John McNeil started racing pigeons in 1972 in partnership with his father "Harry", where he gained the art of successful breeding and racing top quality homing pigeons. 

Flying as H McNeil & Son they won many first prizes in Kilwinning club and Ayrshire Federation , from distances of 60 miles to 500 miles

Grown to love the sport John built his own loft in 1986 and flew his first season in Kilwinning with birds gifted to him by his father and the local fanciers. It was the following year that John went on to win his first race,  The Ayrshire Open race from  Annan - 72 miles, and from that day on John has never looked back winning many top racing prizes up to 500 miles.   John now breeds and races a team of Van Den Bosch and Hartog pigeons the widowhood method where the birds are separated during the racing season. This system has proven very successful for John of Broomfield Lofts for many years winning Club, Federation and Combine first prizes. 

Returning to our first race on the new route from Kelso I think it would be fair to say it was won by one of the best inland pigeons in Ayrshire at present. I refer to a 3yo chequer cock aptly named "The Rocket" owned and raced by John McNeil, " Broomfield Lofts " of Kilwinning HS. This pigeon topped Ayrshire Fed on 1286.2 vel for the 89 miles from a field of almost 1,600 pigeons. He has been 1st Club on three occasions and has two 1st Feds to his credit. John tells me he could have won at least another two events but comes home full of himself clapping around the loft before alighting. Oh, and he has also topped the West Coast Combine from Northallerton. He is a VDB bred by Alistair Kerr from pigeons purchased from Ken Darlington of Barry, Glamorgan, and is raced on Widowhood. At 3yo I am certain there are a good few wins in this fine specimen. Well Done John.