Checks/paypal is going out by Monday.
If you have over $600, please send a W-9 if we do not have one from you in previous years.
Alternatively, you can leave a credit towards this next series and reduce the reporting of the $.
Bird return requests have been noted and will ship out on Monday.
Looking back, we trained a lot more than we intended to after the early challenges in getting the birds to the races.
We did 1915 miles of official road training (1265 miles before 1st race, and 13 training tosses between the 5 races totaling 650 miles).
We felt it was necessary to get the conditioning with those 45 - 55 miles repetitive tosses.
The website will be cleaned up and archive the recently completed series. We are adding content to the Rules, and Media pages and
2020 Sign-up is Open. Look for our pending "Perch Stimulus" offer, and complementary perches to those who lost birds in our recently completed series -
Best regards
Steve
8+ hours on the wing with variables winds along the course, 3 birds arrived from the East - what a tremendous performance - congrats to these two breeders Lazy AC Loft (Al Coury) and RDM Syndicate based in Ontario.
The consensus here at the lofts were 2:30 - 3:00 pm; I was inclined to more like 4 pm. Hauler indicated that birds took one circle and oriented immediately towards home.
27 day birds - even at dark when we locked the lofts. More birds are trickling in this morning. The clocks will stay on through Tuesday. I would like to mail birds back on Monday ($60 per 1 bird box; $10 for each additional bird).
Email: steve@irishsyndicatelofts.com
Text: 4802154255
Any birds not requested will automatically continue with our local races - and you may have them back after the races complete.
If you had more than $600 in winnings and we do not have your info from past years - please send a completed W-9 (scanned to email or regular mail). Checks and paypal will go out shortly ~!
Thank you for your support this season in spite of all the challenges we faced. I will have more commentary on this when the dust settles.
Released from Ft Hancock TX a 7:00AM; 46 degrees, under partly cloudy skies and light NW winds (headwind).
The normal route is usually Ft Hancock - Las Cruces 300 - Deming 250 - Lordsburg 200 - Safford 100 - if you want to check the weather along those stations.
Based on the steady winds, the birds could be pushed north of those stations which could make for a long day - based on yesterdays Arizona Federation race from Organ NM. All the local pigeon guys are predicting a tough race.
The good news is most stations are under 10 mph along the course - but 10 mph headwinds/crosswinds for 365 miles is a challenge - as such birds were appropriately loaded ~!
Best of luck to all - stay safe, healthy and prayng for God's mercy to heal the land, and deliver us from this pestilence ~!
Birds are en route to the release point - it looks like a very tough race tomorrow !!
Staring at the Windy App - it could be a long day with SW and West winds from start to finish -
5-12 mph steady winds for the first 100 miles and will push the birds north and later in the day headwinds WNW...
Just thinking out loud - tough Federation race today from 300 miles and winds not expected to get better Mon or Tuesday.
Considered shortening the race to Tornillo Tx - but that's only 15 miles shorter at 348 miles ... so may not help !! The birds are in great condition and loaded well and have good body weight and fed at 10 am !!
We have completed our final training toss today - birds tore it up ~ I believe they are ready for this final and their toughest and a very different challenge from 363 miles Ft Hancock TX! It has been a very rough series with delayed starts, stressed birds and stressed handler, maybe a viral something in the weeks leading up to the 1st race, some human intervention and tampering,..... who knows !! The birds that are here to this point are all champions - giving me 110% every single day and completing every training/racing/loft flying task to date.
I do not see any favorable winds for Sunday - and looks like 5-10 variable head/cross/side winds along the course - so they will get zero help!
For those that must have their birds back after the series - please check the returns list after the race and let me know by Tuesday 24th.... otherwise they will continue training as
the remaining birds will join our Arizona Federation series in progress with 5 races to go (294 miles, 363 miles, 400 miles, 155 miles, 500 miles). Our local team is doing extremely well so far against 36 lofts and 800+ birds. And you can also have your bird back after the local OB series - no problem at all ~!
... stay tuned basketing list later....
Two more training tosses to go - Thur and Friday ~! Race on Sunday ~!
In light of the current CV situation - there will be NO race day activities on Final Race Day.
I hate to be this drastic and strongly discourage attendance but if you must come to the race:
1. Please make sure you are healthy (and have been healthy for the past weeks) - no coughs, no colds, no allergies, no fever, no bad attitudes, no medical history, have had no exposure to at risk or sick people, no nothing ~!! The pigeon demographic is older men who are at the most risk ~! Be responsible - a lot of us have a full life ahead of us.
2. Plan to practice social distancing - i.e. do NOT be looking to rub shoulders with me or get too close. I am actually in self-quarantine with only seeing my significant other- and so I will be at a distance from you. There has been a CV incident in my building at work - that should be a warning by itself ~!
3. There will be NO food or beverages provided (bring your own). At some point when this runs its course, we will have a huge party with our usual catered BBQ - ALL will be invited !
4. Bring your own sanitized chair (for your own protection) - and sit at least 6 feet away from anybody.
5. If you must use the bathroom in the house, thoroughly sanitize everything before and after use with the sprays/tissue/wipes provided- feel free to bring your own wipes too ~!
6. Gloves and face mask HIGHLY recommended -
7. I reserve the right to ask someone to leave if they cannot adhere to these simple procedures - and I will enforce it ~!
8. All gatherings are discouraged with recommended no more than 10 people - you watch the news ~!
These are prophetic times - let's try to keep the thing from spreading ~!
We will give the birds another day to recover and just loft fly on Tuesday
Tuesday - loft fly
Wednesday - loft fly between a break in the forecasted rain
Thursday - short toss
Friday - short toss
Saturday - rest
Sunday - Ft Hancock, TX
Congrats to the 1st drop of 10 today - they will split the top 10 prizes ($7900).
We hope to see a few more tomorrow - they were in great condition.
Last week our local birds took 1-2-3-4 in the Arizona Federation from 200 miles.
This week we placed 2-4-6-8-9 in the Federation from our 250 mile station.
So health and conditioning is optimum for both our local birds and OLR birds that are on the same management system.
Monday - rest
Tuesday - short toss
Wednesday - rain
Friday - loft fly?
ACD300 is ON for Sunday ! Rain up to yesterday and drying out here - but since last race, we got in 3 short training tosses and several loft flights - the birds look ready ! More rain on the way during the week - is this really Arizona?
Corono-virus update: The grocery stores are empty here, My company is working from home with lots in recommended self-quarantine as there was an incident where an out-of-state employee visited my building and was later diagnosed with CV. Social distancing is mandatory (maintain 6 feet in common areas between others), no more than 4 in an elevator (one in each corner), eat at your cubicle for those who must be on-site, no in-person gatherings, company jet - no side by side seating or directly in front of or behind someone, self-quarantine for 2 weeks if returning from ANY travel ~! Let's see how this unfolds this week in Arizona - before we make any plans for Final Race Day.
Soaking rain moved in overnight - we did find a break in the action this morning to get in 45 mins of loft flying - they flew really well and ranging - which shows their condition is great ~!
We will get in at least one road training (preference is to get in 2) before the Sunday ACD 300.
Schedule:
ACD 300 - Sunday March 15
ACD 363 - Sunday March 22
