wgg
5 posts
Nov 03, 2004
7:04 PM
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Roller enthusiasts,
I hear from time to time someone mention English rollers. Or "that person flys English birds". I'm curious what the distinction is between the Birmingham and the English roller? Are they or could they be one in the same?Is it a reference to what is currently being flown in England? Also, is there a noticable difference in the quality between the two? Please educate me.
Thanks,
Grant
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STARFIRE
61 posts
Nov 03, 2004
7:39 PM
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Hey WGG;
I live in Canada,and the guys in the Toronto Flying Roller Club practically all have English Birds.In this case they are birds imported from England,from Bill Barrat and Bob Brown strains.They imported them around 1976.I have seen these birds fly many times and they are a fairly fast roller.They certainly are a long way from spinners.The only thing they have is FREQUENCY.I keep my own strain of Pensom Rollers and I wouldn't have one of these English birds in my loft.They have too much frequency to have a quality spin.
Look at the score for Canada in the world fly and you can see what kind of birds they are.I have no knowledge about any other English strains because I have never witnessed them fly.England won the World Fly this year,so these birds must be doing something right.
Stan Arnold
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Mother lode lofts
283 posts
Nov 04, 2004
6:57 AM
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Grant these are from recent imports and are like any other families, some are good and some aren't. A buddy of mine flew some straight English imports. They were a bigger and longer cast bird compared many you that you see in these parts. They didn't seem to have the "raw" speed but man were they smooooooth,very enjoyable roll to watch. I didn't notice the over frequency that Stan mentioned. But then these were imports from a different family. Joe Borges from N. Calif. also did a import that he no longer has due to he said they would eventually just roll down. Many of these went to S. Calif along with scatterings around N. Calif. Many of the guys that had them also eventually dumped them. NONE of this has to do with the birds flown in England as any bird in the wrong hands can be garbage plus over there you have good families and not so good of families just like you do here. To answer your question "English" birds are from recent imports from the 80' and 90's .
Scott
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Rick Mee
9 posts
Nov 04, 2004
2:36 PM
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Grant, I spent 2 weeks in England about 10 years ago, touring the entire country while my friend JoeBob judged their annual national fly, and I selected the top individual young bird, and old bird in the country. From what I saw, and of the English faimlies I have played with in the past and seen in this country, I can say this. The English Rollers for the most part, kit tighter than our American birds, break simultaneously better, but are softer in the roll than ours. As far as sheer velocity is concerned, I am partial to birds I have seen in this country, more so than those seen in England.
The English have an individual award they give every year for the top young bird, and old bird flown during the national fly. I was asked to do the honors.
What may be of some interest, the young bird I picked belonged to Les Bezance, who had won this award consecutively the 3 years prior to me picking his. I did not know this prior to being asked the pick the best individuals.
The late George Kitson won the best old bird, which later was featured on the front cover of Graham Dexter's second edition of Winners with Spinners. She was a beautiful black mottled hen, pearl and bull eyed, who did have the velocity that I believe most of us in North America are after.
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Famous Players
1 post
Nov 27, 2004
5:51 PM
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I had recently asked a question concerning shipping a bird from california. My concern is that I live on the Eastcoast of Canada. I was hoping to get my pigons over the winter so that I could have ready for this upcoming season.Iwondered if the climate change would put them in jeoprady. As you may know, It can get very cold -20 during Jan. and Feb.Has anyone had experinence with this? I am just beginning in this hobby and would appreciate any knowledge that could be passed down. Also is there too much red tape shipping birds from the States to Canada? I have serching for reputable breeders in my area but Rollers seem hard to come by around Here.I live In New Brunswick Perhaps Main would be a good idea?
Famous Players
Last Edited by Famous Players on Nov 27, 2004 5:52 PM
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Famous Players
2 posts
Nov 27, 2004
6:01 PM
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no sooner did I just post a message did I find Starfire! Stan, perhaps you could post a message for me to find a reputable breeder or perhaps you yourself are breeding Rollers?
Kelly
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