Billy Gordon My latest report takes me to one of the most consistent lofts well respected fanciers in the Lanarkshire Federation. The name Billy Gordon is a name known by all fanciers in the area, for his ability to put up top level results year in year out. Billy is born and bred in Cambuslang, known as "the largest village in Scotland", with a population of around 24,500. The town is located just south of the River Clyde and about 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of the centre of Glasgow. It has a long history of coal mining, iron and steel making, and ancillary engineering works, Hoover. Tata Steel Europe's Clydebridge Steel Works and other smaller manufacturing businesses were major employment areas of the past. Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in the sport? A. In 1961 as a 8yr old school boy he used to climb over the school fence to go to his Dads loft at lunchtime which was in the back garden area of a situated a tenement building .His father was the early influence to a young Billy before the loft was moved up to his present cottage location 37yrs ago. Billy was a footballer of much ability, starting with local Junior team Cambuslang at 15yrs of age and then going onto a very successful professional career which included Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir for twenty years. His working career was as a Engineer at McGowans. SNFC Results 2013 Leicester YB NationalBlue check Hen Su13 L 17032 11th section E Maidstone - Check hen Su 12 L 358 -10th Sect

Black Cock Su 12 L 1479 - 43rd Sect Grizzle hen Su 10 L 3181-99th Sect

Newbury - Blue cock Su 08 8034 ,30th Sect

Check pied cock Su 09 L 5484 , 32nd Sect Black Pd hen Su 12 L 369 ,64th Sect

Ypres - Black Pd hen Su 12 L 369 -40th Sect 2014 Buckingham YB National -Blue Cock Su 14 L 15108 -13th Sect Buckingham Inland National -Check Cock Su 11 L 1344 -31st Sect Ypres -Blue Hen Su 12 L 5 ,1st Section 1st Open Lanarkshire Federation ,1st Lanarkshire Social Circle,1st Section E 96th Open SNFC. Black Pied Hen Su 12 L 369 -18th Sect Blue hen Su 12 L 363- 36th sect

Lanarkshire West section Results 2014 3/5/14 Appleby -15th West section,3048 birds 11/5/14 Otterburn-11th West sect,2222 birds 7/6/14 Upper Heyford -8th ,10th ,11th 12th West sect,347 birds 14/6 Ingleton ,3rd West sect, 755 birds 21/6/14 Bedhampton ,15th West sect,140 birds 5/7/14 Ypres ,1st ,7th ,11th 27th West sect, 267 birds,1st ,16th,33rd ,62nd Open Lanarkshire Fed 20/7/14,Otterburn -5th West sect,698 birds 2/8/14 Stainmore,4th & 5th West sect,1646 birds 16/8/14 Ingleton ,10th West sect,639 birds 30/8/14 -Charnock Richard ,4th Sect ,306 birds 6/9/14 -Uttoxeter ,4th,9th 12th ,13th Sect ,59 birds 21 Section prizes, cracking flying in the Lanarkshire Federation and the icing on the cake, winning the Blue Ribbon race from Ypres . Old Bird ,Combined,Three Longest Race Average and Young Bird Average ,Cambuslang Club ,2014 Q. Among your results what are the real highlights? A. This season has been a real highlight ,winning the Open from Ypres ,Belgium/French border. Really is a standout. Winning the Lanarkshire Open and 1st Section SNFC.with his blue hen "Misty Blue " In the 1980s flying as J Gordon & Son we won three in a row in club and topped the federation twice. Q. Do you hold any official position and if so do you take an active part, if no what are your reasons? A. No on the club committee and help with the clock setting. Q. Do you compete for averages? A. Yes very much so Q What clubs are you a member A Cambuslang club , Lanarkshire Social Circle & Scottish National Flying Club Q. How do you race your pigeons and how many? Weekly numbers A 30 cocks ,30 hens for racing Old Birds, Roundabout system 44 Young birds last season 20 pairs of stock Q. What are your lofts made of and how big are they?How many sections ,Size ect A. Wooden structure ,20x6ft ,stock loft 32ft stock/racing loft ,8x6ft Young bird section. South facing With aviary on front plenty of ventilation is available in this loft. .

