Nicky & Eric Yule by Sandy Milne North of Scotland Federation

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Eric and Nicky Yule, an outstanding partnership
I have known Eric and Nicky Yule for a number of years and in fact have raced with/against them
within the Inverurie club which is situated in Kintore Aberdeenshire. Nicky arrives at the club after
his work and sets the clocks then departs to get some food while Eric attends with the rest of the
members to facilitate the race marking of the pigeons.
The story begins way back in 1963 when he met Gordon McBain who was an Inverurie Stalwart,
Gordon gifted Eric some young birds and as they say the rest is history. Eric went on to join the
Inverurie Club and won the clubs Young Bird average in his first year of competition, no mean feat in
those days! Nicky joined his father in partnership when he was thirteen and they are still in the same
partnership to this day. Up to this time Eric had raced pigeons descended from pigeons received
from Gordon however when the partnership was formed pigeons from Bob McDonald were
introduced, now as we know Bobs pigeons were based at that time from two families, the first being
the introduction of the “Old Crippled Cock” in 1956 which was purchased from James Mill who’s
birds were capable of winning through to 600 miles and secondly the Ko Nipius (based on Jan
Aarden) strain which I have been informed Bob first noticed at the Olympiad in 1965. Further
introduction was obtained from John Carmichael these birds being from the Kirkpatrick lines and
with a view to be competitive in the longer races additional birds coming from Wilson Knoble,
Ritchie and Whyte and Charlie Fraser.
Scribes note: - sorry for mentioning the Kirkpatrick’s Eric young Craig Forsyth in our club will be
picking your brains about them, aye your doomed now Eric!
Back to business, in those days Eric birds were on the natural system being paired early February and
one pair of youngsters being reared then split from their partners for several weeks then re-paired
for the distance racing. These pigeons being given three races then trained for four or five weeks
some of which were singled training from 50 to 60 miles.
If you are wondering if this method worked Eric and Nicky have in time a trophy from every race
point in the club (not on one season) and have won the North Section within the Scottish National
SEVEN TIMES! These include 1 st North Section From 415miles, 1 st North Section Littlehampton 451
miles, 1 st North Section Rennes 643miles, three times 1 st North Section Sartilly best year being back
in 1996 where the partnership recorded 3 rd North Section Sartilly (1), 1 st North Section Rennes and to
cap it off 1 st North Section Sartilly (2). A fine record indeed
Time marches on however and for the past number of years Eric and Nicky have change to what can
be described as the celibate system. They have 35 pair of racers which are never paired with the
cocks flying to their nest boxes and the hens separated into two sections flying to the perch. Well,
what about the young birds I hear you ask well they have 15 pairs of stock birds from whence the
majority of young birds are bred. If they are attending a pigeon event, birds are purchased if they
meet their criteria however the basket ultimately decides on the merit of all young birds. They also
attend the Lier market and youngsters being purchased have to meet their criteria however the
basket is again the ultimate deciding factor.
Training: -
Adult pigeons are given one pre-season training toss then lifted into the first race, these pigeons on
the celibate system exercise without any problem, The cocks go out first thing in the morning then
when taken in the hens are permitted to exercise, these exercise periods last for between one to
one and a half hours. If still flying when Eric and Nicky go to work it’s down to Erics wife to get them
in then to let the youngsters out at lunch time and back in. When Eric or Nicky return from work the
same procedure is adopted, because of the amount of exercise partaken the partnership feel there is

no requirement for an additional training via the basketing, additionally it cuts down the risk of
attack by raptors which there are increasing numbers each year.
Young birds being trained to 20 miles on line of flight then tossed from all points in the compass the
deciding factor being when Eric is working, he has no problem with training from any direction. The
young birds if in good feather go through the complete Fed programme.
Feeding: -
Bamford’s pigeon grain is fed to the birds with the stock birds receiving a breeding mix while the
racing team receives depurative in the morning with a good racing mix fed in the evening.
The mixtures used to be Red Rosette Mixture, Super Breading also moulting and young bird
mixtures. Additionally, Bamford’s Conditioning Seed being used as a trapping aid and to introduce
conditioning within the pigeons.
During the winter months the birds are hopper fed however during the racing season selected
feeding is instigated.
The entire team is treated pre-season as a preventative against PMV and further treated for
Coccidiosis, Canker and worms via a four in one tablet.
Part Two : Show Racing Pigeons
Nicky Yule has a loft at his home address which contains a small but very proficient team of pigeons
these are added to when the racing season is finished. Nicky selects birds from the flown pigeons
and these are added to the show racers to form a team to be conditioned for the forth coming
shows. Within the two lofts the racing team’s food is reduced to prepare for winter where by the
show team is beginning the process of building the required statue for the forth coming Show
season. To elaborate the show team are in two parts first being show racers the second being birds
that had flow which have been moved under the show racers loft, that is a really good methos for
conditioning a show team going forward.
The achievements so far being:
BIS NEHU Show
BIS and BOS Old Comrades Show
Three times Best Racing Pigeon BHW show Blackpool
and to top it all BIS and Supreme Champion at the recent BHW show of the year in Blackpool.
This team originate from birds received from Bob McDonald crossed with pigeons received Dickie
Graham which have proved their worth time and time again. I have listed the above major shows
however I could not even guess at the number of prize cards received at Fed shows etc.
When Nicky attended a show in Houten Show in Holland, several years ago friends were made with a
fancier from Poland. Well, we all have experienced the situation it was not long before pigeons were
being exchanged and proved very successful in both racing and shows one of these expectational
pigeons being apply named Pole Dark this pigeon went onto win the BIS and Supreme Champion
BHW show of the year in Blackpool and it was a daughter of this remarkable pigeon who won BIS
and Supreme Champion this year 2014
Thanks to Eric and Nicky for taking the time to show me the birds and loft etc and being very
forthcoming with their Methods, well done to you both.
Sandy Milne (the original Busby)