Thurso has a population of around 8,000 and was an important settlement in Norse times. It is Situated in the historical County of Caithness and is the Northernmost town on the island of Great Britain. From a latitudinal standpoint, Thurso is located more than 500 miles (800 km) North of London and further North than the Southernmost point of Norway. In 1649, Gaels from Ireland, led by Donald Macalister Mullach, attacked Thurso and were chased off by the residents, headed by Sir James Sinclair. In Thurso, the summers are short, cool, and windy; the winters are long, very cold, wet, and extremely windy; and it is mostly cloudy year-round, making it a challenging race point for convoyers to navigate weatherwise and for the sport pigeon racing itself. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 2°C to 16°C and is rarely below -2°C or above 19°C. Definitely an extra layer needed if ever the decision is made to pay Thurso a visit! This particular NRCC race is sponsored by PJ Lofts, based in Friskney, Lincolnshire. PJ Lofts are literally the ‘one stop shop’ who have been serving the fancy for over 35 years. Paul and Jayne Newbold, often seen at all the major shows across the country, are a husband-and-wife team who are as committed to the sport today as they were when they first opened their doors all those years ago. Selling a wide range of products to meet the needs of the pigeon fancier they are also the suppliers of GEM Supplements for the natural healthcare of racing pigeons. We at the NRCC would like to thank them for their continued support and sponsorship.
Moving on now to a brief breakdown of Convoyer, Dave Pettitt’s report. On the 26th June, the NRCC transporter left Wyberton at 13:00 for its journey on to Calverton arriving at 14:15. At 14:30 it left Calverton for the onward journey to Ecclefechan, stopping once to refuel at Gretna. Arrived at Ecclefechan at 19:00. Shutters on both sides of the transporter were opened upon arrival. Pigeons were lightly fed, then watered. We refilled the water tank, closed the shutters on both sides at 23:00. 27th June 2025, upon waking at 03:50, the birds were checked and any remaining water in the drinkers was emptied. At 04:15, we continued our onward journey, stopping at Hamilton (05:30 – 06:00) to load the Ayrshire Federation Pigeons. We arrived at Thurso at 13:15, where we watered the birds and opened the side shutters. The pigeons were fed at 14:30, with the water replenished after feeding. Shutters both sides were closed as we retired for the evening. 28th June 2025 The pigeons checked and shutters both sides opened upon waking, at 04:30. The Weather on-site was as predicted, with light cloud, sunny intervals and a breeze from the Southwest. Ray Luffman (NRCC Weather advisor) was in contact throughout the morning with regular updates regarding conditions. Ray checked the line of flight and was alert to the fact that the weather was not as we had hoped below the race point with heavy rain and strong winds across Scotland moving up and throughout the line of flight. Although conditions on site were good, we were unable to liberate and ensure a good race. We made the decision to call a holdover. I spoke with the Ayrshire Fed and they we happy to hold. The weather, as predicted, onsite worsened bringing in high winds up to 45mph. The poor conditions continued for the entire day and into the night. 29th June 2025 we awoke at 05:00. The birds were checked and the shutters were opened. The Weather was overcast, with a breeze from the West-Southwest. Ray and I discussed the weather and agreed to run another forecast at 06:00. Further calls were made and we were hopeful that the weather would improve and that we should be ready to take advantage of the earliest of breaks. I spoke with Ayrshire and informed them of our expectations. We agreed to have 30+ minutes between liberations. The line of flight was continually checked through various contacts, with good reports throughout the morning.
The weather did break, as predicted by Ray and the feedback from contacts down through Scotland. The crates were readied and liberation was made for the NRCC members pigeons at 08:20 into a West-Southwest wind. The birds cleared well to the South. A Call was then made to Ray Knight to inform him of the liberation. We checked all the crates to ensure all birds had been liberated. We tidied the vehicle and surrounding area. At 09:00, the Ayrshire birds were liberated, with a call made to relay this information. We left site at 09:15 and our way out of Thurso stopping for Breakfast a couple of hours later. We refuelled at Gretna and stopped overnight near Leeds before making our way back to Newark where the transporter was cleaned at the lorry wash before being returned to Grantham. Now, onto the race itself! When waiting for the provisional results to come in, it is always a bit of a nail biter and this Thurso race proved to be no different with literally only a fraction in the velocities to separate the first and second open position.
