Past and Present Gamehawkers ?

[Coupe]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.

[Giant Panda]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.

The boys you mention just to see Passage and Haggards fly,but Sam Rice, Dave Goff and Steve Addo just because without me they'de starve!;):-D

[Coupe]

ive been lucky enough to fly with the above mentioned on a number of occasions, great to here there names pop up as all three are quality gamehawkers,good freinds and your assured of a good day out, thanks for your input.
regards glyn

[Judd Casper]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.Getting out with Steve Frank when Mad Harry and Braggie were on form was a high point for me many years ago,two cracking grouse hawks and lovely dog work made the day very memorable.Like you Glyn I have been around some great game hawkers in my time and seen some fantastic disciplined hawks flown yours included.

Sam

[Judd Casper]

The boys you mention just to see Passage and Haggards fly,but Sam Rice, Dave Goff and Steve Addo just because without me they'de starve!;):-DHi Jim I am just wasting away until you visit us again next season...hope you are keeping well mate.


Sam

[CloakDaggerTiercel]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.

Glyn
It would have to Michael Connolly, one of the godfathers of USA duckhawking in the 70's and the standard setter. Plentiful ducks and passage peregrines in California. I bet it was heaven.
He's the best writer on gamehawking Ive come across too. Very talented.
I think the standards in UK grousehawking are the best now they've ever been so Ive no real yearning to go out with the greats of yesteryear. They just killed more.
Had many great days out with Steve Frank though. And even better is the food afterwards.
Nick

[Coupe]

Had many great days out with Steve Frank though. And even better is the food afterwards.
Nick[/QUOTE]

hi nick stephens hospitality is world famous, i will always remember spending a day with stephen and will never forget it,we walked and talked for miles and then we got a point our kid (lee) nearly killed the last grouse on his moor, it was also the last time i saw nick the chicks beloved pointer work before she died (kelso):cry:
regards glyn

[Falconry Equipment International]

I think one of the best things apart from his hopsitalty bonhommie, knowledge , sport etc , n=must be taht game stew pot, always on th ego some lquor in that must be 30 years old and when you think about it we have all eaton out of the same stew ( he just keeps adding to it:supz::goodman::yawinkle:

[Merger]

For me, it would have to be Gibert Blaine,, one of the early pioneers of todays waiting on flight,, over dogs,, religouisly mastering the sport season in, season out...

[Giant Panda]

Hi Jim I am just wasting away until you visit us again next season...hope you are keeping well mate.


Sam

Hi Sam, i'm fine mate.You have GOT to try some of this homemade Whiskey n Ginger mate....it's as good as sex........Nope.....it's better!!:-P

Jim

[Giant Panda]

ive been lucky enough to fly with the above mentioned on a number of occasions, great to here there names pop up as all three are quality gamehawkers,good freinds and your assured of a good day out, thanks for your input.
regards glyn

Not at all Glyn.It is always a special occassion when one of the falcons flown by those boys takes to the wing.I can only dream of emulating them,(just don't have the land sadly).
I just love being there and watching then go.Might bump into you sometime too.
All the best, Jim

[BlackFalcon]

I have had some GREAT days hawking with the usual crowd, some of the field meets over the years will stick with me always.
I think the only day I would like to spend other than with the norm, would be to be there on the moor with Steve Franks and co while filming "falcon gentle".
The crack on our meets is top notch, even if the weather is not so good.
I look forward to seeing all the guy's in lincolnshire this season at Matt's.
Just incubating the 1st eggs of the year, so next season seems a long way off at the moment.

Chris

[CloudBase1664]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.

Hi Glyn
I would have loved to get out for a day or two with Martin Hargreaves .I did get to see his hawks fly on a couple of occasions but never got the chance to talk with him before he died.From what other gamehawkers have said he was up there with the best of em and I never heard a bad word said about him, which in the wonderful world of falconry is almost unheard of:lol:

Dave

[Judd Casper]

Hi Glyn
I would have loved to get out for a day or two with Martin Hargreaves .I did get to see his hawks fly on a couple of occasions but never got the chance to talk with him before he died.From what other gamehawkers have said he was up there with the best of em and I never heard a bad word said about him, which in the wonderful world of falconry is almost unheard of:lol:

DaveHi Dave Martin was flying partridges in the 80's to a high standard and he was gent through and through,you only had to see the turn out at his funeral to see how well liked he was.

