THE RACING PIGEON 29 SEPTEMBER 2023
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National tickets being 56th Section 124th Open Newbury, 21st Section 367th Open Eastbourne and 304th Open Bovingdon. His sire, which was incidentally the second pigeon to the loft from Marlborough also gained three National positions being 4th Section YB National, 264th Open Eastbourne and 16th Section 27th Open Alencon. The sire and grand sire of these pigeons was a 2001 blue cock that was an exchange youngster from Rab Bunch and Son, Bobby from Strathaven. Kenny raced a 2004 blue cock that was home bred, containing the loft’s established lines and was an absolute topper. It scored six times with the SNFC and won an SNFC Bronze
their eighth arrival on 1286ypm. The following week local fanciers competed from the Federation YB Open Federation race from Stafford and they were one again right at the front, they had four in a drop and were 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th East Section and Open Federation. It must be emphasised that Brenda is most certainly not a partner in name only but actively works with the pigeons. During the season past she has worked the young birds while Johnny was at his place of work, they are responsive to her commands and I was told that she uses a whistle and fantail to trap them. The partners reside in the country, two miles north of Lockerbie and whilst it’s a really nice place to stay it is not the most favourable place to race pigeons to as they have to live with the common raptors including the Sparrowhawk, Goshawk and Peregrine. Having formerly worked with tradi- tional bloodlines on the conventional method, Johnny read about what other fanciers were achieving with modern bloodlines and made contact with a very successful loft in England to purchase stock and and acquired from them examples of the Willy Jacobs, Van den Bulck and Romein Klein families. The Romein Klein lines, being based on the family of Stewart Knowles. Johnny and Brenda initially purchased pigeons or stock and were so pleased with the offspring that they produced that they made further contact with the breeders and purchased further examples of
and describes Alec as his mentor. Having kept birds from the early 1950’s he was invited to Guy Barrett’s loft in 1963 and was gifted a blue and red cock. He thereafter attended any sale that Guy Barrett put pigeons in and bought them and was also gifted occasional pigeons by Alec Mollkin. Whilst in Belgium on an organ- ised trip, he purchased a cock from Pauw Brothers, from their National winner that proved to be a real ‘topper’, it left a number of good pigeons including a particular cock named ‘500’ that won out of turn and impor- tantly produced winners direct and in subse- quent generations. George then purchased another quality pigeon from Jos Deno and when he coupled the Pauw Brothers line into the Jos Deno line he immediately produced pigeons to perform from the channel, indeed the first pigeon bred from this pairing flew the Channel three times as a yearling from 400, 500 and 350 miles. Prior to moving to Scotland he sold the majority of his pigeons but impor- tantly retained examples of the lines mentioned, which formed the base of his ‘new’ team. On moving to Lockerbie he spoke to friend Robert Rome who arranged for local fancier David McDonald to build him an 18 foot loft. George subsequently arranged for fellow Club member, Michael Currie to build him two further sheds, which are set out compactly in the form of a ‘U’. Birds are basically worked on the Natural system, with variation to provide
