Barclay McCrindle & Son - Lanarkshire Federation Young Bird Champions.

I took the time on Saturday 21st September in the company of my Dad to visit the best young bird flyer in Lanarkshire federation 2023 - well that said they did win it in 2022 & 2021. And they only have had three seasons competing in the federation!

The McCrindles are Glasgow lads who learned their trade flying the pouter pigeons before keeping the racers with brilliant success in Glasgow federation.

They might not be the household name of those Champions of the past but they are on fast dial to get there.

There are a lot of myths and stories you get about fanciers with such achievements. It is easier for some to think these performances aren't possible. The facts are they are there to be seen: blitzing a federation week in week out with their YBs. One such myth is they are mob flyers, they rear 140 youngsters to be left with 50, rubbish!

Well they started with 56 out the nest and by the time the local falcons had their say they had 36 left for training.

Once racing they were flying 28 and going right through the federation programme without loss.

The two Barclays in the company of Tom Corrie snr(C)

In the old birds they started with 16 birds, sending and average of 3 birds per race and to four races they only sent one entry. That's from 70 miles to 450 miles to compete the programme and they completed same finishing 6th overall in the Combine Average board. 

OLD BIRD RESULTS

OPEN

Wooler 1 – 16 sent – Open 33^rd, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 56th (3678b)

Wooler 2 – 3 sent – 87^th (2947b)

Thirsk – 6 sent – 7^th, 47th, 60th, 78th (5378b)

Worksop – 6 sent – 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 63^rd, 78^th, 91st (3440b)

Worksop Yearling Derby – 6 sent – 3^rd, 4th, 5th, 88^th, 92nd, 103rd.

Melton Mowbray – sent 2 – 7^th (2108b)

Billericay – Sent 1 – 34th

Guernsey – sent 1 – 5^th

SECTION

Wooler 1 – 1^st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th^. (1423b)

Thirsk – 4^th (2533b)

Worksop Old – 2^nd, 3rd, 4th (1655b)

Worksop Yearling Derby – 1^st, 2nd, 3rd, 38th, 39th, 103rd.

Billericay – 13^th section.

Melton Mowbray – 2^nd, 11th. (975b)

10^TH Old Bird Averages

SNFC Brighton Inland National– Sent 3 – 2^nd Section 45^th Open

Sent to three old bird nationals and timed in all three.

Yes you read right their average send was 3 birds in old bird racing.

YOUNG BIRD RESULTS

OPEN

Wooler YB1 – sent 28 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,8^th,9^th , 24,26,28,31,32, 56,57,59,60,61,62,64 Open 2349b.

Wooler YB2 – sent 28 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,9^th,21^st,33^rd,34^th,41^st,42^nd,43^rd,66^th,68^th,69^th Open 2322b.

Wooler YB3 – Sent 28 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,5^th,6^th,8^th,11^th,12^th,31^st,34^th,35^th,49^th Open 2881b.

Alnwick YB 1 – Sent 28 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,13^th,18^th,19^th,20^th,21^st,22^nd,23^rd,24^th,25^th,33^rd Open 2703b.

Alnwick YB 2 – Sent 28 – 8^th,9^th,12^th,13^th,14^th,24^th,26^th,30^th,31^st,35^th, 38^th,44^th,67^th,68^th,92^nd. Open 2523b.

Thirsk YB – Sent 28 – 44^th, 69^th, 105^th, 106th Open 1609b.

Section

Wooler YB1 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,8^th,9^th,11^th,12^th,13^th,14^th,15^th, 24^th,25^th,27^th,28^th,29^th,30^th,31^st .  1372b.

Wooler YB2 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,8^th,9^th, 12^th,13^th,15^th,16^th,17^th,21^st,22^nd,23^rd,31^st . 1283b

WoolerYB3 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,8^th,9^th,10^th,11^th,16^th . 1316b.

Alnwick YB1 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,5^th,7^th,8^th,9^th,10^th,11^th,12^th,13^th,14^th,19^th. 1352b.

Alnwick YB2 – 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,6^th,7^th,8^th,9^th,11^th,16^th,26^th,27^th,29^th. 1268b.

