OFF AND FLYING TO EDMONTON

 

By John Marles, Sylvan Lofts

 

 

     Club Projects generally require a lot of hard work to get off the ground due to the need of organizers, workers, funds and time. In Edmonton the Capital City flyers not only have an excellent project off and running (The Farmfair International'96 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton), but they have been able to involve the community at their show and make generous donations to a different targeted community project each year. This year their efforts went to D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The benefits of these rewards such as the D.A.R.E. programme are going to become increasingly important as different animal rights groups descend on the pigeon fraternity across the globe. This fall '96 I was asked to be the Judge for the Edmonton show so I was able to see first hand how this function has blossomed.  

 

     As with any successful project each individual must fulfil their part in order for the entire project to run smoothly. Let me say that this function is truly a club effort and that was evident by their continued support each and every day. Ken Bliss is in charge of the overall operation and spends uncountable hours on the phone, at meetings and at the Coliseum in order to lay the ground work for the show. Louis Been another organizer is there everyday to make sure that the birds are fed and watered properly. He continually patrols the area and revisits each cage if extra water or feed is needed. At the Banquet Louis Been remarked to Ken Bliss that they needed to start organizing for '97. Frank Cesario acted as my Steward and as such helped me with the routines and time frame for the judging of the show. He was also invaluable for background information about this project and others. Unfortunately, during my visit he was taken to the hospital suffering from kidney stones. I was glad to hear that Frank is back up and ready to race in '97. Roland Zachiaris was the gentleman who met me at the airport and was in charge of transporting me to and from the Show. (Ken Bliss affectionally called him the Minister of Transportation). Roland is also in charge of the Gold Band Program initiated by the American Homing Centre in Oklahoma. For every so many Gold Bands you buy the Centre will contribute a youngster from one of the thirty-one pairs currently residing at the centre. The club then chooses what they will do with the bird. Unfortunately, the bird was not present at the week-end seminar, but this did not deter Roland from getting top dollar for the bird. Roland gathered information and colour photos of the bird's ancestors and brought a number of impressive photocopies to the seminar. Armed with this information Roland auctioneered the bird for $410.00. It was also nice to see a relatively newcomer to the sport by the name of Arthur Chung rewarded by Roland for his win in the young bird programme.

 

     On this weekend the Capital City Club was very fortunate to have received some positive print in the media. There was a large article on the Front page of the Business section detailing the show and the mechanics on how to race pigeons. In the article it mentioned the community charities that directly benefit from their show. Some of the birds used in the charity draw came all the way from Ontario from such generous sports minded fanciers as A. MaGillis, J. Towes, P. Gilligan, T. Hunt and A. Berwick. As part of this draw Capital City club mate Stan Gawell donated a number of beautifully framed pictures and mirrors. Since the public are encouraged to be a part of their draw it is very important to obtain donations that will appeal to the non-fanciers.

 

    Each year the Edmonton show grows in size. This year there was a record 480 four hundred and eighty pigeons exhibited from different lofts in Calgary, Lethbridge, Grand Prairie, Medicine Hat, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton etc.

 

 

     How did this project originally get off the ground? Actually its origins lie in a group of fancy pigeon and poultry enthusiasts who were called the 'Funseekers'. According to legend these individuals upon hearing of a Show would rent a bus and head out for a week-end of fun. They initially worked out a relationship with the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton to host an exhibition of fancy and poultry types of birds. Next, they contacted the racing pigeon people to see if they would be interested in sharing the facility. The Capital City racing club gave their resounding approval for the merger. For the last eight to ten years they have put together a very large show of fancy, show, racing pigeons plus ducks, chickens, rabbits etc. all in a large arena building. This facility is open to the general public for the weekend and thus the Capital City club benefits from an opportunity to have some direct dialogue with the community. The culmination of the show is a Banquet, Awards and Dance that is held on the Saturday of the week-end. All of the bird enthusiasts are given recognition for their prize winning charges in the show. During the evening festivities it was clear that the key to the success of the show was the harmony between the different hobbyists whether they keep ducks, rabbits or pigeons. Who would of thunk it! So remember the next time you are at a club meeting and someone shares an idea that seems a little different, try not to be negative. Allow the idea to percolate and give it a chance. As long as there are people who will dream, organize, recruit and most importantly follow through then there will be a chance of something good that will come from it. Our sport is in a lot of trouble!!  We need innovative ideas that might draw possible fanciers into the hobby in order for our survival.

 

     The Capital City club of Edmonton consists of about 55-60 members of which 25-30 race both programmes. They ship anywhere from 1,00 to 1200 birds at the beginning of the young bird series. The old bird schedule lasts about 9 weeks long while the young bird schedule is 6 weeks long. Like most clubs they have tried to race from different directions. They are currently racing an easterly course which means they get their share of headwinds. As Louis Beens said it can make it very challenging to get a day bird from the 500. I know this is an image that stays with you forever. I will never forget getting the only day bird into Toronto from our 550 mile station Long Lac.       

 

     As well as having the opportunity to judge and share ideas about racing pigeons this weekend was personally satisfying as I was able to meet a number of people that I have spoken to many times on the phone and I can now put a face to the voice.

 

Scott Maddocks from Regina is a gentleman that I have spent many hours on the phone with. Scott is a very keen fancier. He explained to me how his fellow club members raise funds which are then used to pay for the costs of each individual participating in the Thunder Bay One Bird Loft. I also met Frank Pucci from Edmonton who I have spoken with on many occasions about the mechanics of racing pigeons.

 

   During my breaks from judging I was able to listen to the fanciers from Edmonton and the different areas that were represented at the show. Like most areas there seem to be a number of topics of conversation. Electronic timing was one of the many issues raised. Only a very few gentleman raced their young birds on the dark system and it seemed to be a topical issue. Course directions and bird limits were two other topics that are being discussed. Oddly enough I learned from W. DeBruin that bird limits are being discussed in Holland as the small team fanciers feel they are at a distinct disadvantage. It will be very interesting to hear what methods they will experiment with in Europe to quell this controversial issue.

 

In conclusion I would like to thank the members of the Capital City Racing pigeon club for a most interesting weekend of judging and conversation.