SCOTTISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
by Norman Dixon
Buckingham Race - Monday 6th June 2016
Following a two-day holdover the start of the first race of the year with the Scottish National Flying Club took place at 8:15 am on Monday 6th June 2016 when 4,328 Racing Pigeons, entered by 521 members were liberated into sunshine with a North East wind, from Buckingham in Buckinghamshire, some 60 miles North West of London.
1st Open in the Scottish National Flying Club Inland National from Buckingham 2016, flying 296 miles 600 yards back into Scotland was the partnership of Lindsay Cowan & Mark Findlay from Ardrossan in Ayrshire. The partnership timed a Chequer Pied, Yearling Hen, now named ‘Lady Indi’ after Lindsay’s new granddaughter, at 14:07:56 to record the National winning velocity of 1477.73. They also won the ‘Five Times a Lady’ Trophy for the 1st Hen in the National as well as £335:50 in prize money and pools. The National winner is a roundabout hen, described as small to medium, great in the hand and was in wonderful condition with a full wing on her return from the race. ‘Lady Indi’ has had a great season, previously winning two Firsts and two Seconds in the Club and has been a regular on the Ayrshire Federation weekly results. Before going to the Buckingham National she was giving her mate for 10 minutes before basketing. The Sire goes back to Lindsay’s father’s pigeons and has several Regional winners in his pedigree. The dam is from Derek McKinlay, Largs. The partnership also clocked another eight good pigeons on the day.
1st Section F, 1st Open Scottish National Flying Club Buckingham 2016, Lindsay Cowan and Mark Findlay
Every section increased the number of entrants from last years first Inland National, with the overall total being 922 more. Because of the holdover the birds spent four nights in the baskets and the health and condition of the returning racing pigeons showed that credit must firstly go to the members for sending their Racing Pigeons in such excellent order and secondly to the convoying team for maintaining the birds condition.
Convoyers Report
The report for the race from the Convoyer, John McCord provides a step-by-step account of the care and management that he and Driver Rab Baird provided to the members racing pigeons.
The report from John is as follows: Left Gretna at 01.20am on Friday 3rd June and travelled to Garstang where we parked up and the pigeons were watered at 06.00am. Left Garstang at 11:30am and travelled onto the race point but hit bad traffic North of Lymm that meant slow going for an hour or so. Arrived on site at 4:45pm where the pigeons were fed and watered. The weather on site and during the last 30 miles to the site was overcast with a big drop in temperature as the evening started to draw in. The water was topped up at 8pm and the side curtains closed at 10pm.
Woke up on Saturday 4th June to very thick fog and drizzling rain on site. The water was changed. Discussions took place with the race controllers and with no improvement in conditions a hold over was called. The water was topped up throughout the day. At 5.45pm the water was changed and the birds fed. The water was topped up again at 8pm and the transporter was closed up for the night at 10:30pm. At that time very thick fog came in over the site.
Sunday 5th June wakened at 05.00am to heavy cover of fog and drizzle. Topped up water at 6am. The weather was not looking good all morning. Weather started to improve after 11:50 am where it started to slightly break up. Race control team felt it was getting to late in the day to wait for it to improve completely therefore to give everyone a fair chance of getting birds on the day another holdover was called. The day did improve as time went on. Fed pigeons at 5pm and changed the water. Water topped up at 8pm with the lorry curtains closed at 10pm. Fog started to come in at 10pm.
Woke to fog on morning of Monday 6th June but with the sun trying to burn through. The fog started to shift and after discussions with the race controllers started to get ready for liberation. Birds liberated at 8:15 am into a sunny day with an East North East wind. With the sun on their backs the birds cleared the site very quickly, all flying off in a Northerly direction.
John wanted to publicly thank Rab Baird for all his hard work and assistance over the weekend.
Race Controllers Report.
