A town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, Dunbar is approximately 30 miles (50 kilometres) east of Edinburgh. The harbour itself dates back to 1574 and has seen some turbulent times through history, from Danish and Norse attacks to the occupation of Scotland by the English Parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell. As with most of the British Isles, Dunbar has an oceanic climate with cool summers and mild winters. It is one of the sunniest and driest places in Scotland, with around 1,450 hours of sunshine and 600 mm (24 in) of rainfall annually. Temperature extremes range from 31.0 °C (87.8 °F) in August 1990 to −12.0 °C (10.4 °F) in January 1982. For those of you that enjoy a game of golf, there is a world class golf club that is used as a world championship qualifying venue situated just a five-minute drive from the liberation site at the harbour. Many of us will be familiar with the webcam at the golf course and, if anything like myself, would have spent some time being voyeurs! Not taking much notice of the golfers making their way onto the green, but having a sneaky peak at the weather conditions that the NRCCs convoyer, Dave Pettitt, see’s first hand! With the transporter carrying NRCC birds for three separate liberations, it was planned to release the Young Birds first, followed by the futurity birds and lastly the Old Hens, all at 30-minute intervals. With a solid bank of thick cloud shown on the radar moving slowly in from the West the timing had to be right and luckily enough, Dave was able to get all three liberations out as planned. The Dunbar sunrise was kind and as soon as the temperature rose and the final visibility and weather run was completed the first release went ahead. Daves report is as follows: 5th September 2025: Transporter left Calverton at 15:30. Onward journey to Dunbar, arriving at 22:20, shutters were raised and pigeons were checked and watered. Shutters lowered and settled for the evening around 23:15. 6th September 2025: Upon waking at 05:00, checked birds and awaited sunrise. Water was topped up. Weather was good, with some light cloud in blue skies, with the wind from the South. Was contacted by the race advisor, Ray Luffman, at 06:40 for an update on the line of flight and the weather conditions. The conditions were good on the line of flight and agreed a liberation at 07:15, for the Young Birds, 07:45 for the Futurity and 08:15 for the Old Hens. Advised Liberation to Ray Knight at 08:35 once all liberations were completed and the vehicle checked to ensure all pigeons were released. Water was taken off and ensured both the vehicle and site was tidy before the homeward journey.
Dunbar Harbour dating back to 1574
Moving on the NRCC Dunbar Open winner of the young birds, Mr and Mrs Kingswood, Huttoft. Section C, 1st Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 05:25:26, distance 219/1496, velocity 1188.93: For those of you that may not have previously heard of the successes of Darren and Jackie Kingswood of Alford then I will give you an insight. This season alone has seen them win 9 x 1st, 7 x 2nd at the Alford racing pigeon club and 4 x 1st, 5 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd and 3 x 4th in the Peterborough Fed. These results aren’t unique as historically; the Kingswood’s have built up a respected flying reputation based on their superb race team and their winning score card. They won the NRCC Berwick in two consecutive years with a nest pair and ironically, the hen that won first, gained second the following year in 2013 and 2014. They won both Dunbar Old Bird and Fraserburgh in 2022 and now Dunbar Young Birds in 2025. In addition to this, there have been multiple section wins over the years and are credited with many more wins and top positions at club and fed level. Darren wasn’t a natural born pigeon man but in his own words ‘dragged into it’ by his dad. Racing South Road at the time, Mr Kingswood seniors’ love of the sport eventually rubbed of on a young Darren and he decided to give it a go. Racing to a homemade loft made out of old doors he soon started giving his dad a run for his money by stamping his name on the score card above him and that is where the bug bit and his passion for the sport grew. With an ever-bigger burn to take it up a level Darren changed from South to North, joining the NRCC when the boundary was opened up, and setting his stool out for the top positions with Lerwick being the ultimate challenge. Darrens set-up is a custom-made loft, sectioned, and housing his young, old and stock birds. There are a maximum of 14 pairs of stock bird boxes in the loft however, not all are in use with a few being kept at his dads, who is still a very much involved in the sport, despite not racing anymore. The Dunbar YB winner was second fed the week before the NRCC race and bred from a pair paired together by Darrens Dad. The breeding is a Lambrecht x Raymond Molvett. The Lambrecht blood coming from a gift bird from Albert Sayers and the Molvert from a Stuart Wilcox. The same pair have already bred an ACE Pigeon Award of the North and winner of the Team Aurel Trophy in 2021 so without doubt, a winning pair. This year, Darren decided to do the darkness system and despite not usually sending to Dunbar, a change of plan with holiday arrangements meant he was given the option to enter the last race on the NRCC program. His preparation for the young birds comprised of a training regime that involves a gradual build-up of regular training which ends at Cleethorpes, 26 miles, and no further. Feeding is based around the Versa Laga feeding system however, this is tweaked by Darren according to the distance and conditions a race may present with the introduction of Jerry Plus, Extra or a sport mix with a multi vitamin in the water a couple of times a week to ensure the birds are in peak form for the job in hand. Being welcomed into Darrens loft gave me an insight into his dedication and love of the sport, the hard work he has put in over the years is visible and he has built a team that is paying him back in dividends. I have no doubt that it will continue for a long time yet, with the elusive Kings cup, Lerwick trophy bearing the Kingswood name one day. Credit to Mr Kingswood senior for that early push as Darrens love for his birds is obvious and he is, without doubt, one of the most dedicated and motivated pigeon people I have met over the years and a great advocate for the sport. On finishing Darren would like to thank his wife Jackie for ‘putting up with it for all these years.’
Darren Kingswood, 1st Open NRCC YB Dunbar
Mr D Oakley, South Normanton. 1st Section A, 2nd Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 05:10:17, distance 206/652, velocity 1170.58: What a way to finish the NRCC 2025 calendar! My young birds had been flying very well up to this race topping the federation 3 weeks on the trot, so, I sent to this race with full confidence. They didn’t disappoint. Finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th and 7th open. This is my 3rd section win from Dunbar in two years, last year winning the old bird Dunbar race in my very first attempt with the NRCC. The young bird is a daughter of my 3rd open NRCC Thurso chequer cock paired to a syndicate lofts hen out of the Blue Spider lines. I’ve only trained the young birds twice since racing started and they are exercising for one hour a day. Feeding is Beyers corn and products from Gold Bird. I would like to thank the NRCC for the top condition the birds came back in. All the best.
Darren Oakley, Section A winner
Marius Bulla, Maple Cross. 1st Section H, 193rd Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 10:03:50, Distance 314/369, velocity 915.82: My first Section H winner at the NRCC from Thurso 2025 is a young Chequer hen from the Jelle Jellema family, which I acquired a couple of years ago from Derek Nicholls. This year, in both short and long competitions, this pigeon consistently soared to be among the first to arrive, demonstrating resilience and determination. After a long break from the sport I’ve loved since childhood, I returned to my passion in 2023 and established my own loft in Maple Cross. I want to sincerely thank the members of my two local racing pigeon clubs for their unwavering support and guidance as I navigated this journey. Their encouragement has been invaluable, and I couldn’t have reached this point without them. I also express my gratitude to the NRCC for the superb condition of the pigeons upon their return. My birds are raced on the natural system and are given lots of road training before the season begins. The winning hen started the season with a race from Grantham, 92miles and went up to Wetherby, 163miles before taking part in NRCC Dunbar young bird’s race. Also, the hen is sister with the Thurso 2025 local club winner.
Marius Bulla, Section H winner
Richard Quibell, Horncastle. 1st Section B, 13th Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 05:36:34, Distance 216/156, velocity 1134.13: My winning pigeon was raced on the darkness system and was due to lay, having been paired up to another young cock. She was well fancied as I pooled her straight to the £5.00 pool which paid dividends as she took the whole lot in the section. This lovely hens’ breeding is from a son of Geraint Thomas and her dam from a direct daughter of Kittel Tia both from my good friend Derek Nichols of Premier Stud. So, there you have it, she’s bred in the purple and hopefully she will breed the goods as I only fly widowhood cocks to a small back garden loft. I would like to say a big thank you to Mr and Mrs Dave/Pat Evans for training and collecting my birds as I’m restricted due to my disabilities.
