Lanarkshire News-Dalzell FC Prize Presentation 2025
Dalzell Flying Club held their 2025 Prize Presentation and Quiz Panel at Motherwell Miners on Friday 6th February 2026. Our guests this year had been involved in pigeon racing for a collective 174 years and were well known in the sport. The panel consisted of John Frood who started flying when seven years old with his father and still competing today at the distance with more than 20 National certificates in the last few years ; David Gillespie who specialises in distance racing in the SNFC with a lifetime 50 National certificates; and Andrew Graham the current Champion of Lanarkshire Federation winning the Old Bird Average in 2025.
For the second consecutive year the Dalzell Club Champion was Jim Cassidy (with a special mention for grandson Sean) winning the Inland Average, Old bird Average and Combined Average, collecting 15 trophies and 4 firsts. Hot on his heels was Vice President and Race Secretary Joe Boyle , runner up for the Old Bird average, winning the Young bird average for the 8th consecutive year , Colour Photograph for 1st Brighton, 7 trophies and 4 firsts.
L-R John Frood, Andrew Graham, David Gilliespie.
Group photo of club members L-R Craig Cupples, Sean Lafferty, Jim Cassidy, Harry Brown, Joe Boyle, James Palmer, Allan Selfridge, Willie McDonald
Something of an expert in the shorter races Craig Cupples won the Average for the first 4 races, plus 4 trophies and a top class 5 firsts. Willie McDonald, no stranger to the prize table, having won the Old Bird average on numerous occasions, won the Billericay Classic with 'Quarry Brae 20' , Tramontana Colour Photograph plus 3 trophies and 2 firsts.
L-R Willie McDonald, Andrew Graham
Willie McFarlane (W & J McFarlane) won the John Stewart memorial trophy for first yearling workshop ; Allan Selfridge (A. Selfridge & Son) picked up the Joe Keary Memorial Trophy for first nom Brighton ; the late David Penman posthumously won the Mrs R. Telfer Trophy for the first bird timed in Dalzell FC from the SNFC Gold Cup Race ; Harry Brown (J & H Brown & Higgins) won the Club Tramontana Show Trophy for the second consecutive year with the same pigeon ; finally James Palmer (G & J Palmer) won ' A Fanciers Dream Trophy' for the longest Young Bird Race from Thirsk.
L-R Allan Selfridge, David Gilliespie L-R Harry Brown, John Frood
Thanks go to our Quiz Panel guests who were excellent and responded with frankness and honesty to all questions. Who was the best fancier they had ever met ? Andrew Graham chose the Macaloney Family, while David Gillespie voted for Davie Donaldson and John Frood opted for Jock Allan. Thanks also go to Motherwell Miners who hosted the event and Sherlock Caterers, with a special mention for our Secretary / Treasurer Jim Latimer for his work throughout the year and his appreciated support at this event and the Club Show.
L-R James Palmer, Andrew Graham
Douglas Telfer. President . Dalzell Flying Club.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
