Northamptonshire Ramblings

I counted no less than 21 birds on the loft roof, when I ventured out the other morning, and nothing unusual in that, except they were not pigeons but swallows that start to gather together before they commence their winter migration. It is sad to see as in many respects it surely means that summer is fast disappearing with another race season about to enter the history books. These amazing little birds that are still feeding some second round young set off on a trip that will take many of them all the way to South Africa, crossing the Mediterranean and the Sahara Dessert and averaging anything up to 160 miles every day for upwards of five weeks……a quite staggering feat for such a tiny bird.

NCC Gold Ring Race

Not quite in the same league of “staggering feats” but never-the-less an achievement that requires both luck and skill, is the ability to purchase a gold ring at the start of the season, and place it on a youngster that is only a few days old in the belief that this same little bundle of flesh and down, will win a race in only a matter of six to eight months time. The Championship club undertook a new challenge for the first time this year, selling just eighty one gold rings to its membership at a fiver apiece, with just over £350 to be won between 1^st; 2^nd, & 3^rd. There is of course many a spill between cup and mouth as the saying goes, and just to get pigeons to the start line was a success in itself for most fanciers, given how hard the training and racing has been, coupled with everyone experiencing some big losses. Of the 81 initial rings 29 birds; or 35% finished up in the baskets to go to Kingsdown (around 150-160 miles) on Sunday August 29^th, and for such a small number of pigeons to be in a race at that distance on their own would make it that much tougher a test. Throw in a very fresh north-west wind flanking the birds all the way home plus the odd heavy shower, and every one was holding their breath. The birds were very kindly taken to Devon for us by club member Mick Smith, who was just as anxious for a decent race, and he had them away at 10.30, so looks as though you’ve landed yourself a full time job there Mick!! A telephone ring-round later in the afternoon established four members in on the same minute, so expectation was still high at clocks, with every member sending, also reporting good returns. It would be fair to say we were all treated to a ‘Master-Class’ by Albert Farrow who had five of his seven entries drop together at one forty eight, four minutes ahead of the next four members - all in at one fifty two. Albert took the first four positions just to make sure as the money was only available to the first three positions. The pictures of Albert were taken the next day after the race and his winning blue pied hen bird is seen quietly relaxing in the sunshine, and far too comfortable to bother getting to her feet when a camera is poked at her.

With the gold ring race being the success that it was the current thinking is that the Championship Club may open the race to everyone in the county next year. However there may well be two races with the averages from the two races, defining the winners so that the wind and the direction don’t have as much influence on the result and makes the racing as fair as possible regardless of where in Northamptonshire you live. Perhaps one race from somewhere in Devon - Kingsdown again and another to even up the direction from (say) Littlehampton or even further to the south east. It will be discussed in depth over the next month or so, but there’s no reason why if 25 or so fanciers took up the challenge, there wouldn’t be upwards of £500-£600 on offer. If you are interested and want further details please make contact as the rings will need to be ordered quite soon.