DBA421

Well said Andy.Totally agree with you. The existing SHU committee has carried out some excellent changes in the last few years. I now wonder if its worth it giving up all the time @ travelling without any payment to attend all the meetings when all you get is moans and groans from people who are never even at an SHU AGM.

The Welsh Homing Union has been charging 50p per to register NWHU rings for sometime now. They also now charge the same for SHU and other Union rings.

In which area do you stay.

NEHU 2018 H 6021 killed by hawk down my driveway today. I live near Currie if you want the ring back.

The amount of training Billy B and David R put in every week and having a fantastic family of pigeons its no wonder Billy is so successful. He has set the standard now that others have to try to obtain.

My friend Allan Todd over the last few weeks has given Freddy and his helper about 50 Scottish Young Birds. Allan has been collecting them from around Durham.

This months edition of National Geographic has an article on the rapid decline from The Peak District of Goshawks and Peregrine Falcons in the Northern Section of the Park. The article is blaming Grouse Shooting Estates. Most likely the fact that very few Federations now use the West Route and the Hawks do not have ready meals given to them on Race Days.

Well done Billy. All your hours of hard work has paid off again.

I have an injured pigeon picked up by a non-fancier in Penzance in Cornwall. Does any one have a phone number or address for any fancier who may help.

A big thank you to Tiger (john Jamieson) for going out of his way home to collect the strays from Alan Todd who had collected them from the Consett area.

Derek I hope you are not including calling me a nodding dog . I have for more years than I care to remember try to bring Scottish Pigeon Racing into the modern world, fought for rights of SHU members at meetings, spent endless hours helping to organize various things through the SHU to take Scottish Pigeon Racing forward. The President is always willing to listen to any sensible recommendations put forward and if more SHU members would take an interest in Pigeon Racing in Scotland and try to get on to the SHU committee and come to the meetings.( By the way - I don't think I have missed a meeting or not voiced my opinion at a meeting for tens of years.)

Big entry this year about 900 birds to judge.

Phone the office ask Ann to contact her.

The birds will be penned by 11am and the auction wil start at 12noon in The Main Concourse.

Is this post the level that Pigeon Basics has sunk to. I take it this person does is not a member of any S.H.U. Fed.

Walter you are a credit to your Fed and the SHU. If it was not for people like you who give up the time to travel to the meetings Scottish Pigeon Racing would be in a sorry state. I despair when I read some of the comments on Pigeon Basics. Thank goodness some of us still try for the sake of Scottish Pigeon Racing.

The Almond Valley Transporter has a thermostat fitted at high level so that when the inside of the Transporter reaches a preset temperature the fan will come on and run till the Transporter is back to another preset temperature.

Why must you bring politics into the topic its about fanciers losing all their best pigeons and a seasons preparation all gone.

Another great young bird added to the sale. Chris Gordon has just sent up a grandson its Dam is a direct daughter of Snydale Express 1st open NFC flying 725 miles. The sire of the young bird is a Son of Snydale Prince 2nd NE 700 Mile Club 2nd Lancs & York 4 Bird C C 2nd SEC K 8th Open NFC Tarbes 4066 Birds 725 Miles. Prince is SIRE, G.SIRE, G.G.SIRE of many winners including G.SIRE of Pennie Heights 1st OPEN NFC TARBES 740 Miles for SHACKLETON &SON.

A raffle for the Trust will take place on 2nd April at the Y.B. sale in Newmains Club. Prizes - 2 - Cases of Wine - 1 - Bottle Whisky - 1 Bottle Vodka - 2- 25Kg Paloma Breeding - 2 - 20 KG Teurlings tq Breeding - 2- 20Kg SS Breeding - other prizes of Pigeon Health Care products.

