Lanarkshire News - James Green & Son, West section Average winners
Performances 2025
1st West section ,Lanarkshire Federation Combine Averages
1st West Section, Lanarkshire Federation Old Bird Inland Averages
1st West Section ,Lanarkshire Federation Young Bird Averages
7 x 1st West section
5 x 2nd West section
1st Open Federation ,5,334 birds
1st Open Federation,4,792 birds
1st Open Federation,1,535 birds
These results all add up to a brilliant season for the partnership.
The partnership consists of father and son, James and Gary who race their pigeons out of the town of Hamilton, which is the largest town in South Lanarkshire. It sits 10 miles south west of Glasgow and 37 miles south west of Edinburgh. The town historically called Cadzow and was part of a Roman settlement. It was renamed Hamilton during the time of Lord James Hamilton who was married to Princess Mary.
James informed myself that he has kept pigeons since the 1960s with the present house being his fathers who also kept the pigeons. Gary helped his grandfather daily with the pigeons when in high school and progressed into the partnership as he felt he was already managing the birds. Both still work throughout the week so their bird management is worked around this.
James and Gary have been a top name in Burnbank club and Lanarkshire federation for many years with a number of top performances over the years. This year was one of the many top years in the sport.
Gary felt that new pigeons were required to compete at the top end of Lanarkshire and his first purchase stuck gold!
After persuading his Dad to take a trip down to Blackpool for the Show of the Year in 2002 .They attended the Gerald Delaney sale to look at the Wullie Jacob pigeons that were originally going to Belgium but unfortunately due to his ill health the order ended going to Blackpool. Gary picked out a pair for a reasonable price and these remain the foundation of the present day loft.
The other main source of winning lines came about at a pigeon presentation night in the company of Jim Hannah of Blantyre. Jim had an outstanding sprint hen that had topped the Lanarkshire federation on two occasions against a large number of birds. Jim was fundamentally a distance fancier with a great pedigree in the sport.
This hen was relocated to the Greens stock loft and within a short time has produced a "Double "Lanarkshire federation winner and also scores of pigeons to top the section and also breeding a National winner south of the Border.
This hen is still producing at 10yrs old and possible the partnership will start looking to put aside some youngsters to maintain the lines.
Loft set up -28x 6 ft Old bird racing loft
18 x 6 YB loft
2 x 8x6 stock lofts
New traps have been fitted to the old bird loft to complement the YB loft.
Present Pigeon base
As earlier stated, the Wullie Jacob and "Double" federation winning hen are the main lines with recent introductions from the best of GWP Macaloney lines.
These have been very promising throughout this year’s YB programme.
New lines are always sought as Gary feels it is always a way to monitor your own stock and can give your loft a lift.
Perfect bred and Perfect handling doesn't guarantee they will breed winners!
James like a pigeon with a strong back, but Gary says he feels it isn't that important for Sprint/Middle distance racing, but not one who's tail goes straight up when handled.
Racing System - Old birds are flown on total Widowhood, paired up as normal with two rounds taken from the 21 pair of stock and 1st prize winning racers.
The birds are split and go into their system with cocks remaining in box section .
They are initially exercised separately around loft allowed to come and go before being road trained from 21 miles south east.
The cocks being trained one week and the hens loft flying. Then it's switched with the hens trained the following week and the cocks loft flying.
Last year, Gary started the cocks off at 21 miles then went east with the cocks from 37 miles but due to the birds being scattered and losses, this only happened on three occasions. One of their pigeons was reported injured in a mining quarry on the line of flight, with the workers had reported, had four pair of Peregrine Falcons nesting.
Although Gary said he felt these trainers put the cocks in great race order, as they went on to top the federation two out of the first three races.
Friday before racing the hens and cocks are allowed to get together for a time before basketing. On return again they are together for a period.
Young Birds are raced on the darkness system, light feed in morning and full mix at night until training starts and continues at 21 miles.
Any pigeon that doesn't conform to the system isn't tolerated and is moved on.
Racing Team
Last year was a particularly good year for returns in the Lanarkshire federation so a team of around 100 racers are available for this coming season.
100 YBs will be reared with 80 of them for themselves and others going to sales and other fanciers.
As earlier stated 21 pair of stock pigeons are kept.
Gary like many is always looking to introduce new lines but not always with success.
James reflected on his past purchases when he started in the sport with one purchase being "Champion Eastriggs Supreme" a Scottish National winner that left its mark in a few Lanarkshire lofts, before being resold and eventually moving to China.
The feel the Lanarkshire federation,19 races a season from 70 -400 miles provides the racing they enjoy. At club level and federation you have to be on it to win.
They joined the National last season but didn't compete although they have had many good performances in the past.
Feeding System
Breeding Mix -VL Start Plus and Swansons Olympic Breeder. YB will remain on this when shifted before being lightened up with VL Gerry Plus for racing.
Racing Mix-On return from race initially Gerry Plus with Champions Plus later.
Sunday-Gerry Plus topped up with Champions Plus especially if it’s a tough race.
The rest of week is Gerry plus until later in week when Champions plus and Vanrobeye Energy mix(35) will be added. When and what amount will depend on forecast.
Friday its Gerry plus at 9am.
Paloma Multi Power Grit& Mineral mixture is provided.
Gary feels the rest period for pigeons is very important saying ,the come back races from 90 miles are excellent to allow birds to recover between 250 and 300 mile races.
His yearlings were stopped at 240 miles in season 2024 with great benefit for the following season. This came about due to the heavy losses the federation suffered going down the west side of the country.
Depurative is added to the mixture during the off season.
Young bird feeding is same regime as Old Birds.
Gary says you need to watch the amount of energy mix given as the hens will become broody and pair with each other.
Each loft has a shoe basin with a piece of Astro grass soaked in disinfectant to help prevent cross infection between lofts.
James thinks if there is a virus in the loft say YBS then this will also affect the old birds performances.
This year, eight late breds were reared from eggs provided from top class stock, these will remain in the YB loft and will help school this year’s youngsters and will be trained and raced with the YBs.
The partnership voted for the status quo at the recent race programme meeting as they feel: If it’s not broke don't fix it!
Products Used.
Gary likes to try something new every year.
Gerdon 1 on race days in water
Tollison Forte in water and on food on Thursday.
Tollison Kombi mix before breeding
Parastop medication and wormed with Moxidectin in winter months.
Comet eye drops are used due to the increased issue with fat eye in the sport.
Last year for the first time they used Harkers Wonder Pigeon with Gary being very impressed with birds condition. It was used in the breeding and racing season, no real schedule.
I had the chance to handle some of the pigeons, top quality as expected from a top of the tree loft.
Ambitions- To win the Lanarkshire Federation Combine Averages!
Well that's some insight into the winning ways of a top class loft!
Thanks to both for a very enjoyable visit! A pity the weather was very poor but hopefully I can take up their offer to come back before racing commences to enjoy another look at the pigeons in their environment.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
