Junior Members

Juvenile Fanciers are the future of our hobby and as such must be encouraged and nurtured by the NPA, by our Breed Clubs and Show organisers and by parents and grand parents.

What constitutes a Juvenile? The rules for this are clearly laid down. A fancier must have attained the age of Seven and can then continue to exhibit and claim reduced fees etc until the last day of their sixteenth year, ie day before their Seventeenth birthday. At that stage they are deemed to be adult fanciers. However they can, at any stage, enter their birds in to the open competition show classes.

Juveniles within the Fancy have their own Young Fanciers Club, that has its own Secretary and Committee. It is a club for the young fanciers run by the young fanciers themselves, although the NPA, Breed Clubs and individual adult fanciers are always available for help and advice if needed. Wherever possible Juveniles should be encouraged to attend shows, be present at prize givings and, whenever practicable, handle their own birds when penning and unpenning. These are all part of the learning process. Sensible judges will usually make allowances for the real beginners. Many show organisers and individual judges are now actively seeking to persuade young fanciers to act as Judges Stewards, and Administrators (helping to run some aspects of the show). This is when they can both learn more about pigeons and presentation and, more importantly, also train to become the next generation of Judges or Club Secretaries. No office is barred to the enthusiastic youngster.

The NPA and many of the individual Breed Clubs have donated Trophies and offer 'Specials' specifically for competition amongst the juvenile members. The Young Fanciers Club also has many of its own trophies and also offers various other awards of its own.

Any person within the prescribed age range is eligible for membership and will be made very welcome. New ideas are always welcomed and where possible incorporated in to the running of the club.

On occasion adult fanciers have allowed their birds to be exhibited by younger members of the family in the name of the juvenile. Not only is this against the rules of the NPA but it is grossly unfair on the genuine young fanciers. Proven offenders will be harshly dealt with by the NPA Committee.