Rooster J. Cogburn

well done jim. Wattie will be after advice from you if you keep this up

733 club birds 1. A. McCalley & Son 1167 2. A. McCalley & Son 1167 3. A. McCalley & Son 1167 4. A. McCalley & Son 1166 5. D. McBeath 1166 6. A Ritchie 1165 7. A.Ritchie 1161 8. J Hendry 1158 9. J.Hendry 1157 10. J. Hendry 1157 Decent race with most at clocks between 2/3 and all home.

733 away from Armadale & District. Otterburn the morra. Good luck to all racing

Around Almond Valley With FLJ The opening race in the Almond Valley Federation’s seasonwent ahead as scheduled on the 16th of April from Stob’s Camp-nearHawick in the Scottish Borders. With strong northerly and easterly windsbringing temperatures in the low and below single figures, the race had everyright to be a disaster. That said,it went onto exceed the expectations of many,numerous lofts had 100% returns at clock checking, with the majority offanciers taking part in a cold yet enjoyable wait-the birds piled in. The racecontroller,Jim Young, and convoyer, John Jamieson, can only be commended forthe part they played in our super start to the racing pigeon year. The birds were liberated at 0915 into a Northeast wind withthe fed winner being clocked by the Armadale & District fancier-AndyRitchie, taking one hour and thirty minutes to cover the fifty five miles andrecording a velocity of 1067ypm. The top 20 of theAlmond Valley Federation, Stob’s Camp 1. A. Ritchie-Armadale & District 2. D. Bald-Balerno 3. D. Bald- Balerno 4. I. Jamieson-Balerno 5. D.Bald-Balerno 6. J. Urquhart-Forth & Clyde 7. A. Ritchie-Armadale & District 8. A. Ritchie-Armadale & District 9. G. Harris-Forth & Clyde 10. S. Fleming-Armadale & District 11. D.Bald- Balerno 12. A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District 13. D. McBeath-Armadale & District 14. V. Couper-Forth & Clyde 15. A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District 16. A, McCalley & Son-Armadale & District 17. A. McCalley & Son-Armadale & District 18. S. Fleming-Armadale & District 19. I. Jamieson-Balerno 20. I. Jamieson-Balerno Around the AlmondValley alphabetically Armadale &District Homing Society Topping the federation and taking the first three clubpositions is the unorthodox, yet talented, fancier-Andy Ritchie. Andy could bedescribed as experimental or perhaps even just mental, either way he’s had aterrific start to the season. His winner this week is a four year old cocktaking part in his first ever race, he was sent to the race chasing his hen.Andy has read the rule book and thrown it away. The sire of this pigeon wasbought at the SNFC latebred sale in 2008 and is direct off Dave Owen ofColdingham’s 2nd Open SNFC Eastbourne. Upon buying the bird Andy wasintroduced to Dave, who offered him a hen to go with his purchase. There youhave the mother of this week’s fed topper. Andy’s second pigeon is another homebred four year old cock-bred this time from his Eijerkamp Veenstra pigeons, which are heavilyinfluenced by Mr. Blue. The third pigeon to the Ritchie loft was again throughEijerkamp pigeons, though this time through the Van Loon and Janssen lines thatserve Andy well every year. Congratulations Andy on a superb opening race. In fourth place we have past federation champion and allround good egg-Sam Fleming. Sam’s first pigeon this week is becoming somewhatof a legend in the club and is known as the 2000Cock. This bird is a four year old widowhood cock who started off winningas a youngster and has won numerous other 1sts, top prizes and pools since. Atfour years old he is showing no signs of slowing up and has been given adifferent hen this season for the first time. He is bred from Sam’s AlanBridges pigeons many of which were Janssens from Foutainhead lofts. In fifth place are A.McCalley & Son, their first pigeonwas a two year old latebred hen sitting 7 day eggs, though now separated to beraced on widowhood. Her sire is known in the loft as the green eyed cock andwas a gift from SNFC winner-Walter Masson of Inverallochy, from his North ofScotland bloodlines. The dam is one of the best pigeons the partnership haveraced, known in the loft as the good chequer hen-now retired, she won numerousprizes through the card to France where she scored three times including 19thOpen SNFC Alencon. She contains the bloodlines of John Ellis of Wellbank andIan Toddler Brown of Kirkliston’s pigeons. Balerno HomingSociety Top of the pops in Balerno this week is the man to beat inthe Almond Valley Federation- Dougie Bald. The number of first and second fedsDougie has won this past few seasons is absolutely phenomenal, and this week hehas another second to add to the collection. Dougie’s winner is a blue hen thatwas flying spare and is one from what he refers to as his ‘mad section’. Thishen is an Albert Tarleton Janssen, these Tarleton Janssens also had a hand inthe breeding of his 2nd Club, with her dam carrying the lines.Whilst the sire is through Dougie’s old Mogar Busschaert family. This hen wasagain from the mad section and sitting approximately 8 day eggs at the time ofthe race. Dougie’s mad section had a terrific race for it was fromthis loft the 5th place bird came from as well. A highly strunggrizzle cock that Dougie believes to be one of the craziest pigeons he hasowned. A bird that certainly doesn’t have a calming influence on his loftmates, but it seems to make no difference come race day. The mad grizzle originatesfrom birds Dougie received from his friend Bobby Frame of Newmains, andcontains the bloodlines of the great Andrew Deans of Botwell’s pigeons. Third place in Balerno this week goes to Ian Jamieson, whoenjoyed a good race with three in the first 20 of the fed. Ian is a busy manthrough work commitments and a young family, his mother plays a big part in theday to day running of the loft and their first pigeon from Stob’s Camp is afavourite of hers-a chequer pied yearling cock sent to the race chasing hishen. This pigeon