Through my involvement on the racing side of pigeons a couple of pieces of news have come along which will have some impact on our showing side. Firstly, news that DEFRA have cancelled the requirement for pigeons racing from the Continent to be kept at home for at least seven days afterwards, which meant that birds could not be raced on consecutive weekends
The regulation contained other clauses regarding isolation and periods of quarantine for birds brought into this country for racing. This policy affected fanciers in the Channel Isles in particular who were unable to send their birds to the mainland to be entered in races organized from England.
These restrictions have now been removed but it seems one helluva coincidence that the change has been made right at the very end of the racing season so will really have no impact until 2009. This despite intense lobbying from racing pigeon organizations since well before the start of this season's racing. However, the point to be stressed for the show fancy is that DEFRA have made it clear that the change affects racing ONLY and that showing will be the subject of a separate regulation - so watch this space.
The natural instinct of many of us is to want to 'fight' DEFRA when they are affecting our hobbies so drastically, and in our eyes so unfairly. But, unpalatable as it may be, we need to exercise caution because in truth we have little bargaining power. Organisations with a lot more 'clout' than us have been unable to make much progress. Patience has to be the watchword and remembering the words of the old song 'You have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em'.
The second item of news which does affect us directly is that AMTRAK the carrier company has gone into liquidation and obviously will no longer transport pigeons. This presents us with some difficulties in moving birds about, particularly if repatriating lost birds from non fanciers. (It is a massive problem with lost race birds.) We will all need to do our bit to help each other by meeting up at shows etc or even by moving birds around in stages from fancier to fancier.
On the one hand circumstances seem to constantly conspire against us but then again on the other hand we keep finding ways to beat the problems and continue to enjoy our fancy. Incidentally I have details of some alternative carriers and if anyone wants these just give me a call (however some of them only operate in specific areas).
