Frome SRFC
I’ve spoken to our secretary this morning regarding the future of the club. We are going to have a meeting in the new year to disband the club. We knew this was probably our only option anyway. He himself has now got rid of all his birds and resigned from all clubs that he was in. This was because he hadn’t let his birds out for months as every time he did the Gosshawk went into them. It only really leaves us with 4 members, 2 of which don’t race.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
Very sad news ,another one bits the dust , it’s a shame for what ever reason people & clubs are finishing up ,too much options for people to do ,too much money needed or what ever ,May be we are all to blame in not Fostering & encouraging new fanciers ,I was once ask how could we get more members ,thinking about it ,in stead of shooting from the hip,I said I could double membership ,how could you do that,I was asked ,I said each of us go out & recruit a new member ,he said he didn’t get alone with new people & had’t the time ,I rest my case ,so we. could be doomed if we don,t stop thinking of our selves, instead of the big picture ,that’s my rant for today,
That's a shame.
Too many clubs are folding. A lot of it is because members are getting older and the rewards don't warrant the costs anymore. I think a lot of it is because the social side of the sport has gone, especially since the advent of ETS. Back in the old days, everyone would sit around talking and having a laugh while the clocks were opened and the work out was done. Now we don't even go to the club after the race.
What killer says is right. some people 'don't have time' to talk to people about the benefits of the sport, but they have time to be on social media criticizing others.
I don't know what it is like in the big cities in the UK, but in Sydney and Melbourne there are still lots of clubs and thousands of flyers. The sport is not dying at all. But the change is that there are fewer blokes with a small set up and not many pigeons. Big lofts and lots of expensive pigeons are the way it has gone. It is now a very expensive sport if you want to compete at the top.
Too many clubs are folding. A lot of it is because members are getting older and the rewards don't warrant the costs anymore. I think a lot of it is because the social side of the sport has gone, especially since the advent of ETS. Back in the old days, everyone would sit around talking and having a laugh while the clocks were opened and the work out was done. Now we don't even go to the club after the race.
What killer says is right. some people 'don't have time' to talk to people about the benefits of the sport, but they have time to be on social media criticizing others.
I don't know what it is like in the big cities in the UK, but in Sydney and Melbourne there are still lots of clubs and thousands of flyers. The sport is not dying at all. But the change is that there are fewer blokes with a small set up and not many pigeons. Big lofts and lots of expensive pigeons are the way it has gone. It is now a very expensive sport if you want to compete at the top.
Greetings from the land down under. 
The split between the big money/big loft fliers and the working man is certainly becoming bigger down here in the South but I think as you go up country it is more like it used to be and there are still more clubs and bigger Federations. I went to one of our more local shows a couple of years ago and it surprised me how many younger fanciers there were there. I do agree though that more has to be done to encourage youngsters into the sport but sadly I think too many youngsters don't want to do anything that doesn't include a screen 
I remember back in the day that it was always the old boys of the club (of which I am now one) who were instrumental in the young fanciers getting started with them gifting birds, clocks and most of all their experience, there are still fanciers like that today but they are becoming fewer.
I think you are right Muzza that ETS hasn't helped in the respect that the social side of pigeon has gone, I remember when Andy and I were boys down the club/pub with our Dad that it would take a couple of hours of more to work out a result and all that time the members were socialising over a pint or two, obviously drink driving laws have made a difference too. I'm not sure that these one loft races are helping either !!!
I remember back in the day that it was always the old boys of the club (of which I am now one) who were instrumental in the young fanciers getting started with them gifting birds, clocks and most of all their experience, there are still fanciers like that today but they are becoming fewer. I think you are right Muzza that ETS hasn't helped in the respect that the social side of pigeon has gone, I remember when Andy and I were boys down the club/pub with our Dad that it would take a couple of hours of more to work out a result and all that time the members were socialising over a pint or two, obviously drink driving laws have made a difference too. I'm not sure that these one loft races are helping either !!!
& did them long hand ,
It used to take ages opening all the clocks, checking rubbers and reading off dials and printouts. When I first started going down the club with dad the results were worked out using a slide rule lol. Became a bit easier with calculators then computers. But all a good time, staying in the pub until closing time every Friday and Saturday night through the season.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
Good old daysAndy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:41 pm It used to take ages opening all the clocks, checking rubbers and reading off dials and printouts. When I first started going down the club with dad the results were worked out using a slide rule lol. Became a bit easier with calculators then computers. But all a good time, staying in the pub until closing time every Friday and Saturday night through the season.