Ian McKay Posted January 25, 2016 Report Posted January 25, 2016 McCormack & Hughes Viewpark is a small urban development north-east of Uddingston (North Lanarkshire, Scotland). Viewpark is adjacent to Tannochside, and is 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west of Bellshill. It is often considered a district of Uddingston and was home of one of Scotland's most famous players, Jimmy 'Jinky' Johnstone who lived near the old St.Columbas Primary School on Old Edinburgh Road, which has since been knocked down to make way for private housing. Uddingston is home to Tunnock's factory, famed for its caramel wafers and tea cakes. The factory contributes much to the village's economy, and has sponsored the club and federation for many a year for which the members are very grateful. In earlier times, mining was a major industry, with the village of Flemington an example of a settlement that failed to survive following the closure of its pit in the 1930s. Uddingston & Dist club is very much in the hub of Lanarkshire federation with a number of founder members of this great federation which was formed in 1904.A club that has a very strong membership and takes some winning on a weekly basis.Its members are always up there competing for top federation honours. Mick McCormick was born in Viewpark and played football with the legend that was Jimmy Johnstone, both going to Primary and Secondary school together. Mick was a decent player, as was his brother but they didn't follow the football path of Jimmy. Mick is a very well respected fancier, one with the ability to win from the first to the last race of the federation programme. Ask anyone in the federation about his results and they will say top classMartin Hughes of Knightwood, Glasgow is also a fancier of distinction in this area. 2014 brought about the formation of the partnership McCormick & Hughes, Martin wishing to test his pigeons in the Lanarkshire Federation.Martin is a very busy young man running his own business, trying to balance his career with his beloved hobby.This partnership helps him compete at the top level with Mick looking after the pigeons on a daily basis. It was always my intention to visit one of Lanarkshires top lofts. 1st &,2nd Open, Federation Upper Hayford (292 miles),5th ,8th 9th Sect, 3 in the top 20 of the Bedhampton Open 360 miles. 2nd Sect, 13th Open Ypres 448 miles.20 section prizes in the very strong centre section of the Lanarkshire Federation for 2014 season, great flying.18 trophies including Old Bird and Combine Averages within the club. What more can one say. Like I have said in the past these fanciers that compete every week are held at the highest regard, racing from 80 to 500 miles. This is very much a back garden set up a short distance from the club premises. My first thought when entering the loft with Mick was these birds are very contented (They never moved) with Mick being the master of his environment, I pointed this out to Mick and his reply was I wouldn't tolerate anything else.Mick told me he spends a lot of time when the youngsters are in the nest to build up the bond of pigeon and fancier and this will last. The loft was built with Mick in mind, everything to his size to allow him to manage the pigeons as he wishes. After hitting my head on several occasions I soon realised thisNot a big set up, possible the smallest I have visited as Mick said with a small team set up you can manage everything in time, you know every individual and they know you.His next boxes are half the traditional size but the birds are content with life. These birds are programmed to compete every week, raced on the traditional roundabout system, which appears so popular these days with fanciersAlthough Mick stated he will be possible fly total widowhood with cocks in the future, as being 70 years and not in the best of health he needs to keep things simpler to remain competitive.Martin keeps the stock pigeons at Knightwood with the youngsters being transferred to Viewpark for racing .Martin buys the best rom the best and likes testing them at the highest level including one loft racing.I must point out that Martin is a top fancier in his own right with many significant performances flying pigeons. Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport?A. Started the pigeons with my father in Douglas, St Viewpark, 55yrs ago .Worked as a steel construction worker that saw him travel around Europe including Holland, Germany, Wales and England, returning to Scotland in 1984 and setting up the loft in 1986 Q. Among your results what are the real highlights?A. Eastwood Lass 2009 really sticks in the mind Q. Do you hold any official position and if so do you take an active part, if no what are your reasons? A. No Q What Clubs you a member?A Uddingston & Dist and Lanarkshire Social Circle. Q. Do you compete for averages?A. Yes very much so, likes to compete in every Federation race. Q. How do you race your pigeons and how many? Weekly numbersA Old Birds 15 cocks and 13 hens, youngsters 30 for 2015. They go every week if fit. Q. What are your lofts made of and how big are they? How many sections, Size etcA. Wooden structure, 24 x 8 ft this includes 2 ft corridor, 3 sections 8 ft Yb section, 10 ft nest box section and 6 ft hen section. Q. How many stock birds do you keep and do you breed off your race team also how many pigeons do you think that you need to breed off any individual stock pair each year to see if they are quality producers? A. No stock pigeons. Martin has loft which he transfers youngsters to race Q. When do you pair your pigeons? A. 1st Week in February for the racers. Martin pairs stock pigeons up December. Q. Do you move the hens with the young birds? A. No, youngsters are moved into their sections. Q. What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following seasons racing and breeding? A. No not really, winners of Martins stock will be put together and bred. Q. Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there any advantages to using them? A. Yes have grills on floor and in boxes but feel the box ones are more bother than they are worth. Will not be using them in future, they make you lazy. Q. Vaccination programme for the pigeons? A. Vaccinate for paramyxo old birds turn of year, young birds when orientated to loft. This year he is going to vaccinate again one month before first YB race. This was after advice. Q. Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons get what they want they are out of the loft?A. Yes, provided daily Kilpatrick white grit and black minerals. Q. Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily? A. No, small amount of easy bed initially under floor grills.Also uses JS Fluid to disinfect loft and blow torch on perches. Q. Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons? A. Yes I feel I have Q. Winter treatment?A Nothing special, they always get the best of feed and are on open bowl ,cocks and hens out alternative days. This he believes keeps them mentally fit for the raptors. Food for thought he didn't loss one pigeon over non racing season. Q. How do you feed, and what do you feed them on? A. Saturday-Day of race they are fed on return Versele Laga Gerry plus coated with brewers yeast and garlic oil as they wish then taken away .Sunday – SameMonday - V/L Widowhood 50% Gerry Plus 50% morning and nightTuesday - V/L Widowhood Wednesday - As aboveThursday - As aboveFriday - As above last feed 2pm In water on return from race In water Saturday-Aviform 9 in 1 product plus glucose Sunday -Same Monday-Senacol Tuesday to Friday clear water Preventive products -Harkers 3 in 1 tablets every monthAviform Mycoform when required Q. Do you measure the amount that you give to each race pigeon, or are they fed according to the individual pigeon? A. I feed on the floor in feeder, small amounts always looking to see when they start getting picky. Never leave food in front of pigeons if finished. Q Loft Exercise and trainingA. Out morning and night from around an hour and trained Tuesday and Wednesday from around 20miles Q. Do you consider there to be any advantage having a racing partnership? A. Yes I would say so. Q. To term a phrase are you a full time pigeon fancier? A. Yes me and Bess Q. Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeon’s eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance? A. No not interested Q If you Fly Roundabout/Celibate how do you stop your hens pairing to each otherA. Roundabout, Hens out Cocks moved into perch section then cocks out and back to boxes. They fly well around loft.Not too bothered about hens pairing sometimes it can be an advantage, why make it complicated. Although if I flew cocks only I would box the hens. Q. Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races. A. Yes I would say so. Q. Sprinter or distance? A. Federation programme which takes in sprint and up to 460 miles. Q. Young bird preparationA Youngsters are moved into their own section and initially let out with Old birds to give confidence, fed on Breed & Wean with Golden boost and then onto same race preparation as Old Birds Q. What families of pigeons do you keep?A Gerald Delaney Oroory Stud base Jacobs and Grondaleers and also Martins own Busschaerts family Q. Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the gradeA You can’t buy the fancier Q. What product do you feels makes a difference to your birdsA. Like the Aviform products and Golden boost when rearing youngsters. Q. Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding?A. Both Q. Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve? A. Mick laughed, next year I only wish to win half the trophies, then possibly I’ll get more friends. Q. Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the Country and for what reasons? A. GWP Macaloney by a country mile. Q. What do you think can be done to take the sport forward? A. Would like to see the Lanarkshire having only three big clubs think this would make things very competitive. Also like to see a West Coast Amalgamation. Q. Is a favourable loft location? A. Yes we have little chance of winning a National ,nine out of ten times we are miles behind the guys on the East coast (That’s just the way it is), that’s why I like federation racing, more of a level playing field. Q. Do you use the darkness system for the young birds A. Yes everything, although wouldn't say I like it. Q. Are there any feeding methods for the young birds i.e. do you break them down, do you keep them hungry for control purposes, do you give them a trapping seed mix? A. VL Breed and Wean, with Golden boost, thereafter same as Old birds. Q. What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for Management and pigeons and why?A. There is three things you need 1 Good pigeons, 2 Healthy birds, 3 Luck Q. What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds? A. .30 miles, around four tosses before racing including two in the federation transporter for old birds. Q. Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance? A. Not aware of them. Q. Do you attach any real importance to the pigeon’s wing i.e. back wing, end four flights and do you look at the wing to see if they have cast before a race. Any other comments on the wing? A. No don't take any interest Q. What about the throat theory?A. No Q Improvements in FederationA. Allowing fanciers to purchase their own crates on marking nights to send their young pigeons, so helping them keep them healthy. Q. Do you compete in the National events, if not why not. Or are you happy to race in the club?A. Federation programme, not presently a member of National, not really a fan. Q. Do you use ETS?A. Yes best thing since sliced bread, Tauris system supplied by club Q. Can you explain your type (Don’t say winning) of pigeon, size, shape, balance, colour, eye, hen, cockA. Medium size, strong back and rump is a must, also tail going straight out when in hand. Q. How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon?A. Observation, Observation, but don’t always get it right Q, Are you only as good as your last race?A. Yes, oh yes Q. How old is your oldest racer?A. Last season it was 4yrs Q. Do you send your youngsters the full programme or do you stop after say 100 miles?A. Yes if healthy go full programme. Q. Do your yearling go to the coast or are they stopped at say 260 miles?A. No go the full way to coast and laughed if they look at me the wrong way they will go to Ypres Q. Do you show your birds?A. No. Q. Loft ventilation, what, why, where and do you change with the season?A. Open loft ventilation, 2 inch roof front and back, small louvres at front and also 18 inch at front. Once shut the front up with perspex and the pigeons stopped performing. Q Do you suffer from Young bird sicknessA Yes, no real cure but keep trying new products to combat same. Q. Do pigeons get out of the loft during Off-Season?A. Yes when bathing me and Bess the dog are on guard from the raptors Q. Raptors: are they a problem to you?A. Yes hit youngster at front of loft this year but Bess saved the youngster. Q. East or Traditional: what race route do you prefer?A. Like the traditional route. Q. Cause of so many losses in Young bird racing?A. Raptors and sickness. Q. What magazines do you read?A. BHW Q. When is your favourite time of season?A. Racing Season Q. New startsA. Would like to see youngsters have free membership till 16 Thanks to Mick for a cracking afternoon.All the best next season. Tom Corrie jnrLanarkshire Federation Press Officercorrietom@aol.com Photo 1 Mick McCormick left & Martin Hughes, as usual picking up silverware at Lanarkshire Federation Presentation night Photo 2 Racing cocks (In perch section) including Mealy cock,top racer winning best points in the Lanarkshire Social Circle. Photo 3 Roundabout hen in nest box section Photo 4 Full racing set up Photo 5 Bess playing with this years youngsters Photo 6 This years youngsters on the perch Photo 7 Mick in front of loft Photo 8 Blue hen, Easterwood Lady,1st Federation Photo 9 Check Hen, Easterwood Lass,1st Federation Photo 10 Mick (L) with the legend Jimmy Johnstone
Recommended Posts