Review

A Masterpiece Reviewed by Mike Lakin If you are struggling a little for a present to give to a pigeon fancier or indeed if you are a fancier not knowing what to put down on your Christmas wish list from Santa, forget the pants or socks and ask for Jim Jenner s latest offering on DVD, "Secrets of Champions II". If you did not get Secrets I, put that on the list, too! After all, the first Secrets disc won no less than three film awards in an international film contest and was described, amongst other accolades, as being the most informative film on racing pigeons ever made and in my opinion it deserves every praise bestowed upon the writer and director, Jim Jenner. How does Secrets II compare? Well, it fits with Volume One like eggs go with bacon or peaches with cream. It is simply a follow-on in what is the very diverse sport of pigeon racing. As any fancier will know, the keeping of pigeons needs skills of so many different kinds. In each film so far, Jim has expertly covered a handful of topics in great depth, in a way which leaves you wanting more, as I found when the film ended and I sat watching the credits roll, vainly hoping for a little extra footage. I now know what Oliver Twist felt like when he asked for more . Like all great films, you need a great cast and on this one Jim has delivered, with stars of the caliber of Ronnie Williamson, Ireland's champion; Frank Tasker, Ad Schaerlaeckens and the master of the Nationals, Geoff Kirkland. Co-stars included The Professor (and if you want to know who he is you will have to buy the DVD I can't tell you everything). In this latest release, Jim and his team deal with many aspects of breeding top-quality racing pigeons the planning, the feeding and other aspects of this exciting time. They say that great minds think alike and it s uncanny that, although each contributor is filmed individually, how similar their beliefs are on this most important subject. If you follow the advice offered you will be three parts of the way to future success, which is the opinion of the brilliant fancier and writer Ad Schaerlaeckens, who says, Most fanciers go looking for secret medicines and vitamins to make their birds fly faster. I go looking for better birds. Better birds are what count. They win the races . He also tells me of the many calls and emails he receives from fanciers abroad enquiring if he knows where the good birds are. He replies, Sure, and gives a few names, then the callers ask for the fanciers websites. Mr. Schaerlaeckens laughs and tells them, They have no website. Some don t even give a pedigree, only good birds . After a slight pause, he continues, Normally, I hear no more from these people. Obviously they want expensive birds with a big pedigree. I like the cheap ones which win races! If you watch this latest masterpiece because that is what it is you may be a little surprised that the people interviewed deal in common sense and not fantasy. There is no promoting the latest must-have potions so widely on offer, just many knacks which we all know of but sadly, so many of us have forgotten. It may also surprise you that the three most necessary items to a pigeon, food wise, are (a) good corn; (b) quality grit; and (c) honey. At least, that's the opinion of the fanciers on the film. So why not find out what they have to offer and at the same time, save yourself a fortune in unnecessary extras. The film is set out in the usual chapter-by-chapter format often adopted by Jim, which is great because you can take a break to get yourself some refreshments and think for a while because, believe me, there is plenty of food for thought. --British Homing World

"I can count myself as lucky for having stumbled across Jim Jenner's wonderful pigeon documentaries that played no small part in inspiring me as I wrote "PIGEONS: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird". Jenner, as a former CBS newsman and lifelong pigeon fancier, brings a unique blend of professional skill, colorful writing, and encyclopedic knowledge to his passionate films on these birds. I've learned that within the pigeon world his movies are considered the gold standard. His generous help, and that of his many friends in the hobby, was a rich resource I drew upon many times. If you find my book enjoyable, I can guarantee you will be delighted with the many entertaining and informative stories Jenner has captured around the world about a most wondrous and gentle creature--the humble Rock Dove." Andrew D. Blechman- Author "PIGEONS: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and Reviled Bird" --Andrew Blechman - Author "Pigeons"

Like all great films, you need a great cast and on this one Jim has delivered, with stars of the caliber of Ronnie Williamson, Ireland's champion; Frank Tasker, Ad Schaerlaeckens and the master of the Nationals, Geoff Kirkland. --Racing Pigeon Digest

About the Actor

Featuring Dutch Champion Ad Schaerlaeckens, Irish Champions Ronnie Williamson & Gregg Brothers, English Champions Frank Tasker & Geoff Kirkland & More.

About the Director

Called "the pigeon world's master story teller," Jim Jenner has been a pigeon fancier for over 45 years and a television newsman and filmmaker for over 30 years.

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.68 x 5.31 x 0.71 inches; 3.42 ounces
• Director ‏ : ‎ Jim Jenner
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 2, 2006
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Ronnie Williamson, Frank Tasker, Ad Schaerlaeckens, Geoff Kirkland
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Paccom Inc
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1