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Jim Wilkinson of Airdrie & District, Lanarkshire Federation

 

 

 

Tom Corrie Jnr chats to

JIM WILKINSON

of Airdrie & District, Lanarkshire Federation

It's about time

The heading "It’s about time" is my thoughts on one of the best all round lofts in Central Scotland getting a write up. Year in year out from when I can remember competing in the Scottish Midland Federation through the decades Jim Wilkinson has been up with the very best. When you top the Lanarkshire Federation on three occasions in your first year 2014, it makes everyone else in the federation think ‘Who is this guy?’ Jim is one of those fanciers that you can guarantee other fanciers ask, ‘What time is Wilkie in this week?’ He is very much a class act. If there is a race worth winning Jim has probably already won it or been up with the winners. He has every confidence in himself as a fancier and the birds he sends. In the longest young bird race this year he entered two, and at the time I said ‘Only the two Jim?’ His reply was, ‘Yes but they are two good ones.’ He finished well up in the race winning 8th Sect, 19th Open in a real stinker of a race. He has a remarkable consistency at all distances.

Jim Wilkinson

I took the time to make my way up to Glenmavis to meet the man I have respected for many a year. This is not a large set up, what you would call a back garden set up, very common in the Lanarkshire area. A very smart arrangement, a credit to Jim, well set out for what he wishes to achieve in his sport.

2014 Performances

Airdrie & Dist: 5 x 1st prizes and number of seconds and thirds in the most competitive club in the Federation 2014 with 7 x 1st federation winners in the club and just as many 2nd federation winners. You really needed to win 1st fed to win this club this year.

Lanarkshire Federation 2014

1st Sect 1st Open Fed Middleton 7,187 birds

1st Sect 1st Open Fed Otterburn 5,776 birds

1st Sect 1st Open Fed Ingleton 2,387

Warwick Yearling Open 2nd Sect 5th Open, 12th Sect 20th Open

He was also 2nd Sect, 3rd & 3rd Sect, 4th Open Bedhampton in the longest Inland race.

In total 14 section prizes in one of the most challenging seasons the Lanarkshire Federation has ever experienced.

Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport?
I started racing pigeons with two birds I obtained from Uncle John from Caldercruix in 1956; these were kept in the dog kennel. Thereafter I joined Chapelhall club in 1959 before getting married and moving to Glenmavis in 1969. I initially flew to the father-in-law’s back garden competing in Airdrie West Club for the young birds (won my first race) and then the following season old birds. Moving to Glenmavis club in 1970, I tried to join Airdrie & Dist but was declined and moved to Watson Club as I wished to stay at that time in the Scottish Midland Fed as Glenmavis moved to the Lanarkshire. Around year 2000 I joined Airdrie & Dist for the increased competition. I like to be challenged at all levels of competition.

Main racing loft

Among your results what are the real highlights?

Winning the section twice in the Scottish National Flying Club and 2nd, all in the last three years. Also 1st sect 5th Open Scottish National Flying Club Eastbourne 2008.

Do you hold any official position?
I help with the clock setting and also race marking.

 

Do you compete for averages?
Yes very much so.

 

How do you race your pigeons and how many?
My race team this year was 25 cocks and 23 hens, sending around 20 each week. I started racing around 32 youngsters, and breed around 40-50 most years.

Hens’ section, stock and YB loft

What are your lofts made of and how big are they?
The main loft is a joiner built wooden structure of 22ft x 9ft with full length corridor, 3 sections, apex roof with perspex running across front loft. It faces north.
The loft that houses the racing hens has a 12ft section and two 6ft YB sections and a small stock section. The youngsters and stock have access to an aviary. This loft faces east.

 

How many stock birds do you keep?
Four pairs of stock birds. I also breed off my best racers, switching their eggs as well as the stock birds’ eggs under feeders. I pair the last week in January, generally after Blackpool Show.

Do you move the hens with the young birds?
Yes, one with the hen into the YB section and the other is left with the cock until ready for moving.

Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes?

Yes, wooden grills on the floor. Not in cock boxes - they have wooden blocks. Hens have grills in their individual boxes.

Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals?

Yes like to give the redstone plus Matrix fresh daily. During the breeding I give black & red minerals. I don’t give these to racers.

Roof space and ventilation in the main racing loft

Do you use any floor dressing?
No.

Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons?
I like to think so.

How do you feed the cocks and what do you feed them on?
A widowhood mixture made up of 3 mixes: Versele Laga, Natural & Gem. I use some peanuts when the distance events arrive. The pigeons are fed one tablespoon morning and two at night and any feed is removed after 30 minutes. Any bird that continues to eat an excessive amount will not go to the race that week as I feel they are not in condition that week.

Are your pigeons allowed any free time outwith training/racing?

They bath on a Sunday or the day after the race.

Are you a full time pigeon fancier?
Yes (Jim’s daughter shouted this answer from the kitchen).

Ventilation holes drilled into the floor of the racing loft in all three sections

Do you consider that the eye has any importance?
Just bright eyes. I don’t take any interest in this theory.

Do you use any preventative medication?
Belga Deweerdt Parastop after the moult, 14 days treatment.
Tylan for respiratory prevention before the racing season.

How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain its form on the widowhood system for both cocks and hens?

6 or 8 weeks. They don’t all come into form at the same time.

Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races?
Yes.

Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinters or distance pigeons?

Distance because of losses incurred.

