Henry Mair 1000M Team

[Valiant Fifer]

Ok m8 i see, thanks for that. So the pigeon was not 1st and his best place was 3rd. I had it in my head he was first bird home but never mind.

 

If only i had done a wee bit research, which i have not. Thats the good thing about basics theres usually someone that will do a little research, and thats a good thing.

Always hard to argue with facts and every days a learning curve, for me anyway lol.

[Novice]

Ok m8 i see, thanks for that. So the pigeon was not 1st and his best place was 3rd. I had it in my head he was first bird home but never mind.

 

If only i had done a wee bit research, which i have not. Thats the good thing about basics theres usually someone that will do a little research, and thats a good thing.

Always hard to argue with facts and every days a learning curve, for me anyway lol.

 

 

I'm not saying I am right by the way. I am only quoting from the text written by Bobby.

If you have the time I think you will find that his text is an interesting read.

As I said it's online but I have the hard copy as well.

[Valiant Fifer]

Novice do u know if Mr WG Davidson was any relation to the late Leslie Davidson (obsever) who was a scribe for many years with the bhw. Leslie also had Dr Andersons birds at one time along with John and William McCalpine(spelling) also i think some birds from Matt White of Paisly and also previously from Matts Father.

I have all this info somewhere but someone on here will deffo know im sure.

[Roland]

http://www.homingpigeons.co.uk/pigeonyears12.htm

 

Is no Seven. Golly gosh some great fanciers and feat put up by these chappies eh!

 

Turning now from the showpen to the extreme distance Palamos (Spain) to central Ayrshire 1,010 miles. My old academy science teacher Mr W. G. Davidson set the trend of 1,000 miles tests in these parts when his Grizzle hen named Faith held the Scottish record for a time when she homed in eight days to Stevenson.

 

 Henry Mair was three times successful recording an arrival from Palamos although he did not damage Faith's record Henry took 3rd position into Scotland in on of these attempts.

 

 In the summer of 1976 the new Scottish 1,000 mile club convoyed by the British Barcelona Club raced from Palamos were 71 members sent 138 pigeons which were released on 25th June. Two pigeons made race time A. Stewart of Carnoustie won on a 236 velocity, followed by A & A Taylor of Dundee on 155 velocity. Thirty three birds were recorded after the close of the race and the first Ayrshire bird was a Red Chequer Cock named "Ligit" bred and raced by R & H Kennedy of Irvine to be 5th, H Mair was next in at 23rd with W. G. Davidson 33rd.

 

 When it comes to extreme distance there is only one Champion, this is a Red Chequer Cock named "The Conqueror" bred and raced by Alan Raeside of Irvine. The Conqueror covered the 1,009 miles to Clark Drive in just over TWO days flying to return on amazing 687 velocity which represents 24 m.p.h. and is the current record holder, something which will be very difficult to emulate, if ever. Alan also had a grandson of his epic winner recorded from Palamos, true marathons of the sky.

   

The craze for this type of event soon passed.  The late Colonel Osman editor of the Racing Pigeon once wrote "Distance kills and the more distance the more it kills".

 

 In this section of our heritage the emphasis is on the County of Ayrshire. I have purposely expressed County because while some now race with neighbouring Federations many originally were members of Ayrshire Federation and it would be remiss of me to pass them by without a mention. Lets begin with the first ever race the Scottish National Committee organised from Dublin in 1894 where 92 birds were entered, this event was won by G & H Hamilton of Govan. The first Ayrshire pigeon was clocked by Mr T. Begg of West Kilbride, however he was disqualified for wiring to his club secretary instead of the National secretary Mr J. H. Johnstone, but for this he would have finished 15th Open on a 1000 velocity. In the National second year W. S. Andrews of Monkton struck gold winning the Thurles race on the Irish route on a 1049 velocity and 116 birds took part. This victory must have given the county fanciers a surge of encouragement. Well if it was encouragement they needed W. S. Andrews repeated the dose when he was 2nd Open in the Skibbereen National of 1902 this time 270 entries faced the starter. As mentioned in an earlier chapter the craze for longer races became more adventurous and the Scottish fancy turned to the English route. By 1905 the S.N.F.C. had ventured as far as Guernsey and in the 1906 National from the same race-point Muir Bros. of Newmilns were 3rd Open in a stiff race with a 837 velocity. One year on the same Muir Bros. hit the jackpot when their Blue Pied Hen called "Lady Mary" was 1st Open on a 762 velocity. In his writings for The Racing Pigeon secretary Will Anderson under the pen name "Westward Ho" helped to enroll more fanciers to join these channel races. By 1910 the S.N.F.C. had ventured into the very heartland of France and staged their first Rennes race. One year later Dalry fancier J. Henderson was 2nd Open on a 697 velocity beaten by two yards per minute.

