Ecclefechan SNFC Winners

[sapper756]

COPIED FROM FACEBOOK 

Just to finish off the Fechan Lass story, here is a great piece from Billy Wortley.

Where is this place called Ecclefechan …..
By Billy Wortley
During the season passed, Jimmy Dalgliesh won the S.N.F.C. Blue Riband event from Alencon and in so doing, become the fourth fancier from Ecclefechan to win Scotland’s Premier Race.
Ecclefechan is small village located midway between Lockerbie and Annan.    The village’s most famous son was Thomas Carlyle who was a philosopher, historian, biographer, translator, and essayist and was considered the voice of his age.   His statue is the principal landmark in the village and his place of birth its main tourist attraction.  Whilst Ecclefechan may be small in stature, it is considered a giant in the world of pigeon racing with a number of really good fanciers having competed into the village over the years.   The most famous of the early fanciers in the village was Walter Armstrong who was a long a time member of the S.N.F.C., scoring regularly from Rennes and Nantes.   Such was Walter Armstrong’s reputation; that in the 1930’s an organised group of fanciers from Lanarkshire Social Circle travelled to Ecclefechan to view his pigeons.   Walter was the local Postmaster and housed his pigeons above the garage at the Post Office.   In 1941 the garage caught fire and all the pigeons were killed.   The years marched forward and the former Ecclefechan Club disbanded with several fanciers from the village joining the nearby Brydekirk Club.   In the early 1960’s a new chapter was written with the formation of a new Club in Ecclefechan, titled Hoddom and District Flying Club, taking its name from nearby Hoddom Castle and Estate and as the years have passed a number of top quality fanciers have emerged.    
From schoolboy years I have fond memories of pigeon experiences in Ecclefechan.  I recollect, for example, in the 1960’S travelling to the village on the bus with friend Jim Crombie to attend the annual Open show and on entering the Village Hall, pigeons were on display but there were few people in the Hall.   We were told that everyone was in Kirkconnel Hall Hotel so we made my way to the Hotel.   On entering it was packed to the door and the atmosphere was magic.   The local Zonkatina Showband was in full swing with local fancier, John ’Dun’ Graham providing vocals and acting as MC.   Each time a new face entered the door there was a drum roll and with a good deal of humour, ‘Dun’ provided full particulars of the fancier and his achievements and everyone cheered and applauded.   Some years later, Jacqueline and I travelled to the village with fancier friends in a mini-bus to attend the Club Social evening.   From beginning to end it was an good night but when the Band announced  the last dance, ‘Dun’ took hold of the microphone and said it was a ‘Spot Dance’ explaining that each time the music stopped he was going to ask the participants to remove an item of clothing.  As the dance advanced, off came ties, shirts, cardigans, shoes etc.  and as the items of clothing were removed ‘Dun’ and his pals took them to different rooms in the hotel.   He then said “first person back dressed is the winner”.  Imagine inebriated pigeon fanciers endeavouring to find their clothes in a strange hotel.   Jacqueline and I had told our child-minder that we’d be home just after midnight and it was actually 3.30 when we arrived home.   Most certainly a night to remember!    
My concentration in this article, however, is to reflect on the four fanciers from the village who won Scotland’s Premier Race.   In 1963 the place name Ecclefechan became known to every fancier in the country when Mr. and Mrs. Lew Horsburgh won the Rennes Classic with Red Pied Hen ‘Fechan Lass’.    A convoy of 5,496 birds competed from the Classic in 1963 being liberated at 7.00am on 2nd July, after a four day holdover.   Five pigeons only made home on the day of liberation, Mr. and Mrs.
