SNFC YPRES 2026

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Scottish National Flying Club
Ypres national 

On the 17th of July the SNFC flew the fifth raced the season. A total of 116 members sent 658 birds. Birds were liberated at 0700 hours into a light east, north east wind. First open was R. Cook from Leslie with his two year old white flight hen Jock’s Dream flying 447 miles and 1195 yards with a velocity of 1051.

Race convoyer’s report by J. Gillon
Joined lorry at Newmains. Then traveled to Gretna where pigeons were watered. Fresh tank water 0700 hours birds given light feed and water on till departure 1115 hours. Watered pigeons 1400 till 1445 service area. Portsmouth birds fed and watered 1900. Fresh water on them till dark. Fresh tank of water prior to departure to France. Birds fed and watered on arrival in France, water on at all times whilst at vets. Light fed and watered on arrival at Ypres. Spoke to race Controller at 0430 advised of mist, held convoy until clear blue skies. Liberated 0700 hours, convoy cleared north.

Race Controllers report by R. White, J. Pryde and F. Robertson
After a short delay at the liberation site due to ground mist, the convoy was liberated at 0700 into blue skies and very good visibility. They cleared immediately heading north in one batch. The channel crossing is clear and visibility very good. As they approach the English mainland the temperature is 20 degrees, very good visibility and nine mph light north wind. Eastbourne, Brighton and Folkestone all showing very good visibility and temperatures rising to 22 degrees. Moving north the home counties are showing very good visibility with a north wind and the temperature rising to 21/23 degrees. Moving northerly again same conditions and temperatures rising to 26 degrees. The Scottish Borders visibility still very good, north east winds and temperature dropped to 19 degrees. As we move further north visibility still very good with same wind and temperatures. Over the Forth heading for Fife and Dundee the wind changes to south east in places and temperatures of 17 degrees. Over the course a tough race is expected.

Section A (77 birds)
1st Section A, 3rd open, S.J Irving Jnr loft one
Scott Irving from Annan was 1st Section. Scott entered the hobby as a schoolboy at Brydekirk, competing in partnership with his father as Scott Irving and Son and together they won Niort National and Sartilly Nationals. In time, Scott Junior acquired his own property in Annan and formed his own loft and has gained a host of good positions from the Classics. In 2013, for example, he headed the Section result from four races and won the extreme distance event from Ancenis with the only arrival on the day of liberation and in 2017 was 1st, 2nd and 3rd Open Falaise. The winning pigeon from the recent Ypres National is a 3 y.o. Blue hen that went to the Y.B. National in its maiden season and to Cheltenham as a yearling. It was paired in March 2025 and reared a pair of youngsters. It was then split from its mate and put on Roundabout; it entered the race basket at Lymm and progressed through the Federation programme, it competed from the Reading National being 8th Section 67th Open, went to Brighton and thereafter went to Billericay being 27th Section. It was then re-paired, went to Ypres covering overdue eggs and was 3rd Section. In 2026 it was similarly managed. It was paired in March, reared a single youngster and was then split from its mate and put on Roundabout. It went to Lymm, Stafford, and Wollaston. The plan was to send her to Cheltenham two but as the race was cancelled she went instead to the Inland National from Billericay. She was basketed for Ypres covering overdue eggs. Her Sire was the Sire also of the loft’s 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Liege 2018, being is direct Son of George Hilson’s ‘Tyson’. Dam is from ‘Mr. Lambrini when paired to ‘Ouija Board’. ‘Mr.Lambrini’ was an outstanding stock cock that was bred by Stevie Ferguson from Annan direct from Stevie’s 2008 Tours winner. ‘Ouija Board’ was three times in the first 21 in the Open in the National from the Channel and was named after the famous racehorse.

