Norman Renton - 1st Open SNRPC Andrezel 2009

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willie reynolds
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Norman Renton - 1st Open SNRPC Andrezel 2009

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Norman Renton from Foulden
1st Open S.N.R.P.C. Andrezel 2009

Text by Billy Wortley. Photos Duncan Knox.

Norman Renton enjoyed the most marvellous season in 2009, which culminated with him gaining the Section and Open Averages and Extreme Distance Average with the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club. I share a close friendship with Norman and it naturally followed that I pen a profile report on him.

Norman resides at Foulden in the Scottish Borders and has been involved in our hobby since schoolboy years. Having initially kept pigeons as pets, he entered the pigeon fancy in earnest in 1958 and joined Chirnside Club. He was only fifteen years old at the time and was encouraged to participate in our hobby by local fanciers Jock Black, Rudi Leucht and Alfie Lunn. As the years passed, Norman formed a friendship with Roy Anderson from Ayton, who encouraged him to join Ayton Club. At that time, Chirnside and Ayton were member Clubs of the Scottish Border Fed. In 1988 Chirnside Club chose to go with the Border Fed., which races with the mighty Up North Combine. Ayton, meanwhile, had expanded in size and became known as the Eye Valley Club. The members of Eye Valley then followed Chirnside and raced their pigeons with the Border Fed. as part of the U.N.C. Whilst Norman initially continued to support both Clubs, in time he became a member of the Eye valley Club only.

Following his entry into the fancy, he enjoyed occasional local successes and in time began to score from the more prestigious races. Whilst he scored from the Classics when racing with the Scottish Border Fed. his performances undoubtedly improved when he began working his pigeons with the U.N.C. His first success with the Scottish National was in 1964 when he was 85th and 128th East Section from Beauvais. The following season he was 2nd and 5th Open from the same race point with the East of Scotland Continental Club. As the years moved forward his performances improved and in 1972 he gained his first Classic win when he was 1st Open Scottish Section from the Vaux Usher International race from Beauvais. This was a considerable achievement as the pigeon pulled out of a large convoy drawn from the North of England, Scotland and Ireland. In 1977 the success story continued when he timed three pigeons in quick succession to be 2nd, 3rd and 12th Open Y.B. National. In 1984 he won the Yearling Derby from Dorchester with the Scottish Mid Week Specialist Club and the following year he headed the result from the Y.B. race from Dorchester that was organised by the same Club. In 1988 he was 3rd Open from the Y.B. National from Cheltenham. Season 1992 proved special, he was 3rd Section 4th Open S.N.F.C. Sartilly and several weeks later secured his first Scottish National win when he led the way from the Y.B. National from Worcester. The loft was now nationally known and in addition to Norman having achieved fine individual performances he produced several superb individual pigeons. Consider that he was 57th Open UNC Lillers from an entry of circa 21,000 pigeons and the following season this same pigeon was 6th Open S.N.F.C. Avranches.

As the years have passed, Norman has made many friends in our hobby and through these friendships has obtained pigeons which have contributed to the loft. I explained how in the early years Norman was encouraged in our hobby by Jock Black, Alfie Lunn and Rudi Leucht. Whilst Alfie Lunn and Rudi Leucht are now deceased Norman speaks affectionately of each of these fanciers. He told me, for example, that Rudi was of German origin and lived at Berwick upon Tweed. Norman said he was a superb fancier and in addition to teaching him a great deal about pigeon husbandry, gifted him a number of influential pigeons. The Sire of the 1992 Y.B. National winner, for example, was obtained from Rudi. It was a Janssen that went into his loft at Berwick. On reporting the pigeon it was established that it belonged to McBride Brothers from Northern Ireland who allowed him to keep it. When visiting Rudi, Norman took a shine to the pigeon and was gifted it. The Dam of the Y.B. National winner, meanwhile, contained the lines of Tom Sherwood. Norman attended a Sale that was organised by the late Jim Renwick on behalf of ‘Scotland’s Own’, where he purchased a bird that had been gifted by Tom Sherwood and it was this pigeon that bred the Dam of the Y.B. National winner.

