First race

[CHARLTON34]

So if your sprinting
What are your birds currently flying at in time and action
When will the yb be away if not

They were out this morning all together (Cocks & Hens), I would say they did between 20-30 mins flying between 7am - 7:45am.

Most of the young birds will be taken away this weekend.

just jmo if you had the time wouldn't it of been better to fly cocks then hens separately?.

[Anthony webster]

Another thing lads must remember you can't make slow pigeons fast ,u can't make idiots win with medicine,,
Forget names n strains there's fast birds n average birds n rubbish, the fast ones make it easier so remember you can never turn a jack russell in two a great dane no matter how hard your trying there born good or bad then it's down to us to make em winners or ruin them .

[Winfort Lofts]

So if your sprinting
What are your birds currently flying at in time and action
When will the yb be away if not

They were out this morning all together (Cocks & Hens), I would say they did between 20-30 mins flying between 7am - 7:45am.

Most of the young birds will be taken away this weekend.

just jmo if you had the time wouldn't it of been better to fly cocks then hens separately?.

Yes I'm sure that would work better, unfortunately didn't have any daylight til 7am this morning, and had to be at work for 8am, so I figured better to get something than waste an opportunity!

[Diamond Dave]

I have to ask a question about 'open-hole'. Would it be more beneficial for someone like me who flies the distance to just to keep them on the open hole.
I know it wouldnt suit roundabout and I think I would be in a state of constant stress if I did but I believe there have been many big winners using that method.
Its sounds like the polar opposite from your disciplined methods so would you still consider those birds/fanciers lazy?
( not questioning - just asking)

[Anthony webster]

Personal opinion dave if you race open hole for 20 yrs you could count ya wins on one hand pal ,
I don't understand lads when they say the distance because keeping pigeons a whole Yr for a race or two don't had up in my head ,,and if you set them up wrong for them 2 races it's a Yr over ,,I know my pal who races at distance at top level them birds for tarbes will have a set plan the younger ones will have a plan as well and the others will be expected to compete well at club and fed as well

[Diamond Dave]

Cheers Ant. I am a realist mate. I dont have yours Mikes and Neils dedication to be a serial winner like you guys.
I still love my racing and my birds but they are not the be all n end all.
My resources are limited, I dont live in a great position and I dont enjoy sprint racing. My club is 35 minutes away and banging up n down the A5 on Friday and Saturday nights week in and week out as well as for training isnt my idea of fun.
These are not EXCUSES, this is my reality. I am not lazy, I get up at silly o clock just like you guys. I clean out every day sometimes twice a day.
I enjoy my national racing with the Bicc. It gives me my target races over 500m but also gives me a great deal of enjoyment in the build up races over the channel.
We all enjoy the birds but get that enjoyment in different ways.
ATB mate.

[Anthony webster]

I understand that dave and will love to see you clock a unbelievable pigeon from the distance pal.

[Diamond Dave]

I understand that dave and will love to see you clock a unbelievable pigeon from the distance pal.

Appreciate that Ant, thanks mate.

[Diamond Dave]

Cheers Ant. I am a realist mate. I dont have yours Mikes and Neils dedication to be a serial winner like you guys.
I still love my racing and my birds but they are not the be all n end all.
My resources are limited, I dont live in a great position and I dont enjoy sprint racing. My club is 35 minutes away and banging up n down the A5 on Friday and Saturday nights week in and week out as well as for training isnt my idea of fun.
These are not EXCUSES, this is my reality. I am not lazy, I get up at silly o clock just like you guys. I clean out every day sometimes twice a day.
I enjoy my national racing with the Bicc. It gives me my target races over 500m but also gives me a great deal of enjoyment in the build up races over the channel.
We all enjoy the birds but get that enjoyment in different ways.
ATB mate.

I think your original plan is best
Split them get them flying asap
Then routine so you get your fitness as the blokes your against will have there’s super fit
Make things easier that way
Use April like others use March
Then enjoy June July in the longer races on your natural system as your have the fitness then it’s getting that flying time at home into them over 6 weeks that I believe will be worthwhile come June

Cheers Neil, I have adapted my loft to try to accommodate roundabout this year so I do intend to give it a go anyway and will be trying to compete in all the channel races as part of the build-up.
If it is a total disaster I will take heed and breed earlier next year.

[Diamond Dave]

Also Dave Steve races natural very well from the longer races
Now he posted the other day his birds are on youngsters but doing 45 mins a day
So natural doesn’t mean they won’t fly
He clearly has the pigeons under his command . I think first you might need to get a routine going with them

The easier way to get them to fly is to split the sex and no nest once you have them doing 40-60 min each you can then adapt back into the natural system
Shane use to let his cocks out when off the nest and hens the same they both did a hour or had a 35/40 mile training toss so that might be worth thinking about to get them split and flying then work the loft flying around the time one sex is off the nest

Open hole can and does have a certain place and can be successful - but I think only under certain conditions

If I were to start racing again would I do open hole for sprint or even the distance - hell no

I'm a control freak and I need to be in control of absolutely everything


However, I do have some involvement in a project at present that's proving really successful - and that has a large element of open hole

Are you able to tell us more about this project Mike? It sounds intriguing