by Ryan Ponto | Oct 12, 2016 | Bird Netting
A team of pigeon racers is under investigation after allegedly feeding birds cocaine to make them fly faster.
Staffordshire racers Ricky McGraw, 37, Kierren Clegg, 36, and Malcolm Preece, 56, were suspended by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association this week after a series of victories.
Their birds’ excrement tested positive for the Class A drug but the they strenuously denied the doping allegations and have appealed the decision to ban them.
Under investigation: Staffordshire racers Ricky McGraw (right), 37, Kierren Clegg (left), 36, and Malcolm Preece, 56, were suspended by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association this week
They claim their pigeons’ samples were contaminated because they were taken in a pub where the races start and finish.
Kierren Clegg told the Sun: ‘I didn’t even know cocaine helped birds.
‘They tested it in a pub. You are talking about cross-contamination. They should have tested in the loft which we share.
Malcolm’s son Craig, 30, added: ‘My dad’s got nothing to do with this. The pigeon races normally start and finish at a pub. They test the bird’s poo but it shouldn’t be done in a pub.’
But the RPRA president Les Blacklock rejected the claims that the sample was contaminated adding that this one the only one out of 80 to come back positive.
Kierren Clegg denied the allegations, claiming the pigeons’ samples were contaminated because it was taken in a pub.
In a 2010 study, it was found that pigeons fly faster when cocaine is inserted into their grain.
If found guilty of feeding the birds with the Class A drug, racers could be handed a three-year ban.
This is the latest scandal to rock the pigeon racing world after Britain’s top pigeon fancier admitted cheating in July.
Eamon Kelly, 52, was defending champion of the Tarbes National, hailed as being the most sought-after title in pigeon racing.
But he may now have to quit the sport in disgrace after his trickery was exposed.
He claimed his pigeon made it back to Britain first from Tarbes in the South of France by registering a made-up time using the electronic tag system.
But in reality, his bird had never left his loft in Didcot.
HOW DID PIGEON-RACING CHEAT EAMON KELLY DO IT?
Eamon Kelly registered 14 birds in the highly contested Tarbes National
He sent a second team of birds to the South of France in a lorry with 2,200 other contestants
As the second team were making the 580mile journey home, the first team were happy in his loft in Didcot, Oxfordshire
He estimated a likely winning time, and registered one of his birds as having returned home using the electronic tag system
His winning bird would have flown the journey at an average of 40mph
But race organisers became suspicious when they realised other birds, flying at an average of 39mph, were nowhere near home
The pigeon fancier had registered 14 birds in the race and kept them in his loft while sending a different set out to France with the other competitors.
While the second set started their journey across the Channel, Mr Kelly calculated a likely winning time.
He then took a bird from his loft and registered it as having returned using a microchipped tag on its body.
In a statement, he said: ‘I, Eamon Kelly, sincerely apologise to all my friends and fanciers over my stupid actions relating to the recent Tarbes race.
‘I was tempted and fell, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life. A sport that I love so much, that has given me untold pleasure and above all friendship I have thrown all away.’
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 11, 2016 | Bird Netting
A PRANK backfired badly on Sunday when a 14-year-old boy lost a finger after scaling a security fence at a Horndean park.
Reports suggest that the victim impaled one of his index fingers on the fence spikes while attempting to climb over it behind Jubilee Hall around 1.40pm.
Surgeons managed to reattach the victim’s index finger thanks to the quick actions of firefighters, Jubilee Hall users and an off-duty police officer.
A crew from Horndean fire station had to remove some fencing to get to the victim while hall users packed the finger in an ice box before the officer took the boy to hospital.
Details of the gruesome incident were relayed to the Post by Carla Baverstock-Jones as an accident report was filed with landowners Horndean Parish Council earlier this week.
“It’s a good thing there were people in the hall at the time,” said the parish clerk.
“They put the finger in an appropriate bag so it was preserved and could be re-attached.
“It’s quite a high security fence so I don’t know what the 14-year-old was thinking, really.
“I’ve been told the finger was reattached and everything is moving again.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Oct 10, 2016 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
A Carlow Councillor says you’d be better off sending out carrier pigeons than trying to make a phone call in some parts of the county.
Charlie Murphy says the worst affected areas seem to be in South Carlow over to the Myshall and Bunclody areas.