In 1964, Norman reported a pigeon to Willie and Mary Walker from Tayport and through this contact he formed a friendship with Mr.and Mrs.Walker. Regrettably, however, Mr.and Mrs.Walker are now deceased. Having won the Scottish Section of the Vaux/Usher International race from Beauvais in 1972, he attended the presentation evening held in Oxgangs, Edinburgh. At the function, he and his good lady, Margaret, sat beside Alistair and Jean Rae from Bonnyrigg. At the close of the evening they were invited to stay the night at Bonnyrigg rather than drive all the way back to the Borders. In the morning Alistair took Norman into his loft and showed him his various families including his Kirkpatricks. Norman told me that he was ever so impressed when he saw these pigeons, which were “the best he had ever seen or handled”. Through this meeting Norman formed a close friendship with Alistair and over the succeeding years he has obtained a number of top quality pigeons from him, which have made a considerable impression on the loft. The first real quality pigeon to emerge through the Alistair Rae lines was a bird that won the Scottish Specialist Club Y.B. race from Dorchester. This pigeon was appropriately named ‘Red Rae’.

Norman also formed a close friendship with Tom Anderson from Fenton Barns, North Berwick who competed as Anderson Brothers. Tom raced a number of really good pigeons including ‘99’ that was 4th Open Avranches national 1980. The pigeon was so named because Tom was at the Ice Cream Van buying a ‘99’ when it homed from Avranches. Norman was fortunate to obtain stock from Anderson Brothers including the lines of ‘99’. He also shared friendship with Mark Rennie from Kelso who housed a useful team of Dordins. On one occasion when visiting Mark, he obtained a youngster from the nest that went on to score from Rennes.

In the early 1980’s, Norman attended a local Show where he met Derik and Anne Nordon from Langholm. They struck up and immediate friendship and the camaraderie is such that they visit each others homes an ongoing basis and exchange pigeons.
On one occasion when visiting Derik and Anne at Langholm, Norman took the opportunity to view the fabulous loft of pigeons of Ralston Graham, Derik’s near neighbour and close friend. Once more a friendship was formed and as a consequence Norman received several pigeons from Ralston.

It should be noted, however, that in addition to him having received stock through pigeon friendships, he has reciprocated by gifting good pigeons to others. He, for example, bred ‘Double Delight’ that won the 1974 Avranches National for John Fairbairn from Cockburnspath. He also bred the grand dam of Derik Nordon’s 1996 Sartilly National winner ‘High Tower Anne’s Delight’. In 1996 he bred a pair of youngsters for George Hastie of Tweedmouth and from one of these; George bred a pigeon that was gifted to Sonny Galloway from Hartlepool. This pigeon went on to win the UNC from Chenois and became known as ‘Geordie Girl’. On travelling to Hartlepool in the company of George Hastie to see the Classic winner, Norman was gifted a Blue Pied Cock, which made a considerable impression in Norman’s loft at Foulden.

Whilst all the pigeons mentioned have contributed to the success story, the two lines that are prevalent are Alistair Rae and Derik Nordon.

In the next few paragraphs let us consider the makeup of these two families of pigeons.

