| Requirements
of The Long And Marathon Distance Racer
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When reading about fanciers who have excelled
at distances beyond the short and middle
strands there will be references to families
or strains that claim winners at all distances
but just as there are good and not so
good or bad in all strains perhaps what
is required when we approach this belief
is that there are individual differences
to the norm. There is no doubt that there
have been in the history of the sport
outstanding all rounders but whether there
exists or has existed an all round strain
is questionable.
Speed
is a necessary ingredient in the short
and middle distance races but it is also
necessary in the long and marathon distances
allied with an abundance of will power
and endurance. In negative or bad weather
conditions the most important requirements
is that of will power and endurance but
speed could come into play when the pigeon
enters its home ground and makes that
extra effort to reach its loft.
I
am of the opinion that intensive breeding
over the last 100 years but especially
during the last 40 to 50 years has produced
a racing pigeon of a high degree of animal
intelligence. Mental capabilities are
of more importance than the physical.
Even if a pigeon was superb physically
if it lacked the right mental capabilities
i.e. a clear grasp of homeward direction
and the strongestof desires to get home
it would be useless as confirmed by the
well built strays which litter our racing
and training routes.
Yes,
a high degree of homing ability, super
sight, a strong will, and a strong endurance
against the background of a high degree
of animal intelligence is what is required.
In fact that is what champions are made
of ! And it is to be found in the right
pedigree, one in which the racing and
breeding achievements of the immediate
ancestry are recorded as good. For the
chances of repeating the referred to successes
amongst the latest generation are high
in those circumstances.
by: Liam O Comain
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