Angus Federation new from David Liddle with the results of their 2 recent races. We were at Darlington and Davie Glen had 4 birds drop together to take the first 4 places in club and federation. Charlie and Glen Cameron were 5th, managing to stop a clean sweep for Forfar.
The following weekend we were due to be at Kettering with the CESA. Due to rain forecast in the afternoon at the home end the race controllers decided to move the race to Grantham; it was a good test for the birds but returns were good at the end of the day. In a tight finish Ken Droog & son just held off Ian Scott with Kenny also taking third position. To round off a good day Ken also won the Amalgamation with Angus members taking sixteen of the first thirty places. (see photo of Kenny and his winner attached with this column). Forfar Racing Pigeon Club had 12 members sending 192 birds, with Davie Glen taking the first 4 places.
Arbroath RPC; News from Charlie Cameron on the Grantham race with a 06-00 liberation with 2 members sending 71 birds. Talking the first 3 places are Charlie & Glen Cameron with A & A Shepherd in 4th place. From the Blaydon race flown on 13th June 4 members sent 57 birds these were liberated at 08-30am into a light south west wind. Les McKay took the red card with another 2 birds in 5th & 6th positions; Charlie & Glen were 2nd 3rd & 4th.
Kingdom Federation
News from Pete Penman with the following information; with the forecast being unfavourable for a Saturday it was decided to basket Saturday for Sunday race. Instead of heading to Kettering it was decided to go again to Grantham. Leading the way in the Kingdom was Rosyth member Darren Stonehouse with a yearling bred from Jock Scott x Jock Proctor. This bird has already chalked up a 1st prize card. In second place was the ever-present Gary Hall with a 2-year-old chequer cock on the drive. This bird was 5th club, 1st Kingdom 2 weeks ago from Grantham. Third place goes to St. Serfs member Alec Brunton with a yearling bought from Paul Dryden in a kit of six. Fourth goes to John Proctor with a yearling blue hen sitting 12-day eggs. Bred from a Jockey King x his own family. Fifth place goes to Gary Hall with a yearling late bred cock also on the drive. Sixth position goes to Darren Stonehouse with a yearling bred from Gary Tavener stock from Wales. From Grantham (2) race flown on the 8th June the convoy was liberated at 06-00 into a west to north west wind. Darren Stonehouse of Rosyth club takes the top spot with a pigeon doing 1048.407 velocity he is also 6th open. with a yearling bred from Jock Scott x John Proctor.
In second place was the ever-present Gary Hall with a 2-year-old chequer cock on the drive. This bird was first club, first Kingdom Fed two weeks ago from Grantham. Third place goes to St. Serfs member Alec Brunton with a yearling bought from Paul Dryden’s in a kit of six. Fourth goes to John Proctor with a yearling blue hen sitting 12-day eggs. Bred from a Jockey King x his own family. Fifth place goes to Gary Hall with a yearling late bred cock also on the drive. Sixth position goes to Darren Stonehouse with a yearling bred from Gary Tavener stock from Wales.
Fife Federation
News from Austin Whitaker with the Grantham 2 race; with the 300 birds liberated at 06-00 into a light north west wind. Winning the East Section (Methilhaven club 82 birds; Kennoway 60 birds; St Andrews 45 birds Novar & Leslie club had 18 birds entered). Taking the top spot in both is Davie Armour of Methilhaven club who also wins 4th open. Brian Kinnear of Kennoway club is 2nd & 6th with clubmate B Chalmers winning 3rd 5th 8th & 9th open and the 10th spot goes to John Harcus of St Andrews. Methilhaven club sent 102 birds; St Andrews 20 birds; Kennoway 83 birds and Novar & Leslie 52 birds. The West Section had Dunfermline sending 48 birds and Lochgelly club sending 47 birds; Eddie McWilliams takes the top spot and is also 4th place. C Buchannan of the same club wins 2nd 3rd 5th & 9th places; with Jim Doig of Lochgelly club wins 6th spot. Davie Russell of Dunfermline club wins 7th place with Lochgelly Jock Brockie winning 8th section; Andy Ritchie of Dunfermline club wins 10th spot. From the Alnwick 3 race; Dunfermline? birds Lochgelly sending 129 birds were liberated at 10-00am into a south west wind. Winning the East section and open is John Harcus of St Andrews who takes the first 7 places; looks like they all dropped together. Tam Laing of Kennoway club wins 8th & 10th spots with his clubmate B Chalmers in 9th spot. The West section had S Donaldson of Novar & Leslie club taking the number one spot with Willie Stark of Lochgelly club winning 2nd 3rd & 6th positions. Jock Brockie wins 4th section with Jim Doig wining 5th & 7th places. Jock Hynd son Ian win 8th 9th & 10th positions.
