Scottish National Flying Club
Alencon Gold Cup National
On the 28th of June the most prestigious national race of the season it’s the trophy every Scottish fancier dreams of winning and this season Mr A Little’s dreams came true. A total of 186 members sent 769 birds and after a two day holdover the convoy was liberated at 0600 hours into a light west, south west wind. A. Little from Ecclefechan timed his five year old cheq hen flying 479 miles and 1733 yards with a velocity of 1159.
Race Controllers report by R. Whyte, J. Pryde and F. Robertson
After a delay due to poor weather the convoy was released on Sunday morning at 0600 hours. The visibility was very good with no problems expected on the channel crossing. When they reach the English coastline, temperature 19 degrees west south west wind. Heading north the visibility very good.
Convoyer’s report by J. Gillon
Joined lorry at newmains marking station and travelled to Springfield where section A birds were loaded. All birds watered and allowed to settle. Fresh tank of water 7am. Birds given light feed then fresh water. Water left on and topped up until vet's paperwork and clearance to depart at 11am. Birmingham services birds light feed and watered at 4pm. Arrived Portsmouth docks parked up for night birds fed and watered.�Set sail Thursday morning arrived Caen taken to port authorities and French vets two baskets taken off as instructed by French vets and ring numbers checked to match paperwork. Birds given light feed fresh tank water. Travelled to Alencon. Birds fed watered. Fresh water available from site agents house across road. Informed of holdover. Birds fed as required and fresh water every 3/4 hours. Liberation birds cleared immediately into blue sky heading north. On return to sailing the English channel was calm and excellent visibility.
Section A
1st Section A, 1st open, A. Little
Alistair Little from Ecclefechan was 1st Section. Alistair entered the fancy as a schoolboy at Eaglesfield, competing in partnership with his father as A and A Little. He subsequently married and moved to Ecclefechan, entering the fancy under his own name. He is in fact the son in law of the late Jimmy Dalgliesh and be in no doubt, he and his good lady, Cindy are really good fanciers having raced a number of superb pigeons over the years. The Section winner from Alencon is a 2021 Blue Chequer hen that was latebred and whilst it was unraced as a youngster it, along with several other latebreds, had several meaningful training tosses over the ensuing winter months, indeed when they entered a race basket as yearlings they performed better than the earlier bred youngsters from the previous year. In 2023, when a two year old she went to the coast and the following year went to Alencon; from which the first arrival to the loft was 7th Section 10th Open followed by the Chequer hen, which arrived at 9.20pm; it would have taken a position but was disqualified, due to a simple clerical error. In 2025 she went to Alencon again and was 97th Open. Disappointingly, when she arrived she was very badly cut and had to be stitched. Pleasingly she recovered and was ‘put-by’ for the following year. In 2026 she was paired mid-February, reared a single youngster and was then put on Roundabout. She entered the race basket at the third race and thereafter went through the programme to S.N.F.C. Kettering from which she was the third bird to the loft to be 20th Section 61st Open, after which she went to Brighton when she was on the wing for 11 hours. She was thereafter re-paired, went to Alencon covering 16 day eggs and homed with her first flight three quarters grown. Sire was obtained from Tumley Lofts having been bred from ‘Solway View Boy’ when paired to ‘Serenity’. ‘Solway View Boy’ was bred and raced by Craig Halbert being 1st Open S.N.F.C. Ancenis 2014. ‘Serenity’ is a top stock hen, having bred a number of top performance pigeons. Her Sire was Dennis Ford’s ‘Champion Seren Eleven’, which was 1st Open National Bergerac and 2nd Section 2nd Open National Bergerac. Dam of the Section winner was obtained from Willie Borthwock from Annan, it was bred direct from ‘White Nose Bud’ when paired to a daughter of David Jamieson’s Rosary Beads’. ‘White Nose Bud’ was 1st Open from the S.N.F.C. Gold Cup race from Liege in 2018, being bred from two pigeons that Willie obtained from friend David Jamieson. The Sire was bred from a pigeon obtained from Brian Denney when paired to David Jamieson’s No. 1 Stock hen that had bred no fewer than eighteen pigeons to score from the channel with the Scottish National. Dam of ‘White Nose Bud’ was bred from a pair of pigeons that David purchased from Gebr Bruggemann. Rosary Beads’ meanwhile was a fabulous pigeon that was 2nd Section 3rd Open, 2nd Section 4th Open and 1st Section 11th Open from Ancenis 598 miles and secured a highly prized S.N.F.C. Silver Award.
