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Kingslea One Loft Race 2009
This is the second year of the race and it is growing; at the inception I thought I would only have one syndicate but I had three this year. With a total pay out of £6.600 this being a pleasant surprise.
Invitation
The free barbecue at Kingslea on 30th May from 2 till 5pm for fanciers who entered the Kingslea One Loft Race could come to see the draw for each of the birds; which took place at 3.30 with all the birds on view prior to the draw. I had so many applicants that I had to make up 3 syndicates; one for Aberdeen federation members and the other for North of Scotland and other fanciers who wished to take part. There was also a charity syndicate where you could pay for a pigeon and nominate your charity of your choice. So the 40 birds offered were £60.00 which would raise £2,400 for charity, Fanciers present at the barbecue drew the birds for each syndicate.
Special Raffle Prize
I secured a young bird from Royal Lofts, Premier Lofts and Adam Freeman one bird for each syndicate. This meant that the winnings would be within the 3 fancier syndicates. The pigeons would then be entered as a Wild Card. These birds would be eligible to win any money competed for at any race. A raffle ticket for each entrant was included in the £60 entry fee.
Rules
The rules prior to the inception of the racing season were passed as follows:
Only birds bred at the loft will be used for this race. No birds from outside lofts (except the gift birds) will be entered to reduce medical problems; The birds will be raced and owned in the name of Coutts & McKay; The treasurers account is administered by Jim Coutts for the North Federation and Willie Davidson for the Aberdeen Federation with the Royal Bank of Scotland. All cheques will be double signed by the above two named fanciers and Ian McKay will not be able to sign cheques but will be able to pay money into the account as I receive it from participating fanciers to the one loft race. There would be minimal cost involved as these would be part of my race team; I would be training the birds; No cost for feeding these one loft birds as I would pay for the food as they would be part of my young bird team; All the birds will be on the Darkness system; It was planned to have the birds professionally tested i.e. (throat swab and droppings) 3 or 4 times to make sure they are in good health; I also secured the services of Med-Vit who are going to sponsor free testing of the birds to make sure there health is up to scratch and the management team wish to thank Kevin Winter for his generosity. Test kits are available from the shop free; you have to send £20 when you send the kit away for testing. For the second year running testing has resulted in a clean bill of health. In the event of a race being cancelled this race will be discarded completely. In the event of the Scotch Corner race being cancelled the result from the previous week will be used for the final pay out. Thus assuring the fees in each syndicate are distributed.
Race Marking
The Youngsters are race marked at the Sunnybank R P C for all races with the Aberdeen Federation. They are recorded by Unikon ETS system every week. The final race being from Scotch Corner (186mls), all birds left within the loft and obviously fit will go to the race; anyone can visit the loft during training / racing to witness the birds return.
Prize Money
With a 3 syndicates set up in place and there being 7 races with the Sunnybank R P C and Aberdeen federation, it was decided to pay out £50 for the first bird home in each hot spot race to each syndicate. Final race prize money; 1st prize £1000 to each syndicate; 2nd prize £500 to each syndicate and 3rd prize £250 to each syndicate; the charity syndicate had an extra prize and the 3rd prize was £300 and 2nd prize £250 therefore the total prize money of £6,600 would be used up. To date I have paid out a staggering £11,633
Day of the Race
Information came through informing us the birds were liberated; so it was all hands on deck to get the tables and barbecue set up.17 birds were in the race and a lot of people had high hopes for their entry. We all eagerly awaited the birds and were soon rewarded with returns.
1st SU 09 AB 2153
2nd SU 09 AB 2110
3rd SU 09 AB 2108
4th SU 09AB 2107
As the day went on I had a steady stream of birds returning; the barbecue went well and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Conclusion
This year a new feeding system was implemented and was proven to be successful, having sent 17 to Scotch Corner and getting 16 in race time and one two weeks later which had become the victum of a bird of prey and had the resulting injuries to prove it.
I also sent 5 birds to the Scottish National Flying Club YB Leicester race a distance of 318mls. I was pleased to get a bird on the day being 5th Section G and winning £580. I was also the third highest prize winner in Scotland. I timed all pigeons in race time which was excellent returns. I also had higher returns percentage wise through out the whole race season. Alterations to the loft are being done for next year.
Food
I also had a food sponsor his name is not being published but he knows who he is and on behalf of the Kingslea One Loft Race organisers and helpers I would like to say a very big THANK YOU.
Coutts & McKay
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SU 10 F 632