Sam

[Coupe]

Hi Glyn
I would have loved to get out for a day or two with Martin Hargreaves .I did get to see his hawks fly on a couple of occasions but never got the chance to talk with him before he died.From what other gamehawkers have said he was up there with the best of em and I never heard a bad word said about him, which in the wonderful world of falconry is almost unheard of:lol:

Dave

great stuff dave and to all who have answerd this thread keep em coming :supz:

[CloudBase1664]

Hi Dave Martin was flying partridges in the 80's to a high standard and he was gent through and through,you only had to see the turn out at his funeral to see how well liked he was.

Sam
Hi Sam
It's kind of nice to think of Martin up there somewhere expounding the virtues of the perfect flush or explaining spotting to Gilbert Blain and the Emperor Frederik et al .

Dave

[CloudBase1664]

The crack on our meets is top notch, even if the weather is not so good.
I look forward to seeing all the guy's in lincolnshire this season at Matt's.

Chris

Chris I've got a few days booked on Matts .I was discussing with Matt the chance of putting on a few 2 day meets to make it better for those like yourself coming a long way .He has a fishing lodge available for cheap overnight stays and cheap beer.I'm not sure whats happening with the Yorkshire region with regards to fieldmeets in Lincolnshire .On the longwing side it seems to be slowly fragmenting partly due to their insistence on holding arty farty fieldmeets with £150 hotel bills that half of us can't get to
From what I've been hearing lately I'm glad I jumped ship!!.

Dave (not really bitter and twisted:lol:)

[BlackFalcon]

Chris I've got a few days booked on Matts .I was discussing with Matt the chance of putting on a few 2 day meets to make it better for those like yourself coming a long way .He has a fishing lodge available for cheap overnight stays and cheap beer.I'm not sure whats happening with the Yorkshire region with regards to fieldmeets in Lincolnshire .On the longwing side it seems to be slowly fragmenting partly due to their insistence on holding arty farty fieldmeets with £150 hotel bills that half of us can't get to
From what I've been hearing lately I'm glad I jumped ship!!.

Dave (not really bitter and twisted:lol:)

Dave, 2 dayers would be more practicle for us out of towners, stick me down for what ever comes up.
The cheep beer does nothing for me, but if you can come up with cheep curry :supz:

Chris

[CloudBase1664]

Dave,
The cheep beer does nothing for me, but if you can come up with cheep curry :supz:

Chris

I'l have a word with Jim Blake .He handles the catering:lol:

Dave

[BlackFalcon]

I'l have a word with Jim Blake .He handles the catering:lol:

Dave

By the way Dave, are you planning on taking up a young hawk this season?

Chris

[Giant Panda]

By the way Dave, are you planning on taking up a young hawk this season?

Chris

Can I cook on the premesis Dave?
Worry not Chris I do a mean Korma, or a slightly hotter curry for the adventurous.
Could make it a Mexican theme another time eh?;)I'm game for both days too lads'

Jim

[Hatchero]

Glyn
It would have to Michael Connolly, one of the godfathers of USA duckhawking in the 70's and the standard setter. Plentiful ducks and passage peregrines in California. I bet it was heaven.
He's the best writer on gamehawking Ive come across too. Very talented.
I think the standards in UK grousehawking are the best now they've ever been so Ive no real yearning to go out with the greats of yesteryear. They just killed more.
Had many great days out with Steve Frank though. And even better is the food afterwards.
Nick

having spent my younger falconry years hawking with Mike (i too lived in San Diego) i have my fond memories of those days and often think of them when on the edge of a dream. passage peregrines, perfect duck ponds and beautiful climate was a hard thing to beat. i well remember Violet and Orchid, Mikes excellent tundra birds(well before Witch, the peales) very capable falcons indeed. hawking with mike was always a bit tense since he had a famous temper and once you ****ed him off it was for ever, something i witnessed several times over the years often with an unsuspecting visiting falconer being the unfortunate victim. someday i should sit down and write some of it up, i think some folks would find it fairly interesting. now those ponds are gone forever and only exist in our memories.
Jim

