Lanarkshire Federation, Blaydon Race 11th July 2026 - 15-07-26

Details: Published: 15 July 2026; Hits: 89

Lanarkshire Federation, Blaydon Race 11th July 2026

This week we arrived again at Blaydon in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear ,North of England. Around 109 miles back into lower Central, Scotland.

The weather was very unpredictable throughout the week and with a fresh North East wind throughout the week it was going to be a challenge for the race controller.

A great introduction over the last few races is for face book video updates of our liberation site and liberation of the convoy from our race controller. Well done to all who has been helping with the extra work.

The convoy of 1200 birds had to wait until the thick mist cleared to allow a liberation at 13 15hrs into a fresh east wind. Fresh was an understatement and I think the birds quickly moved west and stayed there.

The convoy again found this race point extremely difficult with significant numbers missing at clock check.

Apparently we will not be returning to Blaydon with the Young Bird programme as the bridge at the liberation site isn't suitable for transport over 7.5 tons.

This week’s winner into the West section of the federation taking 2hrs 5 minutes for the 108 mile journey recording a velocity of 1515 ypm, for George Lightbody of Burnbank club.

This week’s 1st Open federation for George Lightbody

George had two pigeons come over the back of his loft and hit the loft together to take 1st,2nd West section,1st ,2nd Open federation 1201 birds.

2nd Open federation for George Lightbody

He also timed another to be 9th section,10th Open, so a great racing day for George who races out of the compound which is sited in the park the park around 500yds from his back garden.

George has a large garden but has always raced from this loft and so why change.

George Lightbody with his winners

George is a very well respected fancier that I first visited a number of years ago when he won the YB Open race, racing out of the Low Waters club that unfortunately folded a few years ago.

His winner were raced on the natural system with this winning yearling hen attracting herself to another mate as hers had been lost. His second over the pad was a yearling blue C sitting his first round of eggs as he had been spare early racing.

Both were bred from Louella Bulks that had been purchased as a kit but because of their maturity when received they were just put to stock.

Well done to George who is one of the great names in the Lanarkshire federation, wishing him all the best for the rest of the season.

Centre section winner Craig Cupples with a Blue hen sitting eggs .She was 2nd club Wooler1 earlier in the season, beaten by loft mate. Both her Sire and Dam were squeakers he obtained from Ken Droog of Forfar Sire Su 24 AF 154 as a yearling 1st club Darlington,43rd Federation 4,781 birds and the next week won 2nd club Bubwith ,51st federation,3,545 birds .In the past couple of seasons his three full brothers have won many top positions including 2nd section,6th Open Billericay SNFC,1st section,16th Open Brighton SNFC ,2nd section ,3rd Open Billericay SNFC .The Dam Su 24 AF 180 was unfortunately taken by BOP as a yearling. However her Sire was the Woulter cock ,he is Sire of many winners in club, Fed and SNFC .The Dam is a stock hen 2456.Her Sire being Hatrick 48 ,winner of 3 x 1st Feds in 48 days and also in that period he was 1st Open SNRPC Billericay 374 miles .The Dam of 2456 is a top stock hen, being a daughter of 1st Open NFC Saints. She is also an inbred G/Daughter of Champion Euro Diamond.

Craig Cupples winner of 1st Centre section & 1st Centre section for Craig Cupples

As you can see Craig has all the best lines out of Ken Droog of Forfar and I’m sure he will flourish with these cracking birds.

North section winner for Young & Kelly was a Blue cock 8506. His breeding is Herman Ceuster x Van den Bulk. Sire is 61308 from their race team when paired to a new stock hen they purchased last year. He had every race as a youngster and every old bird race only missing out last week’s Billericay flown on the widowhood system.

Young & Kelly winners of North section

This partnership have been flying brilliantly since joining the federation and are the ones to beat, sitting top of the Average board and last seasons "Champion" loft in Lanarkshire federation winning the Combine averages.

This week we move onto the last and longest race on the Lanarkshire programme which is Brighton in East Sussex ,England. This is around 380 miles into the centre of the federation.

Good luck to all members.

Section winners

West section

1st& 2nd G Lightbody

3rd W Semple

Centre

1st C Cupples

2nd& 3rd Graham Bros

North section

1st Young & Kelly