LANARKSHIRE FEDERATION

Tom Corrie

Lanarkshire Lads visit Dublin

The great thing about this wonderful sport is the friendships you gain over the years and at Blackpool Show in the 1980s we had the good fortune to gain the friendship of the Emmett family. In the company of my Dad and Uncle Peter Anderson of Wattson Club we took the opportunity to travel over to meet up with good friends Spike and Martin Emmett. They reside in Finglas a suburb of Dublin, a great venue to meet with old and new friends (it was good to see Mick Gilligan). Like most good occasions, the time went quickly but left great memories that will live with us forever.

We spent time reflecting on the sport from both sides of the water, and like us in the Lanarkshire they have had some erratic and difficult racing this year. We had the chance to view Spike’s team of pigeons that are very much top drawer. In the near future I will put together a loft report on Spike; he really is one of the real characters in the sport. Spike hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm for the sport even at the sprightly age of 88 and with the support of his family he continues to win at club, federation and open level, which he has done for decades.The Emmett family put themselves out to make our time very special and enjoyable. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

The Irish South Road Federation, for those who are not familiar, is probably the biggest in Europe with birdage that can top 10,000 birds and with 760 partnerships competition is fierce. Dublin itself I once named Little Belgium but this possibly undervalues it because the pigeon racing competition is possible much stronger than any area in Belgium. With most races up the coast to a maximum 190 miles, these can be fast and furious affairs with prizes gone in a blink of an eye. The races across the Irish Sea are very difficult affairs and possibly the most testing of all races. It was great to get some insight into their management of the birds, talking everything pigeons.

During our time we spent an afternoon at the loft of Vincent Black from Drogheda, an industrial and port town in County Louthon the east coast of Ireland, 35 miles north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea. With stacks of culture and outstanding beauty it really is a lovely place to live and enjoy pigeon racing. Vincent has a set up you dream about: beautiful location, stunning house and a loft second to none. Everything has been built with keeping things simple with everything in place. He took the time to show us around his loft explaining his system of racing. He is a businessman and says that the birds don't get worked as well as he would like due to working commitments. He hopes to spend more time managing his pigeons in the future. Vincent is a very laidback person and the pigeons appeared to have the same feel about them being very happy in this magnificent environment. He is presently building a team of distance pigeons which include some from Mr & Mrs Elliot of Newbiggin, Lanarkshire, Scotland, which he rates very highly. He is looking forward to testing them against the best at National level - the only races that interest him. Vincent we thank you for your extended hospitality and we will always remember an environment that I feel will take him to the very top of distance racing if his time allows.

I took some photos for your enjoyment. 

Spike with his grandson Evan

Spike with great friend Vincent Black on the loft veranda

Side view of Vincent's loft

View across the front of Vincent’s loft

Inside the loft sections

View of the house

Tom Corrie snr, Peter Anderson, Spike Emmett and Mick Gilligan enjoying a chat together

Martin Emmett (L) with good friend Noel doing his Beatles impression at the tribute night

Peter enjoying a pint of the black stuff in the "Gravediggers", a famous pub

Peter what’s he got that we haven't?

Tom Corrie jnr

Lanarkshire Press Officer

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