| Author: Peter Bryant - General Manager RPRA | Title: View From the Reddings - DEFRA Update |
| Date: 2005-12-20 18:01:32 | Uploaded by: thefifer |
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An early Christmas Present from DEFRA!
Well after long last we have the clearance from DEFRA that we have been aiming and working for. Sales, shows, gatherings and racing can go ahead, subject to certain conditions being met. These are not onerous and I will detail these next week as printing deadlines are imminent. With regards to shows it means that the Blackpool weekend can go ahead as normal with the conditions being met by the organiser (me) and individual trade stand holders if they are selling pigeons. I will forward details of these requirements to pigeon sellers after Christmas. With regards to racing I will need to review the restrictions and discuss with my staff and Council members on how best to achieve the licence conditions for you all in the RPRA. For those of you with access to the internet you can find the latest news at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051220a.htm. There are still, I believe, a few issues to be resolved with DEFRA. The advice on the website only refers to racing within the UK so I will be back to DEFRA to clarify the situation re continental racing and if necessary lobby for changes there. In the meantime, let us savour the fact that we have shows, sales and racing in the UK without too onerous restrictions being placed on us. There is still work to do but we are making real progress against the hard-line restrictions brought in by the EU in October.
Marie Curie
You will recall that I asked if there were some fanciers out there that would help with a high profile publicity campaign that the Marie Curie Cancer Charity are running in March. A pigeon release would signify the ‘going home’ of cancer patients from a hospice from certain areas. We have had a terrific response and many, many thanks to Jim Hooper, Robbie Byford, Ted Hendrie, Russell Bradford , Doug Gatland, Nita Donaldson and Dennis Sanders for volunteering their services. However we still urgently need at least one fancier from Leeds, Belfast and Edinburgh to assist. If you can help then please contact me as soon as possible so I can put you in touch with the Marie Curie Cancer Team.
Gala Evening and RPRA Award Presentations
The Gala evening on the Saturday evening of the Blackpool weekend is not just about having a good time. We will also be celebrating the success stories of 2005 with the RPRA Award winners, Young Fancier annual awards and One Loft Race winners. There are several magnificent cups being awarded on the evening, none more so than the Massarella Trophy awarded for the best Young Bird performance. This trophy was kindly donated by Louis a couple of years ago and would take pride of place on anyone’s sideboard. Tickets for the Gala Evening, which is held at the Tower Ballroom on Saturday 21st January 2006, are available from the Reddings priced at £11 each. The Show stars Mick Miller (from TV's the Comedians, The Generation Game, Des O'Connor Show etc), The Real Deal, Insomnia, Chris Hopkins and the Les Dean Roadshow.
Toulet clocks
Thank you to everyone who has responded to the adverts to register their personal or club Toulet clocks. To say that there has been a surge over the last month would be an understatement. If you have not received your certificate yet please do not panic as we have over a month’s backlog. Mrs Mac is frantically trying to catch up so please bear with us. You can e mail her direct mrsmac@rpra.org
Christmas Closure
Please note that the Reddings will be closed from 28th to 30th December and reopens on Tuesday 3rd January 2006. Rings will despatched on the 3rd and the Reddings will be open for sales of rings from Wednesday 4th January.
And finally
2005 has been another busy year and a very successful one for many fanciers. Well done to all those but well done also to all those other unsung fanciers because without them there would be no competition. I have no doubt that 2006 is going to be a very different one with AI and the possible restrictions never far from our minds. All of us here at the Reddings will continue to support you in what is likely to be a challenging year. Thank you to all the fanciers who have sent us greetings and the odd box of chocs and biscuits, your generosity is greatly appreciated. For now, may I, on behalf of all the Staff here at Cheltenham, wish you all a very happy Christmas and a great New Year.
Peter Bryant
General Manager
The Royal Pigeon Racing Association
The Reddings
Nr Cheltenham, Glos GL51 6RN
Tel 01452 713529 Fax 857119
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