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Horsburgh timed at 7.57 to head the result on 1099ypm from 485 miles, Walter Halliday from Brydekirk timed at 8.23 to be 2nd Section and Open on 1058ypm and Andy Muir from Annan timed at 9.25 to be 3rd Section and Open on 977ym.   It should be understood that the place name Ecclefechan is abbreviated by locals to ‘Fechan’ and this was the title that was used by Lew Horsburgh on naming his pigeons.   The name ‘Fechan’ is however, sometimes misunderstood.   A  story is told that a boy was hurrying along the corridor of Annan Academy and was stopped by a new teacher who asked why he was in such a hurry.   The boy responded “to catch the Fechan bus” and was immediately given detention.   Lew Horsburgh and his brother kept pigeons as boys but the War intervened and they had to part with them.  In 1950, Lew re-entered the fancy and over subsequent years he and Mrs. Horsburgh developed a super team of pigeons.   Amongst the lines that were introduced were Stassart’s from J.McGugan and Fabry’s from S.R.Bloomfield.   A marvellous Gaffer pigeon was introduced from Ed Fell from Siddick, Near Workington named ‘White Socks’ and with Mr. and Mrs. Horsburgh having shared a close friendship with Mr.and Mrs.Tom Little from Creca, the best of Tom Little’s family was introduced including the Logan’s and Kirkpatrick’s..   An extra special Blue Chequer Fabry Cock from S.R.Bloomfield and a Mealy Stassart hen from J.McGugan proved to be a ‘magical’ stock pair, leaving a host of winners.   Whilst Mr.and Mrs.Horsburgh resided in Ecclefechan they were initially members of Brydekirk Club within which they relished the competition, racing each week against quality fanciers.    When the local Hoddom Club was formed they enjoyed dual membership of both Brydekirk and Hoddom Clubs. Prior to winning the Rennes Classic Mr.and Mrs.Horsburgh won the Solway Fed. Open Dol race twice in three years, were 1st and 2nd in the Christchurch Open Y.B. race, were twice 1st Fed. from Kings Norton and won the Combined Average Cup outright in Brydekirk Club against very, very stiff competition.   As explained, winner of the 1963 Rennes Classic was Red Pied hen ‘Fechan Lass’, which was without question an extra special pigeon.   Having won the Gold Cup in 1963 she then went back to the equivalent race in 1964 and following a 5.35am liberation into a North East wind, was timed at 8.05pm to be 3rd Open National.   Dam of ‘Fechan Lass’ was a Chequer Pied hen that was bred by Tom Little from Creca, which was out of a Logan hen when paired to a Grizzle cock bred by John Kirkpatrick.   The Pied hen was a real ‘topper’, she had a marvellous eye, won many eye sign classes and was admired by all who seen her.   I should explain that the primary Logan’s in Tom Little’s family were obtained post-war from Duncan Thomson from Muirend, Glasgow, supplemented with further examples of the family obtained from the parents of his great friend, Tom Stoddart from Waterbeck who was killed in a road accident and prior to his demise had gone out of his way to obtain the best Logan bloodlines available.   Tom Little shared a close friendship with John Kirkpatrick and obtained several pigeons from him including a son of ‘Galabank Supreme’ and the Grizzle cock, maternal grandsire of the 1963 Rennes winner, which was in fact the nestmate of the noted Grizzle cock ‘Galabank Producer’.   These two pigeons were bred from ‘Galabank Duke’ which was 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Nantes.   There is little doubt that ‘Galabank Duke’ and his nestmate ‘Johnny’ were two exceptional breeders, having left a host of winners.    Understand that ‘Galabank Duke’ was the Sire of John McGillivray’s ‘1276’, which bred ‘Dream Girl’, the 1956 Nantes National winner.   The lines of ‘Johnny’ were dispersed across the South of Scotland and amongst the pigeons to emerge from the line were Bert Baxter’s ‘Honey Queen’ 2nd Open Rennes, ‘Billy Gardiner’s ‘Sky Queen’ 1st Open Rennes, Bobby Hope’s ‘Eastriggs Supreme’ 1st Open Rennes, John Dalgliesh’s ‘Solway Princess’ 2nd Open Avranches.   Consider also what an influence this great pigeon had in other lofts including … Frank and Tommy Gilbertson, John Jamieson. Thomson Brothers and James Dalgliesh.   I have listened often to Tom Little tell the story of how he re-entered the fancy following the War and
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enjoyed immediate success.   His success was such that one Spring day, John Kirkpatrick walked out to Creca to view the pigeons.   Several days later, John Kirkpatrick was talking to Tom at their place of work and said to him that he was quite impressed with what he saw and suggested they do a ‘swap’.   Kirkpatrick said “you can come and take your pick and I’ll have that wee youngster in Box XX” and gestured with his hands to demonstrate how small the youngster was.    Tom paused and thought ‘he obviously recognises something in this pigeon’ and responded that he agreed to a ‘swap’ but would prefer to keep the youngster.   Well … this youngster developed into a gorgeous Chequer hen that whilst small physically, had the heart of a lion.   She scored five times with the National and then regrettably failed to return when sent to Preston on a training toss.   Her photograph had actually been published in the Gazette several months previous and Tom was of the opinion that she had been recognised and removed from the basket on the Railway.   Anyway, back to the primary story ….   The Sire of ‘Fechan Lass’ was Ace Red Pied stock cock ‘Fechan King’, which was bred from 3126 x 2121.   3126 was a magical Stassart stock hen bred from direct introductions from J.McGugan and was described by Lew Horsburgh as the “Mother of the loft”.   2121 was bred from 4567 x 3612, which gained a number of positions including 1st Fed. Dol and 8th Open S.N.F.C. Rennes.   ‘Fechan Lass’ was a first round youngster with her parents having been paired at the end of February.   It should be noted, however, that her natural parents didn’t rear her with the eggs being transferred under a pair of feeders.   She had every race in the programme as a youngster to 222 miles and as a yearling competed from five inland races gaining 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Club.   She then raced from Dol, 458 miles.   In 1963 she was paired on 9th March and having reared the first round, was split from her mate when sitting 10 days on the second round eggs.   She was then re-paired to set her down for Rennes and went to the race sitting 10 day eggs.   In preparation for the Classic she was given four races to 222 miles followed by three private training tosses from 72 miles and two from 40 miles.        
