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International Racing from England
If it is true, and I believe it to be the case, that a smash occurs when weather conditions are such that the naturally occurring flocks of pigeons in any race are split into single pigeons trying to make it on their own. The English, when they compete with small numbers from Barcelona, or in fact any International race, are in fact simulating a smash every time they send. They are in fact forcing pigeons into a single-up situation that is almost identical to a smash caused by hostile weather. Pigeons, except the exceptional talented and dedicated, do need help to attempt the channel on their own. They need to fly with others going in the same direction. Almost all pigeons need comfort in harsh conditions.
Some will of course wait on the French side to be joined by others who are also prepared to make the crossing. The situation is made a lot easier if quite a lot of English pigeons are there to start with but even then it is still very difficult and only for the talented few. In my mind the UK should do all in its power to attract as many entries to the International races as possible. This project should be a campaign right across the country. It is far too big a problem to be solved by just one club and one set of members trying it alone. It is bigger and more difficult than that. We owe it to ourselves and to the reputation of our country to give it a go. The BBC, the BICC and the NFC should join forces and not try to fly it on their own. A single up club is just as bad as a single up pigeon. It does not really have a chance.
If this were to happen and became more successful as a whole, there is no telling where it might stop. It is entirely possible that Scotland or even Ireland might one day time a pigeon from the International Barcelona. Even hard pigeons prepared to fly alone need to have the encouragement of a relatively good position internationally. This can only be achieved by the whole of England uniting in a common cause. The spin-off of course would be if we did this, the case of pigeons against regulations imposed by DEFRA would also dramatically take a turn for the better at the same time.
John Clements
If it is true, and I believe it to be the case, that a smash occurs when weather conditions are such that the naturally occurring flocks of pigeons in any race are split into single pigeons trying to make it on their own. The English, when they compete with small numbers from Barcelona, or in fact any International race, are in fact simulating a smash every time they send. They are in fact forcing pigeons into a single-up situation that is almost identical to a smash caused by hostile weather. Pigeons, except the exceptional talented and dedicated, do need help to attempt the channel on their own. They need to fly with others going in the same direction. Almost all pigeons need comfort in harsh conditions.
Some will of course wait on the French side to be joined by others who are also prepared to make the crossing. The situation is made a lot easier if quite a lot of English pigeons are there to start with but even then it is still very difficult and only for the talented few. In my mind the UK should do all in its power to attract as many entries to the International races as possible. This project should be a campaign right across the country. It is far too big a problem to be solved by just one club and one set of members trying it alone. It is bigger and more difficult than that. We owe it to ourselves and to the reputation of our country to give it a go. The BBC, the BICC and the NFC should join forces and not try to fly it on their own. A single up club is just as bad as a single up pigeon. It does not really have a chance.
If this were to happen and became more successful as a whole, there is no telling where it might stop. It is entirely possible that Scotland or even Ireland might one day time a pigeon from the International Barcelona. Even hard pigeons prepared to fly alone need to have the encouragement of a relatively good position internationally. This can only be achieved by the whole of England uniting in a common cause. The spin-off of course would be if we did this, the case of pigeons against regulations imposed by DEFRA would also dramatically take a turn for the better at the same time.
John Clements