| Sponsor | |
|
To view FULL menu - turn JavaScript on. Text Menu Home Fanciers Non-Fanciers Articles News Clubs Weather Links Forum Lost Birds Contact Us Sitemap |
SNFC – Tours 2005... | |||||||||
|
| Please report any broken links. Copyright © 2001 - 2024 Pigeonbasics.com |
(See satellite image) This is forecast to break umore so during the afternoon over England. At first light conditions over the channel were poor but since then they have improved considerably. Visibility will become better as the morning progresses. The winds over France are light south westerly, as the birds reach the channel they will pick up some assistance as the wind strength will be greater over the open expanse of sea with wind speed force 3 or about 15 mph. On reaching the English mainland winds will ease back down again to light south westerly. The little light drizzle over the midlands and some northern regions will dissipate as the cloud thins and breaks as the morning wears on. All in all a good flying day for the SNFC pigeons.
This year Petite Rose has had Thirsk, Selby, Newark and the inland SNFC Newbury race from where she returned with the 3rd last flight on one wing broken. It was just hanging by the webbing and Tom’s first reaction was ‘Oh not injured again’, however it was only a broken flight so Tom used some Locktite to join the flight together. He held Rose for 10 minutes to make sure the glue had stuck and then let her fly back to the loft from his back door. Petite Rose was then given 4 training tosses (in groups of 3) from Berwick on Tweed a distance of 50 miles prior to Tours. She returned ok and on checking the flight both Tom and his son Scott were happy to send her to the Tours national. Her egg hatched on the day of basketing and as this was her first baby of the year she was a keen as mustard so much so that she never came off the nest the whole day. When Tom went to basket her for the race at 16.30pm she still had the egg shell underneath her and we all know that certain birds take these out and drop them on the loft floor. She hadn’t and Tom observed this as he basketed her for the national. On her return from the race Petite Rose gave one circle round the loft and then hit the landing board and was right into her nest box, by the time Scott entered the loft she was on her baby and he lifted her off as he took off the rubbers to time her in. On placing her back into the next box she went right on top of her baby and even after a couple of hours she had not come down to eat or have a drink she was so keen on this baby. Tom and his son Scott checked the wing on Petite Rose on her return and the broken flight was still intact so Tom must have done a good job as she has flapped that wing quite a number of times on the way home from Tours.
He landed really fresh and in superb condition and Jim would like to thank the convoyer Matthew Boyle for looking and caring after my pigeon. Jim would also like to thank Jim Hannah who phone texted him with news of Tom McEwan of Elphinstone pigeon and this woke Jim up as he had just nodded off for a few moments and when he awoke his blue cock was landing on the board. His breeding is mainly Jim’s old Aitken & Walker bloodlines with a touch of the late Andrew Deans of Bothwell blood added. Both his parents and 2 of his grand parents won at the channel with his grand sire being 2nd west section 14th open SNFC Nantes and his great grand dam winning 5th west section 26th open SNFC Nantes. Prior to going to this years SNFC Tours race the blue cock had three races, his first race being Ripon 155 miles. Then into Newark a distance of 230 miles he was then entered for the SNFC Newbury being Jim’s 2nd bird home. He was then set up for Tours and was basketed on chipping eggs and went back onto his nest when he returned home. Jim attached two photos to go with this report and I thank him and his family very much as they had slight trouble
downloading them onto the PC. Maybe all the excitement of timing in a good pigeon from a 600 mile race was the problem Jim. Our congratulations to Jim Cullen on another exceptional performance to be 2nd open in any SNFC race is exceptional and this again proves that he is a top quality distance fancier racing his pigeons in the premier club in Scotland. When you take into consideration that the wind on Sunday morning was blowing a gale from a westerly direction then this makes Jim Cullen’s blue cock somewhat extra special. Even if it had been with Tom McEwan’s pigeon it would have taken this amount of time to come home in such a strong west wind. However to be so high up in the open result flying into the Glasgow area is a brilliant achievement and we must give credit were it is due and this is blue cock is a great pigeon.
regarding me not obtaining details on his Alencon winner which, has now been rectified. From Tours Scott timed in a 4 year old chequer cock that as a youngster was only trained to 50 miles. Then as a yearling he had 8 out of the 10 federation races out to the south coast of England. As a 2 year old he was just on the tail end of the Central Scotland 3 bird club race from Lille and again was just on the tail end of the Scottish Central Combine race from Falaise. Then last year he had 6 races in the federation and was sent to the Scottish Central Combine race from Falaise winning 26th open, This year he had one race from Layland and then 2 private training tosses from Ripon. He was then given approx.