It goes without saying that the race controllers Raymond White and Richard Combe carried out their pre and post liberation work in a meticulous manner and documented their checks and decision making points in the standard fashion. Following two days of holdover imposed due to low cloud cover, rain and fog, the first contact made with the Convoyer John McCord at the race point at 5:15 am on Monday 6th June 2016 revealed that it was going to be a different type of day. There was already moderate visibility with no cloud cover. At 07:00 am John reported that the weather was breaking out slowly with sunny intervals appearing. By 07:45 am there was a big improvement in the weather with the sun out and good visibility. At this time the race controllers asked John to prepare the baskets for the liberation. At 8:00 am the race controllers were informed that the convoy was ready to be liberated and at 8:15 am the order was given to liberate the pigeons. The pigeons were liberated into a 10 mph East North East wind and the entire convoy of pigeons cleared the site heading off in a Northerly direction. Following the liberation, checks were made with twelve different areas in potential lines of flight that showed the weather for the entire way home into Scotland was providing good visibility in the sunshine. The wind speed appeared to slow down coming up the country from the initial 10 mph on liberation at Buckingham to as little as 3mph in the Sheffield / Ripon areas. The wind direction remained mainly from the North East but there were reports of it changing into South East in Lymm, West South West in Lancaster and East South East in Ripon and Hexham.
Section Winners Report
Section A 515 Birds
1st Section A and 2nd Open, flying 231 miles - Jimmy Dalgleish from Eccelefechan. The Yearling Hen timed by Jimmy Dalgleish is bred from his new ‘Lewis Cooreman’ Stock Pigeons and was raced natural, sent feeding a 7-day young bird. The hen had just dropped her 2nd flight and had been raced every week with Solway Federation since the start of the season. She actually won the Club at Cheltenham and was 4th Federation from over 2,000 pigeons the week before the Buckingham race.
2nd A Section & 3rd Open, flying 226 miles - Scott J Irving from Annan. Scott timed a 2012 Black Pied hen raced on the celibate system. As a young bird she raced the entire Solway Federation programme and at the Open was 1st Club, 5th Federation. As a yearling she was 3rd Club Cheltenham beaten by 2 loft mates. The same year she flew Alencon with the Scottish National Flying Club and was 12th Section, 34th Open. Racing as 3 year old she was 1st Club Lynn before being sent again to Alencon. Although she was the 3rd bird back to the loft she unfortunately missed the result. She was then sent to the Solway Federation Clermont Open race and was 3rd Club, 45th Federation. This year she has been worked on the celibate system only seeing her mate on return from the races. She raced the entire Solway Federation programme to Cheltenham the week before the National. The hen is a full sister to Scott’s pigeon ‘History Maker’ that was 1st Section Scottish National Flying Club Young Bird National.
3rd Section A and 8th Open, flying 225 miles - Raymond Nelson of Eastriggs. The pigeon timed by Raymond is a homebred Blue Chequer Cock that flew the Young Bird programme last year. This year he was paired in February and raised two youngsters. He was then split from his mate and raced celibate all the way to Cheltenham then repaired for a few hours before going off to the National marking. Both parents of the winner are ‘Starview Buschaerts’ from Louella Pigeon World. Raymond obtained these birds from the late George Bushel when he was giving up the sport.
Jimmy Dalgleish 1st Section A - Scott Irving 2nd Section A - Raymond Nelson 3rd Section A
Section B 956 Birds
1st Section B and 5th Open, flying 282 miles - JP Jackson Dunbar.
Jimmy is a well-known and respected fancier with over 60 years experience. He is a previous winner of Scottish National Flying Club Gold Cup with his pigeon ‘Howden Gold’ and until this year, has always flown on the natural system. However, over the winter, he decided to make life easier and try the Roundabout system. He says it has been a lot of fun making and correcting mistakes and he thanks his adviser for his help. Jimmy's pigeon is a beautiful small, apple bodied blue chequer pied Hen. He has named her ‘Miss Mander’ after the surgeon who carried out life saving bowel surgery on him. The hen was bred from a blue bar Schlepphorst Jansen cock bred by Clywdd lofts. The cock had been a good racer topping the Federation on several occasions and breeding good young birds. Jimmy put him to stock and paired him to a hen bred by John Bosworth after a hawk killed his nest-mate. ‘Miss Mander’ was 4th Open Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club Peterborough Young Bird National last year. This year she was flown Roundabout and after flying every race in the Federation programme went to the race with a full wing. She arrived home in beautiful condition. Jimmy would like to thank all his well wishers for their congratulations and urges all readers to use their bowel screening kits, it could save your live as it did his.
