News Update - April 2014
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:13 am
Leinster North Road Federation 7
By the time this article appears in print we should know the winners of the first races of 2014, but for now we will have to content ourselves with the training of our birds. The weather is fine at the moment April 13th , but still quite cold at times, I feel quite lucky, in that I am working from home so I can pick the times that I want to go training, most days there is at least an hour or maybe two that the weather seems to warm up a bit, its mostly at that time I head off for a short spin with the birds, I am also lucky in that John Hammond, a friend and fellow club member, will bring my birds home with him to Dunlavin and give them an 18 mile chuck, that also leaves me with a bit of time to get the place tidied up a bit and ready for their return, there have been losses already encountered among local fanciers, but these are mostly birds that are being turned round from north road to south or visa versa, along with the usual late breds that are tried out at this time of year, personally I don’t see any or very little purpose in keeping late bred young birds over year for racing, as very few if any ever make it through, certainly not in this country anyway, I may be wrong, but the numbers lost in the early stages of training can seldom justify the effort of rearing and keeping them for so long and for so little return, it is also disheartening for new starters who put any faith in these, because they will surely be disappointed at the level of losses, even before the racing gets started, better new starters be encouraged to race their young birds on a regular basis, maybe not to the bitter end, as that can also cause disappointment but raced enough times to have young birds with a bit of experience that can be stopped for the following year, that is probably the best way to build up a team capable of competing in the future, as old birds.
Just coming up to Easter weekend now, and the weather has improved immensely, most people have started to train by now, however it still looks as if a lot of members wont be ready for the first race of the season, considering that our racing has been scheduled to start a fortnight later than usual, I’m wondering when some might like us to start, as those that are ready now were probably ready to start two weeks ago, they in turn have often been accused of not playing the game, wanting to start too early, however, when they do compromise for those that want to start later, they still end up racing on their own in the first races anyway, well I suppose that‘s pigeon people for you and it takes all sorts to make the world go round.
With the good weather, we have been doing some improvements to the bird rooms & aviaries. Light is very important for the canaries and finches, and with that in mind we have decided to put in several sheets of Perspex in the roof to allow the light and some sunshine in there, this will have a knock on effect, as with having to have artificial lighting on for several hours during the day, our energy bills should be reduced significantly from now on, thankfully there is still a demand for small birds such as Canaries, Budgies & Finches, ect, it is always an advantage to have them in the best possible condition when they are for sale, competition in this market is fierce, so it pays to have them presented in ideal conditions.
Barrow Valley RPC.
The club held it’s first race of the season from Navan on Sunday, April 20th a distance of around sixty miles to most fanciers in the Carlow area. Marking took place on the Sunday morning from eight thirty around 200 birds from eight members were soon marked for the race, and away to the race point by nine forty five, at this point the club would like to thank Derek o Shea for doing the transport and the liberation was at five past twelve into an east north east wind that was quite strong at the race point.
The dynamic duo of Rocca & Roly had a fantastic race, clocking their first three after just fifty seven minutes to record velocities of 1826, 1825, and 1824ypm. The first bird, a Staf van Reet blue hen has been a prolific winner in the early races for the duo, in the last three seasons. She has also recorded two first federations last year as a yearling. Second bird clocked just two seconds behind the winner was a yearling cheq cock, breeding was one off their Gerry o Mara bloodlines crossed with their old Buscheart family, this young cock has already won prizes as a young bird last year including a fourth fed position. Third bird on the clock was another of their staf van Reet birds, a 2011 blue hen that has always been a consistant racer but never setting the world alight, this one, I assume with her age, will be destined for the National from Frazerburgh, not many birds over three years of age reside in this team as the boy’s believe in youth and speed for their race team, and why not, as it has been working for them for the last few years. Nearly all our club members use the ETS system as can be seen from the timings and velocities, meaning very little seperates the top few in terms of time. Damien Maher had one clocked within a minute of Roly and Rocca, however by that time the boy’s had twenty one birds on the clock. A devastating performance and a sign of things to come, I’d imagine.
Next week, it’s back to Navan , this time with the Federation.
News on one of the few Lady fanciers in the south of Ireland, Louise Whiteford from Borris-in-Ossory, racing with the Roscrea club has started the season in great style winning her club from Adair, Co Limrick, on Saturday April 19th with one of her favourite birds, a red cheq cock, which was self bred. Louise is literally out on her own when it come’s to racing pigeons as there is no backround of pigeon racing in her family, not only that but there is very little, if any, racing or pigeon fanciers in her area, the lad’s in the Roscrea club have welcomed her in, and she is delighted to be a part of their club, it cant be easy on Louise as she has to travel, sometimes quite long distances, for anything she needs for her birds, and I am delighted that she is reaping the rewards of her efforts, look after her lads, as she is a very dedicated young pigeon fancier and will surely be a great asset to the club as her confidence grows.
Well that’s it for this week, all is left is to remind the members of the different clubs in the federation to get in touch with news of their winners as soon as possible after each race. There’s one club whose results will be in the book each week, make sure that your club is represented as well.
I can be contacted on, Franciscorcoran@alpinelofts.net or 00353599145419.
Punch.
Roly & Rocca winners from Navan.
New Bird Room at Alpine Aviaries.
