The Tom Corrie Column

[Ian McKay]

GWP Macaloney, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire

 

When I started racing pigeons back in the early 1980s the prominent name in pigeon racing into Scotland was that of George and William Macaloney, they were the loft to beat at any distance, the loft everyone in this area wanted to know "what time are they in"

Winning out of turn week in week out, year in year out takes some doing and the old saying "it’s harder to stay at the top "doesn't appear to have been a problem to them.

Well nothing has changed, they have steadily improved their performances within the Lanarkshire Federation

The introduction Williams son Paul into the partnership has provided new vigour and zest that all lofts need. A wish to maintain that hunger and desire to be the best.

 

Recent Background

 

At great expense over the last decade GWP Macaloney have purchased direct children from up to date outstanding producers or pairs that are having an impact in lofts all over the world .This partnership never stands still and are always doing homework on their next introductions.

At present they have stock from the following:

Their "Dream Pair†- Camphius Janssen originating from Wall, Lunt & Green and this pair are responsible for winners at Federation , Amal , Combine , MNFC and Scottish National Level.

"Kannibaal" lines from Peter Fox at Syndicate Lofts and Van Dyke, including grand children, nephews and nieces of "Kannibaal" and "Kleine Dirk".

"Vandenabeeles - A full round purchased from M & D Evans from all their originals bred by Gaby Vandenabeele in 1995/96. They now have six direct children of "Shadow" and "Golden Gaby".

"Merlin Pair" pair lines from Wall, Lunt & Green. These pair of birds are one of the best pairs of producers in Europe at present time. GWP Macaloney have four direct from the "Merlin Pair" and a full brother and sister to" Miss Magic".

 

In the last year they have introduced distance stock from some of the best distance widowhood lofts in Europe, example, fourteen grand children of "Tuff- Nutâ€, "Maxiâ€, "Dark Jan "and" Northern Lady" all bred by Brian Denney.

Two daughters of "Snydale Express" 1st Open NFC Tarbes and a double grand daughter of "The Pau Hen†all bred by Chris Gordon.

 

A direct daughter of Rodico 1st National, 1st International Barcelona 2,887 birds and a daughter of Roger Barcelona 1st National, 2nd International Barcelona 22,887 birds.

A direct son and daughter of Max winner of 1st MNFC Tours 3,516 birds and 1st MNFC Bergerac 1,026 the only bird ever to win 2x 1st Open MNFC. Both were obtained from Darren Peters at Fenlands Studs.

They have also introduced six "De Rauw Sablonâ€, the lines of "Feddy", "Lieve" and "Den Dromer".

 

GWP Macaloney never stand still and are always looking to improve their pool of winning genes and their management system. As they believe that if a fancier does nothing in a year to move forward, they are in real terms going back.

Velocities are in general getting faster at all distances year on year.

 

By adopting this policy they have collected federation trophies for the last 27 years flying in the most competitive federation in Britain.

 

GWP Macaloney fly within the Lanarkshire, Scotland with up to 10,000 birds in the early races most recently as 2008 and over 7,000 in 2011.

They have set records that may never be equaled, in a federation so tough “possible no other loft " has ever topped the federation on 12 occasions in their racing history.

The Macaloney partnership have in the last two seasons alone won 1st Fed or 1st Open Duplication race 15 times and in the last seasons won 78 x 1st Sec and 61 x 1st Open. In the twenty seven years since joining the Lanarkshire Fed they have won 100 x 1st Federation and finished Federation Champion on 12 occasions.

They achieve team performances that equal any loft in the UK as the following example will verify.

 