Mr.and Mrs.Horsburgh were proprietors of a busy Grocer and Baker’s Shop in Ecclefechan but still found time to keep an immaculate garden and work the pigeons on the road.   The birds were housed in a 28 feet long shed, which was 9 feet deep with a corridor running along the front.   The partners were of the opinion that the loft should be perfectly dry with meaningful movement of air in all weather conditions.    Adult pigeons were given two training tosses before racing commenced from 18 and 36 miles and thereafter went into the first race.   The partners then worked them hard with the best and the fittest surviving.  Yearlings went to 350 miles with 2 year olds and above going to 450 miles plus.   Lew Horsburgh was a firm believer in progeny testing and never put a pigeon to stock until it had proved itself on the road.   Young Birds were given as many training tosses as possible before the first race and were then expected to complete the programme.   He was a strong believer that such disciplines enabled him to identify pigeons worth keeping.   In Scottish National competition their performances were extra special and amongst their other performances were 3rd Open Nantes 1964, 4th Open Rennes 1965, 2nd Open Rennes 1969 etc.   They owned a number of outstanding pigeons including ‘Fechan Girl’ that scored with the National on several occasions including being 4th Open Rennes and when 8 years old, was 20th Section 79th Open Nantes.
After ‘Fechan Lass’ had scored prominently from Rennes for the second time, she was recognised across the country and it came as no surprise when it was known that she had been sold to Frank George for £700, which was an immense amount of money for a pigeon at the time.   In the loft of Frank George at Wellingborough, she was coupled to several top quality cocks including ‘Newslad’ twice British Section Barcelona, ‘Double Edition’ that gained 50 prizes from 55 races and ‘All Alone’
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that gained 33 x 1sts and topped the Fed. 11 times.   The year following his purchase of the 1963 Rennes winner, the Olympiad was staged in the Alexandria Palace, London in conjunction with the Old Comrades Show.   The International Class in the Show for Best Sporting Performance was won by the same ‘Fechan Lass’ with the runner-up was a bird from Czechoslovakia.

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The second Ecclefechan fancier to win the SNFC Gold cup was Joe Murray . Here, once again , I'm indebted to WP Wortley for his vast depth of knowledge and info. Here's  Joe's story in Billy's words and a photo of Joe(left) and his son Tom.

7,953 pigeons competed from the Rennes National in 1976, which was and indeed still is a record entry for the Scottish National Gold Cup race.   The convoy was released at 5.30am into a variable West Wind; Joe Murray from Ecclefechan timed at 5.53pm to be 1st South Section 1st Open on 1149ypm, Newcombe Brothers from Macmerry timed at 7.24pm to be 1st East Section 2nd Open on 1146pm, J.Barr from Kilbirnie timed at 7.25pm to be 1st West Section 3rd Open on 1142ypm and Wilson Noble from Fraserburgh timed at 10.45pm to be 1st North Section 11th Open on 1127ypm.   Joe Murray lived at The Haggs, at the top of the main road in Ecclefechan, near to Thomas Carlyle’s statue, indeed on the opposite side of the road to John Carmichael.    Joe was a quiet, modest man who had endured much in life as he was a Japanese POW during the War and how pleasing it was that he should win Scotland’s Premier Race.   It should be explained also that Joe was the brother of Davie Murray from Brydekirk, who was affectionately known as ‘Pivie’.   ‘Pivie’ shared a close friendship with Annan fanciers Will Robertson and Jack McGlasson and obtained pigeons from each of these fanciers.   Whilst ‘Pivie’ achieved success, he is best remembered in the area for the quality pigeons that he bred for others.   Through his friendship with Will Robertson he had direct progeny from the great pigeon, ‘Johnny’.   Red Chequer cock ‘Johnny’ was bred by John Kirkpatrick, who gifted him to his close friend Will Robertson.   It was a superb performance pigeon being 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Rennes and was an even better breeder leaving a dynasty at stock.   When brothers John and James Dalgliesh entered the pigeon fancy at Brydekirk as boys, they received a hen from ‘Pivie’ that he had purchased from Mrs. R. Johnson from Mickleover, Near Derby.    This hen was an extra special producer leaving winners with seven different cocks including 5th Open Rennes, 1st Solway Fed. Dol etc.    John and James coupled a noted cock, which they obtained from John Jamieson to the ‘Pivie’ Murray hen and in time they gifted a hen from these two pigeons to Jimmy Irving and Eric Johnstone, who had just started in the fancy in Annan and this hen bred the immortal ‘Solway King’, which won the Rennes National in 1959, being subsequently sold to Louis Massarella.   