Lanarkshire News- Billy McCudden of Cumbernauld
Billy lives in the North section of the Lanarkshire Federation in the town of Cumbernauld, a place known for the catchphrase “What’s it called? Cumbernauld.”
Cumbernauld dates back to Roman times. Westwood was once a Roman fort on the Antonine Wall, the furthest and most northerly boundary of the Roman Empire. The town is also famous for the 1980s film Gregory’s Girl, which was filmed there.
I was warmly welcomed by Billy and his wife May at their lovely home. After a quick introduction and a cup of coffee, I began asking Billy about his pigeon management. Billy has possibly the most unorthodox approach you will find. He has no fixed routine and bases everything on rest and the pigeons’ love for their nest boxes.
Billy races only a very small team, keeping no stock birds—just 11 old birds and only slightly more young birds for the 2025 season. His lofts are smart in appearance with Sputnik trapping, plastic floor grills and pull‑out cleaning trays in the main racing loft. Billy relies heavily on help from his wife and his friend Jim Moffat due to ongoing health issues.
History in the Sport.
Billy grew up in Garthamlock in the northeast of Glasgow. His father kept pouters/croppers. Billy’s interest in racing pigeons began when he moved to Gartcosh in North Lanarkshire. After noticing pigeons flying in the village, he spoke to their owner, John Barlow, who encouraged him to build a loft and take up the sport.
Billy worked as a black cab driver all his life, and one chance encounter changed everything. After stopping to help someone whose car had broken down, he noticed a pigeon basket. The man—Harry Rock of Gartcosh, a former Border Club member and top racer—told Billy he would start him off with a full round of young birds. Not long after, Harry arrived at Billy’s with four baskets of pigeons and a Toulet clock, explaining he was giving up the sport and wanted Billy to have them. This was in March, and within a few weeks Billy had settled the birds to his loft.
He raced them and won the first two races, and was just beaten to second place in the Lanarkshire Federation by the brilliant Macaloney’s team among 10,300 birds. The disappointment was that he didn’t even win the section because the Macs were in his section. The winning birds were a full brother and sister bred by Harry and settled to Billy’s loft in March. Harry told Billy his birds came from John Lambie, the famous football manager, and Wullie Strang. They were top-quality pigeons, including a blue pied hen that Harry said bred a winner in every nest. She herself was a top racer, winning Cheltenham (280 miles) twice while sitting 12‑day eggs.
Unfortunately, Billy became unwell and has struggled with his health ever since. He had several major operations which forced him to give up pigeons for about twenty years. When he moved to his current home he restarted the hobby, keeping pigeons for around five years now with help from May and Jim. His health limits routine, so he relies on his wife for feeding and cleaning.
He first joined the Airdrie club, then moved to Uddingston & District where his friend Jim Moffat is a member. Jim encouraged him to enter the SNFC Young Bird National. Although the pigeons he bought from Wullie and Paul Collins are sprint‑bred, Billy joked that he “just didn’t tell the pigeons they were going to the National.” Billy says people label pigeons as sprint or distance birds, but both are capable of racing either.
Billy turns 74 on his next birthday and plans to join the SNFC as a full member, hoping to win another section for his grandsons.
This young bird season he won 1st & 2nd in Uddingston & District from Wooler, 1st & 2nd in the Lanarkshire Social Circle from Thirsk, and 1st & 2nd again in the club before sending to the SNFC Huntingdon (293 miles), where he won 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle and 1st Section E with his Leo Heremans/Stickers Donckers–bred sprinter.
Mary Thomson presenting Billy with his SNFC 1st section plaque & Billy holding his section winner
Management
Billy is self‑taught through trial and error. His only routine is that the birds are raced totally natural, with old birds never separated at any time of the year. Young birds go on the darkness in a separate section from March to June, then are allowed access to the box section. They may exercise around the loft or be road‑trained, but sometimes they are not out of the loft at all between races. Billy believes rest is the best therapy for pigeons and that a strong bond to the box is the key to success. This advice was given to him by Mick McCormick of Viewpark, who partnered with Billy’s nephew Martin Hughes in the highly successful McCormick & Hughes partnership, winners of the Lanarkshire Federation Combine Averages in 2014. “Birds like rest rather than training!”
Feeding
Billy feeds a simple high‑protein mix all year, with regular fasting—sometimes twice a week, usually on a Monday. He says years of observing pigeons have taught him when to feed and when not to feed. There are no fancy seeds or special mixes, just a bag of Euro Winner feed costing around £18, lasting four to five weeks due to the small team. On return from a race he gives as much high‑protein feed as they want on Saturday and Sunday. The daily ration is measured with a coffee tin. Mixed grit and minerals are given twice per week. The birds stay in the loft from the end of racing until several weeks before the start of the next season, and never have an open loft because of cat problems.
Medication
No medication is given other than Colin Leask’s homeopathic treatments—Radionics viral product and a gut product for the youngsters. Jim Moffat vaccinates the birds for him. That is the full extent of treatment.
Billy is loyal to his pigeons; even a few injured ones are still in the loft because he feels they gave everything in trying to get home. “I just like pigeons,” he says.
Training
He prefers to single‑train when he can, but also batch trains with help from Jim. Training is from the southeast, 15–25 miles.
Lofts
He keeps two small but tidy garden lofts in a very enclosed area where the birds cannot home without hitting the house roof.
Birds
He has some Busschaerts from his nephew Martin Hughes, from the best of Ron Williamson’s lines. These days Billy mainly buys young birds for racing, as he isn’t keen on the breeding season and his health makes it difficult. His current winners come from youngsters purchased from Wullie and Paul Collins of Coatbridge—Vanden Bulcks, Leo Heremans, Stickers Donckers, and Pitbull lines. All of his top young bird performances came from birds bred by Wullie and Paul, and he has ordered more for the coming season.
Race Programme
Billy is not fond of racing from the east, feeling it makes pigeons into followers.
Performances 2025
1st & 2nd Lanarkshire Social Circle Thirsk
1st SNFC Section E Young Bird National
2‑Bird Trophy in Lanarkshire Federation from Thirsk
1st & 3rd Club Wooler
2nd Club Billericay, 7th Section, 17th Open
Eye of section winner
Ambitions
He hopes to win another 1st section in the SNFC.
Billy says, “I don’t confess to knowing anything about pigeons. I’m just a doo man that enjoys his pigeons!”
Thanks to Billy for the insight into his unique approach, and I wish him the best of health and continued success.
Tom Corrie Jnr
