Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club
Leicester Young Bird National
8th National Win for Walker & Wilson St Abbs
The last National race of 2009 got underway on Saturday 5th September when the entry of 650 birds were released at 7.30am into a light South Wind. Conditions at the race point were very good and they could have been up earlier but our experienced convoyer Mathew Boyle advised that it was fairly cold early morning and recommended that the liberation be delayed until the temperature rose a little and he was given the go ahead by our race controller Ian McLaren to liberate when he felt it was suitable. The SNRPC are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team in Mathew and Ian who work so well together, Ian has some excellent contacts up and down the country whom he relies on to give him up to date information before any decisions are made, we thank again Brian Denney of York and Mick Brennan of Doncaster for their invaluable help to Ian throughout the season. The race day conditions certainly suited the East of the country unfortunately the West area conditions deteriorated throughout the day but the forecast for Sunday and Monday were very poor so the decision to go on Saturday was the only option. Winds were reported as being Southerly up to Doncaster and light South at York further up the country the wind was a strong Westerly.
The Eyevalley partnership of Robert Walker and Jim Wilson timed the first of their four entries at 12.35 to notch up an incredible 8th National win this is the second time they have won the SNRPC young bird national and they have also won it three times with the SNFC.
Their winner is a very nice Blue Pied Van Reet Hen now named “Shore Golden Gowland” after the breeder of the sire Alan Gowland from Yorkshire, the Dam is a direct Marden Van Reet.
She was raced natural to the perch and had four races with the UNC up to Peterborough 243 miles in which she won 1st club.
Their 2nd Open a red Grizzle hen timed also at 12.35 is a Janssen, again the sire and dam came from Alan Gowland Yorkshire she had the same preparation as the winner and was third club from Worksop 183 miles beaten by two loft mates.
Robert and Jim would like to thank Alan his lovely wife Janet for the gifts of some fantastic pigeons this is the second national winner bred from their birds.
3rd Open is the well known national wining loft of W&S Aitchison of Eyemouth, Steven clocked at 12.34, his blue hen was bred by John Mair of Portsoy the sire of this hen was from the loft of Andrew Allan of Sauchie from stock acquired from Rab Stewart Sauchie, Delbar lines. The Dam is a Busschaert/Dordin original birds from John and Ann Dunnill Yorkshire. Steven’s pigeon is another flown to the perch, previous to the national she was 4th club Melton Mowbray 222 miles and had Peterborough and one midweek toss before basketing for Leicester.
STEVE AITCHISON
Section C
Bruce McKenzie of Dundee takes the 1st and 2nd section positions flying 279 miles, this is the second year in succession that Bruce has won the section from the Young Bird National.
The Dam of the section winner was last years winner the sire was bred down through 3rd open 1st Sect Newbury SNFC 2005.
The Dam was a gift from Andy Thomson Dundee (the last according to Andy) this red hen was at every race and was flown to the perch.
Bruce’s 2nd Section is a full sister to the bird that won last season.
Bruce McKenzie
3rd Section is Andy Thomson of Duntrune, with a red cock bred down from Dennis Dall/Bob McHugh on the Sires side while the Dam is a Bruce McKenzie / Ogilvie of Stirling.
Andy Thompson
Section D
1st& 2nd section D is the partnership of Mr & Mrs Forrest & Son from Ratho the section winner is a Vandenabeele of D & M Evans pigeons, this young chec hen flew the programme to Wakefield as was raced to the perch. Their second timer was a gift from their friend Davy Bratchie of Pumpherston.
Mr & Mrs Forrest
3rd Section is John McNiell of Broxburn, Johns Blue Vandenabeele hen flew the full programme before going to Leicester she flew steady the whole programme her parents are stock birds loaned to John by D & J Hawkins of Doncaster they are direct D & M Evans pigeons.
John McNiell
Section E
Taking the honours in section E is Dan Mitchell & Son of Plains Airdrie, Dan you may remember won the Wanstead Flats Inland National in 2007 and now he strikes again this time with a nice apple bodied chec hen bred from Rodger Senicourt –Batenburg blood lines through his good friend John Pratt of Kings Lynn Norfolk. Here we have another flying to the perch on her eighth flight, she raced the full young bird programme. Dan had 100% returns on the day.
2nd Section is Hamilton & Thomson of Hamilton with their Blue Pied cock “Young Wullie” the breeding of this pigeon is Kerr Stainthorpe and J & I Alston lines from birds gifted to Mary and Jim by Kerr.
Young Wullie had very fed race and was 7 hours on the wing from Wetherby he certainly recovered well to do the 8 hours from Leicester in very poor conditions which is a credit to Mary and Jim for the condition their pigeons were sent, their team had a difficult 26 mile toss from Abbington the day prior to basketing. Mary works hard for the sport and in 2007 she was voted the Young Fancier of the Year, a very worthy winner indeed.
Hamilton & Thomson
Young Wullie
3rd section are Mr & Mrs Davy Elliot Newbiggin, Davy and Mrs Elliot are household names in the realms of national racing and are never far from the result sheet no matter where it’s from. Their pigeon is a nice well balanced Chec hen sent with her 8th flight half way up she was raced up to Weatherby and trained at 35 miles twice weekly with one at Edinburgh on the week of basketing. Her Sire is a direct son of Wilf Flockharts Gold Award winner Coal Neuk King and the Dam is a daughter of the partnerships Big Chec 5 times a winner from the channel paired to their 1st sect winner from Falaise.
Mr & Mrs Davy Elliot`s (Chec hen)
Section F
The winners of section F are Barclay McCrindle & Son of Barrhead, yet another very consistent loft coming to the front in very difficult conditions. Barclay’s blue hen had very fed race winning 7th,9th and 3rd Federation beaten by loft mates, she was sent to the National with a full wing her Sire is a DeRauw-Sablon who was 7th International Perpignan & 27th International Barcelona. The Dam is a Janssen from the Young Merckx.
Barclay McCrindle & Willie Gass
2nd Section F is John Murdoch of Greenock with a Louella Jan Aarden X Louella Van Geel Blue hen here we have another youngster who has raced the full fed programme plus 4th West Section from the Caledonian Combine race from Wetherby the week before the National, she was raced on the Darkness.
John Murdoch
I am delighted to report that Young Martin Hughes of Clydebank wins 3rd Section in this his novice year and I am informed by committee member Ian Ross that Martin’s pigeons have also performed very well in the Fed Programme. His chec cock was sent driving his hen and on his 7th flight, the Sire was a gift from Dougie Spittal while the Dam was purchased from Jim O’Hara.
Martin is very grateful to Dougie for all his help and advice with the birds. Great stuff Martin you are obviously listening to all the good advice you are getting, keep up the good work.
Ian Ross with Martin Hughes
Section A
1st Section A are Mr & Mrs Skelton from Kirkpatrick Fleming the winner is a red hen she was sent racing to eggs, she has been a steady performer winning3rd club 3rd Fed Stainmore and 4th club 5th Fed Rippon. Her Sire is a Timmermans of Belgium and the Dam is a Patrick Phillipens bred by the top National loft of R & M Seaton of Annan.
2nd Section is Scott Irvine Annan. Scott’s bird is a red chec cock his Sire was bred by George and Gareth Rankin of Larkhall and the Dam is bred off Scott’s good hen who has won 47th Open SNFC Alencon and 113th Open SNRPC Newbury Inland National.
Duncan Knox
Pres Officer, Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club.