the recent National. It should be said that George’s YB team, which basically contain the same lines, have flown ever so well this season. From the Federation Open race from Stafford for example, he had seven of a drop and was 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th East Section and Open Federation with his first arrival recording a velocity of 1456.2ypm and his seventh pigeon recording a velocity of 1455.4ypm. The pigeon that was 5th Section from the YB National is a blue hen that was amongst the leading arrivals to the loft from every race. It is a Dirk Van Den Bulck having been home bred from direct stock purchased from P & D Racing and Breeding Stud. It was bred in February and worked on Darkness. It was flying to the perch but showing to young cocks. It was in good feather having gone through a total body moult and went to the race with a full wing. The week previous to the National, members of the Solway Federation competed from the Federation Open race from Stafford, with the convoy being released at 10.45am into a light SE wind. Johnny & Brenda Morgan from Lockerbie had four in a drop to be 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th East Section and Open Federation with the four birds recording velocities of 1462.3, 1462, 1461.7 & 1461.4ypm. Close behind was George Firth, also from Lockerbie who was 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th East Section and Open Federation with his first arrival recording a velocity of 1456.2ypm and his seventh pigeon recording a velocity of 1455.4ypm. Stanley Boyd from Dumfries Flying Club was 1st, 2nd & 7th West Section Fed on 1337, 1334 & 1316ypm. Karl Guenther & Grandson Lewis from Brydekirk West were 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th & 9th West Section Fed, their first arrival on 1317ypm and their fifth arrival on 1249ypm. T Varcoe from Nith Valley was 5th West Section Fed on 1277ypm with Mervyn Halliday, also from Nith Valley, 10th West Section on 1248ypm. The following are the winners in the indi- vidual Clubs. Dennis Anderson Jnr led the way in Annan on 1384ypm with Mr & Mrs Les Mitchell 2nd and 3rd. Scott Irving took the first three positions in Brydekirk , his winner on 1407ypm. Stanley Boyd timed the first three arrivals into Dumfries Flying Club , his winner on 1337ypm. John Hodgson took the first two positions in Eastriggs , his winner on 1400ypm, Gordon Turnbull was 3rd. Alistair Little led the way in Hoddom on 1416ypm, Jimmy Dalgliesh was 2nd & 3rd. Billy Irving headed the result in Langholm on 1374ypm, with Braben and Stewart 2nd & 3rd. Johnny & Brenda Morgan took the first three positions in Lockerbie , his leading arrival on 1462ypm. T Varcoe headed the result in Nith Valley on 1277ypm, Mervyn Halliday was 2nd & 3rd. The pigeon that was 1st East Section, 1st Open Federation from Stafford for Johnny & Brenda Morgan is a Romein Klein blue cock, which is impeccably bred. He was bred from a blue chequer cock that won 2x1st this year as a yearling. This cock is a grandson of ‘Bentley’ and ‘Quick Silver’ on one side and ‘Starboy’ and ‘National Wonder’ on the other side. Dam contains the lines of ‘Quick Silver’ and ‘Super Leeuwinneke’. I was informed that same lines have bred RPRA Hotspot One Loft Race winner in 2022 and 2023. This is obviously a team of real quality pigeons and in the weeks ahead I’ll compile a profile report on Johnny & Brenda Morgan for our Journal with photo- graphs. Nominated pigeons competed from Stafford in the Federation Gold Ring Race, which is organised annually by Stephen Allen. Johnny & Brenda Morgan from Lockerbie HS won the race with Karl Guenther & Grandson from Brydekirk (West) 2nd. This concludes the 2023 race season. I thank all people who have assisted me with information throughout the season, which has enabled me to compile regular articles providing details of local winners. I particularly thank Michael Currie who has provided me with photographs of the local fanciers who have featured in the first three in the Section Prize List from the respective Nationals.
Kenny Thomson.
