Barcelona loft

[Andy]

Just giving an update of what’s happening. I am very pleased with the youngsters that are here. I did lose a latebred off the loft a couple of weeks ago but that is still only 3 youngsters lost all year. Still got all 6 of Buster’s, both of Pete’s and 3 of the 4 from Trev. I would have liked to have got a couple more trainers in and if I get a chance I still will. Whilst a lot are still heavy in the moult most of the older ones only have 2 flights to go and some are starting to look a picture. A few are paired up and on pot eggs. There are some lovely youngsters among them. I will get some photos taken when I can. I have got 35 older youngsters and 8 later bred ones. With some of the terrible young bird racing and losses this year it may be a blessing that I haven’t tried racing them. I know some probably aren’t going to be any good and will go down early when starting to race them and I would have kept them all winter for nothing, but would rather that than have lost promising birds in bad races. They are still going out every day and flying well and are being left to moult and mature.
On top of the youngsters I have 2 two year olds and 12 yearlings that have all been raced.
Next year I am going to race North road. It will mean that they may only get 3 or 4 races but that doesn’t worry me. The older ones could still be raced from Thurso at 530 miles and the yearlings to 300 odd miles.
It does look as though we are going to fold our club up this winter. I will still stay a member of the BBC & BICC for now but will be flying North with the CSCFC. I do need to find somewhere to get my clocks done. I will probably get hold of John Halstead and see if I can get it done at Gillingham. It is much closer than Frome for me. Unfortunately I can’t join their club as they are in Dorset and I am just over the border in Somerset. Hopefully I can sort something out.

[killer]

Thanks for the update mate ,

[Buster121]

Good to see all going well mate and losses have been very low as you say some will drop by the wayside but on the other hand may surprise you, losses have been terrible for some reason again this year, I seen on chat the Great Yorkshire national think only 2 back in 2 days and up to about 7 yesterday

Couldn't the Dorset club open there radius to allow you in, in light of the club closing

[Andy]

Good to see all going well mate and losses have been very low as you say some will drop by the wayside but on the other hand may surprise you, losses have been terrible for some reason again this year, I seen on chat the Great Yorkshire national think only 2 back in 2 days and up to about 7 yesterday

Couldn't the Dorset club open there radius to allow you in, in light of the club closing

You would think so Buster. But they are members of the Dorset fed, who have turned North, they don’t allow members outside of Dorset. The border is about a mile up the road from me. I am right on the border of Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset, being just inside Somerset.

[Murray]

Thanks for the update on the Barcelona loft, Andy.

It's a shame you cannot join a club which has a boundary a mile away.

Yep, not racing the young birds means you still have them, but they still have to be sent and tested latter. As you say, the ones that aren't good enough will soon be absent.

[Buster121]

Good to see all going well mate and losses have been very low as you say some will drop by the wayside but on the other hand may surprise you, losses have been terrible for some reason again this year, I seen on chat the Great Yorkshire national think only 2 back in 2 days and up to about 7 yesterday

Couldn't the Dorset club open there radius to allow you in, in light of the club closing

You would think so Buster. But they are members of the Dorset fed, who have turned North, they don’t allow members outside of Dorset. The border is about a mile up the road from me. I am right on the border of Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset, being just inside Somerset.

Shame as sure others would join as well

[Trev]

A good and honest update again Andy you have a good team building there and hopefully with a more settled season next year you will be able to test them a bit more. If you get the chance it wouldn't hurt to give them the odd trainer here and there all through the winter. Sorry to hear that your club is going to call it a day, I hope you manage to find somewhere to get your clock read off. Can you not join the club that Phil belongs too ???
I have finally managed to register with DEFRA so can race North or South next season, my preference is definitely North Road and hopefully our Club will continue to race North but at least now I will hopefully put a few across the channel as well

[Andy]

It would be a 2 hour round trip to get to the club that Phil is in. I could join Glastonbury but still an hour and a half round trip. Club racing is just not an option for me where I’m living. I’m not to worried as I’m happy just racing in the nationals but that may mean little racing over the next year or so as I still have no intention at present of registering with DEFRA. I may change my views if marking stations become more local again. But at present would have to take most of a day off work to take them. I also think the cost of racing over the channel could well double next year to make it viable.

[killer]

Can’t you approach ,them saying you didn’t want to race with them or take there money only to fly Fed as invertation flyer ,so you can’t get birds away ,

[Andy]

The biggest problem Killer is the distance I would have to travel to get to the markings and the time I have available with the shop.
If you meant the Gillingham club in Dorset, which isn’t far away, I will find out from John whether this would be possible.