30 training tosses from between 40 to 60 miles within the last of these every day for 2 weeks prior to Tours race. Scott trains from Kelso, Jedburgh and Dunbar depending where he is working that day. All training stops on the Friday before each national and the birds are given rest and a chance to build up their love of home and nest condition. The chequer cock was bred by Jim Brodley of Blantyre from stock originating from Tom McCracken of Armadale. Scott was talking to Jim about the chequer cock and said that he just counot get the cock to show any sign of motivation. He was always a steady bird but Scott said he felt he had not shown his true potential. Tom advised Scott to send him to the Channel feeding a big youngster and his hen on eggs. This is not Scott’s ideal preparation for distance racing but he took Jim’s advice on board and set the cock up to go to Tours feeding a 20 day old youngster and driving his hen how had just laid her first egg of this round. Jim said it worked for Tom McCracken and his father before him so was worth a try. He was spot on as the cock came romping home to winthe section and be probable 3rd open. Scott’s 3rd open winner is a long cast type of pigeon with a deep keel and is quite big in the hand, he has lovely feather quality and has a fantastic step in his wing especially in the last 3 flights I took a photograph
of this to illustrate what I mean. He also has a red brown yellow iris with a full very broard created circle of coloration which is yellow and if entered for and eyesign class he would win a ticket if the judge knew what he was looking for. He is also a good looking cock which is evident from his photograph and has proved he can keep up with the best of the winners. Scott as I reported on the web page informed me that he was going to donate all his winnings in the Tours race to the Cancer Research charity. This came about as Scott had a good financial win with his 4th open SNFC Alencon blue hen. He had gone into a sandwich bar and on the way out he met a young lady collecting for this cause and he put all the small change he had in his pocket into the tin. He looked at her charity tin and then thought that he would like to give his Tours winnings to this very worthy cause, like the rest of us Scott has lost loved ones to this dreaded illness and I think this is a wonderful gesture from Scott and we must applaud him for his thoughtfulness and kindness. Gestures like this canonly highlight the generosity of pigeon fanciers and there are many more fanciers like Scott who donate not only financially but give up their time to assist charitable causes. Our congratulations to Scott and to Jim for his assistance in helping Scott achieve the double section win in the space of a week. (my apologies as I called him Tom in my first report; however I have to thank Jim for his lovely phone call thanking me for giving him some credit for breeding the 3rd open Tours winner- this is no problem Jim and you deserve the accolades that go with the breeding of a very special pigeon).
Section C winner 3rd east section 5th open is Bill Dorward used to keep the pigeons as a young boy and then gave them up as he became involved in his working life as a plumber. He has a successful business now and decided to restart in the sport again some ten years ago. In this time he has established a first class team of 600 milers with the ultimate success last year when he was 5th and 39th open Le Ferte Bernard Gold Cup race flying just short of 600 miles. Now we have him 5th open in this Tours race flying a distance of 651 miles, Bill’s timed a 4 year old blue chequer hen. She is a first cross Eddie Mann of Johnshaven on the dam’s side with the sire from Davie Scott of Brechin. In fact she is related to Bill’s 5th open SNFC Le Ferte Bernard winner. She was unraced as a young bird but trained to Stirling then she flew steady as a yearling but uneventful. As a two year old she flew Claremont with the Angus federation returning with her sister to be timed in but missed the result. She flew Le Ferte Bernard with the SNFC in winning 135th open. This year she was paired on 20th February then
separated and flew roundabout having 4 races up to and including the inland SNFC race. On day of basketing for Tours she was sitting 14 days and to make her that bit keener Bill slipped her a day old youngster and she was looking a picture as he placed her in the basket. Our congratulations to Bill on another fine performance and I look forward to going to Arbroath to verify this winner and who knows I may even go for a cup of tea at my old pal Jim George’s (Round O) as I have not seen him for a while even though we speak regular to each other on the phone. Get the kettle on Jim Boy. My thanks to Bill Dorward for his assistance in supplying details of his winner for this report.
