Since my last Blog post on Tuesday, the birds have been to Caenby Corner (30miles) twice. Both trainers were brilliant, with the birds returning in one group on both occasions. This was not recorded on Benzing, as we have been conducting some wiring changes on the loft and installing good wi-fi. I did not want this to stop training, as the birds are doing fantastic and seem very happy.
I have had a query regarding liberation times on Benzing. As I am on my own, I have to estimate what time I will liberate the pigeons, set the clock, drive to the lib site and then liberate. Sometimes I may put on Benzing liberation 14:00, but I may not arrive there until 14:10 and after allowing the birds to settle, may not release till 14:20. When I arrive back at the loft, as they have been doing the pigeons may well have beaten me back. This will then appear as though the birds have taken 20 minutes longer than expected. I do and will change the liberation time when I arrive back, to correct the velocity and flying time, but I cannot change the Benzing until I am back. I hope this clears this matter up for some people.
The plan here on in has changed slightly: the new plan is to take the birds 16 miles tomorrow evening, when it is scheduled to have cooled down somewhat from the anticipated 30 degrees which it is supposed to be at midday. On Monday they will go 21 miles, and on Tuesday they will go for their first and only 40+ miler. This will be from Forest Pines, and they will not revisit this lib site until the week before the final. I will measure it, but I believe this to be 41.5 miles. This is the last major preparation for the first Hotspot from Wetherby Racecourse (77miles) on 5 August.
Depending on how they do will determine the next step. That could be 16 miles on Wednesday or it could be rest. It will be 16 miles on Thursday and Friday. The pigeons will then rest on Saturday and have their race preparation meal, and then basketed for HS1 on Sunday afternoon. They will be placed in the trailer with 15 birds to a crate – these crates are designed for 28 pigeons – with water on overnight, and I will leave for Wetherby around 6am. It is just short of 2 hours there, and we will be hoping to get a liberation around 9am. Wetherby should take the birds anywhere between 1 hour 10 and 2 hours 10, depending on the wind. With that in mind, if you plan on coming to watch at the loft, please arrive around 10am.
I will continue to update as we go along, but I just wanted to set out the plan.
Jonathan