Richard Quibell, Section C winner
Mr C and D King, Dereham. 1st Section F, 10th Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 06:54:50, Distance 268/1706, velocity 1141.109: When we looked at the weather forecast for the Dunbar YB race, we knew it would be a tough one for us in Norfolk with a South wind turning South East en route. Our first bird was a cock we bought in the Norwich North Road Championship Club Futurity auction from the winning partnership of Gary Hoyles and Paul and Ryan Pratt. We shouldn’t have been surprised when he dropped in first really as his second race, the Norwich North Road Championship Club Futurity race from Berwick, 244 miles to us and 6 hours 34 minutes on the wing, he clocked in as the 4th futurity bird home picking us, Gary, Paul and Ryan up £1,100. The NRCC Dunbar YB race was only his third race and we were delighted to see him sitting provisional 1st F section. He trapped well on the day and was soon back to living up to his name of The Boss, named as he rules the roost in the young cock loft chasing the other cocks off the floor. We are looking forward to seeing how The Boss matures and races next year.
C Leak and D Kings Section F winner
Norman Holliday, Colchester. 1st Section I, 48th Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 08:44:05, Distance 2315/1609, velocity 1060.917: The section winning pigeon was a chequer cock from Alan Scarborough, a direct son of this season’s 6th open Thurso for the excellent distance man from Laindon. He has raced right through and has been one of the more consistent pigeons. He looked and felt lovely when we sent him and hadn’t lost an ounce considering his performance in such a tough race. Today’s result was only made possible through the generosity of fellow fanciers after inexplicability losing a whole team of distance young birds, the previous race fed winner amongst them, 160 miles from Wetherby, never to see a bird since and whilst trying to rebuild a team, had the fox get in and massacre all but a few of the remainder including two of my matriarch stock hens, 3rd open Kings cup and a talented 5 year old getting ready for her final shot at a coveted diploma. As ever, thanks to all at the marking station, those behind the scenes and on this occasion a special thank you to fellow fanciers and friends Mr Scarborough, Alan Moore, Trevor Tunstall, Steve, Ian and Sam Wallis together with George Dura for their top quality and much appreciated gifted Pigeons. The spirit of racing is still alive.
Norman Holliday, Section I winner
James Jarvis, Yaxley. 1st Section E, 92nd Open Dunbar Young Birds. Flying time 07:29:46, Distance 258/90, velocity 1009.79: Dunbar section winner is a Direct daughter of Andy Seymour’s MNFC national winner red roulette. Raced three races on the South Road then turned North from Darlington to Dunbar. Sent sitting 12-day eggs.
As always, the NRCC would like to thank our sponsors Harkers, the leading supplier of pigeon products that has been in existence for over 60 years. In this time Harkers has become the leading brand in pigeon care in the racing world, specialising in a range of treatments including health supplements, preventative medicines and loft treatment. We would also like to thank all of the section winners for sending in their photographs and the information. This year has been an exceptionally busy one and one that we, the committee, would like to thank everyone for their continued support and membership. This year has seen a phenomenal year of racing with each section well represented at the top of the results. On the whole, the vast majority of members have stated excellent returns and the brilliant condition of their returning birds. We have been working hard to do the best by you all and hope to see you at the Day of Champions where we will be presenting the trophies and prize money. Please also look out for news on the upcoming NRCC sale where some cracking pigeons have been offered from some of the best lofts and flyers including many of our NRCC Open winners. Also, make a note in your diary for the NRCC’s Day of Champions 2025 on 29th November. For more information about the NRCC, the race programme, latest news and results please do check the NRCC website for updates. Christina