So what happens when you're a man fired by an enthusiasm, empassioned by an obsession, blessed with a desire to turn a dream into a reality? Here is one example, you doo what Kenny Bald has done.
Kenny's obvious love is for pigeon racing, traditionally a working man's sport, but one which is changing, developing with modern times, embracing new technologies and going for new possibilities. Kenny is one of a few who share a vision for another direction for a sport which has an entrenched image of cloth caps. He's an entrepreneur, though money will not be his measure of success here, he's an enabler, moving his sporting passion along the timeline, making it fit into modern life, the 21st century. At heart he is firmly an old school pigeon fancier and enthusiast. He is surely a pigeon fancier's pigeon fancier.

A One Loft Race is an event that is built up to over the year, the process starting from round about now, March, culminating in the big race in September. In the intermediate period there are training flights, and "Hotspot Races", all of which provide the fancier with information about his bird's potential chances in the main event in which he could scoop thousands of pounds in prize money - not to mention the possibility of coming out ahead in the betting shop.

How does it work? Well, you breed your pigeon, pay your entry fee and deliver your young bird to the loft. Here it will be looked after and trained, this is the base that it will home to. Since all the birds live in the same environment and are treated equally the potential for an even race seems obvious.
Even if you're not a fancier yourself its possible to participate in the excitement by buying a bird from the loft. The spare birds that are available are bred by some of the best pigeon breeders in the country.
The other, traditional, and perhaps more familiar, model for racing pigeons is that the birds live at each individual fancier's home loft, where on race day there is a clock which each fancier has to operate himself to time his bird's return.
At a One Loft Race the fanciers can congregate at the site of the loft, enjoying a small refreshment, and await and witness the arrival of the winners. And at this race they'll be timed in electronically, computer registered as their individually recognisable leg rings step into the loft, crossing the electronic detector. The email system will automatically email the owner with the time.

With about 500 entries so far, and a few weeks left before the loft closes, this is no small endeavor. Kenny wants The Edinburgh International One Loft Race to be accessible to the ordinary fancier, so the entry fees are modest in comparison to the worldwide scheme of things. This form of racing is the way he sees interest in the sport being maintained and developed, since membership of fanciers' clubs needs a boost.

And how did this venture come about? The answer is through Kenny's own focussed enthusiasm. In his own inspirational words "You're only here once".

If you want to enter your pigeon in the Edinburgh International One Loft Race (or buy a bird for the race) phone Kenny Bald on (mobile) 0773 406 39 83. The official web site link is here.