Councillor Murphy told KCLR News that he’s written to all of the mobile service providers but there doesn’t seem to be a solution in sight.
He says he has to go out and stand on a fence outside his home to take a call on his mobile and he knows many other people in rural areas are in similar situations.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Oct 9, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent
If you ever needed proof that a fine line divides genius from madness and it’s often indistinguishable and frequently crossed, the foreign media seems to have found it in abundance in our country. The only thing is I’m not sure which side they’re coming down on. Either way the joke is on us.
A report that the police in Punjab have in their custody a pigeon, who they believe came from Pakistan and could be a spy, led to this memorable headline in the Wall Street Journal: “India detains pigeons as authorities fret over risk of a coo.”
Agence France-Presse says the pigeon was found carrying a note in Urdu presumably addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The note reads: “Modi, we are not the same people from 1971.Now each and every child is ready to fight against India.” The Huffington Post says the pigeon was found by a 14-year-old boy who took the bird straight to the police station.
The Wall Street Journal has some fascinating details. The paper says that the pigeon has been x-rayed and some unusual spots found on its abdomen. Two further x-rays followed but Rishpal Singh, an assistant sub-inspector, has said “the authorities still aren’t sure if there is anything nefarious.” Now the army will be consulted.
Rakesh Kaushal, a senior superintendent of police in Punjab, was good enough to explain the seriousness of the situation. He has told the Wall Street Journal: “We thought maybe it’s a spy pigeon. We can’t establish if it’s from Lashkar … it’s better to double check …law breakers are always up to new tricks. Who knows?”
Who knows indeed! With such a bird in hand our security forces need to be extremely concerned about the others still in the bush.
Meanwhile, Pakistani social media has named the pigeon Ghutarghoon Khan and they’re clearly having a hoot at our expense. But this is not the first time pigeons have caused such consternation.
My niece Narayani tells me Ghutarghoon Khan is the second pigeon in Punjab police custody. The first was apparently caught 10 days earlier and remains in detention. I presume the police are meticulously gathering evidence before they file charges. Last year, a pigeon was discovered with a mysterious number on its feathers. At the time the deputy superintendent of police, Hansraj Hans, told Quartz: “We checked for cyanide under its beak.” Garud Sharma, said to be “a top intelligence officer”, added “We are also checking for circumcision.”
The Guardian, which has obviously done extensive research on this subject, has found a lot more than just avian espionage. The paper claims two balloons were recently found in Punjab with similar messages to the one found on Ghutarghoon Khan. Understandably no one is prepared to dismiss this as a mere case of hot air propulsion. In 2013 Indian security forces found a dead falcon fitted with a small camera. In 2010 a pigeon was detained following fears it could be a spy. Unfortunately, the paper does not relate what happened next. I wonder if it was found guilty. Regrettably, the Geneva Convention does not specify how birds accused of spying should be treated by their captors, but at this time of spiralling tension with distrust of our naughty neighbour at a peak, it would be irresponsible to dismiss such reports as a fowl affair or a story fit for the birds. In the pecking order of threats to national security these jailbirds must not be taken lightly.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Oct 8, 2016 | Pigeon Spikes
John Gosden has lined up most of his big guns to fire on Champions Day at Ascot and the Newmarket trainer will be hopeful of bagging at least a chunk of the mega-bucks on offer.
But for punters who prefer a good 20-runner handicap to the glitz and glamour of the rest of the card, it’s Gm Hopkins who is suggested as a decent bet for the trainer in the Balmoral Handicap.
Little went right for Gosden’s quirky but talented five year old in the Cambridgeshire last time out, and, after a slow start and traffic problems, he could only finish 12th behind Spark Plug.
It’s interesting though that Ryan Moore, who partnered him that day and has steered him to victory twice over this course and distance, has decided to continue with the association here, giving his chances a major boost and the fact he is 2lb lower in the weights is another useful bonus. He was far from knocked about as he made late gains in the Cambridgeshire and that sympathetic ride could pay a decent dividend here at an appealing price. Gosden sent him on a solo spin up the Limekilns this week to sharpen him up and he looked on particularly good terms with himself.
Jack Hobbs is another Gosden representative worth backing at a decent price in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.
