What prizes have gained over the years that you have raced

What prizes have gained over the years that you have raced ?

Last few years not much here. Quite often will not bother clocking off. Hour there to the club and a hour back. So why do I bother? Love to see them come home, pleasure to have them. I do not sell them. Gave lots away. 30 young last year and stock birds every year. Some of them. As most fanciers I have too many. To win requires more dedication than I have had last few years. However! This year will apply the same strategy I had a lot of years ago. I do not fly widowhood so have to pay attention to nest position, keep records etc,. All birds must race. regardless of the distance. If in shape. From what is left the top percent stay. Plus their parents. Rest are eliminated. Next season will do the same again, but narrow down the percentage kept. Example if I have six good racers and parents, the rest are just dead weight. Cost of feed etc, gets to be a loss. Also the time looking after so many. Beautiful looking pigeons that one gets attached to are hard to cull.  However, no second chances. I admire fanciers who send  many birds to each race. It is their choice and keeps the clubs going. Without the big fliers the sport would probably die. Never knock a mob flier! Only one bird wins the race. Regardless of wind or drag or any of the other excuses some fanciers make. The most back biting sorest losing people I have ever met race pigeons. It will never change so a consistent winner has to have a thick skin. Years ago I went through it. Won the club quite often and the Federation occasionally. From 100 miles to 600 miles. Many times only day birds. Back in those days 20 years or so ago, we got trophies. I took dozens to the local dump. 600 mile trophy had to be returned, annual trophy. Anyway. One loft races entered just two. few years back now. $1000 from one, $1200 from another. 600 mile winner was a Des Mathys x Stichlbaut. Got out of birds then started again. Now have Jannsens from Tom Mackowecki who lives in Alberta. He wins consistently. All distances to 500. They are crossed but then crossed back in with imports. His originals were from Jules Gallez many years ago. 50% here are red or mealy. Original cock he imported was a red. The birds are good!! The management sucks! Does not do them justice. However. management will smarten up this year!! I often wonder..is it the management or the bird that contributes most to winning? PS. Toms birds won me the money in the one loft races. He also sent but did not do good.

won club races and had fed and open positions racing north and south only been racing 6 years last 3 have been a bit quiet due to having a new born and him growing up and needing a lot of attention I am also my wifes carer but the lads just started school so more time this year racing with my grandfather and then my uncle their was many performances but the one that stands out is the only bird on the day from lambelle when their was a storm in the channel she arrived wet through never forget that little red cheq hen she was something else a brave little bird the main thing is to enjoy yer birds I know some really good fanciers who have never won a race and do much for the club

halcanada wrote:

Last few years not much here. Quite often will not bother clocking off. Hour there to the club and a hour back. So why do I bother? Love to see them come home, pleasure to have them. I do not sell them. Gave lots away. 30 young last year and stock birds every year. Some of them. As most fanciers I have too many. To win requires more dedication than I have had last few years. However! This year will apply the same strategy I had a lot of years ago. I do not fly widowhood so have to pay attention to nest position, keep records etc,. All birds must race. regardless of the distance. If in shape. From what is left the top percent stay. Plus their parents. Rest are eliminated. Next season will do the same again, but narrow down the percentage kept. Example if I have six good racers and parents, the rest are just dead weight. Cost of feed etc, gets to be a loss. Also the time looking after so many. Beautiful looking pigeons that one gets attached to are hard to cull.  However, no second chances. I admire fanciers who send  many birds to each race. It is their choice and keeps the clubs going. Without the big fliers the sport would probably die. Never knock a mob flier! Only one bird wins the race. Regardless of wind or drag or any of the other excuses some fanciers make. The most back biting sorest losing people I have ever met race pigeons. It will never change so a consistent winner has to have a thick skin. Years ago I went through it. Won the club quite often and the Federation occasionally. From 100 miles to 600 miles. Many times only day birds. Back in those days 20 years or so ago, we got trophies. I took dozens to the local dump. 600 mile trophy had to be returned, annual trophy. Anyway. One loft races entered just two. few years back now. $1000 from one, $1200 from another. 600 mile winner was a Des Mathys x Stichlbaut. Got out of birds then started again. Now have Jannsens from Tom Mackowecki who lives in Alberta. He wins consistently. All distances to 500. They are crossed but then crossed back in with imports. His originals were from Jules Gallez many years ago. 50% here are red or mealy. Original cock he imported was a red. The birds are good!! The management sucks! Does not do them justice. However. management will smarten up this year!! I often wonder..is it the management or the bird that contributes most to winning? PS. Toms birds won me the money in the one loft races. He also sent but did not do good.

