Lanarkshire Federation YB Average winners 2025
Barclay McCrindle,Son & Donnachie- Lanarkshire Federation YB Average winners 2025, "A Master Class"
Barclay McCrindle,Son & Donnachie
The partnership consists of Barclay snr, Barclay Jnr and Wullie Donnachie, all excellent pigeon fanciers in their own right.
Racing into the centre section of the Lanarkshire federation.
Unfortunately, Barclay snr and jnr have not been in good health, therefore the pigeons had to take a back seat for a lengthy period, until this season, when they felt it was possible to give this year’s youngsters the time and dedication required.
This year’s youngsters were bred between Barclays stock and Wullie Donnachie's stock, 40 from each loft with 51 eventually making the race team. Only five birds were lost throughout the season, these being from the Thirsk race.
As stated earlier, the season was a bit slower than normal for the partnership, but with a view to bring the youngsters to their peak for the final race of the Lanarkshire programme from Thirsk.
The thoughts behind this was to split the youngsters around two weeks before the race and fly them on the sliding door system. This would create the motivation and form required to win this race - And it worked, with the partnership having a great team performance and winning 1st Open federation.
Results in YBs 2025
Outstanding flying with the partnership also recording 2 x 1st Open federation this YB season.
Wooler 1 (69 miles) -1st prize to 11th prize ,Centre section,1,708 birds,22nd,23rd,24th,25th,26th,27th,28th,29th,30th Open federation,2,836 birds
Wooler 2 -1st prize to 15th prize ,Centre section 1,810 birds,12th,13th,14th,15th,16th Open federation 3,147 birds
Wooler 3 - 1st to 11th prize, Centre section,1,835 birds,1st Open federation 3,360 birds ,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th,10th,11th,12th,13th,14th Open federation,3,360 birds
Alnwick 1 (86 miles)-1st to 5th prize ,Centre section,1535 birds,1st,2nd,3rd,9th,10th Open federation,3,003 birds
Alnwick 2 -1st to 15th prize, Centre section,1324 birds,33rd,34th,36th,38th,39th,40th,41st,42nd Open federation, 2,481
Thirsk - (147 miles) 1st,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th,10th,14th ,Centre section,982 birds.1st Open federation,10th,11th,12th,13th,14th,15th ,16th,17th 1,664 birds
Brilliant flying with the partnership also recording 2 x 1st Open federation on their way to winning the Young Bird Averages against 16,491 birds competing.
6 wins from 6 races in the Centre section against 9,194 .
Breeding lines
Barclay jnr explained that over the past five years they have been testing their present stock pigeons with focus on those that are consistently producing performance pigeons.
The Herman lines have been outstanding pigeons with many a top youngsters being produced out of this bloodline.
Barclay said that only one special addition will make its way into the breeding loft for next season.
Health Products
The birds samples are sent to the Pigeon Testing Centre every Saturday after the race, this year a slight need for treatment for canker was required with Belgica De Weerd B.S used every Sunday during YB season..
All birds receive Colombovac PMV and a 3 in 1 vaccine during the weaning period. All birds being vaccinated at the same time is very important to them.
Belgica De Weerd Parastop for 14 days after the moult.
Natural Products are used throughout week including
Gem Strike 11 -Excellent product for YB sickness, no food for 2 to 3 days and Gem strike in water has an excellent effect. Also used throughout race season.
Aviform- Mycoform T in water Tuesday & Wednesday - In Barclays opinion, this is a top product.
Rohnfried Sedochol every Monday in water and used with buttermilk during the moult.
Syndicate products -Dynamic ,Herbal Vital & Multi Energy Oil is used in the weekly racing Programme. Top products they have used for years.
Versele laga Ideal bath salts used once per week on a Sunday morning. Barclay feels this is the best one.
All these products were produced for viewing on table!
Outstanding Performer Blue C -GB 25 V 61331 -1st section 1810 birds,1st section 1835 birds,1st section 1324 birds
This pigeon is a Herman base pigeon, closely related to Dick Van den Bulks 482 out of the Miracle lines.
Both have the Miracle as there Grandparent.
Feeding
The feeding this year has been heavier than normal with a view to next year’s racing.
Vanrobaeys Sports mix and Vanrobaeys 35 Energy mixture are used throughout the racing season.
Saturday - Full Sports mixture, all they wish
Sunday -Full Sports mixture same as above until they start going to drinker
Monday -Full Sports mixture fed till they start going to drinker
Tuesday -Full Sports mixture fed until start going to drinker
Wednesday and Thursday 1 1/2 oz of feed which includes VR 35 energy
Friday 1oz energy mixture then 2pm 1/4 oz of energy mixture.
The birds receive Deionized water on a daily basis to take out the chlorine.
Healthy birds perform at their best and routine is a must for success!
Basket trained initially from Breich,6 miles on four occasions and then onto Cobbenshaw, 14 miles for two, which are south east of the loft, before utilising the federation transporter on three or four occasions. This is enough to learn them to break from the batch.
Thereafter loft flying, up to twice per day for one hour.
The lofts are kitted out with federation type baskets that the birds use for eating and drinking from for a week and then when weaned they use for drinking out of.
Barclay keeps a daily diary to compare with seasons racing and over the decade slight changes can be seen.
Barclay has been looking ahead to next season therefore after the 5th race of the programme he stopped the best 18 youngsters that had been consistently performing over the races. These have already been settled into their sections.
I would like to thank the two Barclays for their time and for the chance to catch up with this year’s Lanarkshire's YB Average winners!
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer
