 623 miles, but due to legislation since leaving The EU, this has become too expensive for us.
So locally, who have we that has done exceptionally well? Our own Jimmy Davis won the BICC when racing in London. Pete & Terri Rogers of Hopton won the NRCC twice when living at a different location. Mauri Ward from East Harling won the NRCC from Lerwick. The late great Brian Long from Gipping won the BICC twice – once being from Barcelona! One of the best sprint men ( up to 200 miles ) lives at Attleborough – Bob Fenech.
Sadly the best we have done to date is win 3 separate Federation races with 3 different pigeons all on the same day.
May I take this opportunity of wishing everybody a very Happy Christmas.
Next time Snowy and the knocking shop, and an old school fanciers’methods