2nd & 3rd Section B and 6th & 11th Open, flying 270 miles - Billy Bilsland Ayton.
Since moving to Ayton a few years ago Billy has become a household name, well known for his performances not only in Inland Nationals but now performing well at the Channel races. His first pigeon from Buckingham this year is a dark chequer yearling cock, one of a batch of young birds bred for him last year by Joe Gormley, Lenzie, from Ayton Marshall stock. Joe phoned him last year and said he had something special for him and he was so right.
The medium sized cock was flown roundabout as are all Billy's pigeons and went to the race with his first flight just bursting. Prior to this race he has always been a very steady pigeon and chose this race to make his mark. On arrival he had lost a bit of body but this just shows how hard he had tried. Billy's second pigeon was a blue bar Gabby Vandenabeele hen bred from Chain Bridge Lofts stock supplied by David Reed. She has previously won 76th Section 117th Open Young Bird National with the Scottish National Flying Club and 4th Section 4th Open Scottish National Flying Club Bedhampton beaten by 3 loft mates when Billy had a magnificent race taking the first 6 Open positions. She is also full sister to a 2nd Open Scottish National Flying Club winner. She is a medium sized hen and was sent to the race with a full wing having had every race in the Club calendar. She arrived home in very good condition.
J P Jackson 1st Section B - 1st Section B winning pigeon for JP Jackson
Billy Bilsland 2nd & 3rd Section B with his friend David Reed - 2nd Section B for Billy Bilsland - 3rd Section B for Billy Bilsland
Section C 1086 Birds
1st Section C and 4th Open, flying 301 miles - T R Stevenson Leven. Ronnie’s 1st Section winner is a yearling chequer Cock that also wins the Trophy for being the first cock pigeon on the National result. Ronnie’s winner was raced to Sedgefield as a youngster and has had all Club and Federation races this year. He was sent to the Buckingham National sitting 7 days and was obviously very keen. His Sire was a red Cock bred by A Whittaker form M/Haven and the Dam a home bred hen was unfortunately poisoned and died after she came back from last years Scottish National Flying Club Bedhampton race.
2nd Section C and 7th Open, flying 303 miles - Brian Chalmers Kennoway. Brian’s winner is a two-year-old hen now called ‘Charlie is my Darling’ after a good friend from Wales who recently passed away. She flew the entire Young Bird programme and as a Yearling she went to every race up to and including Leicester. She never scored but was very steady. This year she was raced on the roundabout and had four races and one midweek race then sent to Buckingham. She has not yet thrown a flight yet. Her Sire was 5th open Scottish National Flying Club Alencon 2008 and is a grandson of ‘Burghams Badge’ who was 1st Fed Ripon 5,000 pigeons, 3rd Open Fed Fareham and 3rd open Scottish National Flying Club Sartilly. This pigeon is still alive and well at the ripe old age of 20. Her Dam is a Daughter of ‘Burghams Badge’ crossed with a Red Stock cock purchased at Dale Newcombe sale.
3rd Section C and 10th Open, flying 308 miles - D Baldie St Andrews. David timed a Yearling Hen now named ‘Blue Star’ and had a fantastic race timing eight pigeons to be on the Open result. This loft is on fire at the moment winning 5 x 1st Clubs and 3 x 1st Federations already this season. ‘Blue Star’ is flown on the natural system as are all of David’s birds in the loft and has had previous success from Scottish National Flying Club racing winning 38th Section, 217th Open from the Scottish National Flying Club Buckingham Young Bird National last year. She is bred from a long line of winners from Dave’s established family of Frank Zwols pigeons all originating from William Donnachie of Dundee. The Dam was bred by Willie Donachie from two direct Frank Zwols pigeons both being Grandchildren of ‘Tip Top Junior’ x ‘Queen of Rekkem’. The Sire who has won many race prizes himself, was home bred with both the Sire and Dam of this pigeon being bred by Willie Donachie bred from a Grandson and Grand Daughter of the ‘Tip Top Pair’ which are now responsible for 17 x 1st Federation winners and 23 x Open Diploma winners in the Scottish National Flying Club. This pair must rank as one of the best Frank Zwol breeding pairs in the UK.
