The reason why Tippler flying is a declining sport is because there is no
money in it. There are a few cases, where a few suckers pay out $100. for a
Tippler with the hope of recovering the outlay with subsequent progeny and
with profit. Such people have no ambitions about creating a new USA
record--they wouldn't know how or they don't even try.
Most Sheffield Tippler men would not feed barley on its own. They usually
added some kind of oil bearing seed in small quantity. Some men in the USA
have said that their Tipplers would not fly long times on 100% Barley, but
that, surely is the reason for using barley.
On March 19th 2001, Brian White dropped in to see me quite by surprise. We
sat down in my living room with a can of ale each. Very soon the pigeon talk
started and the air was soon full of feathers and pigeon dust. I have
respect for the opinions of Brian White because he was the only man in
Sheffield to do 20 hours.
The case against John William Sykes, September 1934, was heard at the Vestry
Hall Attercliffe, Sheffield. His kit of 5 Tipplers had flown all day and
right into darkness before dropping on the house 20 yards from the loft
(well within limits).
Mark out a few dots on a bit of paper of 1mm diameter. Hold this at arms
length overhead. Are your pigeons flying to look like this on any exercises?
If they do not then you do not have high flyers.
They may very well exceed this altitude sometimes. The best of Tipplers are
often much lower flyers.
I get quite a lot of letters basically saying "Jack, how do I get my pigeons
to fly high?" I suspect that these men believe that there is some kind of
seed or tonic, which will cause pigeons to fly high. Certain strains are
inclined to fly very high when managed correctly. Others will never fly high
even if we out gun power into their diet.
In certain areas of Britain the Peregrine falcons have had great effect upon
pigeon flying. Northern Ireland, one of the few hot spots that still
remains, is effected. Bristol in the South West of England, was a hot spot
for Tipplers and highflying Tumblers, but now the Falcons have caused almost
every man to give up trying to fly.
The North American Indians were said to have a peculiarity. If they gave
something they reserved the right to reclaim it at a later date. If they did
a favour they expected a return favour or perpetual gratitude for such gifts
of favours. This is surely a very primitive part of human nature not
confined to North American Indians.
All Tippler contests are judged on educated guesswork, because no kit of
Tipplers can ever be under 100% watch for all of the specified time. They go
out of sight and only God in his infinite mercy knows precisely what they do
when they are out of sight. Me -Well, I accept a well-educated conclusion,
but after years of experience do not claim infallibility.