The section winner and 4th open is a dark chequer cock now named Little Mike after Anne and Jim’s grand son who is 7 years old. Little Mike won 2nd North Section and 7th open SNFC Clermont 589 miles in 2002. In 2004 he returned on the third morning from Le Ferte Bernard badly hurt. Here he has now won 4th open what a pigeon Little Mike is a half Donaldson and a half the late Dave Rose of Aberdeen breeding in him.
She is a 100% Donaldson going back to Jamie’s old Circus Boy who is now 24 years old, he has stopped filling his eggs now Joe said a very happy Jamie. More the pity as he has left a dynasty of outstanding pigeons behind. Jamie timed in his 3rd bird at 17.24 towin 4th section just beaten fordoing the clean sweep by Neil Cowe of Peterhead who time in a17.21pm to win 3rd section. When I spoke to Jamie he was sitting in the garden on a beautiful night in a state of piece and tranquillity. It does not get any better than this having all you’re entries home from a race of this distance, what a feeling. Well done to Anne and Jamie on a truly fantastic result with these superb ultra long distance pigeons. My thanks to Jamie and Anne for sending me down photographs to go with this article.
I remember as a boy hearing the name of Jamieson of Annan as my father would discuss the national races flown at that time. When I became involved in pigeons I walucky enough to visit both these great fanciers anat the same time met Billy Jamieson. Who has carved a name for himself in his performances over the years in the SNFC. Billy timed in a 02 late bred rextensively trained in the year of her birth. As yearling she was the 1st bird to the loft from Huntington and was then entered for Maidstoand stopped on return home. As a 2 year old she was Billy’s 4th pigeon home from the Le Ferte Bernard Gold Cup race last year. This year she was sent to Tours sitting 15 days on eggs with hed by Jim Hannah of Blantyre from his 23rd open SNFC Reims winner while the dam of the red hen is a mealy hen whose sire won 9th and 64th open SNFC Rennes and is bred down from Billy’s old established family of pigeons. Our congratulations to Billy on another great performance and he is keeping up the tradition of his illustrious father and uncle by seeing the name of Jamieson at the top of the tree, well done Billy.
Again my thanks to David Smith Gretna for his hard work and dedication to the SNFC in obtaining details of the South section winners for me and also photographs.
at 08.57.05 flying distance of 607 miles 1519 yards and he recorded a velocity of 970.74. Jim’s red cock was sent to the race with 2 new flights and his 3rd just bursting through and he was sitting on chipping eggswith the young bird just hatched prior to basketing. Previously he has flown the SNFC in 2003 just missed the result, he flew from Tours in 2004 being Jim’s first bird. This year he reared a pair young birds and then flew celibate until paired up for Tours with the above result of 6th open. His sire is a son of Midnight Son bred and raced by Richard Combe of Elphinstone whom I did a loft report on prior to the SNFC racing. Dam of Jim’s 6th open red cock is a daughter of his good blue hen that won 3rd 29, and 100+ open in SNFC races.
I met up with Jim at the Alencon race marking and I had not seen him for years so it was a coincidence that here we are the following week I am writing about him. The great thing about writing about fanciers like Jim Sanderson is that he has the SNFC blood running through his veins he is part and parcel of the great history of this club, how many National clubs have double winners from 600 miles in their programme not many that’s for sure. Well done on this performance Jim it is good to see you back at the top where you belong and I wish you well in the last race from Falaise.
Third section B 9th open is another double SNFC winner in John F Bosworth who like Jim above is a household name within the annuals of long distance history in the SNFC. John’s Tour winner is a mealy 2 year old hen timed at 09.34.53 flying a distance of 611 miles 1137 yards and recorded a velocity of 944.39.
