Thanks Neil. You're kind words mean a lot. You're a hell of a pigeon flier and an even better "man" and you've got to know me quite well these last few years. I watched on with astoundment last year as you endured what I'd wish on no man and yet you did it with a strength of compassion and devotion that anybody could only admire and respect. On top of that you managed to hold down your job and fly a hell of a pigeon into the bargain - never looking for excuses and pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion.
Yes, there were times I pushed you and said "2 weeks, just give me 2 more weeks then you can lie in for 6 months if you want". But it's not all about train, train train. If you recall there were times I said to you "No, don't go - leave em be". It doesn't take a smart man to put pigeons in the basket and take them training. It takes a smart man to know when to turn the screw and when to take the foot off the gas. Both are as important as each other. What was it 3 x 1st Fed wins in 6 YB races with a team of YB's that were "natural" and not on the darkness? That demonstrates to you (and anybody else) that the basic philosophy is not far wrong.
Now, I'm a Lycett and this is pigeons - that only means 1 thing. Whatever we do we do "eyeballs out". It's the only way to us. I "could" keep and race pigeons myself now, but I couldn't do it "properly" and therefore I'd rather not do it at all because I know I couldn't fly them how I wanted to. Therefore I turn my passion and my talents elsewhere. I auction pigeons online and i'll put my knowledge of bloodlines against most men and I know the way that I still operate pigeons is successful. I'll give you few examples shall I (this bit is for you Buster)
2007 was the last year I managed my own team of birds. That was the year I "suspect" that "Houdini" won the MCC. He was beat 50 secs for winning it and Dad was called away from the loft for 6 minutes (I was at work). During that 6 minutes "Houdini" came and entered the loft - Dad found him on his return. How long had he been there? Could've been 30 secs - could've been 3 minutes I'll never know. I do know that cock though and I do know what he was like, and I do know the shape he was in.
2006 I won the NMCC Yelverton by a record 9 min 59 secs (sending 4)
2005 I was Worcester Fed Champion, West Midlands Region Sprint Champion and 2nd National Ace RPRA Sprint Champion with "Houdini"
2004 I won 0-800 West Midlands Region Award
2003 I won 2 x 0-250 West Midlands Region Sprint Awards
2002 I won West Midlands Region Sprint Award 0-250 miles
Get the picture?
In the last 3 years I've started to help Phil a little with remote management of his pigeons. He's never won as many races as he has in the last 3 years. He's been Highest Prizewinner for the last 3 years and won something like 40 x 1st prizes (I don't bother counting em any more)
I've also helped Gary and Niall Gordon for over 20 years now. It's been an exciting journey and one that's seen them progress to being one of the best lofts in Europe not just the UK. Their performances are simply staggering and a match for any loft
I helped Neil with his YB in 2024 (to some degree). I helped him attain a kit of YB (for free) that I felt would do him a decent job and there was a 1st Federation winner in there.
So, the point is, the way I operate and the way I think (whilst not being the only way to manage a team of pigeons) is successful. So when I see Forum Members on here offering advice to others which I think is wrong then I call it out and I make no apology for that - especially so when they come from a basic point of little or no success. It's like you kinda like walking up to Luke Littler and saying "you're chucking that dart wrong son".
I've seen people congratulate others on being like 200ypm behind on a sprint race and I'm thinking like "What the f^ck?". If I was 200ypm behind from anywhere you wouldn't need to congratulate me (I'd think you were taking the piss) - you'd just need to look for the nearest branch because you'd find me swinging from it.
We're all different and I get that. I'm not trying to make out that i'm the best pigeon flier to ever grace the game - but I know what and I know and there's plenty that I admire. Take Neil, Worm and Goose on here. They all talk sense and I can tell that they win races - because the way they go about things is right, so I admire and respect that.
Others make out "I just like to see them come". I like the way Karl Pilkingon thinks and it applies here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lRIQGU2RRk
To me that's a man who's say "I really would like to win but I don't know how to do it and so I accept that normally I can't achieve that". Well if that's the case do something about it! That was my mentality. I took many beatings, I never liked it so I did something about it. It's a painful journey but a fruitful one and one that can be taken - but just don't look for the easy answer. It's not in a bottle. It's a "mindset" problem - you're beaten before you start.
I had people ring me in the week leading up to a race asking me where I was sending. My answer would vary depending on my mood, but I've pulled onto a pub car park before now and got my birds out the boot and fanciers in the queue have put their birds back in the car and quickly drove off to another club. They're beaten before they've even started!
So, yes I'm direct and i'm aware of that. On many threads I don't participate because I feel I've nothing much that I can offer, but when I do have something to offer it's because I feel passionate about it and I believe that I come from a good place - and whatever it is I think I can always evidence by performances and experience.
We're talking pigeons here. Donkey's don't win the Derby and shit pigeons breed shit pigeons.
It's not complicated really
You just need to analyse and be honest with yourself if you want to progress