Alistair Rae from Bonnyrigg has the most marvellous team of Kirkpatrick pigeons, which he has cultured for over forty years. They have been kept autonomous from other strains and are as near to the originals as you’ll find anywhere in the country. Alistair and his father won the East Section from Nantes with the S.N.F.C. in 1962 and following their Section win they set about assembling their team of Kirkpatricks. The Rae family had gone to Cornwall on holiday over several years and having made the decision to work with the Kirkpatricks, they chose on one occasion to combine their holiday with a visit to the legendary Arthur Hill at St Just. Alistair shared a friendship with Andrew Pringle and it was he and Andrew who went to St Just. They struck up an immediate friendship with Arthur Hill and his brother, Peter and over the next twenty years they visited St Just annually. Through the friendship with Arthur, Alistair was able to meet a number of the most notable Kirkpatrick enthusiasts in the country and this assisted him in his quest to form a loft of top quality Kirkpatrick pigeons. From the outset, Alistair and his father obtained pigeons from Arthur and he recollects that amongst the initial stock obtained were pigeons that contained the lines of John McGillivray from Forth. Alistair shared a friendship with Dick O.Neil who acquired the noted Kirkpatrick cock ‘443’. Sire of ‘443’ was ‘Galabank Prince’, which was 1st Open S.N.F.C. Prior to going to Nantes, ‘Prince’ was 40th Open Rennes and actually gained the Ellsworth Trophy with the S.N.F.C. for the best average from Rennes and Nantes on his own. Dick O’Neil put a youngster from ‘443’ into a Sale that was held in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Show, and Alistair duly purchased the youngster. In time, Frank George passed the famous ‘Fechan Lass’ to Dick O’Neil on loan to couple to ‘443’. Whilst the great hen was at Dick’s home, Alistair had the pleasure of handling her and talks admiringly of her sheer ‘quality’. Needless to say, progeny from ‘443’ and ‘Fechan Lass’ made its way to Bonnyrigg. On one occasion Alistair’s parents went to Stranraer on holiday with their caravan and whilst there, took the opportunity to travel across the sea to Ireland to attend a Sale that was held in Larne on behalf of L.Johnston and Son. When they returned home, they brought several pigeons with them including a noted pair of Dark Chequers. One of these pigeons was bred from ‘Galabank Remembrance’ x ‘219’ and made an impression in their loft. In time, Alistair learned that occasional Dark Chequers were beneficial in retaining the rich red colouration of the Kirkpatricks. Danny Beattie from Lanark acquired a pigeon named ‘Galabank Expected’. This bird had been bred direct from ‘443’ and was 2nd Open from Skibereen with the Irish National. In time this pigeon made its way to Bonnyrigg, also. Alistair shared a close friendship with Andy Muir from Annan who a top class fancier. Andy had an exceptional Red hen from ‘Galabank Prince’ that had been obtained from Percy Moore, who was John Kirkpatrick’s brother in law. Over the years Alistair obtained a number of pigeons from Andy, including the Red hen. Whilst visiting Dick O’Neil to see ‘Fechan Lass’, Alistair met three fanciers from Yorkshire, one of whom was John Wright. He formed a friendship with John and obtained a number of pigeons from him. The principal pigeons housed by John at that time were ‘Galabank Foundation’, ‘Galabank Joy’ and ‘Galabank Chieftain’. In time, Alistair arranged to purchase several pigeons for John from John Carmichael, who at that time resided at Lauder. The pigeons arrived at Bonnyrigg, with the plan being for Alistair to send them by rail to Yorkshire. On calling John to say they were being put on a particular train, John said “which one do you like best”. Alistair said “the Blue Pied”, to which John responded “you keep it for a season’s breeding”. Alistair subsequently learned that the Blue Pied was bred direct from John McGillivray’s noted Blue Pied Twin, which in turn was bred from ‘1276’ that was of course sired by ‘Galabank Duke’. He shared a close friendship also with Willie McNeil from Ormiston who was a very talented fancier and Kirkpatrick enthusiast and he and Willie exchanged pigeons.

I could go on and on …. Consider that over the twenty years that Alistair visited St Just he purchased pigeons on an ongoing basis. On occasion Arthur and Peter would put several latebreds before Alistair and Andrew Pringle for them to take their pick. On one such occasion Alistair obtained a Red hen from Peter that was bred from a direct son of ‘Galabank Prince’ and this hen proved to be a veritable goldmine at stock. Consider also that over several years, Alistair tried to buy Mealy cock ‘Penwith Lad’ from Arthur Hill. This cock was bred from John McGillivray’s ‘1276’ and was a real topper. Following Arthur’s death, Alistair purchased the cock at the Final Sale at Grantham and his lines also, contributed to Alistair’s fabulous family of Kirkpatrick pigeons.

