Lanarkshire News - Dalziel flying club 2024 season Presentation night.
Dalzell Flying Club held their 2024 Prize Presentation on the 31st January 2025 in the comfortable surroundings of the Motherwell Miners Club. Our guest Quiz Panellists were John Leggate, former president of both South Lanarkshire Federation and the SNFC and currently vice president of Lanarkshire Federation. On the racing account (among other prominent positions) John has been twice 1st section in the SNFC.
Dalzell officials and panel members. Left to right Douglas Telfer (president), Jim Latimer (secretary / treasurer), John Leggate, Lewis McCalley, Joe Boyle (vice president / race secretary), Andrew Suckle.
Lewis McCalley , currently flying in the Clarkston Club but previously with his father in Avonbridge where they won 28 SNFC certificates over 5 years. Now flying with Lanarkshire Federation, 2024 proved a dream season with four 1st Open and three 2nd Open.
Andrew Suckle , currently vice president of the SNFC , he is committed to long distance racing but still likes to compete in every race with seven 1sts Coalburn Club 2024. Andrew is also the proud owner of an SNFC Silver Award winning Blue Cock.
A very enjoyable evening followed with the panel members proving informative ,honest , forthright and on occasions humorous. Nominating the best ever fancier they have met, John Leggate elected Davie Donaldson, Glassford , while Lewis McCalley went for Albert Woodroffe from NE England and Andrew Suckle selected a family member Malcolm Mathieson, Coalburn.
Trophy's on display
Principal Prize winners as follows :
Jim Cassidy was undoubtedly the 2024 star performer in Dalzell Flying Club winning the Inland Average, Old bird average (for the second consecutive year) and Combined Average plus 13 individual trophies and awards.
Joe Boyle had another successful season winning the young bird average, six 1sts and six trophies and chasing Jim Cassidy all the way to the last YB race in pursuit of the Combined Average.
David Penman in spite of being in indifferent health over the last few years, is still a devotee of long-distance racing winning 1st, 2nd and 4th Yeovil and having the first bird to be timed in Dalzell from the SNFC Alencon race, collecting the Mrs R. Telfer Trophy. Ably assisted by Maureen, David won four trophies including the White Vision Trophy for the Lowest Winning Velocity.
Sandy and Ross Steven had a very good YB season after old bird racing was curtailed due to Sandy having to undergo a serious operation. The partnership won three trophies including the Tramontana Ace Young Bird Trophy with a cracking Dark Chequer Cock which won the last two races.
Matt and Robert Dunsmore have been staunch supporters of the club since Matt re-joined after a number of years absence from the sport. They won the Willie Forrester Memorial Trophy for 1st Annan OB.
John Owen started the season extremely well, despite a hectic work life, and deservedly won the Average Trophy for the first 4 races. We also rely on his strength on basketing night.
Robert Girdwood had an outstanding start to the season winning the Yearling Average right out to Stafford. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated and the rest of his programme suffered.
Scott Barron won the Carnforth and Stafford races and collected the John Stewart Memorial Trophy for first yearling Stafford.
Allan Selfridge & Son won the OB Appleton race together with the John Fleming Memorial Shield. We are grateful to Allan for looking after the manual clocks.
J & H Brown & Higgins won the Tramontana Show Trophy for best in club show and also a Wooler YB race. Harry Brown the senior partner, despite indifferent health in recent years, has continued racing and behind the scenes has contributed so very much to the smooth running of the club.
Ross Steven is our youngest member and one of the few following in their father's footsteps. Ross won the Novice Trophy for the Best Average for YB races Wooler 1, 2 and 3 and everyone hopes he will continue with the sport in the years to come.
Dalzell Prize winners l-r Sandy Steven, Robert Girdwood, Ross Steven, Harry Brown, Marr Dunsmore, Joe Boyle, David Penman, Allan Selfridge, Jim Cassidy, John Owen.
more photos of prize winners at Dalziel
Finally, I should like to thank our panel members for their participation and generosity, the caterers for a lovely meal and Motherwell Miners for their hospitality.
Douglas Telfer
President Dalzell Flying Club.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
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