Q. How many stock birds do you keep and do you breed off your race team also how many pigeons do you think that you need to breed off any individual stock pair each year to see if they are quality producers? A. 20 pairs of stock ,no youngsters taken of racers that's why I keep a team of stock, eggs are switched under racers. Q. When do you pair your pigeons? A. 3rd week of February, some March. Q. Do you move the hens with the young birds? A. No ,youngsters are moved into their sections with straw on floor until two weeks before racing starts for youngsters ,feels this is very important ,creating a warmth and the birds are stress free. . Q. What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts on the following seasons racing and breeding? A. No not really ,every chance you loss them during the non racing period to raptors. Q. Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there any advantages to using them? A. No everything is cleaned out daily . Feels grills had cause ammonia vapour that cause a lot of problems Q. Vaccination programme for the pigeons ? A. Vaccinate for paramyxo/Paratyphoid old birds at the turn of year, young birds when coming out of nest Q. Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons get what they want they are out of the loft? A.Yes ,provided daily mixed shell grit and Kilpatrick Black Minerals also crumble type blocks when rearing.Billy told me about a local fanciers birds who used to enter his loft to eat the black minerals a number of years ago.This was even when returning from races. Q. Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily? A. No Q. Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons? A. Yes

Q. How do you feed, and what do you feed them on? A..Saturday - Bucktons Seed mixture not too much with barley day of race they are fed on return . Sunday – Barley & VerselaLaga Depurative Monday -VL Gerry plus Tuesday - VL Gerry Plusas above Wednesday -VL Widowhood Thursday- VL Widowhood Friday - Bucktons seed mix and VL Widowhood Always barley in mix ,if they leave then there not hungry. Feeding is an Art and its something you master with time,its got to be mastered. In water on return from race and day In water -Saturday-Rehydration supplement or honey Sometimes garlic powder during week or again Rehydration supplement of Friday (Day of basketing) Rest of week-Clear water Aviform Mycoform T used after 200miles and for the later YB races . Preventive products -Don't like three in one products ,treat individually Parathyroid product by Dr Van der Sluis used in November. Nothing for worms but this could change Canker & Cocci treatment before pairing ,no set product. Q. Do you measure the amount that you give to each race pigeon, or are they fed according to the individual pigeon? A. No the barley will tell you.

Q Bath A. Bath on a Sunday sometimes day of race if hot day. Q. To term a phrase are you a full time pigeon fancier? A. No, but his wife shouted yes and also his dog (Milo) barked in favour of full time) Q. Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeons eye. Do you consider that the eye has any importance A. No just two good ones ,good National winners always have them. Q If you Fly Roundabout/Celibate how do you stop your hens pairing to each other A. Roundabout ,Hens will sometimes pair but don't go out way to prevent ,they are trained regularly and also loft exercised. Training twice per week with Mid week club and out daily for loft training sometimes flying for an hour. National candidates will be trained from Dunbar with Gordon Geddes transport. Birds are paired up for chosen race.

Q. Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and long distance races. A. Not really these days there as so many fanciers concentrating on Sprint Middle distance the Distance breeds cant compete in the shorter races. Q. Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinter's or distance pigeons and why? A. Would say Distance Q. What happens when you are racing either widowhood or the roundabout when you have a bad race and lose a few from one sex, how do you continue with those pigeons who have lost their mate? A. Every week I send a fresh teamalways a cock or hen about to show to the first home. Q. Sprinter or distance? A. Billy is a fancier who sets his stall out to compete in all federation races and the SNFC programme. Q. What families of pigeons do you keep?. A Deweert base pigeons purchased direct a number of years ago from Belgium ,these are a good all round family and have crossed in well with other top Scottish National lines including birds from local fanciers. Recently birds have been introduced from Chris Gordon & JD Staddon Billy is not a certain breed fancier, balance not names. Balance is very important in a pigeon especially if they have to fly the distance. A typical Billy Gordon pigeon is Medium in size ,mostly of Blue or Check colour with excellent balance and silky feathers. Billy said he used to have a lot of Reds and Mealies in his team but the raptors seem to target them. Q. Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never appear to make the grade, A Its the fancier that makes them tick Q What product do you feels makes a difference to your birds A. Aviform Mycoform T Respiratory Product

