Lanarkshire Federation -Billericay Open Pool Race 4th July 2026
This week we have our first Open pool race of the season from Billericay, in the county of Essex, England. The birds are flying North back into lower Central, Scotland.
The distance was 354 miles back into this week’s 1st Open federation winner. We have had rain all week in Scotland and this continued over the weekend with poor visibility and "Smirr" rain for the birds to contend with for the last 100 miles of their journey.
The birds were liberated at 0600hrs in lovely bright blue sky with a light south west wind turning to a fresh North West on route. So a difficult day for the birds and the fanciers was expected!
Eight hours had come and gone and at 9 hrs 22 minutes a Blue w/f cock hit the boards for Young and Kelly of Chryston club in the North section of the federation.
This week’s 1st North section,1st Open federation Billericay.
What a brilliant partnership these guys are and are presently the federation Champion loft, winning this Combine Averages last season.
They have hit a brilliant vain of form winning the federation on the previous longest race from Kettering two weeks ago.
The partnership of Stewart Young and Karl Kelly are "As good as it gets" as pigeon fanciers, very competitive, hard to beat and true gentlemen of the sport.
Stuart Young of Young & Kelly ushering in the winner
Their drive is to be competitive in every race and set their stall to be up with the leaders every week.
When in conversation with Karl he said the weather conditions were very poor as their lofts sit at the bottom of the Campsie hills and they couldn’t see the hills, due to the mist and" smirr" rain, so for their winner to home was all the more remarkable and showed the pigeons level of motivation.
The yearling Blue w/f C was in brilliant condition and on arrival you could see he had given his all to get to the front of the pack. But after a quick drink and pick of food he was chasing his hen around the floor.
This week’s 1st Open winner looking proud in his box.
Breeding and preparation for race- Sire Blue w/f C bred by Howard Jackson containing the bloodlines of Murphys Law and Secretariat. Dam is a blue hen 2021 was bred by Mike Moody and her four G/parents are Ridge, Flying Wonder, Captain Hook, New Olympic Solange.
After last week’s race he was full of himself and showing super from ,clapping off chasing anything in the sky. He was eating everything put in front of him which Karl really likes to see. He was an easy pick as their all pooler and duly obliged.
Stewart & Karl Kelly,1st Open Billericay and presently leading the average board.
Karl and Stewart would like to thank everyone for their many texts and also thanks to the conveyers for the condition of the birds on return.
Well done to Stewart and Karl on another brilliant performance and winning this prestigious race two years on the trot!
Overall it wasn't a good race, with many birds missing at night fall, some will work back in but it’s becoming very difficult for fanciers and their birds.
Think the falcons on route took their toll and the weather didn't help.
Next week it’s a comeback race from Blaydon ,109 miles back into the federation before the final event at Brighton which is nearly 400 miles.
This race programme isn't for the faint hearted with a fraction of the 4,000 birds that started the programme finishing it !
Top 10 of the Open
1st Young & Kelly -Chryston club
2nd W Holland-Chryston club
Billy Holland winner of 2nd Open Billericay
3rd Thomson Bros -Carluke club
4th Graham Bos-Carluke club
5th J Murphy 2 -Airdrie club
John Murphy winner of 1st Club Airdrie & 5th Open.
6th Graham Bros-Carluke club
7th T Corrie Son G/son-Clarkston club
Tom Corrie ,Son G/son winners in Clarkston club
8th A Nelson-Burnbank club
Alan Nelson is a good winner in Burnbank club
9th J Wood-Uddingston club
Jim Wood had a cracking race and also winner of Uddingston club
10th J Sirrell-Carluke club
Average Leader Board
1st Young & Kelly-North section
2nd Graham Bros-Centre section
3rd W Holland-North section
4th T Corrie Son G/son-North section
5th Gault & Quinn-North section
6th J Murphy 2 -North section
7th J Sirrell -Centre section
8th J Green & Son-West section
9th R & S Peden & Wilkinson-Centre section
10th I Rankin-North section
Harry Brown of J & H Brown & Huggins winner of Dalziel club & Harry Browns winner 1st club and 3rd club on the nest, both bred the Dai Gore of South Wales.
Pollock& Cairney are having a good season and win Coatbridge SC.
JJK Gillon & G/son winners of New Stevenson and are never far away from the top.
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
