Lanarkshire Social Circle Presentation Night 2019.
Members and friends got together to celebrate this year prize winners in the Avonbridge Hotel,Hamilton.
The social circle does what it says on the tin, it socializes! The recent change by members at the AGM to include the price of ticket in annual dues has worked a treat as the hall was full. We opened the evening with the usual highly entertaining Morecambe and Wise funnies from President Ronnie Reid and Vice President Jim Cullen who had the company settling into another great night of laughter with their comedy act .Watch out Ronnie and Jim are about. You need a thick skin as they dig deep and leave no stone unturned to make a wee funny out of any situation.
Like every year our guests come from all over the country ,Glasgow, Scottish borders and the East coast of Scotland and this year we welcomed "Tucker" from the mighty Irish South Road Federation. Hope you had a great night. Our top table guests were from the North East of England Alan Todd and Allan Clark, two top level fanciers. Alan Todd spoke about how privileged he was for both of them to attend and told members how it’s great to attend such a social event club, a thing he feels is dying in the sport. Alan provided an overview of their time in the sport and what a CV they have at all distances.
Alan completed the toast to the hall from the visitors, which received a warm response. Our other principle guest was Gordon Orr of Eaglesham, Gordon is a very well-respected member of the Lanarkshire federation and Scottish National Flying club, who has a string of top performances to his name. Gordon hasn't been in the best of health but took the time to come and present his good friend Jim Meikle with his award. Gordon gave those present a little insight into Big Jim Meikles background into his friends time in the sport and a few funnies in their long-time friendship. We all wish Gordon all the best with his health and I am sure he will continue to win with his top team of pigeons.
Gordon Orr (L) presenting Jim Meikle with the Gold Cup
Dave McCaig our Secretary had everything working to clockwork and winners received their trophies to warm applause. Well done Dave who has been an excellent secretary for the last fifteen years. After an excellent meal and presentation, the hall enjoyed comedian Rab GilmourLater time was given for a chat among friends about everything pigeons. This year principle winner of the Gold Cup is Jim Meikle .To win this cup is the pinnacle of any members career and is a very difficult achievement. Jim is an excellent fancier who finished runner up last year, so he has maintained his fine form with his top team of distance pigeons.The gold cup programme includes a five race which starts with the coast race 350 miles out to the longest race 600 miles. Which is around 2,300 in mileage Each race you can only nominate 4 birds and have to time in race time.
Around tables
This cup is the" Holy Grail" of cups and is very difficult to win., many have tried and failed as isn't always won due to the difficulty of the race programme. As we all know the distance races are getting more and more challenging to achieve with most being very difficult affairs.Jim managed to keep his birds in fine form and complete the task that many have tried and failed.
Well done Jim on a brilliant achievement and hopefully I can squeeze a loft report later in the year from him.
Prize winners list
William Young Cup 1st Yearling nomination race 9 -Eadie & Kelly
Andy Eadie (L) receiving his trophy from Jim Cullen
Inland Old Bird Average -I Rankin
Ian Rankin with his trophy
Allanton Cup 1st club Gold Cup race 11 - GWP Macaloney
Daily Express Cup best two bird average race 11, SNFC Gold Cup- W Graham
Billy Graham receiving his trophy from club President Ronnie Reid
Robert McKendrick Cup, best average races 9 & 11-GWP Macaloney
Morgan Memorial Cup-best average races 9,11,12- GWP Macaloney
Friendship Cup Best Average races 11 & 13 - J & I Alston
News of the world cup -1st club race 13 -J Meikle
Archie Miller Cup -Best average races 9 & 13 -J Meikle
Gold Cup Best averages race 9,11,12,13,14 ,4 bird nomination -J Meikle
William Warwick Cup -Runner up Gold Cup-J & I Alston
John Alston (L) with Alan Clark
J L Muir Cup -Best Old Bird Average - J Meikle
Rodger Points Cup- GWP Macaloney
Young Bird Cup -Best average all YB races -J Moffatt
Jim Moffat with his trophy
Telfer Trophy-1st club race 19 -D Hay
Daily Record Cup -Best averages all SNFC races -J & I Alston
Tennent Trophy -Lowest winning velocity -J Meikle
Dr Anderson Championship Cup -Best averages over all races-Not won
Robert Telfor Mem Trophy-For best individual points Pigeon - GWP Macaloney
Ernie McCaig Trophy-Winner of longest inland race-GWP Macaloney
Paul & Wullie Macaloney
Andrew Deans Trophy -Best average races 9 & 19-J & I Alston
Sammy Cowan Trophy -Best average races 12 & 14-J Cullen
Willie Wilson Trophy -Winner of race 11 - J Cullen
Jim Cullen (L) receives his trophy from Alan Todd
Millennium Trophy -Best average two longest races in federation -T Richardson
Ian McDonagh Trophy - For the second loft in race 13 - J Cullen
Deans Family Memorial Trophy -Best averages race 12 & 13-J Cullen
Hugh Brown Trophy -1st Yearling race 14 -A Wilkie
George Rankin Trophy-winner race 14 -A Wilkie
Alec Wilkie(L) receiving his trophy from club secretary Dave McCaig
race 9 Maidstone
race 11 Burdinnie Gold Cup SNFC Channel race
race 12 Ypres Channel race
race 13 Reims Channel race
race 14 Royle Channel race
Around tables
This year’s Lanarkshire Social Circle bird of the year is
"Tiger Vison"
Paul Macaloney with Tiger Vision,Lanarkshire Social Circle Bird of the Year
Bred by GWP Macaloney
In 2019 Winner of
1st Federation 4,641 birds
2nd Federation 3,210 birds (bblm)
2nd Yearling Derby 2,230 birds (bblm)
3rd Federation 4.433 birds (bblm)
5th Federation 2,356 birds
13th Federation 2,115 birds
18th Federation 5,992 birds
88th Federation 1,257 birds
(63 - 213 miles)
(4 occasions arriving with loft mates to top the entire Convoy beaten only by decimals)
In 2018 as YB Tiger Vision won
8th Federation 4,617 birds
Sire: National winner 2017 "Double Vision"
Dam: LSC Bird of Year 2017, 1st West Region SNFC "Blue Caviar"
Around tables
Around tables
Thanks to everyone who attended and hopefully enjoyed the company.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer
