Scottish National Flying Club
Billericay Inland National
On Saturday the 4th of July the Scottish National Flying club flew their fourth race of the season. 266 members sent 2157 birds to Billericay. The convoy were liberated at 0545 hours into a light south west wind. First open was S. Reap and Son from Eyemouth with ‘Acredale Stan’ flying 313 miles and 566 yards with a velocity of 1306.
Race Controllers report by R. White, J. Pryde and F. Robertson
The convoy were released at Billericay into blue skies at 0545. The temperature is 16 degrees and visibility very good with a light south west wind. They cleared the liberation site immediately. As they move north the visibility is very good and temperatures of 19 to 20 degrees, with a west wind. The weather round about Newark and Melton Mowbray has now started to change. Visibility is still good with light cloud and moderate breeze west winds at 13 mph. As they move north there is patches of rain. The west winds is now getting stronger with speeds of 17 mph. Scottish Borders there is patches of rain, moderate west winds and good visibility. Edinburgh light rain and 18 mph west winds. Lanarkshire and west part of the country moderate 18 mph west winds. Moving over the Forth this weather will continue with patches of drizzle and rain and a strong west winds. A steady race is expected.
Race Convoyers report by J. Gillon
Arrived Springfield at 10.00pm loaded the pigeons
10.50 parked up at Raymond for 11pm watered the birds 11pm till 9.20 Friday morning. 6am gave birds light feed. Stop at Norton canes services 13.40 till 14.20, Watered birds. Got to Billericay 18.40 birds fed and watered 19.00pm then lib the birds at 05.45 birds cleared the site immediately heeding North West.
Section A (343 birds)
1st Section A, S & L Trodden
Sean and Linda Trodden from Springfield were 1st South Section. Since moving from West Cumbria to Springfield in 2016 the partners have most certainly made their presence felt with a succession of outstanding results in the Club and Federation having gained the Solway Federation East Section Fancier(s) of the Year Trophy several times. In National competition they have also timed a number of good pigeons, heading the result from the Inland National from Yeovil and being right up with the leaders from the Blue Riband event from Alencon in 2024 being 1st Section 2nd Open. The family of pigeons, which the partners primarily work with, is that of Theo and Raymond Rutten, who are five times Dutch National winners and have been Champions of their Club on more than forty occasions racing from 60 miles to 650 miles, Sean and Linda having first purchased examples of the family some twenty years plus ago. The Section winner from the recent race from Billericay is a home-bred 2024 Blue Bar cock, which contains the partners well proven Theo Rutten lines, it raced as a youngster and went to Cannock as a yearling. It was paired in February this term, reared a single youngster and was the put on the partners unique roundabout system. It went through the Solway Federation Programme to Cheltenham and was then prepared for the Billericay National. On preparing birds for target races the partners normally basket train but as Sean underwent major surgery in Glasgow in recent months, basket training was very much curtailed. When interviewed Sean asked to place on record his thanks to the several people who assisted Linda with the birds when he was in the Hospital, particularly fellow Club members Jamie Carberry and Stephen Allen.
2nd and 3rd Section A, R. Campbell
Ryan Campbell from Langholm was 2nd and 3rd Section. The bird that was 2nd Section is a home-bred 2024 Blue Chequer cock that topped the Fed, as a youngster and was 9th Fed. the following week. Worked on the Natural method it went through the Federation Inland programme as a yearling. It was paired the week before the Blackpool Show in 2026 and thereafter went to every race in the programme to Brighton. It went to the National covering his third round of 16 day old youngsters and driving his mate. Dam is a Blue Chequer hen that contains 50% the lines of the famous Lincia Hen of Stefaan Lambrechts and 50% the lines of Ad Schaerlaeckens. Sire was obtained from Daniel Clayton from Wolverhapton. The second pigeon to the loft to be 3rd Section is a two year old Mealy cock ‘6667’. Sire is a Herman Ceuster from M & A Lofts from Liverpool. Dam is Theelan/Staf Van Reet from Murray and Mills, being an inbred daughter of a pigeon named ‘Just the Job’, which was one of the best ever pigeons to fly in the Algarve Derby Arona, bought in Blackpool in 2023. The Mealy cock was actually bred for stock and spent his first year in the stock shed. It got past Ryan one morning but pleasingly, returned three days later and stayed in the Racing Section of the loft. In 2025 it had three races but returned a week late from its fourth race and was thereafter ‘put by’. In 2026 it was paired the week before the Blackpool Show and reared a single youngster and thereafter went to every inland race in the Federation programme and the Inland Nationals, returning from Brighton on the second day. It went to Billericay covering ten day eggs and was very keen. Ryan has named him ‘Lucky Devil’ on account of his ring number.
