Tom Corrie Jnr chats to
JOHN & EDDIE BARR
Airdrie & District, Lanarkshire Federation, Scotland.
John, with the help of his brother Eddie, has hit the road running in the Lanarkshire Federation. You might even say they have been like the "Bolt", winning 29 section prizes, 8 major federation trophies and 2 x 1st open federation, all in their first season. John & Eddie really are the diamonds in the pack. John is a real character; you usually hear his laugh before you see him. Eddie is more refined. But both have the Midas touch and are 100% dedicated to their chosen sport.
Eddie and John with their trophies for 2014
The loft is in the suburb of Garlea in Airdrie, the heartland of the Airdrie pigeon fraternity, a short distance from the club premises and in view of the Excelsior Stadium the home of Airdrie Football Club (The Diamonds).
Week in week out these guys put multiple pigeons in the top 15 of the central section and open of the federation and are obviously very much at the top of their game. They have a small back-garden set up by any standards and can really make them bounce.
Like their fellow Airdrie club members, this is their his first year racing with the Lanarkshire Federation, moving over from the Scottish Midland Federation and what a transition it has been. The Airdrie club, a real hotbed, this year would have easily won club of the year in the Lanarkshire. Their results as a club were 7 x 1st federations and possibly the same number of second prizes. I think all the fanciers in the club have raised their level of performance to gain any type of prize in this club.
I took the time on a very cold December day to meet up with these lads, already known to myself for a number of years. They have always been at the top of their game, winning all the major trophies in their previous federation.
After a brief chat we took the time to look over their cracking team of stock and racers. Both fanciers have a great affinity with their pigeons, and the birds are very tame with one blue stock cock having a "square go" with Eddie for his box. The blue cock won! They took the time to explain their set up and showed me throughout the lofts. On return to the house we sat down to a lovely lunch and thereafter I asked them the questions that make them tick.
This is the cock that won the fight with Eddie. What a class act.
Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport?
The loft has been here since 1978. We’ve always enjoyed the sport and like to get in around the pigeons to get to know them as individuals.
Among your results what are the real highlights?
This season has been a real highlight, winning the open from the longest inland race from 350 miles. Before that, winning the John Donald trophy in the Scottish Midland Federation, which is for best average every race including the channel race.
Do you hold any official positions?
No we are just workers.
Do you compete for averages?
Yes. Everything!
Main racing section for old birds
How do you race your pigeons and how many?
30 cocks and 30 hens for racing old birds. The first race cocks go, second race the hens then they will go each week up to 260 miles then the yearlings are stopped. 60 young birds.
What are your lofts made of?
It is a wooden structure, 24x7ft L-shaped, stock loft 14ft with 30 racing boxes, hen section 7ft and two YB sections. We keep 12 pairs of stock with ex-racers within this stock and they and the racers are paired on Blackpool weekend (mid January) with the first round eggs being switched.
Do you move the hens with the young birds?
No. Youngsters are moved into their section with wood chips, which we think help to retain heat in their section and this will regularly be changed.
Do you have any grills fitted?
No. Everything is cleaned except for the wood chips on the floor of the young bird section, which is where the hens are wintered. We use white Banko on the floor.
What is your vaccination programme?
The old birds are vaccinated for paramyxo at the turn of year, and the young birds at six weeks old.
This is the racing hens’ section
Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals?
Yes. They are provided daily with Matrix with a standard grit mix and clay blocks. We don't like the black minerals as we feel the birds gorge on these.
How do you feed?
Saturday the day of the race - on return Bucktons conditioning seed for the first hour, later Versele Laga Sport Widowhood/Best All Rounder as much as they wish, then taken away.
Sunday - Widowhood and Best All Round
Monday - Best All Round
Tuesday - as above
Wednesday - as above
Thursday - Sport Mix/Best All Round
Friday - Sport Mix morning and at 2pm a small amount of Hormoform/hemp/conditioning mix and four peanuts per pigeon, then the birds are basketed at 5.30 for club marking.
In the water Saturday - Versele Laga multivitamin
Sunday - same
Rest of week - clear water
Preventive products - Harkers 3 in 1 tablets before pairing.
Young bird section
Do you measure the amount that you give to each race pigeon?
No.
Are your pigeons allowed any free time outwith training/racing?
They have a bath on a Sunday it’s a day of rest and pleasure.
Do you consider there to be any advantage having a racing partnership?
Yes. We always share the good and bad.
Are you full-time pigeon fanciers?
Yes I would say so.
Do you consider that the eye has any importance?
Yes. We like a nice pearl or nut brown. Most of these new families have these yellow type eyes and we are not a great fan of these.
How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain its form?
Sometimes with cocks we are timing them every second week, hens three times in a season.
