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Well if YOU don’t want to.... DON’T! !
But shut up and let them who do want to do so.
By Flight of Fancy
Sorry folks for the late start with the results – but the usual excuses are offered. But I have had a bad back that made sitting still intolerable, let alone typing. Thus I have a lot of catching up to do... still never mind. The Northants South Road Invitation F. C. has had, to all sense and purposes another, a good racing season, following two rather good seasons to say the least. This is a competitive club that sent over 250 birds first week, and regards the weather this was a good turn out. This week the total birdage was over 450 birds that was with many sending National birds also that doesn’t duplicate into the club. Last week it was over 550 birds! . This, off course, means every ones’ loft has to be ‘on the ball’ to merit a position let alone a win. Even so the friendship belied amid the jovial banter augers well for the future... and stern competition. I must say the atmosphere and friendliness is one reminiscent of days gone by and a joy to be associated with. Indeed I am lucky to be in two good clubs that want and accept new members. A rarity these days! Unless they can pick and choose! Or go around touting and poaching other club members. .
The South Rd club has 3 new members this season and we wish them all the best. I know they will get, if needed, genuine help, encouragement, plus good intentions from all the other members if and when needed. Above all, not only will they be made felt welcome they are welcomed! We will possibly soon have more, knowing of others flyers wanting to join this thriving club... indeed new applications are on the table! And this club turns away no – one wishing to fly pigeons if they are eligible within RPRA rules. None of that ‘ He’s not nice to his wife, - or he’s wife talks too much’. ‘ His father – in –law (deceased) was a good flyer, or they live in the East.’, the classic ‘Well I’m not worried personally about him being a good flyer.... But we must think of the other member’s’. Or, ‘ Will they endeavour to fill his / her race sheets in properly and correctly’ ##**! ? Mind boggles. Then if a previously good flyer ‘ He mustn’t time in the first 4 birds, and such like rubbish! Ps and yes they may fly the Widowhood system.
Corby Town North Rd. is also pleased to take new flying members. Indeed they opened their boundaries to accommodate several flyers all credit to them; they are 'Sportmens' as well as good clubmen. Here's another little true story of a club secretary puffed up with his own arrogance and self-importance. A former pigeon flyer went to work mates’ home to see his fishpond. He expressed his pleasure on seeing the fish and told him he was impressed. He was told of this other fellow who had a good set up and fish and they arranged to visit him to view them. When they got there he was a mite surprised, for he knew the fellow from racing pigeons! After viewing he said to the Secretary that he intended to submit an application form to join the club as a full flying member. ‘You won’t’ he was told. ‘I what, I will’ he replied’. ‘Well you won’t get in’ he was informed. ‘Well it’s not up to you and you can’t stop me applying, besides it’s a members vote that counts’. ‘I’m telling you not to bother applying, and you can take from me you won’t be accepted’!
Now whether the intention was not to put the proposal on the table or not one can only surmise, but it was enough to prevent another ‘Flyer’ from joining a vast club of 7/8 flyers who didn’t need more flyers. The same club told a good flier a little time back to leave, as he wasn’t wanted there as he flew a good pigeon. Mind boggles, just who or what do these people really think they are? Don’t they know that as secretaries they are there to do the will of the majority? Yes to a greater - or lesser – extent they are custodians of the club. Bear a little responsibility for the welfare of the club as a whole. Fortunately most secretaries do a good job in a thankless and times consuming role. They are a credit to their club. Others are a disgrace. A dictator, I was always told, whose interest was for the good of their chosen passion, was not necessarily a bad thing, but... Some need to re-value and take stock of just what and who they are and where they get off. Can you believe it? It beggars disbelief I know, but with things like that, and the ‘Behind the Hand’ corridor whispers and politics, the hole in the sand needs digging a bit deeper. The sport needs them like an ice hammer.
Back to the Northampton and District South Rd. After leaving the ‘Fed’ to transport their’ birds them selves, Northants Invitation South Road Club has not only saved welcomed costs, but their - for want of a better word - ‘Corridor Flying’, seems to be paying dividends. Though only starting this new regime two seasons ago, losses it would appear are fewer; Actual race times more reliable – without the fed drag and dog – legging and the closeness of the results even more hotly disputed. After a few ‘Fund Raisers’, which also brought ‘pigeon racing’ awareness, they purchased a 'Transporter'. In the first instance this was good, though it was quickly realised they were to need a bigger one if things went according to plan. Hence, after much searching, club president Jim Hales and Secretary Trevor Bull found a ‘Dream’ one. It was purchased and the other sold on. This forward thinking has thus far proved a blessing. It also seems that the line of flight followed resulted in better positions in the ‘Midland’ and ‘National’ sections. Most, if not all, members feel their’ new set up is proving to be most beneficial. Though of course it is early days of yet.
F & M has played havoc with most fanciers planned season, but a lot should have been learnt and could well prove beneficial. Take this old East - West route, I see Sid Barkal is looking into the feaesabilty of holding a race next year – two would be better - for this very route. Nothing definite or concrete, just delving into to see, if any, what interest there may be. Yet the knockers are out already. What a load of garbage is put forward to try and stop a sensible and worthwhile venture. The last races, if needed, proved that it is feasible. The 40’s 50’s and ‘War birds proved it. And if any doubters want to clip – trap and spout reasons that it can’t, or shouldn’t be flown their arguments are blown out the water when I state that EVEN I! yes me! Who sent 10, including yearlings, two late breds and got nine back in good time, very good time for me. And before any one remarks about losses, didn’t we have smashes from Nantes and Rennes alone on more than one occasion? You bet you bottom dollar we did! And what’s more you can safely bet we will again, and that’s a fact!