Winning the YB Averages for 3^rd year in a row.

TITAN GAMES

They also like a bird to enter the UK’S premier Ace Pigeon Award, The Titan Games. And the boy’s record in this is second to none, in the two years it has been running the McCrindles have won:

8^TH Overall YB category 2021

2^nd Overall YB Category 2022

And the boys have a very special hen that has won numerous prizes including 2x1st Fed who has a fantastic co-efficient for this year’s awards, And her nest mate has also won top prizes.

I'm not 100% on my facts and figures but you would struggle to find anyone in Europe that could compete with that percentage sent against a combine average number of 46,747 birds sent.

I think that answers that myth.

The second one is they train their birds within an inch of their life, sending every day to 40 miles and that's how they get their birds to come in batches on race days. Barclay said this year they loft trained and the only training they had was with the federation transporter from 15 miles before racing started.

Barclay works full time while old Barclay has major difficulties even entering the club hut with his breathing never mind the loft, so the system is set around old Barclay working the pigeons round the loft (cardio vascular interval training) with as little loft entry as possible.

The birds must obey every command of Old Barclay or they are removed, no ifs or buts!!

As young Barclay said, it would be great to be able to put a lot more time in to the pigeons but like the majority in the federation he has to work full time and look after family etc. Imagine what these guys would be like if they were full time fanciers.

Present race lofts

The racing system

They developed the accidental system that was explained in my last article that the birds are exercised 6 to 8 times a day for short bursts of 15 minute intervals. I said to Barclay that people are sceptical to believe this and he replied people don't want to believe it as it would take dedication and time and most aren't willing to go to that level of dedication. So believe it or not but that's the system. Train like its 1920 and your birds will go at the speeds of the 1920’s. Simple.

Barclay “It’s obvious we are doing something different and when folks ask we tell them, then you get the idiotic report of “talking rubbish”, well don’t ask!!

Their young bird performances over the past three seasons are simple mind blowing and up with the best in pigeons.

I asked him what route he preferred to race, he said it made no odds to him as the same good fanciers would finish at the top of the sheet, good fanciers and top class pigeons will always get to the front. If they decided to go down the west he would get more overfly as he is one of the shorter flying lofts at present.

They went through the first 5 races and never lost a pigeon in fact they had all their birds recorded in their ETS clock before attending the club for strike of a couple of hours after first bird arrivals.

Most will appreciate in today’s erratic racing that is simple remarkable.

We had a nice cuppa in their conservatory that overlook the garden and 3 racing lofts and the first thing you see is the cracking views of the countryside surrounding their home. 

The two Barclays complement each other very well with Barclay snr who provides the daily routine needed for the bird’s management of the ultra-successful system. Barclay jnr is a hard working union representative fighting the cause of workers throughout the country.

This doesn't stop him in his enthusiasm for the sport but is quick to point out his dad is the man who puts in all his time to the daily routine.

Barclay Jnr controls the health and diet of the pigeons and now the very early and very late daily scraping of the lofts.

Barclay has done his research and has sourced the best of lines throughout Europe and probably has the best collection of Heremans Ceusters in the country. The lads have developed a great friendship with Wullie Donnachie of Dundee who provides all his top lines for the McCrindles to race, Frans Zwols and Jan Hooymans.

Barclay isn't a pigeon seller he leaves this to others and only concentrates in racing the birds.

They have a 5 year plan and presently are in their 3rd year of the plan. This includes significant federation wins in old bird racing and next season will fly 24 celibate hens on a trial system to a new 16ft loft that they are self-building. This will include 3 identical sections and the birds will be rotated each day within the sections.

They are also racing 18 total widowhood cocks.

I said that's a lot of spare partners for those birds. Barclay explained the stock pigeons will be bred early and they will be split to provide partners for the racers for motivation.

The other thing you hear is they can only fly youngsters, well to finish 6th overall in the Combine Averages and 10^th in Old bird (way in front of many top lofts who fly numerous amount of pigeons) puts that rubbish to bed !and on top setting up a new system for season 2024, time will tell.

Some say they sit in the best bit of the federation .Barclay said this wasn't his first choice of locations with a large number of bids for other properties in the hub of Lanarkshire and not sitting out with the main drag of the birds into Lanarkshire.