[BlackFalcon]

Can I cook on the premesis Dave?
Worry not Chris I do a mean Korma, or a slightly hotter curry for the adventurous.
Could make it a Mexican theme another time eh?;)I'm game for both days too lads'

Jim

Hardcore curry man me Jim, bring it on son, none of your girly corma's :supz:

Chris

[Fly]

days out on the moors with steve frank you dont forget he was my 1st mentor back in 1972

[CloudBase1664]

By the way Dave, are you planning on taking up a young hawk this season?

Chris
I havn't decided yet Chris . I've no plans although I have had a couple of kind offers .You could say I'm keeping my options open:lol:

Dave

[Giant Panda]

Hardcore curry man me Jim, bring it on son, none of your girly corma's :supz:

Chris

Pick that gauntlet back up Chris-it's a done deal;)

Jim

PS Dave, any idea of dates as yet?

[BlackFalcon]

I havn't decided yet Chris . I've no plans although I have had a couple of kind offers .You could say I'm keeping my options open:lol:

Dave


It may well be that I can help you make up your mind there :yawinkle:
Let me have your email address and I will send you some pics that will make your mouth water :supz:

Chris

[CloudBase1664]

It may well be that I can help you make up your mind there :yawinkle:
Let me have your email address and I will send you some pics that will make your mouth water :supz:

Chris
Chris you should have it by now if not it's d.goff@ntlworld.com
Dave

[Coupe]

having spent my younger falconry years hawking with Mike (i too lived in San Diego) i have my fond memories of those days and often think of them when on the edge of a dream. passage peregrines, perfect duck ponds and beautiful climate was a hard thing to beat. i well remember Violet and Orchid, Mikes excellent tundra birds(well before Witch, the peales) very capable falcons indeed. hawking with mike was always a bit tense since he had a famous temper and once you ****ed him off it was for ever, something i witnessed several times over the years often with an unsuspecting visiting falconer being the unfortunate victim. someday i should sit down and write some of it up, i think some folks would find it fairly interesting. now those ponds are gone forever and only exist in our memories.
Jim

hi jim thanks for the input, post a couple of them stories on here id love to read them mike sounds like a colourfull charactor.
regards glyn

[Yeoman]

For me the likes of richard best and oxer and frost
Kev

[Mr.Smith]

If I had a time machine I would like to back and go hawking with myself 1st choice, and then spend some time with the old gang, Packy Basseler, Ed Pitcher, Terry Heath, Dale Guthormsen, Steve Sanders, Frank Renn, Charles Schwartz and Rick Hochstrasser to name a few. It would be great to revisit those people in that time and relive those times when we were so deeply immersed in the simple art of falconry and comraderie.

Tom Smith

[Falconry Equipment International]

If I had a time machine I would like to back and go hawking with myself 1st choice, and then spend some time with the old gang Dale Guthormsen, It would be great to revisit those people in that time and relive those times when we were so deeply immersed in the simple art of falconry and comraderie.

Tom Smith
:confused: Tom I was out with him just over a month ago on the last saturday of the season??

[Mr.Smith]

Ha Ha, Was he still a young Marine just back from Viet Nam carrying a big prairie on his fist, hitch hiking across the country?
Save two, the people I mentioned are still kicking, some better than others.

[Coupe]

For me the likes of richard best and oxer and frost
Kev

good choice kev, :supz:these were the origional god farthers and unsung hero's of 19th century falconry. and never got the credit they deserved .
regards glyn

[Coupe]

days out on the moors with steve frank you dont forget he was my 1st mentor back in 1972

great admiration for steve, pointers would not be what they are today without steve's tenacity to keep lines alive.
regards glyn.

[Remington]

having seen his falcons at the sky trials in utah, I would love to go game hawking with Steve Chindgren.

