Turning now from the showpen to the extreme distance Palamos (Spain) to central Ayrshire 1,010 miles. My old academy science teacher Mr W. G. Davidson set the trend of 1,000 miles tests in these parts when his Grizzle hen named Faith held the Scottish record for a time when she homed in eight days to Stevenson.

Henry Mair was three times successful recording an arrival from Palamos although he did not damage Faith's record Henry took 3rd position into Scotland in on of these attempts.

In the summer of 1976 the new Scottish 1,000 mile club convoyed by the British Barcelona Club raced from Palamos were 71 members sent 138 pigeons which were released on 25th June. Two pigeons made race time A. Stewart of Carnoustie won on a 236 velocity, followed by A & A Taylor of Dundee on 155 velocity. Thirty three birds were recorded after the close of the race and the first Ayrshire bird was a Red Chequer Cock named "Ligit" bred and raced by R & H Kennedy of Irvine to be 5th, H Mair was next in at 23rd with W. G. Davidson 33rd.

When it comes to extreme distance there is only one Champion, this is a Red Chequer Cock named "The Conqueror" bred and raced by Alan Raeside of Irvine. The Conqueror covered the 1,009 miles to Clark Drive in just over TWO days flying to return on amazing 687 velocity which represents 24 m.p.h. and is the current record holder, something which will be very difficult to emulate, if ever. Alan also had a grandson of his epic winner recorded from Palamos, true marathons of the sky.

The craze for this type of event soon passed.  The late Colonel Osman editor of the Racing Pigeon once wrote "Distance kills and the more distance the more it kills".

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 yards per minute.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Open Scottish National Flying Club 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

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.

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.

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, he also had a super race record one award in particular was the Fed. Average Trophy which he won umpteen years on the trot.

Tom McCrorie of Galston was a household name his expertise was often penned by "Observer" of the B.H.W.  Tom was 3rd Open in the Rennes race of 1952 if memory serves me correctly with a Blue Chequer Cock timed on the day.

1953 was a special year for two pigeon families plus it was the Queens Coronation year. I refer first to Gordon Richards the champion jockey who himself was a keen pigeon fancier after many years wait eventually won the Epsom Derby on a horse called "Pinza". Well one could say there were similarities when Montgomery Bros. of Catrine won the Blue Riband Race from Rennes the same year as we had to wait 27 years since our county's last  Derby win by McGinn Bros. Close up in 1953 were Lind Bros.of New Cumnock who were 2nd Section 4th Open with a Dark Cock who scored high up the following year.

Season 1958 Davy Murdoch of Prestwick clocked his good Blue Hen to be 1st West Section and 6th Open Rennes 5,116 birds competing, the first five birds were all from the Annan area and she went on to win two Rennes diplomas.

He was a distance man through and through and a gentleman to boot, he would be amongst the first to shake your hand when success came your way.

Robert Thorburn of Ayr came close when timing in the Stafford Y.B. National of 1969 to take 1st Section 3rd Open a truly magnificent effort. The next year the Y.B. National was flown from Cheltenham and Billy Lewis of Girdle Toll the ex Third Lanark and Morton full back did us proud when he won 1st Region and a good open placing.

Culzean Victor was un-raced until he was two years of age being a late second round youngster after his sire was clocked from Rennes. His first year racing his older sister won a hard Cheltenham race and he was our second bird home to be 6th or 7th Club, from that day he never looked back scoring in the club and Goldberry 3-Bird Club.

Within one week our fortunes changed when Hugh clocked our Chequer Cock we named "Culzean Survivor" from Nantes 1973 winning 4th Open and 1st West Section by 58 minutes on a 972 velocity. Survivor went on to collect three S.N.F.C. diplomas and was the sire of R. Richardson & Son 1st Section Chequer Hen named "Wilma".

The same season 1973 the Kilmaurs based fancier Jimmy Fulton who raced through the Crosshouse Club timed a real flyer in the Cheltenham Y.B. National to win 1st West Section and a prominent open prize.

Going to press only one Ayrshire fancier has achieved this honour. J.C. Kennedy of Kilwinning H.S. is the fancier when in 1975 he clocked his two Chequer Cocks within 14 minutes, next morning.  "Dobbie Supreme" arrived first at 6.53am then "Coffee Boy" these two pigeons were named after workmates.

The day of the race Jack Porter who lives North of Blackpool came on the phone to say their pigeons were doing 50 m.p.h. from Nantes. He was not long off the phone when Ralph came on to say he had clocked the Chequer Cock. Doing a mental calculation I said to Ralph your pigeon is about 5 m.p.h. faster than the Blackpool birds, you have a real good one. The rest is now in the history books as Ralph Whyte was the outright winner naming his pigeon "Jubilee Victor" who is the fastest S.N.F.C. Nantes winner on 1648 y.p.m. or 56.2 m.p.h.

Now living in Stewarton, Matt White & Son won the 1980 Rennes race with a Mealy Hen he named "Scotch Queen" and was the only West Section pigeon on the night. Matt had another first, i.e., on Colour Breeding, he bred the unique family of Barless Blues which caused quite a stir with those who studied genetics at that time.

S.N.F.C. Sartilly (No.1) in 1992 was won by Joe Murphy & Son of Fife.  Joe scribed for the B.H.W. for a few years and when the official result was known duly congratulated Stewart Divett of Stewarton who was 1st Section, 2nd Open. This was a Blue Cock bred from a pair of birds his wife purchased from Jim Paterson as a Christmas present for Stewart.

Six years have now passed since we have managed a Region winner from the Nationals. Perhaps this reflects on the decline in membership which is across the sport in the U.K. but in particular here in the West of Scotland. Lets hope the stalwarts who keep sending hit the jackpot ere long with one of their Brave-Heart pigeons.

The A.R.B. Trophy is akin to the football Sportsman of the Year Award. It is a lovely silver salver put up in memory of that great lady of our sport Anne Ross Bowes who was first and foremost a top fancier who wrote a column for the British Homing World. To win this award you have to be nominated and a panel of Top fanciers then judge the nominees by their race performances, what they have done on the administration side or simply someone who works away in the background in other words a fancier who has put something into the sport. In 1981 yours truly was the choice of the panel of judges possibly via performances and bringing the sport to the fancy through my weekly articles in "The Racing Pigeon". Whatever it was it gave me great pleasure as I looked on this award as something the fancy thought of the recipient, to date the youngest person to win this award.