Eadie & Kelly - Lanarkshire Federation Champion loft, Two years on the trot.
This report is a follow up on the article completed in the fancy press last season on their Combine Average win.
Eadie & Kelly is a name in pigeon racing that has won at the highest level over a number of decades, winning at Club ,Federation and National level.
This is the fifth time Andy Eadie has been Lanarkshire "Combine Average" winners which is an outstanding achievement.
2024 race programme in the Lanarkshire federation was possible the hardest in my record as a scribe.
To say it was difficult wouldn't touch the record low the fanciers experienced.
To complete the programme was an achievement in itself, but to win its again shows the level of quality not only as a fancier but also the constitution of the pigeons kept.
I took the time to visit Andy for a loft report on another winning season and see some real quality pigeons in a lovely environment.
Things are moving for Andy as far as his house location, a new stunning small holding has been purchased around one mile south of his present location.
The New House & Detached Cottage at the side of the house.
A cracking location for racing pigeons with acres of fields surrounding the new premisses.
Present Racing Loft
Andy said he has always had his eye on something of this type and feels this is the right time for him and the family.
The old birds will race from the present house location and the YBs from the new one.
The racing loft for old bird racing
The foundations are already down for a new 48ft Blake loft to be sited and already two YB Blakes lofts, with a further stock loft at the side of the YB lofts will complete the pigeon set up.
Foundations for the new loft & the New Young Bird Loft
Newmains Club Results 2024 for Andy
7 x 1st prizes Including winning the shortest and longest race.
6 x 2nd Prizes
Newmains club -Combine Average winner
1st Open federation Annan race
3 x 1st Centre section
Around 90 prizes in top 100 in federation over the race programme
Lanarkshire federation Combine Average winner
The winning formula.
The old birds have been loft exercised since around February when sitting on nest, both sexes getting around forty minutes to keep them ticking over before pre-race training. The early loft exercise has its issues with three hens been killed by the sparrowhawk.
This year’s season commences on 26th April and he is hoping to get around 7 or 8 road training flights up to around 32 to 36 minutes on the wing before entering the first race which will be around 72 miles to his loft.
Andy has his own Gerlady trailer and trains on his own.
Trailer
This year’s race team will consist of around 80 old birds and the same for the YB team.
This years crop
Andy feels you need such a team to compete at club, federation and National level from 70 miles to 650 miles.
The birds are raced on the celibate/roundabout system until he sets up his distance candidates on eggs for their chosen race.
The birds are fed on VL Gerry Plus morning and night around one and a quarter once up in till around the 180 miles mark and then the evening meal is VL Superstar .
When they reach the 250 mark, they also receive energy mix and Haiths red band included with VL Superstar in evening feed.
The birds receive Gerdon 1 in the water Saturday and Sunday and Tollison Forte Wednesday and Thursday in water and Saturday on feed.
Dr Brockamp Probac 1000 is also used regularly throughout season.
Pigeons droppings are sent to Dean Pallets before the start of season for testing
The birds are exercised twice per day around loft for 40 minutes which he feels is sufficient .The birds will be flagged if required.
When the birds are back on eggs, they will be road trained in the build up to their chosen race.
This year as stated the YBs are moved to the new location after being basket trained in the Geraldy trailer for one week.
The race team consist of 50% sprint/middle being his well-established National winning Vandenabeeles with some other fanciers birds crossed.
This year's Young Birds settling in nicely
The distance pigeons are from Davie Jamieson stock, out of the "Posty" hen lines.
These birds which have been showing well when the racing and velocities are tough and are the ones he has timed at the distance events.
New addition to the stock team is Champion Albert bred and raced by Woodroffe Bothers and purchased at their clearance sale. This cock was a big winner when racing and also Sire, G/sire of winners for the Woodroffe partnership
Two pigeons have been purchased from Mark Gilbert ,the Barcelona performance pigeons out of 980 and Hugo lines.
Distance and Velocity tells you the quality of your birds.
Ambitions in future-Andy laughed continue to beat good friend Tam Richardson .Andy says he enjoys going down the club on a Sunday for a pint and a bit of banter with Tam and the other members.
Maintain the same level of consistency and possible retain the Combine Average ,compete for the Lanarkshire Social Circle Gold Cup and win at the top level of the SNFC.
Well done Again Andy finishing the Champion loft again in the biggest federation in the British Isles.
And sharing the details/ information on his winning system.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