T R Stevenson 1st Section C - 1st Section C, 1st National Cock for T R Stevenson
Brian Chalmers 2nd Section C - 2nd Section C 7th Open winning pigeon for Brian Chalmers - David Baldie 3rd Section C
Section D 481 Birds
1st Section D and 66th Open, flying 299 miles - Peter Keogh Broxburn, Peters winner is a Black hen raced on a celibate system after raising a pair of youngsters. She had two twenty-mile tosses before the second Federation race and went every week thereafter before going to the National. Bred by Robert Cormack she is a grand daughter of ‘Barney’ a fabulous producer for Robert going back to his original Jock Reid pigeons, the best of the hard nose Scottish Long distance bloodlines winning into Central Scotland for 60 years plus. Peter’s Section winner is a fantastic pigeon having previously scored in the Scottish National Flying Club Young Bird National, was 2nd Open Scottish Central Combined Yearling Derby from Leicester last year before scoring from the Bedhampton National. She has now achieved first Section D Buckingham National. Peter would like to thank his club mates and Liz who have helped him out recently due to his work commitments with special thanks to Robert Cormack for not only gifting the pigeon but looking after Peters team when he has been recently working away. Peter would also like to congratulate fellow Winchburgh Club fancier Robert McGill in his pigeon taking second section.
2nd Section D and 121st Open, flying 292 miles - Robert McGill South Queensferry. Roberts winning pigeon, a two-year-old bold Blue Cock, had a very lucky escape in February this year when it was attacked by a Hen Sparrow hawk in the back garden and pinned to the ground at the side of the loft. It was Robert’s wife Evelyn and their Grandson Archie who saw the bird’s deadly predicament and shouted to Robert who ran out and chased the Sparrow hawk away. Although a bit bloodied and bruised under the right wing the Blue Cock recuperated well and was retained in the race team. Because of this experience Robert was a bit easier on the Cock and he only had two Federation races this year Wakefield and Newark, the last being two weeks before the National. The Blue Cock, a Jan Aarden of Invincible Spirit lines bred from birds obtained from Alistair Muir from Surrey is raced on Roberts dry natural system where he only races one mate from each pair all season on a breeding cycle using pot eggs. The Blue Cock was sitting 10 day eggs and very keen when sent to the race.
3rd Section D and 132nd Open, flying 307 miles - Robert Stewart Sauchie. Rob timed his small yet superb Chequer Pied Hen 'Little Jennie' that is one of his T.H. Rutten Dutch family bought at the Blackpool Show. She is a 4 yr old with several good wins at Club and 3 Bird Club level such as 1st Club Aycliffe, 2nd Club Leicester and 3rd Club Leicester. This year she flew the North West Federation programme to Newark 242 miles and was sent to the Buckingham National on two-day overdue eggs. Going forward she will be set up and prepared the same way for the Scottish National Flying Club Ypres race on the advice of Norrie Marsden who kindly verified the pigeon on behalf of the Scottish National Flying Club. Well done Rob and Cath.
Peter Keogh 1st Section D - Robert McGill 2nd Section D - Cath and Robert Stewart 3rd Section D with their friend Charlie McAra
Section E 752 Birds
1st Section E and 12th Open, flying 289 miles Davie Allison, Burnbank. Davie timed his 2 year old Red Cock at 14.21 to be a good winner of Section E. Racing roundabout this cock flew Sedgefield, Thirsk, Wetherby and Melton Mowbrey prior to this National. Last year he was 61st Section E from the Scottish National Flying Club Bedhampton race. As a point of interest Davie only turns his nest bowls over at basketting. The birds are exercised for 40 minutes night and morning and as Davie works constant backshift, he depends on his friend Frank Welch to cover the evening stint. The sire of the Section winner is a combination of Davie Jamieson and George & Gareth Rankin bloodlines, and his dam is a good hen called “Wee Annie” which has four Scottish National Flying Club prizes to her name. Her breeding is Nico Volkens through Raymond Moleveld NL.
