PIGEON TOPICS
Stuart Bowman
At the Leicester (1) race with Rosyth the members sent 143 birds. I chose to send 12 as the forecast was for a race a bit more steadier than of late. This seemed to be the case when the race came round. Winning 1st place was yours truly with a 2yo chq cock on 1235. This cock was 4th the week before and was 2nd in a previous race, so he looks like he might turn out to be a bit of a reliable bird. He is same way bred as a good blue hen I lost at the start of the racing season that won 51st Open Arras National and 2nd Wanstead Flats 2009 and so on. A Newcombe x Kinnear pigeon. 2nd was John Skelton on 1228 with a 3yo chq hen of De Baere bloodlines. She was sent to this race on overdue eggs. John was also 4th on 1216 with a yearling chq cock sent on dummy eggs. This one is off birds from Lowik Bros in Holland from their Long Distance stock. 3rd on 1219 is Barry Rankine with a yearling blue pied hen. This yearling was sent on 10 day eggs and is from AllyBirketts birds. The dam being one of Ally’s and the sire being from Kenny Droog from Buckaven. This turned out a reasonable race for most Fanciers, although some were a few short at the clocks I’m sure most of them would turn up later in the day. I got 11 from 12 and was a bit disappointed to loose my first ob of the season, up to now I had been loosing yearlings which is to be expected when they are late breds or have not been raced as ybs.
At the Leicester (2) race the Rosyth members sent 161 birds. I was very disappointed before the race had even started. Over the years I have only been able to send a maximum of 7 birds to this race or when it was Cheltenham, Huntington, Banbury or where ever we flew from and so on. The last time I had a big entry of 7 was in 2008 when we were at Huntington. From that race 3 came home injured. It just seems that I can't seem to get a team ready for the race. Don’t get me wrong I could have easily send more, but not for the sake of it. So this year I thought I would have had more away but for the second time in recent years I managed a big entry of 7 for what looks like a bogey race for me! However it wasn’t too bad, I had 4 when we went with the clocks, 2 came when I was away and the other came a little later on in a race which many thought was a testing day!
Anyway down at the clocks the members were licking their wounds with a lot of birds missing. I assured those I spoke to that the majority should turn up, they just didn’t like the North East wind. The winner this week was Lee Birkett on 1166 and breaks his novice status. Very well done Lee. Hearty congratulations! Lee's winner is a 2yo Blue Pied cock sitting 10 days on eggs. He was bred from a gift bird from Sandy Proctor of Kirkaldy from a bird he calls McQueen. The dam is down from Jackie Wishart of Kirkaldys 3rd Open Reims blood. 2nd on 1099 was John Skelton with a spare yearling chq hen. This one has the bloodlines of De Baere in her. 3rd was yours truly with a Yearling late bred blue cock. He was racing to 4 day eggs. The dam is a direct daughter of John Ellis of Wellbanks “Wellbank Lass”, Gold Award winner. The sire is at stock here and has bred winners before, the best being 6th Open Andrezel for me in 2009. In 4th spot is young Barry Rankine on 1078 with a yearling blue white flight cock on eggs. This cock was home bred from a cock that was 2nd Otterburn last year as a y.b. The dam is a blue hen from Ally Birkett (Lee Birkett's dad) from a bird that won Huntington for Ally! Having since spoken to one or two of the members later at night and next day they tell me their returns improved before night fall, with a sigh of relief al bet !!!
Milton club from Leicester (2) turned out to be a sticky affair with the cold North East wind with a few missing at the clocks and still a few missing when sending this result. However the show went on and the winner was Bob Swinton on 1057 with a 2yo blue pied cock which was a gift from former club member John Dinsdale. This bird was previously 1st Otterburn and was sent sitting 7 day eggs. 2nd were Angela and Jim Galloway on 747 with a yearling Venner cross Stichelbaut. Sire is from Wullie Semples good Venner pair, while the dam bred from Dave Izatt via E McCabe cross John Major of Essex. This is the same bird that was timed in the first Leicester race and was 9th club Wakefield showing some consistency just flying to the perch. Jim goes on to say that he had 3 from 4 home but hoped the missing birds would turn up soon. Most will Jim but you know what its like when you get head winds! Thanks Jim, keep the info coming!
Well before closing this short article I would like to Congratulate Hendry Bros of Hamilton on winning the SNRPC Wanstead Flats race in the difficult North East wind on 4th June. They also took 2nd Open just for good measure. Knowing Vince I'm sure his cup will be overflowing when the time comes! Well done boys and well done to the lads in the west who had a great race.
I must also mention one of my mentors Jock Mackenzie of Anstruther who had the first bird into the Fife area winning 1st in the KRPA and also 1st Section C. Jock tells me his timer was a 2yo Red Pied hen direct off his 2nd Open Tours pigeon from last year. She was flying to a week old yb. Great flying from a great fancier especially when you see where he flies to into a north east wind, shouldn’t have had a hope in hell. However good pigeons will come to the fore and surprise you when you get them bang on!
May I wish the very best of luck to fanciers in the remaining Nationals this year. The winners are in the loft now and the fancier doesn’t know it! PS: remember the Arras National is a Thursday marking. Any info to 118 Sinclair Drive Cowdenbeath Fife ky4-9rg, tel 01383-518471, email to