is down through the old bloodlines of Ian’s father thatbrought him a lot of success, particularly from the longer races with the SNFCand SCC. Ian like many has tried various different pigeons but finds the oldbloodlines are still at the fore and very reliable. Well done Ian and MrsJamieson on a cracking start to the season. The member of Balerno H.S would like to extend thanks toJohn Jamieson, for without his help on Friday evening, they’d have been unableto race. He’s not a bad lad. Carnwath HomingSociety Winning Carnwath we have Scott McArdle. Scott’s winner wasactually 2nd from the opening Stob’s Camp race last year as ayearling. Let’s hope he continues to add to his growing list of prizes. Thesire of this chequer cock is direct off Colin Crowe of Winchburgh’s No.1 pairwhich are responsible for many winners in the Central Fed as well as birds toscore prominently in the SNFC inland events. The dam is a pigeon Scott obtainedfrom Dave Atkin of Lincoln. Scott races his birds on his own version ofroundabout and I’m sure it’ll bring him further success in the coming weeks. Taking the second and third prizes is B Campbell with acouple of two year old latebred cocks flown on the natural system. His firstbird in the clock contained the bloodline of clubmate Willie Watson on the sire’sside and the dam is again from a relatively local fancier, J Warwick ofSymington. The third prizewinner is of Jan Aarden lineage and was bred by hisbrother Gordon from up in Montrose. Willie Watson also featured in the top five in this theopening race of the season. Well done all. Carnwath is certainly not an easy place tofly to, being well off the fed’s main drag. That being said there are a fewable fanciers in this neck of the woods and I’m sure on the given day when theconditions are right their time will come. East Calder Mr & Mrs Archie Fleming take first place in East Calderthis week with a hen sitting eggs down through their Freddie Jamieson pigeons.Archie is a great asset to the fed and his contribution to the ferrying of thepigeons on marking nights is invaluable. Nice to see him off to a good startracing- Well done Archie. In second and third place we have Young & Clafferty withboth of their pigeons being flown on roundabout- the first being one of thepartnerships Lambrechts and the second is off their good Freddie Jamieson pair. Robert Anderson takes fourth with a blue hen sitting 14 dayeggs, again the Freddie Jamieson influence is seen here with the hen’s damcoming from his lofts, whilst the sire is one of Bertie’s old Busschaerts. Freddie himself is in the fifth position. Freddie sent a fewof his spare hens to get his season started and the first one to the loft isoff his Galaxy lofts Van Loon lines. Forth & Clyde Onto one of the biggest clubs in the central belt now andtaking the top spot is one of the club’s big players-Jimmy Urquhart. Jimmy hasbeen winning pigeon races for decades and this first prize is another to add tothe many in this good run of form. The winner is a yearling widowhood cock takinghis second first prize for he also won the third young bird race last year. Thesire of this good pigeon was a gift Jimmy received from the late John Ellis ofWellbank, whilst the dam is one of Jimmy’s Leo Van Rijn birds. Well done Jimmy,I’m sure you’ll rack up a few more cups to collect at the presentation night. In second and fourth we have the fed’s national winner, SNFClegend Geordie Harris. Geordie’s first pigeon was a yearling chequer hen flownon roundabout and has shown previous form, winning the Thirsk race as ayoungster. The sire of this hen is a Mickey Lennon Maris cock, direct off hisfamous racer Herbie. The dam isdirect of Geordie’s good black hen which was the result of an arranged pairingand split nest with Danny Henderson, when paired to a grandson of Braspenning’sFelle. This Black Hen was a bit of amachine in her racing days winning 9x1st club and twice topping the fed. Geordie’s fourth place bird is a two year hen flown on roundaboutand is one of the most consistent performers in his loft at present her dam isalso direct of the good black hen and the grandson of Felle with the sire being a direct son of Eagleson’s White Cheeks, Owned by Louella. Taking third and fifth place is another of the Bonnybridgecracks-Vic Couper. The third placed pigeon is a yearling chequer pied hen racedon roundabout. Her sire is a full brother to the famous Jan Aarden Invincible Dettori and Vic and DavieWells inform me this is the biggest pigeon they have ever seen. The dam is agood Soontjen breeder in Vic’s loft being the dam to one his SNFC sectionwinners. Vic’s second pigeon was a blue cock, again raced onroundabout. The parents of this pigeon were bred by Alan Atkinson and were sentto Vic by his brother that lives in Gibraltar. Well done the Forth & Clyde men. West Calder It was a clean sweep for the federation president, JohnBird, from the opening race, with him taking the first five positions. John’s first pigeon was a yearling red chequer cock that hepurchased at the federation’s young bird sale last year. This winner was bredby Tam Henderson from Stirling from his Busschaerts and was sent to the racesitting ten day eggs. Like the rest of John’s pigeon he is now on roundabout. John’s second pigeon is off his 120 cock which has been asuper racer for him and is off his Woodroffe Brothers pigeons, the dam of thesecond club again has the Woodroffe influence being out of his old originalnumber one pair he got from the lads in Sunderland a few years back now. Well done John and keep up the good work. We are off to Otterburn in Northumberland this weekend, anddespite what’s been a lovely couple of days it looks like it’ll be another coldone. If it turns out as good a race as the first one then I can’t imagine therewill be too many complaints. To borrow from the likable cockney’s and cue sportenthusiasts- Chas & Dave; Pigeon loopy,nuts are we. We’re all pigeonloopy!!!