Joe Murray first showed interest in our hobby in 1929, when he was ten years old being asked to clean the loft for his brother Tommy and as payment, received six old pence at the end of each week.   In the article that he wrote for the Squills Annual in 1977, he said “I remember one week I had cleaned the loft but had forgotten to clean the drinkers and instead of getting six pence (or a tanner as it was then called) I got a kick up the backside”.   He added “that taught me to make sure that the drinkers are kept clean at all times, a lesson I have never forgotten”.   Having assisted his brother with his pigeons and having been overseas for a number of years, on War duty, Joe decided in 1950 to form a loft and compete under his own name, joining Brydekirk Club.   He received his first two pigeons as a present from friend Lew Horsburgh, who as previously explained, went on to win the Rennes National in 1963,with ‘Fechan Lass’.   The birds that he obtained were two yearling cocks, which had flown Kings Norton as youngsters for Lew Horsburgh and in Joe’s hands they went every week as yearlings from 45 to 303 miles.   At the end of the season he received the Novice Cup in Brydekirk Club.   As the years marched forward his brother obtaining stock from T. Gray from Lanark and in 1964 Joe was fortunate to obtain six pairs of the Gray pigeons from his brother.    The bird that won the Rennes Classic in 1976 was a four year old Blue Chequer hen that contained these bloodlines and was named ‘Murray’s Delight’.   Dam was Blue Chequer ‘6695’, which was 18th Section 50th Open
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Avranches in 1974 recording 880ypm after 15 hours on the wing.   Sire was Dark Chequer ‘6679’ that scored on several occasions in the Club.   ‘6679’ was a half-brother of Dark Grizzle hen ‘6684’, which was 14th Section 37th Open Beauvais.   The Sire of ‘6679’ and ‘6684’ was a Dark Grizzle cock that flew the channel eight times.   The Dam of the pigeon that was 5th Section 14th Open Rennes for Stan Scott from Wamphray was from the same family being a half-sister of the Dam of the National winner.   ‘Murray’s Delight’ was always a good one scoring in the Club on several occasions and as a yearling was 18th South of Scotland Channel Club from Lymington.   In preparation for the Rennes National in 1976, the Chequer hen had four Club races to Garstang 85 miles, Appleton 128 miles, Penkridge 168 miles and Charlton 268 miles.   She was tossed from Shap on the Saturday before basketing for the Classic and went to the race feeding an eight day old youngster.    As was the norm in 1976, pigeons were fed a Natural Mixture, which comprised 50% Beans and 50% Maple Peas, with the quantity fed being such one could say they were overfed.   They were also given a small amount of linseed to bring them into condition.   Birds were allowed an open hole from dawn until dusk and whilst they were not loft exercised in the morning they were exercised around the loft for an hour at night.   Joe wasn’t concerned about cats as he had a fox terrier dog in the garden that kept any cats at bay.   Within his article in Squills he made the following observation “the worst problem with the open hole is to stop the birds from fielding.   I have cut this down to a minimum by adding baking salt, sugar and calcium to the minerals available in the loft at all times and using all kinds of grit”.   Young pigeons went through the programme to 225 miles if in good health and good feather.   Yearlings went to the coast with adult pigeons going to the channel.   Again as was the practise at the time Joe was at all times looking for any sign of weakness in the youngsters, making the observation that “if you don’t cull from the nest you will be lumbered with weaklings, which in later days will go down when worked.   Setbacks and heartbreaks are reserved for those fanciers who shrink from perpetual culling”.   Unlike the old birds, young pigeons weren’t given an open hole and were loft exercised.   They were exercised in the evening only until the first race and were thereafter exercised twice a day.   Prior to the first race the young pigeons were basket trained up to 25 miles as often as possible and given a 15 miles single up training toss before the first race.   No peregrines to worry about in those days with all young bird training being carried out in the evening.   Pigeons were housed in a well ventilated 18’ long loft that contained three equally sized compartments with small 3’ x 2’ aviaries serving each compartment.   Pigeons alighted on a landing board and trapped through a 3’ x 3’ window.

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Here's the story of John Gilmours Gold Cup winner, No.3 for the 'Fechan'.(WP Wortley).