[Trebor]

Hi
Have to agree with cloudbase1664, went out with martin hargreaves and the lads from runcorn good company. is birds always went high and he was always fair with the flights. Good days and great nights .
Martin A great lad and great birds.:supz:
Rob:D

[Tony James]

Out of interest given the opportunity to go gamehawking with a past or present longwinger, who would it be ?
Ive been lucky enough to fly with some of the best longwinger's in the u.k. in recent years, but would have loved to have flown with the likes of
Richerd Best and Jack Frost, curios to read your views.

Hi Glyn,

while looking back at some old posts I came across this thread of yours, which set me thinking.
After reading A Bird in the Hand in 1980, I too found myself dreaming of taking to the field with the likes of Frost and Best, and perhaps particularly Fisher and Michell. And going back a couple of centuries, I'd like to visit Latham, to see how he managed his falcons with none of our modern advantages.

Like you, I'm lucky enough to have known and flown with some fantastic falconers (and still know and fly with some), but one I knew, and would dearly have loved to have flown with, was Leonard Potter.
Leonard had a similar manner to Martin Hargreaves I suppose. He was Jack Mavrogordato's 'man' when I knew him, and of course had been Gilbert Blaine's before that. But despite his huge knowledge and experience, he never pushed advice or opinion.
A thoroughly nice man who, if I could tinker with time, I'd be hawking with today.

Best wishes,

Tony.

[MadDog]

For me it would have to be Colonel Thomas Thorton born in 1757-1823
A fantastic all round sportsman .
An excellent shot ,keen fisherman, kept his own pack of fox hounds
He had great sucess in flights at the Kite ,Grouse and Snipe hawking.
Comming from a well to do backround was able to put his heart and soul in his great passion for field sports
Kind regards Maddog

[Tony James]

For me it would have to be Colonel Thomas Thorton born in 1757-1823
A fantastic all round sportsman .
An excellent shot ,keen fisherman, kept his own pack of fox hounds
He had great sucess in flights at the Kite ,Grouse and Snipe hawking.
Comming from a well to do backround was able to put his heart and soul in his great passion for field sports
Kind regards Maddog

And as a man prone to incredible exageration, he'd have fitted right in to the forum:lol:

[MadDog]

And as a man prone to incredible exageration, he'd have fitted right in to the forum:lol:

Maybe ,but who would deny a good story teller artistic licience,he had a passion for falconry and went to great lengths to carry out the sport in a manner we could only dream of .
Glad to see your carring on this forum practice of rubbishing a fellow falconers achievements
Maddog

[Raseni]

Frederick II, for sure, but I guess I was born a bit late for that:lol:

cheers
Rasmus

[CloakDaggerTiercel]

Mike Connolly for me.
Has enjoyed a level of duckhawking (with some passage peregrines too) to a level most if not all UK falconers can only dream about.
Would love to time travel back to mid 70's California and see the golden age for a few afternoons.

I understand he spends most of his time Marlin fishing now off the Baja peninsular. What a life!

Not really too envious about the old time british falconers of yesteryear. Big bags of grouse don't necessarily mean great style.

I admire Steve Frank for flying through a full season like he used to, which to anyone who has flown in the north of scotland knows, takes bags of stamina and enthusiasm to get out there on the **** weather days when you'd rather be sat by the fire.

Like any sport the standards are continually improving, all else being equal.
Nick

[Tony James]

Mike Connolly for me.
Has enjoyed a level of duckhawking (with some passage peregrines too) to a level most if not all UK falconers can only dream about.
Would love to time travel back to mid 70's California and see the golden age for a few afternoons.

I understand he spends most of his time Marlin fishing now off the Baja peninsular. What a life!

Not really too envious about the old time british falconers of yesteryear. Big bags of grouse don't necessarily mean great style.

I admire Steve Frank for flying through a full season like he used to, which to anyone who has flown in the north of scotland knows, takes bags of stamina and enthusiasm to get out there on the **** weather days when you'd rather be sat by the fire.

Like any sport the standards are continually improving, all else being equal.
Nick

Hi Nick,

you've picked some gooduns there.
I think it's fair to say without the influence of some of those US gamehawking trailblazers, we would still be stuck in the 70's/80's, and Steve is something of an inspiration to us all, as a falconer and as a gentleman.

Best wishes,

Tony.

