National Bulletin

This week I start with a get well message for our sec’s mother who is presently in hospital we wish her well and a speedy return to sort Sid out. Sid was telling me that his mother is always a great help especially at this time of the year when the rings need putting together for distribution.

The last few weeks has seen me heavy in with my position as secretary to the North West Classic Club where we have had to get all the stationary printed and sorted ready for the BHW Show. But we are now back on track and looking forward to receiving info from past National FC winners whether open, section or good loft performances. Some fanciers are reluctant to send info, why I have no idea because the facility is here and winners are always worth reporting on. I spoke to quite a few of last years winners at the Torquay presentation concerning info but I have not received any to date, let’s hope these notes and getting over the Xmas spell will get their pen’s back into motion. Throughout last year I had many comments from fanciers who have enjoyed reading about the members of the National so don’t be shy, tell us something about your winners. I was talking to Jed Jackson at Torquay on this subject and he was telling me that he was once asked about how he got the pigeon right to win the National. I found his answer rather funny but true, "I don’t know or I would have done it again". We would all like to know every detail about how a pigeon has won a particular race but I am afraid that is something that we will never know the complete details about. However any has to have the conditions of the day in it’s favour but there is also one thing that goes with any win from top competition and that is the will to get home in a hurry. Motivation, that is something that the specialist fanciers do very well and the reason why they get them amongst the best on a regular basis. Many fanciers see their local competitors have good results at National level but do very little in the clubs and they wonder why. I have said for many years that I am more than happy to get them ready and send to the bigger races, club racing does not bother me. I enjoy the week to week races and going down to the club because that is a lot of what the sport is about but my preference is in the National or Classic races where the competition is greater. Still on the subject of why some fanciers do not get too many mentions at club level is because they use the clubs as a training system for the big events with many around the Country not even having a clock set. All fanciers have their own preference and many like the Nationals while some like the club racing, that is why you can get so much enjoyment out of the sport.

Since the proposition on the National FC AGM there has been quite a few conversations on the way forward into the field of Greater distance racing. This is a way forward into the International scene that is the only way forward for the National minded competitors. The idea of going forward in this area has now been passed and no doubt there will be movement in due course towards achieving that goal. In the meantime if you have any thoughts on this subject why not drop me a line and I will add them to these notes and also send them on to the President who I am sure will be more than interested