This week we have our first Open pool race of the season from Billericay,in the county of Essex, England. The birds were flying North back into lower Central,Scotland.
The distance was 354 miles back into this weeks 1st Open federation winner.
We have had rain all week in Scotland and this continued over the weekend with poor visibility and "Smirr" rain for the birds to contend with for around the last 100 miles of their journey.
The birds were liberated at 0600hrs in lovely bright blue sky with a light south west wind turning to a fresh North West on route, so a difficult day for the birds and the fanciers was on the cards.
Eight hours had come and gone and at 9 hrs 22 minutes a Blue W/F C hit the boards for the partnership of Young and Kelly who fly in the Chryston club which is in the North section of the federation.
What a brilliant partnership these guys are and are presently the federation Champion loft, winning this Combine Averages last season.
They are in brilliant form topping the federation two weeks ago from Kettering 283 miles.
The partnership of Stewart Young and Karl Kelly are "As good as it gets" as pigeon fanciers, very competitive, hard to beat and true gentlemen of the sport.
Their drive is to be competitive in every race and set their stall to be up with the leaders every week.
When in conversation with Karl he said the weather conditions were very poor as their lofts sit at the bottom of the Campsie hills and they couldnt see the hills, due to the mist and" smirr" rain, so for their winner to home was all the more remarkable and showed the pigeons level of motivation.
The yearling Blue w/f C was in brilliant condition and on arrival you could see he had given his all to get to the front of the pack. But after a quick drink and pick of food he was chasing his hen around the floor.
Breeding and preparation for race- Sire Blue w/f C bred by Howard Jackson containing the bloodlines of Murphys Law and Secretariat.Dam is a blue hen 2021 was bred by Mike Moody and her four G/parents are Ridge,Flying Wonder,Captain Hook,New Olympic Solange.
After last weeks race he was full of himself and showing super from ,clapping off chasing anything in the sky.He was eating everything put in front of him which Karl really likes to see. He was an easy pick as their all pooler and duly obliged.
Karl and Stewart would like to thank everyone for their many texts and also thanks to the convoyers for the condition of the birds on return.
Well done to Stewart and Karl on another brilliant performance, winning this prestigious race two years on the trot!
Tom Corrie jnr
Lanarkshire Press Officer
Photo is that of this weeks 1st Open Billericay for Young & Kelly