Ian McKay Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 Subject: Gareth Rankin Champion loft against 67,000 pigeons in the Lanarkshire Federation Race Programme 2014 Gareth Rankin,Larkhall & Dist,West section of the Lanarkshire Federation,Scotland.wins the biggest federation in the British Isles.Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West. It sits in scenic Clyde Valley and is a commuter town to Glasgow.Traditionally a mining, textile and weaving area, most of Larkhalls traditional industries have now shut including the heavy industrial industry of iron and steel works. Federation Trophies 2014 J Cowan trophy for the best old bird average 42,384 birds.Flying from 78miles to 440miles ,The Reid trophy for best combine average Warwick, Upper Heyford,Bedhampton and Ypres.The H McClymont trophy for best combined average 67,035 birds competing!!The J Torrance Mem & the Arrapine trophy for best average Bedhampton & Ypres. The S Anderson trophy for 1st yearling Bedhampton.The Border trophy for first yearling open race Warwick 31st May,The Carriage trophy for the best average Upper Heyford ,Bedhampton & Ypres.The west section Combine Average with 23.150 birds competing. This is an outstanding achievement, in one of the most difficult seasons ever experienced by the federation.Big Gareth is one of the most hard working members of the federation.All this work and he still finds the time to be the best racing loft in Lanarkshire federation.This is what I call racing ,every week having his birds racing the twenty race programme..Not just turning up for a couple of races,these are the real masters of the pigeon game that can manage this level of ability.He has at present a loft of" All rounders" that can cope with a very difficult race programme.Not to forget that the federation didn't race with the SNFC as part of our races programme 2014" Inland programme" . Gareth is very much dedicated to the distance club up their with his dedication to the Lanarkshire federation. Sending to all their race programme which again takes some doing with outstanding results this including his brilliant National hen, Silver Award winner Marcia a magical hen that handles and looks pure class,her youngsters are her double, always a good sign for the breeding. Gareth is still contemplating sending this 6yr old back to attempt to win her Gold Award. You may think this a professional set up with a loft manager, two or three others involved in the loft, no not one he is very much on his own, the only time anyone helps out is when he goes on holiday his son will feed the birds. You may say he must fly hundreds of birds, not so he races around 30 pairs of old birds and 40-50 youngsters.His lovely cottage is very much set up for keeping pigeons with very large garden space to the rear but with the very large trees that surround the lofts it makes trapping for the birds almost impossible. This is possible the worst I have ever seen for trapping the birds must have to drop like a stone to hit the lofts. But like most you just have to adapt and get on with what you have. Lanarkshire Federation Section & Open Positions 19th April Otterburn 4,770 birds26th April Otterburn 5,7923rd May Appleby 7,662 ,8th ,9th,14th section 3048 birds in section 97miles 265 yds11th May Otterburn 5,63617th May Middleton 7,187 , 4th & 9th section 2954 birds26th May Uttoxeter 3,642 2nd ,6th 11th Section ,1288 birds31st May Warwick 3,018 ,1st section -977 birds ,1st Open Yearling derby ,1154 birds 257 miles 1417yds8th June Upper Heyford 1,215 ,3rd sect 347 birds 284 miles 1653yds14th June Ingleton 214821st June Bedhampton 702 , 1st sect ,5th Sect ,12th Sect , 104 birds ,2nd Open ,702 birds 359 miles 751 yds28th June Otterburn 1,696 ,7th sect 562 birds7th July Ypres 612 ,3rd sect 267 birds ,5th Open 612 birds 441 miles 796 yds 20th July Otterburn 3,845 ,1st sect ,968 birds26th July Otterburn 5,7764th August Stainmore 5,3309th August Stainmore 3,775 ,9th sect ,976 birds16th August Ingleton 2,387 8th sect ,639 birds23rd August Ingleton 1,908 ,4 ,5,6,7, section 514 birds30th August Ch/ Richard 1,263 ,1st ,5th ,6th sect ,306 birds7TH Sept Uttoxeter 367 ,5,7,10,11,14th sect ,59 birds , 27th Open 367 birds 213 miles 1357 yds SNFC Positions 2014 3rd Section E 21st Open Ancenis 591 miles 201414th Section E 92nd Open Clermont 516 miles 20147th Section E 138th Open Ypres 441 miles 201415th Sect Maidstone ,364miles 1214 yds Otterburn 78 miles 982 yards Appleby 97 miles 265 yards North Stainmore 108 miles 946 yards Ingleton 124 miles 663 yards Middleton 165 miles 1315 yards Charnock Richard 153 miles 1634 yards Uttoxeter 213 miles 1357 yards Warwick 257 miles 1417 yards Upper Heyford 284 miles 1653 yards Bedhampton 359 miles 751 yards Ypres 441 miles 