What their’ main ‘beef’ is they are scared of different names coming to the fore. And it not being theirs also. Scared that, in like the past when members have been, hoodwinked to what the money boys, position people dictate and wanted – and got, and still do, will, unless others say enough is enough – A thin end of the wedge! THEY want to protect their corner. Good luck to them, they have had things on their laps for so long they think it’s their’ ‘Right’. Now the reality is simple, if there is enough interest for an East - West race the N.F.C are considering flying one. WHATS wrong with that. Before you scratch your heads and try to reason against it I’ll tell you... nothing! If you don’t want to fly it DON’T. There will been plenty of other races about on that day to enter, so let them fly it that want to, and you who don’t fly where you want, and leave those that do the peace to do it. The general consensus I have encountered is that it would be well supported. Those against will be noticed via their position naturally. But then again a levelling of the playing field, another, even if a harder challenge is often blocked by some for their own selfish reason isn’t it. Let them stand up and have a go like a lot have had to year in year out. They won’t because they want their cake and eat it. So put up or shut up and let others have a fairer race for them sometimes.
Sid if there are only 150 names you could confidently quadruple that and X’s by ten the amount of birds that will at least be entered to race.... Go for it, do the members a favour for once and let others, for the good of the sport have a crack. Let's look at the results, the new and different names at the fore. We can only say on the results and the direction of the wind for them races. Undoubtedly there will be different name to the fore in different winds. Hence a larger and often different name will show up. Many outstanding flyers will get some of the accolades they deserve. That’s fair and can only be good for this sport that is dwindling.
Mrs and Mrs Gerry Wright are such deserving cases without a shadow of doubt. They did the double winning Sennen Cove. - Which I wouldn’t race as I thought it was a waste of time, and not even a realistic alternative – Then topped the SE section from Hestal winning probable 7th National. Great flying! By any standards. A finer and more likeable couple one couldn’t wish to meet. Their dedication is unbounded. Gerry is only too pleased and ever willing to help out, a really likeable and approachable fellow. He flies in clubs just to make up the number, often at a great disadvantage to himself and his birds. He was a great friendly adversary to them great flyers of the Northants Fed Gary Edmunds and Gordon Wilson, also Barry Andrews and Deb Sturgess at the distance. He flies both North and South with an equally high standard. He is a force to be reckoned with in the Leicester Fed. Yet 'til now the standard of such flyers went – and will go - unnoticed. I’m really pleased for Gerry and his wife for they really deserve the success, and know many more are also. I want to see those in a less fortunate position from time to time rise to the fore. Can anyone, without selfish motives think differently? Of cause not.
There will be the norm South – France races, which are popular, even if not very reasonable to a lot of locations. Ian Shipley from the Northants South Rd club had a great race taking a good position in the section of the San Sabastion race, well done to another youngster who proved ‘feint heart never won fair lady’. Joe Newbury again, twice this year so far, was high up sections. Well done lads you flew well. We talk about the ‘National’ but in reality there can’t be one can there. We have to accept this as part and partial to our sport. The ‘Up North Combine’ must be a harder race to win with up 29,000 birds.... Or more entered, compared to the number of birds entered of the NFC. Or Midlands' National. Now an East – West route would offer a little more of a chance in the right wind for these great flyers to consider entering and gaining a fairer result for them. AND that alone should be reasoning enough to fly a couple of these races. The South coast would still have their day in the right winds also. Indeed the inner Midlands would mostly lose out. But would be better than the South route practised in the past, which we strive for every season. Moscow here we come! What a race challenge! Never will happen, but... I also heard at the last two NRCC marking stations an interesting comment that I feel might be worth thinking about.
What is one of the reasons a lot of flyers, it would appear, are turning south? Well the gist is that, though the sprint / middle distance races are / were popular, many want more distance races in the program. They can get a distance of over 300 – 450 miles easily most weeks. Where as they are restricted to just a Thurso and Fraserburgh on the North... if you don’t fly possibly the hardest point of all Lerwick. Another thing that begs belief is 'why oh why' did they change the Lerwicke date back? After years of the ‘Locals’ telling all and sundry that June – the longest day – was illogical, due to the unpredictable and changing weather, they listen to sense and flew it in July. The result was better, faster races and returns really good.
Everyone it seems –except A FEW SELFISH ONES-IN POWERS – was pleased, as it was a great success. Why change it back for a needless ½ hour of daylight? Why change it back at all? No one needs to try and answer that, or explain, for in reality there is no logical reason except what was already thought, and now it is believed known! The race it self was not a success, regardless how it is dressed up. It proved, if anything more than ever ‘What is best for the birds’ must come first, and a few choices privileged member need to shut up and back out. Crikey we are hoping and trying to improve our Image and get better racing for the majority. Trying to increase flyers are we not? We need above any thing else, North or South, to be a little fairer and more thoughtful to our birds. REGARDLESS whose they are, and more important where they are from! I really believe that Lerwick must never be flown in June again. July has proven without a shadow of doubt that that is the time, Once and for all! Hasn't it now! ?
Just to catch up with a couple of race results this week. 16/5/001 saw Sam Mnymneh take a clean sweep with velocities of 1142, 1133 1128, WELL DONE Sam. Next we had a trio of, M/M Jackson on 1269, Trevor Bull, the Sec, on 1263 and one of the youngster Mark Bull, on 1259 from Fareham with 472 birds completing.
Still that’s it till next week ‘Let’s race’.
Email stuart.baker@ntlworld.com All and any view will be appreciated.
( Spinksy - Ecky thump 'Flight'
--- that bad back has certainly wound you up! )
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