The
Physicial Configuration of The North West of
Ireland
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There are many difficult areas in Ireland to
be faced and conquered by the racing pigeon
as it competes but there exists a strong contention
that the physical lay out of the 'north west'
of the island is by far the most difficult.
Now that point of view, if accepted, is not
to deny that racing pigeons face numerous difficulties
whatever point of the compass they may be homing
towards. For aside from the terrain of an area
there are many enemies to our birds progress
whether in training and racing. However the
north west traditionally has been the area acknowledged
by the neutral fancier and those from the area
as being the toughest to overcome. So often
expressed in fact that the contention has been
countered by some as an excuse for failure arising
from poor stock and/or poor preparation. Therefore
within this article I will reflect upon the
area concerned and the effect which it may have
upon our pigeons when training and racing. The
subject however has a universal relevancy.
Where
the sport is concerned the geographical entity
known as the north west is that part of the
counties of Derry and Tyrone which share the
hills and the mountains known as the Sperrins.
As to the number of pigeon clubs in the area
there are four in the city of Derry, one each
in Limavady, Omagh, and Strabane respectively.
The city of Derry has a Federation based upon
their four clubs. The club members are in Section
A (West) of the Northern Ireland Provincial
Amalgamation (NIPA) and there have been successes
over the years by fanciers from the area. Also
in relation to the results of the Irish National
Flying Club (South Road) north west fanciers
have competed quite well including a third position
in the Irish National.
There
are many factors or elements underlying the
nature of the reflection now undertaken, for
example we could enter the theoretical field
of pigeon orientation and after deliberation
reach a puzzling impasse arising from the fact
that a theory is not a fact. Yet can we pursue
our reflection without the use of theory? For
example does our birds home purely by the means
of instinct alone, that is, what as been defined
as 'a blind tendency to some mode of action,
independent of any consideration on the part
of the agent of the end to which its action
leads'. In our case the pigeon would be the
'agent'. And the essence of the latter definition
has been the answer to the often expressed question-
'How do homing pigeons manage to return to their
homes?'. But really can we afford to support
such occultism as someone defined it for surely
our thoroughbreds are possessed of more than
likely extreme powers of sight memory, observation,
endurance, and a super animal intelligence.
But
in accepting the existence of these abilities
is it not a contradiction then to conclude or
support the idea that geographical configuration
do have an negative and or positive effect on
the homing ability of the pigeon. That is in
one respect the non existence of the Sperrin
mountains would ensure that the flatter configuration
reality would have a positive effect on our
pigeons while training and racing. Resulting
in speedier returns and a better return rate.
A more equal playing pitch so to speak with
the rest of the NIPA membership beyond the north
west such as for example those in Down, Armagh,
and Antrim. Of course the question of distance
would still erode the hopes of the fancier in
search of equal potential for the question of
velocity or yards per minute would favour the
bird from Antrim if it is a good one rather
than the good bird from Derry or Strabane. That
is if the flying conditions are favourable to
both upon release and over the journey.
Deliberations
upon the subject elsewhere so far tends in the
direction of confirming the opinion that land
configuration plays an important part in the
sport of pigeon racing inspite of the above
referred to abilities of the birds. In other
words the effect of encountering a hilly and
mountainous environment in a race slows up the
performance of our candidates. Is this perhaps
based upon an inherited fear that their number
one enemy dwells primarily in the hilly and
mountainous environments and therefore because
of this race memory of possible feathered predators
ready to attack a brake is put on further flight
progress. Although primarily an inbred fear
the progress is also slowed by the birds attempting
to go around the cause of their fear rather
than over or through the configural gaps or
valleys. In addition to the latter birds have
given up pursuing their objective of reaching
their home loft and in turn become strays. In
fact within the context of our deliberations
relating to the north west many good pigeons
from fanciers beyond the Sperrins over the decades
have been reported from the towns of Coleraine,
Portrush, and Portstewart- the latter towns
sitting on or near to the steps of the mountains.
Thus it would appear that the Sperrins have
a negative effect for I am aware of cases in
which reputedly good pigeons from Limavady entered
lofts in Coleraine rather than continue the
extra miles (approximately 14 miles by road)
to their own lofts.
The latter could not according to discussions
with fanciers from the Coleraine triangle area
be caused by tiredness or stupidity for the
majority were confirmed of being in good nick
and whether being leaders or followers were
not far from their own homes. Interestingly
and with relevance the Irish founder of long
distance pigeon racing in England, J.W. Logan,
in his writings relating to an enquiry into
races from Rome to Brussels and from St. Sebastian
into England in the early years of the twentieth
century concluded that geographical configuration
effected the outcome of the Rome race negatively.
Logan wrote: ' It is evident, therefore that
there are some inherent difficulties in the
route from Rome to Belgium, as compared to the
route from St. Sebastian to England, possibly
some vast difference in the configuration of
the country that the birds have to fly over'.
This in the aftermath of the facts that those
racing from Rome had to face the Alp mountains
and caused the participants to take nine days
to complete the journey into Brussels (735 miles).
The Alps being the negative influence on the
race. Whereas the race from Spain to England
took thirty hours to reach Liverpool at a distance
of 720 miles. The latter race in continuous
rainfall after a good weather start but lacking
major natural configurations. Now there may
have been other factors involved in the result
of the Rome race but Logan opined that the cause
was the natural configuration of the mountains.
The timed contestants being forced to undertake
an indirect route through necessity. Relating
to the above race memory theory would this have
been as a result of inherent fear rather than
the physical reality of the course?
Relatedly
arising from our status as an island nation
it is possible that the reality of water crossing
is not a fear factor to our well prepared birds
in good atmospheric conditions to the extent
that has been traditionally believed. Confronting
hills and mountains however generates a fear
and/or confusion within our birds which only
the best will overcome. In the addition of poor
atmospheric conditions however the race can
or maybe defined as a smash. And it is only
the bravest that comes through in the latter.
In atrocious conditions and after hours of grinding
flight I have seen pigeons timed into Limavady
in the past that had to face the mountains straight
on and as I recall the occasions the pigeons
had to be the bravest of the brave.
As
I near conclusion the reader may perhaps be
no wiser than when he or she first began to
read this piece. I would counter with the fact
that I am being but speculative and being fully
aware that truth can be most elusive. Therefore
from this type of limbo I tend in the direction
of the race memory theory of fear as the negative
influence upon our our pigeons as the latter
encounters the reality of physical configuration
while training or racing. Thus the pigeon facing
the Sperrin configuration on its journey to
the north west of Ireland and which best overcomes
the inherited fear and all else being equal
will be the winner.
Now
because of the latter phenomenon, plus distance,
racing into the north west of Ireland is confirmed
as being a most difficult route and I recall
the curious statement of my late father 'birds
from beyond the Sperrins were still flying when
those who accompanied them over two waters were
fed, watered, and shut eyed plus.' I now realize
that unconsciously he was not referring to additional
distance alone.
by: Liam O Comain
