UkPigeonRacing

Posted: **Sun Aug 09, 2026 10:51 pm**

Diamond Dave wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:10 pm My experience and that of my non-fancier syndicate in the shropshire OLR has not been good at all.
Within 3 weeks of sending off 2 well reared, robust youngsters, one of them had died!
They had only got to the 6 mile stage and they have gone from 350 birds to just 55 and our other one has gone.
Non-fanciers asking awkward questions now. It's not good for the sport and doesn't portray us in a good light.
I won't be entering any more in the future.

There are , unfortunately some instances where things don't work out well in one loft races. Sometimes mixing many squeakers from many lofts can lead to illness and deaths. Being frank about it quite a lot of pigeons sent simply are not the right type or the right quality. They need to be robust and able to cope with the OLR system.
The OLRs are popular down here, but there have been a couple of cases where for whatever reason the results were disappointing. The Meadow Loft race that we have ours in again has been running for 11 years, and is very professional and successful.
You still need the right pigeons and a fair bit of luck.

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 8:27 am**

Murray wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 11:07 am I'm not sure what's going to happen with the Meadow race. The first race is scheduled for next Saturday from 300 kilometres but they seem to be a little bit behind in the training. Yesterday they went 100 kilometres and had a very good fly, the first 1000 or so were all home in reasonable time.
They are going well, but they may need to shorten the first race or put it back a week. They did last year and it worked well.
The first race is from nearly 200 miles which is a fair jump, it sorts them out a bit. The second race is about 250 miles and the final is about 420 miles. It's a test for what are only 6 to 9 month old mostly.
Devo and I had two in it last year. One, Free Beer, did the whole series. The final was a blow home, very fast, so two weeks latter they had a repeat final and she did it again. Good little pigeon.Flew 420 miles twice in a fortnight at 9 months of age.
Her daughter VeeBee is in for us this year and is making nice progress through the training. That family have a strong "get home" gene.
The final is worth Au$75,000 to the winner so there's a bit on offer.
We've got pigeons in lofts all over the place competing for about half a million dollars in various races. I'm not greedy. A little share will do.

I got a message early this morning saying that bird flu has been found in more wild birds in coastal Victoria, and pigeon racing is closed down for two weeks in Melbourne and a band all along the south of the state.
Thing one, pigeons don't become ill with Chicken flu.
Thing two, there is no conclusive evidence pigeons can even carry it. It seems to be species specific.
Thing three, the government vets don't care. Disrupting people's lives seems to be their main method of justifying their existence.
So, we are just carrying on the same as usual, until we aren't.
How that will affect the Meadow Loft race, who knows?

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 10:31 am**

Murray, we have to have an avian vet inspect our birds
to be able to fly the channel. Asked him the same question. told me that racing pigeons don't catch bird flu but they can spread it.

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 11:07 am**

Diamond Dave wrote: Mon Aug 10, 2026 10:31 am Murray, we have to have an avian vet inspect our birds
to be able to fly the channel. Asked him the same question. told me that racing pigeons don't catch bird flu but they can spread it.

That was one statement from one vet. He might be right.
But "might be right" is a very tenuous argument to use to shut down businesses.
And the big pigeon racing guys are businesses, make no mistake.

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 11:27 am**

Anyway, the Meadow Loft race are planning to go 100 kilometres twice more early this week before the first of the final races from 250 km on Saturday.
Steven and the gang have done an amazing job. It has been another cold, wet, bleak winter, and they have got these youngsters up and going.
Winter racing is great, until you get another dismal, cold winter.

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 2:02 pm**

Diamond Dave wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:10 pm My experience and that of my non-fancier syndicate in the shropshire OLR has not been good at all.
Within 3 weeks of sending off 2 well reared, robust youngsters, one of them had died!
They had only got to the 6 mile stage and they have gone from 350 birds to just 55 and our other one has gone.
Non-fanciers asking awkward questions now. It's not good for the sport and doesn't portray us in a good light.
I won't be entering any more in the future.

Dave, that's got to be down to management of the loft's mate.
The main one I'm in is called Autumn Pigeon OLR and its in Cornwall racing won't start until October the get all the Fed racing out the way first mate. At the time the loft closed to eateries end of June it had 1200 birds he's only lost 10 birds so far through one thing and another so the OLR are not all the same. This will be my 2nd year in this on and I had a win in the 3rd race with them that covered my entry fee for 2 birds and the cost of the 2 birds I bought and I still had a few £100.00 out the winnings. I can't fault them

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 2:03 pm**

Devo1956 wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:18 pm We all know that OLR is for everyone, and that is the choice we make. All i can say is, when you are thinking of joining a OLR, make sure you check out how the OLR Has been running over the last 5 years, and do some research of the best well run OLR. If you are not sure, don't send.

Well said Devo

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 2:03 pm**

Buster121 wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 8:36 pm
Diamond Dave wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:10 pm My experience and that of my non-fancier syndicate in the shropshire OLR has not been good at all.
Within 3 weeks of sending off 2 well reared, robust youngsters, one of them had died!
They had only got to the 6 mile stage and they have gone from 350 birds to just 55 and our other one has gone.
Non-fanciers asking awkward questions now. It's not good for the sport and doesn't portray us in a good light.
I won't be entering any more in the future.
That's a shame Dave and not good at all, but remember there is some good ones out there

That's right Buster

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 2:05 pm**

Diamond Dave wrote: Mon Aug 10, 2026 10:31 am Murray, we have to have an avian vet inspect our birds
to be able to fly the channel. Asked him the same question. told me that racing pigeons don't catch bird flu but they can spread it.

good to hear Dave, I never knew that mate

Posted: **Mon Aug 10, 2026 2:57 pm**

Diamond Dave wrote: Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:10 pm My experience and that of my non-fancier syndicate in the shropshire OLR has not been good at all.
Within 3 weeks of sending off 2 well reared, robust youngsters, one of them had died!
They had only got to the 6 mile stage and they have gone from 350 birds to just 55 and our other one has gone.
Non-fanciers asking awkward questions now. It's not good for the sport and doesn't portray us in a good light.
I won't be entering any more in the future.

14/59 back so far today, this cant go on it's not just this OL but other OL are having massive losses, one OL started with 1339 on the 1st July and they're down to 249 from 116 miles bearing in mind their first trainer (from 2 miles) was on the 7th July. Irrespective if it's hawk attacks or weather or not enough schooling shit sticks and the Anti's are on the sports back more than ever, yes i know some feds have been wiped out but with these OL'S it's every year and it's the same excuses

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