UkPigeonRacing

Devo1956 wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 8:53 am It is great to hear of a young lad wanting to get involved in the sport, even better when they fully understand. That it is a 365 day sport, and the birds are going to depend on him keeping them in good health.
I hope this young lad does get the chance to join the sport, and he can get into a club with members to help him along the way. It is really kind of Dave to spend time with the young lad and his mother, explaining about the sport. I would say more time needed for the young lad to see what it is all about, meet other local flyers by a trip to the club house. Having a chat with others may give him a better understanding about the sport.
Yes he will need a budget to start in the sport, but by just a trip to the club house and chatting to other members. That budget may be reduced by gifts from the club members. My advice for the young lad is, prepare well and take on board what is required from yourself. To become a keeper of livestock. their health is paramount 365 days a year.
Well done Dave.

Trev wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 8:58 am I have to confess that I've not read all the posts on this topic so must apologise if I repeat anything already said.
I do think that the rising cost of keeping and in particular racing our birds is having an impact on the sport, but as you have said, when compared to other hobbies it is still affordable to many. Again it's a sport that you can easily over complicate and can make as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be, again as you've said, we can easily get brainwashed into spending a lot more money than we need to.
As with everything I think the red tape involved now is having an affect, especially now Deffra are involved. Also I think the gradual decline of Club/Fed racing is making it harder for new starters to get into the sport, but I think one of the bigger issues over hear is lack of space. Many councils are against having livestock on allotments now, which of course is where many fanciers, especially up North, used to have their lofts. Many councils won't allow lofts in council owned properties anymore, and all the new housing developments, if youngsters are lucky enough to be able to afford one, just don't have big enough gardens for pigeon lofts or are so on top of each other that it just wouldn't be practical.
I don't know what the answers are but somehow we need to attract more youngsters into the sport, we have a fairly good club in Littlehampton with around 15 members, 12 of whom race most weeks. However at nearly 59, I'm the youngest member, if the two guys who run the club decide they are packing it in, there is nobody there who could/would take over so our club would fold.

Bowbroom wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 12:58 pm Everyone is entitled to their opinion (unless it disagrees with some) mine is that we will NEVER attract enough to even go near replacing those lost through natural wastage, for the kids it’s too much like hard work the same applies to the newly retired.
The drop in membership is affecting all the unions in the British Isles and friends abroad assure me it’s the same in Belgium and Holland.
We must face up to the fact that ours is a dying game and enjoy it while we can, if it gives people pleasure to delude themselves otherwise than I wish them all the best.

Bowbroom wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 12:58 pm Everyone is entitled to their opinion (unless it disagrees with some) mine is that we will NEVER attract enough to even go near replacing those lost through natural wastage, for the kids it’s too much like hard work the same applies to the newly retired.
The drop in membership is affecting all the unions in the British Isles and friends abroad assure me it’s the same in Belgium and Holland.
We must face up to the fact that ours is a dying game and enjoy it while we can, if it gives people pleasure to delude themselves otherwise than I wish them all the best.

Diamond Dave wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 2:47 pm

Bowbroom wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 12:58 pm Everyone is entitled to their opinion (unless it disagrees with some) mine is that we will NEVER attract enough to even go near replacing those lost through natural wastage, for the kids it’s too much like hard work the same applies to the newly retired.
The drop in membership is affecting all the unions in the British Isles and friends abroad assure me it’s the same in Belgium and Holland.
We must face up to the fact that ours is a dying game and enjoy it while we can, if it gives people pleasure to delude themselves otherwise than I wish them all the best.

Your opinion BB and one that typically reflects the attitude of a current or former official of the RPRA.
I'm guessing that it was under your inclusion that the "the future of the sport" committee was set up. I wonder if you can remind me what that achieved, apart from mis-using members funds.
I dont consider myself to be "deluded" because I have a more positive attitude than you.
Can you show me any evidence of newly retired ppl being targeted as potential members or can you show me any evidence of any one being targeted in any sort of campagn to seek new members by the ageing hierachy of the RPRA.? ( refrained from using the D word)
I myself have several ideas of how new members could be targeted and I dont consider myself to be deluded because I have a positive attitude.
There are hundreds of other ppl out there that are likely to have other ideas as well but with your attitude and that of the RPRA, it can only go one way.
Whats really interesting about your post is that you have actively stated that if we dont agree with you - "we are deluded" - To reflect on previous posts of yours, Id say thats a classic case of pot and kettle!!
Nothing personal intended mate.