After plenty of consideration I decided to send five spare cocks to Blandford (72 miles) with the Littlehampton RPC in the South coast federation this weekend, while checking these 5 for the basket I noticed a yearling cock driving his hen like mad so decided to throw him in the mix as well. There was a fair turnout at the club but as expected a lot weren't sending as to be honest it is too early really, as a club we had I think 14 members sending 226 birds. With birds coming down from Brighton, Reigate and Horsham there is a fair contingent in the federation. I'm not expecting much from today as these sprint specialists having been training like mad over the last few weeks and will take some beating.
Although it means I won't be home to see my birds arrive (helping my inlaws settle into their new house today) I hope common sense is used by the conveyors and don't let the birds go before 10am once its warmed up a bit. It's a tail wind for them today so it's only just over an hours fly so no need to go early.
Good luck to all I the race.
Littlehampton Rpc First race 2022
The birds went up at 9.15 in the end, far too early in my opinion but who am I lol. I wasn't home when the birds arrived so left the clock running, I reckoned they could have taken around 1hr 30mins. I had 5 of my 6 home when I went to the club, my first one took 1hr 46mins the next was 1hr 55mins, the other 3 were quite a lot later but as it was their first time in a basket since last September I was quite pleased really. The winner in our club also took the first 6 in the federation doing 1696ypm with the winner and his 6th doing 1686ypm my velocity was 1206 so well off the pace which was no real surprise. The returns were all over the place with a fair few birds missing, my 6th bird was home by 9am Sunday morning so on the whole a decent result 
Well done to Alan Still and all the others up amongst the leaders.
Well done to Alan Still and all the others up amongst the leaders.
Good start to the season, Trev, All home. They will benefit from that.
How did the yearling go?
How did the yearling go?
Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Five out of the six were yearlings Muzza, the one that was driving must have got over excited in the basket lol as he was my 5th bird and didn't turn up until late afternoon.