In 2017 the S.N.F.C. Blue Riband event was flown from Alencon, with the convoy being released at 5.45am on Monday 3rd July, following a three day hold-over.   John Gilmour from Ecclefechan timed at 7.10pm to win the National with a velocity of 1049ypm, 39ypm ahead of the second pigeon in the result.    John is a member of a very successful pigeon family, with his father, Jackie, being a very good fancier.  Jackie and his brother Eddie, who flew under the loft title Gilmour Brothers and Martindale, won the Vaux Usher Y.B. National in 1963 with a Red cock that was bred by Hughie Falconer from Mid Calder.    In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Jackie and Eddie housed one of the best teams of pigeons in the Solway area.   In 1967, for example, they gained the first three positions in the Section from S.N.F.C. Avranches and in 1974 they were 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Avranches.  In time the brothers formed their own separate lofts and as the years have passed they achieved individual successes.   In 2005, Jackie was 6th Section 29th Open Tours and in 2006 this same pigeon was 3rd Section 3rd Open from the equivalent race.   John Gilmour has had an interest in our hobby since he was a boy.   Our older readers will recollect the successful partnership of S. & J. Gilmour that raced
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into Ecclefechan.   This partnership actually comprised schoolboy cousins; Stewart and John guided and assisted by Eddie, who formerly competed under the loft title Gilmour Brothers and Martindale.   When John married he set up home in community of Waterbeck and joined Hoddom Club.   He and his wife subsequently built a beautiful bungalow at Ecclefechan, which has a large garden that contains an impressive pigeon loft.   The loft is 6’ wide and is ‘L’ shaped, containing an 8’ compartment for widowhood cocks, a 4’ compartment for Young Birds and 4’ store on the front elevation and a compartment for widowhood hens and another compartment for stock birds on the side elevation.   As the years have passed, he has timed several good birds from the Classics, consider, for example that in 2010 he was 3rd Section from the Inland National from Bovingdon, was 5th Section 56th Open from the S.N.F.C. Blue Riband event from Alencon in 2013 and in 2015 was 3rd Section 196th Open Eastbourne.  In time he worked the team on a widowhood method from the earlier races and re-paired them for the channel.   In 2017, however, he decided to continue racing cocks and hens on widowhood, right out to the channel.   This obviously paid dividends as he featured in the prize list in the very competitive Hoddom Club throughout the season and then came out and won Scottish Blue Riband event from Alencon, securing the famous Gold Cup and the King George V Cup.   The National winner is a Dark Chequer cock named ‘Gilly’, which was 2 y.o. when he won the Classic; it had five races as a youngster, raced from Lymm, Wollaston and Cheltenham as a yearling and in 2017 went to Charnock Richard (1), Charnock Richard (2), Stafford, Wollaston, Cheltenham and Marlborough, which was flown on the same day as the Inland National from Buckingham.   He reared two youngsters at the gateway to the season and was thereafter worked true widowhood.   He went to the race with his first flight ¾ grown.   Dam is a Theo Rutten, which was obtained from friends Shaun and Linda Trodden whilst the Sire is a Red Cock that was bred by Martin Adair from Flimby in West Cumbria.    Sean and Linda first purchased examples of the Rutten family some twenty years ago, direct from the breeders and through ongoing introductions have formed a superb team of Rutten pigeons.   Theo and Raymond Rutten reside at Groesbeek, Netherlands and are the owners of a superb family of pigeons based on the bloodlines of Janssen Brothers of Arendonk.   They first visited the Brothers at Arendonk in 1958 and continued to visit them on a regular basis, obtaining stock on an annual basis.   They also acquired pigeons from Jules Wouters of Keerbergen, who purchased the very best of Janssen bloodlines.   Theo and Raymond Rutten supplemented the Janssen line by purchasing stock from Gebr. Janssen, concentrating on the line of the ‘Chantilly’ and ‘Winterjongen and from Henri van Venrooij of Deurne, who obtained his original stock direct from Janssen Brothers.   National wins achieved by Theo and Raymond Rutten include 1st National Orleans competing against 17,211 pigeons. 1st National Montlucon competing against 7,000 + pigeons, 1st National St Quentin competing against 6,611 pigeons, 1st National St Vincent competing against 2,424 pigeons and 1st National Chantilly competing against 23,193 pigeons.    In 2016 Sean and Linda Trodden set the Solway Federation alight with this family, gaining a succession of sparkling results and at the end of the season were presented with the trophy as Solway Federation Fancier(s) of the Year.   In 2018 they were 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Maidstone and were once more presented with the Federation Fancier of the Year Trophy.     Move forward to 2019 and once again they were awarded the Percy Cameron Memorial Trophy as East Section Fancier(s) of the Year.   During the current season they were 1st Section 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Upper Heyford with a super Blue cock that was 1st Federation from Lymm (1), 1st Federation Cheltenham, 1st Federation again from Lymm (2) and with pigeons being duplicated out of the Upper Heyford National into the Federation was once more 1st Federation.   Following the Upper Heyford National, Sean and Linda were 1st Section 1st Open S.N.F.C. Yeovil.   Martin Adair is the son of the late Bobby Adair, who was