Section B (369 birds)
1st and 3rd Section B, 1st and 16th open, S. Reap & Son
First club,section, open is S Reap & Son Paul with a blue cock nehu 25bor486 now named Acredale Stan after father stan who passed away last year. He had one race as a youngster. This year he was started on the 4th April to weatherby 135 milesand had the first five races through to Billericay with the club winning 1st club 2nd may. He had a slight knock so was rested and prepared for the national trained two to three times per week 40 mls and 50 miles and was sitting 10 days and fit as a fiddle to come and win the national. Third section was a blue pied cock nehu 25 bor 454 also had one race as a young bird. Preparation was exactly the same as the above cock but having one extra race and sitting 9 days when basketed Paul had a great race timing in 7 out of 8 pigeons in good time. Look out for Paul in future nationals.
2nd Section B, 2nd open, G. Turnbull
Gordon Turnbull Chirnside who needs no introduction as he is a previous national winner on numerous times. Gordon timed his blue cock nehu25bor1408 to win 2nd section and open. He is a combination of his old breeds and only flew two races as a young bird as he was badly hawked. This year 1st race on 4th April he was first club weatherby 135 miles flying spare, he was paired up two weeks before the national and sent sitting eggs. Incidentally his mother was 6th open snfc from the same race point. Gordon would like to congratulate Paul on winning the race.
Section C (471 birds)
1st, 2nd and 3rd Section C, C & G Cameron
1st Section
Blue yearling hen flown on roundabout. Sire was bred in conjunction with their friend the late Kevin Murphy. He is from Bobby 2 x 1st North Section mated to Kevin’s My Little Rachel 4th Open SNFC Alencon. He has bred 11 individual SNFC prizewinners, the best being 12th open SNFC Alencon and a bronze award winner. Dam is the Malfait Hen a daughter of "Remco", winner of 1st National Agen by 1 hour and 10 minutes against 8,579 pigeons. She also carries the Carteus and New Laureaat bloodlines. Interestingly, the old Malfait blood also features behind the dam of Branch. Birds from the Malfait hen have flown well including recently 1st Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation Billericay.
2nd Section
A three year old hen who was previously 2nd Section Upper Heyford as a young bird.
Her sire is a son of Branch 1st & 3rd Open SNFC Roye when paired to the above mentioned Malfait hen. Her dam is Rita winner of 12th Open SNFC Brighton and 5th Open SNFC Falaise. Rita was from Duracell Dorie and direct daughter of Castres of Leon Messiaen.
3rd Section
Blue yearling hen flown on roundabout. Her Sire was bred by Leon Messiaen being a son of Leon's best pigeon "The Perpignan" and is the sire of Branch 1st and 3rd Open Roye. Dam is from Eric Depez and her sire was a four times prize winner from Barcelona and was the best Belgium bird from this racepoint in four consecutive races. A sister was 10th SNFC Ypres 2025 & 25th open Alencon 2026.
Section D (340 birds)
1st Section D, J. Bird
Timed his three year old cheq pied hen to take first section D.
2nd Section D, M. Doran
Billericay su23ca 655 sire Herman ceuster Tommy Blairs dam vandebeele Ronnie wright Whitburn
3rd Section D, J. Strang
Jock timed his yearling blue cock to take third section D.
Section E (334 birds)
1st Section E, L. McCalley
Cock was a gift from Colin Grieve when he finished in the sport in 2024.
Sire of the section winner was bred by the Woodroffe Brothers, Cornhill from William Henry, 4th UNC Ypres and Our Little Mo which was 1st UNC Burbure. The Dam of the section winner was a Lambrecht pigeon Colin obtained from JPS Lofts off Linbro and Sislin. Linbro was a pigeon Ian Stafford considered to be one of his very best. This season the cock had a few training races and was sent to the first inland national where he just missed the result. The following week from Grantham he returned with a few tail feathers missing, he was looking well though and was kept ticking over. He had a comeback race two weeks before Billericay and a training toss on the Sunday and Monday before the race.
