Jim Donaldson Loft Report Part 3

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THE JIM DONALDSON STORY - PART 3

 

by Joe Murphy

 

I handled quite a few of the Donaldson winners and was most impressed with the size and shape of the hens. These were on the small side and had lovely balance, and when they sit in your hand it was like holding a pear'. It is hard to find the phrase to describe this but experienced fanciers will know what I mean. Each bird had nice silky feathering and clear bright eyes and wattles, which you would expect when visiting a top loft like this. The cocks were a little larger, which you would expect, with a lot of power and strength in their forefront, which gave the impression they could fly for ever. The one great thing about these cocks, which you will see from the photographs, is that they become outstanding looking pigeons once they have a bit of age about them and, believe me, they would grace any loft in Europe.

 

Donnann was bred from a blue cock that I assisted Jim purchase from Dennis N Dall of Ladybank and the dam of Donnann was Rennes Lass who won 7th section in the young bird national from Cheltenham 380 miles. Dam of Rennes Lass was 453 who won 1st section and was twice 3rd section from Sartilly for Jim and she in turn was a daughter of Circus Boy. The Dall Cock and Rennes Lass have produced children; grand children; great grand children to win countless national diplomas over the years to illustrate I will highlight some direct children from this pairing namely; Little Jenny; Little Lara; Chequer Cock 2682.

 

Little Jenny won 1st north section Sartilly 1997; 2nd north section Rennes in 1998; 1st north section 6th open Nantes in 2000, she was lost off the loft the following year.

 

Little Lara was one of only 2 birds home from a young bird smash; she then won 3rd north section Sartilly in 1999; 1st north section Messac 2000; 4th north section Liege 2001; 3rd north section Chenoise 2002 unfortunately she was lost going for a Gold Award.

 

 

Chequer Cock 2682 won 5th north section Frome (433miles); 9th north section 52nd open Clermont (589 miles) 2002; 5th north section Chenoise (643 miles) 2003; 1st north section Tours (707 miles) 2004 he is now put to stock.

 

Bluetoon Lass blue pied hen has won from a youngster being 9th region G Leicester young bird national (339 miles) 2001; 13th north section 91st open Newbury (422 miles) in 2003; 2nd north section 73rd open Falaise (601 miles) 2004; 5th north section 105th open Falaise 2005; 1st north section 83rd open Alencon (631 miles) 2006 so you will see that is an exceptional hen as she as won 4 times in the open SNFC result which is a very rare occurrence away up into the north of Scotland. Unfortunately this hen was lost at Tours in 2008 the first time Jim Donaldson has failed to time in a bird in years in the SNFC; Sire is a chequer pied cock bred from a brother and sister mating from Circus Boy; Dam of blue white flight hen was a direct daughter of Circus Boy.

 

 

Bluetoon Lass

 

Another hen who impressed me was a chequer hen (2376) she has won 229th open Newbury in 2002; 4th north section 18th open Claremont 2002 and 7th north section 95th open Falaise 2004; She is bred from a son of the Dall Cock and Rennes Lass while her dam is Little Amy mentioned above.

 

 

I was very interested to again see and handle what Jim and Ann call the Aberdeen Cock that was bred by Paul Thomson of Aberdeen. Paul gave Jim a loan of a Davy Rose cock to pair to a sister to Rennes Lass and the deal was they would have one youngster each from the pair. When Paul travelled to Peterhead to collect his youngster and the Davy Rose cock, the hen had laid again so Paul took the 2 eggs back to Aberdeen were he floated them under a foster pair and once they were ready to wean he gave one to Jim which turned out to be the cock he christened the Aberdeen Cock.

 

This cock turned out to be a top racer and has won 2nd north section 7th open Claremont 2002; 163rd open Newbury in 2003 and then 1st north section 4th open Tours in 2005 beating Reims Girl into 2nd section place. I was fortunate to put this cock into the race basket prior to this 2005 Tours win and at the time I remarked to Jim that he was one of the best birds I had handled that day and he would take some beating. The lad next to me had Reims Girl in his hand and remarked well Joe if you think yours is good you should see this Grizzle hen.

 

Lo and behold these two pigeon won 1st & 2nd north section 4th & 7th open from a distance of 707 miles. Great pigeons and prepared and set down by a master pigeon fancier.

