Page 5 of 14
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Mon May 13, 2024 9:33 pm
by Andy
NeilA wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 9:15 pm
Impossible to judge Andy
I don’t know how your going to select I guess just based on your loft records
The cocks will hopefully have all 12 races of the old bird program. It will then be a case of going through them and seeing which ones have performed best throughout the season. Possibly taking away their best and worst result. They could have a good result and just happened to have come on a good line or a bad race where they’ve gone way off line.
As I don’t race the hens these are assessed a bit differently. I don’t keep stock birds so these are effectively my stock hens. They will be assessed on what they breed or on what their siblings do. I have got room for 8 natural pairs, only have 5 this year, that some of the hens can be put in to race.
It is different from what I was trying to do a couple of years ago. But back more to how I used to race and I am getting more enjoyment out of it this year, certainly with the limited time I have available especially on a race day.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 8:13 am
by Andy
This week we were back at Stoney Cross again 34 miles. 4 times out of 6 races so far this season. Only 3 more times lol.
1129 birds from 96 lofts and 11 clubs were liberated at 9.30 in clear skies and a light SE.
I sent 16 birds. 10 widowhood cocks and 6 naturals that were having their first race, including 2 latebred cocks that had never been in the basket before.
I had my first 2 together at around 10.09. 39mins. It was a nice warm morning with clear blue skies. These 2 were both widowhood cocks. After such a short fly and with lovely weather they were on a bit of a jolly. They just clapped around landed once then took off again before eventually being on the clock at 10.12. I had 3 more together just after that also clapped around a bit but all 5 were clocked within 2 minutes. All widowhood cocks. A few minutes later I had the first of the natural hens. I had 10/16 within 30 mins. 4 more, including a cock who had been coming well, turned up during the afternoon. These had obviously gone over with the bulk of the combine which as the combine winners were all in Bristol and taken a line well North of me. From such a short distance the birds don’t have much chance or incentive to break out of the main batches. The only 2 missing were 2 latebred cocks having their first time in a basket. 1 was here when I got back from the club and the other one turned up the next day.
Next weeks race is from Eastbourne 118 miles so should give them more time to sort themselves out.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 10:08 am
by Buster121
Well done Andy
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 9:28 pm
by Trev
Well done Andy, a decent race for you really then bro, good to see the majority home fairly quickly. Should be a better distance for you next week and looking at the weather they could have the wind on their beaks too which may do you a favour too
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 10:30 pm
by Murray
Trev wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 9:28 pm
Well done Andy, a decent race for you really then bro, good to see the majority home fairly quickly. Should be a better distance for you next week and looking at the weather they could have the wind on their beaks too which may do you a favour too
Yes, a bit further and hopefully a bit of a headwind should show your pigeons up a bit better.
It's really hard for you to complete in those little flutters.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Wed May 29, 2024 9:03 am
by Devo1956
A race is a race no matter what distance, it gives the birds more training needed in breaking away once in the home zone. then trapping to win. Well done Andy.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Wed May 29, 2024 9:05 am
by Murray
Devo1956 wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 9:03 am
A race is a race no matter what distance, it gives the birds more training needed in breaking away once in the home zone. then trapping to win. Well done Andy.
Very true, Devo.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Wed May 29, 2024 12:46 pm
by NeilA
Andy wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 8:13 am
This week we were back at Stoney Cross again 34 miles. 4 times out of 6 races so far this season. Only 3 more times lol.
1129 birds from 96 lofts and 11 clubs were liberated at 9.30 in clear skies and a light SE.
I sent 16 birds. 10 widowhood cocks and 6 naturals that were having their first race, including 2 latebred cocks that had never been in the basket before.
I had my first 2 together at around 10.09. 39mins. It was a nice warm morning with clear blue skies. These 2 were both widowhood cocks. After such a short fly and with lovely weather they were on a bit of a jolly. They just clapped around landed once then took off again before eventually being on the clock at 10.12. I had 3 more together just after that also clapped around a bit but all 5 were clocked within 2 minutes. All widowhood cocks. A few minutes later I had the first of the natural hens. I had 10/16 within 30 mins. 4 more, including a cock who had been coming well, turned up during the afternoon. These had obviously gone over with the bulk of the combine which as the combine winners were all in Bristol and taken a line well North of me. From such a short distance the birds don’t have much chance or incentive to break out of the main batches. The only 2 missing were 2 latebred cocks having their first time in a basket. 1 was here when I got back from the club and the other one turned up the next day.
Next weeks race is from Eastbourne 118 miles so should give them more time to sort themselves out.
Why do you think you had a 3 min trap with widows Andy ? Are they seeing the hens to often or not understanding the system ?
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Wed May 29, 2024 10:33 pm
by Andy
NeilA wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 12:46 pm
Andy wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 8:13 am
This week we were back at Stoney Cross again 34 miles. 4 times out of 6 races so far this season. Only 3 more times lol.
1129 birds from 96 lofts and 11 clubs were liberated at 9.30 in clear skies and a light SE.
I sent 16 birds. 10 widowhood cocks and 6 naturals that were having their first race, including 2 latebred cocks that had never been in the basket before.
I had my first 2 together at around 10.09. 39mins. It was a nice warm morning with clear blue skies. These 2 were both widowhood cocks. After such a short fly and with lovely weather they were on a bit of a jolly. They just clapped around landed once then took off again before eventually being on the clock at 10.12. I had 3 more together just after that also clapped around a bit but all 5 were clocked within 2 minutes. All widowhood cocks. A few minutes later I had the first of the natural hens. I had 10/16 within 30 mins. 4 more, including a cock who had been coming well, turned up during the afternoon. These had obviously gone over with the bulk of the combine which as the combine winners were all in Bristol and taken a line well North of me. From such a short distance the birds don’t have much chance or incentive to break out of the main batches. The only 2 missing were 2 latebred cocks having their first time in a basket. 1 was here when I got back from the club and the other one turned up the next day.
Next weeks race is from Eastbourne 118 miles so should give them more time to sort themselves out.
Why do you think you had a 3 min trap with widows Andy ? Are they seeing the hens to often or not understanding the system ?
I didn’t show the hens before basketing this week Neil. I don’t know whether that made a difference. But also they were only flying for 40 minutes and it was a lovely day. The race had taken nothing out of them at all. They are out for longer than that every day during the week. They have been trapping well. It will be interesting to see how they are this weekend at Eastbourne 118 miles.
Re: Glastonbury FC
Posted: Thu May 30, 2024 7:03 am
by NeilA
Good luck this week Andy