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unquestionably one of the very best fanciers in the North of England and Southern Scotland.   Racing a modest team of pigeons on the natural system, he and Martin won the noted Big Cup in the Derwent Valley Federation on ten occasions for the best average from all races through to the longest channel race.   The Sire of the Red Cock, which John Gilmour obtained from Martin, was 8th Fed Nantes.   He was bred direct from Bobby and Martin Adair’s noted Red Hen, which was the first Gold Award winner in Cumbria.   The Sire of the Red Cock that John Gilmour obtained from Martin was also the Sire of the Red Cock that Jimmy Dalgliesh from Ecclefechan obtained from Flimby, which bred the noted ‘Hoddom Dynamo’.    In 2019 the Scottish National Blue Riband event was flown from Burdinne, Belgium with the convoy being released at 5.30 am and John Gilmour featured at the front of the result again timing at 2.31pm to be 1st South Section 2nd Open National.   The winning pigeon was 3 y.o. Dark Chequer hen ‘Gilly’s Lass’, which deserves special mention.   It went to Charnock Richard as a youngster.   In 2017 as a yearling it was paired during the first week in January and reared two youngsters.   It was then put on Roundabout and went through the programme to the Inland National from Bedhampton and was 44th Section 223rd Open.   It then began toying on with another hen, identically bred.   John chose to leave them together; the Dark hen laid and went to Falaise covering twelve day eggs.   Pigeons were liberated at 6.15am into a light S.W. wind and the hen was timed with the leaders at 2.47pm to be 5th Section 6th Open National.  In 2018 the hen was once more paired in January, went to nest and was thereafter put on Roundabout.  It then went through the programme to the Inland National from Buckingham and was thereafter re-paired and went to the S.N.F.C. Blue Riband event from Liege sitting deep on eggs with the eggs hatching the day after the race.   Pigeons were liberated at 5.15am into a N.E. win and John timed the hen at 5.22pm to be 3rd Section 3rd Open National.   In 2019 it was paired in January and hatched a pair of youngsters, being split from its mate when feeding the youngsters with the cock finishing the youngsters off.   It was then put on Roundabout and went through the programme to the Inland National from Buckingham.   It was then re-paired with the intention of getting it on a wee youngster at basketing for the Gold Cup race from Burdinne.   It was a wee bit slow at laying, however and was actually sitting deep due to hatch.   John slipped her a chipping egg before despatch, however, to give her an edge and she duly responded gaining 1st Section 2nd Open National.   Sire is a Deweerdt from Andy Gregson whilst the Dam is a Grizzle Koopman from Ernie Goodyear with both parents being purchased at Blackpool Show.   She is obviously a truly exceptional pigeon to have gained a 2nd, 3rd and 6th Open National, with two of the performances being from Scotland’s Premier Race!

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Here is the final installment of the Fechan story, Jim Dalgliesh, gold cup winner No.4 and  who's record probably makes him the best flier ever to reside in the village.

We now move forward to the S.N.F.C. 2022 Gold Cup race from Alencon. The convoy was liberated at 6.30am with Jimmy Dalgliesh from Ecclefechan timing at 5.39pm to win the Classic with a velocity of 1260ypm. Jimmy is an octogenarian and a truly outstanding fancier; he only houses a modest team in simple back garden lofts but, nevertheless, has won out of turn year after year and has raced a number of really good pigeons. Amongst birds of note that he has owned was Blue Cock ‘Tranquillity Boy’, which was a truly exceptional pigeon. This marvellous Cock initially competed with the S.N.F.C. in 1998 when 2 y.o. and was 29th Sect. 96th Open from the Inland national from Frome. Some two weeks later he went to the Gold Cup race from Rennes and was up with the leaders to be 9th Sect. 14th Open. The following season he again raced from Frome and was 13th Open and was thereafter doubled back into Rennes when he was 11th Sect. 15th Open. In the Millennium season he once more went to the Inland National, which was from Newbury and was 24th Open. He thereafter competed from Messac and was 11th Sect. 17th Open. Jimmy did not send to the
channel in 2001 due to problems caused by Foot and Mouth Disease. The cock competed from three Inland Nationals, however, and was 11th Open Frome, 109th Open Hastings and 96th Open Portland. ‘Tranquillity Boy’ was bred from direct stock introduced from Tony Mardon, the grandparents being ‘Rebate’ x ‘Retain’ and ‘Reproach’ x ‘Relax’. Amongst other SVR’s to emerge was a year 2000 Blue Cock that was 1st South Section 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Chenoise 2002, when there were only three arrivals into Scotland on the day of liberation. The Sire known as ‘680’ was a full brother of ‘Tranquillity Boy’. The Dam, meanwhile, was homebred from a Cock known as ‘The Mardon Cock’ when he was coupled to a hen that was introduced from Tranquillity Lofts bred from ‘Random’ and ‘Resolve’. ‘The Mardon Cock’ was bred from ‘Racket’ and ‘Resign’ and proved to be an extra special producer as he bred sixteen individual Club winners, six 1st Fed. winners and two Section winners from the Y.B. National.