Date Open Position Birds Win By

03/05/03 1,2,3,4,5 9,946 32ypm

10/05/03 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 9,738 32ypm

09/08/03 1,9,11 9,810 26ymp

23/08/03 1,2,3,4,5,6 10,592 12ypm

23/04/05 1,2,3 8,040 20ypm

31/07/05 1,2,3,4,5,6 5,780 45ypm

06/08/05 1,2,3,4,10 9,171 22ypm

20/08/05 1,2,3,4,6 8,605 54ypm

22/07/06 1,11,14 7,044 117ypm

05/05/07 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 8,593 29ypm

26/05/07 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 5,198 49ymp

28/07/07 1,2,3,4,5,6 6,815 51ypm

04/08/07 1,3,4,5,6,7 8,056 2ypm

12/08/07 1,2,3,5,7,9,10,14 7,994 17ypm

25/08/07 1,2,3,4,5,9,12 7,491 55ypm

01/09/07 1,2,3,4 4,644 12ypm

31/05/08 1,2,3 3,352 45ypm

02/08/08 1,2,3,4,6,7,8 6,474 29ypm

09/08/08 1,2,3,4,7,8 5,122 8ypm

16/08/08 1,2 5,720 114ypm

09/05/09 1,2,3,4,10,16 7,332 27ypm

30/05/09 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 3,902 12ypm

25/07/09 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,13 6,387 20ypm

08/08/09 1,2,8,11,17,18,20 8,164 17ypm

15/08/09 1,2,3,4,5,9,21,26 6,058 27ypm

24/04.10 1,2,3,4 7,306 28ypm

21/08/10 1,2,3,4, 5,6 ,7 2,314 49ypm

24/04/11 1,2,3,8,11 5,174 30ypm

28/05/11 1,2,3,4,5,12,19 4,082 20ypm

25/06/11 1,2,3,10,13,18 2,678 6ypm

30/07/11 1,2,4,5 6,370 5ypm

06/08/11 1,4,7,8,10 7,332 5ypm

13/08/11 1,2,6,30 6,708 2ypm

 

Flying into the centre section of the federation with clubs North , South , East and West of their own loft location within there section , they still can get a batch of pigeons well clear of the surrounding lofts as the following examples will testify:

05/05/03- In an old bird race with a convoy of 9,738 birds they entered twenty eight and had a drop of 16 to take 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,Federation , this batch being 32ypm clear of the next Federation bird and 42ypm in the centre section.

31/07/05 -They entered thirty six youngsters against 5,780 and had 23 drop together, timing only six to be 1,2,3,4,5,6 Federation beating the next federation member by 45ypm.

28/08/07 -They entered forty youngsters against 6,815 in a very hard race with a winning velocity of 1116 had six drop to take 1,2,3,4,5,6 Federation by 51ypm.

 

In the last eleven years alone in twenty nine races they have topped the federation by more than twenty yards per minute ahead of the next federation member.

 

The Macaloney partnership are also breeding winners for many fanciers throughout the country and in the last few seasons have actually bred the parents or parent of two SNFC winners , Two Scottish Central Combine winners. 1st Grampian Combine winner and in fact bred Ian Cameron's" Alba -Mac" 1st Sect 1st Open Lessay MNFC Yearling National.

Their lofts most weeks have visitors from other federations watching the return of their athletes of the Skye.

 

2011 was a Record Breaking Season

8 X 1st Open Federation ( A record)

10 x Central Section "A Record"

9 x 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle “A Record"

A total of 27x 1sts without competing at club level.

GWP Macaloney have topped the federation over 100 times, nearly 10 times more than any other member in the history of the federation.

88 Federation cards and diplomas in a single season.

Winner of the first seven race average for the eighth season of ten.

Winner of the Inland average for the ninth of eleven seasons

Winner of the Old Bird Average seven of the last ten seasons

Winner of the Young bird Averages for the fifth season in a row

Winner of the Longest four race average

Winner of the Longest two race average.

Winner of the Combine Average for the seventh time in the last eleventh season , making them Champion for the twelfth time in Federation that is so competitive that only one loft has ever won the Combine Average on three occasions.

 

Summary of 1st Federation prizes 78 x 1st Section , 61 x 1st Open

61 races , winning ,1st Fed

42 races , 1st & 2nd Fed

32 races , 1st,2nd,3rd Fed

25 races ,1,2,3,4th Fed

16 races , 1,2,3,4,5th Fed

11 races ,1,2,3,4,5,6th, Fed

8 races, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7th, Fed

4 races ,1,2,3,4,56,7,8th,Fed

1 race 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9th Fed

1 race , 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12th Fed

 

 

Federation Champion Loft 1986,89,90,91,96,04 down the west route and Champion loft 01,02,05,06,07,11 down the east route.

 

Without question the finest performance loft ever to compete in the Lanarkshire Federation .

This loft has concentrated in one day racing but have excelled at distance racing, winning 1st Open SNFC and Combine racing winning at distance of over 500miles .

Totally outstanding fanciers dedicated to what they wish to achieve.

These fanciers have superior knowledge of pigeon racing and can win with outstanding consistency in any distance or condition.

In my opinion they have no second within the sport of pigeon racing in British racing.

This loft has stood the test of time.

