just to clear the air, Dave doesn't have the facilities to sell pigeons racing from his small back garden loft approx. 16'x6' plus a garden shed... as most fanciers know it is myself that sells racing pigeons, and more so this year having retired from racing in Dundee, this year being my last old bird season, and glad to say went out with a bang timing a couple of crackers with the SNFC... it is now with great pleasure I can watch Dave's doos race on a Saturday which are approx. 90% bred from my stock, so literally Dave is doing the flying whilst i concentrate on the breeding which to date has been a perfect combination... 'tittle tattle' will always roam when a winning loft is in red hot form, and yes I agree in such a wide spread federation conditions on the day will generally predict the winning loft location, but then again two swallows most definetly don't make a summer... but when the strike rate by this small st.andrews loft is considered over the last three year and in excess of 50 SNFC diplomas, 3 SNFC section winners, etc... I reckon the opposition have more than a touch of west in the wind to worry about!!! with one more fed open race to go plus the YB national, id like to wish each and all every success from these two races and hope we all get the prizes we deserve, regardless of wind, loft location or how many birds in a basket, as we all know when the chips are down in these prestigious events its only the cream that rises, may the best pigeons lead the field!!!