SAM NELSON

of Glenmavis

1st Open Lanarkshire Fed Salisbury 347 miles 2012

by Tom Corrie Jnr

Sam holding his open winner

On a lovely February afternoon I took the short trip to the village of Glenmavis. This is in the north region of the Lanarksire Federation which is situated in the central belt of Scotland. Sam, who is in his seventy-fifth year, has kept pigeons since the age of ten and has always felt the need for pigeons within his life.

Sam's loft sits at the side of his home and is surrounded by corrugated fencing which keeps it private and secure from vermin with the added support of his lively terrier dog. Sam stated he keeps pigeons for the enjoyment of the sport and if he wins it's a bonus! He enjoys conditioning his birds for their selected races and seeing them return. Sam likes to keep himself active and that's the same for his pigeons, keeping them in a routine and everything simple.

He is a member of Glenmavis club and his season is all geared around the federation distance races. The club racing doesn't really interest him and in his opinion more experienced fanciers should leave the club prizes to the youngsters and less experienced fanciers and only compete for federation prizes. Sam would also like to see the National races flown only from across the water and leave the Inland races to the federations.

Initially he started racing pigeons obtained from his uncle Alec White and Frazer McIntyre (both from Greengairs) and later birds from Alec Dees from Plains. He also invested in Busschaerts from Louella that won well at club level for years scoring right through the programme. His present family of birds originate from Stan Brimcome of Portsmouth of Ko Nipus breeding, Sion breeding from Jimmy Hamilton from the Hamilton area and Jan Aarden breeding from Louella, and also one pair of Janssens.

Two of the original Ko Nipus stock pigeons. The pied is the sire of 1st Open.

Sam likes to pair performance pigeons to each other so keeping the birds pure doesn't really matter, it’s getting birds that can win at the distance. The birds are well tested by single tossing, mostly from the east coast which Sam feels gives them the confidence to fly long distances (don't be frightened to train birds on their own, he says). Sam's stock pigeons only rear the first round as he only breeds a small team. He likes to take some late-breds off the six pairs of stock pigeons just in case of heavy losses in the young bird programme.

Sam's set up is a small garden with only 25-30 youngsters bred for racing and tested to the last race. He is not interested in winning, it is more about the youngster getting experience and he couldn't care less if they take all day to return. Sam is hoping to build a team of birds that he can join the National with to enjoy the distance races.

The lofts are self-built by Sam with added finishing touches that are really unique and practical. The racing loft is 16 x 7ft with plenty of ventilation at the front with skylight type vents in the ceiling in each of the three sections with a full length corridor for the old bird section. Everything about the loft feels relaxed with plenty of space and a feeling of well-being. The stock loft is 6ft with an aviary at the top with six pairs of mostly older stock fro the original base pigeons.

Trophies won in the Lanarkshire Federation in 2012

The old birds are split after rearing and flown on the roundabout system. Yearlings have their own section and fly on the natural nest cycle as Sam stated yearlings are only learning their trade and roundabout for yearlings causes high losses. Sam has learnt this over the years.

The young bird loft is 12 x 6ft, south facing with an open front design. The simple but effective perches allow droppings to fall to floor into light layer of shavings under the perches. The youngsters learn to drink out of adapted basket-type drinkers. They are also basketed by an opening in the corridor to prevent having to catch each individual bird. Sam has built all these ideas into his systems including his own feeders and nest boxes with mesh tray. He also has a unique way of keeping his drinkers from freezing, putting a light bulb on the top of the drinker lids. This also allows light in the loft on those cold dark winter nights (possibly not one for the safety conscious!). This can be set on a timer when he is working. Everything is adapted for practicality.

The birds are exercised around the loft twice per day and also trained from Edinburgh around 25 miles a couple of times per week. They are always single tossed after the initial training flights, which Sam feels is essential in their education for later. Sam works as a gardener in Edinburgh and so the pigeons go with him and are liberated when ready, no hurry, no stress and no flying in batches so making the pigeon think for itself. This system applies to both the youngsters and old birds.

Small stock loft

Feeding for old birds is an ounce and a half split morning and night, Vesela Laga all round mixture with ground peanuts added. As the distance races approach the birds are fed as much as they wish the last few days. The young birds get Versele Laga young bird mix and then during racing the same as the old birds, a light feed morning and all they wish at night. Sam stated if you feed the birds the right amount before you exercise them they will fly well around the loft and need less training.

He uses very few products. 3 in 1 Harkers before racing, iodine once per fortnight (a  couple of drops per drinker), 3 types of grit (Kilpatrick, Matrix and,mixed grit), black minerals and pick pot minerals. A salt block is also available. He sprays the loft with Vic’s sinus spray, which he feels benefits the pigeons. The water is changed twice per day and the lofts also cleaned twice per day, which he feels is essential. He uses Jeyes’ fluid to disinfect the lofts and has also got an electric fly/moth killer which. He vaccinates his youngsters on leaving the nest and feels this is essential. Sam feels that the birds’ health can be judged through their eyes as in his opinion the eyes tell you everything about the a pigeon’s well- being. He states his best product is clean grit and minerals each day, and says train your birds to get them into racing condition and keep to a routine.

When asked about who he admires in the sport, he names those fanciers who have stayed at the top of their game at the distance, Dave Donaldson of, Peterhead and Mr Mrs D Elliot of Newbiggin, stating these fanciers take some beating!

His Open winner was named Stan after the person who bred the parents, Stan Brimcome, from his Ko Nipus strain. This 5 year old dark cheq cock has always been a decent bird. He’s small-to-medium in size with good quality feather, light body frame and long cast. He’s very much bred for the distance.

His birds are paired around middle of February with the yearlings not till mid-March. The old bird racers don't start till around 150 miles and then go every week on the roundabout system thereafter. They will get a couple of 50 mile tosses from the east when being prepared for across the water.

His ambition, Sam joked, was to live long enough to see his next win from the distance! He doesn't reflect on his past wins but looks forward to this year and trying to getting a good timer at the distance, not necessarily winning the race just up with the winners.

The young bird loft

The old bird loft

The ventilation system in the young bird loft

The droppings pit under the perches

The yearling section

The floor of the racing section with self-built feeder

The unique bulb in drinker lid system

Skylight type ventilation in each section in the old bird loft

Hens' roundabout section

The font of young bird drinking area

The drinking area inside the loft

I would like to thank Sam and Nan for a very enjoyable afternoon, listening about a lifetime enjoyed in the pigeon sport and at a time of his life where winning isn't everything - but maybe that's the secret, don't stress yourself or the birds.

All the best to Sam with his cracking wee team of birds.

Tom Corrie

Lanarkshire Press Officer

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