2nd Section E and 39th Open, flying 293 miles Billy Allison, Westburn Village, Cambuslang At 80 years old, Billy remains one of the characters in the fancy, and it is great to see him take another good position in the Scottish National Flying Club. He timed a 2-year-old Blue Pied cock sitting on a 4-day-old youngster. The Cock had four club races to Melton Mowbray, 247 miles prior to Buckingham. Last year as a yearling he flew out to Peterborough. He is one of a batch of six young birds from Louella Breeding Stud off the Leo Pronk family.
3rd Section E and 51st Open, flying 302 miles J & J Hood, Milton of Campsie John was working when this yearling cock arrived, but he was clocked by John’s lifelong friend and well known British Homing World scribe John Harwood with help from John’s Mum Edith. The blue cock was 5th Club 13th Fed Leicester the week prior to the National, and was sent sitting 12 day old eggs. As a youngster he was not on the darkness system but managed to win one first and two-second prizes, and just missed the result in the Young Bird National. George & Gareth Rankin bred the Sire, a Mealy Cock, and he has previously bred Scottish National Flying Club winners. The Dam is a Blue Hen, a daughter of their old White Flight cock. This old cock had a prizewinning son or daughter on a Scottish National Flying Club result for twelve consecutive years. John would like to thank John Harwood and his Mum Edith for all their help and support, not forgetting his younger brother Andy who assists with the training when required. John would like to point out that his bird was in excellent condition, and he would like to thank the convoyers, race control team and all officials for a job well done. He considers the Scottish National Flying Club a very special club, and wishes all the members good luck for the rest of the season.
Davie Allison 1st Section E - Billy Allison 2nd Section E - John Hood from the partnership J & J Hood, 3rd Section E
Section F 399 Birds
1st Section F and 1st Open, flying 296 miles - Cowan & Findlay, Ardrossan Firstly, I would like to say it gives me great pleasure to do this report on Cowan & Findlay of Ayrshire Federation. After a gap of almost half a century, we have had two Scottish National Flying Club winners in the last three years in Ayrshire. Lindsay Cowan and Mark Findlay were top fanciers in their own right, winning 1st Region F on numerous occasions. In fact, Mark was 2nd Open Scottish National Flying Club only a few years ago. Being close friends and near neighbours they decided in 2016 to pool their resources and form a partnership. And what a decision it has turned out to be. Their Club and Federation results have been outstanding and then to go on and win 1st Scottish National Flying Club is the icing on the cake.
The birds are fed a good quality Versele Laga mix and Lindsay uses a sand based deep litter on the floor. He keeps things as natural as possible and the birds are not treated for anything throughout the year, Lindsay and Mark would like to congratulate all the F Region prize winners and a special thanks to all the people from all over Scotland who have offered their congratulations on their fantastic result. No doubt we will be hearing a lot more from this partnership in the future.
2nd Section F and 20th Open, flying 279 miles - David Harris, Annbank
David is one of the younger generation of fanciers in Ayrshire and has put up some excellent performances in the past. This time, he timed a 3-year-old Chequer Cock sent to the race with his second flight half up and feeding a 2-day-old young bird. As a young bird, he flew the Young Bird programme and as a Yearling he was David’s second pigeon from Buckingham, then flew Ypres both with the Scottish National Flying Club. Last year four races to Scottish National Flying Club Eastbourne and was his first pigeon. This year, four races before going to Buckingham. The Sire came from his father’s loft and the Dam is bred down from pigeons that came from Jim Hannah of Blantyre. The birds are fed on Versele Laga Breeding Mix with some peanuts added. David would like to congratulate Boyle Brothers and Cowan & Findlay on their excellent performances from Buckingham.
3rd Section F and 23rd Open, flying 280 miles - Boyle Brothers, Ayr
Boyle Brothers timed their two-year old Blue Cock who has been a consistent performer over the years and was sent to the race sitting 5 days on eggs with his second flight half grown. He was bred from an Ian Cannon, Maybole pigeon, purchased as a squeaker at a club fund raising sale. John McFall, Blantyre, bred the Dam. Incredibly Tommy informed me that the Blue Cock was the only pigeon he was racing this year as he had a disastrous training toss before racing commenced where the Blue Cock was the only one of his entire team who returned home, right up to the present time. Tommy feeds Versele Laga Prestige and keeps everything as natural as possible. Tommy would also like to congratulate David Harris and Cowan & Findlay on their 1st Open performance.