Same, same Hal "the dump trick" dust collectors I called all my trophy's etc here, except for those that were house hold items for the house or the loft as such. Clock No clock same, same here.  

Too many to put on here as we have been racing a long time,from nearly day one we won about 2 races a year in a very hard club.now we get about 5 to 6 wins but it's different now due to less members but more birds.I think it was harder then as a lot more flyers to beat...

ive only had about 6 races in 6 years..............but got a few cards even so..

I`m just a pigeon keeper/hoarder..

Just mainly club and fed and combine the best ive done in the north west grand national is 5th west section 9th open
Ken

friendsloft wrote:

Just mainly club and fed and combine the best ive done in the north west grand national is 5th west section 9th open
Ken

Sounds OK to me   I always have a certain thought as such when some one is in their glory etc sitting in front of all there trophy's as if they have just shot an elephant/lion sadly with joy .

Have to say. Was going to delete my previous post. That was in the past. Over here we also got diplomas for the first 3 positions. After a while did not mean anything. Won a 300 yb race and won $500 with a van loon. Did not really like the other prize I won. Big fat Muscovy duck! Gave him away before I got home from the club.

halcanada wrote:

Have to say. Was going to delete my previous post. That was in the past. Over here we also got diplomas for the first 3 positions. After a while did not mean anything. Won a 300 yb race and won $500 with a van loon. Did not really like the other prize I won. Big fat Muscovy duck! Gave him away before I got home from the club.

The duck trick Millionare, once gave me a large bottle of Champagne etc here Hal, years ago  for winning a 600 mile Fed at the time & I must admit it lasted longer than your duck etc.

Was nothing personal with the duck We already had one previous at the place. Got cold he would knock on the screen door with his beak to be let in. At 1 or 2 am it was annoying. Set the dogs off barking. Who then wanted to go out and pee. besides, once in he commandeered the wood stove. Tried to keep everybody, people animals away.
Portuguese guy who finally took him said he tasted good.
Dr Penfolds was Plonk when I was over there. Cheap crap.Over here it is expensive stuff.

halcanada wrote:

Was nothing personal with the duck We already had one previous at the place. Got cold he would knock on the screen door with his beak to be let in. At 1 or 2 am it was annoying. Set the dogs off barking. Who then wanted to go out and pee. besides, once in he commandeered the wood stove. Tried to keep everybody, people animals away.
Portuguese guy who finally took him said he tasted good.
Dr Penfolds was Plonk when I was over there. Cheap crap.Over here it is expensive stuff.

 Trust me Hal My bottle at the time      was high range etc. A certain Mr Veal was my benefactor at the time here. Toorak type & I will not tell you about the story, where he found himself in possession        of 68 eggs from Emiel Deweerdt of which 67 hatched out, when they just happened to fall out of the sky by chance here, back then.
*****

Can relate to the eggs falling. Some fanciers here and in Europe produce enough youngsters from a cock usually that is mathematically impossible. Or the scenario were in Europe one guy was advertising birds from 1st and 2nd etc race birds. Friend of mine, now dead, used to import lots from the UK. Top flier. Karl von Gardony, originally from Hungary. So he called the guy. Said he did not see his name in the results published there. Fellow told him the results "were to my loft". So much crap nowadays. We have real fanciers and money merchants. Sometimes (and there are some) Win a lot and sell a lot. Reputation for honesty is every thing in this sport. Supersedes all other factors. But again, old fashioned as when a guy gives his word I accept it.

great stuff hal and oz I enjoyed those few paragraphs

oldstrain wrote:

great stuff hal and oz I enjoyed those few paragraphs

Not bad for a pair of old blokes I suspect O/S . Just let's hope here now we both can hang in there here, for a few more years etc   .  

yes may you both reach 3 figures and have a special meal of duck pate and champagne to wash down with and then sit back in a recliner and have one of hals mint specials

oldstrain wrote:

yes may you both reach 3 figures and have a special meal of duck pate and champagne to wash down with and then sit back in a recliner and have one of hals mint specials

100 Night mare  scenario for me O/S. Just amagine Hal & the   attempting here at that age to waffle on as we do & you lot try & make sense of what we could be saying .