 

Then came the big one which I elaborated on in the chapter headed "Rennes on the Shift" which is worth repeating i.e. Rennes 1912, 1st Open Tom Paton of Galston, 2nd Open going to the New Cumnock partnership of Nicol & Crawford, yes 500 miles on the day in just three attempts. The 1914-18 war then intervened and it was 1920 before channel racing returned to something nearing normality.

 

It was 1923 before the next Ayrshire names appeared in the top frame. H. Kennedy & Son of Annick Lodge timed their Blue Cock "Lodge Star" to be 2nd Open on a 1478 velocity with Tom Paton the 1912 winner third with his hen "Orchard Queen.". The race was won by White & Dickson of Paisley ten yards ahead of Lodge Star with a Grizzle Cock and Tom Paton was third.

[Valiant Fifer]

Reason i ask Novice is that Leslie lived in Greenock and i'm sure either his father or g father had doos. I think the mr Davidson you refer to was from Galston in Ayrshire, just wonder if there was a connection if any.

[Valiant Fifer]

Very interesting read Roly well done.

[Valiant Fifer]

We all know Matt White won Rennes but was it he or his father that raced the Barcelona pigeon Scotch King ?

[Novice]

Reason i ask Novice is that Leslie lived in Greenock and i'm sure either his father or g father had doos. I think the mr Davidson you refer to was from Galston in Ayrshire, just wonder if there was a connection if any.

 

Did Roland's post answer your question?

I have no idea whether the Davidson were related but I think that Lesley moved from Ayrshire to Greenock due to his employment as a bank manager.

[bibendium]

Did Roland's post answer your question?

I have no idea whether the Davidson were related but I think that Lesley moved from Ayrshire to Greenock due to his employment as a bank manager.

[/uote]

 

Leslie Davidson flew in Galston before moving to Kilmarnock both Ayrshire before moving to Greenock.

[Kyleakin Lofts]

W G Davidson lived in Kilwinning although he flew with the Ardeer Club and this is why Stevenston is mentioned. I moved to Kilwinning in 1969 and for me, W G Davidson's feat of timing a pigeon from Palamos in Spain was wonderous. To find out he had done it several times amazed me even more. It made no difference to me that it took quite some amount of days and even though my mentor derided the length of time it had taken as not being racing, I am still impressed, even to this day.

Edited October 17, 2016 by Kyleakin Lofts

[We man]

2

Reason i ask Novice is that Leslie lived in Greenock and i'm sure either his father or g father had doos. I think the mr Davidson you refer to was from Galston in Ayrshire, just wonder if there was a connection if any.

Mr,W,G Davidson of Stevenson Ayrshire at one time held the Scottish record from Palomos at one time,not sure if he was related to Leslie but I was lucky to have raced against him in the old Greenock club and got to say he was a gentleman 100%,he won the Anderson

Shield when he flew in Ayrshire and spoke fondly of his time in Ayrshire,sadly due to reasons that I will not mention on here he was forced to leave the sport he loved,"They couldnae lace his boots"RIP Lesley".

[Kyleakin Lofts]

W G Davidson was also a gentleman. Another similarity between them.

[moscow master]

2Mr,W,G Davidson of Stevenson Ayrshire at one time held the Scottish record from Palomos at one time,not sure if he was related to Leslie but I was lucky to have raced against him in the old Greenock club and got to say he was a gentleman 100%,he won the Anderson

Shield when he flew in Ayrshire and spoke fondly of his time in Ayrshire,sadly due to reasons that I will not mention on here he was forced to leave the sport he loved,"They couldnae lace his boots"RIP Lesley".

