Here I am again covering the Country’s
number one club the NFC where all can compete on a near even footing, I say
near because there is always going to be an advantage to someone somewhere that
will never change.
I had a conversation with a member (not going into names because there
are more than likely a few on the same wavelength) who pointed out that in his
view I should have worded my first article on the AGM differently. The point
raised was regarding my view on the NFC taking a backward step by voting
against the Dax International race. My view on ballots is that if you do not
vote you are happy to leave things to the committee, which many will not agree
with, that is their choice. However what those views did not pick up on were
that irrespective of the vote the committee are always going to have the last
say when it comes to the programme. “Why” simple answer, “If they do not then
you would not be doing much racing with the National FC” look at the voting and
you will see that only Nantes was voted in by
the members. Where does that then leave us “Nowhere to go” only one race in a
season what a disaster. The committee are there for a reason and no matter what
the individual thinks they do a good job for the members. About three years ago
we put a proposition forward for the committee to decide the race programme
independently and had that gone through you would not have had the excess
number of propositions put in for the race programme. Also had all those
propositions not been on the voting papers then the members would have read the
more important ones and voted accordingly instead of looking and thinking “I
cannot be bothered” which is what the majority end up doing. I have asked
members numerous questions over the years about the way the club is run and the
vast majority just want to race their pigeons and leave the rest to the
committee. There are many suggestions about that the Dax International race
should be added to the race programme, that may be the case come the February
meeting. As pointed out earlier the race programme was not voted in by the
members but decided by the President and senior officials on the votes counted.
As with any organisation this is not always what the majority want and those
who have such strong views would be better attending the meetings. The last
twelve months has seen a lot written in the letters pages and in the majority
of cases that energy would have been far better used by writing to the
officials for those views to be aired and viewed via these Bulletins. The
letters pages are never a good idea because there are many letters allowed to
reach those pages by people who do not even have pigeons so why should they
inflict their views on the racing fanciers who are in the sport because they
love it. The National FC is and always will be the Premier club in the UK that the top compete in,
what we need is more stability to take the club forward. Why not send your
letters to me so that we can highlight the points that you disagree with and
try to get them sorted without all the unnecessary agro and ill feeling that is
about. A point that many will not know about is the fact that the
transportation services require a programme to book by the end of the year. The
exception to those requirements being Dax which is booked by the International
committee and therefore not technically under the same rules and regulations.
When it comes to the Pau race I don’t
think that there is a great deal of thought put into the dates and location of
the members. Those flying a greater distance than the lower Midlands do not have a
great deal of time to get the pigeons ready for a race in the region of 700mls.
My first letter on the Dax decision comes from Jim Emerton who also has
views that are echoed by many. “At the Dax race in 03 the National Flying Club
reached the pinnacle of the European pigeon sport with 1st & 2nd
International. Not to have International racing in 04 is a negative,
reactionary and foolish state of affaires. Ordinary domestic NFC racing is not
in the same class as International racing, anyone with half an eye can see
that. Pau domestic lost the vote in
the ballot, yet was given the nod by the committee. On the same point there
still a chance for the committee to include the Dax International for 04 with a
little leadership and organisation. There are many people who see the reversion
to pure domestic racing as a retrograde step."
Although the majority of communications
concerning this issue have favoured an International result there are those who
wish to stick to the everyday Nationals that we have flown for so long. I had a
letter in favour of leaving the Dax race out of the NFC programme and he
finished with “Lets put the birds first politicians ruin everything they touch
and enjoy are pigeons and the sport isn’t that a refreshing thought” I agree
but there are always going to be the minority who want to say a bit more than
others and that is not always good for the club or any other club come to think
of it. Why not drop me a line or an e-mail with your views on the possibility
either way of a Dax International race. The next meeting for the NFC committee
is in February so lets here what you have to say.