It’s been a long road back for last year’s Irish Derby winner after his nightmare effort at Newmarket on his reappearance, but he has been wound up steadily on the gallops and his last three or four pieces of work have all been very solid and to the same sort of standard he was performing last season when at his peak.
There are questions to be answered here, once the horse is asked to run through the pain barrier again, but the price reflects those uncertainties and nothing seen on the gallops would put you off his prospects.
Incidentally, while we’re on the Gosden theme, one to look out for next week from the yard is Shutter Speed, pencilled in for Yarmouth. A Dansili filly, she might just prefer the ground there to dry out a little, but there is plenty to like about her judged on home evidence and she could even prove a Classic contender next season.
As advertised here, Shalaa was in need of the run before the Bengough Stakes at this track a fortnight ago, and it was to his credit that he dug deep to win well. He has improved since and must go close in the British Champions Sprint, even if the market hasn’t missed him.
But at a fractionally better price, preference is again for Ryan Moore and another of his old allies, Twilight Son.
The pair found only the mighty Muhaarar too good in this race 12 months ago, and enjoyed their finest hour together when they went one better in the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal meeting here in June.
A below-par effort followed behind stablemate Limato in the July Cup at Newmarket, but he is back in very good heart after a good break, and his trainer reports his work has been of a high order – which might just have helped make his mind up about whether or not Limato was better keeping for the Breeders’ Cup. If Twilight Son can reproduce his best form on ground which will suit, he represents solid each-way value.
Simple Verse has sound prospects of adding the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup to her win in the Fillies and Mares at his fixture in 2015. Like 12 months ago, she heads here after a win at the Doncaster Leger meeting, and while she will have to step up on that form to prevail, it confirms she is at her most effective at the back-end of the campaign.She should appreciate the step up to two miles, and she will have no problem with the ease in the ground.
Godolphin suffered a setback to their plans when the fancied Silent Attack just missed out on a run in the Balmoral and are not that strongly represented on Champions Day. However, Ribchester has been very much trained for the race and he will prove very hard to beat in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Richard Fahey has made no secret of the fact he has the son of Iffraaj in prime nick for his clash with Minding, Galileo Gold and the rest, and the royal blues are more than hopeful he improve further on the impressive form he has already shown this season.
Up at Catterick, Machine Learner makes plenty of appeal with his weight allowance in the toteexacta Handicap. A likeable and progressive handicapper, his jockey had a bit of a nightmare on him at Haydock last time, but a change of 3lb apprentice sees Eddy Greatrex drafted in and he’s definitely worth a chance despite a considerable hike in the ratings since his last run. He was spotted among Michael Bell’s string on the Watered Gallop this week, where he looked in splendid order.
Welsh Shadow can prove the most popular winner at Ffos Las by landing theWalters Group Welsh Champion Hurdle. Dan Skelton’s gelding carries the colours of the race sponsor and course chairman Dai Walters and developed into a very useful novice last season. He looks the sort to progress again this term and his trainer is sure to have him nicely revved up for what has been his early autumn target for some time.
Rebecca Curtis can also give the locals something to cheer with Beast Of Burdenin the Volvo Beginners’ Chase. Her Pembrokeshire base was out of sorts for much of last season, a point underlined by this former smart novice hurdler in his three outings. However, Curtis could not be in better form as the autumn campaign moves into top gear, and, despite failing to get around on his two outings over fences so far, this seven year old has the class and scope to see off Whataknight and Minella Daddy.
Copper Kay has always been well regarded by Philip Hobbs and this useful performer in bumpers can make a great start to her career over timber in theTanners E Wines Mares National Hunt Maiden Hurdle. The race has cut up disappointingly from the five-day stage, and she should readily see off her three rivals.
L’Aigle Royal, a winner on his first appearance for his former trainer John Quinn, looks the type to do well for a change of scenery, and should go well of his first appearance for Skelton in the Spire Brewing Company Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen. Skelton has shown several times in his short career as a trainer that he has the knack to rejuvenate horses after a lacklustre run of form and L’Aigle Royal looks capable of winning a decent handicap off this mark.
Pink Play did her bit to contribute to what was a terrific season for Harry Whittington last term and she can continue where she left off with victory in theSpire Brewing Company – Chesterfield, Yaroslavna Mares Handicap Hurdle. The form of her two successes to end her first campaign over timber looks very solid and her overall profile is of a consistent mare,who should continue to progress.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
