As many of you will know the SHU presentation is held in conjunction with my sporting challenge evening and this has been a great success not only with amount of people attending but with the majority top pigeon men who appreciate good pigeons and the SHU presentation is all about highlighting the top pigeons in Scotland in 2011. President Ian Noble has the task of highlighting each pigeon and trophy they win and I have gone over these and added some more information to highlight the quality of pigeons who have won these honours.

We start off with the main award the Dewar Trophy for the Bird of the Year in the SHU this was won by Jock King of Kirkcaldy with his 4 year old chequer cock “Jock’s Choice” who won 1st region C 14th open SNFC Messac with 1159 birds entered by 385 members; flying 577 miles 737 yards and recording a velocity of 1159; “Jock’s Choice” also went to SNFC Clermont and won 24th region C 58th open against 1741 birds entered by 356 members flying 523 miles 1015 yards recording a velocity of 1228. This cock has previously won 49th region C 140th open SNFC Eastbourne in 2009 and 18th region C 135th open SNFC Bovington & 8th region C 42nd open SNFC Reims in 2010. He is also a SNFC SILVER AWARD WINNER in 2011 having won 3 times from France. It was a delighted Jock King who came forward to receive the top award and he received an overwhelming response from the fanciers present.

Runner up to the Dewar Trophy is another exceptional Fife pigeon belonging to George & Brian Hunter of Dunfermline she is a 4 year old blue hen known as “Kingdom Spirit” and this year she won 2nd region C 31st open SNFC Messac with 1159 birds entered by 385 members; flying 573 miles 1315 yards and recording a velocity of 582 in this very hard race; “Kingdom Spirit” also went to SNFC Clermont and won 31st region C 69th open against 1741 birds entered by 356 members flying 524 miles 391 yards recording a velocity of 1741. This blue hen has previously won 7th region C 26th open SNFC Reims & 2nd region C 30th open SNFC Clermont in 2010 winning the Dewar Trophy for these performances so she is now the winner and runner up in 2 years for the top award in Scotland well done to George & Brian; again they also received a wonderful ovation from the fanciers present who appreciate a good pigeon.

The Ogilvie trophy for the best individual performance obtained in 2011 by a single pigeon was won by Andy Miller of Edinburgh whose 2 year old chequer white flight cock “Pole Position” won 1st open SNFC Ypres against 2347 birds and recorded a velocity of 1330 for the 434 miles 284 yards winning the national by 21 yards flying 32 miles further than the 2nd bird.

This cock has previously won 65th region B 131st open SNFC Eastbourne and 6th region B 14th open SNFC Ypres so is another very good pigeon.

The Unikon trophy for the outstanding performance by a young bird in 2011 was won by Helen Aitken & sons of Musselburgh whose dark chequer youngster won 1st Newark a distance of 215 miles 1405 yards recording a velocity of 1544 against 433 birds; this pigeon was also 3rd federation the previous week from Selby a distance of 167 miles 1027 yards recording a velocity of 1157 from a birdage of 864. With the exception of the first race she completed the young bird programme coming to the fore in the longer races.

The Mr & Mrs Joe Murphy trophy for the Champion Young Bird achieved on performances was won by Eddie & Kelly of Wishaw whose blue pied young cock won 2nd club Kelso against 899 birds; 3rd section (2314 birds) 18th open Lanarkshire federation (7332 birds) flying 58 miles 610 yards recording a velocity of 1254. From Hexham he won 4th club (922 birds); 4th section (2132 birds) 17th open Lanarkshire federation (6708 birds) flying 90 miles 1544 yards recording a velocity of 1063. From Sedgefield he won the lot being 1st club (654 birds); 1st section (1644 birds) 1st open Lanarkshire federation (4550 birds) flying 125 miles 226 yards recording a velocity of 1298.

The British Homing World trophy for the lowest winning velocity in Channel races won by W & H Holland from Chryston near Glasgow won Their grizzle 3 year old hen won 1st region E 1st west section (by 2 hours) 15th open SNFC Tours flying 625 miles 1245 yards against 236 birds entered by 110 members recording a velocity of 869; Billy received a resounding ovation from the company.

The Celtic Cup for best performances up to 300 miles won by father George; son William and grandson Paul MacAloney of Coatbridge their winner known as “Supermac 11” is a blue 3 year old cock who won the following positions;

1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 730 birds Otterburn a distance of 85 miles 520 yards recoding a velocity of 1487; he also won 1st centre section (1586 birds) 1st Lanarkshire federation 5174 birds. From Sedgefield he won 7th Lanarkshire Social Circle 1329 birds a distance of 132 miles 64 yards recording a velocity of 1869.