As a matter of interest I have had a few telephone conversations with Ted Jones from
Australia who is an encyclopaedia on the history of the Australian pigeons. He has told me that a Mr Harrison imported the original bloodlines in the early 1900 these being form the best distance pigeons at this time in the UK. Ted’s very good friend Leo Sylvester started up in pigeon roundabout the year 1935 with stock from these original imports and these birds have won from all compass points in Australia. Ted has had his share of success over the years and at the present time cannot obtain membership in his local clubs. The Australian birds have to fly over 220 miles of water in some races and then face a very hard terrain like the Sahara desert in races from Tasmania. As I said Ted cannot race his pigeons now so he now breeds pigeons for friends and they in turn race the offspring from them, hence the reason on how John Bosworth has some of Ted’s pigeons as a cross. Ted is nobody’s fool and has studied all the results and pigeon papers and follows the SNFC with massive interest hence the reason for his phone call prior to John’s win. Ted only wants to fly the flag for Australia pigeons and to see how they stand up to different environments and race programme. He is very passionate about his pigeons and he gets a bigger buzz from seeing his friends win with his pigeons. However there is no point in phoning or trying to contact Ted about purchasing these pigeons as he does NOT sell pigeons. As I said he knows who the good fanciers are and will send them a few to try out and there are fanciers in England who have his pigeons. I have asked Ted to send me some more information on these Australian pigeons and in the winter time I could compile an article on them for readers.
Third section C and 11th open Tours winner is a past SNFC winner Hugh Gormley of High Valleyfield in west Fife, Hugh won the Dorchester race in 1983 the year we could not race from France due to para/virus. I remember it as if it was yesterday as I had to verify Hugh’s winner a grizzle hen, after taking the details she was given her liberty and we awaited her to go into the loft. Well low and behold she flew and flew and would not come down Hugh took out and old cock to draw her down and would you believe it he took off and flew with her. Hugh invited me into the house for a cup of tea while we waited on them coming back down as I had Hugh ‘wound up’ as I told him that she had to go back into the loft or she would be disqualified. We all had a good laugh about this afterwards and we have been quite close since then and I have to say that if I required any help from the west section I just have to phone Hugh and he will help me out he is so obliging.
Now to Hugh’s Tours winner who was a 4 year old blue bar cock timed at 10.30am flying 628 miles and recorded a velocity of 924 to win 11th open. As a youngster he had every race to Wakefield winning 2nd club Tow Law in the process, as a yearling every race to Leicester then stopped. As a 2 year old he had every race to Maidstone and was then entered into the Claremont race and on 235th open SNFC. Then last year he won 3rd club Otterburn, 2nd club Huntingdon and 186th open Le Ferte Bernard, this year he had 4 races to Huntingdon and then rested he was then given 7 consecutive training tosses from Dunbar no matter what the weather was like, hail rain or sunshine with the Gold Cup birds. He was then rested and again given 2 more tosses from Dunbar and one from Galashiels with the Bo’ ness club he was then rested for 4 days before basketing and was sent to the Tours race sitting 12 days on eggs. Sire won 16th west section 45th open Fife Federation Beerstal while the dam of the 11th open winner was bred by Isaiah Stewart of Carnwath from his direct Own McIvor stock as a matter of interest this hen has never been in a basket. Grand sire is a 5 times SNFC winner and his breeding is from Alex Geddes of Greengairs and Gilmour Brothers of Leven crossed. Grand dam was bred by McCabe Brothers from East Calder another household SNFC name. My thanks again to Willie Hay for verifying Hugh’s pigeon and for obtaining the details on Hugh’s winner may we again congratulate Hugh on this fine performance and as you will see his winner is a magnificent looking blue cock.