2nd Section A, C. Halbert
Craig Halbert from Eastriggs, was 2nd Section. Craig was reared in a pigeon family with his father and brothers having kept pigeons before him in Annan and continuing the pigeon connection, he is the nephew of John and Matt Jamieson. Following his marriage, he entered the pigeon fancy in Eastriggs and gained his first S.N.F.C. Diploma in 2004. Two years later he won the South Section Average Trophy with the S.N.F.C. In 2007 he recorded his first Section win with the National with Blue Chequer hen, ‘Morning Joy’, which was initially recognised as a fine racer and in time proved to be a prepotent producer with all subsequent winners containing her bloodlines. Her Sire was a Jan Aarden x Janssen that was purchased from Tumley Lofts. Her Dam was a Jan Aarden that was introduced from Louella. In 2014 he won the Ancenis National with 2 y.o. B.C W.F. cock ‘Solway View Boy’ and two years later was 1st and 2nd Open from Ancenis, with the two pigeons being a mated pair, the winner being Blue hen ‘Solway View Queen’. In 2018 with the longest race was flown from Reims with Craig being 1st Section 3rd Open National. Move forward to 2019 with the race again being flown from Reims and he timed the only arrival on the day of liberation to win the National, the winning pigeon being a three year old Grizzle cock ‘Super Harry’, which from the equivalent event the year previous was 1st Section 3rd Open National. Step forward to 2023 and Craig won another National from Falaise with Dark cock ‘Daley Express’. The pigeon that is 2nd Section from the recent National is a two year old Dark Chequer slightly Pied Cock. It was worked on the conventional system as a youngster and went to 90 miles and as a yearling went through the Fed. Programme to Wollaston on Roundabout. He was paired on 1st March this term, reared two youngsters and was then put on Roundabout. He entered the race basket at 115 miles, had every race to Wollaston and then went to a come-back race from Shap. He was thereafter exercised at home and given his hen the day before basketing for the Classic. He went to the race with his third flight just bursting from the quill. Sire was Grizzle cock ‘Super Harry’ that was 1st and 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Reims. Sire of ’Super Harry’ was a Dark Chequer cock, the Sire of which was bred from ‘Morning Joy’ when coupled to her half- brother. Dam of the Dark Chequer cock is a daughter of ‘Solway View Boy’ the 2014 Ancenis National winner. Dam of ‘Super Harry’ was Grizzle ‘3870’, the Sire of which was bred from a grand-son and grand-daughter of ‘Morning Joy’. Dam of ‘3870’ was ‘4860’, which was out of a daughter of a pair of Jan Aarden’s introduced from Louella. Sire of ‘4860’ was a Red Grizzle that was obtained from Crombie and Mechan from Annan the Dam of which was bred from ‘Shawhill Prince' that was 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Liege when paired to ‘the Keir hen’ that John Mechan had on loan for a short time from John Jamieson. Sire of the Red Grizzle was bred by David Jamieson from a pair of pigeons purchased at the Matt Jamieson Clearance Sale, these being a Red Cock that was 4th Open Alencon and a Blue hen that was 9th Section 24th Open Falaise and 13th Section 23rd Open Alencon. Dam of the 2nd Section Alencon was a Batenburg Van de Merwe from the House of Aarden.
3rd Section A, D & D Anderson
D. and D. Anderson from Annan were 3rd Section. This partnership comprises Dennis Anderson Senior and his grandson, Dennis Junior. Dennis Senior has gained a host of good positions over the years; he for example won the Sartilly National in 1993 and for the first time in the history of the S.N.F.C. had the only arrival into Scotland on the day of liberation. In more recent years he was 2nd Section 2nd Open from the Gold Cup race from Alencon in 2022 and in 2023 from the equivalent event was 3rd Section 9th Open. Move forward to 2024 and he won the Inland National from Maidstone with Blue Chequer cock ‘El Sid’. Whilst the team was flown in recent years in Dennis Senior’s name his grandson was there beside him and saw each of the modern winners arrive at the loft. He additionally raced an independent team of pigeons into his own loft and gained a number of good positions, indeed in 2025 he won the Section from with the National from Billericay and at the 2025 S.N.F.C. Prize Presentation received the South Section Average Trophy. At the gateway to the current season, Dennis and his grandson entered partnership competing under the loft title D, and D. Anderson. On the night of the recent National the partners had two pigeons arrive in quick succession, which hesitated on the trap, losing circa seven minutes. The first bird through the trap to be 3rd Section was a yearling Blue Chequer widowhood cock, bred from proven channel winning lines through the partners’ Jan Aarden and Tumley Lofts long distance families. He had several Club races on build up to the Classic gaining minor prizes. Due to the National candidates not having had enough time on the wing he went to the Inland National from Brighton (316 miles) two weeks before the Classic and was the tenth bird in the clock on the day. It should be explained that he was actually the second bird home on the night, beaten by his loft mate, which failed to go in. First pigeon to the loft, which was eventually 4th Section, was a yearling Blue Roundabout hen that was bred by Tumley Lofts, containing top channel winning lines including ‘Padfiled’s Invincible’ and ‘Solway View Boy’. She also had several Club races, gaining minor positions and went to Brighton as a prep race for Alencon. Dennis said “both yearlings flew their hearts out to be home on a very difficult racing day after the Gold Cup convoy had been held over for two days due to the weather conditions”.
