This short story is of the kind which any correspondent would travel miles to pen because it is about success and more important still, it is about life itself. Some three months ago Andrew Savage, "Wee Andy" as he is known to the Ayrshire pigeon fraternity, underwent a major heart operation.  A few days later an adjustment had to be made, then steadily Andy was on his way back to health. Meantime son Jim, 16 years of age, was both loftman and errand boy in his spare time (still at school sitting highers ). By now Mrs Savage was free from travel with Andy home again but still not allowed out of doors. Racing had started with the opener flown from Annan and Jim's first attempt was better than most, finishing in the top half of the result in the strong Kilwinning HS -. 80 members.

The next race was for the "British Heart Foundation Trophy" from Stainton and it was here young Jim delighted himself and his family by topping Ayrshire Federation when the entry

was 5,013 birds, winning the

The Goldmine

coveted trophy when he clocked their Cheq pied five year old cock, better known in Kilwinning as "The Goldmine in the Sky". This grand pigeon has won twelve nominations and more than £300 in club racing. This alone was correct medicine for a speedy recovery but happy to say, there was more yet.  The team of A Savage & Son gave a repeat performance the following week, this time it was a two year old Cheq pied, son of the Stainton trophy winner,  which took pride of place 1st Club, 1st Fed, with 4,600 birds.

29th April was the date 10.45am the time and Carlisle the place where 3,424 birds were released in a south east wind for the second race on the card.  A fast race was the order of the day, but alas with that dreaded east in the wind losses were expected and we were not let down. This was the Federation's first major trophy race, the  "British Heart Foundation Trophy" and for the first yearling timed the  "Anonymous Trophy".  The winner of both these prizes was A Savage & Son of Kilwinning HS.  The BHF trophy was first raced for in 1977 and it was then that Andy had open heart surgery for a bypass operation and the records show the first recipient of this marvelous trophy was none other than the above.

Past Winners From The Abbeyton Lofts

He could only watch from his bedroom window as his son Jim timed the famous pied cock. This bird broke the hearts of the Kilwinning fanciers as it won the pools and nominations week after week after week.  After this loft had won a barrow load of 1st prizes over the following years, disaster struck Andy again and he had to receive an emergency operation in order to save his life.  However the fairytale continues as that young boy of 1977, now a young man with his own family, was there to make sure the fairytale came true.  In 1995 the winning velocity was 1748 and the full brother to the Fed topper was 7th Fed on 1738.  The winner a yearling cock feeding a 3 day youngster.  These two pigeons were bred down from R McDonald of Fraserburgh.