2nd section A, A. Little
Alistair Little from Ecclefechan was 2nd Section. Alistair has had an interest in the pigeon hobby since schoolboy years being initially tutored and encouraged by his late father. He left the fancy but following his marriage, decided to form a loft at his home address being assisted by his wife Cindy and his father-in-law, the late Jimmy Dalgliesh. He has his own joinery business and with time being at a premium he once again chose to leave the sport for a while but in time re-entered the fancy. He has gained a number of successes with the undoubted highlight being winning the 2026 SN.F.C. Blue Riband race from Alencon. The winning pigeon from the recent National from Ypres is a Yearling Red cock that was worked on the Darkness method as a youngster, going through the Federation programme to the Federation Open race from Lymm. He was one of several spare yearling cocks that Alistair had in the loft in 2026 and raced celibate he went through the programme to Cheltenham, gaining 4th Club Wollaston. He was then paired for Ypres and went to the race covering tenday eggs. Sire was obtained from Willie Borthwick bred from ‘White Nose Bud’ when paired to a hen obtained from John Gilmour from Ecclefechan. ‘White Nose Bud’ was 1st open from the S.N.F.C. Gold Cup race from Liege in 2018. The pigeon obtained from John Gilmour was bred from ‘Gilly’ that was 1st Open S.N.F.C Alencon 2017 when paired to ‘Gilly’s Lass’ that was 1st Section 2nd Open S.N.F.C Burdine, 5th Section 6th Open S.N.F.C. Falaise and 3rd Section 3rd Open S.N.F.C Liege. Dam of the 2nd Section Ypres was obtained from John Mechan of the Crombie and Mechan partnership from Annan when he disposed of their team of stock birds. It is a Red Hen, closely bred to the noted Matt Jamieson Cock that was 4th Open Alencon and ‘Shawhill Prince' that was 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Liege. This hen was bred specially for stock and in Alistair’s hands also bred his 10thOpen S.N.F.C. Alencon 2024.

3rd Section A, W. Borthwick 
Willie Borthwick from Annan timed two birds on the night to be 3rd and 5th Section.   Willie was reared in the village of Pumpherston, West Lothian where he developed his original interest in pigeons and as the years ticked-by he competed to different locations, eventually moving to Annan. In 2018 he entered his name in the annals of the S.N.F.C. when he won the Blue Riband event from Liege. The National winner being four year old Chequer White Flight cock ‘White Nose Bud’, which was 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. The bird that was 3rd Section Ypres is a two year old Blue Chequer hen that was latebred and as such, was unraced as a youngster. It entered the race basket as a yearling and went through the Federation programme to 220 miles. In 2026 it was paired during the third week in February and having reared a pair of youngsters was the put on Roundabout and went through the programme to Billiricay. It was re-paired and went to Ypres covering four day old youngsters. Sire was Willie’s Liege National winner ‘White Nose Bud’. Dam a noted Blue hen that was 4th Open S.N.F.C. Alencon 2022. On that occasion he was actually 4thand 5th Open and such was the form of the loft in 2022, at the close of the season he gained the highly coveted Robert Telfer Award Trophy for the best average from all S.N.F.C. races. Dam of the Blue hen was a direct daughter of David Jamieson’s great hen ‘Rosary Beads’, Sire was what Willie described as his No. 1 Stock Cock ‘DTJ’ containing the very best lines of John Ellis from Elphinstone.     

Section B (191 birds)
1st Section B, W. Kinnear & Son
Winning 1st Section B, 4th Open with a Yearling cock bred by Alan Jones, SNFC junior vice president (Jonesy) and gifted to Barry as a squeaker last year. Bred directly from ‘Valeview Hurricane’ winner of 1st Section YB National, 2nd Section Gold Cup and
8th Section inland national all with the SNFC, when paired to a cock bred by Mark Bulled which is down from Legacy on both sides. The yearling cock now called ‘Jonesy’ flew most of the season on widowhood before being left with his hen after flying 10 hours from the SNFC Billericay race a fortnight earlier. Jonesy also wins the SNFC Yearling trophy awarded to the first yearling on the result.

2nd Section B, G. Turnbull 
Gordon 2nd sec B 5th open Ypres with a Cheq hen nehu23bor1327. The breeding is down through the old powderhall busschaerts of which Gordon still has a few. Not a big hen but she holds her condition well arriving home very tired but was out next morning flying with the youngsters. She had been on roundabout but wasn’t enjoying it so was repaired two days befor basketing. Her last race was Peterborough 240 miles on the 20th June prior to that she had flown Billericay on the 30th May being second club.

3rd Section B, K.B Whitham
Kevin timed his blue white flight cock SU25 4077.
He was sixth open third section Ypres National 2026. He raced consistently all season. He was also 46th Open, 19th Section Brighton National 2026. At the Billericay National 2026 He was 123rd Open. As a young bird he was 40th Open. 28th Section Young Bird National Huntingdon 2025. Grandsire (Ronnie) was purchased at Ronnie Evans sale is a son out of Gibbo's Image.3rd UNC 6.286 birds.33rd UNC 6.490 birds.48th UNC 6.000 birds.52nd UNC 6.000 birds.105th UNC 18.165 birds. Dam of 4077 purchased from Billy Bilsland’s entire clearance sale, out of his  best Gaby Vandenabelles. Bred prize winners with two different cocks.