In 2009 Jimmy won the Falaise National with a 3 y.o. Mealy hen that was named ‘Hoddom Dynamo’, taking its name from the football team that played at Ecclefechan in days gone by. The Mealy Hen was a real topper winning out of turn from the young bird stage. Dam was bred from a SVR cock when coupled to a Hoffkens hen. The Hoffkens hen was sister to two hens, which each won the Section from the Y.B. National. The SVR Cock was homebred from an Ian Axe SVR when coupled to the loft’s noted ‘The Mardon Cock’ to which I referred. Sire of ‘Hoddom Dynamo’ was obtained from Martin Adair from Flimby, West Cumbria. As previously explained, Martin is the son of the late Bobby Adair, who was one of the best fanciers in the North of England and Southern Scotland. Bobby and Martin won the noted Big Cup in the Derwent Valley Federation on ten occasions for the best average from all races through to the longest channel race. The Sire of the Red Cock, which Jimmy obtained from Martin, was 8th Fed Nantes, being bred direct from Bobby and Martin Adair’s noted Red Hen, which was the first Gold Award winner in Cumbria. This hen scored in the Fed. from the channel on twelve occasions and featured in the first fifty of the Cumbria Combine result from the channel on eight occasions. Dam of the Red cock that Jimmy obtained from Martin Adair was a Mealy, bred by Tommy Nichol from Langholm. Tommy used to visit West Cumbria and formed a friendship with Martin’s father. Through their friendship, Bobby Adair gifted Tommy a son of the good Red Hen, which he coupled to a daughter of ‘Jack’s Boy’ that was bred and raced by Dickie Harkness and was 1st Open S.N.F.C. Rennes. This pairing produced a noted hen that left winners for several fanciers across the country and when Tommy Nichol left the fancy, Martin Adair made a point of purchasing the hen. The pigeon that Jimmy obtained from Martin Adair was a full brother of another Red Cock that fellow Club member, John Gilmour obtained from Flimby that bred the noted ‘Gilly’, which was 1st Open S.N.F.C. Alencon, 2017.
Working with a handful of pigeons, Jimmy has and continues to feature in the Classic results, year after year. Consider, for example, that he has won the Section with the National eleven times and in recent years was 1st Section S.N.F.C. Eastbourne in 2015, move forward to 2016 and he was 1st Section 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Buckingham, move two years further forward and he was 2nd Section S.N.F.C. Ypres followed the next year by being 2nd Section 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Maidstone. Move forward to season 2020, when due to Covid-19 the members of the S.N.F.C. only competed from two Old Bird Nationals; Jimmy was 3rd Section Maidstone and 2nd and 3rd Section from Reims. During the season past he recorded his second National win when he headed the result from S.N.F.C. Eastbourne, heading the result by 65ypm. The pigeon on this occasion was named ‘Hoddom Ranger’ taking its name from another local football team.
One just has to see Jimmy working with the pigeons to realise just how good he is. He has a great eye for a pigeon but ultimately, the basket is his selector. It must be further understood that from the young bird stage he works them hard and literally makes them into pigeons. He has wonderful control over his birds also, consider that in recent months friend John Hodgson had reason to visit Ecclefechan and during the visit Jimmy let him see his small team of pigeons. He said to John “do you want to see the youngsters”, opened the door of the young bird loft and brought the team out onto the gravel at the front of the shed. He then, without problem, put them back in the loft and closed the door. John said “I couldn’t believe it, how many other fanciers can do that”.
