Around Almond Valley
With FLJ
The opening race in the Almond Valley Federation’s season went ahead as scheduled on the 16th of April from Stob’s Camp-near Hawick in the Scottish Borders. With strong northerly and easterly winds bringing temperatures in the low and below single figures, the race had every right to be a disaster. That said, it went onto exceed the expectations of many, numerous lofts had 100% returns at clock checking, with the majority of fanciers taking part in a cold yet enjoyable wait-the birds piled in. The race controller, Jim Young, and convoyer, John Jamieson, can only be commended for the part they played in our super start to the racing pigeon year.
The birds were liberated at 0915 into a Northeast wind with the fed winner being clocked by the Armadale & District fancier-Andy Ritchie, taking one hour and thirty minutes to cover the fifty five miles and recording a velocity of 1067ypm.
Andy Ritchie Pictured with Fed topper
The top 20 of the Almond Valley Federation, Stob’s Camp
- A. Ritchie-Armadale & District
- D. Bald-Balerno
- D. Bald- Balerno
- I. Jamieson-Balerno
- D.Bald-Balerno
- J. Urquhart-Forth & Clyde
- A. Ritchie-Armadale & District
- A. Ritchie-Armadale & District
- G. Harris-Forth & Clyde
- S. Fleming-Armadale & District
- D.Bald- Balerno
- A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District
- D. McBeath-Armadale & District
- V. Couper-Forth & Clyde
- A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District
- A, McCalley & Son-Armadale & District
- A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District
- S. Fleming-Armadale & District
- I. Jamieson-Balerno
- I. Jamieson-Balerno
Around the Almond Valley alphabetically
Armadale & District Homing Society
Topping the federation and taking the first three club positions is the unorthodox, yet talented, fancier-Andy Ritchie. Andy could be described as experimental or perhaps even just mental, either way he’s had a terrific start to the season. His winner this week is a four year old cock taking part in his first ever race, he was sent to the race chasing his hen. Andy has read the rule book and thrown it away. The sire of this pigeon was bought at the SNFC late bred sale in 2008 and is direct off Dave Owen of Coldingham’s 2nd Open SNFC Eastbourne. Upon buying the bird Andy was introduced to Dave, who offered him a hen to go with his purchase. There you have the mother of this week’s fed topper.
Andy’s second pigeon is another homebred four year old cock- bred this time from his Eijerkamp Veenstra pigeons, which are heavily influenced by Mr. Blue. The third pigeon to the Ritchie loft was again through Eijerkamp pigeons, though this time through the Van Loon and Janssen lines that serves Andy well every year.
Congratulations Andy on a superb opening race.
In fourth place we have past federation champion and all round good egg-Sam Fleming. Sam’s first pigeon this week is becoming somewhat of a legend in the club and is known as the 2000 Cock. This bird is a four year old widowhood cock who started off winning as a youngster and has won numerous other 1sts, top prizes and pools since. At four years old he is showing no signs of slowing up and has been given a different hen this season for the first time. He is bred from Sam’s Alan Bridges pigeons many of which were Janssens from Foutainhead lofts.
In fifth place are A. McCalley & Son, their first pigeon was a two year old late bred hen sitting 7 day eggs, though now separated to be raced on widowhood. Her sire is known in the loft as the green eyed cock and was a gift from SNFC winner-Walter Masson of Inverallochy, from his North of Scotland bloodlines. The dam is one of the best pigeons the partnership have raced, known in the loft as the good chequer hen-now retired, she won numerous prizes through the card to France where she scored three times including 19th Open SNFC Alencon. She contains the bloodlines of John Ellis of Wellbank and Ian Toddler Brown of Kirkliston’s pigeons.
Balerno Homing Society
Top of the pops in Balerno this week is the man to beat in the Almond Valley Federation- Dougie Bald. The number of first and second feds Dougie has won this past few seasons is absolutely phenomenal, and this week he has another second to add to the collection. Dougie’s winner is a blue hen that was flying spare and is one from what he refers to as his ‘mad section’. This hen is an Albert Tarleton Janssen, these Tarleton Janssens also had a hand in the breeding of his 2nd Club, with her dam carrying the lines. Whilst the sire is through Dougie’s old Mogar Busschaert family. This hen was again from the mad section and sitting approximately 8 day eggs at the time of the race.
Dougie’s mad section had a terrific race for it was from this loft the 5th place bird came from as well. A highly strung grizzle cock that Dougie believes to be one of the craziest pigeons he has owned. A bird that certainly doesn’t have a calming influence on his loft mates, but it seems to make no difference come race day. The mad grizzle originates from birds Dougie received from his friend Bobby Frame of Newmains, and contains the bloodlines of the great Andrew Deans of Botwell’s pigeons.
Third place in Balerno this week goes to Ian Jamieson, who enjoyed a good race with three in the first 20 of the fed. Ian is a busy man through work commitments and a young family, his mother plays a big part in the day to day running of the loft and their first pigeon from Stob’s Camp is a favourite of hers-a chequer pied yearling cock sent to the race chasing his hen. This pigeon is down through the old bloodlines of Ian’s father that brought him a lot of success, particularly from the longer races with the SNFC and SCC. Ian like many has tried various different pigeons but finds the old bloodlines are still at the fore and very reliable. Well done Ian and Mrs Jamieson on a cracking start to the season.