CHARITY SALE AUCTION on behalf of the 16th Royal Scots Battalion Trust SUNDAY 2nd APRIL AT NEWMAINS CLUB[/size] Viewing 12 noon-1pm We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of what must be the top fanciers in Scotland who have immediately,when asked, donated their young birds to the sale. The Battalion Trust is the world’s first registered charity to be inspired by the sacrifice of an infantry battalion of the Great War. On 1st July 1916, the bloody opening day of the Battle of the Somme, 17 British divisions assaulted an impregnable German defensive system, bristling with barbed wire and machine guns. 20,000 British soldiers died that morning, the idealistic best that the New Armies had to offer. A further 40,000 were wounded. Entire battalions of pals, brothers, neighbours and workmates were wiped out in a matter of minutes. Amid the carnage it was a unit from the capital of Scotland that penetrated furthest into the enemy position. The 16th Royal Scots, the 2nd Edinburgh City Battalion, named after their charismatic colonel, Sir George McCrae, lost almost three quarters of their strength. Somehow, though, a small party pressed on to reach the tiny ruined village of Contalmaison, deep inside the German trench system. In their time they were recognised as heroes, but posterity is unkind and the achievement was forgotten. In November 2004 a 14ft high traditional Scottish cairn was unveiled in Contalmaison to finally right this historic wrong. Constructed by Scottish craftsmen, using entirely Scottish materials, sourced in Caithness, Nairnshire, Moray and the Lothians, it is now recognised as the most handsome battalion monument to be erected on the Somme since the high-water mark of commemorative projects in the 1920s. It is truly ‘the last of the Great War memorials’ and has already become a distinctive Scottish presence on the Western Front. The future remembrance lies with the young and the Trust organises regular trips and included on these are Scottish sixth-year students and young soldiers from the Personnel Recovery Unit at Craigiehall who are recovering from a variety of injuries sustained on recent active service. The establishment of the Contalmaison site and our annual pilgrimage has firmly cemented Scotland’s links with France and the Somme. We have established a new tradition of Franco-Scottish remembrance, reviving the ancient friendship of Europe’s oldest alliance. The Scottish Footballers’ cairn is now an important part of the local fabric. Lot 1 John Baillie, Tranent Robert Telfer Award Trophy for winning the SNFC Averages 2016, Section B Average Trophy,SNFC East Region Average Trophy, SNFC Clive Newcombe Memorial Trophy and Scotland’s own Fancier of the Year Trophy. All this since moving to his new address in October 2014. Lot 2 Jim Hannah, Lanarkshire 8 x 1st West Section SNFC, 1st Open Lanarkshire Fed from Avranches. Won the Lanarkshire Social Circle Gold Cup, 2nd twice and 4th twice; 1st and 2nd West Section, 5th and 6th Open SNFC Alençon 2014; Gold Award winner SNFC 2016. His pigeon, Little Wonder, was 2nd Open SNFC, only three birds on the day from Chenoise, 578 miles,vel 1074. His Blue Girl, 1st Section, 2nd Open SNFC Sartilly, 498 miles, vel 829. West Sound, 1st West Section, 4th Open SNFC Rennes. Lot 3 A. S. Thomson & Son, Port Seton Dewar Trophy 2016 awarded for Outstanding Performance of a Pigeon in Scotland; 1st Open Clermont SNFC; 1st Open Eastbourne SNFC; 2nd Open Roye SNFC; 6th, 7th and 9th Open, 10 in the first 80 from SNFC Ypres. Lot 4 Mr & Mrs Elliot, Newbigging 1st Gold Cup SNFC Messac 2011, 550 miles; 3rd and 4th Section SNFC Messac; 1st Open SNFC Hastings; West Section Average Trophy and Section E Average Trophy SNFC 2015; 1st Section E Trophy SNFC Clermont 2015; 22 x 1st Section E and West Section SNFC and approximately 15 x 2nd Section wins Lot 5 Tom McLeod, Elphinstone Top fancier in SNFC. Tom has achieved two Gold Award Certificates, SNFC Averages for the two longest races, plus many more top prizes Lot 6 W. Kinnear & Son, Edinburgh 302 SNFC Diplomas, 241 being won since 2000.Average of 15 SNFC Diplomas per year over the last 16 years. 1st Open SNFC La Ferté Bernard Gold Cup 2004; 1st Open SNFC Ypres 2009; 2nd Open SNFC Sartilly 1996; 2nd Open SNFC Nantes 1997; 2nd Open SNFC Falaise 2005; 3rd Open SNFC Buckingham YB 2015; 4th Open SNFC Clermont 2010; 4th Open SNFC Reims Gold Cup 2010; 5th Open SNFC Nantes 2000;16th Open SNFC Reims Gold Cup 2016; 13th Open SNFC Alençon Gold Cup 2015; 11th Open SNFC Alençon Gold Cup 2014; 33rd Open SNFC Alençon 2013; two SNFC Gold Awards and four SNFC Silver Awards; four times winner of SHU Dewar Trophy for the best old bird in Scotland and winner of Confederation of Long Distance Pigeon Unions Great Britain and Ireland over 300 miles in 2005 Lot 7 John Bird, West Calder In recent years John has achieved good results in th SNFC and SNRPC. 