Jimmy Dalgliesh’s National winner from Alencon is a 2 y.o. Blue Chequer hen that had four races to Bellerby as a youngster and seven races to Yeovil as a yearling. It was coupled in January this year, reared a pair of youngsters and worked on the Natural method had four races to Upper Heyford, before going to Alencon. It went to the race on its fifth flight, covering 10 day eggs. Dam is a noted hen obtained from Scott Irving from Annan. Sire of the Scott Irving hen is ‘Sprinter 44’ that won the Fed. as a youngster and is brother to another cock that was 99th Open S.N.F.C. Alencon as a yearling. Paternal grandsire is ‘Mr.Lambrini’ whilst the Paternal grand-dam was bred by George Hilson from Bury. ‘Mr.Lambrini’ was bred by Stevie Ferguson from Annan direct from Stevie’s 2008 Tours National winner and is the Paternal grandsire of Scott Irving’s 2013 National winner from Ancenis. It should be understood that Stevie’s Tours winner was a 2002 Chequer Pied Hen which competed from Tours in 2004 and was timed at 6.10am on the second day to be 1st Section 6th Open. She then went back to the same race point in 2008 and won the National being the only bird on the day of liberation. Dam of the Scott Irving hen is a full sister to ‘History Maker’ that was 1st Section from the Y.B. National in 2013 and ‘Dalambo’ that was 3rd Open Inland National. Maternal grandsire is a noted Black Pied cock named ‘Back from the Dead’. Having been lost from a channel race he was reported in Holland and some twelve months later, Scott secured his return. He was bred from the same ‘Mr.Lambrini’ when paired to a White Flight hen that was obtained from the late Henry Beattie and was the grand dam of Scott Irving’s 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Bourges 2010. This hen, incidentally, contained the lines of Tom Marshall’s East Down Combine winner from Lambelle. Maternal grand-dam was bred by the same Jimmy Dalgliesh, direct from ‘Hoddom Dynamo’, the 2009 Falaise National winner. Sire of the National winner from Alencon is a Blue cock that was purchased from Andrew Lawley from Ellesmere by Jimmy’s daughter, Cindy, who gifted it to her father as a Christmas present. It has proved to be an extra special acquisition as it has bred a number of winners. Dam of the Blue cock is a direct daughter of M & D Evans ‘Joe Jones’ when paired to ‘Lady Arras’. ‘Joe Jones’ was one of the best breeders at Myrtle Lofts with his name featuring in the pedigrees of winners across the entire country. ‘Lady Arras’s was a direct daughter of ‘Jong Wittenbuik’ which was a direct son of the world famous ‘Wittenbuik. Sire of the Blue cock was bred from a further daughter of M. & D. Evans ‘Joe Jones’ x ‘Lady Arras’ when paired to ‘Woodface’ that was 1st Midland National Carentan. ‘Woodface’ has proved to be Sire, G.Sire and G.G.Sire of Club, Federation and Specialist Club winners. The Alencon National winner has been named ‘Hoddom Belle’, being named after Jimmy’s late wife.
In former years Jim Renwick organised Scotland’ Own Quiz Evenings at nominated venues across Scotland. One of the venues was Ecclefechan with the local organiser being Jimmy Graham. It was my pleasure to act as Chairman at Ecclefechan and over the years I had the pleasure of being in the company of a number of really good fanciers. In November 1989, I participated in a Quiz in the village and on arrival at the venue it was packed to the door with fanciers present from across the
country. Pigeons were on display, which were to be auctioned, prizes for the Raffle were also on display and on another table were Scotland’s Own Books which had just been published and were available for purchase. At the head of the Hall was a podium surrounded by a number of chairs, set in a semi-circle. The Panel comprised Bert Hession, George Brownlie, Ken Gardiner and local fancier, John Jamieson. The Quiz commenced with the Panel being asked the normal questions. Our concentration was distracted, however when a ‘personality’ entered the room, immaculately dressed wearing a ‘Prince Charles Mask’. He walked amongst the tables gesturing with a regal wave and then moved to the front of the room, took hold of the microphone and moved to the podium. He removed the mask to reveal the same ‘Dun’ Graham, he brought out a ‘Big Red Book’ and as only he could, said “James Dalgliesh, this is your Life”. We thereafter entered into a truly Magical hour, reflecting on James’ achievements and importantly as he spoke, he made reference also to the Classic winners who had competed into our area over the years and if they were present in the Hall, invited them forward to sit in the semi-circle at the front of the Hall. ‘Dun’ was a superb entertainer and interlaced the story he was telling with loads of humour and had everyone but everyone laughing at his antics. Ken Gardiner was sitting next to me and said “this is the best function I’ve ever attended, are they always like this”. ‘Dun’ moved through time and when he advanced to 1976 he reminded the audience that there was a record entry at Rennes in 1976 with the four Section winners all featuring in the first eleven in the Open result. He then said “on the night of the race a little man with a moustache was pacing around his garden in Edinburgh, scratching his head saying where is this place called Ecclefechan, if he didn’t know then he certainly knows now, come up here Joe Murray”. Amidst rapturous applause Joe Murray stepped to the front of the room to join the other winners. Aye, as I said when I entered into this article; whilst the village of Ecclefechan may be small in stature, it is considered a giant in the world of pigeon racing.