[Tony James]

Maybe ,but who would deny a good story teller artistic licience,he had a passion for falconry and went to great lengths to carry out the sport in a manner we could only dream of .
Glad to see your carring on this forum practice of rubbishing a fellow falconers achievements
Maddog

No rubbishing of Col. Thornton from me Steve. He ranks as one of the most important figures in falconry, without whose efforts falconry might have been confined (or consigned even) to history.

[SugezWolf]

Ed Pitcher flying homebred peregrines in the late 80s/early 90s for me.

Gerry x

[SugezWolf]

For me it would have to be Colonel Thomas Thorton born in 1757-1823

He had great success in flights at the Kite


Me too Steve..................see Tony - even the old time falconers used them ;)

Gerry x

[Tony James]

Me too Steve..................see Tony - even the old time falconers used them ;)

Gerry x

:lol: Very good :lol:

[Judd Casper]

And as a man prone to incredible exageration, he'd have fitted right in to the forum:lol:No Tony to fit in here it would have to be unbelievable exageration.......you know the type of story one that ends in "get up you dancer" what ever that means:lol:

ATB
Sam

[SmallPeregrine]

No Tony to fit in here it would have to be unbelievable exageration.......you know the type of story one that ends in "get up you dancer" what ever that means

ATB
Sam

Don't make me Laugh Shrek....again!:lol:
My ribs have just stopped aching from laughing so much from your Utube and IFF debut vids flying Pheasants at Wood hall and Wigeon. Pity they didnt witness you and Murdoch mugging a Grey in the snow that was better than them 2 put together..... who got it to Grey 1st you are the Tiercel???
Since you have always claimed to be the authority/voice and claim to be the standard of the UK Longwingers to our friends in the USA... I bet they fell of there chairs laughing & are still chuckling at your star debut performance on your world wide Utube showing us all how its done (NOT) in your own unique style PMSL :mrgreen:
Like I have said on here before 'Anyone with ability is never liked' that why your so popular LoL:goodman:
Get up ye Dancer LMAO:mrgreen:
Phil

[Brian Sullivan]

No rubbishing of Col. Thornton from me Steve. He ranks as one of the most important figures in falconry, without whose efforts falconry might have been confined (or consigned even) to history.

Col. Thornton a man that put his money where his love was... "Hawking" even went broke making it happen. I wish I could have been his brother or friend...

[Hatchero]

When one considers the "pantheon" of the old game hawkers we tend to think of the stogy old geezers that wrote the books that became the bibles to many of us as aspiring young falconers. Goethe once opined that "no man is a hero to his valet". I often think it would have been a lot more fun to have gone hawking with the professional falconers that really did the work for these guys. In the case of game hawking, the Scottish falconers were the guys that really moved the ball down the field of my interest. Had I a time machine i would like to spend a few days with Peter Ballantine or perhaps the Barr brothers or John Frost--away from their employers--now that may have been some fun, or not. It seems sort of a shame that much of the knowledge that these men must have had is now only known through the words of their masters.
Jim

[Brian Sullivan]

When one considers the "pantheon" of the old game hawkers we tend to think of the stogy old geezers that wrote the books that became the bibles to many of us as aspiring young falconers. Goethe once opined that "no man is a hero to his valet". I often think it would have been a lot more fun to have gone hawking with the professional falconers that really did the work for these guys. In the case of game hawking, the Scottish falconers were the guys that really moved the ball down the field of my interest. Had I a time machine i would like to spend a few days with Peter Ballantine or perhaps the Barr brothers or John Frost--away from their employers--now that may have been some fun, or not. It seems sort of a shame that much of the knowledge that these men must have had is now only known through the words of their masters.
Jim

The pro's are always going to be out of the lime light as their benefactors were footing the bill, but without the money there would have been no Hawking and no way for the skills of these pro's to be continued and expressed... A potential great musician can become much greater with a great conductor...

To do Falconry on a grand scale it can not be accomplished by one Falconer. It took a consolidated group that was usually orchestrated by one person's vision that had the skill to put it all together. This has been the case for K's of years.