David Harris 2nd Section F - Tommy Boyle from the Boyle Brothers partnership, 3rd Section F
Section G - 139 Birds
1st Section G, flying 383 miles - S Maskame Peterhead,
Stuart timed his 2-year-old Chequer Hen that had been on Roundabout since the start of the season but was paired up 3 days before being sent to this race. This Section winning Hen had 6 races prior to Buckingham flying 234 miles from Ripon the week before which took her 6 hours 30 minutes. She has been Stuart’s timer 3 weeks in a row this season already. Her Sire was bred by Highlands & Islands fancier Miles O’Brien and entered Stuarts loft as a young bird. This pigeon went on to win for Stuart 1st and 3rd club from Newark and 2nd club from Alencon. That just proves that a pigeon that makes a mistake is not necessarily a bad one. The Dam was 1st Federation from Battle in 2014 flying 466 miles and was bred from a Graham Mitchell of Patna cock that contains the bloodlines of Joe Murphy, Tom McEwan, Terry Peart and Steve Wright (House of Aarden) when paired to a double G/daughter of Stuarts Silver Award and the Joe Murphy Challenge winner ‘Maverick’. Well-done Stuart.
2nd Section G, flying 354 miles M Main Portlethen
Mike timed his 2 year old Blue Bar Cock that was flown on Widowhood for the first four Fed races of the season then paired up in preparation for Buckingham, where he was sent sitting eggs. As a young bird he flew the complete Federation programme and the Scottish National Flying Club Young Bird National from Buckingham. As a yearling he was entered in the Scottish National Flying Club race from Bedhampton a distance of 432 miles where he was 6th Section and then was Mikes first bird from the Scottish National Flying Club race from Clermont that is 564 miles home to Portlethen. The Blue Cock is bred off Mike’s old family that go back to the 1960’s. Well-done Mike.
3rd Section G, flying 361 miles - E & K Elliot Aberdeen.
Elsie and Kevin timed their roundabout Blue Bar Hen now named ‘Elsie’. ‘She has been a winner in the Club and Federation from 60 miles to 250 miles. She had 5 races before going to Buckingham with the Aberdeen Federation. Her breeding is 100% Soontjen and both parents were bred for stock. A full sister was 3rd Section, 80th Open from the Scottish National Flying Club race from Buckingham 2014. Their Grand Sire on the hen’s side has been 2nd Section Scottish National Flying Club a pigeon they call ‘Birthday Boy’ and the Grand Dam ‘Ellies’ Girl has been 1st Section Scottish National Flying Club. Well done Elsie and Kevin.
Stuart Maskame 1st Section G - Mike Main 2nd Section G - Kevin Elliot from the partnership Elsie and Kevin Elliot, 3rd Section G
Within the Buckingham race this year members were able to nominate pigeons within their own section to win a place in the Grand Canarie One Loft Race flying under the name of the Scottish National Flying Club. The nominated bird with the best Open position would also receive an additional entry. Mark Williams, the Scottish/Welsh co-ordinator of the Grand Canarie One Loft Race sponsored this competition and the Scottish National Flying Club is very thankful for his kind gesture. The winning fanciers are shown below:
Section A - E. Hind with the additional entry for best Open position.
Section B J. F. Bosworth
Section C Turpie & McCord
Section D - Lumsden & Colligan
Section E V. Couper
Section F Morris Brothers
Section G J. & A. Donaldson
It has been a privilege to collate this information for the Scottish National Flying Club members. However credit must go to the Officials, their friends and family
who have spent considerable time and effort to obtain the information and images of the winners for me.
Section A Willie Smith, Jim Ferguson and Billy Wortley, Section B - Tom Davidson, Section C - John McCord, Section D - Dr Phil Lynch and Norrie Marsden, Section E Jim Hannah, Andrew and Marie McKee, Section F - Hugh and Shirley Wallace and Section G - Willie Davidson.
Norman Dixon MBE
Scottish National Flying Club PRO