1. A. Ritchie 2. A. Ritchie 3. A. Ritchie 4. S. Fleming 5. A. McCalley & Son 6. D. McBeath 7. A. McCalley & Son 8. A. McCalley & Son 9. A. McCalley & Son 10. S. Fleming Well done to Andy Ritchie on what I think may be the fed winner and a well done to Sam Fleming on clocking the first pooler with his great '2000' cock. A very good race given the temperature and wind, with a few having 100% returns at clock checking.

shall do John. What time they meeting tonight?

I only have two right Stevie . Must have been misinformed-most of the auld yins around here had never seen a bird of prey,let alone many of them, until 1980. They'd start most seasons wi 18 youngsters and have 19 left

A few questions to consider when yer talking about treblebirdage,better fliers etc. in the old days- I’m sure things like losing yer best pigeons and/or pigeonsrelated to your best pigeons round the loft or from short tosses happened backthen, but was it as prominent as it is now? Did fanciers often finish the season with less than half ofthe team they started with? Were people worried about mixing their pigeons with otherfancier’s for fear of them becoming diseased? Could they regularly toss in any direction they wanted at any sensible distanceand expect full returns and zero injuries?Or race on a beneficial line of flight and thinknothing of it? I think I know the answers to these questions,I also thinkbefore championing the good fliers of days of yore it may be worth acknowledging how fortunate they were to race at a time when they could do what theydone with their pigeons.

think he means it should only count for the Lanarkshire average if George Baird wants to go to it

Young Birds 16/7-Stob's Camp 23/7-Stob's Camp 30/7-Otterburn 6/8-Otterburn 13/8-Catterick 20/8-Thirsk 27/8-Wetherby

Old Birds 16/4-Stob's Camp 23/4- Otterburn 30/4-Catterick 7/5-Thirsk 14/5-Selby 21/5-Newark 28/5-Leicester 4/6-Leicester 11/6-Catterick 18/6-Billericay

He might need to think about one after sh iting himself on the Livingston penalty spot at the weekend

I'll choose a blue cock to jinx - NEHU15 SUN 616

just at the wind up Peter . Although I'm no totally convinced about you and the top men's yearling hen egg theory. If we all thought the same it wouldn't be much fun

Is that yer dog's opinion too Peter? Did they enjoy their omelette?

Hard thing to define. Every loft has it's own champ, which is part of the fun. A lot of great doos at various distances, the occasional bird at them all. As far as Scottish pigeon racing goes I don't think there has been a performance, before or since, to better that of the great 5 O'clock Rock-bred and raced by pb's Walter Masson. 1st Open SNFC Avranches(622miles) on a velocity of 1107, 125ypm ahead of the runner up-flying 120miles further.

The earliest ones here are flying well now,cleaning up a little too - should have them ready for Stob's Camp or Otterburn next month

The earliest ones here have been batching for two or three weeks now-flying, but nowt too serious yet. They are pretty heavy in the moult. Plenty more hatched the last couple of days-hopefully a future champ amongst them somewhere Six weeks and counting til the old bird racing gets under way

I usually have toast on Dairylea in the mornings, will start making an extra slice for the birds I think

I've had doos in the geraldy crates and wicker baskets and given the choice I'd now choose the geraldy every time-especially for young yins. Seen doos that have never been in a geraldy crate in their puff drinking within seconds of being placed in for the first time. Never seen such a thing in wicker baskets-I'd guess in the early young bird races where wicker baskets are used the majority of the convoy are libbed without having drank at all since leaving their loft the previous day.

Think they were N.W fed champs in 1967. I've an old magazine here from that time, the bairn was writing then and gave a run down of some of the principle prizewinners - they won ob average,combined average and were runners up for yb average that year. As it says in the write up W.D posted Laurieston was the second biggest club in the country at that time. W.D's father told me there was a season around that time where they won 9 or 10 races in a row. Not sure which?pandy or W.D might?

Cheers folks

Brilliant William,thanks for posting this. Great to read about such outstanding flyers so close to home. when did they die? I never met any of them,and only really knew of them through talking to yer da.

Rest of the top 60 you'll have to ask auld mossgiel if you want to know the others

worthy of the title champion Davie. Top class!