Tour of Solway Federation Dumfries Part 1

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The tour of the Solway Fed continues westward to Dumfries, thanks Bill.
Several of the Dumfries fanciers who have coloured the annals of the local pigeon fancy.
By Billy Wortley
There has been a pigeon presence in Dumfries from the early part of the last century with a good number of talented fanciers and administrators from the town having participated in our hobby and within the following paragraphs I mention several examples of fanciers from the town who have coloured the annals of the local pigeon fancy. At the outset it should be noted that The Solway Federation was born out of a Meeting that was held in Dumfries in 1928, that was organised by James R. Jardine, who was Honorary Secretary of Dumfries and Maxwelltown Club. It was James Jardine who took the Chair at the Meeting, he was appointed Federation Secretary and was additionally selected as the Federation representative to sit on the S.H.U. Council. Some months ago friend David Osborne informed me about a good pigeon that was timed into Dumfries in 1931 from Rennes and I believe that it was the first real good National performance into the town. The 1931 Rennes race was flown on 10th July with a convoy of 4,749 birds being liberated at 5.50am with the race being won by R. Duncanson from Leven if Fife who timed on the day at 7.55pm. W. Wilson and Son timed at 6.49pm from 488 miles to gain 7th Open National recording a velocity of 1,103ypm. W. Wilson and Son resided at Gasstown, which is located at the entry to Dumfries from the East. At the time the majority of the residents of Gasstown and the conjoined community of Gateside of Trench were employed on the Railway, with Dumfries Station being a busy junction. An even better pigeon was timed into the town from Nantes, in 1934. The convoy comprised 1,383 birds and with a following wind, there were a number of pigeons home on the day of liberation. Matthew Thorburn from Lockerbie won the race on 1239ypm, followed by J. Maxwell from Dumfries, who was 2nd Open.
Having explained that the original Club in the town was titled Dumfries and Maxwelltown, in time Dumfries Social Circle was formed, which became one of the three largest Clubs in Scotland. As the years moved forward, Dumfries Social Circle fragmented and amongst other Clubs that were formed were Dumfries Flying Club and the Nith Valley Club, which are currently, the two active Clubs in the community.
Amongst the fanciers who emerged in the town, Post War, were Cairns Brothers and Sloan, Ally Aitken, Sandy Ross, Dinky Watson, Johnny Richardson, Tommy & Keith Lynn etc. A fancier who made a real impact was Andy Wilson and one cannot write about Dumfries and not mention Andy. Andy resided in a beautiful bungalow in Locharbriggs, which had the most marvellous tiered garden. He was a joiner by profession and housed his pigeons in an impressive self-built loft set at the head of the garden. Having previously competed in the Social Circle, he then joined Dumfries Flying Club and was indeed a founder member. In 1953, Andy was 6th Open S.N.F.C. Rennes and this was to remain the best position into Dumfries from the Rennes National for thirty years. The winning pigeon was a Blue Cheque hen, the Dam of which was purchased from John Kirkpatrick whilst the Sire was bred from two pigeons introduced directly from John Kirkpatrick. Andy became one of the most consistent competitors from the National in the Solway area and amongst positions gained were 2nd Section 8th Open Avranches 1972, 4th Section 6th Open Nantes 1978 and 2nd Section 5th Open Nantes 1981. As he moulded his team of pigeons he introduced stock from several of the best fanciers in the U.K. including F. Cheetham, J. Warren and Son, Billy Gardiner and John Jamieson.
Amongst the quality pigeons raced by Andy was ‘Quarry Boy’ that was clocked on nine occasions from ten channel races. He was 15th, 61st and 98th Open Nantes, 140th & 212th Open Rennes. Another top pigeon raced by Andy at the time was ‘Roscoe’s Pied Hen’ that contained Kenyon x Marien bloodlines. She was 2nd Sect. 8th Open, 23rd Sect. 62nd Open & 17th Sect. 94th Open Avranches and 6th Sect. 16th Open Rennes. He also bred a number of superb pigeons for others including the parents of ‘Jubilee Victor’, Ralph Whyte’s 1977 Nantes National winner and the great ‘Andy's Boy’ that was raced by Alasdair Muir to be 1st, 9th & 34th Open LSECC Pau, also 14th & 23rd Open LSECC Bordeaux; 240th Open NFC Saintes, 36th LSECC Poitiers etc. all in NE winds. Andy stopped racing in 1980 as not being a driver, he found it difficult to get his birds trained and raced. He never lost his interest in his hobby, however and continued to breed pigeons for friends. Amongst the birds introduced into the loft in later years were top quality examples of the Van der Espt and Van Bruane families. Having explained that Andy’s birds were housed in a very impressive self-built loft set at the head of his garden, the entire set-up was ever so impressive and was a tremendous advert for the pigeon hobby.

Andy Wilson