Established 1904
www.lanarkshireracingpigeonfederation.co.uk
Its been a long winter of uncertainty and with the present pandemic its a light relief for pigeon fanciers to get the green light to start racing inland within the British Isles. Its still uncertain about channel racing so fanciers will have to be patient and fingers crossed the legal tape between Europe and Britain gets ironed out for our distance minded fanciers. If it doesn't happen our committee will have a alternative programme in good time.
Sods law when we get the green light the icy North East winds hit our shores and prevent most from attempting to train their pigeons. But the programme is set so the show must go on.
Kelso as a venue is not my cup of tea as it sits in a valley and if the pigeons don't take the right route or are hit by falcons then we are in bother.
Like most years some will have their birds well tuned for the first events and will be looking forward to the off. Personally because of the pandemic I didn't pair till late this season so have youngsters in next that are more important than a possible dodgy race in a north east wind.
Good luck to our new race controller Paul Macaloney,who I know will give it 100% to provide the best racing possible for our members. Remember its not Paul who choses the race points! Full report with photos here
Kelso 1st May 2021,the birds were liberated at 8am in a light North East wind ,generally cloudy at race point but bright at the home end.The convoy of 5,743 birds plus 22 crates from other organisations made light work of the journey with the winners covering the 64 miles in around 1hr 14 minutes for mid 1500 ypm.
As usual with the first race the birds were patchy but generally good returns were reported throughout federation.
This weeks 1st Open federation is Alan Nelson of Burnbank club in the west section of the federation. Alan is a terrific fancier who is no stranger to success at club, federation and National level. His winner is a two year old that has been a steady pigeon to the loft and has collected some club prizes. His breeding is the Sire is a John Hodgson pigeon out of his Busshaert lines and the dam is out of Belgium stock(Flanders lines).Both these lines have been successful for Alan over the years. The winner is raced on Roundabout system(Out twice per day flying around twenty five minutes) The birds had five pre race training flights out to fifteen miles before his top performance
In his own words he is a hard task master of the pigeons with birds going most weeks throughout the season right out to Ypres(450 miles).He said if a pigeon is left after the season he likes to think its deserved its perch. He has great help from his wife with the pigeons over the years.Alan loves his sport and told me he gets excited at any pigeons,spending all his time awaiting their return on race day. Well done Alan who had a great team performance being 1st & 3rd Open.
GWP Macaloney had another breath-taking performance taking every section prize (15) in the North section."NEW FEDERATION RECORD" Their section winner check hen M.J was bred by Darren May from his Spiderman lines,his second is a grand daughter of their top breeder Man o War ,third section is Supermac crosses, brother og Goode Rode lines.
Well done the Macs, world class!
Dave Burnside wins the centre section, Davie has just recently returned to flying a team of pigeons, well done Davie, top pigeon fancier!
Well done to Burnbank club members taking the top three in the Open result.
Federation top five section winners
West section
1st A Nelson 1st Open
2nd A Copeland 2nd Open
3rd A Nelson 3rd Open
4th G Baird 4th Open
5th J Green & Son 5th Open
Centre Section
1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th GWP Macaloney
East section
1st D K Burnside
2nd J Cameron
3rd R Hotchkiss
4th R Hotchkiss
5th J Cameron
Well done to all who made the top 15 in each section.Full result is available on Lanarkshireracingpigeonfederation.co.uk
TomCorrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
corrietom@aol.com