KINGDOM RACING PIGEON ASSOCIATION
by Stuart Bowman
2007 REVIEW
What a season it’s been for some, one not to forget I bet for others. One to forget I know for me! Kingdom Racing Pigeon Fanciers have excelled themselves yet again this year, particularly in racing. Jim Benvie and John Proctor spring to mind! Others featured prominently like Dennis Dall, Jock Mackenzie, John Anderson, Jim Anderson, Jock King, George Anderson, Pete Penman, Penman & Grubb, Garry Hall, Tam Currie, Pete Patrick, Harry Maidment, J.D Armour Matt Shields and Jackie Wishart to name but a few!
All of them can hold their heads up for the way they have stuck to the task and tried to get the best out of their pigeons. Wheather it has been with the Association or National with the SNRPC. I hope to highlight some of them and their performances at a later date, but for now I will briefly mention a handful. They are just that when you consider John Proctor and Dennis Dall are in amongst them!!!
Starting off with J.D Armour at Wanstaed Flats and his first ever race with the SNRPC. JD put up a superb performance with several in the result. Best being 1st Sect C’ 4TH Open, a popular win with his Schailie cock on round about and he will now go off to the SNRPC dinner to proudly collect his well earned Bronze Medal! Proving it was not a fluke day JD also won 1st Association from Huntingdon 295mls on the same day! Well done lad!
JD Armour of Leven, holding 1st Sect C, 4th Open SNRPC Wanstead Flats 2007.
What of Jim Benvie, anyone heard of him ? Sure you have, only just last year Jim Won 1st Open Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club Lessay and a Silver Medal with his then yearling cock, who also won an award for first yearling in the race. This game pigeon “ Kingdom Boy” was one of only 16 on the day of toss. This pigeon comes up again like I predicted he would ( readers may recall ) to not only take a top position but to take another outright National win, the premier Gold Medal worth a fair bit of money plus a four figure cash sum. Jim was first to call me when he had timed in only a couple of minutes after clocking which was at 1.27 pm on the 2nd day from a 11.35 am lib into a NW wind the day before. Jim was still getting his breath back. I knew by the way he spoke he had timed in his champ from this extremely difficult race even before he had told me. Jim was felting the shed in front of the loft when the Boy himself landed, nearly belted his fingers with the hammer in the process! Kingdom Boy deserves every accolade given to him, my o’ my, what a pigeon and what a performance nearly 50 ypm in front doing 823, shows you how hard it was! Jim and I talked of this good pigeon during the winter with Jim saying he thought there was another good race in him yet, as after his Lessay win he thought he could keep going. How true this was with Kingdom Boy facing another North wind and a long holdover. Makes it all the more pleasing to Jim as Kingdom Boy was set up different this season, a sure sign of a top pigeon! Jim, now a Double National winner with the same pigeon will also collect the SNRPC “ John Fairbairn Memorial Scroll” Proudly won last year by a great pigeon and great fancier Wilf Flockhart!
Jim Benvie with Kingdom Boy, 1st Open SNRPC Reims Gold Medal winner 2007, and 1st Open SNRPC Lessay 2006.
Another fancier who has done as well this year as he did last is none other than John Proctor. As everyone Knows John had a very good year last year winning nearly everything but the kitchen sink. Last year John won 1st Open Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club ST. Nazaire 613 mls only bird on the day into Scotland liberated with the NFC. John managed to get in front of some of the NFC’s finest, and had he been competing with them he would have finished around 135th Open place. Quite astounding when you think how many miles further McFly had to cover to get home giving him his 4th channel win for his owner! John also won the Shy Lass Trophy for the best performance in Great Britain from 450mls and over and an RPRA Medal from the Cumbria Region to add to his SNRPC Silver medal for 1st Open, amongst others. In the ST.Nazaire race John was also 6th Open with his Grizzle cock, winning his 3rd diploma from the channel. No one not even John (probably ) could not envisage what was to happen at our longest race from Tours this year. This year the birds were convoyed with MNFC, and after a holdover the birds were liberated on Sunday at 7.30 am and John still managed to clock in at 9.27pm at 627mls to again be the only bird into Scotland on the day. John of course won 1st Open Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club with the above Grizzle now named Lucky Jim. What are the chances of that happening to the same loft 2 years in a row only bird home on the day! Unbelievably John called me late at night to tell me he had verified it on the lib line. I paused a little and said ok John go away back to bed ! Even after hanging up I was still not 100% sure, as John is a bit of a windup merchant. I made a couple of enquiries from reliable sources only to find out the Practical Joker was not Joking! When I went early next morn to verify the pigeon he was out flying merrily with the y.bs. Still had a little left in him. Great Pigeon! Now John will go and collect his second Silver Medal for 1st Open from the Longest race with the SNRPC. Top drawer flying!
John Proctor's Lucky Jim, 4 times a prize winner including 1stOpen SNRPC Tours 627mls 2007. Only bird on the day into Scotland!
Jim Anderson of Cardenden has had a pretty good season having his first year with the KRPA. This year Jim won 2nd Open behind Jock Mackenzie from the Association Wanstead Flats race. He then went on to win 1st Open from the Association Portsmouth race substitute for Arras. Jims timer a 2yo blue L.bred cock in this race was duplicated with the SNRPC to win 2nd Sect C’ 8th Open. He was also 13th, 30th and 80th and will also collect his award for 1st Open Association Portsmouth at the KRPA presentation along with the above three fanciers as they have the awards for the 1st bird in KRPA, Wanstead Flats, Reims and Tours SNRPC races respectively. Another night out for you Jim!
