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Copied from Facebook 20th September Here's a wee recap of the performances from the solway at the biggest, and best, race in the country. Many thanks to WP Wortley. 1 / 2 Alencon 1st Section 14th Open Drew Nicholson from Annan Section winner is a 2 y.o. Dark Chequer cock, that went through the programme as a y.b and to 200 miles as a yearling. It was paired at the beginning of March in 2025 and went to the race covering a 10 day old youngster. Sire is a Dark Chequer cock that was bred from a Kirkpatrick hen containing the loft’s established lines when paired to Drew’s 2018 Silver Award winner. The Dark Chequer cock that gained a Silver Award was bred from a Blue hen that contained the loft’s established Kirkpatrick lines with his sire being a Van Der Wegen that was obtained from John Little from Ecclefechan, having been bred by Andy Gregson. Dam of the Section winner from Alencon is a Blue Chequer hen, which was bred from a Son of Willie Borthwick’s ‘White Nose Bud’ that won the Gold Cup from Liege in 2018 when paired to a super Blue hen that was purchased at a Y.B. Sale at Carnforth. The Blue hen was purchased at a Y.B Sale at Carnforth and was bred by John Winstanley from Orrell, Wigan; it was 11th Section 16th Open Guernsey 2021 and 5th Section 6th Open Alencon 2022. Sire a Jan Polder Arden/Wanroy Dam a Blue Chequer hen that was bred by Albert Tarleton & Duncan Ferguson ‘Skyleader Lofts’. 2nd Section 22nd Open Jim Ferguson from Eastriggs The winning pigeon is a 6 y.o. Blue Chequer cock that was bred by the late John McNeil from Broxburn, it raced as a y.b., yearling and 2 y.o. Worked on Widowhood he then went to Alencon in 2022 and was 7th Section 9th Open and worked in exactly the same way in 2023 and 2024, he again scored from the Gold Cup race being 14th Section 60th Open in 2023 and 76th Open in 2024. At the gateway to the 2025 season he commanded three boxes in the widowhood end of the shed, not letting any other birds near the boxes. Jim addressed the issue by moving him into the adjoining Y.B. compartment in the shed. He went right through the Federation programme to Cheltenham, after which he was brought back into his original box in the widowhood cock compartment and put of full widowhood. Occupying the box he was given his hen two days before basketing with straw being placed on the floor of the shed. The position gained from the recent Classic should secure for him an S.N.F.C. Silver Award. We must mention friend Michael Johnstone and Jim’s grandson Finn, who kindly assist at the loft. 3rd Section 25th Open John Gilmour from Ecclefechan Winning pigeon is a 2 y.o. Blue cock that had three races as a youngster and five races as a yearling on Widowhood. John’s father, Jackie, regrettably died some months ago and John took a number of his pigeons. Because of the increased number of birds in his loft he had to deviate from the management method practised in recent years. The Blue cock was raced celibate during the early part of the season and was then paired but did not go to nest, John using the hen to motivate the cock, showing her before despatch to a race. He raced through the Solway Fed. programme to the Inland National from Brighton and then went to the Gold Cup race. It was bred from a pair of 2 / 2 pigeons, which John received from Sean and Linda Trodden bred from direct imports from the Continent. Sean and Linda, of course, bred the Dam of ‘Gilly’, John’s 2017 Gold Cup winner.

