ALISTAIR McNAUGHTON REPORTS ON SCOTTISH ACE
TOMMY BLAIR
Tommy Blair has dominated the North West Federation prize list like no other fancier in the last 12 years. Season 2012 was no exception. His federation positions in the first ten are as follows: 6 x 1st 5 x 2nd 3 x 3rd 1 x 4th 3 x 5th 6 x 6th 5 x 7th 5 x 8th 3 x 9th and 2 x 10th with many more in the top twenty. He also was 1st region D 5th open SNFC Maidstone and 3rd region 22nd open in the same race. In the channel race from SNFC Clermont Tommy also timed 4 good pigeons from 540 miles for 9th section 72nd open, 10th section 90th open, 14th sect 117th open and 15th sect 118th open, 1622 birds competing. In the Scottish Central combine he was 2nd open yearling derby, 9th, 11th, 16th, 17th open Clermont and 8th open Wakefield young birds. He has won seventeen federation trophies - the old bird inland average, old bird average, young bird average, federation open average and the federation points trophy for the eleventh time. In the Scottish Central Combine Tommy took four trophies – 2nd yearling derby from Clermont, two bird and three bird average trophies and the combine all race average. Quite remarkable flying from this exceptional fancier.
Tommy
Tommy’s pigeons are all flown on roundabout and race from first race to last race; young birds are flown on darkness and natural. He still has the Van Loon pigeons that have served him very well for many seasons but new pigeons have been introduced including the very best from Premier Stud comprising Hereman Ceusters and Van Dykes, some Leo van Rijn pigeons, also birds from top Scottish fanciers George Macaloney & Son from Coatbridge, Mike Donachie of Kingseat and finally pigeons from his good friend John Duthie from Dundee. All these pigeons are now winning for Tommy.
Feeding is Versele Laga Gerry Plus, Champion Plus and Energy mix for racing. The pigeons are treated for canker, cocci, respiratory and paratyphoid before racing, and during racing if needed.
The pigeons are not trained during federation racing, just exercised at the loft; this season they were only trained before Clermont race.
In Tommy’s opinion the secret of success is you must have the bloodlines, they must be kept in top health and last but not least the feeding has to be right.
Some of Tommy’s top pigeons are: Bessie. She has an incredible racing record: 8th 2718 birds, 8th 2068 birds, 3rd 1056 birds, 3rd 2067 birds, 3rd 439 birds, 16th sect 35th open Newark, 1st club 3rd fed 5th sect D 37th open Eastbourne SNFC 411 miles 3841 birds, 3rd fed 17th open SCC, 2nd sect 9th open Central Scotland 3 bird club, 16th sect d 188th open SNFC Falaise 530 miles, Bird of the Year North West Federation 2008, since then 6th sect 11th open Huntingdon 302 miles 705 birds, 7th sect 10th open SCC Clermont and 5th sect 9th open SCC Clermont, 9th sect d 58th open SNFC Clermont and 9th sect 72nd open SNFC Clermont winning a SNFC Silver Award. Sire to Bessie is SU05NW7446 Maxx and dam is GB01D85540 Ellie the dam to 5 x 1st club and 3 x 1st fed. She is a daughter of Wonder 820 that was owned by Kevin Hurst and she was a daughter of 404 de Buffer of Andrie van de Rhee. Her sire was Blaue 815, top breeder for Sparkes & Hurst.
Then there is SU01NW 9500 Jane, full sister to Maxx, winner of 1st open Central Scotland 3 bird club Ashford, 6 x 1st club, 3rd fed 1041 birds, 4th fed 3267 birds, 5th fed 3299 birds, 6th open Newark 1058 birds, 8th fed 3527 birds, 7th amal Ripon 6576 birds, a stock hen and still breeding winners at 11 years old for Tommy’s good friend Duncan Cowan. Another to bird is SU01NW 9405 Ryan who is also a full brother to Maxx. He won 2nd open Central Scotland 3 bird club Ashford, 2nd club 2nd fed 2nd club 3rd fed 26th open SCC Normanton and 7th sect 13th open Maidstone, sire of many winners. Then there is Ryan’s Boy SU00NW11340 who is another full brother to Maxx 14th fed 3620 birds, 6th fed 3067 birds, 6th amal 5601 birds, 1st fed 3122 birds and 1st amal 6291 birds. Another full sister is SU01NW9468 Margaret, winner of 4 x 1st club, 9th fed 3496 birds, 9th fed 3776 birds, 9th sect 27th open Maidstone, 6th open Newark 2022 birds, 4th sect 7th open Central Scotland 3 bird club, 4th fed 3481 birds and 1st club 1st fed 1st section d 2nd open SNFC Falaise (2) 530 miles 3025 birds 2004, also 1st open SCC Falaise. Another half sister to Maxx, SU04NW3570 bred for Peter Mcgowan & son 1st club 1st fed 1st section D 31st open SNFC Newbury and also bred 2 x 1st fed and 2 x 2nd fed.
Some highlights of Tommy’s SNFC open positions only up to 200th listed: 2nd open, 5th, 10th, 22th, 28th, 37th, 37th, 38th, 58th, 63rd, 64th, 66th, 67th, 70th, 72nd, 77th, 85th, 90th, 93rd, 93rd, 101st, 102nd, 118th, 119th, 140th, 147th, 152nd, 158th, 162nd, 192nd, 196th. All these positions were won flying distances from 345 miles to 582 miles.
Tommy also won a SHU centenery silver medal with a half brother to Maxx. He has won 4 SHU awards - champion old bird up to 300 miles 3 times and champion young bird once.
Quite a haul!
Listed below are Tommy's main federation and amal positons:
1st 1804 birds, 1st 1052 birds, 1st 2609 birds, 1st 3371 birds, 1st 2718 birds, 1st 2071 birds, 1st 3268 birds, 1st 2245 birds, 3rd 4016 birds, 1st 1825 birds, 1st 3346 birds, 1st 1198 birds, 1st 3153 birds, 1st 1012 birds, 7th 4016 birds, 1st 2170 birds, 1st 1837 birds, 1st 2428 birds, 2nd 2081 birds, 1st 340 birds, 2nd 2592 birds, 2nd 1852 birds, 1st 3153 birds, 1st 2703 birds, 4th 8000 birds, 1st 3122 birds, 1st 2068 birds, 1st 1021 birds, 1st 1228 birds, 1st 4016, 4th 4016 birds, 1st 3299 birds, 5th 4016 birds, 1st 2217 birds, 1st 2592 birds, 1st 2500 birds, 2nd 2012 birds, 1st 961birds, 1st 2452 birds, 1st 2012 birds, 2nd 2768 birds, 2nd 1720 birds, 2nd 6291 birds, 1st 6291 birds, 1st 1771 birds, 1st 3620 birds 1st 499 birds, 1st 2535 birds, 1st 1064 birds, 1st 2067 birds, 2nd 4016 birds, 1st 3280 birds, 6th 4016 birds, 1st 2189 birds, 1st 1228 birds, 1st 1428 birds, 2nd 2428 birds, 1st 1040 birds, 1st 1052 birds, 1st 1648 birds, 2nd 1837 birds, 2nd 2245 birds, 2nd 3362 birds.
Without a doubt Tommy Blair is one of the best fanciers in Scotland if not Great Britain. His results speak for themselves. I do hope this report does this remarkable fancier justice.