Section B
1st Section B, G. Veitch
George won first section B with a beautiful blue cock. Last season it flew Ypres national and was twelve and three quarter hours on the wing and was good enough to fly Alencon. It was sent to the gold cup race sitting ten day old eggs. Dam is Lady Wilfena (national winner of the longest race in 2024) The sire was gifted to George by W. Flockhart.
2nd Section B, K. Newcombe and I. Black
The partnership took second section with a four year old blue hen ‘Kardale Daybreak’. She had flown all club programme races before being sent to Alencon. She was sent to the gold cup sitting on eight day eggs. Sire was bred from Brian Cunningham stock from Prestonpans. Brian being himself a first open SNFC national winner with ‘Bankton Belle’. Her dam ‘Kardale Sonic’ was first open SNRPC Arras for the partnership in 2020. Both her parents belong to their stock team.
3rd Section B, K. Wright
Keith wright of danderhalls 3rd section 32nd open winner from Alencon flying 534 miles a blue pied cock now named big Tam who is van reet x vandenabeele from the late Willie smith and the late Tam young both great flyers in danderhall and the pentland fed this was his third attempt at the gold cup his first attempt he came back late with a pellet lodged down the side of his keel then no luck 2nd attempt then he got his reward on a very hard testing race. Keith would like to congratulate all the winners and fanciers who clocked in.
Section C
1st Section C, 2nd open, J. Mullen
James (Joe) Mullen races to a small back garden loft 18ft by 10ft three section brick built with an apex tiled roof. The birds are trapped through an open door system. The birds are raced on the natural system and are free to move about the three sections at will, young birds leave the nest and are free to do likewise never being separated from their parents. The village name Lumphinnans comes from an early church dedicated to St Finnan — hence the use of St Finnan. Joe timed a two year old blue cheq hen to win 1st section C Alencon Gold Cup race at 550 miles. The pigeon now known as St Finnan Louise was racing to fifteen day old eggs and had four weeks earlier scored 41st section Kettering, 280 miles, thereafter she had light training at 20 miles in preparation for the national. Three times each week,as a young bird she was allowed open bowl most days, no training or racing just left to develop, as a yearling she was trained from south approx 20 miles approx 8 times then into her first race then weekly races stopping at 340 miles. Louise is a daughter of St Finnan Sandra, a SNFC gold award winner achieved through five consecutive Gold Cup races from Alencon 10th sec C 69th Open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup 550 miles 2022 3rd sec C 11th Open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup 550 miles 2023 8th sec C 42nd Open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup 550 miles 2024 11th sec C 42nd Open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup 550 miles 2025 7th sec C 24th Open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup 550 miles 2026 this year was her first night out in seven years. Sire of Louise is a son of St Finnan Jock, full brother to Jock McKenzie’s Mumpy in 2014 he was 2nd sect 4th open Ancenis 617 mls, 2015 1st sect 3rd Open Troyes 620 mls, 2016 9th sect 15th open Burbure 447 mls. 2017 7th Open 6th sect Reims 2018 5th sec 6th Open Troyes 620 miles all SNRPC. Sire is a G/Grandson of "Trails Spark" 1st Open SNFC Niort 690 miles, Jimmy Hamilton’s "Iron Lady" G.A.W. 1992 all races S.N.F.C Rennes. "Mumpy" contains Iron Lady on both sides of the pedigree. The sire also carries blood from Trails Spark (1st Open SNFC Niort 690 miles), Iron Lady (SNFC Gold Award 1992 The dam line includes INFC Kings Cup breeding via Tommy Maclean of Annaghmore.
