the-scottish-nationa..

the racing pigeon recreation, has, like many other recreations been losing members to changes in
life styles, however with the SNRPC,s outlook that it would be prepared to accept members of
any recognised association with lofts situated within Scotland the doors would always be open to
all fanciers of what ever denomination, this has proved to be correct and the SNRPC has seen its
membership remain at around approximatley 400 right up to the present time, when many other
similar clubs are losing membership at alarming rates.
In 2005 the SNRPC had organised a full race programme, beginning with Newbury the inland
National, then Alencon our Premier Gold Medal race, Cholet our longest channel race, then
Falaise the last channel race and finally Leciester, our Young Bird Open. In this our first
inaugural year we had 1541 entries at Newbury entered by some 300 plus members, 762 entries
at Alencon entered by 186 members, 66 members entered just short of 200 birds for Cholet, 908
entries for Falaise from 162 members and 873 entries in the young bird open from114 members,
the Committee were more than delighted at these entries but were even more delighted by the
historic performances achieved by the members and their pigeons. Setting a record that may
never be repeated, was Walker & Wilson of St Abbs who, achieved 1 st open Newbury with
“Shore new era” 313 miles and the silver medal, then 1 st open Alencon our premier Gold medal
race with ace pigeon “Shore 61” flying 530 miles and the Gold Medal. From Falaise this
partnership then won 1 st open flying with “Shore Gem” 500 miles winning their second silver
medal, then, amazingly in the young bird open they timed their first bird from Leicester to win
1 st open and their third silver medal flying 231 miles and a velocity of 1463 four first opens and
the gold medal and 3 silver medals, was a phenomenal performance and produced by a
partnership that was already established national distance winners. From Cholet more was to
come with Mr & Mrs Chris Littles of East Riggs Annan, having the only Pigeon timed on the
day into Scotland, winning 1 st Open the silver medal and a special prize from the Cumbria
Combine and the North West of England with whom our birds had been liberated with. This
special Blue hen had a velocity of 1334 flying 554 miles and must have been in the first 10 birds
within the overall liberation a special performance.
Our first young Bird open was from Leicester and Walker & Wilson of St Abbs were the winners
with Adam Luke of the partnership Luke & Peters taking 2 nd open and on the 3 rd open position
was Mel Bel Jnr, with Stewart Roberts of Ayton coming in at 4 th open. This young bird race was
a fairly fast affair for the leading pigeons, even after a 2 day hold over, all sections timed pigeons
with reasonable returns.
2005 saw the SNRPC introduce Wednesday basketing for the Premier channel race, and
basketing for the young bird Open on the Friday instead of Thursday both races giving the birds
one day less in the baskets. Mr & Mrs Chris Little of Annan won the extreme average for
Alencon and Cholet as well as the average in section A. The Late Jimmy Keir in Partnership
with his wife Jessie won the Overall average Decanter for the four old bird races and also the
Sculpted glass award for the best average in section C. John McNeil in section D had an
exceptional year winning four Bronze section medals and the section Average Mr and Mrs Davy
Elloit of Newbigging won the section E Average award which included a great 5 th open from
Falaise. Section B Average winner was to John Bell of Tranent In section F there was no
Average winner but Ian Ross of Glasgow won 2 section Bronze medals for Alencon and Cholet
and from section C for 2 nd open Cholet was Pete Patrick winning the John Trail Trophy for best