UkPigeonRacing

I've had birds since the early 1980 of 1 description or another & pigeons since 2006, so to be onest I don't know any different with losses etc as this has been a regular part of this hobby for me .
To Andy I think the race program isn't forward thinking enough & doesn't do anything for the small team back garden flyer & seems to me it's all about getting race teams ready for Channel racing by the bigger player's, so the Combine could yet again financially take a hit again with the later races if they go all the way with this program as with last year's program.
To NeilA with all peregrine strikes a lot of pigeons will get scattered over a very large geographical area, & be miles off line of flight. Some will not have the homing abilities & are just follower's so never make home.
In your case I think to have 3 Fed winner's go off the radar is a hard one to take they have proved that they can do it in previous races & good pigeons tend to be able to look after them selves, hopefully they will still make home fingers crossed NeilA.
Regards Dave.

Hello NeilA, myself & Andy fly in the WOESRC, so we've started off at Stoney Cross ×3 this week we are at Chale, Littlehampton, Brighton, again Stoney Cross, Chale, Littlehampton ×2 Brighton, Littlehampton. That's are obird program.
Ybs Stoney Cross, Chale, Littlehampton, Stoney Cross Chale, Littlehampton×2 Brighton to finish, we did go out as far as Ramsgate last year, Andy will correct me if I'm wrong, if we don't have this program we go down the leg into Cornwall that not much better with distance 130 miles or so down to Sennen Cove & peregrine territory yet again & you got to ask yourself why keep on going to these site's knowing full well your going to get hit. Your relying on common sense & this isn't, this is going to be financial suicide come the end of the season & that's not sustainable. Sorry it's been a bit long winded NeilA.
Regards Dave.

There is NO solution to this problem. As fanciers numbers reduce the problem for those left will only get worse. WE the fancier didn't help the situation. As fanciers bred more birds to cover losses, this just PROVIDED the BOP with a bigger food source. Changing routes to avoid them may work short term, but these BOP are EVERYWHERE. And changing route is pointless if you have a BOP problem at the home end. Whilst Buster was right in saying not all losses are down to BOP many are including birds getting injured trying to evade an attack. I once had 3 birds return from the same race hawked.
Many will remember the post on Pigeon Chat that listed over 100 KNOWN nesting sites here in the UK. One of those is less than 2 miles from me.
As somebody has already said. It's now part of pigeon racing. And without sounding negative, you either live with it, or pack in.

I believe the problem could be reduced by keeping and racing LESS pigeons. Instead of this big is best approach, I believe small is better. Bird limits/2B, 5B or whatever is proposed would result in LESS birds going to the races, and less birds attract less attention from BOP so result in LESS attacks. Training in small groups has proven this. This is only my opinion, I'm sure others will think different.
You could just carry on as before. Keep more birds and lose more birds.

NeilA wrote: Tue May 07, 2024 2:32 pm So it should really cater for all with a race program of interest to its members

Yes & this doesn't, it's not been fit for purpose for a long time, too set in it's way of thinking I've got nothing against any members that want to fly the Channel but it's always going to have a detrimental effect when the vast majority don't want anything to do with DEFRA,Vet etc so the Combine will suffer. This was a chance to offer a different route not down the leg as been done before, join up with another Fed Combine to fill the transporter & have big birdage also go a different direction all together, just try to do something to make change. Time will tell or should I say running out, I don't think there has been any forward thinking at all in the closed season last winter with this program I know it's down to the clubs involved to agree,I've only got a very small team & enjoy my pigeons but being asked to support this the same old thing year in year out I must be mad.
Regards Dave.

Hello NeilA/Andy, yes I think that's about as good as it's going to get, will pick my races this season & have a rethink personally as to if I stay with it or pack in.
I fly in a great club only a few members which is a pity but will see what will change if anything for 2025 with racing, but I think it will only get worse unfortunately with the BOP situation, hope you all have good return for the rest of the season.
Regards Dave.

Hello Andy, so what race points are you talking & what distance for the longer races with CDS any information please or there program this year.
Regards Dave.

NeilA wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 9:05 am https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/in ... msblog2024


Just thought I would post that link

Hello NeilA, Maybe that the parents & last year's youngster's still staying around, how the hell can anyone with an ounce of common sense justify having these many made structures put up & have these killing machines desimating wild bird & racing pigeons.
Regards Dave.

Hello Andy, Thanks for the information it will be interesting to see what developments happen at the end of the season please keep me posted, maybe if they open up the radius it could be good, I think it's good someone is trying to do something different.
Regards Dave.

NeilA wrote: Sun May 12, 2024 10:29 am A bloke in my club had a report yesterday at about 130 by a non fancier a peregrine had just dropped his pigeon dead on his garage . This was at Bedford about 35 miles north west of us
We were clocking around 1245
The pigeon was one in the race poor thing

Terrible really is, here is Wolves fed top 10 as it stands currently from Weymouth
1 S Brookes & Son 129.1482 02:28:09 1542.5042 GB 22B 54774 PENSNETT AND BROMLEY FC
2 T Fenn 128.1533 02:27:42 1535.6330 GB 23D 52870 WHITEHEATH DHS
3 M & V Beaton 129.0636 02:28:43 1530.9380 GB 23C 59540 WHITEHEATH DHS
4 M & V Beaton 129.0636 02:28:50 1529.7380 GB 23D 59918 WHITEHEATH DHS
5 J Cresswell & Son 132.0796 02:33:12 1521.6449 GB 23A 50777 HURST HILL F.C.
6 J Cresswell & Son 132.0796 02:33:19 1520.4870 GB 22S 54738 HURST HILL F.C.
7 N Taylor 131.0617 02:32:12 1518.9028 GB 22Z 47125 HURST HILL F.C.
8 Purchase & Walker 145.0006 02:48:10 1517.5778 GB 23B 69296 BURNTWOOD HS
9 Purchase & Walker 145.0006 02:48:10 1517.5778 GB 23Z 00197 BURNTWOOD HS
10 Lemm, Wilkes & Channings 130.1062 02:31:31 1517.0740 GB 22D 50004 DOCK F.C.