Yesterday was Teds last race it was from Ramsgate 234 miles and some yards with the Welsh South East National The national was supposed to happen today but we got told Wednesday they had moved the race a day earlier and basketing would be Thursday morning for a race on Friday instead of Saturday Ted was excited the race was definitely happening as we weren’t to sure if it was going ahead but he was also disappointed it had moved a day earlier as he would be in school and miss the race Ted got home from school on Wednesday he was told the race was a day earlier, he got changed and went straight out to his loft he fed them and sat with them for over an hour before he came back out, I wasn’t to sure what he was thinking as he had a straight face on him I asked if everything was alright he nodded his head I asked are you sure he replied “I won’t be home for them” I said to him don’t worry they will be home waiting for you by the time your home Ted took some convincing in the morning he had to go to school and the birds will be okay and they would be there waiting for him when he got home Ted entered 6 into the Young Bird National they were basketed up and met a local fancier who very kindly offered to take them down to South Wales they were marked and we met him for the clock and basket back later that evening The birds were liberated at 8:00 Friday morning in a South West Wind instantly I knew this race was going to be hard for us as them winds do not suit our loft location and they’d be far wide with our young birds been flown on the south route then flicked south east for this national it was going to be a challenge regardless of the wind There was some fanciers we knew who had entered that would keep in contact if the birds were in the area, my phone remained silent not a message or a phone call the time kept ticking on I kept my faith in Teds birds they hadn’t let us down so far I kept eagerly looking at the sky hoping one would came, I kept working out the velocity and it was turning into a slogger of a race, I kept my hopes up Teds birds would come I was pacing up and down the yard and walked back to the loft when there one was! On the top landing board she flew down and went in! She must have came low because of the wind and hopped over the trees and straight down onto the loft! The relief and sheer proudness I felt that one of Teds birds had made it was a fantastic feeling and I was disappointed that Ted hadn’t been here to experience it!! We had a phone call that a local fancier had one then I had some texts from another fancier so they were in the area 15 mins later another one came and then another 17 mins after that one all 3 clocked and I was so proud of Ted what a fantastic sight it was seeing them come home for him!! Ted came home from school and ran into the loft asking did he have any his face lit up with a massive smile and shouted yes!! With his hands in the air!! He was so excited and proud of his birds there was 3 sitting waiting for him!! His smile couldn’t be any bigger!! The clock was taken down later that evening and read out and the result was posted off to South Wales as we’re on Bricon for the nationals and the marking station up here is Unikon We had the result through of the lads on Unikon there was only 16 birds clocked including Teds that’s how hard this race turned out to be!! 🙈🙈 I worked out Teds velocities and comparing them to the result we had sent us of the other competitors Ted should be 6th, 9th & 10th North Section!!! 😁🥳😁 It was just before Teds bedtime and I managed to tell him before he went up to bed he was so excited jumping up and down with joy shouting “my birds done it daddy” i have to be honest it brought a tear to my eye I was so proud of him This morning Ted was up early and out with the birds feeding them making sure they were rewarded for there efforts and has been playing with them in their boxes Unfortunately it’s been raining most of the day here so far and hasn’t been the weather for any more birds to work their way back in, we still stand as 3 out of the 6 back But i am so pleased for Ted and what a way to end the season!! I have absolutely loved Teds first season!! Without him I wouldn’t have sent to hardly any races because of the weather, birds of prey causing havoc and them not being ready but Ted was convinced his birds would do it and they certainly did!! I’m so proud of him!! 😁🥰 what I have experienced this year with Ted is what racing pigeons is all about! Father & Son racing together it didn’t matter if we were 1st or last we loved seeing the birds come and I loved Teds success of getting them! ❤️ Congratulations to all the winners and I hope everyone has the returns!! 🙏🕊️

Don't believe a word he says,banned from ellimar I wonder why🤔

Good morning folks

Morning folks

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Filip Herbots 1943/2022 🙏🕊️ Filip was undoubtedly one of the pioneers of pigeon racing. In fact, he had only one golden rule and that was "work hard". A piece of advice he gave to everyone until his last days. Filip himself was often described as a "jack of all trades". To please his parents, Filip obtained a teaching diploma. After his studies, he taught deaf children in Uccle, but being in front of a class was not really his thing. Together with his father-in-law, he fattened pigs, then started a wholesale fruit business and eventually ended up in the secretariat of the Catholic Industrial College of Limburg, where he became head of department. In 1966, Filip married his great love Jacqueline and they became the happy parents of five children: Jo, Raf, Miet, Tom and Lize. Filip had "business" in his fingers and by chance he ended up in the pigeon business in the early 1980s. Day and night he was there for everyone, which is probably the cornerstone of a successful career. The result of his hard work is now more than known to everyone in the international pigeon world. But besides being a businessman, Filip was first and foremost a pigeon fancier. His respect for his winged friends was enormous and his admiration for real top birds was unparalleled. Anyone who had the chance to talk to him about pigeons will certainly agree. Filip... we will always cherish the memories of the person you were.

Copied from Facebook 17th September

Bump

Bump

Well done

Copied from Facebook 16th Sept 2025

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Copied from Facebook 15th September

Can all breeder/buyer claims for the 2025 Fife Fed yb sale be made in writing to Federation Secretary by the end of September. Secretary details are- Mr G Nisbet 73 Whitehall Ave Cardenden Lochgelly Fife KY5 0PH Thanks to all breeders and buyers on another successful yb sale 👍

Anyone got phone no for K Rendall Orkney.

Copied from Facebook 15th September

Congratulations everyone

Congratulations and well done to everyone who was fortunate enough to win a trophy

Well done ALL

Trophy winners 2025.pdf