796 yards Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport? A. With my father being George Rankin then any interest I had in pigeons became more than just an interest in 1983, at 12 years of age Dad use to let me assist when possible in looking after the pigeons and on a Friday pool a pigeon, this was an added bonus which for a young lad which was all very exciting. At this time the pigeon lofts were 3 miles from our house which made it very hard for me to attend without dads transport. In 1984 Dad included me into a partnership that was to be called G Rankin & Son (a very proud moment for me). In January 1984 the pigeon lofts were moved to Blantyre to an allotment which was now only 800 yards from our house which made it more accessible to myself. I still remember dad telling other fanciers that year that I eat and sleep pigeons and amazingly after 30 years this passion is still as strong today. From 1984 to 2002 we flew firstly within Livingstone Memorial club and then latterly in Cambuslang & District. In 2001 and with a young family of 3 boys, I took the decision to try and get a house suitable to have our lofts moved to my rear garden. After a long search the house that I purchased was some 6 miles south, to the town of Larkhall were I still reside as a happy and proud member of the competitive Larkhall & District. Dad in 2002 who had just retired the year before and was suppose to take it easy, but with his passionate and committed approach still took the daily 18 miles round trip to Larkhall to help with the pigeons, sometimes twice per day. Sadly Dad passed away in October 2011, as well as losing a father I had lost a friend, partner and a mentor, those 27 years in partnership together were great, as being in a partnership you can enjoy the good times and during the hard times help each other come through it. Q. Among your results what are the real highlights?A. Over the 30 years there have been many highlights, though the most memorable was our first section win in 1990 with “Westbound†1st west section 4th open SNFC Niort 673 miles, birds were liberated at 09.00 in a strong west to north west wind, no pigeons were expected until teatime on the second day but just before 1 o’clock Westbound arrived which still to this day gave me the most excitement of any pigeon arriving from a race, the late Andrew Deans said that that was the toughest wind conditions that he had ever remembered flying into the west of the country. The Blues cocks performance that day was even more special as he beat all the pigeons to the south of the country and was only beaten by 3 pigeons in the east section of the SNFC.Fortunate to have won seven SNFC 1st west sections + one region win in the SNFC young bird national. Won a record six SNFC west section averages. Won a equal five Lanarkshire Social Circle Gold cups with the other fancier being the late Willie Wilson of Larkhall, the LSC gold cup in my opinion has to one of the hardest awards to win in Scotland with traditionally five channel races flown with only 4 birds allowed to be nominated by each of the clubs members. 2014Competing in Larkhall & District and the club sending an average of 234 birds to each of the 20 races, the loft won a record 12 x 1st , 8 x 2nd, 13 x 3rd, this sending an average of 27 birds to compete each week.Within the Lanarkshire federation the loft won 4 first sections plus 27 other diplomas with a maximum 15 prizes allocated per race, this competing in one of the strongest sections within Scotland flying against up to 3000 pigeons. Question and Answer Q. Do you hold any official position and if so do you take an active part, if no what are your reasons?A. He laughed then saying transport manager of Lanarkshire Federation, President of the Larkhall & District club, Scotttish Homing Union delegate, Lanarkshire Social Circle & SNFC Committee member, Also run the Lanarkshire West Club, a one bird nomination club. Q. Do you compete for averages?A. Very much so, I see it as a challenge against fellow members. Q. How do you race your pigeons and how many? Weekly numbersA 30 pairs of old birds Ybs 70 reared but not all sent weekly. Q. What are your lofts made of and how big are they?How many sections,Size etcA.Wooden structure, joiner built. Main racing loft 40 x 8ft with 60 nest boxes ,5 sections. Stock loft 16x8, Young Bird loft 24 x 8 ft, three sections. 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. 