1st Section D SNFC Trophy for Eastbourne; 1st Section D in the SNRPC Old Bird Average and the Old Bird Points Trophy 2016 in the Almond Valley Fed Lot 8 W. L. Bilsland, Ayton 7 x 1st Open SNFC and numerous 2nd and 3rds etc. Just too many to list. 1st Open SNRPC Lot 9 David Reed, Chain Bridge Lofts Birds from the loft have bred five National winners and the SHU Young Bird of the Year. Multiple Fed winners for fanciers in Scotland and England Lot 10 Derek Hay, Kirkintilloch 5 x 1st WEST REGION 4 x 2nd, 4 x 3rd all with SNFC. Derek has been 5th,7th,11th,16th,17th,17th,23rd,30th 30th etc etc Open SNFC. He is a previous winner of the SNFC West Section Averages and has almost 120 diplomas in last 15 years. He has won both Section E and F on numerous occasions and has been Top Prize Winner in 3 Federations he has competed in. Lot 11 Jock Scott, Kennoway Fife 1st Open SNFC Roye 2016; 5th Open SNFC, 1st Region Ypres; 1st Region SNFC Marlborough; 1st Region SNFC Eastbourne. Fife Fancier of the Year 2011 and 2016. The young bird will be from the 1st National paired to the 5th National Lot 12 John Thomson, Spey Bay 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th North Section YB National 2016,flying 400 miles. Timed 18 on the day, six on Open result. John has blended together a team to win at long distances Lot 13 Andy Miller, Sighthill Last six years 125 SNFC Diplomas; 1st Open SNFC Ypres;2nd Open SNFC Ypres; 2nd Open SNFC Reims; 4th Open SNFC Reims 2016; 4th and 5th Open SNFC Billericay 2015; 5th, 6th, 8th,9th and 10th Open SNFC Buckingham 2015. Won Pentland Fed more than any other fancier Lot 14 G. W. & P. Macaloney, Lanarkshire 1st General Champion Award Golden Duif Award UK and Ireland, the first time a Golden Duif Award has been won in the UK and Ireland. This is another milestone in the Macaloney fantastic story. They compete inthe biggest Fed in Scotland if not in the UK and Europe. They have topped the Lanarkshire Fed 83 times since 2000. You cannot possibly list all the partnership’s results and achievements. But the true legacy of the partnership is that their family of birds is winning at every level for fanciers throughout the UK, e.g. Proctor & Jones, 5 x 1st Open NMCC. The five pigeons that won the Opens each had one of the parents from G. W. & P. Macaloney Lot 15 Willie Hay, Methill Fife First fancier to win the YB National North of the Forth 2008; 3rd Open, 1st Section SNFC YB National 2016. Topped Fife Fed 20 times and has won seven SHU Awards Lot 16 E. Hodgson & Sons, Annan Won 7 x 1st Open SNFC Channel races; 4 x 2nd Open and 3 x 3rd Open, been in the first 10 Open positions SNFC on many occasions; first 10 in Section results on more than 60 occasions; 1st SNFC National Cock twice; 1st Yearling in SNFC Gold Cup, flying over 500 miles. Won Gold and Silver Diplomas and the SHU Dewar Trophy in the last two years; 2nd Open SNFC with a yearling from Ancenis SNFC 2015. Won SHU Friendship Trophy for best performance of a yearling 2016; four pigeons on the night from SNFC longest race Ancenis, first pigeon was 6th Open Lot 17 F. Jamieson & Son, East Calder Top flyer in the Almond Valley Fed and Central Scotland 3 Bird Club. Tops the Fed year in and year out. Will donate a pigeon from his Galaxy Lofts stock birds. Birds obtained from Freddie are winning for other fanciers and sell out every year Lot 18 John Bird, Prestonpans 2nd Open,2nd Section SNFC Ypres; 31st Section, 96th Open SNFC Reims; 15th Section, 41st Open SNFC Littlehampton. Four in the top 100 SNFC YB National, three in the top 100 SNFC Buckingham; 14 SNFC Diplomas 2016. John’s cheq hen, Peg, timed in from three SNFC Nationals, 2nd Open SNFC Ypres, and his first pigeon from Buckingham and Littlehampton. Top fancier East of Scotland Fed 2016; 1st Fed Open, 4 x 2nd Fed, 3 x 1st Club and 4 x 2nd Club Lot 19 JPS Lofts Ian Stafford & James Parker formed a breeding loft with the intention of winning National races. Already winning 1st NFC Fougères. They hope to breed National winners for other people. They have invested heavily in purchasing National winners in the UK and Europe. The youngster will be a choice of a grandchild of any of their principal pigeons on their website, jpslofts.com. Lot 20. D. Jamieson, East Calder. In the last three years David has won 2nd Open, 3rd Open, 4th Open, 2 x 10th Open, 11th Open,15th and 20th Open SNFC Ancenis, flying 598 miles; 1st Section D SNFC Trophy Clermont 2015; 1st Section D SNFC, E. R.Williamson Trophy 2015; 1st Section D SNFC Ancenis 2015; Section D SNFC Average Trophy 2015; 1st Section D SNFC Buckingham YB 2014. David will donate a young bird from his stock loft Lot 21 Chris Gordon Another great young bird added to the sale. Chris Gordon has just sent up a grandson its Dam is a direct daughter of Snydale Express 1st open NFC flying 725 miles. The sire of the young bird is a Son of Snydale Prince 2nd NE 700 Mile Club 2nd Lancs & York 4 Bird C C 2nd SEC K 8th Open NFC Tarbes 4066 Birds 725 Miles. Prince is SIRE, G.SIRE, G.G.SIRE of many winners including G.SIRE of Pennie Heights 1st OPEN NFC TARBES 740 Miles for SHACKLETON & SON. Contact and commissions to: D. Bald, Telephone: 07766 904506

