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Around Almond Valley 01-05-16

 

Around Almond Valley

with FLJ

 

Week two of the Almond Valley racing calendar saw the federation cross the border into England to the village of Otterburn in Northumberland. It was yet another good race despite similar conditions to the opening week ie. Strong headwinds and low temperatures. I think the pigeons tend to make lighter work of inclement weather than we do, though it’s hard to say whether the stiffer opening races will be of benefit to them later on or whether it will eventually take its toll as the season develops.

There were 1837birds entered across the six clubs and coming out on top this week is the old fox, Geordie Harris of the Forth & Clyde club. Geordie is rightly considered by many in this area to be one the best ever flyers in Central Scotland, with his achievements including 1st Open SNFC Frome,3rd Open SNFC Sartilly,5th Open SNFC Ypres, 6th Open SNFC Rennes etc. the man knows racing pigeons inside out. At 77years old his enthusiasm for the sport is incredible, he’s into everything and certainly isn’t afraid to try something new. When not with his pigeons and dogs, he can been seen on his motorbike, golfing or playing the guitar- a Jack of all trades is George.

Congratulations Geordie on a superb start to the season.

This week’s Top 20

  1. G. Harris, Forth & Clyde-1174
  2. D. Bald, Balerno-1173
  3. G. Harris - 1173
  4. A. McCalley & Son, Armadale & District-1167
  5. A. McCalley & Son - 1167
  6. A. McCalley & Son - 1167
  7. A. McCalley & Son 1166
  8. D. McBeath, Armadale & District-1166
  9. A. Ritchie, Armadale & District-1165
  10. A. Ritchie-1161
  11. J. Hendry, Armadale & District-1158
  12. J. Hendry-1157
  13. J. Hendry-1157
  14. J. Hendry-1157
  15. A. McCalley & Son-1155
  16. A, McCalley & Son-1155
  17. A. Ritchie-1153
  18. S. Fleming, Armadale & District- 1148
  19. A. Ritchie-1147
  20. J. Urquhart, Forth & Clyde-1146

Armadale & District Homing Society

It was a smashing entry from the club this week with 733birds sent. With good returns again reported and a few still to send out their full teams, there could possibly be a bigger entry this coming weekend.

Taking 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th is the A. McCalley & Son partnership with 6 seconds separating the four pigeons. The winning pigeon is a two year old latebred and nestmate to the hen that was 12th fed from the opening race last week, being bred from a Walter Masson of Inverallochy cock and the partnership’s good chequer hen.

The second bird and 5th fed is a two year old cock bred by John Duthie of Dundee off a pair of pigeons he received from the master-Tommy Blair. This cock has been a goodun and amongst his previous prizes he was 5th fed from the same race last season.

The third bird is a two year hen bred by Ralston Graham of Langholm and has been another steady performer to the loft having now won 1st,2nd and 3rd in the club.

The fourth placed pigeon is a McCalley creation known in the loft as a ‘Wooffroffe’- with one of the parents being bred by the Wooff Brothers of New Ollerton and the other bred by the Woodroffe Brothers of Cornhill, a couple of the all-time great lofts on the UK pigeon racing scene.

In 5th place is one of the federation’s best and most consistent fanciers, David McBeath, who wins many prizes each year in club,fed and national racing. With him being 13th federation last week and 8th this time round, it has been a fairly modest start by his own standards, but one thing’s for certain this is a loft to watch in the coming weeks in all competitions. Davie’s first pigeon this week is a two year old cock on roundabout, who flew fantastically as a yearling being on the fed result most weeks. This bird was bred by Armadale club mate Tam Gavin and actually came into Davie as a stray youngster-he obviously decided he likes Davie better than Tam as he kept coming back. They are strange at times are the doos.

 

Balerno Homing Society

Taking 1st club and 2nd federation for the second week in a row is crack flyer Dougie Bald. Dougie’s first pigeon is a two year old dark chequer pied cock sent sitting four day old eggs in one of his upstairs sections. Both this pigeon’s parents came from Davie Reed of Duns and this is the latest in a number of performances for the cock, as last year he was 11th, 12th and 25th in the federation.

Dougie enjoyed a good race, also being 2nd and 3rd club. The 2nd placed pigeon is one of Dougie’s black ones that have done some hellish winning in the fed over the years. This black hen herself already has a 2nd and 8th fed to her credit. She was sent to the race sitting seven day old eggs and is a daughter of a key breeder in the Bald loft- a cock coming from Willie Hay of Methil, when he was paired to a hen Dougie obtained from G. Grant and Son of Gretna,which is of Porter and Richardson origin.

The 3rd placed bird is a yearling chequer cock that won 15th Fed last season as a youngster and his sire is again a Davie Reed Vandenabeele, an unrung cock that has bred Dougie a lot of good birds. The dam of the pigeon goes back to Dougie’s old Kenny Moger pigeons.

Fourth in Balerno this week is Ian Jamieson with a two year old grizzle hen through his dad’s old family. Ian and his mother have made a good start to the season and I’m sure they’ll be hard to handle once the distance gets out a bit.

Fifth in Balerno is Colin Bain, Colin is well known for his great long distance performances over the years. He was to the fore once again last year when he clocked a beauty to win the section and finish 7th Open in the SNFC Gold Cup Race from Alencon, with just over 14 hours on the wing. Having said this Colin can sprint with the best of them and his first pigeon this week is a yearling Staf Van Reet cock he obtained from Chris McCann. The bird was one of a kit of six Colin received from Chris last year, sent up from his friend in the northwest of England. Colin has had problems with his electronic timing system this past week and I’ve my fingers crossed it is back in working order for the weekend.

 

Carnwath Homing Society

Continuing with his perfect start is last week’s Carnwath winner-Scott McArdle. Scott actually went a couple better this week as he is also second, third and fifth-super racing. The winner this week is a two year old blue pied cock containing his Roland Janssen and Dave Atkin bloodlines and flown on the roundabout system.

His 2nd club is a yearling blue white flight cock bred in the purple being off Walter Boswell’s Spin Hen and one of his good Louella Jan Aarden cocks, making this yearling a full brother to Walter’s top hen Louella Jenna. If he turns out to be half as good as Jenna, then I’m sure Scott will count himself a lucky man.

The 3rd placed pigeon was last week’s 1st Prize winner through Scott’s Colin Crowe and Dave Atkin breeding. This chequer cock now has a 1st, 2nd and 3rd club and is for sure a handy one.

In 4th place are the Thomson Brothers with a yearling cock gifted to them by Willie Collins of Coatbridge. He is flown on widowhood at the moment and I’m told this is the first time the brothers have tried the system, so I can only wish them good luck with it for the rest of the season. Geordie hasn’t been keeping too well of late, let’s hope he is on the mend and feeling better soon.

Well done Scott and the Thomsons, keep up the good work.

 

East Calder Homing Society

Taking the first four in East Calder this week is one of the federations top partnerships- Freddie Jamieson & Son. The quality of stock housed in these lofts is phenomenal and it shows itself in the results. The bulk of the stock are centred on the Rietvink pigeons of Galaxy Lofts, the super Planet Van Loons of Bolton & Williamson with the addition of one or two other top winning lines.Freddie’s winner is a two year old cock raced on the roundabout system, with this being his first time in a basket this season. His sire is a full brother to the famous Tips of Marijke Vink, whilst the dam is a Van Loon obtained at the clearance sale of Bolton & Williamson. A daughter of this pair won 2x1st, 2nd and 3rd Fed-real super pigeons.The second pigeon timed to the Jamieson loft is a three year old blue white flight cock that has won five 1st Prizes to date, there aren’t many like him around. The sire of this pigeon is Dante -one of the finest breeders to come through Galaxy Loft’s Jupiter line, with the dam being another Bolton and Williamson hen.The impact Dante has had on Freddie’s team is outstanding, with many children and grandchildren showing their worth. Freddie’s 3rd and 4th placed birds are both through this cock, with the 3rd placed pigeon winning 1st club and Section from the young bird open race last season.Taking 5th place in East Calder is last week’s weeks winners-Mr & Mrs Archie Fleming.Well done Freddie and Archie. 

Forth & Clyde

There are some very good birds emerging from this club at the moment, with all of the first three pigeons being in the top four last week.1st club and 1st fed is Geordie Harris’ Treble 5 hen, which was 4th club and 25th fed last week. The fed topper is raced on roundabout and contains the lines of Geordie’s great Black hen (9x 1st) as well as those of Braspenning’s Felle and Johnston Eagleson’s White Cheeks.2nd club and 3rd fed is Geordie’s yearling chequer hen ‘288’, which was 2nd club and 9th fed last week. This hen now has a first and two second prizes. Like the treble 5 hen, she also contains the lines of Geordie’s Black hen and Braspenning’s Felle through the dam, her sire is direct off Micky Lennon’s famous Herbie, a fed topper on seven occasions.In 3rd place is Jimmy Urquhart with the yearling widowhood cock that was 1st club and 6th in the fed last week. This cock also won 1st prize from the third young bird race last season and has the making of a topper. His sire was a gift to Jimmy from the late John Ellis, whilst the dam is one of Jimmy’s Leo Van Rijns.Geordie Harris also took 4th place with a yearling hen, he didn’t know the breeding off the top of his head and has been coming down with the flu since the weekend, so will be excused on this occasion.Cairns & Hardie were 5th in the club and have had a good race with a few on the result.Well done Geordie, Jimmy and Cairns & Hardie. 

West Calder Homing Society

John Bird is at it again up in West Calder, taking the first four positions and finishing 21st,22nd and 23rd in the fed.John’s first four pigeons were all hens flown on roundabout, the first of which is a yearling bred from a pair obtained from Mr & Mrs Hitchcock of Windsor off their Freialdenhofen pigeons.The second placed pigeon also has some Hitchcock influence, with the Dam being from their De Rauw Sablon pigeons.

The sire is a direct son of John McNeill’s combine winner and prepotent breeder Sanny’s Memory

John’s 3rd placed bird was a yearling hen bred by Foxwood Lofts,the hen in 4th is a homebred two year old Freddie Jamieson X John McNeill blue hen  and the cock in 5th is a yearling whose sire was bred in the Royal Lofts and his dam is one of John’s Jan Aardens.

Good flying by our president, John Bird.

This weekend sees the fed racing from Catterick in North Yorkshire, being approximately 130 miles to the middle of the federation, we are getting into deeper waters now.

A good clear day is forecast with the wind westerly, it has the makings of a good race. Good luck all. 

To report a stray pigeon, please paste the following link in your web browser and select Go:

http://www.rpra.org/stray-reporting/