The thing is about the sport.

[MIL]

I could give you loads of examples of sprint races being won by a large margin to my own loft (at Fed level)

For instance my cock "Lee" won the Fed by almost 5 min from 140 miles. He was literally miles clear

My Pitbull Queen won the NMCC from Portland by almost 5 mins - again miles clear

I can also give you numerous examples at other lofts

Just let me know if you want them - not documented them at this moment 'cos I wouldn't wanna bore you

[NeilA]

It's a genuine concern Neil

You work hard all ends up to find super-talented pigeons that can get clear and win - and those that win repeatedly are harder to find

Then, when you do get them you take your chance every time they go to work

That's beause the good pigeons do what other pigeons don't - they get clear and pigeons that are clear are a target

That’s exactly what Mark was saying to me mate
he said the best sprint birds win at the race point they clear and go and then there the ones that get hit as they break in little groups from the pack

I've never understood that statement Neil, in a good sprint race the birds are finishing together, clocked within a few secs (some in a large group to a single fancier) so how are they winning the race at the start? I've been to many race libs and NEVER seen a single bird break away from the pack, the birds have always left the race point in one or more big groups.

I imagine after 5 miles the out and out sprinters or top in form sprinters are away even if it’s 20-30 secs

To be honest though if Mark Bulled and Mike Lycett tell me I listen I don’t question
They are are different level of knowledge
to me and achieved more than me in pigeons so it makes sense to do that

[Andy]

I have to agree with King. I live near to Wincanton race course and see many liberations. I’ve not seen any birds striking off on their own. On the contrary I’ve seen where one pigeon can turn a whole convoy that were starting to leave the race point. I don’t deny that some sprint races can be won by a good margin, have won races myself like that. But probably due to other influences split the convoy at some point.
I do remember one liberation from the race course where a pigeon was almost disqualified for an improbable velocity because it was well in front. In this instance the convoy was liberated and were circling the site. There was a pigeon that hadn’t left the transporter and when turned out at that moment a batch of pigeons from a different location flew over the race course heading in the right direction and already at racing speed. They picked up the pigeon that had just left the transporter while the rest of the convoy were still circling. The convoyer himself knew which clubs basket this bird had come from and was able to explain why this bird was so far in front.
We haven’t got a clue what happens once the birds have left the basket and are on their way home. They may get in with other pigeons. The front runners could hit rain and try to go around it whilst when the ones a bit behind have a clear run if the shower has moved on. There are a number of reasons why birds get split. Not always the best pigeons that win the races.

[NeilA]

When my cocks is are really right and I train they don’t circle they scare me as there low just above head height when there not right they circle 2/3 times I notice
I remember year before last I had never seen them leave the lib point so fast about 15 feet off the floor I let 11 go
I had 7 drop to win the fed on the Saturday so would that not work at a race point
I have a pal that use to convoy a 6 bird club and a fed the 6 bird is the money races he tells me it’s remarkable the difference in the speed of the two libs I imagine the cream is in the 6 bird

[MIL]

This is taken from the "Littlehampton" thread that I wrote some months ago

So tell me - where did the 24 YB of Gordon Bros decimate the Combine on that day?

Cos it wasn't at the home end I can tell you that!

[MIL]

When my cocks is are really right and I train they don’t circle they scare me as there low just above head height when there not right they circle 2/3 times I notice
I remember year before last I had never seen them leave the lib point so fast about 15 feet off the floor I let 11 go
I had 7 drop to win the fed on the Saturday so would that not work at a race point
I have a pal that use to convoy a 6 bird club and a fed the 6 bird is the money races he tells me it’s remarkable the difference in the speed of the two libs I imagine the cream is in the 6 bird

In my opinion if birds are not clearing the liberation site instantly then their heads are not right and I'd be treating them

Cos I tell you mine would clear without looking sideways and if yours circle 3-4 times I'm the best part of a mile up the road and you aint gonna catch that up without help from a BoP

[king]

I could give you loads of examples of sprint races being won by a large margin to my own loft (at Fed level)

For instance my cock "Lee" won the Fed by almost 5 min from 140 miles. He was literally miles clear

My Pitbull Queen won the NMCC from Portland by almost 5 mins - again miles clear

I can also give you numerous examples at other lofts

Just let me know if you want them - not documented them at this moment 'cos I wouldn't wanna bore you

I too have won by a clear 10 mins inland and so have many others Mike, but NOBODY knows when that bird broke clear? What is fact that birds fly faster in a flock, so somewhere on route these breakaway winners leave the pack they are racing with and head for home. And since a fancier can only see the end of the race he is only guessing when or where his winner LEFT the flock. It it very unlikely that it's at the race p[oint as a single bird could not possibly fly quicker the whole way home than the racing pack and still be mins in front of them?

[king]

When my cocks is are really right and I train they don’t circle they scare me as there low just above head height when there not right they circle 2/3 times I notice
I remember year before last I had never seen them leave the lib point so fast about 15 feet off the floor I let 11 go
I had 7 drop to win the fed on the Saturday so would that not work at a race point
I have a pal that use to convoy a 6 bird club and a fed the 6 bird is the money races he tells me it’s remarkable the difference in the speed of the two libs I imagine the cream is in the 6 bird

In my opinion if birds are not clearing the liberation site instantly then their heads are not right and I'd be treating them

Cos I tell you mine would clear without looking sideways and if yours circle 3-4 times I'm the best part of a mile up the road and you aint gonna catch that up without help from a BoP

How would you know this Mike?

[NeilA]

I could give you loads of examples of sprint races being won by a large margin to my own loft (at Fed level)

For instance my cock "Lee" won the Fed by almost 5 min from 140 miles. He was literally miles clear

My Pitbull Queen won the NMCC from Portland by almost 5 mins - again miles clear

I can also give you numerous examples at other lofts

Just let me know if you want them - not documented them at this moment 'cos I wouldn't wanna bore you

I too have won by a clear 10 mins inland and so have many others Mike, but NOBODY knows when that bird broke clear? What is fact that birds fly faster in a flock, so somewhere on route these breakaway winners leave the pack they are racing with and head for home. And since a fancier can only see the end of the race he is only guessing when or where his winner LEFT the flock. It it very unlikely that it's at the race p[oint as a single bird could not possibly fly quicker the whole way home than the racing pack and still be mins in front of them?
[/quote

Was it 10 min clear in the fed king ? What kind of vels

[MIL]

I could give you loads of examples of sprint races being won by a large margin to my own loft (at Fed level)

For instance my cock "Lee" won the Fed by almost 5 min from 140 miles. He was literally miles clear

My Pitbull Queen won the NMCC from Portland by almost 5 mins - again miles clear

I can also give you numerous examples at other lofts

Just let me know if you want them - not documented them at this moment 'cos I wouldn't wanna bore you

I too have won by a clear 10 mins inland and so have many others Mike, but NOBODY knows when that bird broke clear? What is fact that birds fly faster in a flock, so somewhere on route these breakaway winners leave the pack they are racing with and head for home. And since a fancier can only see the end of the race he is only guessing when or where his winner LEFT the flock. It it very unlikely that it's at the race p[oint as a single bird could not possibly fly quicker the whole way home than the racing pack and still be mins in front of them?

Not a Fed race though King - you refer to a club win

If the birds are good they should repeat the performance to a certain degree time and time again

"Lee" had other great efforts including 2nd Fed beat on a decimal (the first 2 were again 3 min clear)

As for Pitbull Queen she had a list as long as your arm