[Tony James]

When one considers the "pantheon" of the old game hawkers we tend to think of the stogy old geezers that wrote the books that became the bibles to many of us as aspiring young falconers. Goethe once opined that "no man is a hero to his valet". I often think it would have been a lot more fun to have gone hawking with the professional falconers that really did the work for these guys. In the case of game hawking, the Scottish falconers were the guys that really moved the ball down the field of my interest. Had I a time machine i would like to spend a few days with Peter Ballantine or perhaps the Barr brothers or John Frost--away from their employers--now that may have been some fun, or not. It seems sort of a shame that much of the knowledge that these men must have had is now only known through the words of their masters.
Jim

Hi Jim,

there's a lot to commend both the professional falconers (Scottish, Dutch, or otherwise) as well as those who employed them, and often later wrote the book.
Leonard Potter, who I spoke of before, was a professional, and to my shame I didn't show him the respect I should have done, as I hurried past him to speak with Mavro. In hindsight I am aware that Leonard had the greater knowledge concerning peregrines.
Perhaps the distinction between falconer and patron, and the effect that distinction must have on any written account, reveals why the early texts by Latham and Bert remain relevant and classic, when compared with the likes of Markham or Blome.
But some of the great flights like heron hawking, and the great sporting tours like those of Thornton, could not have happened, or been documented to inspire us, without the wealthy patrons who funded it.
Even the inspiring falconry art of Wolf, Debourq, Sonderland etc would not exist without them.
We live in extraordinary times I suppose, when wealthy men like yourself (:yawinkle:) are able to pursue their passion for falconry, hands on. Throughout history there are few documented examples of falconers being in the position that many are today.

Best wishes,

Tony.

[Nebli]

to pick up just but one is definitively vain for me
what I value is the results ,the challenges they put to themselves and the results, person quality( decency) be a nice guy that you could spend sometimes with.

I rather make my ( dream)team of fredericII for his remarquable knowledge of games and falcons alike ,his remarquable high flights at cranes, herons ,

prince don juan manuel, a bit of frederick II aproach, but more so on flying peregrines at almost anything capable of flying .

charles d'arcussia for his remarquable falcon knowledge and his game hawking skills,
major fisher for his personality ,
dan coover for beeing a very competent gentleman and creating dove hunting as an discipline in itself.

ronald stevens for his innovative approach,

and of course with guys like steve williams, and ray turner for their almost religious approach on the exquisite science of controlling to a level of excellence splendid to watch,
and martin hardgrave(sorry for the spelling ), .a few others like etienne jacket , hunting black game in the french alps (stoops sometimes over 3000feet),claude rigo,a very gifted belgian falconer .
as well as a good breeder and person.
I should add trealeven and rené jean monneret as falconers naturalists

but another question ..what would you put on the cage?
I'll go for sultan, and den ruiter,( het loo club)danceaway, bois le duc,parachute, a few lundy tiercels, tony,phoenix( a belgian tiercel )tiger and his colleague,l'émir( belgian gyr peregrine,the styliest and deadliest I come across)arabia, a brookei falcon that stooped like a sidewinder missile.
I suppose adding a few others ( people and birds)I could willingly spend a few hundreds years
and the place probably spain , from great bustard to sand grouse every one could find their perfect quarry

[Brian Sullivan]

Hi Jim,

there's a lot to commend both the professional falconers (Scottish, Dutch, or otherwise) as well as those who employed them, and often later wrote the book.
Leonard Potter, who I spoke of before, was a professional, and to my shame I didn't show him the respect I should have done, as I hurried past him to speak with Mavro. In hindsight I am aware that Leonard had the greater knowledge concerning peregrines.
Perhaps the distinction between falconer and patron, and the effect that distinction must have on any written account, reveals why the early texts by Latham and Bert remain relevant and classic, when compared with the likes of Markham or Blome.
But some of the great flights like heron hawking, and the great sporting tours like those of Thornton, could not have happened, or been documented to inspire us, without the wealthy patrons who funded it.
Even the inspiring falconry art of Wolf, Debourq, Sonderland etc would not exist without them.
We live in extraordinary times I suppose, when wealthy men like yourself (:yawinkle:) are able to pursue their passion for falconry, hands on. Throughout history there are few documented examples of falconers being in the position that many are today.