Award. In 2005 it was 30th Section 148th Open Newbury. In 2007 it was 24th Section 34th Open Newbury, 11th Section 32nd Open Maidstone and 203rd Open Eastbourne. In 2008 it was 240th Open Newbury and two weeks later was 4th Section 42nd Open Eastbourne. In 2009 he was 2nd Open SNFC Newbury with the pigeon also securing an SNFC Bronze Award. It was a blue cock and was another fine performer. It was a Soontjens, bred from a stock pair that were received as a gift from Brian Clennon from Staithes, the same way bred as Brian’s 2001 UNC YB National winner ‘Libby’, which headed the convoy from an entry of 16,795 birds. The blue cock went through the programme as a youngster and was 1st Club, 8th Fed from Stafford. As a yearling he was worked on the Widowhood method and raced steady. In 2008 he was 1st Leyland, 1st Lymm and 4th Cheltenham in Lockerbie Club. He then competed from the Inland Nationals with the SNFC and was 49th Section 116th Open Newbury and 307th Open Eastbourne. In 2009 he was 5th Appleby, 2nd Leyland, 1st Lymm, 4th Stafford, 4th Coventry and 1st Windrush. He then went to Newbury and was 2nd Open National. The pigeon that was 3rd Section from the recent National is a red hen that was bred in February and worked on Darkness. It raced through the Federation programme to Stafford and was ‘always there or there about’. It was home bred from two stock birds intro- duced into the shed. Sire is a mealy cock that contains the lines of Alec Allison from Carnwath and was obtained from Alec’s daughter, Kirsty. It should be understood that Alec Allison had a team of quality pigeons, including Kirkpatrick’s and bred meaningful birds for several very prominent Scottish fanciers. Dam of the pigeon that was 3rd Section National was bred by Jim Hannah and contains several noted Dutch long distance pigeons in the pedigree including Dunkere Theelan ‘Dutch Princess’, ‘King’ and ‘Queen’. Johnny & Brenda Morgan from Lockerbie were 4th Section. At the outset I make the point that the partners 2023 team of young- sters have raced ever so well, from a recent race from Lymm they were 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th East Section and Open Federation, their first arrival on 1288ypm and
Johnny & Breda Morgan outside their loft.
the families mentioned to race. Derick, Ian and Dave, their new friends from South of the Border, have been ever so helpful, they have kept in regular contact with Johnny and Brenda and have kindly advised them how to work and importantly how to feed the new acquisitions. The pigeon that was 4th Section YB National a dark chequer Romein Klein cock that was bred in February and was worked on the Darkness method. It went through the Federation programme to Stafford and went to the race in good feather, flying to the perch. Sire is a grandson of ‘Bentley’ when paired to ‘Copy Starlight’. Discerning readers will know that ‘Bentley’ is a grandson of top breeder ‘Zeus’ with the Dam being ‘023’ winner of 1st Creil against 17,256 birds. Dam of the 4th Section YB National is a Romein Klein x Heremans-Ceusters. George Firth from Boreland, north of Lockerbie was 5th Section. Prior to moving to Lockerbie, George lived at Leeds and was involved in the administration side of our hobby. He was Secretary and Delegate of Bramley Club in Leeds, Aire and Wharfdale Combine and Leeds Amal. He was also President of Mid Yorkshire Combine and along with Tony Oates was one of the prime movers in the formation of the Combine. George speaks of his friendship with the late Alec Mollkin who was loft manager to Guy Barrett
motivation. Over the years he has achieved a number of successes including being 1st Open YB National in 2014 and 1st Section 4th Open in 2016. The 2014 YB National winner was a home bred blue hen named ‘My Way’. Dam of the winner was a hen that additionally bred the loft’s Section winner from the 2012 YB National. It was bred by Ronnie Evans from Sunderland out of blue hen ‘Tilly’ when paired to chequer pied cock ‘354’ that gained 3x1st Club, 2x1st Fed and 1st Section against 4,000+ birds. There were a host of winners in the pedigree of ‘354’ including ‘Simply the Best’ and the ‘Amal Hen’. ‘Tilly’ gained 4x1st Club, 2x1st and 1x2nd Fed and 1st Section from an entry of 6,000+ birds. ‘Tilly’ was bred from ‘Frank’ and Miss Partis’, which were both prolific winners. Sire of the 2014 YB National winner was a blue cock that was bred by Wall, Lunt & Green. His sire was obtained direct from Andreas Drapa bred direct from his No. 1 Cock ‘Champ’. Paternal grand dam of the 2014 winner was bred direct from Wall, Lunt & Green’s ‘Adonis’, which was a superb breeder, being sire of two times Provincial winner, ‘The Promise’ and many other winners in the UK. From the foregoing our readers will observe that George goes out of his way to acquire ‘best bloodlines’ and this can be seen in the lineage of the pigeon that was 5th Section from
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