Lanarkshire Federation winners 2017
This was arguably the toughest race programme in living memory for Lanarkshire in Central Scotland.
The weather, race route and falcon population have seen most truly scunnered and disillusioned.
Racing was erratic throughout both old and young birds.
There is nothing good you could say about this year’s racing. A lot of good birds have been lost at federation and National events.
The gaps between the winners and the main convoy can only be described as shocking .It was an all day affair waiting for birds to home and that’s if they returned.!
The percentage of birds raced this season was down significantly, which will have a knock on effect for the federation investment.
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With most left with a small percentage of their old birds and again decimated with youngsters it will be a challenge again, just to complete the usual 18 race programme next season.
The membership are asked to think seriously about next years route and" turn up" to the AGM.
But out of the doom and gloom there are always winners, the fanciers who deserve all the credits for conditioning their feathered friends to get to the front of the pack.
This year’s Champion loft, breaking their own records is the 16 times Champion loft of GWP Macaloney from Airdrie Dist club.
I have never seen a loft that can consistently deliver year in year out their performances. With an average of 22 birds per race. They really are a work of art!
Racing East or West line,hard or easy racing, they have achieved these performances equally.
They have been kept on their toes by fellow club members Jim Wilkinson and George Mann,Chalmer Baird this season ,they also have had excellent seasons.
The competition in Airdrie Dist club is outstanding with many races on the same yard and winning the majority of the federation prizes.
GWP Macaloney are household names in the sport and are brilliant fanciers who win from the first to the last race. They produce new Champions every season and have the gene pool to maintain this level of consistency. They have frequently taken their best birds out the team to put to stock and this has maintained this family’s success. Those who handle their birds on race day talk wax lyrical about their condition.
They managed 5 x 1st Open federations and 7 x 1st centre sections.
They even managed a brilliant 1st Open National with the SNFC.
GWP Macaloney lofts Champions 2017 GWP Macaloney
Paul & Wullie Macaloney holding their National winner and Blue caviar
Blue Caviar Blue hen 1st Open Lanarkshire Fed Ypres for GWP Macaloney Blue Cock Double Vision 1st Open Lanarkshire Federation
1st Open SNFC Buckingham for GWP Macaloney
Jim Wilkinson of Airdrie Dist showed his usual level of consistency winning 3 x sections in a row and also the Yearling derby and Young bird Open ,some flying Jim!
Jim Wilkinson
Others have also made their mark with Eadie & Kelly of Newmains East section with a great old bird programme, winning the Inland averages..
Andy Eadie (L)
Tam Richardson the" Bonkle Maverick " of Newmains was up with the winners most weeks,winning four sections and runner up in the Championship,Also winning the young bird averages in the federation. Tam has stepped up his game with his new loft and team of birds that have showed great consistency at all distances.
Tam Richardson (R)
McCormack & Hughes of the Uddingston & Dist club finished a creditable third in the Championship race.This is a loft that must be seen, just an ordinary wee loft in the terrace of Viewpark.But with a master and his apprentice at the fore of their game. Small team fanciers with one of the best winning percentage racing in the land.
I have much admiration for Mick McCormick and Martin Hughes.
Mick McCormick(L) & Martin Hughes (R) McCormick & Hughes loft
Jim Cullen also of Uddingston & Dist also showed an excellent level of consistency in the old bird programme.Jim Cameron our brilliant federation secretary also had some fine performances throughout the season and finishing fifth on the Champions board..
Jim Cullen (R)
Jim Cameron our hard working federation secretary(R) had a fine season
On the west side we have the brilliant Wullie Millen of Cambuslang who is a master of winning big. When Wullie wins he often can take eight or nine of the fifteen section prizes available. Flying into the "wild west" out with the drag of the birdage Wullies birds are highly sot after and his Open wins are regular and spectacular.
Wullie Millen (L)
Blantyre partnership of Tallis & McDonagh always are at the top end of federation and section wins and this year was no different seeing Tommy winning 1st Open federation and fourth on the Champions board.
