BILLY GORDON

of Cambuslang

chats to Tom Corrie Jnr

My latest report takes me to one of the most consistent lofts and well respected fanciers in the Lanarkshire Federation. The name Billy Gordon is a name known by all fanciers in the area, for his ability to put up top level results year in year out. Billy was born and bred in Cambuslang, known as ‘the largest village in Scotland’, with a population of around 24,500. The town is located just south of the River Clyde and about 6 miles (9.7km) south-east of the centre of Glasgow. It has a long history of coal mining, iron and steel making and ancillary engineering works; Hoover, Tata Steel Europe’s Clydebridge Steel Works and other smaller manufacturing businesses were major employment areas of the past.

Billy was a footballer of much ability, starting with local junior team Cambuslang at 15 years of age and then going onto a very successful professional career, which included Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir for twenty years. His working career was as an Engineer at McGowans.

Billy in front of the racing loft

SNFC Results

2013

Leicester YB National: blue cheq hen SU 13 L 17032 11th Section E

Maidstone: cheq hen SU 12 L 358,10th Sect; black cock SU 12 L 1479, 43rd Sect; grizzle hen SU 10 L 3181, 99th Sect

Newbury: blue cock SU 08 8034, 30th Sect; cheq pied cock SuU 09 L 5484, 32nd Sect; black pd hen SU 12 L 369, 64th Sect

Ypres: black pd hen SU 12 L 369, 40th Sect

 

2014

Buckingham YB National: blue cock SU 14 L 15108, 13th Sect

Buckingham Inland National: cheq cock SU 11 L 1344, 31st Sect

Ypres: blue hen SU 12 L 5, 1st Section 1st Open Lanarkshire Federation, 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle, 1st Section E 96th Open SNFC; black pd hen, SU 12 L 369, 18th Sect; blue hen, SU 12 L 363, 36th Sect

Lanarkshire West Section 2014

3/5/14 Appleby: 15th West Section, 3048 birds

11/5/14 Otterburn: 11th West Sect, 2222 birds

7/6/14 Upper Heyford: 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th West Sect, 347 birds

14/6 Ingleton: 3rd West Sect, 755 birds

21/6/14 Bedhampton: 15th West sect, 140 birds

5/7/14 Ypres: 1st, 7th, 11th 27th West Sect, 267 birds; 1st, 16th, 33rd, 62nd Open Lanarkshire Fed

20/7/14 Otterburn: 5th West Sect, 698 birds

2/8/14 Stainmore: 4th & 5th West Sect, 1646 birds

16/8/14 Ingleton: 10th West Sect, 639 birds

30/8/14 Charnock Richard: 4th Sect, 306 birds

6/9/14 Uttoxeter: 4th, 9th, 12th, 13th Sect, 59 birds

Twenty-one Section prizes - cracking flying in the Lanarkshire Federation and the icing on the cake: winning the Blue Riband race from Ypres.

Old Bird, Combined, Three Longest Race Average and Young Bird Average, Cambuslang Club, 2014.

Stock loft/racing loft with shed for keeping baskets and feed

Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport.

In 1961 as an eight-year-old schoolboy I used to climb over the school fence at lunchtime to go to my Dad’s loft, which was situated in the back garden area of a tenement building. My father was the early influence to me when I was young before the loft was moved up to his present cottage location 37 years ago.

Among your results, what are the real highlights?

This season has been a real highlight. Winning the Open from Ypres, Belgian/French border really is a standout. And winning the Lanarkshire Open and 1st Section SNFC with my blue hen, Misty Blue. In the 1980s flying as J Gordon & Son we won three in a row in club and topped the federation twice.

So, what clubs are you a member of?

Cambuslang Cub, Lanarkshire Social Circle & Scottish National Flying Club. I am on the committee and I help with the clock setting.

Hens’ racing section

Tell me how you race your pigeons and how many etc.

I have 30 cocks, 30 hens for racing old birds. I use the roundabout system and I like competing for averages. I had 44 young birds last season. I keep 20 pairs of stock pigeons and I switch their eggs under the racers. I don’t take youngsters off my racers.

What kind of lofts do you have?

They’re wooden structures. The stock loft is 20ft x 6ft; the stock/racing loft is 32ft; and the young bird section is 8ft x 6ft. They are south facing with an aviary on front and plenty of ventilation.

 

When do you pair your pigeons?

In the third week of February, sometimes March.

And do you move the hens with the young birds?
No, the youngsters are moved into their sections with straw on floor until two weeks before racing starts for youngsters. I feel this is very important, creating a warmth and the birds are stress free. I don’t have grilles on the floor or in the boxes, as I feel having them means the pigeons are exposed to ammonia vapour and this can cause a lot of problems. Everything is cleaned out daily. I don’t even use a dressing on the floor. I like them to have plenty of space.

Typical of the type of cock pigeon in loft

 

What is your vaccination programme?

I vaccinate for paramyxo/paratyphoid I do the old birds at the turn of the year and the young birds when they come out of the nest.

 

Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons get what they want when they are out of the loft?

I provide daily mixed shell grit and Kilpatrick Black Minerals. I also crumble blocks when rearing. There was a local fancier here, whose birds used to come into my loft to eat the black minerals a number of years ago. This was even when returning from races.

How do you feed, and what do you feed them on?