Derik Nordon is unquestionably one of the U.K.’s finest fanciers. When Derik entered the fancy in 1972, he obtained six latebred youngsters from his good friend, Ralston Graham. One of these was a real topper, she proved to be the founding Dam of the loft and became known as ‘Becksburn Producer’. She was bred from a son of Ralston’s noted Mealy Cock ‘Esk Valley Traveller’ that gained a host of positions including 1st Section 13th Open S.N.F.C. Nantes. ‘Becksburn Producer’ was coupled to a Chequer Cock that was bred from a hen introduced from Jimmy Irving from Annan, the Sire of which was a direct son of ‘Solway King’. This pairing produced a Blue Chequer hen that became known as ‘Becksburn Nica Nora’. She scored in the Club on a number of occasions and flew the channel three times. When put to stock she proved to be very influential. Derik went to Carlisle and purchased a pair of young pigeons from Frank and Tommy Gilbertson, one of which was a Mealy cock that became known as ‘Becksburn Gilbo’. Dam of ‘Gilbo’ was bred from Frank and Tommy Gilbertson’s noted ‘Show Hen’, which was so good looking she was often mistaken for a show pigeons. She was however, a real quality pigeon and scored from the channel on several occasions. Importantly, she was impeccably bred. Sire of ‘Gilbo’ was a Mealy hen bred from Frank and Tommy’s noted ‘Quietman’, which was one of the best pigeons in the North of England and South of Scotland. ‘Becksburn Gilbo’ was coupled to ‘Becksburn Nica Nora’ and left pigeons to win Inland and at the Channel, including two S.N.F.C. Gold Award winners, ‘Becksburn Courage’ and ‘Becksburn Cathella’. Derik arranged with Bobby Carruthers from Bonnyrigg to take ‘Becksburn Courage’ to Bobby’s Stud, where he was coupled to progeny of ‘Moneymaker’ and hens closely related to S.N.F.C. Gold Award winners, with the arrangement being that pigeons would come back to Langholm from the pairings. The outcome was that in Derik’s hands, these pigeons founded a dynasty. Several other lines were brought into the family including examples of the Van Hee family, which came from Bobby Carruthers, Bernard Miles and Gus Power. Derik has gained a host of successes, which are too numerous to list. Consider, however, that he won the 1996 Sartilly National and then went on and was 1st and 2nd Open from the 1999 Rennes National. He won the Dewar Trophy on two occasions, which is awarded to pigeons elected to have achieved the best combined performance during the season. He gained two S.N.F.C. Gold Awards. On two occasions pigeons from his loft were awarded ‘Scotland’s Own’ Bird of the Year Award. He is a former winner of ‘Scotland’s Own Fancier of the Year Trophy’ and is a former winner of the Robert Telfer Award Trophy for the best average from all races.

In 2004 Norman gained 1st Open S.N.F.C. Tours with a truly exceptional pigeon, which was the only arrival on the day. The convoy was liberated at 7.25am and Norman timed a 3 y.o. Blue Hen at 10.29pm from 594 miles. The Blue hen went through the programme as a youngster in 2001 and was 1st Club Melton Mowbray. She went through the programme as a yearling also to the Inland National from Newbury. She went back to the Inland National in 2003 and was 78th Region, 113th Section, 156th Open. She thereafter raced from Lillers with the UNC and was 9th Border Fed. Her final race of the 2003 season was from Clermont with the S.N.F.C. and she was up with the leaders to be 26th Region, 39th Section, 45th Open. She went to Tours in 2004 covering 15 day eggs. Sire of the Tours winner was bred by Derik Nordon but … with a home connection. Norman attended the Clearance Sale of Jimmy Little from Cockenzie where he purchased a hen bred direct from Jimmy’s 1985 Nantes National winner, ‘Five Times a Lady’. This great pigeon scored several times with the National, she flew Sartilly three times on the day (502 miles) and Nantes twice on the day (606 miles). When she won Nantes she was timed at 10.21pm, having been on the wing for 16 hours 21 minutes, and was the only arrival on the day flying in excess of 600 miles. In 1999, Norman loaned the hen to Derik Nordon to couple to a son of Norman and William McCulloch’s 1995 Rennes National winner ‘Urr View Star’. The Sire of the Tours winner was in fact the product of this pairing and was good pigeon in his own right as he scored from the channel with the National on three occasions. Dam of the Tours winner was a 1999 Mealy hen that was home bred from Alistair Rae and Derik Nordon stock. On preparing the Blue Hen to go to Tours, Norman burned a good deal of rubber travelling down the A1. Whilst driving he regularly met lorries carrying the logo ‘Performer’ and thought to himself if I own another National winner, that’s what I’ll call it. The pigeon was duly named ‘The Performer’.