Tommy McDonagh(R)
Also in the west Jim McGuire of Burnbank, he has lost his beginners badge well and truly and with fellow club mate Walter Boswell and Robert Cushley.
Robert Cushley had a fine season in Burnbank
James Green & Son also caught the eye down in Low Waters club and had a fine season with sixth in the Champions board.
Gary Green (R) of J Green & Son had a fine season
Greenfield club had Mio Krivokapic who won two sections on the bounce including 1st Open. Pound for pound one of the best small team fanciers you will see.
Mio Krivokapic and his loft
Wullie McDonald of Dalziel showed a great level of consistency retaining his clubs old bird averages and ten club trophies for 2017.
Wullie McDonald
Over to Lanark and we have Dave Burnside who won every club race he competed in. Also winning 1st Open federation
Not only winning but putting up some cracking section performances, in a very difficult area to record section prizes.
Dave Burnside
I am sure there are many more that can go on the list, but you have to end somewhere and for me that now. Thats it for another season
Lanarkshire Racing Pigeon Federation
Trophy winners 2017
1 The J.Cowan Mem trophy(Best Old bird Average - GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist vel 1214
2 The Reid Mem trophy(Best combined average over Leicester,Buckingham,Bedhampton ,Ypres) GWP Macaloney of Airdrie & Dist vel 1123
3 The Hugh McCymont Mem trophy(Best combined average over all federation races -GWP Macaloney of Airdrie dist vel 1187
4 The J Torrance Mem Trophy(Best average over Bedhampton & Ypres races) GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist club vel 1072
5 The Campbell Trophy (Winner of Ypres race)GWP MacaloneyGWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist club
6 The Beattie Trophy(Best opposite sex Ypres race) T Richardson of Newmainsclub
7The Shell and BP trophy (Best two bird average Ypres race)GWP Macaloney of Airdrie dist club.
8 The Newmains SC trophy(Winner of Bedhampton race) C Baird of Airdrie Dist
Chalmers Baird winner of 1st Open Bedhampton Chalmer Baird 1st Open Bedhampton winning loft
9 The Rappold Trophy(Best two bird average Bedhampton race) McCormick & Hughes of Uddingston & Dist
10 The Sam Anderson trophy (First Yearling in Bedhampton race)C Baird of Airdrie dist club
11 The Heart Foundation trophy(Winner of race 29th April) J McGuire of Burnbank club.
12 The T Brown Mem trophy(Best Inland averages) Eadie & Kelly of Newmains club
13 The Lanarkshire Social(Lowest recorded winning velocity) Circle trophy-J Wilkinson of Airdrie dist
14 The Henderson trophyWinner of race 5th August) GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist
15 The Arrapine trophy (Best average three longest races flown)GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist
16 The Border trophy(Winner of Yearling Open ) J Wilkinson of Airdrie Dist club
17 The Carriage trophy(Best average Leicester,Bedhampton & Ypres)-GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist
18 The P Scott mem trophy (First nominated bird Ypres) T Richardson of Newmains club
19 The Wm Rae mem trophy (Winner of race 27th May)J Wilkinson of Airdrie Dist
20 The T Robertson trophy (Winner of Young bird open)W Smart of Newmains club
21 The Wm Holland trophy(Best average first seven old bird races) J Cullen of Uddingston & Dist 1309
22 The J Quinn mem trophy(Winner of the longest flown young bird race) J Wilkinson of Airdrie Dist 19th Aug
23 The Shepherd trophy(Best average Leicester,Bedhampton & Ch Richard 26th August) McCormick & Hughes
24 The United Taxis trophy(Winner of race on 17thth June)- C Baird of Airdrie & Dist
