redquil 219 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Wonder if there's any left in UK. Back in 80's talked to a few old time pigeon men and was told of short sprint race's of a mile or two, No clocks birds out of baskets n 1st home. One old fella spoke of the bird flying low so low gates between hedges were opened by young lads for them. He said some pretty big bets placed on these races. This man was 90 then so was going back some. Another bloke had a stuffed miler champion in a case from early 1900's.Also heard and mind reading about pigeons v whippet races. Pigeons flying basket to box. Can vaguely mind Dave Sleight recreate this with a greyhound at some track not so long ago on tv. Anyone know anything about this either past or present. Bet they were fun days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tuzo 251 Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Used to be a 'shorty' park near where I live. Sunday mornings were great.....The birds were like darts coming across the allotments. Never seen any bird since trap as fast as they did. There was a TV documentary filmed here and Barnsley I think. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Astanley 11,465 Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 They were called , short whippers , around here , I had some on the allotment a few years ago , and to watch them fly was some sight , they seem to clear fences and hedgerows at 100 mph with an inch to spare , they had a few lads ducking for cover while digging their spuds lol , The last time a had a couple after much searching I found an old boy who apparently sold a few to a club in wigan , The birds were killed by cats and when I tried to get replacements , unfortunatly the old fella had passed away , I have never been able o trace the club in wigan , maybe some of the lads on here can help . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
samba 534 Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 think theres still a club in Barnsley area 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tuzo 251 Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Yes Samba - the last few from here were sent to keepers in Barnsley I'm sure. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vfr400boy 3,120 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Am new to keeping pigeions but my birds have hached 2 chicks of and other pair is down on eggs now , not sure if I can keep um tho with council changing the rules Quote Link to post Share on other sites
redquil 219 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Tuzo are the milers like high flyers in looks n size ? Also does anyone know of the whippet v pigeon races? Like to know how they were trained and what parts of the country it took place in etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tuzo 251 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 No the milers look very similar to normal racing pigeons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tuzo 251 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 If my mind is right they were ringed with SDU rings..... Short Distance Union Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hareydave 1,214 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 interesting subject you might get a bit of info of some of the pigeon forums Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hareydave 1,214 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 https://youtu.be/6o8Z87UtQtM 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,415 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Enjoyed that Dave, very interesting. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Butler 396 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Was a sad day when them lofts went Tuzo but a sign of our times I'm afraid....... Without new blood a lot of hobby/sports suffer the same fate.. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
redquil 219 Posted March 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 https://youtu.be/6o8Z87UtQtM Great little vid that Hareydave cheers. Hope them Barnsley boys keep it going great bit of culture and tradition. The old man I spoke to 30 year since told me they raced them over Newcastle town moor. Never heard of them up Northeast in my time being kept or raced. So does anyone know of how they raced them against whippets. Sure I seen article about Dave Sleight racing pigeon against a greyhound at a dog track.Think he is from South Yorkshire ? Cheers boys keep info coming very interesting yet sad its a dying sport. atb. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 My grandad was crazy on the pigeons. He was the first one to have a loft when he was moved into the 'new' estate just after his return from the war. From there onwards he helped the younger generation set up their lofts until the estate had many dozens of pigeon men, each trying to beat each other. pigeons were his life, he never went on holiday, just spent his life getting his birds to be the best he could, and he did have alot of winners. On a saturday we'd have to loiter in the kitchen while he scanned the skies, with aged eyes he still spotted that single tiny dot coming in over the council estate roofs before me. Down the garden he'd skip, rattling his can of corn, getting his bird in through the bob hole and putting the ring into the old fashioned pigeon clocks. We used to have Yorkshire puddings made from pigeon eggs......made by my nan. the young lads who my grandad taught are now old men and only a couple are still in the game, but there's still alot of pigeon men in the north, so I think it will be ok for a couple of years more.... 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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