Best wishes,

Tony.

Hi Tony,

So true and right on the mark. Modern Falconers are very fortunate to have the resources and time to pursue Falconry on such a high level. The down side is that modern Falconry has become, so individualistic that the real collective has been lost in the process.

The great days of many Falconers gathering to experience Falconry together and interested field members has been lost. When this was happening you could imagine the knowledge being gained? Now, the closest to this is a large meet with Falconers spreading out in all directions to hawk in small groups and coming back in the evening to have no sharing of knowledge.....

The modern individual Falconer is inclined think they have found real exceptional Falconry, but I am sure the level in past generations has exceed any thing we can dream up by "our selfs" today.

[Tony James]

Hi Tony,

So true and right on the mark. Modern Falconers are very fortunate to have the resources and time to pursue Falconry on such a high level. The down side is that modern Falconry has become, so individualistic that the real collective has been lost in the process.

The great days of many Falconers gathering to experience Falconry together and interested field members has been lost. When this was happening you could imagine the knowledge being gained? Now, the closest to this is a large meet with Falconers spreading out in all directions to hawk in small groups and coming back in the evening to have no sharing of knowledge.....

The modern individual Falconer is inclined think they have found real exceptional Falconry, but I am sure the level in past generations has exceed any thing we can dream up by "our selfs" today.

Hi Brian,

those sentiments echo my own, so I'm pleased to have you alongside me to take some of the flack:lol:
Modern falconry is in some ways as good as it could ever have been (I'm thinking particularly of some of the waiting on flights), doubtless inspired by exchanges of information between the best and most commited falconers worldwide.
However, I could weep at the lack of acknowledgement of those who paved the way for us, and can't help but wonder how some of todays falconers would have fared if they had found themselves in the circumstances of those falconers who kept the sport alive for us?
We are indeed incredibly lucky today.

Best wishes,

Tony.

[MadDog]

Love to have one last day with a few of the old school Stephen Frank ,Roger Upton Tony Walker and Ted Roberts all have had a life long relationship with dogs and falcons and have helped many of us on our way.
Kind regards Maddog

[Coupe]

[QUOTE=maddog;1307070]Love to have one last day with a few of the old school Stephen Frank ,Roger Upton Tony Walker and Ted Roberts all have had a life long relationship with dogs and falcons and have helped many of us on our way.
Kind regards Maddog

hi steve, ive had the peasure to fly with all the above mentioned and they have all helped me progress,( no charge), they are all gentleman and it was a pleasure to be in there company,also i will always have the highest of respect for nick & lynn havermanmart, nick bailed myself and lee out one season when we fell short of a moor, nick introduced myself and lee to the above mentioned. nick drove us all over scotland and gave us his moor at his own expence,the days i spent with nick, lynn,steven,roger,tony,ted,allister and lee were magical the generosity from these people i will never forget.
all the best steve for 2010 regards glyn cooper

[Yeoman]

Present Steven franks past Jack mavro- Richard Best

[MadDog]

[quote=maddog;1307070]Love to have one last day with a few of the old school Stephen Frank ,Roger Upton Tony Walker and Ted Roberts all have had a life long relationship with dogs and falcons and have helped many of us on our way.
Kind regards Maddog

hi steve, ive had the peasure to fly with all the above mentioned and they have all helped me progress,( no charge), they are all gentleman and it was a pleasure to be in there company,also i will always have the highest of respect for nick & lynn havermanmart, nick bailed myself and lee out one season when we fell short of a moor, nick introduced myself and lee to the above mentioned. nick drove us all over scotland and gave us his moor at his own expence,the days i spent with nick, lynn,steven,roger,tony,ted,allister and lee were magical the generosity from these people i will never forget.
all the best steve for 2010 regards glyn cooper

Hi Glyn,
I to owe Nick &Lyn a big thankyou as they were the perfect hosts to me and Stanley. We had a very enjoyable time trying to catch there Grouse and shairing there company.
Nick is the best director (BFC) that we have had in recent years and i hope he stands for re election when his time is up.
Hope your hawks are going well and maybe we can share a day sometime.
Kind regards Steve