CHAPTER 8

"NATIONAL HERO'S ALL"

In this section of our heritage the emphasis is on the County of Ayrshire.  I have purposely expressed County because while some now race with neighbouring Federations many originally were members of Ayrshire Federation and it would be remiss of me to pass them by without a mention.  Lets begin with the first ever race the Scottish National Committee organised from Dublin in 1894 where 92 birds were entered, this event was won by G & H Hamilton of Govan.  The first Ayrshire pigeon was clocked by Mr T. Begg of West Kilbride, however he was disqualified for wiring to his club secretary instead of the National secretary Mr J. H. Johnstone, but for this he would have finished 15th Open on a 1000 velocity.  In the National second year W. S. Andrews of Monkton struck gold winning the Thurles race on the Irish route on a 1049 velocity and 116 birds took part.  This victory must have given the county fanciers a surge of encouragement.  Well if it was encouragement they needed W. S. Andrews repeated the dose when he was 2nd Open in the Skibbereen National of 1902 this time 270 entries faced the starter.  As mentioned in an earlier chapter the craze for longer races became more adventurous and the Scottish fancy turned to the English route.  By 1905 the S.N.F.C. had ventured as far as Guernsey and in the 1906 National from the same race-point Muir Bros. of Newmilns were 3rd Open in a stiff race with a 837 velocity.  One year on the same Muir Bros. hit the jackpot when their Blue Pied Hen called "Lady Mary" was 1st Open on a 762 velocity.  In his writings for The Racing Pigeon secretary Will Anderson under the pen name "Westward Ho" helped to enroll more fanciers to join these channel races.  By 1910 the S.N.F.C. had ventured into the very heartland of France and staged their first Rennes race.  One year later Dalry fancier J. Henderson was 2nd Open on a 697 velocity beaten by two y.p.m. 

Then came the big one which I elaborated on in the chapter headed "Rennes on the Shift" which is worth repeating i.e. Rennes 1912, 1st Open Tom Paton of Galston, 2nd Open going to the New Cumnock partnership of Nicol & Crawford, yes 500 miles on the day in just three attempts.  The 1914-18 war then intervened and it was 1920 before channel racing returned to something nearing normality.

It was 1923 before the next Ayrshire names appeared in the top frame.  H. Kennedy & Son of Annick Lodge timed their Blue Cock "Lodge Star" to be 2nd Open on a 1478 velocity with Tom Paton the 1912 winner third with his hen "Orchard Queen.".  The race was won by White & Dickson of Paisley ten yards ahead of Lodge Star with a Grizzle Cock and Tom Paton was third. 

1st, 2nd and 3rd Open S.N.F.C. Rennes 1923

These pictures are unique in as much that not many fanciers had their good pigeons photographed and here we have a trio of the 1923 leaders

"Scotch King" 

"Lodge Star"

"Orchard Queen"

After a one day hold over in 1926 the birds were released on the Saturday and there were no day pigeons.  The race was won by Dundee fancier D. McInroy.  McGinn Bro. of New Cumnock were faithful Christian people so no sport was entertained on the Sabbath their faith being similar to that of our famous sportsman Eric Liddell as portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire.  When the McGinn Bros. pigeon arrived some time was lost before a fellow fancier was on hand to time it in, the end result being this brave pigeon was 3rd Open.  One year later 1927 the McGinn Brothers were rewarded when their Blue Chequer Cock was 1st Open Rennes against 2,046 pigeons.  This cock was raced on the Widowhood System which was in its infancy in Scotland in those days.

Messrs. McGinn Bros.  New Cumnock 1st Rennes S.N.F.C.  1927.  999 velocity, 2046 Birds

"The Vixen"

The first Nantes National was tried in 1932 and was won by a Dark Pied Hen named "The Vixen" she was bred and raced by Capt. Leslie of Gourock.

Three years on and Ayrshire had an outstanding result in the Nantes race, there were only two day pigeons clocked, both to New Cumnock fanciers.  The partnership of Rorison & Sweden won on a 1041 velocity with H. Mackie on 1013.

The S.N.F.C. had their first major set back in 1936 as far as racing goes, the Rennes race was declared a "Smash" and all the prizes were not won.  Reid Bros.. timed their Pied Hen " Fergus Lass" around noon on the second day to be 6th Open, a sterling performance under the conditions.  She proved this was no fluke, over the next two Rennes races she was 42nd and 112th Open winning a total of £358 which I am informed could have bought two new bungalows in the Kilwinning Road, they were selling at £130 each.

"Fergus Lass"  Blue Cheq. Pied  S.H.U. 34A 7451  Flown S.N.F.C. Rennes - winning 6th 1936, 42nd 1937, 112th 1938   Reid Bros.

The same year 1936 Capt. Leslie was back in at Nantes to take 2nd Open, Super flying into one of the most unfavourable locations in Scotland.  By now National racing in Scotland had taken the sport and the S.N.F.C. were the envy of many other organisations in the U.K.

Throughout the 1930's the Rennes race enjoyed an entry of 4,000 plus every year, this from a population of around 5 million people was amazing when one considers Football and Fishing were the two major sports and still are today.

The Nearest we have come to a Photo-Finish came in the 1937 Nantes race when Andrew Neil of Lugar won on a 775.7 velocity just piping M. Thorburn of Lockerbie who's pigeon made a 775.5 velocity.  Andrew named his pigeon "Lugar's Pride".

Flying the flag for Ayrshire in the Rennes race of 1938 were Whiteford Bros. of Kilbirinie who were 2nd Open while John Donald of Inverkip was 3rd Open.  John had one of the finest teams of Osman's outside the masters own lofts.  The late Jim Paterson was a frequent visitor to Inverkip lofts and obtained some of John's best.  Jim Paterson said many of his winning Blue Bars came through these Osman lines.

After the second World War it took the fancy a few years to be restored to its former glory.  The Rennes - St. Jacques race in 1947 the birds were convoyed by Air from London, however it was not until 1951 that the convoy exceeded 4,000 again when Johnny Cook was 3rd Open and secretary of Ballochmyle Federation, for a time, he also had a super race record one award in particular was the Fed. Average Trophy which he won umpteen years on the trot.

Home

National Hero's All  - Continued