UkPigeonRacing

Reading all the negative posts lately it is quite clear that racing as we have always known it has become unsustainable and as Dave (charlton) rightly says that racing needs to change to save further self inflicted damage to the sport.
We know that the RPRA will do sweet FA to assist in any initiatives to bring about change but as King said a while ago that we dont necessary need them to sanction some changes that we can make for ourselves.
First of all let's just list where we think the problems may lie and discuss each one to see if there are any ways around them.
I am adding my own list but it would be good if anyone can add anymore potential problems that we can discuss as a group.
1. PERCY
2 CLASHING
3.EXTREME TEMPERATURES
4. FOUR G and 5G
5.SOLAR PANELS
6. SUN SPOT ACTIVITY.

Let's just discuss the percy problem to start with and see if we can come up with any ideas.
My own thoughts are.....
We aren't going to overcome the problem of these freaking monsters so have to look for ways around them.
I would suggest we need to find a way to either avoid them or try in some way to decoy them.
It is natural for them to nest where food is abundant and we are continuing to give them them an exquisite banquet every time we send our birds training or racing all along the line of flight.
Is there a way to break that cycle? Maybe stop racing for a year? Or maybe change lib points or something?
If you look at the olr it seems obvious to me that this is the main reason for the devastation that they ALL suffer.
Alternatively , could there be a way of decoying these bastard things. This may seem a bit controvertial for some but I know many, many fanciers cull birds during the course of the season (due to severe illness and other stuff) so what about giving them birds another chance and liberate them along with some strays that might need re- patriating to their home area and letting them go maybe 10 minutes before the main convoy. This might occupy percy and give ours a safer passage.
It would be good to hear everyone's thoughts and comments and any other ideas that might save a few of our birds.
Please do remember though that we are not the only ones looking in..

Have you been following the LOFT LINE Sunday 8pm live on You Tube mate, this has been running for about 1 year now and the three fellas on there have been saying the same something needs to change

Have said for years, we are trying to race youngsters when the young perigrines are learning in to kill. Instead of either 1 or 2 older perigrines we now have families attacking our youngsters. It’s now common for 3 and 4 young perigrines leaving the nest. Was told by an RSPB member years ago. 25% of young perigrines die within 4-6 weeks of leaving the nest because they can’t fend for themselves. By September the racing becomes better because the families have broken up.
This is a comment from Terry Luscombe Plymouth.
Our club Plymouth and District have proven its birds of prey.
We race our ybs in October & have done so for last 4 years.
It’s been so successful on our first race on the 19th October we will have 600+ birds.
Yes I agree the bop are still out there but are not so active, which gives our birds a better chance of getting home.
My advice to all organisations is make a change, this includes national and classic clubs.
Also heard that a club in Yorkshire is contemplating starting racing ybs late September next season to see if it helps with better returns.

Tony-P- wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 4:26 pm Have you been following the LOFT LINE Sunday 8pm live on You Tube mate, this has been running for about 1 year now and the three fellas on there have been saying the same something needs to change

Have they come up with anything positive Tony?

Johnbee wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 5:00 pm Have said for years, we are trying to race youngsters when the young perigrines are learning in to kill. Instead of either 1 or 2 older perigrines we now have families attacking our youngsters. It’s now common for 3 and 4 young perigrines leaving the nest. Was told by an RSPB member years ago. 25% of young perigrines die within 4-6 weeks of leaving the nest because they can’t fend for themselves. By September the racing becomes better because the families have broken up.
This is a comment from Terry Luscombe Plymouth.
Our club Plymouth and District have proven its birds of prey.
We race our ybs in October & have done so for last 4 years.
It’s been so successful on our first race on the 19th October we will have 600+ birds.
Yes I agree the bop are still out there but are not so active, which gives our birds a better chance of getting home.
My advice to all organisations is make a change, this includes national and classic clubs.
Also heard that a club in Yorkshire is contemplating starting racing ybs late September next season to see if it helps with better returns.

That's greatJohnbee. That seems like a logical assessment of the problem and a positive approach to changing the killing cycle.

Diamond Dave wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 5:14 pm

Tony-P- wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 4:26 pm Have you been following the LOFT LINE Sunday 8pm live on You Tube mate, this has been running for about 1 year now and the three fellas on there have been saying the same something needs to change

Have they come up with anything positive Tony?

Everyone is saying the same thing about low numbers in clubs and Fed so why not save money and send with other Fed, all saying the same thing people don't like change, also about sending you own birds in their own basket to LIB again people won't have that due tou un-fair advantage, how can it be un-fair they are all LIB from the same point at the same time, this would hel on birds getting sick ect well worth a watch and you can join in by asking questions

Johnbee wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 5:00 pm Have said for years, we are trying to race youngsters when the young perigrines are learning in to kill. Instead of either 1 or 2 older perigrines we now have families attacking our youngsters. It’s now common for 3 and 4 young perigrines leaving the nest. Was told by an RSPB member years ago. 25% of young perigrines die within 4-6 weeks of leaving the nest because they can’t fend for themselves. By September the racing becomes better because the families have broken up.
This is a comment from Terry Luscombe Plymouth.
Our club Plymouth and District have proven its birds of prey.
We race our ybs in October & have done so for last 4 years.
It’s been so successful on our first race on the 19th October we will have 600+ birds.
Yes I agree the bop are still out there but are not so active, which gives our birds a better chance of getting home.
My advice to all organisations is make a change, this includes national and classic clubs.
Also heard that a club in Yorkshire is contemplating starting racing ybs late September next season to see if it helps with better returns.

Yes I have spoken to Lee who runs the OLR and his OLR birds are raced in October less likely to be hit also their club race the birds September and October they have had better results and returns

It is a known fact, the lib sites carry on being used. Percy sits waiting watching the wagons role up, now all they have to do is wait. The strikes at the lib sites have been going on for years. Birds flying all over the place, its not really a lib, its more like a firework show. Change of locations for libs. and give the birds a chance to show their true ability.

It's the definition of insanity but we are hostage to the system and the decisions of others!

Rdhd Danny wrote: Wed Aug 26, 2026 6:53 pm It's the definition of insanity but we are hostage to the system and the decisions of others!

Yes Danny it's not just the RPRA, it's the same mentality that runs through the ageing fed officials. Last year I put in a proposal for same day liberations for the 1st 2 young bird races got support from club members but it was shot down by the stalwarts of the committee run fed.
This year, I will propose the later young bird program but I expect the same will happen and the killing cycle will continue.
Very disheartening.