16 pairs, 2-3 rounds from each pair to race, years ago you could get away with no stock pigeons, nowadays there are too many obstacles in the sport for the pigeons, so depth is required. Q. When do you pair your pigeons?A. This year, Stock pigeons 10th December race team 20th January. Q. Do you move the hens with the young birds?A. No, sometimes cocks finish of the young birds, I feel the cocks settle down when the hens are removed at 16-17 days and make a better job of the Ybs when the hen isn't there, stock stay together. Q. What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following seasons racing and breeding?A. Nothing special will hope to get four or five races into my experienced channel candidates the others will be raced week to week,sprint cocks to 260 miles, sprint hens further. Q. Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there any advantages to using them?A. Basically it saves time and stops birds coming into contact with contaminated food, Stock and YB loft have grills on the floors, contemplating putting them into the main racing loft, he puts cat litter or Vesele laga granules under grills which are cleaned out every eight weeks.Also uses burner on occasions plus Jeyes fluid and VirkonS Q. What do you think about the vaccination programme for the pigeons and do you think it affects the pigeons long term?A. Vaccinate for paramyxo old birds month before first race and young birds when leaving nest Birds at this present time do not get vaccinated against Paratyphoid. 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. DHP multimix and mixed grit is available to the birds in small stainless steel grit containers.Kilpatrick black minerals is essential when breeding. . Q. Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily?A. Yes - Old birds race team are cleaned twice per day during racing, Q. Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons?A. Yes, Old birds loft with 60 nest boxes and only 30 pairs, young bird loft 24 foot for 70 young birds. Q. How do you feed, and what do you feed them on?A. Race season week.Saturday - day of race they are fed Matador Turbo Energy or Vanrobaeys Top energy, as much as they want.Sunday – If a hardrace has taken place then as above, if not hen Energy in morning then sports mix evening.Monday - Natural finesse Condition, a sports mix, fed twice per day until 10% stop eating.Tuesday - as above Wednesday - as aboveThursday- as above morning but evening feed a Energy mix.Friday - 10.00am Matador Turbo Energy or Vanrobaeys Top energy In water on return from race and day of race Vet-Schroeder /Tollisan product Med.Tollyamin Forte.In water Sunday Vet-Schroeder /Tollisan product Med.Tollyamin Forte.Once or twice per week throughout the year the pigeons will get Dosto Ropa organo in water.Preventive products -After moult Paratyphoid product.When on eggs canker product, during season they may be treated a further once or twice if required.Respiratory preventative before racing and if required again once pigeons get to 250 miles, birds have to be 100%. Stock birds when breeding are fed on Natural finesse start. Q. Do you measure the amount that you give to each race pigeon, or are they fed according to the individual pigeon? A. Birds are hand fed in hopper and when approx 10% stop eating then no more is put in front of them, generally there will be a trickle of Barley left, fed twice per day after each loft exercise. Q Are Your pigeons allowed any free time outwith training/racingA. Bath on a Sunday or day after race, vermin Bath Salts Vet-Schroeder/Tollisan product in water once per month Q. Do you consider there to be any advantage having a racing partnership?A. Not in partnership but when I was in partnership you motivated each other when you weren't flying well Q. To term a phrase are you a full time pigeon fancier?A. LOL, I work, but during the racing season it feels that I am a full time fancier, Q. Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeons eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance A. Good distance winners always have a nice rich eye with a bit of depth to it, a good talking point just like many other fads that fanciers have about their pigeons. Q. How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain it's form on the widowhood system for both cocks and hens?A. Cocks 7-8 weeks Hens 10 weeks Birds are raced on celibate system with cocks and hens racing each week to nest box on return. Hens on perches throughout week, cocks in nest boxes. Q If you Fly Roundabout/Celibate how do you stop your hens pairing to each otherA. Seldom get problems with this, with them getting raced and then exercised twice per day then this tends to help them from pairing, as the season goes out longer distance races then the cocks and hens will spend a greater time together sometimes 24 hours. If it happened I would remove the hen. Q. Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races. A. No, with the odd exception sprint pigeons cant fly 500+ miles into the west of Scotland, 500-600 mile winning pigeons are steeped with long distance lines and fly at a different pace to sprint pigeons and that is why distance pigeons shouldn't win in the sprint races. Q. Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinters or distance pigeons and why?A. Distance ,especially into the west of Scotland due to the raptor problem, sprint pigeons you can generally establish a team within months where as the distance you require patience and may take 3 years to test them correctly. Q. What happens when you are racing either widowhood or the roundabout when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex, how do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate?A. Sometimes it can be a blessing when a racing pigeon gets a new partner when it loses its mate, some fanciers wouldn't mind themselves coming home to a new woman..lol,seriously though, I would have a partner at home throughout the season, but I am not willing to have pigeons that are not tested by the basket. Q. Sprinter or distance?A. The long distance races from the continent brings memories that last forever, nothing can beat the thrill of a pigeon coming 500-600 miles and landing on the shift. That said I like to be competitive from the very first race of the season and really enjoy the sprint races. Q. What families of pigeons do you keep?. A Sprint & middle - Geerincks pigeons from Brian Johnstone, of Norton, Leo Hermans come from Brian Johnstone, John May of Worcester park and Andres Stremmer Germany. Three cocks from GWP Macaloney have recently introduced, all these bloodlines above have proven fruitful within the first couple of years. Long distance - family is a mixture of our own family that have been winning for 30 years, always look to bring in stock from proven pigeons, this primarily will be local but i have no hesitation in going to the continent. Q. Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade,A Not fully committed, you always have to test your birds Q What product do you feels makes a difference to your birdsA. Vet-Schroeder /Tollisan product Med.Tollyamin Forte. Top product and he rates this company's products very highly.Q. Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding?A. Both Q. Some fanciers like big hens for breeding does the size of the hen make any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds in your past experience?A. No Q. Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would like to achieve?A. Win a Scottish National Flying Club race from the continent. Q. Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the Country and for what reasons?A. GWP Macaloney, no one has came close to them, both in results and the consistency that they have shown over the last 3 decades. Distance racing there are seven or eight lofts in the west that have produced consistent top results year after year, not in a position to judge other fanciers that don’t compete in this area. Q. What do you think can be done to take the sport forward?A. Professional structure to promote the sport to approximately 80% of the general public that aren't aware of the benefits of the sport. Q. When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners?A. First cross is very good. Though line breeding is a must. Q. Do you breed off the top racing pigeons that season after the racing has finished, do you breed late bred youngsters and what do you think of those later bred youngsters?A. Sometime but not as much as in the past. Had some really great racing pigeons that were latebreds, including Westbound" 1st section 4th open SNFC Niort and "Westbound Lady" 1st section 9th open SNFC Nantes, patience is required with latebreds. Q. If your race team went off form during the season what action would you take to restore their condition?A. Birds come into format different times of the season Q. Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing?A. Yes, Drag is 49% and the wind is 51% off were the winners will be in short races, as the distance goes out a pigeon in an unfavourable location may be able to put up an extraordinary performance to combat it's unfavourable location. Q. Do you use the darkness system for the young birdsA. Yes but not all youngsters 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. No once the darkness young birds have there new coat then will be fed the same as old birds. Q. What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for Management and pigeons and why?A. Both are required 50/50 Q. What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds?A. Old bird cocks last season got one day at 2 .5 miles x 7 tosses and thereafter exercised around loft twice per day, hens had 2 tosses before the season started with the fed transporter from 24 miles, none thereafter.Cocks out 7 to 8 am then 4 to 5 pm .Hens 8-9 am then 5 to 6 pm. Youngsters will be trained before racing up to 24 miles then exercised around loft twice per day for 1-1 1/2 hours.The candidates going to the later channel races may get private training this due to the yearlings being repaired. Q. Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance?A. I’m not sure how big a issue it is in Scotland, but where the financial rewards are high like it is in the continent then it becomes a serious problem. Would personally like to see drug testing implemented in Lanarkshire federation, more for the benefit of the successful fanciers than anything else. Q. Do you attach any real importance to the pigeons 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. hard to describe but prefer channel pigeons to have space within the last 4-5 flights, helps when they have been on the wing after 12 hours. Like to see pigeons throwing a flight whilst in the basket. Q. What about the throat theory?A. No but worth a look..lol Q. Do you use any form of heating system in any of your lofts. Do you think it would be advantages for the birds?A. No but it is installed but never used, have extractor fan and ducting that runs the full length of old bird loft connected to sensors, not used. Q. With your pigeon work do you have a silent partner i.e. wife, partner or friend, if so what part do they play?A. No no others have a real interest. Q. Do you compete in the National events, if not why not. Or are you happy to race in the club?A. Between Lanarkshire federation and the SNFC national races i can only ever remember missing four races in total since 1984. Q. Do you use ETS?A. Yes, Tauris excellent system I have it set up to send message to my mobile when not available at loft, never miss early birds arriving, but sister got married this year it was fantastic, received a text message minutes before I had to make a speech, finished 2nd federation Bedhampton, guests at the wedding must have wondered why I had a grin from cheek to cheek. Q. Can you explain your type (Dont say winning)of pigeon, size, shape, balance, colour, eye, hen, cockA. Sprinter - Power at front with plenty of muscle, though they come in all shapes.Distance - more streamline, fantastic feathering with perfect balance, not fussed on size providing they are built in proportion. Q. How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon?A. Watch your birds in and around loft and know the history of the pigeons previous performances. Q. Are you only as good as your last race?A. Yes you get plenty of banter at club and fed level Q. How old is your oldest racer?A. 6 yrs Q. Do you send your youngsters the full programme,or do you stop after say 100 miles?A. Depending on fed program most will have 5 out of 7 races, a few will go to Yb National. Q. Do your yearling go to the coast or are they stopped at say 260miles?A.Generally 250 miles sprint family with others going to the coast around 350 miles coast, occasionally if i notice a development change in a yearling at the beginning of July then it may be sent over the channel to 440-517 miles. Q. Do you show your birds?A. 2012 & 2013 was the first for 20 years, they done well, its good time to meet your fellow fanciers during the winter months, no showing this year. Q. Loft ventilation, what, why, where and do you change with the season?A. All ventilation is at roof space, stock lofts have extra ventilation at ground level. Q. During Off season do pigeons get out loft?A. No, access to bath in aviary during off season Q. Raptors: are they a problem to you?A. Yes as we stood outside the sparrowhawk made a visit. With 30,000 fanciers in the UK then it shouldn’t be a problem!! Q. East or West, what race route do you prefer?A. Traditional route of M74 -M6 which is called the west due to being west of the Pennines. Q. When is your favorite time of season?A. Like going to club on marking nights, great banter and also enjoy the social events throughout the season. I would like to thank Gareth for the lovely lunch and an introduction to one of the all time great names ever to compete in the West. He is very much an asset to the federation and we thank him for his dedication.All the best for season 2015. Tom Corrie jnrLanarkshire Federation Press Officercorrietom@aol.com Photo 1 Gareth with his Lanarkshire trophies Photo 2 Main racing loft Photo 3 Young bird loft Photo 4 View of lofts with stock loft in centre Photo 5 Trapping system into young bird loft Photo 6 Floor of young bird loft with racing hens Photo 7 Perches in each Ybird sections Photo 8 Nest boxes in stock section Photo 9 of inside stock section Photo 10 Hens celibate section with new Guard dog Photo 11 Racing section boxes
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