 

Information of one of their Champion birds

 

 

"Supermac 11" Blue Cock SU09L3017 winner of 1st Fed 6972 birds - vel 1155 ypm, 1st Fed 6937 birds - vel 1141 ypm, 1st Fed 5307 birds - vel 1171 ypm,

1st Fed 5174 birds - vel 1487 ypm, 1st Section 2444 birds, 1st Section 2154 birds, 1st Section 1638 birds, 1st Section 1586 birds, 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 1271 birds,

1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 1141 birds, 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 730 birds, 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 659 birds, 7th Lanarkshire Social Circle 1329 birds,

7th Lanarkshire Social Circle 581 birds, 9th Lanarkshire Social Circle 1242 birds. Winner of Lanarkshire Social Circle Bird Of The Year 2010 and runner up Lanarkshire Social Circle Bird Of The Year 2011. "Supermac 11" is only the second bird ever to top the Lanrkshire Fed on four different occasions equaling the record set by "Supermac" a busscheart cock also raced by G.W & P Macaloney in the mid eighties.

 

A full sister to "Supermac 11" was S.H.U. young bird of the year in 2007 and full brothers and sisters have topped the Fed in 2008, 2009, and this year 2011 four different brothers and sisters have won the following for G.W & P Macaloney - 1st Fed 4082 birds, 2nd Fed 4082 birds (arriving with Fed winner), 2nd Fed 6708 birds (arriving with Fed winner), 5th Fed 6370 birds(arriving with Fed winner), 1st Section 1404 birds, 2nd Section 1404 birds, 2nd Section 1976 birds, 4th Section 1950 birds, 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 720 birds,

2nd Lanarkshire Social Circle 720 birds, 2nd Lanarkshire Social Circle 683 birds, 4th Lanarkshire Social Circle 683 birds, 6th Lanarkshire Social Circle 851 birds.

 

A full sister "Super 11" is Grand Dam to Alex Blyth's "Dura" winner of 1st Region, 1st West Section S.N.F.C. Eastbourne 2011 and "Dura" is Sire to Billy King's "Countdown Cock"

a winner of 1st Section 1st Open Lanarkshire Fed Eastbourne 2011 timing in 10 minutes before his father "Dura" won 1st West Section in the National.

Sire to "Supermac 11" is the "Young Bandiet" bred by M & D Evans direct from "De Bandiet", Dam to "Supermac 11" is "Shady Lady", a direct daughter of "Shadow". This pair of birds are responsible for winners at Fed, Combine and National Level in Scotland and England.

Supermac 11 was named Scottish Homing World " Bird of the Year" 2011 winning the Celtic cup for performance up to 300miles.

Merlin Pair -Wall , Lunt and Green

In 2011 season four young birds bred from the two daughters of the "Merlin Pair " and from the full brother to "Miss Magic" won the Lanarkshire federation young bird average on their own , flying the six race programme 1st Fed 6,370, 1st Fed 7,332 , 1st Fed 6708 , 2nd Fed 2574 , 10th Fed 2498 , 22nd Fed 4550 birds.

These pigeons have had a brilliant impact on already a loft that was setting records.

This line of pigeons have already had there impact on other federations out of the next generation of birds out of the original four birds.

 

Performances

08/08/2009 Otterburn 85 miles Chq Cock SU09L3048 1st Sect 2262 birds 1st Fed 8164 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

31/07/2010 Otterburn 85 miles Blue Cock SU10L661 1st Sect 2080 birds 1st Fed 6890 birds

(Bred from a full brother to "Miss Magic")

21/08/2010 Thirsk 155 miles Blue Cock SU10L661 3rd Sect 884 birds 3rd Fed 2314 birds

(Joint 1st Fed when 7 loft mates took the 1st seven in the Fed)

21/08/2010 Thirsk 155 miles Blue Cock SU10L666 3rd Sect 410 birds 3rd Open 1094 birds

(Joint 1st Open with 7 loft mates in the young bird Open Duplication Race)

30/07/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Black Hen SU11L14918 1st Sect 1950 birds 1st Fed 6370 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

30/07/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Chq Hen SU11L14946 3rd Sect 1950 birds 4th Fed 6370 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Miss Magic")

06/08/2011) Kelso 64 miles Blue Cock SU11L14903 1st Sect 2106 birds 1st Fed 7332 birds

(Bred from a full brother to "Miss Magic")

13/08/2011 Hexham 98 miles Blue Cock SU11L15069 1st Sect 1976 birds 1st Fed 6708 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merelin" and "Blain)

20/08/2011 Sedgefield 132 miles Black Hen SU11L14917 8th Sect 1326 birds 22nd Fed 4550 birds

(Bred from a full sister to"Merlin" and "Blain")

27/08/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Black Hen SU11L14917 2nd Sect 650 birds 2nd Fed 2574 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

27/08/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Blue CockSU11L15069 4th Sect 650 birds 4th Fed 2574 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

03/09/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Black Hen SU11L14918 1st Sect 702 birds 10th Fed 2498 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

03/09/2011 Otterburn 85 miles Chq Cock SU11L15070 4th Sect 702 birds 14th Fed 2498 birds

(Bred from a full sister to "Merlin" and "Blain")

 

 

 

Profile of a Champion Loft

(Wullie answering the questions)

 

Who got you started in pigeons- Grandfather William who raced into Gartcosh

 

What Motivates you - Beating our own record, breeding winners for others.