Section C (121 birds)
1st section C, 1st open, R. Cook
Rory would like to thank his fellow fanciers for taking the time to congratulate him on winning the national. The two year old blue white flight hen is now named ‘Jock’s Dream’. She was mated up mid January. Then after rearing her two youngsters she was separated and flown separated for majority of the old bird racing. She kick started her season with a Otterburn, Hexham, Thirsk, Ackworthmoor, Grantham. Thereafter she competed from the SNFC inland nationals from Kettering and Brighton, where she was 20th section and 70th open Brighton. Rory then remated the hen and entered her in the Billericay inland national sitting on eggs a few days old. He was trying to get her right for entering the Ypres national race. The hen was Rory’s second pigeon clocked from Billericay, just failing to make the open result. She had ten hours and twenty minutes on the wing gearing her up for winning Ypres. The hen was sent to Ypres sitting on a three day old youngster. Rory entered five pigeons, clocking in three. His second bird was fourth section, tenth open. The third bird was 59th open, so overall being a fantastic team performance! As a young bird she had a few races up to 135 miles. Then as a yearling to the SNFC Kettering. The above details show that Rory uses his club and SNFC programme fully to his pigeons advantage. After the pigeons rear their youngsters they are then separated and gradually built up and expected to exercise around the loft for one hour both am and pm. Early season training consists of five tosses up to forty miles, thereafter the only training is around the loft. Jock’s Dream’s sire is a three year old latebred which was home bred from pigeons that have scored from other SNFC races for Rory. The dam is a gift that Rory received from John McRae from Bishopton. This hen went on to fly three national races, winning at the gold cup race on one occasion. John insisted that Rory took this hen as he felt that it would do him some good. Rory has kindly agreed to donate a young bird to the SNFC latebred auction this year from his national winner, Jock’s Dream paired to a son of Hazel who won the section on two consecutive years from the gold cup national from Alencon. Winning fourth then sixth open, being settled to a new loft location in between these two performances. This makes this Rory’s fifth section win from SNFC racing from Guernsey, Upper Heyford, twice from Alencon gold cup and then Ypres. Rory shall now retire his winning hen to the stock loft.

2nd Section C, 2nd open, B. Chalmers
Brian sends his congratulations on to Rory Cook on winning first open from the national. Brian timed his pigeon to take second section he has now named Eloise, after his youngest granddaughter. She was raced on the roundabout system. Flying Darlington, Ripon, Grantham and Kettering with the Fife federation. Thereafter going to Brighton with the national where she was seventh section, 29th open. She then flew Billericay inland national being 15th section and fourth open. Eloise was then rested for a few days then exercised daily. I paired her with her cock on the morning of basketing. Her dam is a daughter off Brian’s Maidstone national winner ‘Cassie Ann Blue’ the dam has 3 national tickets from the SNFC, then retired to stock. The sire of Eloise was bred by his late friend Ronnie Bromner of Sighthill. ‘One and Only’ who was third and fourth SNFC Ypres. Eloise was 21st section Upper Heyford national as a young bird, fortieth section 84th open Huntingdon, 124th open Reading, 8th section 54th open Brighton, 7th section 47th open Billericay and finishing off the season with a second section and second open Ypres national. She was fed and raced on vanroebaeys feeding and pigeon vitality products. Brian would like to thank Willie Aitken and Jim Nicholson for being his loft managers whilst he was recovering from a knee replacement surgery.

3rd Section C, C and G Cameron 
The partnership timed a three year old Blue hen flown on roundabout. She has previously been 2nd Section Upper Heyford as a young bird and two weeks ago was 2nd Section 14th Open SNFC Billericay. Her sire is a son of Branch x The Malfait Hen. Branch was 1st & 3rd Open SNFC Roye. The Malfait Hen is 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 recently including 20th June 1st Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation Billericay, 4th July 1st Section 13th Open SNFC Billericay. Also on the 28th of June another granddaughter was timed on the day at 573 mile to be 2ndSection 4th Open SNFC Alencon. Her dam is Rita winner of 12th Open SNFC Brighton and 5th Open SNFC Falaise. Rita was from Duracell Dorie a great stock bird x a direct daughter of The Castres of Leon Messiaen. Duracell Dorie is from a Keith Bush cock who was 51st Open SNFC Reims x Little Dorrie 3rd Open SNFC Reims.

Section D (76 birds)
1st Section D, J. Ferguson 
Hamish was working flat out at the harvest but still managed to have a fantastic race again. As a young bird he was just trained, as a yearling he had six races, this year he had six races then Kettering, billericay and Ypres with the SNFC. When he came back from Billericay his eggs had hatched and he never left the nest and he just seemed to blow up so he was sent to Ypres.

2nd Section D, J. Strang
Jock timed his yearling blue cock to win section and 15th open, flying 452 miles and 1310 yards.