Almond Valley's Federation;
News from Lynn with the result of the Grantham race with 530 birds competing; John Bird from West Calder club wins 1st 4th 5th 6th 11th 14th 16th 17th 18th & 20th positions (taking ½ the prize cards) J Hadfield of Armadale club wins 2nd 3rd 9th 12th 13th & 19th open with Freddie Jamieson & son of East Calder winning 7th open. B & D Halliday of Bonnybridge club are 8th with D MacBeath of Armadale club winning 15th open.
Club Winners;
Armadale 130 birds; J Hadfield 1224.349, 1224.228, 1186.691, 1181.653
Bonnybridge 90 birds; B & D Halliday 1197.784, S Russell 1145.518, V Couper 1139.140, 1138.198
East Calder 103 birds; F Jamieson & Son1204.327, C Ross 1171.353, F Jamieson & Son 1154.784, 1154.730
Fauldhouse 90 birds; T Gavin 1162.662, 1162.554, 1108.947, C Smillie 1108.523
West Calder 116 birds; J Bird 1224.616, 1223.890, 1221.413, 1220.992
From the Darlington race flown on 15th June the convoy of 449 birds were liberated at 09:30 hours; taking top spot is Freddie Jamieson & Son of East Calder with a yearling being the only bird doing a velocity of 1200; winning both the East Section and Open. 2nd open 1st west section is Dave Jamieson of West Calder club he also wins 9th & 10th west section plus 17th & 18th open. John Hadfield of Armadale club wins 1st & 6th west section 3rd & 7th open, John Bird of West Calder wins 3rd 5th 7th 8th west section 4th 6th 8th & 13th open; D McBeath of Armadale club wins 4th & 11th west section 5th 19th open. Colin Ross of East Calder club wins 2nd east section 9th open. Tom Gavin of Fauldhouse club wins 1st & 2nd section 10th & 11th open. S Russell of Bonnybridge club wins 1st & 4th North section 12th & 16th open. Vic Couper of the same club wins 2nd & 3rd section 14th & 15th open. From the Darlington race held on 15th June the 449 birds were liberated at 09:30am.
West Calder’s John Bird takes 1st 8th & 9th positions, with Freddie Jamieson & son of East Calder winning 2nd 4th & 7th open. John Hadfield of Armadale club wins 3rd & 5th open; Colin Ross of East Calder club is 10th open, Club Winners; Armadale 63 birds; 1st & 2nd John Hadfield with D McBeath winning 3rd & 4th places. Bonnybridge sent 105 birds; Geordie Harris is 1st with Vic Couper in 2nd spot and B & D Halliday are 3rd & 4th. Carnwath club did not send. East Calder had an entry of 75 birds with the ever-consistent Freddie Jamieson & son taking the first 3 places and Colin Ross was 4th. Fauldhouse sent 95 birds with Tom Gavin taking the top 4 places. West Calder had 111 entered and John Bird also took the top 4 positions.
North of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie; Topping the federation and east section which had 23 members sending 389 birds is S Witherspoon of Inverurie club with the winner doing a velocity of 1338; he is also 5th & 10th section 6th & 13th open. Colin McCrae of Fraserburgh & District club is 2nd 3rd 6th & 7th section 3rd 4th 8th & 9th open. G Findlay of Peterhead & District wins 4th section 6th open with A W Buchan of Fraserburgh & District is 8th section 11th open, with Inverurie’s J S Robertson winning 9th section 12th open. The West Section had 26 members sending 248 birds A Fulton of Devern Valley wins 1st 7th & 9th section 2nd 33rd & 35th open. R Wilson of Keith club wins 2nd 3rd 5th 6th & 7th section 7th 10th 18th 32nd & 34th open. Devern Valley’s A Hay wins 4th & 10th section 16th & 36th open. Inverurie winner S Witherspoon velocity 1338.968; Devern Valley winner A Fulton velocity 1321.643; Fraserburgh & District winner Colin McRae velocity 1316.124; Peterhead & District winner is G Findlay velocity 1299.369; Keith winner R Wilson velocity 1277.080; Fraserburgh West End winner is A Higgins velocity 1201.451 and Elgin & District winner is J Jack velocity 1103.926; Well done to S Witherspoon on topping the federation; and congratulations to A Fulton on winning the West Section.
