TOM CORRIE INTERVIEWS
JOHNNY LUMSDEN & DEREK COLLIGAN
This week’s profile takes me to the small village of Stoneyburn, West Lothian to review one of the most consistent National lofts in the Central belt of Scotland, Lumsden & Colligan. That is Johnny Lumsden and Derek Colligan who both breath, eat and sleep everything pigeons. The name Lumsden is embedded within pigeon racing in this area with over 100 years of ancestry in the sport. The friendship soon formed a partnership that works for both; both are hard working lads who, if not working, are around the compound. They also have the help of good friend Peter Currans.
The lads in front of the main racing loft
With over forty National certificates in the recent past, their level of consistency is up there with the best of those who concentrate on the National programme. The lads enjoy all competition but gear their birds for the National and 3 bird races. The loft is sited just off the main road, up the track to the compound which hosts a number of lofts to meet the needs of their birds. On this bright but cold Saturday in April I enjoyed listening to these fanciers sharing their management system of racing pigeons. As usual I got down to asking the questions.
What got you started in pigeons? It’s in the blood.
What motivates you? National and Open races.
What demotivates you? Nothing, we enjoy all aspects of sport.
Biggest influence in thesport? Graham Caple and Alan Bridges.
Best Achievement? Winning section averages in the Scottish National Flying Club in 2010.
What clubs are you a member of? Fauldhouse, SNFC and Central Scotland 3 bird club.
Inside the main racing loft
Present role in club? No formal role but help with all aspects.
Loft sizes? 32 x 8 main cock loft for racing (faces south), 18 x 8 hen racing loft (faces east), 32 x 8 with avaries x 4 section young bird loft. 2 smaller stock lofts with aviaries.
Ventilation? Bottom and roof level in main racing loft; plenty of fresh air.
Strain of pigeon? Geoff Cooper, pure and crossed with good old fashioned Scottish distance pigeons. All colours.
System? Roundabout. Both sexes separate throughout the week, initially raced with short training tosses, then flown at loft and when building for the big events trained hard from the south and east with 50-10mile training flights.
Feeding? Mixture of three Gem mixes: All round, Irish mix, Royal.
The young bird loft
Measure or full feed? Always full feed and watch what they are eating. Birds that eat protein at the end of week shouldn't be raced that week in our opinion.
Floor dressing? No. Scrape twice a day during racing. Nest is never touched until youngsters are away.
Grit / Minerals? All-in-one Colombine mix, Matrix , black minerals.
Water? Garlic on occasions, multivits three times per week and treatment every weekend during racing with different products for canker, bacteria and respiratory prevention.
Number of birds? 60-80 racers (68 this year), 100 youngsters bred for racing on darkness system, 20 stock pairs.
Favourite pigeon? 389, the check cock that is our Challenge pigeon for the SNFC blue riband race.
Favourite distance? Those over 300 miles.
ETS? Yes, brilliant introduction into the sport. We have Unikon.
YBS? We get it every year and treat accordingly.
Inside the hens' section
Tricks/Motivation? Train birds on Thursday on occasions from same short spin 3 to 5 times.
Best product? It’s Epsom Salts for us, every Wednesday to all pigeons (in drinker, couple of tablespoons). Great stuff.
How do you pick your pool pigeon? Handling. Should feel like a tennis ball. Form birds stop eating so don’t worry about this.
Best fancier in the area? John McNeil of Broxburn and GWP Macaloney of Coatbridge.
Basket train youngsters? Yes for best part of a week.
Ambition? To win a National race.
Do you show your pigeons? Yes but not to a serious level.
Future of sport? The sport is dying.
To you attend Blackpool Show? Yes. We enjoy it very much.
This year's youngsters
I would like to thank the lads for their time and honesty. Hopefully someone can take something from this and improve their own performances.
These lads will continue to take their birds to the next level and I think a National winner isn't that far away into this small village for Lumsden & Colligan as they are not frightened to race the birds in the highest competition.
