Zandie and I had a great day yesterday. After looking forward all week to the day we went up to Barnsley to meet Eric. What a lovely man and a fountain of knowledge when it comes to milers. Zandie and I spent a couple of hours with Eric talking about milers and the days of the past when it used to be very popular. Eric has been racing milers since he was a boy and also runs the Short Distance Union. Zandie and I collected some milers from Eric that he kindly agreed to sell us. These pigeons are stunning and we are really pleased to have them. I’m really looking forward to these birds being the foundation of reviving the miler racing and introducing it to the Midlands. Like I have said before, I really think getting miler racing going again could help to bring new people not the sport as its very different to regular racing (homers as Eric calls them) I’m pleased to say Eric has agreed to do an interview in the future to share his views of the miler racing and I am keen to get Erics knowledge recorded for everyone to hear. I will be arranging to do the interview in the coming months when I go back up to Barnsley to record this amazing mans wisdom. Here are some pictures from the day.
Eric says miler racing is the best sport in the world. I think he may be right from some of the stories he was telling us yesterday. I’m looking forward to helping to revive miler racing throughout the UK.
Keep Flying
Mark Lyford
I have just found this little piece about my Dad, Eric Pickersgill’s Miler’s. He was a fountain of knowledge and still up to yesterday when my Dad passed very peacefully surrounded by his family in Barnsley Hospital he still has some of those Milers. They were his love and his passion from being a boy of 10 years old to 85 years. You have given me precious memories, for that i thank you.
Eric was a terrific man, always willing to help anyone. I spoke to him late November on the phone. he was just the same . Having known him for years always joyful. Sadly read about his passing in BHW and have sent a tribute for Eric. He offered me birds many times but I have racers.