Lanarkshire Federation-Alnwick 2 Race 29/08/26
This week we return to Alnwick in Northumberland race five on the Lanarkshire calendar. weather at the liberation was perfect and continued excellent on the route back into lower Central, Scotland.
The race controller had the 1380 birds away at 08 00 in no wind, the birds cleared the site well and the race was on.
This week’s winner into the far west of the federation taking 2hrs 10 minutes for its 98 mile journey was for Tom Houston of Westburn near , Cambuslang.
Tom Houston showing his federation winner
The winning pigeon a Cheq Cock flown on the darkness system recorded a velocity of 1329 beating next in the federation by an impressive 21 ypm.
This week’s 1st sect,1st Open federation for Tom Houston of Blantyre club
I contacted Tom to congratulate him on his excellent winner and find out a little more detail on how he achieved such an outstanding performance.
Tom has been in the sport a good number of years and was initially in the Cambuslang club before it folded, joining the nearby Blantyre club.
He said his last 1st Open was in 2004 from Leicester with around 5,000 birds competing.
His winner a February bred pigeon is from a pair of Jos Cools purchased from Louella Pigeon World last season. They have proven an excellent investment with the nest mate also showing excellent form.
The winner has already scored three times in the federation from the five races its competed in.
The pigeon is road trained during the week from Lesmahagow and also has one trainer per week with federation transporter .
The birds are fed on Bamfords Super YB mixture with fats added Thursday for the Saturday race. On return they have Gerdon 1 in the water.
He had 31 of his 40 YB team away and 31 returned.
Overall Tom has been very happy with the racing with excellent returns. Like most he has lost more training than racing.
Well done Tom on a cracking winner and all the best for the last federation race this week.
This week’s 1st Open winning loft
Centre section winner
Graham Bros of Carluke club
Andy was delighted in winning the section and having four in the top 10 of the Open. Andy hasn't been completely happy with his results over the last few races and so slightly adjusted his feed and stepped up the road training with apparent effect.
His section winner is a mixture of Leo Herman x Merlin lines and he was pleased with the race having 31/32 home at time of report.
Andy would like to congratulate Tom Houston on his federation winner and Mark Gilchrist on winning North section.
North section winner Mark Gilchrist of Chryston club.
Report from Karl Kelly
Taking an excellent 1st,2nd,3rd club is club stalwart Mark Gilchrist. Mark is that member who opens the club house on a Friday for anyone to dropping off their birds, he gets the club baskets ready with his able apprentice Liam and also there to closes the club after clocks on Saturday.
He is having a great run with his small team of youngsters as this is his third week in a row he had them all home .In fact he was all home in 35 minutes on Saturday. Mark has trained them from Lanark racecourse and a couple on the federation transporter from Elsrickle.
His winner is a cheq cock bred by clubmate Young & Kelly out of Van den Bulk x Luc Vervoot.
Mark says he had very sticky training early in their education when losses were heavy across the country and thinks the ones that made it really learned from it.
Feeding is Gerry Plus with Champions plus and also energy mix.
Mark would like to thank the control team and convoyers for their hard work in getting the birds home in great condition week in and week out ,Paul Macaloney Gary Green(Race controllers), Jimmy ,Josey and Brian our convoyers.
Also well done to all other section winners.
James & Gary Green of Burnbank had another fantastic race taking 2nd,3rd,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th,10th,11th,12th,13th,14th West section.
Gary Green of J Green & Son had another fantastic race winning Burnbank club and 13 in top 15 of section.
GPS Tracker provided by Gary Green, this is a 2025 late bred that has been up with the first to the loft last week & Another late bred with GPS Tracker.
HBW Lofts of Glasgow RPA club had another stunning race taking 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th,6th,7th,8th,9th,10th,11th,12th Glasgow section and very much up with the winners.
Chris Holloway of HBW Lofts is having a brilliant season in Glasgow section and his Champion YB "The Machine" wins its 4 x 1st section.
2nd Glasgow section for HBW Lofts & 3rd Glasgow section for HBW Lofts
Around the clubs
Airdrie club
1st,2nd,3rd
Ian Rankin winner in Airdrie club
Blantyre club
1st & 3rd T Houston
2nd W Gordon
Burnbank club
1st,2nd,3rd J Green & Son
James & Gary Green had a great race
Carluke club
1st,2nd,3rd Graham Bros
Andy Graham ( R) winner of 1st club Carluke,1st club Lanarkshire Social Circle and 1st Centre section. Great flying Andy!
Chapelhall club
1st,2nd,3rd
Barclay McCrindle winners in Chapelhall club and have 6 in top 13 of Centre section
Chryston club
1st,2nd,3rd M Gilchrist
Mark Gilchrist winner in Chryston club
Clarkston club
1st,2nd,3rd T Corrie Son G/son
Tom Corrie ,Son & G/son win another in Clarkston with a hen bred out Kevin Miller out of the Lanarkshire Social Circle YB Exchange ,this hen went on to win 2 x 1st clubs as a yearling.
Coatbridge SC
1st,2nd,3rd R Armour
Robert Armour is having a fabulous season winning another in Coatbridge SC
Dalziel club
1st,2nd,3rd J Boyle
Joe Boyle had an excellent race winning Dalzell club
Lanark club
1st D Forster & Son
Davie Forester & Son win another in Lanark & Dist. club
2nd T Greenfield
3rd Mr & Mrs Elliot
Uddingston club
1st,2nd,3rd D Young & Son
Davie Young ( L) winner in Uddingston club
Section winners
West section
1st T Houston
2nd,3rd J Green & Son
Centre section
1st,2nd,3rd Graham Bros
1st Centre section for Andy Graham in Carluke club
North section
1st,3rd M Gilchrist
2nd R Armour
Glasgow section
1st,2nd,3rd HBW Lofts
The Machine winner of 4 x 1st section for HBW Lofts
Combine Averages Update
1st W Holland 1199
2nd Graham Bros 1181
3rd Gault & Quinn
4th J Wood
5th K Docherty
6th J & H Brown & Higgins
Young Bird Averages Update
1st B McCrindle & Son 1245
2nd R Armour 1223
3rd J Green & Son
4th A Nelson
5th Cameron & Fan
The race itself was more of what we expect from that distance with excellent returns reported.
This week we are at Ripon around 155 miles back into Lanarkshire, fingers crossed it’s a good race for the fanciers. This is the federation Gold Ring event, so good luck to all competing.
This week will see the Combine and YB average winners crowned ,best of luck to all competing for these honours.
Wee Funny
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
