Yearlings to Thurso

What are members views on sending yearlings to a 500 miler.

sorry mate cant help never flown that far, only go to 460, and don't send yearlings to that, lost to many trying to force a result, small team so just the way I see it .

for me it would depend on a lot of things ie how the bird handled its experience this season its nest position ,weight and conditions for the race ,even its breeding ,for me a 500 miler needs good preparation its not a last minute call but am far from experienced with it but these would be my thoughts atb steve

If the birds are bred for the job and are in good condition then they should do it but as darren has said birds flying these distances are prepared weeks in advance just take a look at the national results and see how many yearlings are entered in races of this distance at the end of the day if you have enough and can spare some send um but only you can make that call

I sent our yearlings 260 miles this weekend.

It was a very hard race and some of our members didn't get a bird back within 36 hrs of lib time.

I thought our birds were up to it easily but we are still 2 cocks down out of 11 birds sent. (Monday night)

For me 350 miles is enough for yearlings.

What would you gain or prove by sending them anyway?

Just my opinion.

Phil

My club was won last year from Thurso, only bird on the day with a yearling.
It was heavy rain and storms for the last third of the race.
Higher up the country had good returns and the bottom was terrible.
I should ask the fancier what she's done since, maybe he's sending her again this week to Thurso, or maybe that race ruined her.

Up to each individual. Depends situation. 500 miles is (usually here anyway,) 12 hours or more. Have won a 600 miler with a two year old and a few years later it was won by a yearling. Not mine. But after the first Canadian Barcelona the other fanciers who had sent old experienced birds, start sending younger ones. I thought the bird was in shape and sitting just hatching eggs so sent him. Previous to that just a so so pigeon. Had not raced him 4 weeks prior to that or trained him. If you think the bird is in shape send him. If in doubt don't. Hours on the wing. Had them flying 10 hours first bird home, others hours later. Yesterday. 10 th club against widowhood cocks. No one sent yearlings. Weather too bad. 5 on the night, 4 this morning. 2 were yearlings. One last night one this morning. Too late now for a 500 miler but if there was one in two weeks they would go.

Well I guess Hal is right. It is down to the individual!

At the end of the day - if you think you have a yearling capable of doing 500 miles, then why not send it. BUT - I think there is more chance of loosing it then of it getting a prize.

I would love to have a few yearlings capable of doing 500 miles, in a good time, but I haven't yet.

All the best if you send the bird.

Phil

looks like a tail wind for the race if you fancy sending steve...good luck if you decide to send

markevans wrote:

If the birds are bred for the job and are in good condition then they should do it but as darren has said birds flying these distances are prepared weeks in advance just take a look at the national results and see how many yearlings are entered in races of this distance at the end of the day if you have enough and can spare some send um but only you can make that call

I will agree 110% with you Mark

But can I say Remember when Colin Lloyd won the NFC Saintes race with his yearling blue cock I think he flew 460 miles but the week before the NFC win the same blue cock won the Wolverhampton Fed Saintes Race so Colin doubled him back and won the NFC

Boosey wrote:

What are members views on sending yearlings to a 500 miler.

Yes mate yearlings with the right health and mind set can do it easy

Remember my friend Brian Kaid winning the Welsh National from Thurso with a yearling and he called his family the 12 hour sprinters

Yes yes yes - I am sure we could all find stories of this or that bird that won A race or maybe even TWO races and some will be yearlings.

But what about the thousands of racing pigeons that have been basically 'thrown away' because their owners think "Oh I think I will put my yearling bird into a 500 mile race" just because the fancy takes them.

Look, I know that our birds have a job to do and if they can't do it, then they are no good - but there is very little use -

putting the breeders together after much consideration

raising the young birds

Teaching the young bird to get back into its loft

Training the y/b

Taking the bird to a few races

Keeping and feeding it over the winter

Putting it into MORE races

Then putting it into a 500 mile race

and losing it

Sure - you never know what your birds are capable of and YES - sometimes you might win a race - BUT! most times not.

You might get yearlings back from a 500 mile race but - have you broken the pigeon's heart to race. I am a great believer that you can 'out face' a pigeon, even a pigeon as old as 2 years. Most of us keep pigeons to RACE, to be up there in the prizes, and not just to get the pigeon coming home from a race. We call our birds Racing Pigeons, not homing pigeons.

Phil

I think you have hit the nail on the head phil

oldstrain wrote:

I think you have hit the nail on the head phil

Thanks buddy

Phil

Old quote.
"The braver the bird, the fatter the cat".

I sent 3 to Thurso in the end.
1 x 2 year old
2 x yearlings

Supposed to be a Friday race, weather permitting.

Boosey wrote:

I sent 3 to Thurso in the end.
1 x 2 year old
2 x yearlings
Supposed to be a Friday race, weather permitting.

All the very best Boosey - I hope they do really well for you.

Phil

Cheers Phil, I've sent the Tumley lofts yearling, so I will let members know how she gets on.
She's been off the pace all year, but was 5th club Saturday from 75 miles Peterborough.

good luck for thurso steve

All the best Steve

Boosey wrote:

What are members views on sending yearlings to a 500 miler.

For me Boosey a no brainer etc . But, on average when in Rome, do as the Romans do as such . Unless one is prepared to be one of the Brave heart types .

Boosey wrote:

Cheers Phil, I've sent the Tumley lofts yearling, so I will let members know how she gets on.
She's been off the pace all year, but was 5th club Saturday from 75 miles Peterborough.

Please let me know how the Tumley bird got on - I have a nice Tumley cock (similar way bred) that would go well with your hen. He has already bred me a cock that beat the French National Champion.

Phil

Not sure mines up to that standard Phil.
She got a 5th as a youngen and a 5th as a yearling.
We shall see tomorrow as they were held over today.

Boosey wrote:

Cheers Phil, I've sent the Tumley lofts yearling, so I will let members know how she gets on.
She's been off the pace all year, but was 5th club Saturday from 75 miles Peterborough.

I see Boosey "on that other site" a yealing was clocked in at 700 odd miles etc recently & the same man clocked the same last year apparently. My kind of man & I wouldn't mind a loft visit as such to shake his hand & handle his pigeons there.

Tumley yearling hen just got home, next day 13:35, given absolutely everything, wings hanging down, picked her up from the lawn, totally exhausted.