The member of Balerno H.S would like to extend thanks to John Jamieson, for without his help on Friday evening, they’d have been unable to race. He’s not a bad lad.
Carnwath Homing Society
Winning Carnwath we have Scott McArdle. Scott’s winner was actually 2nd from the opening Stob’s Camp race last year as a yearling. Let’s hope he continues to add to his growing list of prizes. The sire of this chequer cock is direct off Colin Crowe of Winchburgh’s No.1 pair which are responsible for many winners in the Central Fed as well as birds to score prominently in the SNFC inland events. The dam is a pigeon Scott obtained from Dave Atkin of Lincoln. Scott races his birds on his own version of roundabout and I’m sure it’ll bring him further success in the coming weeks.
Taking the second and third prizes is B Campbell with a couple of two year old late bred cocks flown on the natural system. His first bird in the clock contained the bloodline of club mate Willie Watson on the sire’s side and the dam is again from a relatively local fancier, J Warwick of Symington. The third prize winner is of Jan Aarden lineage and was bred by his brother Gordon from up in Montrose.
Willie Watson also featured in the top five in this the opening race of the season.
Well done all. Carnwath is certainly not an easy place to fly to, being well off the fed’s main drag. That being said there are a few able fanciers in this neck of the woods and I’m sure on the given day when the conditions are right their time will come.
East Calder
Mr & Mrs Archie Fleming take first place in East Calder this week with a hen sitting eggs down through their Freddie Jamieson pigeons. Archie is a great asset to the fed and his contribution to the ferrying of the pigeons on marking nights is invaluable. Nice to see him off to a good start racing- Well done Archie.
In second and third place we have Young & Clafferty with both of their pigeons being flown on roundabout- the first being one of the partnerships Lambrechts and the second is off their good Freddie Jamieson pair.
Robert Anderson takes fourth with a blue hen sitting 14 day eggs, again the Freddie Jamieson influence is seen here with the hen’s dam coming from his lofts, whilst the sire is one of Bertie’s old Busschaerts.
Freddie himself is in the fifth position. Freddie sent a few of his spare hens to get his season started and the first one to the loft is off his Galaxy lofts Van Loon lines.
Forth & Clyde
Onto one of the biggest clubs in the central belt now and taking the top spot is one of the club’s big players-Jimmy Urquhart. Jimmy has been winning pigeon races for decades and this first prize is another to add to the many in this good run of form. The winner is a yearling widowhood cock taking his second first prize for he also won the third young bird race last year. The sire of this good pigeon was a gift Jimmy received from the late John Ellis of Wellbank, whilst the dam is one of Jimmy’s Leo Van Rijn birds. Well done Jimmy, I’m sure you’ll rack up a few more cups to collect at the presentation night.
In second and fourth we have the fed’s national winner, SNFC legend Geordie Harris. Geordie’s first pigeon was a yearling chequer hen flown on roundabout and has shown previous form, winning the Thirsk race as a youngster. The sire of this hen is a Mickey Lennon Maris cock, direct off his famous racer Herbie. The dam is direct of Geordie’s good black hen which was the result of an arranged pairing and split nest with Danny Henderson, when paired to a grandson of Braspenning’s Felle. This Black Hen was a bit of a machine in her racing days winning 9x1st club and twice topping the fed.
Geordie’s fourth place bird is a two year hen flown on roundabout and is one of the most consistent performers in his loft at present her dam is also direct of the good black hen and the grandson of Felle with the sire being a direct son of Eagleson’s White Cheeks, Owned by Louella.
Taking third and fifth place is another of the Bonnybridge cracks-Vic Couper. The third placed pigeon is a yearling chequer pied hen raced on roundabout. Her sire is a full brother to the famous Jan Aarden Invincible Dettori and Vic and Davie Wells inform me this is the biggest pigeon they have ever seen. The dam is a good Soontjen breeder in Vic’s loft being the dam to one his SNFC section winners.
Vic’s second pigeon was a blue cock, again raced on roundabout. The parents of this pigeon were bred by Alan Atkinson and were sent to Vic by his brother that lives in Gibraltar.
Well done the Forth & Clyde men.
Jimmy Urquhart-1st Forth and Clyde
West Calder
It was a clean sweep for the federation president, John Bird, from the opening race, with him taking the first five positions.
John’s first pigeon was a yearling red chequer cock that he purchased at the federation’s young bird sale last year. This winner was bred by Tam Henderson from Stirling from his Busschaerts and was sent to the race sitting ten day eggs. Like the rest of John’s pigeon he is now on roundabout.
John’s second pigeon is off his 120 cock which has been a super racer for him and is off his Woodroffe Brothers pigeons, the dam of the second club again has the Woodroffe influence being out of his old original number one pair he got from the lads in Sunderland a few years back now.
Well done John and keep up the good work.
We are off to Otterburn in Northumberland this weekend, and despite what’s been a lovely couple of days it looks like it’ll be another cold one. If it turns out as good a race as the first one then I can’t imagine there will be too many complaints. To borrow from the likable cockney's and cue sport enthusiasts- Chas & Dave; Pigeon loopy,nuts are we. We’re all pigeon loopy!!!
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