Having spoken to the SHU secretary this morning, she would like to welcome any suggestions on how to improve the SHU. You can put them in writing or phone the office. Regarding not receiving the notification of the AGM, over 1500 agendas were posted out to members this year and all fanciers who have given an email address were emailed a copy. All members up to 2012 had a copy posted to them and still hardly anyone turned up. I, along with some members on the SHU Management Committee have never missed an SHU AGM for many years. I can assure you although the meeting is held in the Central Belt normally, no-one except for Joe Connoll turns up year after year. This year we had a crowd - two members from East Calder turned up. No one on the Management Committee is paid any money, except expenses for petrol/deisel, for attending the meetings. The same members have given hundreds of hours, attending meetings, in the evenings, afternoons and Sundays without complaint to assist in the running of your SHU. We could do with more people to help so why not become a delegate for your local fed or join the committee for organising the SHU Show. We look forward to you assisting in the management of your SHU.

Attention of SHU SHOW entrants. PENNING WILL BE FROM 8-30AM. PLEASE BE PROMPT AS JUDGING STARTS AT 10.00AM.

This was a misunderstanding and I apologise for this. Jim cannot leave his photographic equipment unattended.

Good news - Three of the best distance fanciers in Scotland, along with a good top fancier from Belguim, have kindly agreed to have a question and answer session in the Symington Suite between 12.00 and 1.00pm. We have a truly great panel DAVID JAMIESON EAST CALDER, arguably the best extreme distance fancier in Scotland. JIM HANNAN Lanarkshire another SNFC legend with a vast knowledge on pigeons. Nearly always on the SNFC results. JOHN BIRD PRESTONPANS, year in, year out, always produces great results, not only in SNFC but also in the East Lothian Federation. PETER ALEEMESCH FROM BELGUIM, 1st Ace Pigeon Long Distance Club, along with many other top results. Peter is also top on pigeon food nutrition. Why don't you come to the SHU Show THIS SATURDAY and have your questions answered by one of the best panels ever on pigeon Racing in Scotland. HELD IN LAWRIE AND SYMINGTON MARKET, LANARK- DOORS OPEN AT 10AM.