Barclay says if you look at the stats not many people have been consistently successful into this area of the federation. And why were the guys who were furthest east in the fed not doing what he is doing before he came if it’s an advantage???

When standing in the garden on a bright September morning with clear visibility although having open country side it also has its negatives. One being a large number of wind turbines that blight the environment standing ugly and overpowering the area. These have been increasing in numbers and have an impact on birds. It must be like running the gauntlet for the birds at the home end. Barclay saying they have seen the local crows being killed on the blades.

Barclay says in the continent these blades must have bright colours to prevent such injuries.

Put on top of that the numerous quarries round about him housing numerous pair of hawks, ye dead easy!!

As said he has a great friendship with Wullie Donnachie and has been very impressed with his stock, Jan Hooyman and Frans Zwols, Willie has one of the finest collections of Zwols and Hooymans in the country and these have been raced along with his own stock originating he brought from Glasgow which include Debacker and Van deVelde lines which provide them with very reliable pigeons that win against keen competition and seem to last the course of racing into Lanarkshire.

These have been topped up with direct William de Bryne, direct Jan van de Pasch and direct Eijerkamp (All the top top Heremans Ceusters lines) and a couple from good friend John Jackson.

Barclay stated that Leo Hereman base pigeons are ultra-successful and the most highly sot lines in the sport.

These highly successful birds need a successful system and as explained earlier it is simply unique!

Barclay I said, to fly cocks and hens separate sexes and let them out 6 to 8 times per day is something that just doesn't add up. How do they fly, How do you feed, How does it work?

He replied it may even be more time they are out, if I come in around 6pm and it's good I will turn them out again.

I said tell me from the egg how your system works?

The stock birds are paired around the first week in December with all birds coming from the stock and youngsters are reared in a normal process. I asked at what age are they shifted, Barclay jnr said I leave that to my Dad, who replied as soon as the starting popping out nest and hanging around nest area they are shifted.

They are fed a heavy mix VL Start Plus up until March/April and then it’s lightened to get them into the air.

Barclay laughed saying it’s not unusual for them to kick a football among them in the garden to encourage flight. When they start to fly they are allowed 2 or 3 hours’ time out before calling back in.

Barclay says like most folks youngsters they are unpredictable in their return and management but once the birds are up and exercising well they must tow the line with quick response, or they are removed from the team right away.

They have a drone in the management team also and if the birds are developing bad habits like trying to land on house roof it is deployed to discourage such behaviour. It is also used in the daily battle against the hawk.

The YBs are basket trained for one week with birds being fed and watered in aluminium crates like those used by federation. They don't spend all night in these but returned to loft in the evening and return to basket next day.

The birds drink their water in the metal troughs in aviaries on the front of the lofts once they are shifted into loft from nest.

The radio is on in the loft from morning till evening ,its playing Classic FM, both feels it has a calming effect on the pigeons. 

Birds are vaccinated for Paraymxo with Colombovac on two separate occasions before racing starts. All birds are vaccinated with Colombovac .

The feed has been Versela laga mixes but this year they have been racing three Vanrobeye mixes and feel it hits the target for what they are looking for variety and quality.

The three Vanrobaeys mix numbers are 183 (Premier Power Relax),187 (Premier power sport) & 35 (top energy) 

These are fed dependant on the weather and temperature, are provided small portions every time they exercise and this is judged by Barclay snr. Barclay jnr says sometimes during the exercise programme we will shout them in and then don't feed them, they will get the feed the next time, it is all about keeping them on their toes. It's up to the fancier to assess what the birds need.

When asked how do you get them to fly for 15 minutes and get the back into loft .They said it's all about routine and the birds getting into that system. Birds will explode better in these short flights and this gives them the ability to leave quick from their liberation. The race is always won at the race, always! 

These birds aren't starved into them being all over you. You will never see our birds sitting on my shoulder.

Barclay says you have got to stop the stress in pigeons. Stress is the big "No" in pigeons reduce the stress and your birds will perform better. No road training in racing as this only creates stress.