My feeding regime is as follows:-

Saturday - Bucktons seed mixture, but not too much, with barley on the day of the race; they are fed on return

Sunday - Barley & Versele Laga Depurative

Monday - Versele Laga, Gerry Plus

Tuesday - Versele Laga, Gerry Plus, as above

Wednesday - Versele Laga Widowhood

Thursday - Versele Laga Widowhood

Friday - Bucktons seed mix and Versele Laga Widowhood

I always have barley in the mix if they leave it, they’re not hungry. Feeding is an art and it’s something you master with time…and it’s got to be mastered.

On Saturday, I put rehydration supplement or honey. I sometimes give garlic powder during week or again rehydration supplement on Friday (Day of basketing). The rest of the week I give clear water.

I give Aviform Mycoform-T after 200miles and for the later YB races. I do think this makes a difference to my birds.

I also use some preventive products. I don’t like three-in-one products I treat individually. I use a parathyroid product by Dr Van der Sluis in November. Nothing for worms but this could change. I use a canker and cocci treatment before pairing, but there’s no set product.

Young bird and old bird loft

Do you measure the amount that you give to each race pigeon?

No, the barley will tell you.

 

And do you offer the pigeons a bath?

Yes, on a Sunday and sometimes on the day of the race if it’s hot.

 

Do you regard yourself to be a full-time pigeon fancier?

No. [At this point Billy’s wife shouted “yes!” and also his dog (Milo) barked in favour of full time)!]

Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeon’s eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance?

No, just two good ones - good National winners always have them.

If you fly roundabout/celibate how do you stop your hens pairing to each other?

Roundabout hens will sometimes pair but I don't go out of my way to prevent that - they are trained regularly and also loft exercised. Training twice per week with the mid-week club and out daily for loft training, sometimes flying for an hour.

National candidates will be trained from Dunbar with Gordon Geddes transport.

Birds are paired up for their chosen race.

Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short- and long-distance races?
Not really. These days there as so many fanciers concentrating on sprint- to middle- distance, so the distance breeds can’t compete in the shorter races. I think it is harder to establish a team of distance pigeons, though. Personally I set my stall out to compete in all Federation races and the SNFC programme.

What happens when you are racing either widowhood or roundabout and you have a bad race where you lose a few from one sex? How do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate?
Every week I send a fresh team - always a cock or hen about to show to the first home.

Misty Blue, winner of 1st Open Ypres.

Which families of pigeons do you keep?

They are Deweert-based pigeons, purchased direct from Belgium a number of years ago. These are a good, all-round family and have crossed in well with other top Scottish National lines, including birds from local fanciers. Recently birds have been introduced from Chris Gordon & JD Staddon. I don’t stick to certain breeds: balance is important, not names. Balance is very important in a pigeon, especially if they have to fly the distance.

A typical pigeon of mine is medium in size, mostly of blue or cheq colour with excellent balance and silky feathers. I used to have a lot of reds and mealies in my team, but the raptors seem to target them.

Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade. Why do you think that might be?

It’s the fancier that makes them tick.

What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following season’s racing and breeding?
I don’t really think about it there is every chance you will lose some of them to raptors during the non-racing period.

Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the Country?
I always looked up to the late great George Rankin who I always aspired to when competing in Cambuslang Club.

What do not like in the sport?
Bad losers.

When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners?
I don't get caught up in names I focus on balance and type.

Nest box in racing section

Do you use the darkness system for the young birds?

Yes for 4-5 years. I feel it allows them to compete at the later races.

How much of what makes a pigeon win is down to management and how much down to the pigeon itself?

Fifty-fifty, management and pigeon.

What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds?
Around the 30-mile mark but distance candidates will go to Dunbar.

Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance?
I have never experienced this problem.

Do you attach any real importance to the pigeon’s wing?

No I don't take any interest at all.

What about the throat theory?

No.

Do you compete in the National events, if not why not?

I compete in the Inland Nationals, as they are part of race programme, but I’m not really a fan.

Do you use ETS?

Yes Bricon. It’s an excellent system.

Can you explain your type (don’t say winning!) of pigeon, size, shape, balance, colour, eye, hen, cock?

Medium sized, apple bodied with good balance.

How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon?

We both pick two each and watch them around and in loft for form. You have to watch how the bird is behaving - observation is the key.

Billy's Lair built onto back of his garage - great for watching the pigeons in comfort

Are you only as good as your last race?

Yes, ask the Doctor about my blood pressure.

How old is your oldest racer?

Last season it was 7yrs.

Do you send your youngsters on the full programme or do you stop after, say, 100 miles?

The full programme with some going to YB National.

Do your yearlings go to the coast or are they stopped at say 260 miles?

Generally, it depends on what they are paired to in relation to Channel candidates.

Do you show your birds?

No.

Loft ventilation: what, why, where and do you change with the season?

Open loft ventilation.

Do you suffer from young bird sickness?

No, I feel straw on floor helps them in the early part of their development.

Raptors: are they a problem for you?

Yes all the time.

East or West: which race route do you prefer?

Whichever the majority choose.

What do you believe to be the cause of so many losses in young bird racing?

Possible poorly-bred pigeons and breeding from birds that haven't been tested. You have to work them hard and send them the full programme to test their constitution.

When is your favorite time of the season?

The old bird season.

What does pigeon racing give you?

Satisfaction and Fun.

What advice would you give to a new starter?

Go to local fancier who is performing well and ask to purchase some late-breds.

Thanks to Billy for a very enjoyable day.

All the best next season.

Tom Corrie jnr

Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer

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Elimar - February 2014