One of Jim's top racing hens

What happens when you are racing either widowhood or the roundabout when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex? How do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate?
I don’t really bother. They will show to any spare partner.

Sprinter or distance?
Every race I compete in I am in it to win it.

What families of pigeons do you keep?

Camphuis Janssens from Moore & Ogden of Manchester. These have been the main pigeons over the seasons. Lambrechts from Ted Balmer of Stainthorpe. I purchased an 08 mealy cock at a SNFC sale from Paddy Green of Preston Pans and a Van Reet from Blackpool Show that has bred 1st Fed in its first year.

Another top racing hen

Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade, why do you consider that this happens?
They haven’t got the full package.

Do you give any special treatments when the pigeons return from the race as a precaution against anything that they may have picked up in the basket?
A tablespoon of honey plus fresh garlic in the water.

What products do you feel make a difference to your birds?

Gemthepax and Carr’s Adherb used reguarly throughout the season. Both are excellent products. The Gemthepax is given on alternative days on the feed, especially during breeding and young birds. I use menthol smoke bombs at the start of season for old and young birds. Does it work? Well I am not really sure but why change. I have a small blow torch to help with the hygiene. My main loft was totally sterile. No birds occupy it between the end of season till after Christmas, when yearling cocks are introduced to claim their boxes. The older cocks boxes are closed and thereafter they are introduced.

Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding?

Hens. You must have good hens. I don’t particularly like big hens.

Aviary for young birds at the side of the young bird sections

Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve?
Possibly it’s to win the Gold Cup in the SNFC.

Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the area and for what reasons?
Inland in the Lanarkshire, GWP Macaloney.
Distance, D Jamieson and Mr & Mrs D Elliot. You cannot really judge other fanciers’ performances outside your own area. There are many outstanding fanciers up and down the country.

What do you think can be done to take the sport forward?
All sports are struggling to attract new members. Possibly ban all computer games!

Are there any special treatments that you give your birds once the season has finished?

They have a good mixture all year round. I don’t buy cheap feed. I give beans after the moult, rather than barley. They always have beans available during breeding. A jar of good mix in the box and beans in a drinker.

When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners?
Best to best.

Young bird section housing old racing cocks. At present there are two of these.

Do you breed late bred youngsters?
No, but Michael Walsh Watson came down with some later bred pigeons last year for me to try. They have had twenty training flights and we will see how they perform.

If your race team went off form during the season what action would you take to restore their condition?
Possibly pair them up for a week and then split again.

Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing?
No the wind tends to determine where the winners come from, especially in the sprint races.

Do you use the darkness system for the young birds, if so for how long and do you think it affects them later in life?

Yes, half my team. No I don’t think it affects them later. Well it can’t as GWP Macaloney race all their team on darkness and look at their results as old birds.

Are there any different feeding methods for the young birds i.e. do you break them down, do you keep them hungry for control purposes, do you give them a trapping seed mix?
No they are fed the same amount as the old birds but they are fed a no maize mixture. Incidentally I have experienced no Young bird Sickness over the years.

What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for management and pigeons?
50%.

What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds?
30-40 miles. Youngsters train with others within a van 2 or 3 times per week.

Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance?

Not really. Pigeons don’t race like horses or dogs or athletes.

Do you have any ideas that you think would benefit the sport in the UK?
Clubs and Federations need to amalgamate.

Hen boxes they are kept in during the celibate system

Do you attach any real importance to the pigeon’s wing?
No.

What about the throat theory?

Not interested.

Do you use any form of heating system in any of your lofts?

No. Light coming from roof provides natural heat.

Irrespective of how your pigeons have flown, what are your views on the past season?
I never look back. I’m always looking to win the next race.

Do you have a silent partner?
No then I can only blame myself. The wife just puts up with them.

Is there anything that you do not like about the sport?
Nothing I can think of.

Do you use ETS?

Yes. It was my first year with young birds and the loft has been adopted for same with old birds next season.

Can you explain your type?

I’ve no interest in colour a good pigeon is the right colour. I like an apple body, silky feathering (very important) and bright eyes.

Please explain your weekly preparation.

Cocks are out for one hour and a quarter, morning and night, no training just three tosses before the first race from around 25 miles. Hens are trained three times per week with a training van and are out at night. The hens always return to their own boxes and are shown to their cock on basketing night if racing.

How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon?

I have a good record of picking my pooler, watching for little changes in their behaviour in and around loft.

Are you only as good as your last race?

Yes.

How old is your oldest racer?

I have four 4 year olds in my race team.

Do you send your youngsters the full programme?

No, the majority have been stopped around the 100 mile mark.

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

Most are stopped but I will send some to the last inland race around 350 miles.

Do you compete in the National programme or just the odd race?

Not every race but I would like to have a go.

Do you show your birds?

No but I enjoy attending to have a chat with those present. I attend Blackpool each year.

Loft ventilation: what and why?

I designed my own loft with air moving from drilled holes in the floor (mesh covered) and moving through the apex at top which runs the full length.

Looking out of the racing loft with the mesh doors closed

During the off season do your pigeons get out of the loft?

No they are locked up after last race until about three weeks before start of season.

Raptors - are they a problem to you?

Yes but they are a problem you just have to put up with.

East or west, which race route do you prefer?

I just go with the majority decision.

When is your favourite time of season?

Racing.

Thanks to Jim for his lovely lunch and an insight into one of the best fanciers I have ever known.

Tom Corrie

Lanarkshire Press Officer

 

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Elimar - November 2014