A view of Jim Anderson's lofts at Cardenden.
A fancier who has featured well on the Association races and National races also is none other than Dennis Dall. It is worth mentioning again the consistency of this loft during 2007. Dennis was won the following- 3rd and 7th Open KRPA Wanstead Flats. 2nd Sect C’ 4th Open SNRPC Gold Medal race from Reims. 8th Open SNRPC Tours, then 2nd Association, 3rd Sect C’ 9th Open SNRPC Portsmouth plus 14th Open. I know Dennis is very pleased, particularly with the yearlings this year which have played their part. Think I’m right in saying these consistent performance pigeons have won Dennis the best Average all OB National races this year with the SNRPC. This loft over the years has been accustomed to the high level of success it receives year in year out! Another season to remember, Hearty Congratulations Dennis!
The wing of Dennis Dall's 3rd Sect, 9th Open SNRPC Portsmouth 2007.
I’m sure readers will concur that the above fanciers deserve their praise winning at a high level! These same names will be to the fore next year wait and see, I have no doubts. Now lets catch up a little with some results.
Rosyth had 101 away at ST.Boswells after the birds were very sensibly brought back from Otterburn and the winner was Stuart Bowman with a Blue Pied cock just flying to the perch the old fashioned way. This one was bred for me by Doug Barnes of Crossgates. 2nd was Alan Cunningham with a chq cock flying natural to the perch, and of Busscheart bloodlines. Yours truly won the next 3 places with y.bs as above. The first one a chq, pied cock from a cock which won 100th Open SNRPC Portsmouth, and the dam was a Jock Ellis hen. The next one was from a hen which scored 48th Open Maidstone last year, and the sire was 22nd Sect YB National last year and a couple of prizes in the club this year. Next a Kinnear x Ellis. Only dropped 1 in this race and like everyone else was quite happy as returns were good.
From Otterburn and 196 away it was Alan Cunningham who led the way with a bwf cock of Busscheart lines bred by Dougie Barnes and was racing to the perch. Only a yard behind and filling the next 4 places was yours truly with 4 young hens all just racing to the perch. The first a blue from a cock which won 16th Open Wakefield YB last year, while the dam is a G Daughter of Dale Newcombes 2 Gold Award winners! The next was a D, chq from a Newcombe cock and a hen direct from the famous Dutch National Winning loft of Battenburg-Vandemerwe, of Klaaswaal . Next a blue from a Kinnear & son of Gilmerton cock x with a Tom Gilbertson hen. The last one a chq same way bred as my second.
From Otterburn the Association had 1,176 away into a SW Wind at 8am. The winner and taking the first 4 places was George Anderson of the Marathorn club timing up there 10.29 for 96mls on 1140. Georges others were doing 1139, 1138, and 1137. Great flying! Taking the next 4 Places was big Pete Holt of the Howe Premier club on 1124, 1122, 1120, and 1117, again great flying from Pete! These Darkness ybs are flying very well at the moment for both these lofts! 9th was Alec Brunton from Howe club on 1114. Pete Penman was 10th on 1103 and wins the Coaltown club.
The following week the controller cancelled the race for the weekend as the race was atrocious. I’m very glad they didn’t go, there was nothing to be gained out of it. They were much better off in the loft! Shows the controller cares about the birds I think, and doesn’t take chances. Well done Ian.
The following week we didn’t go to Ripon as planned we simply went to Whitton Castle with 896 Association birds away into a light West wind and taking the first 3 places was George Anderson flying 137mls. The winner taking 3hrs 43 mins for a vel of 1076.69. The next 1076.21, and the 3rd 1075. George was also 5th on 1072. While Dunc Walker of Leuchars was 4th on 1073. Davy Wilson Leuchars was 6th on 1060. Pete Holt was 7th on 1054 and won the Howe again. John Anderson Leuchars was 8th on 1047. With Jim Benvie Howe Prem and Tam Currie Leuchars winning 9th and 10th on 1043 and 1039 respectively.
Rosyth Had 92 away at Whitton Castle and Alan Cunningham did the old one two. Both were flying to the perch and the first was a Busschaert chq cock. While the other was a chq, pied bred by Dougie Barnes which earlier won Otterburn. Next was Richard Brown with a home bred blue hen racing for the perch. Yours truly was 4th & 5th with 2 cocks racing to the perch as usual. The first a red from a cock bred from Jim Donaldsons top breeder the Dall cock. The other a d, chq was Ellis x Kinnear .
KRPA L.Bred Sale SUCCESS!!!
The Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association recently held their late bred sale at the Coaltown of Balgonie Bowling club. It turned out to be a huge success with the raffle and 26 lots raising over £5,100. John Proctors highest priced at £670. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I learned this, what an effort pheeeew!!! Let me say here and now that the committee and members would sincerely like to thank all doners and purchasers for this grand sum! Many thanks must also go to Bob Blyth the Auctioneer for the day ably assisted by Dod Harley and President George Wilson. Three pairs of eyes are better than one! Also to Secretary Jessie Keir with the paper work and son David who was busy with the phone bids. Thanks again to the fancier who again paid for the full page colour advert nicely displayed in the BHW. Thanks also to Margaret Anderson for running the raffle, and to the Coaltown boys for the use of their Pens, and anyone else who helped out in any way! Great stuff!
That’s it for now, all news and info to Stuart Bowman, 118 Sinclair Drive, Cowdenbeath, Fife, ky4-9rg, tel 01383-518471, email to
15/9/07