How do you operate your roundabout system?
The roundabout hens are out at 7am or 8am for an hour and the cocks are moved from their boxes into the hens’ section, then the hens are trapped back into the boxes. The cocks then go out for an hour and fly well around the loft. The hens were darkened from 5pm till 7am this season and we felt this was good so we are going to do the same with the cocks next year. We just use a roller blind in front of the loft for this purpose.
Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races?
Not really sure as we compete mostly inland although we do send to channel races with the same birds.
Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinters or distance pigeons?
We would say distance.
Stock loft
What happens when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex?
We always have a cock or hen available for the first home or to show on basketing night.
Sprinter or distance what’s your preference?
We race the federation programme which takes in sprint and goes up to 460 miles.
What families do you keep?
A Soontjen stock cock, Page Brothers stock (Janssen base), Willie Kinnear & Son of Edinburgh, mealies purchased of Thomson Bros, Chapelhall through great friend and clubmate Eddie Porter, Louis Cooremans and this season two retired racers from Tuck Hilley of Plains (GWP Macaloney stock) that have been our best racers over the past few seasons (1st & 7th Open Bedhampton and much more). Also late-bred Hardy Krugers from Ernie Goodyear of Barnsley to try.
Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade. Why do you think this is?
It’s the fancier that makes them tick.
Best racing hen, now retired to stock after winning 1st Open in her last race. A class hen.
What products do you feel makes a difference to your birds?
Versele Laga products especially Herbolan for the youngsters, Harkers’ Hormoform for breeding and racing, and conditioning seed.
Does the size of the hen make any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds?
We don’t like big hens.
Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve?
No we will just keep doing what we do.
Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the country?
There are a lot of good fanciers in the federation and we enjoy the competition.
Do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners?
You get a feel for what should be put together.
Do you breed off the top racers after the season has finished?
No.
Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing?
No. You race your birds and don't complain about this advantage or that direction.
Do you use the darkness system for the young birds?
Yes.
Inside the racing section with the trapper on the floor
How do you feed the young birds?
They have VL Breed and Wean then when they start to fly we introduce VL All Round into the mix. When racing, they have the same as the old birds.
What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for management and pigeons?
80% fancier.
What is the furthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds?
We go with the club van three times per week. Cocks one week three times and hens twice then switch the following week and youngsters three times per week. They are flown initially around the loft for up to 1 hour (initially get them going by throwing up a ball or waving a brush - they quickly catch on) then straight into the training van to the first toss. They are kept going with three tosses thereafter with the van from Crawford, 32 miles to the south.
Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance?
Yes possibly a small fraction.
Do you attach any real importance to the wing?
No we don't take any interest. We just have to watch the darkness youngsters don't have too much seed.
What about the throat theory?
No.
Do you use any form of heating?
No it’s an open loft with a 2 inch space at the rear of the loft roof and open at front. (It was as cold in as out Tom.)
Do you compete in the National events?
Yes the inland Nationals as they are part of race programme, but we’re not really a fan.
Do you use ETS?
No a T3 you’ve got to give the others a chance, ha ha! We like to handle the pigeons on return. It’s what the sport’s about for us.
Can you explain your ideal type?
Medium size, apple body.
How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon?
We both pick two each by watching them around and in the loft.
1st Federation 2014, bred from the Wullie Kinnear & Son, Edinburgh stock.
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 the full programme?
We like to have a good team of yearlings so they will be stopped with this in mind after say three races. Especially in the Lanarkshire you need a fair team of racers to compete.
Do your yearlings go to the coast or are they stopped at say 260 miles?
Generally stopped at 260 miles although with no race next season in the fed for this distance we will have to think this through as it means jumping them from 160 to the first SNFC Inland National 330 miles.
Do you show your birds?
No never. I like them to be in loft for their dinner.
Do you suffer from Young Bird Sickness?
No. We feel the product Herbolan helps stop any problems.
During the off season do the pigeons get out of the loft?
Yes for a bath.
7th Open Bedhampton and their best racing cock, now at stock.
Raptors: are they a problem to you?
Yes. They hit birds when in the bath. We have frequent problems from a sparrowhawk hen and have had a number of birds killed by hitting a neighbour’s windows in panic.
East or west, what race route do you prefer?
We liked last season’s race route.
What’s is the cause of so many losses in young bird racing?
Not being properly trained before the first race and also Young Bird Sickness.
When is your favourite time of the year?
The old bird season.
Any advice for new starters?
Never spend big money on pigeons. (Then, laughing, John said: "Come up and see me, I'm cheap.")
Thanks to both of them for an excellent afternoon. They are two of the most down to earth guys you are likely to meet. All the best for next season.
Tom Corrie Jnr
Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
---
Elimar - December 2014