25 The William O Neil mem trophy(Best two bird average in Young bird open ) GWP Macaloney 954
26 The William Findlay mem trophy(Best opposite sex young bird open) G Mann of Airdrie Dist 2nd Open
27 The Andy Durning mem trophy(Winner of fourth flown young bird race) J Short of Clarkston & Dist
28 The Duncan Logan mem trophy (For the first hen timed in Bedhampton)C Baird of Airdrie Dist 1st Open
29 The William Wilson mem trophy(Highest velocity of Lanarkshire member in SNFC Gold Cup)-C Reive of Airdrie dist1st sect
30 The Sam Rodgers trophy (Best average first 5 young bird races plus Ypres)GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist 1053
31 The Belt Up trophy(Best young bird average Centre section) G Mann of Airdrie & Dist vel 1115
32 The R Telfer & Son trophy (Best average young bird in East section)T Richardson of Newmains club 1121
33 The Rodger trophy (Best average young birds West section)Tallis & McDonagh
34 The J Cameron Colour photo(Winner of Bedhampton) GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist
35 The J Hannah colour photo(Winner of Bedhampton) C Baird of Airdrie Dist
36 The GWP Macaloney colour photo(Winner of Ypres) GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist
37 The East section combine average winner T Richardson of Newmains club 1175
38 The Centre section combine average winner GWP Macaloney of Airdrie Dist 1187
39 The West section combine average winner Tallis & McDonagh of Blantyre 1142
Individual race prize winners 2015 (Open winner in bold& underlined
Date /race East sect Centre sect West sect
15/04 Longtown Eadie & Kelly GWP Macaloney M Krivokapic
22/04 Longtown Eadie & Kelly GWP Macaloney M Krivokapic
29/05 Appleby Lindsay/Henderson GWP Macaloney J McGuire
06/05 Ingleton P Kerr J Carswell loft 2 G Orr
14/05 CH Richard DK Burnside J Wilkinson J Cosegrove & Son
20/05 Stafford DK Burnside J Wilkinson W Millen
28/5 Leicester Eadie & Kelly J Wilkinson W Millen
03/06 Buckingham T Richardson GWP Macaloney P White
10/06 Otterburn No race
17/06 Bedhampton Eadie & Kelly C Baird W Millen
24/06 Appleby JJK Gillon Christie Bros W Millen
01/07 Appleby T McSorley J Wilkinson W Gordon
08/07 Ypres T Richardson GWP Macaloney A McInnes
Young Bird Programme
24/07 Longtown Eadie & Kelly D Wood J McGuire
29/07 Longtown J Dougal McCormick & Hughes Tallis& McDonagh
05/08 Appleby I Fairley GWP Macaloney G Baird
12/08 Appleby J & K Miller J Short J Green & Son
19/08 CH Richard T Richardson J Wilkinson W Boswell
26/08 Appleby T Richardson G Mann Tallis & McDonagh
02/09 Appleby T Richardson GWP Macaloney W Boswell
Other information
Lanarkshire AGM Saturday 25th November in the Tannochside Olde Club 12md prompt
The federation will be holding its annual presentation night in the early New Year, members will be informed of date at AGM.
Remember the federation is only as good as its members..
Dalzel Club are holding their annual shows starting Open Show dates 12/11/17 OCTW-OHTW
19/11/17 YCTW-YHTW
26/11/17 OCH-OHH
3/12/17 YCH-YHH
10/12/17 Eyesign plus Allwinners
Trophies sponsored by Dave Penman
Dalzel Club Show dates 17/12/17 Classes -1 OCTW
2 OCTW
3 YCTW
4 YHTW
5 OCH
6 OHH
7 YCH
8 YHH
Club show trophies sponsored by Tramontana
Thanks to Douglas Telfer for the information,and all the best with your shows
Newmains Club Open Show dates
5 Birds per loft £1 per pen
20/11/17 OCH
27/11/17 OHH
4/12/17 YCH
11/12/17 YHH
18/12/17 All winners plus eyesign class
Penning from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at club premisses
Special thanks -Members would like to thank Tommy McDonagh for all his help recovering lost youngsters during the season.Well done Tommy
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer