"Hello I'm John Hofman and welcome to this special section were I will feature articles that I hope you will find informative and relevant to the racing pigeon sport in Australia"

NEW FACTORS WILL LEAD TO PROGRAM CHANGE

With regard to pigeon racing, two primary factors have occurred since 1990. One has been unique to Australia and the other is happening worldwide. In the first instance I am talking about the introduction of pigeons from Europe which has led to faster and more aerodynamic pigeons up to about 800km, and secondly, climate change. Whether climate change is being hastened upon us by mankind and his past & present practices or if it is a naturally occurring cyclical event I will leave that up to the scientists to thrash out as even they cannot agree. But both these events must and will lead to a significant change in race programs and the way we race our pigeons if we are to conduct successful racing in the future. Since racing began in Adelaide we have almost always flown in two opposite directions on alternate weeks. The old argument being “what you give one week, you get the next”. Well that is speaking broadly because we have never ever coupled up two opposite lines of flight in the same season. In Adelaide it’s impossible to fly due north one week & due south the next because beyond Victor Harbour, (80km) one would end up in the Southern Ocean. Over past seasons we have flown WNW coupled with EAST, NNW coupled with EAST, NNW coupled with SE, WNW coupled with NE and currently NNW coupled with NE. The closest we can get to directly opposite is WNW coupled with the SE line and NNW coupled with a Lower SE line. Strangely in the history of the SAHPA, these last two mentioned combinations have never been coupled together so the above mentioned saying is nothing but a fallacy and couldn’t be further from the truth, especially with what we are now flying i.e., NNW & NE. We might as well be flying from just one direction, like the rest of the world does and adjust our method of flying to make it fair as possible for all. My personal preference is for one line of flight from the NNW with the SAHPA being divided into two sections, a dividing line running across Adelaide from the NW to the SE, splitting the Association in two with one section being released approximately one half an hour after the other on a weekly alternating basis from the first race to the last middle distance race. For the long distance races, all would come together as one. The entire program could be condensed into 16 or 17 weeks thus avoiding most of the hot weather up north. But another approach, as outlined below, may be just as good.

I believe what has got to happen is for the sport to foster and encourage specialization in order to cater for all members and keep as many as possible happy and content. Right from day one we have been flying a “one fits all” type of program. This may have been fine years ago, but not so now. Back in those days the accent was always on long distance racing and the club races plus the middle distance races were used by most fanciers to condition their pigeons for the long distance events of 800 to1300km. Virtually all of our birds back then were of long distance bloodlines. We now should be catering for, on a weekly basis, the North line flyer that specializes in faster sprint type races, likes to see good and quick returns more often than not and has the pigeons bred for that job. We also cannot overlook the flyer who likes tougher on the day racing, is not quite as concerned with good returns although does appreciate it when it happens. We also must cater for the long distance flyer who will patiently wait up all night and all of the following day if necessary. At the moment I don’t think we are looking after any of the above mentioned types with the way that races are scheduled. The north or northwest lines are by far the most popular. One only needs to look at the patronage compared to other lines of flight to see that. Consequently, a large number of flyers are competing on the North line only so they must wait two weeks between events. There are also a much smaller number who compete in the easterly events only so they are in the same situation. Line preference is often determined by loft position and also by the type of birds kept or preferred. The long distance competitor is often hit by race shortening, postponements and cancellations due to hot weather often experienced at the time of the year when these events are scheduled. Many fanciers who are all-rounders and whose desire it is to compete in all events with the maximum number of pigeons need to keep large teams in order to complete the season. The current style of program suits them but by catering for the specialists would not affect their requirements as they may still fly all or as many races they desire. I also think that once flyers have these options, we should fall into line with most of the rest of the world and commence Association racing at the 350km mark. Although this is written with Adelaide and its peculiarities in mind, similar circumstances probably would apply in other Australian states & cities.

Here is an example of a race program which caters for all and also makes things easier on both birds and owners due to weather conditions forced upon us by climate change:-

NORTH LINE SPRINTERS SERIES

23 May                 Stirling North                     Club                       265km

30 May                 Stirling North                     Club

6 June                   Stirling North                     Club

13 June                 Pimba                                 Assoc                  425

20 June                 Pimba                                 Assoc

27 June                 Pimba                                 Assoc

4 July                   Marree                                Assoc                 580

11 July                 Marree                                 Assoc

18 July                   The Twins                          Assoc                  625 

SOUTH EAST LINE SPECIALIST SERIES

25 July                   Tintinara                              Club                    175

1 August              Tintinara                              Club                                      

8 August*            Tintinara                              Club                                      

15 August            Edenhope                            Assoc                    350

22 August            Edenhope                            Assoc                   

29 August*         Edenhope                            Assoc                                                   

5 September*    Mortlake                             Assoc                      540        

12 September    Mortlake                             Assoc                   

19 September    Kilmore                                 Assoc                    640

LONG DISTANCE SERIES

8 August              Coober Pedy                      Assoc                    750

29 August            Alice Springs                       LDC                     1320

5 September       Marla                                    Assoc                    970

26 September    Springhurst                             Assoc                    730

(Long Weekend)

3 October            Young                                  LDC                    885

4 October            Holbrook                             Assoc                    800

* DENOTES TWO RACES ON SAME DAY