Established 1904
www.lanarkshireracingpigeonfederation.co.uk
This week (Wooler YB1 21/07/2023) we are back in North East of England for the first young bird race of the Lanarkshire programme.
We had a modest birdage of 2,349 Lanarkshire birds and 14 other crates of other organisations in the convoy.
The weather was looking grim for a weekend race so race controller Paul Macaloney decided we would go for a Friday race.
The weather initially wasn't great on Friday but it quickly changed and at the home end it was a perfect racing day with a light NW wind.
The birds were liberated in a fresh North West wind, this is a "on their face wind "for the pigeons so a good working day was expected..
Personally I thought it was a cracking day for racing!
The top lofts in the federation had excellent team performances that tells you their birds are in top physical condition and possible others haven't had anywhere as near schooling of these guys.
Reports of losses at clocking were reported and a few worried faces about their returns.
This is what happens when the first race faces a head wind ,also the birds are tree hopping and there will always be casualties.
For us mere mortals it was a tough one with a number of birds missing but what's new ,we carry on with what is left of our sport. Some will say its the raptors but on this occasion I think it was the head wind and low velocities that took them into the tree line. But I could be wrong.
This weeks winner hit the boards after 1hr 33 minutes for the 69 miles flight to record 1st sect,1st Open federation for Barclay McCrindle & Son.
Their brilliant fanciers and have mind boggling results with multiple drops and this race wasn't any different. Flying in the Largest Federation in Britain they have breathtaking results in only 14 YB races.
10 x 1st Open federation,9 x 2nd Open,8 x 3rd Open,7 x 4th Open,6 x 5th Open 4 x 6th Open and many more in 14 races since joining the Lanarkshire federation in 2021.
From a total entry of 32,757 birds over 14 races only 22 pigeons have got in front of the partnership.
They recorded 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th Open federation.
I contacted Barclay jnr to congratulate them on another fantastic federation performance .Barclay explained that unfortunately his Dad hasn't been in the best of health recently and he has been struggling to get the birds into pre racing condition so he had to take a couple of weeks annual leave to support his Dad and get some work into the pigeons. He has been hit badly with the falcons again this season and started with 60 birds and was racing 37 this week due to the heavy losses around the loft. He managed to get five pre race trainers with the federation transporter which he feels was beneficial to their condition. The youngsters are housed in two lofts starting with 30 in each but feels that is too many but due to the falcons that what you have to breed to be left with his present numbers.
Barclay always goes up the stair and watches the birds return from the roof window. He was looking and thought he could see a shape he thought was seagulls but quickly realised it was a batch of his team racing towards the lofts. Barclay said this direction he calls the breich braes near Forth and often gets his winners hitting this line. This is probable south east of his loft.
The batch didn't play ball with only one breaking and hitting the boards. The others had a jolly for a bit.
The details of their winner are Marina van de velde (Herman Ceuster) she is out of a granddaughter of Olympic sperwer when paired to a grandson of De Jan.
Others that were there to win are of the following lines Hooymans,Van den Bauwel,Frans wols,Herman Ceuster.
Well done to both and hope that Barclay snr keeps in good health.
History tells us this will not be their last win.
Wullie & Paul Macaloney of GWP Macaloney also had a fantastic race with a drop of 11 pigeons taking prominent positions in the top of the federation.
James and Gary Green of J Green & Son had a great race winning the first three in the west section.
Winners information
Ian Lindsays winner-G/sire was bred by good friend Robert Simpson from his Lambrecht family.The Dam is his old tried and tested family of Barker x Kilpatrick.You will notice a blue cere,this was very common in his Kilpatricks.
Karl Kellys winner is Rondags cock from Curran & Rush ,Dublin. Lines of War Admiral & Irish Naf in the Dam Leo Hermans lines of Rossi & Eenoogeske.
Tom Corries winner was bred by Andy Gregson of Preston from his Herman Ceuster lines.
Sam Shanks wins Airdrie with a youngster he was given by club secretary Ian Rankin which in turn is out of Jim Wilkinson lines.
Remember to take a look at the www.Lanarkshire Racing Pigeon Federation .co.uk
Section winners
Centre
1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th B McCrindle & Son
North
1st Sharp Cummings Durning
2nd S Shanks
3rd,4th,5th GWP Macaloney
West
1st J Green & Son
2nd J Green & Son
3rd J Green & Son
4th A Nelson
5th A Nelson
Combine Average Leader Board
1st Eadie & Kelly of Newmains club 1382
2nd W Boswell of Burnbank club 1370
3rd Cameron & Fan of Uddingston club 1366
4th T Corrie & Son,G/son of Clarkston club 1344
5th J Green & Son of Burnbank club 1327
6th C Gray of Chryston club 1320
7th B McCrindle & Son of Chapelhall club1319
8th D Allison of Greenfield club1318
9th W Gordon of Blantyre club1314
10th T Richardson of Newmains club 1306
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire federation Press Officer
corrietom@aol.com