In 2005 Norman was 2nd Open from Alencon with the S.N.R.P.C. I was present at the Annual Social Evening of the Club at which the President said that the birds had been liberated at 1.35pm following a two day holdover. Walker and Wilson timed next morning to win the National on 976.73 ypm from 524 miles; followed by Norman Renton on 976.58 ypm from 517 miles. Due to the fact that only 0.15 of a yard separated the two pigeons, it was suggested by the Club Officials that the two lofts be re-measured to verify the result. Norman’s response was, however, that the fanciers had been friends for many years and he had no intention of prejudicing this friendship due to the result of a pigeon race.

Let us move forward to season 2009. It should be noted that whilst Norman retired in 2008 he nevertheless continued to work occasionally, to support his son in the family building business. In 2009, however, he put work on the ‘back burner’ and concentrated totally on his pigeons with spectacular results.

The first Classic of the season from which he competed was from Wanstead Flats with the S.N.R.P.C. The race was scheduled for the Saturday but was brought forward to the Friday, due to a bad forecast for the weekend. Norman enjoyed a very good race with five pigeons home in 25 minutes. His first arrival was a Yearling Blue Pied hen, which was 3rd Section 3rd Open. Her Dam was introduced from Walker and Wilson whilst her Sire is Mell Bell x Kirkpatrick from Alistair Rae. This same pigeon was the first bird to the loft from the S.N.F.C. Y.B. National 2008 to be 26th Section 87th Open. Prior to going to Wanstead Flats she competed from Riveen Hall (294 miles) with the Combine. As a point of interest, the Blue Pied and another hen were both paired to a single cock with the two hens pushing each other out of the nest to cover the eggs and one must perceive that this suitably motivated the hen. In actual fact the Blue Pied was the second pigeon to the loft. Norman actually had a pigeon home three minutes earlier that wouldn’t trap and when it was eventually clocked it was 5th Section 5th Open. This pigeon was bred from the Sire of the Tours winner x a daughter of Wilf Flockhart’s Gold Award winner. He then timed a Kirkpatrick from Alistair Rae stock to be 7th Section 7th Open and thereafter clocked a noted Busschaert that was up from two Classics the years previous to be 14th Section 23rd Open. Next pigeon to the loft was 17th Section 27th Open, this being the same pigeon that was 13th Section 21st Open Wanstead Flats 2008.

The next Classic that Norman competed from was Newbury with the S.N.F.C., from which he was 10th Section 106th Open.
He then raced from Eastbourne with the S.N.R.P.C. and timed three birds in five minutes to be 20th, 24th and 25th Section, 32nd, 42nd and 43rd Open. The leading pigeon being a 2 y.o. Kirkpatrick that contains Alistair Rae x Derik Nordon lines.

The next Classic event was the Gold Medal race with the S.N.R.P.C. from Reims. The convoy was liberated at 6.15am in a “no wind situation” and Norman timed at 9.08pm from 522 miles to be 4th Section 6th Open. The winning pigeon is a 2006 Blue Busschaert cock from Alistair Rae stock, which is actually the Sire of the good Busschaert that has scored with the National on three occasions. Prior to going to Reims, the Blue cock was at Lillers with the UNC and was sent to the Gold Medal race sitting deep on eggs. Norman then timed a Mell Bell x Alistair Rae Kirkpatrick to be 27th Section 92nd Open.

