Abbeyton lofts - Mr & Mrs J Savage Racing Pigeons

CHAPTER 6

"MEN OF THEIR TIME"

In this part of our heritage I will attempt to expand on fanciers who were household names in their halcyon days. The Tom Nisbet Memorial Trophy was put forward in memory of that other great Galston fancier of the pre 1914-18 era. Tom Nisbet was an outstanding racer in a very competitive club, he also liked to venture to the big Open Shows as far as London and Birmingham. In the H.P. National Shows of 1914-15 he came home with some good prizes, one of his crack birds at that time was a Blue Chequer Cock

This photo was taken from a 1903 advert by Tom Nisbet of Galston. The Blue Chequer Cock on the left bred in 1903 scored from Southport then kept for stock. He won 49 x 1st prizes in the showpen and is the sire of "Defender II" the cock on the right who won H.P. Cup and was reserve Champion at the H.P. Open Show in Birmingham.

Joe and Willie Weeks of Crosshouse were both super pigeon men and workers for the sport. Joe took on the roll of reserve conveyor in 1920 and the following year was upgraded to chief, he held this post for the next five years. At one point they raced as Weeks Brothers and were top prize winners on a good number of times. In the late twenties they had a Red Chequer Cock named "Red Shadow" and H. Kennedy and Sons also had a Red Chequer Cock which they named "Golden Arrow" for four years they took turn about beating each other from S.N.F.C. Rennes having made the open result at least twice each. There was a common bond here as it was the Kennedy's who bred the dam of "Shadow". John Weeks, Joe's son showed me a gold medal won by the Weeks Brothers in 1921 in Crosshouse Club for the combined averages. John said there is a story behind this medal. The winners had to deposit £5 with the secretary before they got it home for one year. Joe and Willie did not have the £5 between them, a younger non-fancier brother stepped in with the deposit.
		Willie Weeks of Crosshouse Club a master fancier in his heyday.
Crosshouse Club was formed in 1911 and is still in good shape today their oldest member is Wm. McDill from Dreghorn must be one if not the longest serving member in the Federation today. John Weeks has in his possession one of the early metal rings which is real quality it reads SU.18.A.603. Johnny Brown had a close affinity with the Weeks family and continued to win out of turn with this par excellent family of pigeons for years after the brothers passing. Sadily as I pen these lines Johnny himself is in hospital hence the lack of information on performances. One result which comes to mind not so long ago was when Johnny then racing with his son Tom, topped the Federation from the last inland race which I may add turned out to be a dour affair. When I congratulated them and took a photograph, behind them was a hue of colour from a flower bed, it was then I was informed Johnny and his brother were masters in the Open Flower Shows as well, true men of nature. Kilwinning H.S. came into being in 1906-07 and has had its fair share of class one fanciers:- Reid Brothers, Sanny Sim, Muir Brothers, Alex Gillespie, Palmer Brothers, John Digby, Alex Wales, Archie Gibson & Sons, Andy Savage and J.C. Kennedy all spring to mind having met with success over a fifty year span. The 1936 Rennes race went down as a Smash when all the prizes were not won. Jock Russell of Lanarkshire was the outright winner on a 809 velocity and over 100 y.p.m. separated the top three pigeons. Reid Brothers were 6th Open with their Pied Hen named "Fergushill Lass" which I will describe in the next chapter. Fergushill was a small village one mile East of Kilwinning and it was here too the Sim's Digby's and Muir's all learned their trade.

		Robert and Jimmy Muir in particular were winning their fair share when the writer started taking a keen interest in the sport. Robert or Wee Rab as he was often referred to tends their tomato houses while Jimmy had his own coal delivery service. Archie Gibson & Sons bred a Blue Cock which was later named "Blue Jock" which was three times in the first fifty Open Rennes prizes. Around the same time Alex Wales had a Red Cock which had an up and down career as a youngster.
James & Robert Muir

At the yearling stage he faired no better having been adrift twice for two days in the early races. He was given a rest then prepared for Cheltenham, it was reputed that Alex Wales said the Red Cock was on his last chance, he came out and won his club in a canter with a high Federation position and from that day he never looked back. This good cock too scored three times from Rennes after this and his total winnings were over £1.300. If not the first he was certainly amongst those who were to win in excess of £1000 pounds. Alex's Red Cock also won the Dol race at two years of age.