 

I purchased a youngster direct from the Aberdeen cock at a charity sale in 2006 being the highest price youngster at this sale and she has turned out to be a cracker. She also has the same carbon copy make up as the Donaldson hens as when her first baby hatched the following day she stood and quivered on the window ledge in my loft and I was amazed at the condition she was in. It is little wonder that this partnership know when their birds are spot on as going by this hen appearance their birds DO tell you when they are right.

 

 

Aberdeen Cock

 

Another top hen was Niort Lady; winner of 2nd north section 14th open Sartilly; 1st north section 34th open Niort a distance of 775 miles; now here is another very interesting observation; her sire was Circus Boy at the age of 11 years old; and her dam was a pure bred Dave Scott hen aged 10 years old. How many times have you heard of pigeons this age breeding winners; most fanciers dispose of birds when they are 5 years or older; however Jim Donaldson has proven when you have quality stock like this they will continue to produce the goods.

 

 

Niort Lady

 

Jim has tried other introductions mostly through a swap but none seemed to stand up to his methods of management and regardless of what he pays for a bird it is treated exactly the same as his own birds and they will have to fly the whole young bird programme. If it is lost then Jim says It will be a blessing in disguise as I wont be breeding from it and if they cant keep up with my own birds then they are better not here.

 

 

 

 

2008 Season

 

Jim had an exceptional race from Alencon a distance of 631 miles to Peterhead; his first bird won 2nd north section 7th open SNFC; prior to Alencon she was his 2nd bird from Newbury 422 miles; 3rd bird from Newark 380 miles and 4th bird from Hastings 478 miles. She was sent to Alencon on a day old youngster with her 2nd flight up and she had 3 club races to Northallerton 219 miles then lifted into Alencon. Her sire won 18th open Claremont and her dam is a sister to Donnann. This is the hen I mentioned above who was missing for 10 days; I was lucky enough to purchased a youngster direct from this hen when she was mated to her own son at the SNFC young bird sale in April 2009.

 

The second bird timed won 3rd section 32nd open Alencon this dark chequer hen was Jims first bird from Hastings in 2007; she had the same routine 3 races to Northallerton and sent to Alencon on a day old baby. Her sire is from a son of Dream Barcelona when paired to the sister of Donnann (same hen as above) Dam of dark chequer hen was Jims 1st bird from the young bird national, she was mated to a son of Reims Girl Jims SNFC Gold Award winning hen.

 

 

 

Third bird was a chequer white flight who won 5th section 37th open previous was Jims 3rd bird from Hastings 478 miles; same as other 2 birds 3 races and sent on a small youngster; sire is 7758 and the dam is a sister to his first bird timed being from the 18th open Claremont cock when paired to a sister of Donnann.

 

The 4th bird was a dark chequer hen who won 8th section 52nd open she was Jims 3rd bird from Hastings and his 2nd bird from Leicester her sire is a son of Jim Emerson Barcelona winner dam is Little Amy 7th open SNFC Sartilly.

 

From the Falaise race Jim timed in a dark chequer hen to win 1st section 50th open previously this bird was his 3rd home from Hastings, this year it had 3 races to Leicester 320 miles before going straight into Falaise on a small young bird. Sire is from the top stock cock The Dall Cock when paired to 7626 winner of 4 SNFC diplomas. Dam of the section winner is 7687 from Circus Boy when mated to 4th open Nantes 707 miles.

 

The 2nd bird from Falaise won 5th section 149th open this pigeon won 7th section G from Eastbourne this year. He was mated to 2 hens in one box and was sitting on 6 (yes 6 eggs) Jim had slipped in a pair of dummies to get the hens sitting and low and behold both hens laid so he left them sitting all six eggs. His sire is the Aberdeen cock winner of 4th & 7th SNFC while the dam is 7687 from Circus Boy when mated to 4th open Nantes winner.

 

Third bird won 7th section G this bird was Jims first home from the young bird national. Sire and dam are both direct children from his Gold Award winner Reims Girl, again sent to the Falaise race on a small youngster.

 

 

Jack the Lad

 

Official Tasks

 

I am the official clock setter in the club and my wife Ann is the secretary of the Peterhead Premier club with approximately 12 active members sending on average 250 birds a week. We compete in the North of Scotland federation which has 9 clubs sending over 2000 birds each week up to 300 mile race point, our furthest federation race is Hastings a distance of 470 miles and we often have over 600 birds to this race.