The next Classic that Norman competed from was from Andrezel with the S.N.R.P.C. On this occasion the Scottish pigeons were transported to the race point with the mighty Up North Combine with all pigeons be released simultaneously at 5.30am. With knowledge as to when the leading pigeons homed into the UNC, it was expected that pigeons would arrive in the Scottish Borders shortly after 5.00pm. Conditions were perfect at the home end and Norman was joined by his good lady, Margaret, awaiting arrivals. On time, they sighted a pigeon make for the loft from the South and without hesitation it closed its wings and trapped. The pigeon was timed at 5.15pm and duly won the National with a velocity of 1345ypm from 539 miles. The winner is Mealy cock ‘1642’. He has always been a good one, having previously been 34th Open Reims 2007 and 10th Section 106th Open S.N.F.C. Newbury 2009. It should be noted also, that a son was 13th Section 21st Open Wanstead Flats 2008. In preparation for Andrezel this term, the Mealy had five inland races to Newbury and was basketed for the Classic covering 14 day eggs with his third flight ¼ grown. Sire is a Black Splashed Red Cock that was bred for stock by Derik Nordon, from ‘Danny Boy’ x ‘1330’. ‘Danny Boy’ was unquestionably one of the all time great Scottish pigeons being 9th, 5th and 2nd Open S.N.F.C. Rennes over three successive seasons in contrasting conditions. Sire was a Van Hee cock that was bred by Gus Power from Gretna and was purchased at a Springfield/Langholm conjoined Y.B. Sale. This cock was 3rd Section 20th Open Y.B. National 1993 and at stock proved to be an Ace breeder. He left a number of winners and was grandsire of Derik’s S.N.F.C. Rennes winner ‘Anniversary Girl’. Dam of ‘Danny Boy’ was homebred from a Blue hen and a Red Cock. The Blue hen contained Leen Boers x Janssen bloodlines and was bred by Alistair Rae. She scored for Derik on a number of occasions including 3rd Section 7th Open Fareham Yearling Derby with the SSC and 1st Fed. Cheltenham. The Red Cock was 2nd Section 9th Open Sartilly National and was bred from a Van Hee hen that was bred by Bernard Miles, being grand daughter of ‘Motta’ x a Van Hee cock bred by Bob Johnstone from Newbridge containing the lines of George Brownlie. Our readers should note that Danny Boy won in excess of £7,000. 1995 Red Hen ‘1330’, the Paternal grand dam of the Andrezel winner, was a fabulous pigeon and was admired by who saw her. Competing with the S.N.F.C. she was 34th Section Frome 1997, 38th Open Frome 1998, 34th Open Frome, 44th Open Rennes and 11th Open Sartilly 1999 and 4th Open Messac 2000. Her Sire was a Mealy cock that was bred from a Chequer Hen from Derik’s established family when coupled to ‘Darren’s Boy’, which was a Star performer in Derik’s loft. Dam of ‘1330’ was a Dark Chequer hen that was 29th Open Sartilly. She was bred from a cock, again from the established family when coupled to a Kirkpatrick x Van Hee hen that was 7th Open Rennes 1991. The 7th Open hen was a key pigeon in the loft at Langholm, having left a host of winners. Dam of the Andrezel winner came to the loft as a stray. Norman reported it and discovered it belonged to fancier from Falkirk who had left the sport. He was allowed to keep it, he put it on the road and it was 3rd Section 44th Open S.N.F.C. Avranches. The Andrezel winner has been named ‘Nordik’ the name being derived from the names Norman and Derik.
Norman timed a Mealy Pied Kirkpatrick hen behind the winner from Andrezel to the 12th Section 37th Open.

Norman’s final O.B. race of the season was from Lillers with the S.N.R.P.C. The event comprised an O.B. Open National and a complementary Yearling National. Norman enjoyed the most fantastic race, with thirteen home on the day and ten in the clock. He was 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 21st Section, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 19th, 20th, 27th, 31st and 33rd Open. The pigeon that was 2nd Section 3rd Open is a 2006 Blue Pied hen. Her Dam was received as a gift from Ian McLaren from Largoward, Fife and contains Brian Denney and Dennis Dall bloodlines. The Sire was bred by Derik Nordon and contains Kirkpatrick x Dickie Harkness lines. Dickie Harkness was a close friend of Derik and Anne Nordon and won the S.N.F.C. Rennes Classic in 1998 with Mealy Cock ‘Jack’s Boy’. The Sire of the 3rd Open Lillers contains similar lines to ‘Jack’s Boy’. Winner of the Yearling National was Blue hen ‘Silver Dream’. Sire was bred from the Sire of the Tours National winner when crossed with a hen from Wilf Flockhart from Tranent. Dam of ‘Silver Dream’ was bred from a hen from Bobby Carruthers from Bonnyrigg when paired to a Van Loon that was received as a gift from the late Paddy Stewart from Northern Ireland. Norman and Margaret initially met Paddy when he was playing in a Band at a Dance at Greenlaw. They struck up an immediate friendship and thereafter exchanged pigeons.

