Midlands National News

The Club held its first meeting following the 2018 A. G.M. on the 18^th February at the Club’s Headquarters and as ever there was plenty of matters to discuss and decide the best way forward in 2018. It really is a hectic time of the year with lots of work in preparing the Club’s new Handbook. This I feel is something that the vast majority fails to fully appreciate the amount of effort and work that the Committee gets through to produce this book.  While fanciers are attending the various Annual Shows a small number of Committee men spend their weekend drumming up support by way of selling advertising space in our book. Their work helps to considerably  cushion the overall expense of the Handbook’s printing costs. These lads along with the people and the businesses who have supported us have literally saved the membership thousands of ££’s over the last few years. Sadly a minority of our members seem quick to forget this and choose to criticise some of the decisions that are made. My answer to this one is simple come along if you feel that you can do a better job and are willing to give up your time and travel long distances to attend meetings on so many Sundays of the year while other members are happily tending to their birds.

Ferry Price increases

The club has been made aware that the cost of cross channel ferries and possible fuel prices are once again increasing and after absorbing several price hikes over the years the Committee has made the decision to increase the birdage prices almost across the board by 25p per bird. I say almost because the longest race from Bordeaux will remain unaffected. This is a disappointment for us all but it must be borne in mind that this will be the first increase to our birdage costings for quite a number of years.

1^st World War Commemorative Race

The Club has decided to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the ending of the 1^st World War in honour of the thousands of brave men and boys many of whom gave the greatest sacrifice of all by giving their lives to defend our country and allies. We feel it is poignant for us to hold a large liberation of our birds to highlight the influential part racing pigeons played during the two wars when their actions helped to save so many lives of our servicemen. The race chosen for the commemoration will be from Carentan our first event of the year as this should provide the largest entry. Initially the plan was to hold a joint liberation with the NFC but we could not reach an agreement with them as they wanted the race to be from Bordeaux but we felt that the total birdage  for this race would be both far less of a spectacle  in number than a mass release from  Carentan where nearly 20,000 birds could have surely been anticipated. Sadly the NFC Committee felt that the shorter racepoint  could well have an adverse effect on their race. So we will go it alone confident that the MNFC release will still be more impressive in number than a joint release from Bordeaux in Southern France.

One Loft Update

The club is pleased to announce that the entry is at this stage showing an increase on that of 2017. The prize pot as I write this is heading towards the figure of £20,000 but there is still plenty of time to swell this amount as and when more entries are booked in with us. It should be remembered that for every eight birds that are entered the prizemoney will increase by £1000. So if you want to take the opportunity of grabbing some of this cash and in turn swell the coffers fill in the entry form that was in the 9^th February issue of the paper. Alternatively give us a call on 07917060002 and we will get a form sent out to you. At this moment we don’t know exactly how much we will be offering but we can guarantee that the percentage of money on offer pigeon for pigeon will be the best return for your £125 entry fee of all of the U.K. One Loft race events. We are well aware that the final which will be from Carentan and is scheduled for the 1^st September will be a real challenge but this is what those that enter the event want the chance to test the quality of their young stock. The acceptance dates for entries start on Wednesday the 14^th of March and every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday until the planned closing date of  Sunday the 29^th April. The manager’s number to make the necessary  delivery times etc on  07507302614 as the normal times are between 9.00am-3.00pm or by special arrangement.  So we ask are you up for the challenge?

It may be of interest to any organisation who is looking for transportation for a Young Bird race from Carentan on the 1^st of September give me a call on 01782 624440 because we may be able to help you out and remember the birds would be travelling first class in one of our superb Geraldy transporters.      Mike Lakin