from an old Roller magazine that circulated for about three issues in the
late '70s
There was a very crucial period in my life, quite a few years ago. I was at
the crossroads and I had great difficulty in deciding which way to go with
Roller pigeons. I had decided that they must be Rollers because I had ceased
to be interested in racing pigeons and I simply had not the time for my
original favorites - Flying Tipplers.
Friends, if you believe that you can import Tipplers from Britain, breed
from them and get marathon times from the progeny, you are about to become
very disappointed.
All high flying pigeons originated in Asia and in countries where the
temperature soared to such an extent that pigeons had to fly high, or not at
all. The thermal up draughts in these areas are terrific. I have always
given my absolute respects to the ancient peoples of these areas where such
pigeons were cultivated.
The Autumn of year 2000 is claimed to be the wettest since records began in
1776. The Roman's who invaded England 2000 years ago declared that the
country was not fit to live in 6 months of the year. The American Airmen and
Soldiers who came over during World War 2 said that it was high time that we
gave England back to the Indians.
My way with pigeons is to keep them for my own pleasure and my pleasure is
to fly them--twice on every possible day.
A couple of hours after sunrise, I turn out my entire flock. At the time of
writing this, September, I have 25 cocks and 18 hens, all of which are kit
pigeons, well established at my loft.
Reading the rules about Tippler contesting in the UK and America, I find
that a great deal is left to the discretion of the referees concern.
Such a referee becomes a judge and has a lot of scope for individual methods
- for example, freedom to move to a different vantage point or to remain
static.
It is a mistake to selectively breed based upon just one or a few special
points. Other points must be considered. The only logical way to estimate
the value of livestock is to consider how the specimens withstand the strain
of use in a given environment and how such livestock reproduces a practical
number of specimens of the same calibre.
This morning, mid September at 8am I released a squadron of 55 high flying
performing Tumblers. All of Black Badged issue, my own strain made to my own
requirements and selectively bred since September 1976 and to the exclusion
of anything else.
The heart breaking thing about a disqualification, is, that no only have the
hours spent by timer and owner been wasted, but the kit has most likely been
ruined. Any kit of tipplers that drops out of bounds will continue to do so
in future contests.
The fastest hour, the most nerve wrecking hour, is the hour when the
contesting Tippler man declares his time and starts to try and get his kit
of Tipplers down. He has 60 nerve wrecking minutes to get all of his kit
members down within bounds and inside of his loft otherwise he is
disqualified, and there are no tolerances.
