Stuart Maskame and Ruth Cordiner How it all started: - by Sandy Milne

[sapper756]

Stuart Maskame and Ruth Cordiner
How it all started: -
It started as far back as 1983 with an English (GB) stray landing on a one of Stuarts friends farm, a
local fancier Andra Buchan was contacted in an effort to try and get the pigeon repatriated back to
the original owner. However, Andra being the fancier he was always eager to recruit new blood into
the sport and duly arrived with a hen to pair to the cock, great motivator as we all know once you
get the bug it very seldom leaves! The next stage was a bigger and better loft to house the birds, his
friend having received permission from his dad the work was commenced to convert the upstairs of
a steading into a loft. The second stage was to increase the team which was completed by
youngsters being received from various members of the Peterhead Racing Club. The next few
seasons came and went with no real impact on club positions however that was to change in 1987, A
blood red cock which was a gifted pigeon from Andra Buchan won the race from Coupar Angus the
time had arrived the first red card for the pair!!
Racing in earnest
The next pigeon to record a win was another gift bird this time from Davie McDougall this bird being
a Herman x Busschaert cross this pigeon was first from Burscough a distance of 277 miles the
following week the bird was put to Stafford a distance of some 300 miles where it recorded 3 rd club.
The next birds which were introduced to the loft were obtained from Johny Mathieson in Aberdeen
when John left the sport. One of these pigeons being a ten-year-old blue cock, this bird had been
sent “over the channel” to compete in some of the France races and proved very adequate to the
task. However, the cock had not filled his eggs for the past two years (85 and 86) so the decision was
made to break this pigeon into a new loft and to try him on the road. First race was Brechin some
sixty-two miles and he took nine days to return (wonder if he had been sitting on the roof of John’s
house which over looked the Froghall Plots). Next race on the cards for him was a distance of 170
miles and this time taking two days to return a considerable improvement. Next, he was dispatched
to Exeter (470 miles) and arrived at 6:20 on the day to record 4 th club.
After the enjoyment of seeing this pigeon return from 470 miles the distance racing bug had well
and truly been imbedded.
The teen years: -
Stuart’s interest turned away from pigeons to perhaps a different type of bird!
In 2001 Stuart had a chance meeting with some of the local fanciers, an interest was rekindled and
next on the agenda was the building of a 12ft loft.
When the loft was constructed A truly amazing gesture was received from Irvine Buchan who
presented Stuart with a team of 40 youngster, Irvine subsequently became a mentor for Stuart
always being there for advice etc a truly great character. In addition, some birds were purchased
from Bob Whyte of Ritchie and Whyte fame, these two families becoming the mainstay of what was
to become a very famous loft.
In the 2005 season Stuart recorded his finest performance to date he recorded first, second and
third in the race from Hastings a distance of 466 miles, two of the three pigeons being grandchildren
of Bob Whyte’s 5th SNFC open Lille, hen ‘Margaret’
The 2005 young bird season was unbelievable as Stuarts team went on to win; -
1) Every race with the exception of the first one.
2)Winning the fed averages
3) Federation combined average
4) recording 14 th and 33 rd open SNFC YB National from Cheltenham (386miles).
5) Stuart has won the North Federation Combine averages eight times which is only 1 behind the late
great Bob McDonald.

Stuart stated that “the Scottish National Flying Club has given him his greatest achievements in this
wonderful sport” having won the North Section a total of 5 times.
Poppy
The highlight of Stuarts pigeon racing was in 2014, when Poppy a two-year-old blue hen was sent to
the Ypres race. This gallant hen arrived at his loft to record 1 st Open SNFC, this had always been
Stuart’s dream and to realise that Poppy had enabled him to fulfil that ambition was an experience
he will never ever forget. But the story did not end there Stuart also topped the Federation race
from Battle a distance of 464 miles with a yearling hen. How many readers can equal that
performance – not many I believe.
If Stuart was asked to nominate his best performances, he would have to say his SNFC section
winners and of course Poppy his open winner. But as Stuart states his 2005 bred blue cock named
“Maverick” was a real doo, he was sent to 4 SNFC races and scored in all: -
1) 4th north section 204th open Eastbourne 475 miles
2) 12th North Section 60th open Alencon 632 miles
3) 2nd North section Alencon
4) finally 8th North section Reims 620 miles
5) Received an SNFC silver award
6) Won the Joe Murphy/BHW sporting challenge with his 2nd section Alencon performance.
That is some fine performances from the distance
The Loft: -
The set up consists of three lofts the first being 18ft long and is home to his roundabout team also
12 pairs of stock birds. Second is a 16’ foot loft which houses the widowhood cocks and finally a
young bird loft which is 12ft in length.
Feeding and Exercise
During the old bird racing season the birds are fed a mixture of three types, diet 2000, Gerry Plus
and a high fat energy mix. The young birds are fed depurative, diet 2000, Gerry Plus and high energy
is added prior to young bird national.
The regime begins at 6am with the roundabout team being exercised. The widowhood team are
exercised twice per day which starts with Ruth getting the cocks out at 8 and again at 4pm. The
roundabout team go out again when Stuart returns home from work which is about at 5pm. After
which the young birds are exercised.
Partner of Maskame and Cordiner formed
In 2021 Stuart met Ruth and it wasn’t long before she took a real interest in the birds and soon after
the partnership Maskame & Cordiner was formed. Ruth has proved a massive help and doesn’t let
Stuart rest on his laurels making sure he does not slack off and completes all jobs that need doing
with the birds! Ruth also manages the team of 16 widowhood cocks and also the young birds.
In her first year looking after the young bird team Ruth topped the federation three weeks on the
trot no mean feat.
In season 2023 old bird season, Ruth’s widowhood cocks recorded the following positions:-
2nd and 10th fed from Auchendinny 1
1st club 5th fed Huntingdon 363 miles
3rd , 4th club and fed Strathkinnes 2
However in the 2023 young bird season Ruths achievements were outstanding:-
Brechin 1 = 2nd,3 rd and 4th club which resulted in 8,9 and 10th federation
Brechin 2 = 1st and 2nd club 7 th and 8th federation
Strathkinnes 1 = 4 th ,5 th , 6 th club and 13 th ,14 th and 15 th Federation
Strathkinnes 2 = 2 nd ,3 rd ,4 th club and 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th federation
Auchendinny 1 = 1 st 2 nd , 4 th club and 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th Federation

Brechin 3 = 6 th club and 7 th Federation
Strathkinnes 3 = 2 nd and 3 rd club and 8 th and 15 th Fed
Strathkinnes 4 = 2 nd , 6 th and 7 th club and Federation
These are Ruth’s yb results from last season In the old birds her widowhood cocks were 2nd and
10th fed from Auchendinny 1 1st club 5th fed Huntingdon 363 miles 3rd , 4th club and fed
strathkinnes 2
Ruth has become a valued part of the team.
On race days, after the chores have all been completed Stuart and Ruth sit in the garden
accompanied by a bacon n egg butty to relax ready to enjoy the birds arriving.
The aim of the partnership is to try and win the North Section again so that Ruth and Stuart can go
down to the presentation.
Every race is enjoyed here from the first to the last and that is how they mean to proceed!
Scribes note: - I have written for the Racing Pigeon and BHW for a number of years but this is the
first time I have had the opportunity to do a loft report on a winning SNFC pigeon and given the
location of Stuarts loft and the distance this pigeon had to fly over a mid Scotland location this must