2nd Section E, Law & Brady
The hen was bought at a breeder buyer sale in Dundee, bred by Garry peggie from two grandchildren of little gem. Sshe was Raced every race up to the week before Billericay and had two tosses before the race from Edinburgh where they are working just now. She was sent feeding a small young bird this being the first time she has been Raced on a nest! We would like to pass on our congratulations to Lewis McCalley on topping the section!
3rd Section E, C & E McMillan
The partnership of Callum and Liz two year old blue pied cock. He was raced every race with the Strathclyde club before being sent to the national. He is raced on roundabout. The sire of their cock is a Grondelaer purchased at Gerald Delaney sale. The dam bred by Marshall Findlay. She was 20th section E 55th open SNFC Billericay 2018 and also 9th section 37th open Lanarkshire Federation Ypres. This hen is a prolific breeding hen.
Section F (130 birds)
1st Section F, Morris Brothers
The partnership timed a small to medium cheq pied hen inbred to Archie 1st Sect Eastbourne and Ypres and a granddaughter to Treble Top 3 x 1st Section F, 1st West Region 13th Open Falaise. She was raced down to Kettering and then had two comeback races at Alnwick & Catterick. On handling she has held remarkable condition Hen was also on a three day youngster. Morris Bros send congratulations to the other section winners and to Gary and Frank in their section.
2nd Section F, G. Donaghy
Gary Donaghy of Old Kilpatrick the mosaic cock sire bought at Falkirk Market from S. Russell breeding through A. McBurnie and the dam bred from Jim Hannah hen paired to a Alec McInnes & Jimmy McMillan cock (aBusschaert pigeon). This super pigeon was 5th Open SNFC earlier this year.
3rd Section F, F. Lawrie
Frank Lawrie 3rd Sect F lovely small dark pied hen from Franks Jan Aarden family successful for many years. Having retired recently Franks pigeons are benefiting from more structured management and looking forward to next season with a healthy old bird team.
Section G (170 birds)
1st Section G, A. Wilson
Billericay (435 miles), who was also 95th Open SNFC:
He was bred by his good mate Davie McDougall of the D&C McDougall partnership of Peterhead and was gifted to him by Davie. His sire is 15 years old, and he was a direct son of Indy. The Dam is down through Nell, first section G, 11th open gold cup. She was through Davie’s grizzle family. He was a roundabout all season, but he was given his hen the night before on what turned out to be a tough race there in a strong north west wind.
2nd Section G, J. Coutts & Son
The bird we timed is a two year old Blue Cheq hen flown on the widowhood system, she has been a good hen having previously been 2nd Section 9th Open Billericay last year she was also 6th Section SNFC Kettering earlier this year. She was sent to a comeback race after that race and came home hawked so was left to recover for a couple of weeks having another comeback race before being sent to Billericay. Her breeding is 100% C&G Cameron blood, her sire won 1st Section 11th Open young Bird National and is a Grandson of both Bobby and Prada who both won 1st north Awctikn when Glen flew in Aberdeen, her Dam is a direct dtr of Branch who won 1st and 3rd Open Roye and is now a top stock cock. They would just like to congratulate all the section winners especially Andy Wilson on winning section G.
3rd Section G, A. Rae
This bird has flown the inland nationals this year, and have clocked him in each time. He is the same way bred as his bronze award winner which is bred of his stock pair, they are responsible for quite a few of sections winners for Alec. For example the only bird on the day of Maidstone, 427 miles and 27th open. Another example being only bird on the day into Aberdeen of 426 miles, Brighton and 50th open and there’s a few other successful birds among those sections winners. Having no problem with the distance as the stock pair both scored from Reims, 626 miles and the hen of the pair has a silver award and and the cock was bred by Jock Scott from Kennoway, a double national winner. Alec only has a small team of birds and that is the way he races them and they are very select with which ones race and proven.
Many congratulations to S. Reap and Son and their winning pigeon. It certainly was another challenging national race and many congratulations to all of the other section winners. My thanks goes out to the team again for making the reports happen, section A, B. Wortley and President M. Currie, section B, R. Walker and F. Robertson, section C, D. Liddle, section D, S. Russell, section E, J. Lawrie, section F, B. Nicol and section G the fanciers themselves.
Mary Thomson SNFC PRO