Q. Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it comes to breeding?

A. Both,but recently hens have performed well.

Q. Some fanciers like big hens for breeding does the size of the hen make any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds in your past experience? A. Dont like big pigeons Q. Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the Country and for what reasons? A. I always looked up to the late great George Rankin who I always aspired to when competing in Cambuslang club.

Q. What do not like in the sport? A. Bad losers

Q. When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or just pair winners to winners? A. Don't get caught up in names ,balance and type. Q. Do you use the darkness system for the young birds A. Yes for 4-5 years ,feel it allows them to compete at the later races. Q. What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons for Management and pigeons and why?

A. 50 -50 Q. What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or young birds? A. .Around the 30 mile mark but distance candidates will go to Dunbar . Q. Do you think illegal drugs are used to enhance racing performance? A. Never experienced this problem Q. Do you attach any real importance to the pigeons wing i.e. back wing, end four flights and do you look at the wing to see if they have cast before a race. Any other comments on the wing? A. No don't take any interest . Q. What about the throat theory? A. No Q. Do you compete in the National events, if not why not. Or are you happy to race in the club? A. Inland Nationals as they are part of race programme,but not really a fan. Q. Do you use ETS? A. Yes Bricon ,excellent system. Q. Can you explain your type(Dont say winning) of pigeon ,size ,shape ,balance, colour ,eye ,hen ,cock A. Medium size ,apple body ,good balance Q. How do you pick your weekly pool pigeon? A. We both pick two each,watch them around and in loft for form. Q, Are you only as good as your last race? A. Yes ,ask the Doctor about my blood pressure.

Q. How old is your oldest racer? A. Last season it was 7yrs Q. Do you send your youngsters the full programme,or do you stop after say 100 miles? A. The full programme with some going to YB National Do your yearling go to the coast or are they stopped at say 260miles? A.Generally depends on what they are paired to in relation to Channel candidates. Q. Do you show your birds? A. No Q. Loft ventilation, what, why, where and do you change with the season? A. Open loft ventilation Q Do you suffer from Young bird sickness A No feel straw on floor helps them in the early part of their development. Q. Raptors: are they a problem to you? A. Yes all the time. Q Picking Pool pigeon A How the birds is behaving, observation is the key. Q. East or West, what race route do you prefer? A. What ever the majority chose Q Whats the cause of so many losses in Young bird racing? A Possible poorly bred pigeons,breeding fom birds that haven't been tested. You have to work them hard ,send them the full programme to test their constitution. Q. When is your favorite time of the season? A. Old bird season Q What does pigeon racing give you? A Satisfaction and Fun Q Advise to new starts A Go to local fancier who is performing well and ask to purchase some late breds Thanks to Billy for a very enjoyable day. All the best next season . Tom Corrie jnr Lanarkshire Federation Press Officer corrietom@aol.com

Photo 1 Young bird and Old bird loft Photo 2 Stock loft/Racing loft with shed for keeping baskets and feed Photo 3 Billy if front of racing loft Photo 4 Hens racing section Photo 5 Misty Blue winner of 1st Open Ypres Photo 6 Nest box in racing section photo 7 Typical of the type of cock pigeon in loft Photo 8 Billy's lair,built onto back of his garage,great for watching the pigeons in comfort