UkPigeonRacing

George and Morgan wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:49 pm don't tell the wife Steve

Andy wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:09 pm I don’t know what I spend but it will be a lot. Although I resigned from the NFC, BICC & BBC meaning I didn’t have to pay their subs I still am a member of the CSCFC. Also had to pay my membership to Glastonbury FC and the WOESRC. Also had to pay for membership to the Victoria club, our club headquarters. 40 life rings, 40 ETS rings. Weekly racing fee, around £15/week. Feed for an average of around 50 birds. Although of course I get that at trade price. Cost of fuel for training, although not much, and fuel for getting too and from the club, 20 miles each way on a Friday and Saturday. Cost of vaccine. Courier charges for 3 birds I had returned. Can’t think of anymore at present but all adds up.

Andy wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:44 am Not sure that my accountant would go along with that lol. The pigeon corn does come as part of my normal deliveries so is paid for by the shop.

Andy wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 11:10 am Yes Dev the setting up is expensive with everything you need. Can be made a bit cheaper by buying second hand, making your own or converting a garden shed. They always say buy the best that you can afford as far as the pigeons are concerned. But how does a new starter know what’s good and what’s not. Whilst fanciers in the sport won’t give away or even sell their best I think going to a good genuine local fancier you could obtain sound pigeons for a reasonable amount, especially a few late breds. There are plenty of good people out there only too willing to help. I agree that pigeon racing isn’t cheap. But what hobby/sport is. How much does it cost for a season ticket for Anfield? Add to that the cost of team shirts, scarves, programs etc. The cost of going to away games, and what about travelling to European games? Fishing isn’t cheap, keeping even a share in a race horse isn’t cheap, even keeping up with the latest technology is very expensive. I have a customer that shows dogs, the amount they spend on them is ridiculous. What other sport can you do mainly from your own home? What other sport gives you that interaction with a living animal that needs your love and support and rewards you for it? So yes pigeon racing is expensive but no more than a lot of other sports/hobbies.
Ps Roxanna smokes and spends a lot more on baccy than I spend on the pigeons!!

Andy wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:52 pm I don’t find that down here Dev. When I was back in Worthing years ago a few would stay until the pub closed. Down in Bodmin Cornwall it was a bit like you say. But all we had was a hut in the grounds of an asylum. Then when I moved up to Somerset and joined Yeovil this was in a pub so generally some would stay for a drink. I then packed up racing. When restarting I joined Frome. We had a room at the football ground which did have a bar but there no one stayed. As you say just done what had to be done and gone. This year I joined Glastonbury and I must say it is like the good old days. We start marking at 6.30. Usually done by 7.30/8.00. All members muck in. After this most, usually all, members go into the club for a chat a drink or more and a laugh. We do a guess the winning velocity for the following days race at a £1 a go. We also do a single bird nom each week for £10 paid out of club funds. We are last pick up for the transporter which often won’t get to us before 11.00pm, has been as late as 1.00am. A couple of members stay each week on a rota basis. But often others will also stay. On the Saturday the clocks are printed off, all ETS, at 6.30 and we go into the club whilst the secretary and usually her husband do the result. Once the result is done they come in and announce the winner and the winner of the nom. The tin that has the slips of paper in with everyone’s guess for the winning velocity is opened and one at a time the guesses are read out. This in itself is quite a laugh. I won the nom once and guess the velocity twice lol. A total of about £34. It’s often then 9.00 and gone before I head off for my three quarters of an hour drive home. A great club to be in, we have around 15 members.