Norman concluded his season competing from the two Y.B. Nationals organised by the S.N.R.P.C. and the S.N.F.C. With the S.N.R.P.C. he had seven of a drop, which were 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 19th Open.. His leading arrival was a Dark Red cock that was bred by Alan Gowland from Brotherton, Yorkshire, which contains the lines of the late John McGillivray from Forth. Alan has, apparently, carefully retained the McGillivray lines over the years. The Red Cock actually paired to a latebred hen that was being housed in the Y.B. end of the loft. They nested on the floor and the cock actually went to the race feeding a youngster. Since he began running with the hen he was ‘keen as mustard’ and scored on five occasions. Norman did impress on me, however, that this was the first time he has raced a youngster to the nest. From the S.N.F.C. Y.B. National he was 5th, 6th 13th, 16th, 20th, 25th, 28th, 41st, 44th, 50th and 78th Open.

The loft is an ‘L’ shaped block built structure that was erected in two parts. The original building was 24 ft. long and contained three compartments. At the beginning of 2004, Norman chose to extend the building and added a further 8 ft. section. The original building has a tiled apex roof, whilst the roof of the new section has been clad with plastic coated profiled sheeting. The loft was constructed to the conventional concept; it has a corridor along the front and includes sputnik traps. The building has a concrete floor that has been covered with woodchip boarding with compressed insulation packed below the boarding. Whilst the nest boxes proper are to the natural concept, they have widowhood fronts. Ventilation is through the tiled rood, through louvers in the end of the structure, through the sputniks, which incidentally remain open and through a lathed door in the end of the building. Sharp sand is used as dressing below the perches to keep the floor dry. During the summer months the loft is scraped twice daily.

All pigeons are flown on the Natural system. They were paired over two weekends at the end of February/beginning of March. Having reared a pair of youngsters in the first nest, the birds were thereafter worked dry. They are fed 3 parts Swainstons All Rounder Mixture x 1 part locally grown Beans, with the mixture being fed to all pigeons over the four seasons of the year in hoppers. Occasional peanuts are also fed when the birds are being prepared for the Classics. They are inoculated annually against PMV and are wormed twice a year. As part of the management regime, Norman adds Milton to the drinking water twice a week.

All youngsters go through the Federation programme or to the Young Bird National. All yearlings go to the coast with occasional yearlings going to the channel. Pigeons intended for the Classics have at most five preparatory races with the actual number of outings being determined by the conditions that prevailed and hours on the wing experienced over the weeks leading up to the target race. In an ideal world, he endeavours to have his candidates experience a six or seven hour inland race before going to the intended Classic. Whilst he normally baskets them for the Classics covering eggs, he has had occasional pigeons perform from the channel feeding wee youngsters. He also feels comfortable sending experienced pigeons to the channel twice is a season.
In former years Norman basket trained the birds to get them ready for the Classics. In 2009, however, he worked them at home around the loft only. The step change in the management regime is due to him having erected a flashing light at the loft to deter raptors. The light has proved so successful that he has never seen hawk or peregrine at the loft since it was erected. Norman told me that his pigeons are happy and content and work around the loft without problem.

On entering into the article also, I said that whilst Norman scored from the Classics in former years when racing with the Scottish Border Fed. his performances undoubtedly improved when he began working his pigeons with the U.N.C. There is no doubt that racing with the Combine enables him to get flying distance and flying time on his pigeons, in preparation for the Classics. Consider, for example, that the first young bird race for Norman is from 112 miles and prior to his youngsters going to the 2009 Y.B. National they had actually flown 1,048 miles with the Combine.

Before completing the article I must make mention that Norman is supported in his hobby by his good lady Margaret, who assists with the pigeons at home and is always beside him when he attends a Social function.

Norman Renton is a true gentleman who enjoyed a once in a lifetime season in 2009 with the highlight being him winning the extreme distance National from Andrezel and securing the Section and Open Averages and Extreme Distance Average with the S.N.R.P.C. Without question …. Quality Pigeon Racing!!!!!!!

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Foulden Princess

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A very neat and tidy set up for Norman Renton.

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The man himself, Norman Renton, Foulden.

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The Performer.
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