 

 

What de motivates you - People who look for excuses for not winning are kidding themselve on and will never move forward.and kidding themselves on and never look forward.

 

 

Biggest Influence -My father and the partnership of Wall ,Lunt & Green with their common sense approach to pigeons

 

 

Best achievement - Consistency in the Lanarkshire and winning federation trophies for 27years.

 

 

What club are you presently a member of - Coatbridge SC ,Lanarkshire SC , Scottish National Flying Club.

 

 

Club or National minded - Federation minded , hope to compete at National level in future.

 

What size is your loft - Main loft is 36x 8 ft ( 3ft corridor) , 3x 5ft ends , 4ft pit running through loft under metal grills.faces south

-10ft x 5ft old bird section for earlier race birds.faces south

- Young birds 20x6 two section with grills and perches , faces east

- Hen racing loft 10x8 faces east

Ventilation - All at roof level.

 

Racing system- Celibate for old birds (Get together Friday night and after race) and Darkness system for all youngsters.

 

 

Feeding - Own mixture of prime feeds, no breakdown or portion control, common sense and stick to your system

 

 

Pairing- Usually Boxing day.All youngsters shifted at once, no further added that could be that top stock pigeons that may miss eggs will not have any representatives in race team.

 

 

Youngsters - Double vaccinated on leaving nest with Parathyoid and Paramox and straight on darkness system.

 

 

Grit and Minerals - Many different types of grit , red and black minerals available 24/7

 

 

Medication - TKK tablet , 10 days parastop ( 1st October), ivomec on back of neck before pairing.

 

 

Training, Old birds get one possible two twelve mile tosses before racing then around loft twice per day.

 

 

Youngsters - trained three times per week during racing and around loft.

 

 

Motivation - Straight system of racing old birds (celibate) and youngsters are mixed sexes in sections ( Too much work to seperate).

 

 

Best product - Gerdon 1 in water Saturday and Sunday.

 

 

How many racers - 40 pair of old bird racers and 90 youngsters. 1/3 usually remain at home.

 

 

What distance - compete in all federation races up to 450 miles , most yearlings will race to 300 miles , youngsters will compete in programme with around 25-30 going to YB Open race.

 

What is a regular day in racing - Travelling 140 miles round trip from home to racing loft.

 

Who is the best fancier in the federation in your opinion - Eadie & Kelly, Newmains club for federation racing consistency.

 

ETS or Conventional clocking - T3 as club dont compete with ETS.

 

Do you show your birds - No

 

 

Future ambition - To stay competitive.

 

Where is the future of pigeon racing in Scotland - Raptor problem at present gives us no future.

-Amalgamation of federations

Advise to new starts - Go to a well established loft in your area with team performances and an abundance of winning genes.

 

 

I would like to thank GWP Macaloney for their time and the opportunity to see the best team of racing pigeons I have ever seen in my lifetime.

 

Wullie and Paul Macaloney

 

New Old bird loft

 

New Young bird loft

 

Inside Young bird loft

 

Subject: Black Caviar 1st Lanarkshire Federation Ypres 2013

Champion hen of one of the best racing lofts in Europe.

 

 

The race winner was timed at 5.21pm and its loft mate at 5.22 for 1st & 2nd Open, 449 miles for the most potent loft ever to fly in the Lanarkshire Federation, GWP Macaloney of Coatbridge club. The winner, a dark chequer hen, recorded a velocity of 1305. This hen has been a racing machine for the partnership and is one of four pigeons that won the young bird Federation average on their own in their race team. This hen hasn't stopped winning from 80 miles to nearly 500 miles and is only a two year old. She has been the first bird to the loft in all SNFC races entered this year winning 34th Sect, 251st Open Newbury 330miles, SNFC Maidstone 18th Sect, 413th Open, 373 miles, 1st Sect, 26th Open Ypres. Federation positions to date 1st, 2nd, 11th, 14th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 26th & 30th. Outstanding flying in the biggest federation in the land. They have named the hen Black Caviar and she is bred from their Champion racer Janefield 90 and Merlin lines.

The potency of winning genes in their pigeons is remarkable with hundreds of winners being reported from their legendary Dream Pair lines winning from 50 to 450 miles.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Corrie jnr

Lanarkshire Fed PO

corrietom@aol.com