National Bulletin
17th September, 2001 Bulletin
As always when we are compiling the National FC race reports we ask for further
information on the winners to be added to these Bulletins, the problem with the race
reports is that you cannot put in as much info as you would like because of space. First
news to reach me on the young bird race is from Mr & Mrs Ian Workman of
Ashby-de-la-Zouch who are 1st sec 6th open Guernsey which was a good
pigeon in what turned out to be one of the best National young bird races for quite some
time. When you look at the result and see six of the first seven positions going to
section winners the race must have been good and an equal one and there were another three
section winners in the first 18 positions, no complaints on that one. so for those who
were up there amongst those winners why not drop me a line with the necessary info with
photos. Getting back to the pigeon we started with for Mr & Mrs Workman which is a
Blue Chequer Verheye cock being a g.son of "Flying Barron" when paired to a
daughter off "Lord" and "Lady". "Flying Barron" was
originally a Louella stock bird and was purchased unknown to Ian by his wife Margaret as a
Christmas present, Ian found him in a box tied with a ribbon on the breakfast bar on
Christmas morning. "Flying Barron" was a brilliant producer responsible for many
first prize winners including their best Verheye called "Racer" who won numerous
first prizes in only two years racing before he was retired to the stock loft where he has
carried on from his sire breeding many winners. Those winners include the following MNFC
section positions 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,
6th, 7th, 10th and 14th plus with the NFC
section 1st, 1st, 2nd. 4th, 10th
and 17th. "Lord" and "Lady" were a pair of verheys that Ian
purchased from Peter O’Conner of Kingstone, they bred a NFC young bird winner from
Guernsey called "Whitby Girl" for Dave Taylor of Surrey. This section winner was
bred in mid January and put on the darkness system when weaned at 21 days old. At the time
of basketing he was about to cast his second wing flight. Training started from a distance
of 3mls building up to ten tosses of about 35mls from Evesham where they are trained twice
per week by Graham Evans of Overseal who gives a brilliant training service for only 10p
per bird. After four weeks of racing the distance is reduced and the birds are trained by
Ian three times a week from a distance of 12mls from where they liberated three at a time.
During this period the birds are only exercised around the loft on a Sunday when they are
allowed out for a bath and for 1hr on a Monday, at all other times apart from training
they remain in the lofts. When taken off the darkness system my cocks and hens are
separated and only allowed together for 1hr on their return from each training toss and
for 1hr prior to basketing for any race. Early in August nest bowls are introduced into
the lofts and the birds allowed together all the time resulting in a few pairs going down
on eggs but the majority race unpaired or just calling to the nest bowl. All birds, both
cocks and hens are raced through the federation programme and will all race to either the
MNFC or the NFC longest races. prior to basketing for the NFC Guernsey race this winner
had five races that were Bath twice 100mls, Taunton twice 140mls and Salisbury 115mls. the
feeding programme for the young birds is as follows, Saturday pm depurative and brewers
yeast. Sunday high protein mix 100%. Monday depurative 100%. Tuesday Widowhood 100% that
is also given on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but they get no food at all after 12noon
on the Friday. Some good information from this winning partnership that may come in handy
for other fanciers who are looking to change their present young bird system.
With the racing season just finished we now need to look at some constructive ways of
taking the National FC forward after what has been a good season, even though trying at
times. There has got to be some good ideas out there to help keep the club in a premier
position. This last season must have made a lot of fanciers happy after a very good San
Sebastian race which probably brought back happy memories from the more senior members of
the club who may recall racing from this point many years ago. I know that in my early
days of the sport there was always a mention for the race point but whether it has a
chance of succeeding in a vote for another year is another matter, that is obviously if
someone puts the race point forward. Get your thinking caps on and lets see what we have
available for the future, you can always air your constructive views through these cols,
there’s nothing gained by sitting on the sidelines.
Don’t forget if you have been a section winner drop me a line with photos and get
in the National column that we get you noticed.
Les.J.Parkinson. Elimar, 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10
ONJ. Tel/Fax: 01606 836036. ljohnp@elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
web-site www.elimarpigeons.fsnet.co.uk