 

I asked Jim if he had to pass on one piece of advice to fanciers reading this story what would it be his reply was Be patient and give the sport your best shot, you will only get out of it what you are willing to put in to it. Always look in the mirror first and dont look for excuses the reason in most cases will be you not the bird. I have heard many different excuses over the years such as microwaves and mobile phone masts to satellites in the sky but if these had an effect it would affect all the birds mine included. What is more important is to remember that good birds will come home so you are in effect breeding from the survivors, which quite simply means Survival of the fittest.

 

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave Scott for his help and encouragement as without him I would never have had the success and enjoyment from this wonderful sport of ours.

 

Some of my best year performances...

 

1995 was my best year

 

Sartilly 1 1st 4th 5th9th 10th section 56th 144th open 605 miles

 

Rennes 1st sect 133th open 650 miles

 

Niort 1st sect 40th open 775 miles

 

Sartilly 2 1st 4th sect 1st open 605 miles

 

 

2000

 

Newbury inland national 10th section 422 miles

 

Messac 1st section 42nd open 669 miles

 

Nantes 1st section 6th open 709 miles

 

Vire 2nd 8th 9th sect 66th open 600 miles

 

Leicester yb 12th 15th 16th sect 339 miles

 

winning north section average S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

2001 no french racing

 

Frome 5th 8th secion 433 miles

 

Liege 4th sect 469 miles

 

Hastings 2nd 4th sect 469 miles

 

Portland 5th sect 481 miles

 

Leicester yb 6th 9th 12th sect 339 miles

 

winning north section averages S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

2002

 

Newbury 4th section 422 miles

 

Reims 1st 2nd 4th 6th section 58th 83rd open 620 miles

 

Chenoise 3rd section 643 miles

 

Clermont 2nd 4th 9th 11th section 7th 18th 52nd 96th open 589 miles

 

Leicester yb 12th section 339 miles

 

winning the north section averages S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

2003

 

Newbury inland 13th sect 91st 163rd 249 th 251th open 422 miles

 

Reims 1st 4th 5th sect 620 miles

 

Chenoise 5th section 643 miles

 

Leicester yb 6th 8th 9th sect 39th 49th 51st open 339 miles

 

winning the north section averages S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

2004

 

Newbury 20th section 422miles

 

Falaise 1st 2nd sect 69th 72nd open 501 miles

 

La ferte bernard 19 th section 652 miles

 

Tours 1st 2nd section 707 miles

 

Falaise 7th 15th sect 96th open 601 miles

 

Cheltenham yb 19th section 386 miles

 

winning the north section averages S.N.F.C

 

 

 

2005

 

Newbury 4th7th section 422 miles

 

Alencon 10th 14th section 631 miles

 

Tours 1st 2nd 4th section 4th 7th 49th open 707 miles

 

Falaise 5th7th sect 104th 131th open 601 miles

 

Cheltenham yb 18th sect 386 miles

 

winning the north section averages S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

2006

 

Alencon 1st section 83rd open 631 miles

 

Tours 1st 5th section 13th 59th open 707 miles

 

Falaise 5th 12th 17th sect 601 mlies

 

winning the north section averages S.N.F.C.

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

May I thank Ann and Jim for their hospitality to me on my visit; they have not changed since we first met 20 years ago and it is indeed a pleasure to see them doing so well over the years. When I first visited them they only had 2 SNFC diplomas and the transformation over the years to 20 x 1st north section wins is quite extraordinary. This does not just happen overnight; it is built up by trial and error; and you can see from my article that Jim says what he thinks; his honesty is exactly what is needed within the sport and if you beat him in a race he will shake your hand. There were no two people happier than Jim & Ann when Peterheads Gordon Willox won 1st open SNFC Alencon in 2008; to break the record of being the longest Gold Cup winner in the history of the SNFC; with Heathers Dream. However when you look at Jims own results on this day he himself achieved a remarkable record in having 4 birds in the top 52 within the open result from the SNFC Alencon race flying 661 miles. Like so many others we will wait and see what 2009 brings however one thing is for certain with the calibre of birds housed in Meekhill Road the futures bright for Ann & Jim Donaldson.

 

 

Compiled by Joe Murphy