2nd and 3rd Section C, C & G Cameron
2nd Section, 4th Open SNFC Alençon
Taking 2nd Section and 4th Open SNFC Alençon is a 2024 blue cheq hen who had performed well two weeks earlier when recording 4th Section, 21st Open SNFC Brighton 410mile. Her pedigree combines some of the better long-distance bloodlines in the loft. Her SIRE is "599", a son of “Branch” x Malfait Hen. Branch won 1st SNFC Roye and 3rd SNFC Roye, and has subsequently established himself as the loft's foundation pigeon. "599" is also proving to be a good breeder. In addition to 4th Alencon he is the sire of 1st Section 11th open SNFC Brighton, a SNFC Bronze Award winner and grand sire of "Fred", winner of 1st Open SNFC Ypres.
Dam of "599" is a direct 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 Mailfait hen are having a good season during the last 4 weeks of racing she has bred 3rd Section 21st open SNFC Brighton, 1st Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation Billericay, granddam of 2nd Section 4th Open Alencon and dam of 1st section SNFC Billericay. The dam of 4th Open is a direct daughter of Hendrik Mortier of Brugge's "Wimko", winner of 1st Provincial West Flanders Barcelona. The Mortier hen has bred well including 7th Open SNFC Alençon 2024, a SNFC Bronze Award winner she is also granddam of 6th SNFC Nor-Sur-Edre. Her influence extends beyond the partnership’s own loft, being grand dam of two Section winners for our good friends J & J Coutts.
3rd Section, 9th Open SNFC Alençon
Winning 3rd Section and 9th Open is a two year old dark chequer hen who like 4th Open had shown recent form by taking 15th Section, 51st Open SNFC Brighton two weeks previously. Her sire is a son of "Duracell Dorrie" x daughter of “Castres" from Leon Messiaen. Duracell Dorrie was bred from a Keith Bush cock 51st Open SNFC Reims x "Little Dorrie” 3rd Open SNFC Reims. Dam of 9th Open is a direct daughter of "Tutsi" from Martin Ravelingien and descends from traditional West Flanders distance bloodlines particularly those from Peiren and Van der Espt. "Tutsi" proved to be one of Martin's outstanding breeders, producing numerous top-class racers and breeders. Tutsi's influence has continued within our own loft, where a son was the sire of one of our principal pigeons "Bobby", while the dam of 9th Open has previously bred 5th Open SNFC Gravillers.
Section D
1st Section D, D. Jamieson
David timed his Cheq cock to take first section D. The pigeon is named “Jim’s Bhoy“
1st section 7th open snfc gold cup Alencon.
The pigeon was bred by Jim Wilkinson being from a grandson of white mick x direct daughter of rosarybeads that David had gave Jim. This pair had already 7th open carentan SNFC 2022 longest flying pigeon on the night 11pm. David would like to thank Jim again for breeding this year’s pigeon.
2nd Section D, W. Orr
Billy timed his Blue cock “ Langton Reality” which was bred by Angus & Allan Orr Brightons from a half sister of Iron lad, the 2025 gold cup winner. Paired to a son of there direct jellema bloodlines. Billy hasn’t kept in good health this last couple of years, and without the dedicated help and attention from Andy Combe, working tirelessly with the birds on a daily basis this result would not have been possible.
They were also 4th reg 13th open Alencon 2025 with another addition from Angus & Allans stock loft. Langton reality had three races leading up to gold cup and went to race sitting ten day eggs. Billy would like to express his thanks to Andy for all his hard work with the birds and also to his nephew Angus & son Allan for gifting him the pigeons to record these fantastic results in his twilight years.
3rd Section D, J. Ferguson
Hamish timed three year old blue cock to take third section D. As a young bird is completed the full federation programme including the federation open race. As a yearling it had six federation races then competed in Maidstone and Billericay. As a two year old had five federation races then Brighton with the SNFC. This season as a three year old flew six federation races then the gold cup race. He was sent with eggs hatching on day of basketing.
Section E
1st Section E, T & G Steele
The partnership of Tam and Gary Steele timed their three year old blue pied hen to win first section E. The hen is bred down from Davie Donaldson stock. She was flown to Fontenay last season, just missing out on a ticket. This year the hen had four club races up to Huntingdon before being set up for the gold cup national. She was sitting on twelve day eggs when basketed. Well done on such a tough and challenging race. Especially into the west of Scotland.
