This weeks discussion of the week is…
What do you think the current state of pigeon racing is?
For example do you think pigeon racing is growing or dying and why, express your views and share with others your opinions on the current state of pigeon racing by placing your vote in the poll below then posting a comment in the comment section below this post.
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ALOHA CHRIS,HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII LOT OF THE GUYS THAT USE TO FIGHT GAME COCKS GAVE IT UP AND NOW ARE TRYING TO FLY PIGEONS. EVEN BEFORE THEY GET STARTED THEY GIVE UP BECAUSE THEY SAID TOO MUCH WORK. THE COST IS TOO HIGH, THE FEED TOO HIGH SO THEY GIVE UP. THE ONLY ONES COME IN IS A FAIMLY MEMBER OR A GUY THAT IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO TALK TO AND SOME THING TO DO. THE GUYS THAT WERE IN 10 TO 15 YEARS ARE THE GUYS THAT STAY IN. MAHaLO DENIS
Pigeon racing is dead here. 4 clubs have dissolved. The desperados that closed them all started an invitational club for their own selfishness and gratification. They can’t hardly make it go. LOL. Grown men acting like spoiled children. I have to travel 75 miles, one way, to a far off club to race. Feed run is 50 miles one way. Costs are way too much with fuel over $4 per gal. Members offer no help for fear of being beaten on race day and only give away their culls. No fun being the minority of any club. Internet auction sites sell all culls as champions. Electronic timers are out of reach. Pigeon racing is a rich mans pleasure.
How to help?
1. Throw out all the spoiled children in adult bodies and start a new club
2. Form bylaws to never allow that behavior again
3. Send monthly minutes and news via email to save costs
4. Stop flying hundreds of birds that barely make the race sheet
5. Genuinely congratulate and praise the winners
6. Club train as a group
7. Have one person transport the shorter races for the club and load on the transport truck for the longer distances
8. Meet at a club members house and be courteous and kind to continue saving costs
9. Schedule fundraisers with races for non profits.
10. Schedule shows in off season for the treasury fund
11. Schedule class room presentations.
12. Partner with 4H, etc.
13. Plan a summer picnic for members and families.
.
Love the “How to Help” list Kenneth, thanks for posting!
My club Pontypridd South Rd had 22 members last year now down to 13 the rest have left the sport
When I came out of the RN in 1972 after 12 years I joined the Nelson HS in Mid Glamorgan we had 30+ flying members plus 12 on the books that would only fly a few races might be 600,
or 500,mile races then some bright spark said all members would pay a weekly fee fly or not, from then on the older members left the sport
Now we are the older members my pension is £144 a week enough said
John Ludlam
I started pigeon racing back in the 80 as a young man just out of school. The club that I entered was quite strong for our small countryside town there were a whopping 33 members. Today there are only 12 members. My conclusion to that is that it became to expensive for the normal man to exercise pigeon racing. Back then it was n poor mans sport and most of the fanciers work at the railways eg. Father and son took part in this exsiting sport. The coming off the international lofts all over resulted that only the rich can afford to take part and send their pigeons to these lofts, the normal man and specially the youth lost interest because of the enormously high prices to pay for a pigeon to start a loft left alone the cost to send a pigeon to these lofts, at clubs the young and normal man from the street had difficulty in beating the pigeons of the rich that can afford the best build the best lofts fly more pigeons per race eg. This doesn’t mean that I am against the rich pigeon fanciers. The fact that the pigeon racing became international was good for pigeon sport in general as the competition to breed better faster pigeons become efidend. The result that the pigeons become to expensive for the normal man and especially the you that is supposed to be the breeders of the future.
Too much fighting and arguing ittakes the fun out of sport
Depends on where you are. We need to use the K.I.S.S. plan more. Keep It Simple Sam! Save the “high tech” stuff for when & if a guy’s ready. Me?, I just enjoy my birds wether racing or not. Just for the pure joy of watching them,caring for them, etc.
I dropped out due to personal reasons, But our club dissolved due to all the arguing. I’m glad I wasn’t there to witness it. Our club started due to the existing club arguing. It amazes me that it gets to that level., I really enjoyed looking up into the sky with the anticipation my birds might be coming in at least an hour or 2 before they were due, LOL. In our case if the sport is going to grow it will take that special leader to pacify all the members. Some quit while new fliers begin so I guess it all balances out. It would be AWESOME if we could all get along
cost of fuel to train, huge costs to purchase any stock of value, cost of lumber for a decent loft, all things considered, racing our little athletes has truly become “the sport of kings”….
Part of our sport that IS growing is Post Office Pigeon Racing. Don’t need a local club, no politics or local bullies, it is simple and cheap to participate and anyone with any size loft can come fly their birds with us.
Do you want to organize some local guys to fly together? Can do that with us too. Share the duties of driving the birds out and when you reach the max range that you want to drive, start shipping the birds through the mail to the race stations.
Simple, cheap, easy, best of all it is fun flying. Membership is free, directory of members is open so we can all contact each other directly to organize more flying. More info: PostOfficePigeonRacing.com
i think that the people have many costs of his living and day by day his dreem foraking his sport with pigeon racing is goin away.
Our club committee in 2013 had too many bully boys who were intent to increase costs and break rules – hardly a way to encourage membership in an already large club!