My auld man used to scrap out his loft also looked after his birds when he was away this when he stayed in Galston always remember my dad saying he'd never give you a doo with a ring on it incase you beat him told my dad he'd give him birds but he'd need to breed his own winners

[Guest johnhunter]

We all know Matt White won Rennes but was it he or his father that raced the Barcelona pigeon Scotch King ?

matt white senior along with a mr Dickson won rennes in 1923, it was third in 1921 and ninth in 1922

[Valiant Fifer]

Thanks guys its getting a bit cleaer now.

 

Yup Matt white snr flew as White & Dickson im sure and also won Rennes as u say also 3rd & 9th.

This is where i think ive remembered it wrongly. I think the White & Dickson champion was known as Scotch King. Possibly the pigeon was a Grizzle, tho i stand corrected. Think i mistook the above pigeon for Henry Mairs Lionheart on an earlier post above. Never mind tho this is all very interesting stuff from the past and just love reading about the old fanciers and their exploits! Another thing the West boys couldnt half race the doos in those days!

[We man]

My auld man used to scrap out his loft also looked after his birds when he was away this when he stayed in Galston always remember my dad saying he'd never give you a doo with a ring on it incase you beat him told my dad he'd give him birds but he'd need to breed his own winners

Nice one lol.

[Valiant Fifer]

2Mr,W,G Davidson of Stevenson Ayrshire at one time held the Scottish record from Palomos at one time,not sure if he was related to Leslie but I was lucky to have raced against him in the old Greenock club and got to say he was a gentleman 100%,he won the Anderson

Shield when he flew in Ayrshire and spoke fondly of his time in Ayrshire,sadly due to reasons that I will not mention on here he was forced to leave the sport he loved,"They couldnae lace his boots"RIP Lesley".

Im sorry to hear Leslie was forced out the sport, i never knew that but i know he was a Gent and a good fancier. Sad when those things happen.

[Guest johnhunter]

Thanks guys its getting a bit cleaer now.

 

Yup Matt white snr flew as White & Dickson im sure and also won Rennes as u say also 3rd & 9th.

This is where i think ive remembered it wrongly. I think the White & Dickson champion was known as Scotch King. Possibly the pigeon was a Grizzle, tho i stand corrected. Think i mistook the above pigeon for Henry Mairs Lionheart on an earlier post above. Never mind tho this is all very interesting stuff from the past and just love reading about the old fanciers and their exploits! Another thing the West boys couldnt half race the doos in those days!

you are correct fifer it was a dark grizzle cock, and when it one the race they called it Scottish king ,then scotch king

[Blue Chequer Pied]

🖒

[hotrod]

2Mr,W,G Davidson of Stevenson Ayrshire at one time held the Scottish record from Palomos at one time,not sure if he was related to Leslie but I was lucky to have raced against him in the old Greenock club and got to say he was a gentleman 100%,he won the Anderson

Shield when he flew in Ayrshire and spoke fondly of his time in Ayrshire,sadly due to reasons that I will not mention on here he was forced to leave the sport he loved,"They couldnae lace his boots"RIP Lesley".

The tattie lorry ?

[Roland]

Always nice to see, read about others, especially the past.

Will say that much has been brought to the fore here and shows what keens interests still prevail.

You know, oft, them little snip bits, what they said and believed, traits and their' ways are as true today as they was then. Of course not all, but what an interesting gleaning one can have eh!

 

It is what makes this sport (So - called) tick.

[We man]

The tattie lorry ?

Aye Stuart and some some rotten apples.

[Guest johnhunter]

Aye Stuart and some some rotten apples.

aye the tattie lorry

[Guest johnhunter]

������

well,give us your thruppence worth (BLUE CHEQUER PIED)

[Blue Chequer Pied]

well,give us your thruppence worth (BLUE CHEQUER PIED)

 

Would if I could get my photo to load!

 

Tilt your head a bit and it will be ok!