THE NEW COMBI-RING

What you need to know about the new combi-ring.

For decades we have used the plexi-coated aluminium life rings in England to
mark our pigeons. This model was the successor of the all-aluminium engraved
rings. It was a worthy replacement that has proved its reliability for
years. No one ever thought this would change.
The same was believed for the method of registration. The race rubbers and
clocks have been used for as long as we can remember. Last year however the
electronic timing systems were introduced. Even though it is well spread in
other traditional pigeon racing countries such as Belgium and the
Netherlands, it was a true revolution in British pigeon racing. This change
lead to a new view on the life ring. The pigeon now has 2 solid rings, one
on each leg: the life ring and the chip ring. This is a burden, that must
not be underestimated. It would be better, if we could avoid this
inconvenience.
Some astute people at the companies Haspeslagh (manufacturer of life rings),
Motz (Tipes) and Deister (Unikon) and the Fédération Colombophile
Internationale (F.C.I.) sat down together to tackle this issue and came up
with the combi-ring. As the name indicates, this is the combination of the
traditional life ring and the chip ring. Until now it is the only ring of
its kind that is compliant with the F.C.I. standards.
The Dutch Pigeon Fanciers Organisation (N.P.O.) took the lead in the
introduction of this new life ring. They were the first to launch the ring
in the 2009 season. Let’s be honest, there were a few teething troubles, but
the people at Haspeslagh found the solution in a new raw material. That
material was thoroughly tested and was found resistant to shocks, changes in
temperature and in tension. The material was used straight away in the
production of the 2010 combi-rings to guarantee its strength.
With this guarantee in hand, the R.P.R.A. decided to join the club of
federations using the combi-ring. That way making a giant leap forward in
the technological advances of pigeon racing in 2 years. The reason the
R.P.R.A. chose this model instead of other available models is, as we
mentioned before, because the combi-ring is the only ring the meets the
standards of the F.C.I., it has an aluminium core that prevents fraud by
widening the rings.
Another advantage of the combi-ring is that the compatible chips are
developed by esteemed and reputable chip manufacturers with a well establish
know-how in pigeon racing, i.e. Unikon and Tipes. This not only means the
rings are made by reliable manufacturers, but is also allows a healthy
competition between the chip suppliers. This not only benefits the fanciers
through competitive prices, but also the pigeon sports as a whole through
technological innovations.
Even though the combi-ring is a technologically advanced ring, it still
looks similar to the traditional life ring we have known for years. It still
has a plastic coated aluminium core, but it has been enhanced with two legs
to attach the ETS chip. If the fancier decides to race the bird, he simply
clicks the chip in between the brackets and it is fixed for the season. It
is recommend to leave the chip attached to the combi-ring for safe keeping.
In the loft, during transport or during the flight, the chip can remain
clipped to the ring. If the pigeon no longer races, the chip can be removed
to be used on another bird.
The combination chip/ring forms an aerodynamic whole, on top of that it
leaves one leg free, creating a substantial advantage. However, the fancier
can also opt to provide the available leg with an address ring. That enables
an honest finder to contact the rightful owner of a stray pigeon more
easily.
At the moment there are two official suppliers of chips that fit the
combi-ring: Unikon and Tipes. Next to these two there are other systems that
provide a chip that fits between the legs, these function as well, but
reliability of the attachment between the legs can not be guaranteed.
The chips function the same way as the old chip rings, the only difference
is in the chip that is clicked on the life ring instead of on the second leg
of the pigeon. This means the fancier will find there is no substantial
difference in the way he experiences the sport. He can still rely on his
newly purchased ETS system and chips and on top of that he can be sure the
competing pigeons are still equipped with a fraud resistant ring; which
should be self-evident. Of course traditional rubbers and chips rings, can
still be used as well.
The introduction of the new combi-ring can be summarized as follows: “The
battle is fought fairly in the sky by less burdened, winged athletes.

Koen Vandenberghe Haspeslagh nv

Thanks for the info
Ken

how much do the chips cost in relation to the unikon ring as we know it now

Hi Ian same price as old type
Ken

what do you think ken i personaly dont like the lookof it

what do you think ken i personaly dont like the lookof it

This is just my opinion but when clipped in the ring looks too bulky and lobsided si i have decided to stay with the wrap around one for the oposite leg, think they should have left the life long rings as they were
Ken

yes totally agree with you

does anyone think problems will arise with these new rings, for example eggs being smashed etc....

just a thought us welsh boys down here are still with clocks, although one club has gone ets for this year, surely all these rings and extra wieght wil slow the birds down?? thats why ferrari spend so much time in wind tunnels to make the cars go faster and more aerodynamic. any thoughts/ iM STICKING TO SMALL RUBBER.

good point martyn, i read the other day they made the rings so the ets birds were not penalised for having a ring on both legs which would/could slow them down, bit hypocritical really when some think the ets birds have a unfair advantage over normal clocking birds already......

yes you stick to race rubber but youll never beat a man with ets on the trap

ian, does a bird which is using ets have to go inside the loft to be clocked.....?

David dont get me going over advantage ets does not make the birds faster, you have to get the bird first no matter what clock u are using, in answer to ur question with the new combi rings you notice they have pretruding bits where the chip clips in, so unless you use the chip these could chip the eggs as for weight that is neglegeble, very little weight at all
Ken

yes ken, true.....the bird doesnt fly faster when being clocked by ets......but if two fanciers are flying to allotments next door to each other and one is on ets and the other on T3 i repeat my question " does the bird have to go into the loft to be clocked when using ets ?"