Well, the first old bird race of the season is in the books, and let’s just say it was a massive reality check for me. We had our first go with the new Studley Road Flying Club (Tamworth Fed) from Bath on Saturday, and while the club setup is looking top-notch, my own performance was anything but.
The Reality Check
The birds were up at 08:45, and with the winners doing over 1700 ypm, it was a fast, clean race for those who were ready. I sat there watching batches of 50+ birds screaming over the garden at 09:50, but nothing broke.
The silence that followed was deafening.
First Bird: 14:34 (nearly 6 hours after liberation)
Second Bird: 17:48
Third Bird: 18:51
Returns: 3 home, 2 still missing.
Where I Went Wrong
Standing in an empty garden for hours gives you plenty of time to be honest with yourself. I went into this season on "hope" rather than preparation. I’d only given them four training tosses and some decent loft flying, thinking that would be enough to get them through a short blow from Bath.
I was wrong. This game has a way of humbling you the second you cut corners.
The Plan Forward
The only positive is that the birds that did make it back haven't "folded"—they still look lively and healthy, they just lacked the sharpness to compete. The lessons are clear:
* They need more road.
* They need a proper routine.
* I need to stop being lazy with the training basket.
We aren't easing into the season anymore; we’re right in the thick of it. I’ve got a lot of work to do this week to make sure I’m not just waiting for "perch fillers" next Saturday.
Hope the rest of you had a better start than I did!
Cheers.
Ps: if you want to read my full write up, it's on my website
