Rooster J. Cogburn

I can only empathise with the likes of Yeboah.Where as we have had good birds killed round the loft its no where near as big a problem as you guys have. Agree with KING BILLY as well in as much as I also get a lot of pleasure on a nice winters day seeing the doos out enjoying themselves in the fresh air and a bit of sunshine. Oldyellow must be right as well as I know loads of people who can keep their birds in all winter paying close attention to the feeding and they come out with performances year after year. Many roads

Last season ours were on an open loft all winter-They had a nice moult and only had one blind egg out of around 30 pair. Lost fewer to BOP than a clubmate who kept his on lockdown from September to March. Different set of circumstances this season,so its not really possible to do this at the minute.Still try to get them out 3 or 4 times a week.

Each to their own and I suppose personal circumstances will dictate whether or not you birds are out in winter. I personally wouldnae like to be locked in a shed from September through to February though

lot 8 £30 best of luck with the sale

Best of luck tp you and yer Da.Toppin hen yees have got there

Yous goin fer the Silver award next year Stevie D??

He hasn't raced for a few seasons now Patty but aye I heard he was selling the loft,it may be away now as that was a few weeks back. I'd been through to his place a couple of times and always found him to be a good guy He had some cracking Tarleton Janssens and De Klak pigeons.

It doesnae really matter,nobody pays attention to anything ye say anyway Only joking I voted oldyellow

Only in America and maybe some parts ae Avonbrig

absolutely mental Aye you can say that again. Like him or loathe him,for me he is the most entertaining player I've ever seen.At his peak he is almost in a league of his own.

back to the original trick shot video.This is something that amazes me everytime I watch it

offt!! Some of these look agony.Its always funny to watch though as long as its no yerself Know a couple of folk that have done the old walk intae a glass door yin,with and without a cargo on board

Would've took a bit of time to set that one up

Smashin loft One of ma clubmates got a Tranter loft in Febuary this year,even nicer when you see them in real life

Did the Black Rocket come from this same line??663 miles on the day of lib-1st North Section Rennes

How did ye go about preparing yer hen tae fly that distance George??Its still something a cannae get ma head round

Fer me sending to Barcelona from Central Scotland isnae really a race so much as a survival test. As a spectacle I dinnae find it all too appealing.For me the main aim is to get pigeons into Section D on the night.The right bird on the right day in the hands of the right fancier with the right prepartion could achieve this from the furthest race in the SNFC calendar as it stands.Fi 1000 miles this isn't going to be possible. Obviously the fanciers further North will have a different outlook but there are some fantastic birds that have made it up to Fraserburgh from 600+ and even 700+ miles on the day of release-surely this must be what the North fanciers of today dream of as well?? Where as there are few fanciers I admire more than John Ellis of Wellbank I don't think my admiration would be any less had he not timed in Wellbank Endurance two years in a row from Palamos nor do I believe the constitution and homing ability of the birds he has would be any less as a result.

John Ellis Wellbank Endurance - 1000miler In 1971 John entered his now famous Red pied cock "Endurance" at the Usher Vaux Beauvais race, then later in the year the fed Avranches race. In 1972 John plucked up the courage to send this cock to Palamos 1044.mls with the "British Barcelona Club". He finished 2nd sect.E and I think 82nd Open. In 1973 John flew the flag again for Scotland from Palamos, or (should I say Endurance did!) This time he won the sect and was 27th Open, and the remarkable thing here was, that he was flying approx 400mls, YES 400 further than the pigeons that beat him. John must have been elated! He won the BBC trophy, a gold medal, and the Gordan Hair cup, furthest flying bird in race time! Endurance in fact came direct from the 1965 Rennes E sect winner. Wellbank Endurance was later bought by the late Jim Biss; who had him at stock for 4 years. John bought the pigeon back through F.W.S.Hall of Enfeild, at one of his famous auctions, for in fact less than he was sold for! On return John took him from a box, looked at him, let him go and he went half circle to the board, straight through the trap, and up to his old nest box! John was very pleased for this special pigeon, home at LAST! Endurance came direct off the 1965 sect winner "Wellbank Pride", who was from the Matt Telfor gift egg containing Bob Strachan x Dave Shearer of Strathaven, in Lanarkshire bloodlines. Still with the B.B.C, John sent a young bird to Rennes with them in 1972 & 1973 respectively and got both his young red & young mealy cocks home from 583mls. Not bad going for young birds. This must be some sort of record.

Next thing is to play in the British Championships down in Swansea

Well done to my cousin,Martin McCalley,on winning the under 25 Scottish Indoor Bowling Championship at the weekend

Hope they do the business for you

Are you putting them together John or do you have something in mind for them??

thats it empty now William

Very true