2nd Section E, W. Johnstone
Wullie timed his three year old blue cock to take second section. The cock was 16th section from Brighton last year. This season he had flown three Lanarkshire Federation races to Bubwith and the two SNFC inland national races from Kettering and Brighton before being sent to the gold cup national. The cock was sent sitting on six day eggs. The sire was bred from V. Hendry Brugerman stock. The dam was from Rab Richardson.
3rd Section E, D. Hay
Derek Hay from Kirkintilloch, Glasgow was 3rd sect E 47 th Open flying 548 miles vel 640 ypm Derek timed a two year old latebred hen sent to the Gold cup on a 7 day old young bird. She had 4 races to 260 miles and then 5 x 30 mile tosses and a final toss of 63 miles on the Saturday before basketting. Last year as a latebred carrying 4 nest flights, Derek chose her to go to Brighton national 400 mls, because of her supreme condition. She was his 4 th pigeon and won 15 th west section. Derek says strike when the irons hot and although she was very young, she had to go. Her breeding is from tested long distance pigeon families. Her sire is a son of Magic ( prolific racer breeder for Derek ) and her dam was bred by Jim Meikle from his d Davy Donaldson family of pigeons. Derek would like to congratulate the Steele family on a great section win in a gruelling race.
Section F
1st Section F, A.A Wilson and Son
Alec Wilson 1st Sect F 30th Open
The section winner’s his sire a son of Vandersmissen of Freialdenhofen Germany he won 3. 6. 19. 19. 24. 30. 60. 77. 86. National when paired to inbred granddaughter Forrest Gump. His dam is bred out of daughter of Kanibaal Barcelona 1 National 4 international Barcelona when paired to a daughter of Euro Diamond paired to his half sister daughter George he went to the race covering a four day old yb his first nest of the year he has been his first bird a couple of times including Brighton last year he had five races out to Wollaston and a comeback race from shap same weekend as Brighton Ale would just like to finish by saying well done to all the section winners on a very hard race and thanks to Barry Nicol for coming down to verify the bird.
2nd Section F, A. McKenna
Andrew timed his widowhood cock growing up his second flight bought in a club sale and bred by Ken Buchanan from his vanhee family this year he was race up to Kettering national where he flew just over eight hours on the wing the week before the gold cup Andrew noticed he had broken his 6th flight so with some help from club mate Baz Nicol we glued a needle and another flight in before going to the national.
3rd Section F, J. Meikle
Jim Meikle 3rd Sect F 67th Open - Jim was also 4th Section 81st Open
Jim’s small two year old chequer hen bred for the job being a full sister to his previous 1st Sect 3rd West Region Falaise - her sire is Davy Donaldson of Glassford stock - grandsire was a Silver Award winner with a 1st Section in the Gold Cup among his wins. Dam is a stock hen from 4th Sec 33rd Open Reims x 8th Sect 48th Open Liege. Jim’s hen had six races prior to the Gold cup latest being two weeks before from Alnwick flying 4.5 hours.
Congratulations to A. Little and his champion hen and to all the other winners. Thank you to our dedicated team throughout the national for all your hard work to make the national the best. A special mention must go to the SDDC for their continued support towards the SNFC in the Gold cup national race bringing down the birdage costs for all our members. Thank you for the continued support with compiling the write ups, section A, Michael Currie and Billy Wortley, Section B, F. Robertson and A. Robertson, section C, K. Cochrane and D. Liddle, section D, S. Russell, D. Jamieson and A. Orr, section E, J. Lawrie and section F, B. Nicol. Mr Stuart Bowman sends congratulations to Archie Little on winning his late wife’s memorial trophy The Amazing Grace Trophy. This trophy was donated to the SNFC this year and flown for first national hen from the gold cup race.
A scripture done by our Convoyer Paul Edward Fox; Heavenly Father we thank you for bringing us safely to Alencon. Thank you for Joe and his caring hands, we thank you for the gift of remarkable birds. As we liberate them into the sky, watch over them in their mighty journey back home. Give them strength in their wings, wisdom in their flight and safe passage through each and every mile. Protect them from harm, guide them throughout wind and rain and lead each one safely back to it’s loft in bonnie Scotland! Bless all whom have cared for our feathered friends and remind us of your creation in every pigeon that takes to the sky. May today’s flight be fair, safe and honourable for all. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen.
Mary Thomson SNFC PRO