New display pens for canaries.
By the time this article appears in print we should know the winners of the first races of 2014, but for now we will have to content ourselves with the training of our birds. The weather is fine at the moment April 13th , but still quite cold at times, I feel quite lucky, in that I am working from home so I can pick the times that I want to go training, most days there is at least an hour or maybe two that the weather seems to warm up a bit, its mostly at that time I head off for a short spin with the birds, I am also lucky in that John Hammond, a friend and fellow club member, will bring my birds home with him to Dunlavin and give them an 18 mile chuck, that also leaves me with a bit of time to get the place tidied up a bit and ready for their return, there have been losses already encountered among local fanciers, but these are mostly birds that are being turned round from north road to south or visa versa, along with the usual late breds that are tried out at this time of year, personally I don’t see any or very little purpose in keeping late bred young birds over year for racing, as very few if any ever make it through, certainly not in this country anyway, I may be wrong, but the numbers lost in the early stages of training can seldom justify the effort of rearing and keeping them for so long and for so little return, it is also disheartening for new starters who put any faith in these, because they will surely be disappointed at the level of losses, even before the racing gets started, better new starters be encouraged to race their young birds on a regular basis, maybe not to the bitter end, as that can also cause disappointment but raced enough times to have young birds with a bit of experience that can be stopped for the following year, that is probably the best way to build up a team capable of competing in the future, as old birds.
Just coming up to Easter weekend now, and the weather has improved immensely, most people have started to train by now, however it still looks as if a lot of members wont be ready for the first race of the season, considering that our racing has been scheduled to start a fortnight later than usual, I’m wondering when some might like us to start, as those that are ready now were probably ready to start two weeks ago, they in turn have often been accused of not playing the game, wanting to start too early, however, when they do compromise for those that want to start later, they still end up racing on their own in the first races anyway, well I suppose that‘s pigeon people for you and it takes all sorts to make the world go round.
With the good weather, we have been doing some improvements to the bird rooms & aviaries. Light is very important for the canaries and finches, and with that in mind we have decided to put in several sheets of Perspex in the roof to allow the light and some sunshine in there, this will have a knock on effect, as with having to have artificial lighting on for several hours during the day, our energy bills should be reduced significantly from now on, thankfully there is still a demand for small birds such as Canaries, Budgies & Finches, ect, it is always an advantage to have them in the best possible condition when they are for sale, competition in this market is fierce, so it pays to have them presented in ideal conditions.
Barrow Valley RPC.
The club held it’s first race of the season from Navan on Sunday, April 20th a distance of around sixty miles to most fanciers in the Carlow area. Marking took place on the Sunday morning from eight thirty around 200 birds from eight members were soon marked for the race, and away to the race point by nine forty five, at this point the club would like to thank Derek o Shea for doing the transport and the liberation was at five past twelve into an east north east wind that was quite strong at the race point.
The dynamic duo of Rocca & Roly had a fantastic race, clocking their first three after just fifty seven minutes to record velocities of 1826, 1825, and 1824ypm. The first bird, a Staf van Reet blue hen has been a prolific winner in the early races for the duo, in the last three seasons. She has also recorded two first federations last year as a yearling. Second bird clocked just two seconds behind the winner was a yearling cheq cock, breeding was one off their Gerry o Mara bloodlines crossed with their old Buscheart family, this young cock has already won prizes as a young bird last year including a fourth fed position. Third bird on the clock was another of their staf van Reet birds, a 2011 blue hen that has always been a consistant racer but never setting the world alight, this one, I assume with her age, will be destined for the National from Frazerburgh, not many birds over three years of age reside in this team as the boy’s believe in youth and speed for their race team, and why not, as it has been working for them for the last few years. Nearly all our club members use the ETS system as can be seen from the timings and velocities, meaning very little seperates the top few in terms of time. Damien Maher had one clocked within a minute of Roly and Rocca, however by that time the boy’s had twenty one birds on the clock. A devastating performance and a sign of things to come, I’d imagine.
Next week, it’s back to Navan , this time with the Federation.
News on one of the few Lady fanciers in the south of Ireland, Louise Whiteford from Borris-in-Ossory, racing with the Roscrea club has started the season in great style winning her club from Adair, Co Limrick, on Saturday April 19th with one of her favourite birds, a red cheq cock, which was self bred. Louise is literally out on her own when it come’s to racing pigeons as there is no backround of pigeon racing in her family, not only that but there is very little, if any, racing or pigeon fanciers in her area, the lad’s in the Roscrea club have welcomed her in, and she is delighted to be a part of their club, it cant be easy on Louise as she has to travel, sometimes quite long distances, for anything she needs for her birds, and I am delighted that she is reaping the rewards of her efforts, look after her lads, as she is a very dedicated young pigeon fancier and will surely be a great asset to the club as her confidence grows.
Well that’s it for this week, all is left is to remind the members of the different clubs in the federation to get in touch with news of their winners as soon as possible after each race. There’s one club whose results will be in the book each week, make sure that your club is represented as well.
I can be contacted on, Franciscorcoran@alpinelofts.net or 00353599145419.
Punch.
Roly & Rocca winners from Navan.
New Bird Room at Alpine Aviaries.
New display pens for canaries.