By Jimmy Graham

The 2008 racing season kicked off on Saturday 19th April from Shap. Eighty-two members sent 1,361 birds to the race point and at 1100 hrs the conveyer J. Bell cut the strings and had them away. A light East wind had them homing fast into Dumfries where velocities just hit the 1600 mark and there indeed is where we find the leading eight pigeons.

Topping the Fed this week is the loft of G.Russell of Nith Valley.

Nith Valley had 6 members entering 80 birds.

The winning bird recorded a velocity of 1614 and is a Yearling Mealy Pied Cock which won 1st Club, 1st West Section and 1st Open.

W.J.Smith who’s never far away in any race timed his Yearling Chec Cock to take 2nd Club, 2nd Section, 2nd Open on 1572.

His second bird took 6th Club, 7th Section and 7th Open on 1527.

I’ll keep with Nith Valley so I can finish the Fed results, so next we have A.Crosbie taking 3rd Club, 4th Section, 4th Open doing 1547.

A.Russell took the next two, being 4th and 5th Club, 5th and 6th Section, 5th and 6th Open on 1543 and 1536.  

Dumfries Social Club entered 134 birds from 4 members and taking the first two positions is the partnership of Lynn & Charteris timing two Chec two year olds to get 1st and 2nd Club, 3rd and 9th West Section and 3rd and 7th Open doing 1550 and 1518.

Dalbeattie Flying Club had 7 members enter 83 birds and its 1st prize to R.Shennan taking 1st Club, 8th Section doing 1465.

Springfield Homing Club was a two sided event for fanciers Dennis Graham and young Gordon Grant.

Dennis took the first five positions in the Club and Gordon the next eight.

The results being, Dennis 1st to 5th Club, 1st to 5th Section and 9th and 10th Open with his leading two, one of which was a Yearling Louella Gaby Vandenabeele Blue Cock. The velocities being 1499 and 1492.

Gordon was 6th to 12th Club, 6th to 12th Section doing between 1490 and 1475.

Springfield had 217 birds competing from 10 members and the returns were 100%.

Eastriggs Homing Club sent 156 birds to this one from 11 members. Taking the red this week is Mr.  & Mrs.Chris Little doing 1475. The partnerships winner had 166 to spare over Bill Piries’ bird that homed on 1311 to take 2nd Club.

Alistair McMillan is 3rd on 1297 and Mr. & Mrs.Mark Goldie took the next two doing 1284 and 1281.

Brydekirk Homing Club comes in next with H.Dobie at the top of the ladder; his good bird was doing 1434.

The 2nd and 3rd spots went to Mr. & Mrs.Phil Heslop of Annan on 1333 and 1210.

Scaife & Garner came in 4th with 1184.

Brydekirk had only 4 members racing this week and they sent 63 birds.

Hoddam Flying Club had 171 birds competing from 9 members.

Taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd is G.Dalgliesh & Son; they saw two birds approach their loft and a third one coming quick to join them with all three trapping together. The winner was a home breed Van Reet. The velocities were 1459.9, 1459 and 1458.

Jim Carruthers came in next to take 4th Club on 1437.

Mr.  & Mrs.J.Graham comes in next having sixteen pigeons drop together to take thirteen of the twenty positions printed. I sent twenty three birds and had a full house return.

Lockerbie Homing Club sent 127 birds from 7 members and the winning loft went to Ewan Hind. He timed the leading three birds on 1383, 1381 and 1344. Ewans loft lies away to the East of Lockerbie so this was a good result.

Kenny Thomson flies between Lockerbie and Moffat and he took the next three.

Annan Homing Club entered 133 birds from only 10 members. (Results to follow next week).

Annan Premier Club was down at Appleton on Saturday 19th April where 8 members sent 92 birds and timing the winner is J.Wallace of Dalbeattie doing 1126.

J.McQuat from Locharbriggs takes the second spot on 1108.

Ewart Warwick of Brydekirk nips into 3rd position doing 1099.

Mr.  & Mrs.R.M.Seaton of Annan is 4th, 5th and 6th. Roy’s birds were doing 1052, 1021 and 1019. Roy’s brother Jim Seaton of Collin near Dumfries came next on 974.

Did you notice how the leading birds are well spread out?  

Well that wraps it up for this week, next week we have Leyland.

As always any news call on 01576300615 or e-mail address: jimgraham30@hotmail.com.

“Clintpark”