NEWS FROM BALERNO
by Norman Dixon MBE
The second race of the 2016 race programme with the Scottish Central Federation of Homing Societies saw 1,495 racing pigeons being liberated from Otterburn, Northumberland at 9:00am on Saturday 23rd April 2016, into a North West wind. The better weather during the previous week may have contributed to the near double number of birds being sent compared to the first race. The pigeon racing home to win the Federation and also 1st at Broxburn and Uphall was a Blue Yearling Gabby Vandenabeele roundabout Hen clocked by Gordon MacKenzie. The Dam was bred from gift pigeons from Ali and Jo Forrest and the Sire was bred from Gordon’s direct M& D Evans pigeons. It’s amazing how much winning these bloodlines have done in the Scottish Central Federation over the last few years. 2nd, 3rd and 4th Federation and Club and also 2nd Federation for the second week running was the exceptionally consistent Broxburn fancier John McNeill. 5th Federation and 1st at Winchburgh was Scotland’s own world-class One Loft Racer, Alistair Hogg, showing that his family of birds can also win from their own loft. 6th Federation was Gordon MacKenzie timing his second bird just in front of club mate Hamish Ferguson at 8th Federation. 9th Federation and 1st for the second week running at Bo’ness was Martyn Brown this time with a 3-year-old hen. 10th Federation was last year’s premier Federation prize winner and current Federation President Peter Keogh.
Although Ali Hogg’s name is against the 5th Federation spot, the winning pigeon is actually ‘owned’ by his 10 year-old son Argyle. After the race and once the result was known last weeks Winchburgh Club winner Tom Weir presented Argyle with a Trophy for winning the race against 7 other fanciers and 176 birds. Argyle is showing great interest in his fathers Racing Pigeons and he will be getting his own section of Young Birds to race this year. I mentioned earlier Alistair’s reputation as a world-class One Loft Race flyer. If you want to get an idea of how Alistair prepares his One Loft Race birds and understand the commitment he puts into these type of races, then have a look at the following link for a short promotional video on ‘You Tube’ where you get to see clips from a Graham Walker DVD where Graham interviews Alistair and he gives very open and honest answers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeXOX1bEdDk&list=PLozgivlqT04lvqA2PoxADiHwe-2PVZ5eb
Gordon MacKenzie 1st Scottish Central Federation Otterburn 2016
Around the Clubs:
Bo’ness 1st Martyn Brown, 2nd and 4th Shanks and Grant with Martin Sneddon 3rd.
Broxburn 1st Gordon MacKenzie with John McNeill 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
East Calder RPC Colin McCreight 1st and 2nd, David Jamieson 3rd and 4th.
Newbridge 1st and 2nd Alex Cockburn, Neil Jamieson 3rd with myself Norman Dixon 4th.
Pumpherston Premier Gary & Dean Kane (who I believe are using a feeding method that’s possibly against normal convention) were 1st, 2nd and 4th 3rd was last weeks winners Willie & Gavin Russell. Winchburgh 1st Ali Hogg (but really Argyle Hogg) with Peter Keogh 2nd to 4th.
Argyle Hogg receiving the Winchburgh Club Otterburn Trophy from Tom Weir - Martyn Brown Bo'ness with his 1st Club, 9th Federation Otterburn winning Hen - Colin McCreight 1st Club East Calder RPC marking the Otterburn Birds
