SCOTTISH NATIONAL FLYING CLUB
Reports by Joe Murphy
I have received a very positive response from fancier throughout Britain to my last article on the forthcoming sales the SNFC are holding within the next few weeks. One thing for certain back garden fanciers realise the quality on offer and there should be a good turn out of fanciers at both sale venues. The adverts will be appearing in the BHW and the RP soon so look out for them. Telephone numbers will be publicised for commission bids; which will help fancier who cannot attend due to other commitments at least have a go for a bird or two. I intended to go to both sales and like everyone else I’m looking for a ‘bargain’ however I think these will be in short supply this time as there are some cracking distance men donating pigeons to both sales. Here is just a taste of the calibre of fanciers donating to the first sale.
Sale One to be held on Sunday 26th April in Easthouses Miners club; viewing from 12 noon with the sale starting at 2pm again bar and refreshments available in miners club:
Lot 1 Maskame & Mackie of Peterhead in 2008 won – 8th & 12th Section G 51st & 60th open Alencon.
Lot 2 David Liddle of Forfar in 2008 won – 108th; 208th & 373rd open Eastbourne; 91st open Alencon and 105th open Falaise.
Lot 3 Turpie & McCord of Pitlessie in 2008 won – 299th open Newbury.
Lot 4 Dave Pirie of Aberdeen in 2008 won – 236th open Eastbourne.
Lot 5 D H Ogilvie of Stirling in 2008 won – 1st 2nd & 4th Section D 17th 20th & 28th open Alencon.
Lot 6 Willie Pryde & son of Gorebridge 1st section 4th open Maidstone 2007; in 2008 won – 20th & 44th open Eastbourne; 30th open Alencon.
Lot 7 Mike Donnachie of Kingseat 1st section C Newbury 2006; in 2008 won – 105th;155th & 219th open Newbury; 166th & 341st open Eastbourne; 115th & 116th open Alencon; 166th open Falaise.
Lot 8 Gordon Orr of Eaglesham in 2008 won – 96th open Alencon.
Lot 10 J & G Whitson of Pencaitland in 2008 won – 131st & 180th open Newbury; 9th ; 84th & 130th open Falaise.
Lot 12 Jackie Ritchie of Inverallochy 1st section G Cheltenham 2005.
Lot 13 Jim McKay of Carnoustie in 2008 won – 176th open Newbury; 18th open Alencon.
Lot 14 Jim Meikle of East Kilbride in 2008 won – 383rd open Newbury; 296th & 36th section E from Eastbourne; 139th open Falaise.
Lot 16 Andy Thomson of Dundee 1st section C Cheltenham 2004; in 2008 won – 50th; 191st; 207;267 & 367th open Newbury; 47; 130 & 220th open Eastbourne; 100th open Alencon; 96th open Falaise.
Lot 17 John Bird of Prestonpans 1st section B Alencon 2006; in 2008 won – 126th; 143rd & 256th open Eastbourne; 17th open Tours.
Lot 18 Grant Caird of Monifeith winner of SHU Dewar Trophy (bird of the year 2008) in 2008 won – 108th & 281st open Newbury; 76th open Eastbourne; 46th open Alencon; 1st section C 12th & 183rd open Falaise.
Lot 19 Brian Chalmers of Kennoway 1st East Section Newbury 2002; in 2008 won -70th & 214th open Newbury; 21st open Eastbourne; 5th; 92nd & 120th open Alencon; 56th; 135th & 153rd open Falaise.
Lot 21 Tom & Mary Patterson of Plean in 2008 won – 31st open Alencon; 17th section D Falaise.
Lot 23 Bob McDonald of Fraserburgh in 2008 won – 19th section G Newbury.
Lot 24 Jamie Combe of Elphinstone in 2008 won – 376th open Newbury; 1st section B 5th open Tours; 55th open & 26th section B Falaise;
Lot 26 David Jamieson of East Calder in 2008 won -48th & 196th open Newbury; 1st section D 3rd ; 99th & 178th open Eastbourne; 136th open Falaise.
Lot 27 Austin Whittaker of Methil Fife Fancier of the Year 2008; in 2008 won -26;33;68;211;274 open Newbury; 22;23;32;52;70;89;100;105;120;199;314;354th open Eastbourne; 170th open Falaise.
Lot 28 Bill Dorward of Arbroath 5th open Le Ferte Bernard; 1st section C 5th open Tours 2005; in 2008 won – 350th open Eastbourne; 95th & 134th open Alencon.
Lot 29 Jim & Gary Peggie of Methil in 2008 won – 198;227;253;348th open & 103rd section C Newbury; 88th open Falaise.
Lot 32 Jim Doig of Cardenden only Fife fancier to be on all SNFC result in 2008 winning; 217th open Newbury; 196th open Eastbourne; 13th open Alencon; 16th open Tours; 107th open Falaise.
Lot 33 Richard Combe of Elphinstone East section Average winner 2002; East region and section B average winner 2004; 1st E/S Chenoise 03; 1st section B Tours 2006; section B average winner 2006; Section B & East region average winner 2007; Section B average winner 2008; in 2008 won – 41st open Newbury; 345th & 349th open Eastbourne; 9th & 10th open Alencon; 44th open Tours; 69th; 121st & 184th open Falaise.