From the Worksop race 44 members entered 501 birds these were liberated into a light south west wind with the east section of 22 members sending 295 birds. Taking the number one spot is A W Buchan of Fraserburgh & District doing a velocity of 1348.450 he is also 3rd section and open. 2nd & 9th section and open is Colin McRae of the same club. R Bain of Fraserburgh & District is 4th section & open, with Robbie Higgins of Fraserburgh West End club in 5th spot. 6th spot goes to S Witherspoon of Inverurie club with Peterhead & District Maskame & Cordiner winning 7th section and open. Eric & Nicky Yule of Inverurie are 8th with J S Robertson of the same club taking 10th section and open. The West section had 22 members sending 206 birds with A Hay of Devern Valley club winning 1st 3rd 9th & 10th section 15th 22nd 34th & 35th open. Ryan Hay & Family of the same club wins 2nd section 19th open with clubmate A Fulton winning 4th & 5th section 24th & 28th open; A Wilson of the same club wins 6th section 29th open and A Milne also from Devern Valley wins 7th section 32nd open. R Wilson of Keith club wins 8th section and 33rd open. Clubs First Bird as follows; Fraserburgh & District A W Buchan with a velocity of 1348.450; Fraserburgh West End winner is R Higgins with a velocity of 1339.447. Inverurie winner is S Witherspoon velocity 1331.883. Peterhead & District is won by Maskame & Cordiner with a velocity of 1331.105; Davern Valley winner is A Hay velocity 1309.706; Keith club winner is R Wilson on a velocity of 1211.677 and Elgin & District winner is W Ritchie on 1179.805 with a GB rung youngster. Well done to A Buchan on Topping the federation and congratulations to A Hay on winning the west section.
Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation
News from Andy Miller regarding their second race of the season was changed from Kettering by the race control team due to a poor weather forecast later in the day, therefore allowing the North of Scotland birds to make it home in good time. The birds were released at 06-00am into a light west to north west wind, with the shortest flyers at 225 miles and the north guys flying 340 miles. The convoy consisted of Pentland, East of Scotland, Fife, Kingdom & Dundee & Angus Federations and The Elite North. Again, as with the first Amalgamation race returns were excellent at clock checking. The winner belonged to the Angus Federation loft of Kenny Droog & Son from Forfar who pipped his clubmate Ian Scott by a decimal. Kenny sent me the following details. ‘The ‘345’ blue chequer cock (small-medium) is a great racer won many prizes including 3 x 1st federations but in 2025 he really started to win in the Angus and Dundee Federation\Combine; On the 10th of May flying 156 miles with 923 birds, he won 12th Combine; then on the 17th of May flying 216 miles with 783 birds he won 10th Combine; then on the 24th of May flying 270 miles he won 5th Combine; then on the 31st May flying 156 miles with 330 birds he won 7th federation; then on the 8th of June flying 270 miles he won 1st Combine; Central & East Coast Amalgamation Grantham 1102 birds. finish off five super weeks for the cock , this year I have put these cocks on old w/hood hens waiting for their mates, exercise is twice a day no flagging but if they need a gentle encouragement but normally I get a good hour twice a day no training, his bloodlines are the best Brockamp\Euro Diamond blood with some Marcel Aelbrecht, his full sister won 1st Fed Wakefield 214 miles and then 5th Section 18th open SNFC Eastbourne flying 428 miles into an east to north east wind doing a velocity of 1050, all the above as a yearling. Then 1st Combine 156 miles 1300 birds. His half-sister won 18th open SNFC Brighton, 34th, 38th, 59th,104th open SNFC races from 300-418 miles with 1000 to 3000 birds competing. Their grandmother is a inbred granddaughter to Champion Euro Diamond plus a daughter of 1st NFC Saintes, herself a sister to 11th open NFC Tarbes winner flying 570 miles; The ‘345’ wins 9th Amal beaten on the trap when the loft won 4th, 7th, 8th ,9th ,10th at 270 miles; doing velocity of 1449-1442. Other notable performances from the Elite North club was Jim Coutts & Son who won 4th open with a yearling flying 311 miles and Colin McRae win 11th open flying 337 miles. Dyke Armour was the first Fife pigeon winning 7th open and had another quick one in 13th open place followed closely by Brian Kinnear in 10th open and Brian Chalmers with 2 quick ones in 12th & 14th positions. Danny Henderson led the way in Dundee with 15th Open. The first pigeon into the Lothians was Bald & Wallace in the Pentland Federation winning 5th open, with Keith Wright next with his all pooler in 40th open. Graham Wardhaugh led the way in the East of Scotland with Willie Gray from Coldstream leading the way in the Borders. Well done to all competitors and massive thanks to all our Sponsors for 2025. The Next Amal race is from Ramsgate on June 21st. The Pentland Hills Fed raced from Darlington on June 15th (38 lofts sent 391 birds) taxied by the Central Federation who also had North West Fed and Traprain in the convoy; liberated at 09.30 into a west wind. Winning 1st Pentland Hills Fed is Helen Aitken & Son Graham from Whitecraig who fly in Woodburn club doing a velocity of 1447.16 they are also 6th 9th & 15th open. They timed their 2-year-old hen on 1447. Sorry no details going to press. Returns were excellent with only the odd single missing. Let’s hope this continues! From the Darlington (2) race flown on Sunday 15th June, these K Wright of Danderhall club is 2nd with S & S Tierney winning 3rd place just ahead of W Pryde & son with Andy Miller winning 5th 7th & 8th positions. A Walker wins 10th & 14th open with Cameron & Winters in 11th spot K Dick of Edinburgh Premier club is 12th open with K Farwell winning 13th open.
Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com; www.pigeonbasics.com www.thecanadianpigeoninternational.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland
© Compiled by Joe Murphy