Worst race ever
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:46 am
It was probably one of my worst ever day’s racing today. I sent 35 birds to Littlehampton 83 miles with the WOESRC.
The birds were liberated at 10.00am. Light East wind. Good weather at liberation but cloudy here. I was expecting a good race with the early birds around one and a half hours. I had my first one an hour after that at 12.43. A blue 2 year old hen from Potter who has flown both South Road and North Road. I didn’t find another one in the loft until 2.30. I don’t know when he arrives as he didn’t record on the ETS. He done the same last week. His ring works as he recorded when I put him over it. He is a yearling from Pete’s Muzzabella. Third bird was a latebred hen being her first time in a basket. Fourth was at 16.50 a 2 year old, Muzzaboy. Son of Pete’s Muzzabella. The Fifth and final one on the day was “Steve”, a blue pied cock from Buster having his first race.
So I only got 5/35 yesterday. I have had one more this morning, another yearling having his first race. But it is raining here this morning and he is soaked.
I sent back 7 of the ones that went to the first race but have only got one of them back. I am also missing birds that have flown both South and North upto 400 miles. Just doesn’t make sense. I can only think that as ours go up with the Welsh birds and they were doing nearly a mile a minute that they have just gone way over.
Generally there was a lot of moaning down the club saying that it had been the worst race for sometime. A few birds were missing but no one as bad as me, and I am about an hour behind.
I am getting rather frustrated with it all at present. With the shop I just don’t get the time to spend with the birds. We work 6 days a week and on our only day off we have things we have to do, like shop for ourselves. I don’t even manage to enjoy seeing them arrive as I’m stuck in the shop and just have to keep checking if any are in. Roxanna does try to let me go out for a while when I think they are due but yesterday she had some haircuts to do. Last race we had someone picking up a rabbit. So so far I have only managed to see one bird arrive home.
Oh well, onwards and upwards. Stop moaning and get on with it.
The birds were liberated at 10.00am. Light East wind. Good weather at liberation but cloudy here. I was expecting a good race with the early birds around one and a half hours. I had my first one an hour after that at 12.43. A blue 2 year old hen from Potter who has flown both South Road and North Road. I didn’t find another one in the loft until 2.30. I don’t know when he arrives as he didn’t record on the ETS. He done the same last week. His ring works as he recorded when I put him over it. He is a yearling from Pete’s Muzzabella. Third bird was a latebred hen being her first time in a basket. Fourth was at 16.50 a 2 year old, Muzzaboy. Son of Pete’s Muzzabella. The Fifth and final one on the day was “Steve”, a blue pied cock from Buster having his first race.
So I only got 5/35 yesterday. I have had one more this morning, another yearling having his first race. But it is raining here this morning and he is soaked.
I sent back 7 of the ones that went to the first race but have only got one of them back. I am also missing birds that have flown both South and North upto 400 miles. Just doesn’t make sense. I can only think that as ours go up with the Welsh birds and they were doing nearly a mile a minute that they have just gone way over.
Generally there was a lot of moaning down the club saying that it had been the worst race for sometime. A few birds were missing but no one as bad as me, and I am about an hour behind.
I am getting rather frustrated with it all at present. With the shop I just don’t get the time to spend with the birds. We work 6 days a week and on our only day off we have things we have to do, like shop for ourselves. I don’t even manage to enjoy seeing them arrive as I’m stuck in the shop and just have to keep checking if any are in. Roxanna does try to let me go out for a while when I think they are due but yesterday she had some haircuts to do. Last race we had someone picking up a rabbit. So so far I have only managed to see one bird arrive home.
Oh well, onwards and upwards. Stop moaning and get on with it.
From what I understand although the winning times in our fed were pretty good it sounds like there were a fair few birds missing. I think the birds do get dragged all over the place and of course hawk strikes certainly don't help and there are a few of them between Littlehampton and your place Andy. It doesn't make sense when experienced go missing from races like that
I know our Dad felt a bit like that with his birds when we were all swimming competitively, but at least you have them there for the future and can continue to build a team. With any luck you will be able to see a few more home when the distances get longer 