Lot 35 Stewart Brothers of Stirling 1st section D Newbury 2006; in 2008 won – 15th;99th & 145th open Newbury; 229th; 239th & 366th open Eastbourne; 123rd open Alencon.
Lot 36 Brian Kinnear of Pitlessie Section C average winner 2006; 2nd section C 6th open Alencon 2007; in 2008 won – 55th; 93; 163; 195; 206; 228th open Eastbourne; 108th open Alencon; 46th open Tours; 141st open Falaise.
Lot 37 Andy Miller of Edinburgh 1st East Section 2nd open Reims 2003; in 2008 won – 265;331;335;382nd open Newbury; 12;57;61; 165; 337; 348; 359th open Eastbourne; 79th open Alencon.
Lot 38 Robert Hamilton of Cambus 1st section D Eastbourne 2007; in 2008 won – 326th & 339th open Newbury; 101st open Eastbourne; 20th open Falaise.
Lot 39 Irvine Buchan of Peterhead 1st section G Newbury 2006; in 2008 won – 1st 3rd; 7th;15th & 16th section G 184th & 302nd open Newbury; 250th open Eastbourne; 10th & 11th section G Falaise.
Lot 42 John & Willie Strang & son Tyrone of California section D & East region average winners 2008; in 2008 won – 275th open Newbury; 43rd open Eastbourne; 25th open Alencon; 1st section D 8th open Tours; 89th open Falaise.
Lot 43 Mr & Mrs Cameron of Arbroath in 2008 won -1st section C 22nd ; 92nd & 100th open Newbury; 15th & 319th open Eastbourne; 57th open Falaise.
Lot 48 Dr Phil Lynch of Larbert 1st section D Tours 2004.
Lot 50 Eggy Jamieson of Galashiels one hen won; 1st federation 1st open Maidstone; 189th open Falaise 482 miles; 50th section 200th open Alencon; 11th section B 43rd open Falaise; 18th section B 71st open Alencon.
Lot 51 Bob McDonald of Fraserburgh in 2008 won – 19th section G Newbury.
I think you will agree that without doubt there are some of the best distance men in Scotland if not Britain mentioned above, and one thing I can promise purchasers is these fanciers will donated a youngster direct from their very best to this SNFC sale. The majority of these fanciers are like me in the respect they LOVE this great club of ours. The history dating back to its inauguration 115 years, the trophies we present to the winners with the ultimate reward the famous ‘Gold Cup’ donated to the club in 1910 and when you read the names engraved on the plaque that goes with the Gold Cup it makes you PROUD to be associated with this great club. The Gold Globe for the longest race these past few years it has been from Tours which is over 600 miles to the Central belt of Scotland. Plus the other magnificent trophies for Newbury; Eastbourne; Falaise; Ypres & Leicester young bird nationals. One of the main things that impress’s me about the fanciers donating these youngsters to these SNFC sales is; The breeders of the birds on offer wish the purchaser to do well with their bird as it is a testament to the quality of bird they have donated; and believe me nothing gives a fancier more pleasure than someone else winning with their pigeons. I will highlight the donors of sale 2 next week; again this is a ‘whose who’ in the pigeon world and consists of fanciers from the west and south section so again one not to be missed. I will attempt to give them the same justice as the fanciers mentioned above in sale one by highlighting their performances achieved over the past year or so.
New Season
A number of fanciers have contacted me saying how happy they are to see Tom McEwen has come back as chief convoyer; one thing everyone highlighted by fanciers is the fact that Tom is without doubt one of the best in the business. The thing that makes him so special is that the ‘pigeons always come first’ no matter what time of day or night it is. Commitment and dedication to the member’s entries is paramount in the SNFC race convoyer book and we can rest assured we will have this in 2009. This is all the membership can ask of any convoyer or race controller for that matter.
SNFC Chief Convoyer Tom McEwen
It is also good to see young Gareth Rankin taking on the job as race controller for 2009 a new venture for him; knowing this young man as I do he is like Tom and will give it 110% effort and devotion. The great thing in Gareth’s favour is he is working with 2 experienced race controllers in Richard Combe and Raymond White who are both held in high esteem within the sport. Hopefully Gareth will gain the know-how to last him a life time and he will be part of the team for a long time to come. The remarks fanciers keep repeating over and over again to me is, ‘It’s like the good old days are back again in the SNFC’ I know what people mean as it is the feel good factor and they cannot wait for the big races to come round; however the proof of the pudding is in the eating and hopefully we have a successful year in 2009; then the club can go on and prosper for another 115 years.
Gareth Rankin
The Races
The club president John Houston has agreed to obtain details of the SNFC winner in each race as quickly as possible once he has received the probable result from Secretary Andy Garven; He will then contact the winning fancier or fanciers and acquire the relevant details on the outright winner. We will try if possible to have this into the pigeon press in time for the following week’s issue; so members and readers of these papers can read all about our National winner; and at the same time give the outright winner the accolade it deserves for winning in the Premier Club in Scotland.
The management team have agreed to obtain the details of the first 3 birds in each region and forward this information along with any photographs to me by the Tuesday after the race. This will allow me time to compile a report on the section winners for the papers and web sites who publicise the SNFC events and results.
Remember the date and time of Sale One and write them on the calendar or in your diary; also watch out for the first of the advert on Sale One which will be published soon. I will now compile an article on Sale Two and the quality of birds on offer.
Joe Murphy SNFC PRO
Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or email