Pigeon racing is like any sport it’s about what to feed at the right time, it’s about rest it’s about creating great health and top condition. Pigeons is like all sports - it's a science.

Fanciers need to spend more time watching their flock rather than trying to force it out them.

What is your weekly routine for feed and water during racing?

Saturday -All three mixes on return  Water-Syndicate lofts Vita Pro 

Sunday -Relax mixture  -Water -Gem strike Barclay says this is a brilliant product.

Monday -Relax mixture-Water -Plain water

Tuesday -Relax mixture-Water -Plain water

Wednesday -Relax and Sport mixture 50/50 Syndicate loft energy oil on corn with Herbal vita-Water -Vita Pro

Thursday -Sport mixture and energy mix 50/50 Energy oil on corn with herbal vital-Water Vita pro

Friday at 10 .30am Sports& Energy mixture energy oil with herbal vital on corn for 30 minutes anything left which is usually maize is taken away to be given back at 3pm. But they don't usually eat much at this time. Water-plain water.

How do you pick your birds for the race

Youngster generally are raced every week with the pool pigeons being observed by observation not by hand. They watch changes in behaviour, the ones that hesitate on entry aren't going to be your first and probable shouldn't be raced.

The birds skins never pink and clear usually scally ,the pink flesh thing is for the camera and is easily achieved if you dip your bird in warm water and massage the skin. it’s a fallacy it need to be clear.

They explained that their birds tend to be flat in muscle and never blown out, Barclay felt that birds that are blown out in body are fed to the spoon and go down quick when they need to work in a tight race.

No treatment is provided other than dropping tests are sent weekly during the season, they don't get bother with looking for marble type droppings .If something is shown then they would treat. Just excellent natural supplements are used in the management of birds health.

They get YBS so the birds are fasted for 2 to 3 days and slowly give light diet till improve. Everyone gets this virus there is no hiding. 

They loss a big percentage of YBs to the local falcons, they don't loss many old birds to them and the older birds are wise to them, often seen getting to the same hight as these predators' YBS haven't developed the skills to learn quick enough.

They have a number of large gravel mines next to them with these predators nesting and as we all are aware these horrible winged killers are somehow protected.

I wonder if racing pigeons will ever be protected.

As stated Barclay has done his homework in relation to what he feels are the best birds but also studies systems and motivation of birds. A well motivated bird takes a bit of beating and Barclay said that his timer in Guernsey race 450 miles won 5th Open and was pooled to the max because she was super motivated and was crying out to be raced. The pigeon hadn't been in a race basket all season and was loft exercised before her top performance. Barclay said he was so confident in her she was his only entry and was disappointed she wasn't 1st Open. That's how much he felt she was right. 

Food for thought in motivation!

I said I don't think most will believe that a bird that hadn't been raced could win so well at the distance. I'm sure the race sheet would verify this statement.

The federation results show who is at the top of their game and Barclay would like to see how many birds sent by each fancier next to their result as it gives everyone a better understanding of quality against numbers. 

He also feels that every member of Lanarkshire should be allowed to join any club within the boundaries of Lanarkshire federation. Also clubs should central mark in each section to encourage competition and create better socialising.

Introduce old hen racing within young bird programme.

It allows the elder members time for a chat with others they haven't seen for a while and the younger fanciers can help with the physical work.

He feels we need to organise more social events encouraging the wife's/partners to attend buy one ticket get other free. ,Federation subsidising events like a BBQ gathering between old bird racing ending and YBs starting for families to enjoy. 

Barclay says the winners always come out the south and on a race day its rather comical to watch Barclay snr and jnr and friend Wullie Donnachie take up their observation posts to catch the first birds arrival. He has plan to build a new sun room with decking area to help stop everyone standing on chairs to get the best view. 

We didn't handle any of the birds because as we all know its heavy moult time. I could observe them from the aviaries.  Barclay snr has invited us back to handle the residents of his lofts.

When I asked Barclay what he looks for when basketing his birds for races, he said as if they have a clammy feel. 

A truly remarkable system with world class results to back it up.

Food for thought from progressive thinking fanciers.

Thanks to both of them for a cracking write up for Lanarkshire news.

Tom Corrie jnr

Lanarkshire Press Officer

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