NEWS FROM BALERNO
by Norman Dixon MBE
The Young bird season on 2016 for the Scottish Central Federation started on Saturday 23rd of July when 1,174 pigeons were released at 07.00 hrs into a no wind situation from Stobs Camp in the Scottish Borders. The winning Federation pigeon was timed by Alan May from Bo’ness at 08.20.42 for a velocity of 1188.476 for the 54 miles 870 yards home. Alan timed his second bird 19 seconds later to claim 2nd Federation just in front of Club mate Alan Brown who was 3rd. Tom and Gina Weir from Winchburgh took the next 6 positions from 4th Federation to 9th with Joe Smith from Bo’ness another fancier having a great race timed his first bird for 10th Federation, then timed another 4 all in 25 seconds.
Around the Clubs the first four card winners were :
East Calder - D Jamieson 1st to 4th. Pumpherston - J Burnside 1st & 2nd, R & K Kell 3rd A Fleming 4th. Newbridge - A Cockburn 1st 2nd & 4th Mr Mrs Forrest 3rd.
Winchburgh - T & G Weir 1st to 4th .Bo'ness A May 1st & 2nd A Brown 3rd Joe Smith 4th. Broxburn - J McNeill 1st to 4th
The second Young Bird race on Saturday 30th July 2016 for the Scottish Central Federation had 1,478 Federation Pigeons being liberated at Otterburn at 09.15 hrs into a West Wind. 1st, 2nd,5th and 9th Federation were previous President and Secretary of the Federation Mr and Mrs Manger from Bo’ness. Tom and Kate’s Federation winning pigeon is a Coreman bred from Stock obtained from John Smith from Fife. John is also the supplier of the ‘Duz Wurks’ line of Pigeon products that the Otterburn Federation winning partnership use with their pigeons all year round to maintain their optimum health. 3rd and 4th Federation was club mate Martin Sneddon, 6th and 8th was Henry Borthwick winning Winchburgh, Gordon Mckenzie was 7th and won the Broxburn Club, and John Boyd from Bo’ness took 10th Federation.
Alec Cockburn, 1st Newbridge Club at the Stobs Camp race - Mrs and Mrs Manger, 1st, 2nd, 5th & 9th Federation at the Otterburn race - David Bratchie, 1st Pumpherston Club at the Otterburn race
Around the Clubs the first four card winners were:
Broxburn - G MacKenzie 1st. J McNeill 2nd, 3rd & 4th.
Newbridge - A Cockburn 1st, 3rd & 4th. Mr Mrs Forrest 2nd.
East Calder - D Jamieson 1st, 2nd & 3rd . C McReight 4th.
Winchburgh - H Borthwick 1st, 2nd & 3rd. P Keogh 4th.
Bo'ness - Mr Mrs Manger 1st & 2nd. M Sneddon 3rd & 4th.
Pumpherston - D Bratchie 1st. W & G Russell 2nd, 3rd & 4th.