From Thirsk he won 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 1141 birds; 1st centre section 2444 birds; 1st Lanarkshire federation 6942 birds from a distance of 155 miles 671 yards recording a velocity of 1155. From Peterborough he won 7th Lanarkshire Social Circle from an entry of 581 birds flying 274 miles 1311 yards recording a velocity of 1186. As you can see Supermac 11 is some pigeon being the winner of Lanarkshire Social Circle Bird of the Year 2010 and runner up for the same award in 2011. He has previously won 1st federation 6972 birds with a velocity of 1155; 1st federation 6937 birds for a velocity of 1141 & 1st federation 5307 birds with a velocity of 1171; he has also won 1st section 2154 birds & 1st section 1638 birds. He is also the winner of 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 1271 birds; 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 659 birds & 9th Lanarkshire Social Circle 1242 birds.

“Supermac 11” is only the 2nd bird ever to top the Lanarkshire Fed on 4 different occasions equalling the record set by “Supermac” a Busscheart cock also raced by George; Willie & Paul MacAloney in the mid 1980’s.

As a matter of interest a full sister to “Supermac 11” was S.H.U. young bird of the year in 2007 and full brothers and sisters have topped the Lanarkshire federation in 2008; 2009 and this year 2011. Four different brothers and sisters have won the following for the partnership; 1st fed 4082 birds; 2nd fed 4082 birds (arriving with fed winner); 2nd fed 6708 birds (arriving with fed winner); 5th fed 6370 birds (arriving with fed winner); 1st section 1404 birds; 2nd section 1404 birds; 2nd section 1976 birds; 4th section 1950 birds & 1st Lanarkshire Social Circle 720 birds; 2nd Lanarkshire Social Circle 720 birds; 2nd Lanarkshire Social Circle 683 birds; 4th Lanarkshire Social Circle 683 birds & 6th Lanarkshire Social Circle 851 birds.

A full sister “Super 11” is grand dam to Alex Blyth’s “Dura” winner of 1st region 1st West Section SNFC Eastbourne 2011 and “Dura” is the sire to Billy King’s “Countdown Cock” winner of 1st section 1st open Lanarkshire fed Eastbourne 2011 timing in 10 minutes before his father “Dura” won 1st west section in the national.

Sire of “Supermac 11” is the “Young Bandit” bred by M & D Evans direct from “De Bandit”, Dam of “Supermac 11” is “Shady Lady” a direct daughter of “Shadow”. This pair of birds is responsible for winners at federation; combine and national level in Scotland and England. A truly outstanding family of pigeons and a very proud Willie MacAloney came forward to receive the Celtic trophy from Dr Lynch and received a great reception from the company.

The Friendship Yearling Trophy for outstanding performances by a yearling in 2011 was won by Morris Brothers of Johnstone in Renfrewshire; their yearling chequer cock won 52nd region F SNFC Marlborough flying 325 miles 1262 yards recording a velocity of 740. Then from SNFC Eastbourne they won 1st region F 255th open 403 miles 1513 yards for a velocity of 1048; from SNFC Ypres race he won 1st region F 3rd west section 19th open against 2347 birds entered by 470 members he recorded a velocity of 1270 for the 461 miles 840 yards. He also won 1st club 1st federation and 2nd club 2nd federation; the brothers received a very good reception from the company.

The Duke of Edinburgh Trophy for the best loft performances old and young birds during the season for SHU members who are 25 years and under was again won for the successive year by Kieran Jamieson McDermott from Galashiels his performances were as follows; Ridsdale 2nd & 14th club from 166 birds flying 48 miles 896 yards recording velocities of 1455 & 1396; Thirsk 9th club (283 birds) 10th federation(529 birds) from 112 miles 1251 yards recording a velocity of 1218; from Weatherby 19th federation against 513 birds flying 130 miles 906 yards for a velocity of 1657 and from Newark he won 7th club 231 birds flying 193 miles 947 yards recording a velocity of 1444. With young birds he won; 1st club (204 birds) 5th federation (458 birds) recording a velocity of 1406; from Thirsk he won 5th & 16th club (157 birds) 16th federation (417 birds) recording a velocity of 964. This young schoolboy received a terrific applause from the company who are only too happy to see someone so young come forward to receive a trophy.

With all trophies distributed the remainder of the evening was spent enjoying each other fanciers company and a very good night was had by all. Fanciers who had attended for the first time expressed to me that the venue was first class with a lovely meal and the room and presentation was a credit to the Scottish sport and anyone who wins won of the above trophies should attend this presentation evening so much so that many of the winners intend to return next year on the 2nd November 2012.

Compiled by

Joe Murphy
SHU Press Officer