3rd Section D, P. Keogh 
Peter timed his Blue cock Su25Ca263 flew the Federation Programme to 235 miles as a youngster and did the same this year on Roundabout. After SNRPC Billericay he was paired up, given a few short training spins and sent to Ypres on a three day old YBs. He is bred from 3101 who has always been stock after hitting the wires flying around the loft as a Yearling as he is off Peter’s number one stock cock bred by John Bosworth when paired to the last daughter off Virtues Pride to leave Peter's loft. Dam of 263 is a young hen gifted from Gordon Wilson up in Turriff off his Jan Aarden bloodlines.

Section E ( 134 birds)
1st Section E, W. Watson 
Wullie timed his red cock to win first section E. As a young bird it flew the programme to Darlington. As a yearling it flew out to Retford. This season he had five races up to the club Billericay, before going to Ypres. He was sent to the national driving his hen. The red cock is bred down from Wullie’s own old stock.

2nd Section E, J. Callan 
John timed pigeon blue bar gb 24s 55987  he flew 259 miles as a yearling he was his first pigeon three times out of five races. As a two year old he had Aycliffe 116 miles, Peterborough 258 miles, Billericay with the fed and he was my first pigeon home after 10 hours, to be 7th in the club.sent him to Ypres on his 2nd flight half up and sitting on  chipping eggs, he had 9 / 23 miles training tosses after Billericay. He returned from Ypres missing 2 tail feathers, and inside of his wing ripped out by the peregrine. Sire off his blue cock is from a half brother to 2nd section 40th Arras snrpc 2nd section 4th open Reims snfc. Dam a daughter of Andy Suckle’s good blue cock 4th section 24th open Alencon, 2nd section 44th open Falaise  3rd section 14th open nort-sur-erdre. John sends his congratulations to his good friend William Watson on winning first section.

3rd Section E, D. Hay
Derek Hay of Kirkintilloch, Glasgow timed his four year old Bch cock at 07.02 am to be 3rd sect E 52 nd open flying 456 mls vel 774. This cock was Derek’s timer from Billericay a fortnight earlier and he won 12 th section that day. This is his first time across the water as the last two years he has been hawked in the build up to the bigger races. He was sent sitting 18 day eggs and wasn’t disappointed to return to a newly hatched baby in the nest. Derek says they can’t be disappointed on return as they remember this in future. His breeding is Sire ,full brother to Magic, Derek’s top racer/ breeder. He was mated to a zjak Buwalda hen, a direct daughter of Melinda 1 st international winner. Derek purchased this pigeon through his good friend Gordon Hastie from Berwick. Derek would like to congratulate Willie Watson on a fine section win.

Section F (13 birds)
1st Section F, Stirrat & McKenna
The partnership timed their two year old cock to win the section. As a yearling it had five races, scoring second club. She had flown two inland nationals from Reading and Billericay. This season he had flown five club races then three inland nationals before flying Ypres national. The cock was sent on chipping eggs. The sire was purchased at the RPRA one loft race auction and the dam is a J. Cullen bird.

2nd Section F, M. Luke
Matt timed his three year old pigeon which was bred by his good friend Jim Drummond. They exchange young birds each season. As a young bird he proved to be a steady racer. As a yearling sent to Alnwick and scored first federation. The following week he was third section F SNRPC Billericay. So he has fairly came on as a two year old and into this year.

Section G (46 birds)
1st Section G, G. Wilson
Gordon timed his two year old cheq white flight cock flying 510 miles and 1303 yards to win the section.

2nd section G, M. Main
Timed his two year old Red Hen from Ypres, 476 miles, gaining 2nd North Section when only two birds made it in race time. It was a very hard race. She was sent on a one day old youngster, her first this year. As a young bird she had flown the complete Young Bird programme and the Young Bird National from Kettering, 329 miles. As a yearling she had five club races, then flew Reading with SNFC, 394 miles. This year she had five club races, then Kettering with SNFC, 329 miles, then left to rest with no training, and then sent to Ypres, 476 miles. Her breeding is Sire Red Cock old family crossed with Hagen Bros. Dam is Blue Hen bred from birds given to his by George Taylor of Peterhead after he packed in the sport, bred down from his first section winner from over 660 miles with SNFC. Congratulations and well done to Gordon Wilson gaining first  Section, and to all who timed in.

Congratulations to Rory and his champion hen Jock’s Dream and all the other winners! Once again thank you to all the wonderful people that make this report happen, section A President Michael Currie and Billy Wortley, section B B. Kinnear and J. Roberts, section C K. Cochrane, section D S. Russell, section E J. Lawrie, section F B. Nicol, section G D. Main. 

Mary Thomson SNFC PRO