ally mac

Tommy has offered me a bag of feed every time Im down if I keep telling everyone he's a good guy 😉

He is, he flew very well in Portugal and is supposed to be coming back here but with this brexit and covid I don't know when I will see him

Thanks pal. Ive been up and down the road for over ten years now so I'm pretty used to it. I don't race ybs atall but have had a few results along the way with old birds. And one lofts and pals also testing my doos so it gives me a great interest in the yb season.

Decided to cut my losses and put a hen out the race loft in, almost immediately she was showing so its looking better. Shes a full sister to Tartan Harry. 12th Ace pigeon at the Algarve Golden race, also a half sister to Dileas so a decent pairing i think.

Aye that makes sense, will try that for a few nights

Whisky up here ðŸ˜

Ive tried all sorts Andy, i think its actually the hen that may be the issue. I will cut my losses now and maybe try them again later in the year.

This is Dileas. 11th Open at the Algarve great Derby final, 30seconds behind the winner. Finished the series 2nd Ace pigeon. Playing the numpty and won't settle with his hen. She had a few top 10 results in tge Algave Bony Challenge and finished 10th Ace pigeon. I was fair excited about the pairing but it isn't to be. Need to pull something out the race team for Dileas.

I think i know the answer to that Rab but you will need to ask them, i would also ask for the evidence and consider their answer very carefully. But thats history now. What I will say is I am over the moon to have been accepted by Hamilton and South Lanarkshire. I really appreciate the members support and look forwards to the season ahead. I am also grateful to the Dumbarton club who came to me offering me another option for which I am also extremely grateful.

Thanks for the kind words lads. I'm making a wee bit progress each year, not easy but getting there I think. (and i'm moving in to building Arks Andy )

Wee bit of info here Davie STORIES OF THE CHAMPIONS Part 7 by Keith Mott I've had the great pleasure of writing in the pigeon fancy press for almost 45 years and in that time I have visited most of the premier lofts in the United Kingdom. I think it's fair to say that I have handled and inspected more National, Classic and Combine winners than most fanciers. Cameron Stansfield of the Elimar website recently asked me for my top ten pigeons that I have come across in my 45 years visiting premier lofts in the UK and on the Continent. A very hard request to fulfil! I went through thousands of pigeon photographs in my archive files and came up with nearly 80 ‘once in a life time’ champion pigeons. There is probably more in there, but as always, Keith has done his best! This request inspired me to write about some of these great pigeon, so in the coming weeks we are going to feature my ‘Stories of the Champions’, which will feature pictures and the short stories of the history behind the best of the champion pigeons that I have come in contact with in my time in the sport. Over the coming weeks we are featuring the very best of long distance and sprint and one article on world class breeders. I have lined them up in no particular order or preference, as I do not want to offend anybody and I hope my readers enjoy my choices! Here's Part 7. CH. ‘TRAILL’S SPARK’ John Traill of Thornton When John Traill passed away in June 2001, the sport of long distance pigeon racing in Scotland lost one of its greatest champions. I met ‘jock’ in the mid 1990s, when I visited his Fife loft while on a ‘Many Miles with Mott’ video tour with Albert Taylor and we found him to be a real gentleman pigeon fancier. He loved long distance pigeon racing, with the highlights of his 55 years in the sport being twice 1st open Scottish National Flying Club. John Traill had many premier positions in the SNFC through the years, with his best being: 1995: 20th open SNFC Niort, 80th open SNFC Rennes, 1996: 1st, 8th open SNFC Niort (690 miles), 1997: 11th open SNFC Rennes, 1st, 30th open SNFC Nantes (620 miles) and he also won 2nd open SNFC Nantes (620 miles) and 1st open Fife Federation Dorchester (400 miles). He won numerous positions in the first thirty open in the Scottish National Flying Club. His National winners were: Champion ’Traill’s Spark’, dark chequer cock, winner of 1996: 1st open SNFC Niort, 690 miles, being liberated at 06.00hrs and clocked 10.20hrs next day, 1995: 27th open SNFC Niort, 1992: 1st open Fife Federation Dorchester (400 miles). Champion ’Nancy’, the frill blue chequer hen named after John’s wife, Nancy. She won in 1997: 1st open SNFC Nantes (620 miles) and in 1996: 8th open SNFC Niort (690 miles). On my visit John told me, he could trace his National winning family back to some of those original pigeons he had in 1951. The main stock pair was a blue chequer hen bred down from the old Traill family and before being put to stock, she was a useful racer, winning many major prizes including 2nd open Federation. John told me she was the dam of the loft! Her mate was a handsome blue chequer pied, being produced from a gift egg from Keith Cochrane, and he was bred down from the Eddie Newcombe bloodlines. This wonderful stock pair bred the Niort National winner, Champion ‘Traill’s Spark’. When John introduced new stock he preferred to bring in a good hen, bred close to good 600 mile winners and out of a consistent loft. He didn’t have many crosses over the years, but some successful ones were from Dennis Dall, Bobby Carruthers, Keith Cochrane and J. & J. Keir. John’s work was a driver on the railway and told me, he had great support from his wife, Nancy with his pigeons and his family as a whole were very interested in his hobby. He was president of the Thornton Club and Fife Federation for 23 years. A well respected fancier!

Havent a scooby what your on about but was good to get a wee catch up today. And I hope wee rampage got the toy he was after 😄

Will you train over the winter Stevie or just get them going in the spring?

I don't race ybs but they get trained over the winter when weather permits. Tend to get a lot less hassle from Percy. If I see a settled spell I will get them going.

Aye the Scottish doos are doing fine out there. I was out last year and had a beer with Peter, and a few with Paddy etc . The great derby went well for me last year but not so good this year. had a go at the Golden race which turned out pretty good. Looking forwards to next year and will hopefully get back out for the finals.

I was following your syndicate and fantastic results right enough. Have you had your prize money yet?

I hold my hands up to that. I haven't got my sponsorship to Andy yet. I apologise for that and will get it away tonight. Whats next?

Great result and a nice wee earner

Percy, Sparrow hawks, buzzards and Sea Eagles here on a daily basis. Percy was into the doos the other day but if was a half hearted attempt. Thd sparrow is into them on a daily basis but itz days are numbered. Buzzards and eagles obviously aren't an issue.

I think he concentrate on one Lofts.

£200 each Ryan

250 or so doos competing for 10k. Not bad odds I think, Basicly club numbers competing for 10k. All proven doos, should be interesting Costs me more than that in diesel to race my own

I think there are 200 entries to the yearling race but hopefully some more from the auction will go in. It should be a good bit of interest.

All depends on the weather on the day of the final I think. The biggest challenge abroad is the heat I think. Wind in their tail in around 30 degrees is a different story to wind on the nose, there are some real hard races out there. I try and cover the bases. It's great to see your doos at the top even in the hot spots.

Aye they're all entered. It will be a good wee interest. See if they can redeem themselves 😉