She sat with Ian all Saturday night waiting for the birds and when it came to bed time she was slightly down, so Ian told her to cross her fingers and maybe in the morning the grizzle hen would come home. When she awoke she said to Ian ‘I still have my fingers crossed Uncle Ian’ as she sat eating her breakfast Rebecca shouted out ‘There’s your pigeon’ and panic set in as Ian ran to time her in. What a wonderful story and these are the things Rebecca will remember all her life even when she is married and may not even have pigeons. However sometime in her life a conversation will come up and she will highlight this instance. Now for details on the grizzle hen as a youngster she was put on the darkness system and flew the full young bird programme then as a yearling she was races to Maidstone a distance of 356 miles and as a 2 year old out to Leicester 247 miles. She was then entered into the SNFC Falaise 2 race sitting 12 days on eggs and returned the next day without making the result. This year she had every race up to the Leicester 1 and 2 races, and she was originally going to the Gold Cup race from Alencon, however Ian was not happy with her. He then trained her every evening from Tuesday 21st (basket night for the Alencon birds) up to Sunday 26th June from Dunbar and down the east coast to Berwick on Tweed approximately about 50 miles, she arrived home about 8pm each evening. She was left on her newly hatched egg from another pair and was sent to the Tours race feeding a 5 day youngster. Maryfield Rebecca is Kirkpatrick foundation from K 10 bloodlines from Ian’s late father who had this family as his base with some more introductions from Alex Geddes of Greengairs. Ian has asked me to publicly say a big THANK YOU to his mother Ann as without her help Ian could not continue in the sport as he works 12 hours shifts on a continental pattern. Congratulation to Ian on his performance and for phoning me back with details of his 10th open winner.
Second section E 2nd west section 16th open is Andrew Lockhart of Larkhall who is no stranger to the SNFC results as he is one of the top distance men in the west section and has been for as long as I can remember. Andrew timed in a 5 year old red cock at 10.45 am flying a distance of 611 miles and recorded a velocity of 889. The red cock’s 3rd flight was just burst through on return form the race and he was sent sitting 12 day’s on eggs. As a youngster he flew the full programme out to 150 miles then as a yearling he was raced out to Huntingdon a distance of 280 miles. Then as a 2 year old he flew the channel without making the result and he did the same again as a 3 year old, as a 4 year old he won 13th west region 41st open Tours and now this year he has won again from Tours improving his section and open position. His preparation for this year was club racing from Tow law, Wakefield, then into the inland SNFC Newbury race were he was 1st bird to the loft. He then received 5 training tosses from the Ski Slopes at Edinburgh which is approximately 34 miles and he then had 3 days rest before basketing for the Tours race. His breeding is from SNFC committee member and top class fancier Jim Hannah from Blantyre.
Third section E 3rd west section 23rd open is past president of the SNFC Jim O’Hara of Allanton who has had a good season with the club as he has been 25th section E from the inland Newbury race and 210th open from last weeks race from Alencon. So Jim’s loft is in form at the moment as he is up again from this Tours race. Jim’s winner is a 2 year old mealy hen timed at 11.35am flying 614 miles and recorded a velocity of 857. She returned with her 2nd flight just budding through and she was entered on a 3 day old young bird. As a youngster she had 2 races out to 150 miles and then as a yearling she was raced out to Leicester 250 miles before being stopped for the season. This year she was mated on the 2nd of March then after rearing a pair of young birds she was put on the roundabout system and given every race out to then Huntingdon 280 miles. Jim then repaired her to her mate on the 1st June and she laid within 7 days and as I said she was entered feeding a 3 day old baby. She had several tosses from 40 miles while sitting on these eggs prior to basketing. Her sire is “Emergency” who won 1st west section 11th open Rennes 1996 when he was the only bird on the day into the west section. Dam of the mealy hen is a red hen purchased from Jim Donaldson of Peterhead and was bred in 1996. Her sire was red grizzle cock whose nest mate won 4th, 4th & 6th section SNFC Sartilly for Jamie. His sire was bred from the old 1981 cock Circus Boy who is the sire of the loft. The dam of the red hen is a ½ sister to 1st open SNFC Sartilly being from the Dall cock when paired to the Rennes Hen. My thanks to Jim Hannah and Gareth Rankin, on obtaining the details and photographs of the winning birds of Andrew Lockhart and Jim O’Hara for this report and may I congratulate Jim O’Hara on having a fine season with our club.
based bloodlines. As a yearling she was raced out to Hastings a distance of 469 miles, she then went to the same race point as a 2 and 3 year old. In 2004 she was raced to Newark a distance of 308 miles and was then Neil’s entry into the Gold Cup race from Le Farte Bernard a distance of 652 miles. This year she was raced to Doncaster a distance of 277 miles and then entered into the Tours race sitting 10 days on eggs. Congratulations to Neil on this wonderful result and this will inspire him to go on and try to win more diplomas in the SNFC in the years to come.