J & S Dangerfield – 1st Sec A – 1st Open – Alfreton, flying 389.397. Velocity 1247.74: Steph Dangerfield’s wining pigeon GB23S37332 is a blue Cassaert x Vert Kerk the dam was from John Wheatcroft who obtained her from Margris Alexandre from the French champion his pigeon is flown on widowhood to the bowl with nesting material for the distance & it is the first time his pigeons have been sent like this, he feeds on Vanrobaeys Cassaert mix with conditioner, seed, peanuts & sunflower hearts the pigeons are flow out twice daily Stef had a superb Thurso with 7 birds in 32 minutes including the NRCC winning bird & has 10 out of his 14 entries back. He would personally like to thank the NRCC & our fantastic convoyers for the tremendous condition of the pigeons on their return from the race after over 3 days in the basket.
Hubert Walker – 1st Section B – 10th Open – Newark, flying 397.878. Velocity 1227.226: I would like to thank the convoying team, the pigeons returned in fantastic condition, so well done! My section winner was bred by Jimmy Newall from Manchester she is bred from a brother to his ace pigeon called Furey whose lines go back to Lincia. The hen is closely inbred to Kannibaal. She won 9 x 1sts. Racing my hen has won many prizes before this section win. She is raced on the roundabout system but didn’t see her mate before basketing. My pigeons are fed Vanrobaeys mixes and supplements. Well done to all section winners and the open winner.
J W Lenson -1st Sec C – 2nd Open – Long Sutton, flying 427.325. Velocity 1247.358: John’s section winner is a ‘21’ blue cock which descends from Soontjen x Van Loon stock. The Soontjens in Johns loft come mostly from Brian Clayburn, which have been mixed in with Van Loon pigeons from Dave and Ian Maddison. John sent five pigeons to Thurso, the section winner home on the night with another three following suit and the last one arriving back to the loft the following morning. John uses Bamfords Widowhood express with a bit of extra protein mixed in. John prepares his birds by sending them to the club races up to the first NRCC race at Dunbar then, thereafter they are only raced on the NRCC race card, being let out twice daily for an hour in the morning and again in the evening between races.
Nick Barran – 1st Section F – 8th Open – Great Dunham, flying 440.946. Velocity 1230.421: It’s been a great season for members in section F of the NRCC, we took 17 of the top 20 Open positions from Dunbar, to include 2nd & 3rd Open from Dilys King & Chris Leak, we then go to Perth, where 11 of the top 20 positions are taken, including 1st & 2nd Open by Steve Kaschner and his partner Bridget, I jokingly said at the time, you need to win the NRCC to win your club, competition has been that fierce, so we moved on to Fraserburgh, young Scott Walker in my club tops the Open, so that’s another NRCC race gone, I don’t get to win my club!!! I’m thinking, Jesus Christ, what the hell do I need to do to get in front of these fanciers, not saying I’m entitled to, but I’d been flying a fair bird with a small distance team, when young Scott won Fraserburgh, a good mate of mine was 2nd Open, when I saw the result, I rang Malcolm Bunton of the famed Perry Bros & Son & Bunton partnership, well done Malcolm great fly, he was over the moon and rightly so, whilst chatting, he let it slip what he’d been feeding, so old big ears here is thinking, I’ll do exactly that before Thurso, something I’d not used for years! Thurso is two weeks away, I’m down the local corn store getting my rocket fuel the next morning, ten or so days later, Saturday the 28th comes, the birds are held over at Thurso, so I’m praying for a late lib the next day as I knew I’m out for lunch on Sunday. My prayers nearly worked, the birds go up at 8 20. Lunch goes on and on, then we run my wife parents back to theirs, you know how it is, oh come in and have a cuppa tea, so I’m stood there rolling my eyes at my wife, thinking, here we go, another two hours sat round here, them telling me what they told me last time I saw them, same stories, just a different day. I’m not really that miserable (oh yes, he is) after what seemed like an eternity, Alison (wife) says ‘I guess we better get you home so you can watch your birds come home.’ Then, her parents start again, oh, where you racing from, blah, blah, how long will they be and how far is it, all the questions I really didn’t want to answer! I just want to get home! Why are you asking me all these bloody questions? (I didn’t say that, but I felt like it) Eventually we get away, all the Sunday drivers are out in force, there always seem to be more when I’m in a hurry to get home!! On the way the back, my stomach is gurgling, I don’t know about you, but with me, if something doesn’t agree with me, it’s not long coming out!!! So now, I’m even keener to get home, butt nipped up, cheeks blowing, deep breaths, arrive home, I get on drive, pull the keys from the ignition, slide out the seat, get myself upright and waddle to the front door, get myself to the loo and relive my bowels and I can tell you, they were emptied!! I didn’t waste my time while I sat there, I sent my old mate Stephen Howells a message, how long do you think these Thurso birds will be today? No hesitation, he sends a reply, ten and half hours. Now, I didn’t know this at the time, I was relieving myself bang on ten and half hours, guess who got his first pigeon while sat on the throne!!! Having done what I needed to do, I washed my hands, got myself outside, while I’m walking up to the loft, I catch a pigeon out the corner of my eye, I’m thinking, that’s that dark pied Jimmy Bamling bred me last year, he topped the fed out of Dunbar last year, bloody hell, you weren’t far out Steve! So, now I can run again, well almost, I quicken my pace to the loft, low and behold, when I take a good look, it is the dark pied cock and he’s not a million miles out from Steve’s guestimate, so with that, I check my clock to make sure he’s timed in, I look again, I think that’s strange, looks like theres another one clocked. When I arrowed up or down, I can’t remember which way now, but theres another timer, so my brains in overdrive! ‘What’s that, a trainer? a pigeon I’ve lost earlier in the year?’ Then it clicks! It’s the treble 5 cock that Dudley Holmes bred last year for the NRCC young bird futurity. It takes a little while to sink in, then it clicks, I’ve bloody got two home! I’ve only sent two and they’re six minutes apart from 450 miles on a tough day!! How can that be, all that way, all those miles and they’re minutes apart, incredible really. So, the next day I rang Jimmy Bamling and told him the good news and he was chuffed to bits. It’s a shame I couldn’t have done the same for Dudley Holmes but I’m sure he will have been looking down and urging treble 5 on. My next phone call was to Malcolm Bunton, I said, thanks Malcolm, so he said, well done mate, I’m really pleased for you, so I said, I haven’t rung you to hear that, I’ve rung to thank you, thank me he says, what for? I said, for that feeding tip you gave me two weeks ago, so it goes on, he says, what feeding tip, I said, you know, you were telling me what you fed your Fraserburgh pigeons before you sent them off, so he says, did I, yes you did Malcolm and thank you very much, I’m still not sure if he knows what he told me or not!!!!
Anyway, moving on, the birds came home in great condition, credit to the convoyer. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the marking team and all the helpers at the Norwich marking station. We have Stephen Howells, Mary Becker, Brian Chaplin, Andrew Daniels and David Fox to thank for their commitment, not forgetting Dilys King, without her help, the NRCC results would be many more days being compiled, great team, keep up the good work, it is appreciated.
Keith Dawkins (F Dawkins & Son) – 1st Section H – 20th Open – London, flying 508.1017. Velocity 1201.147: My 1st section H winner, 20th open NRCC bird from Thurso is a 2-year-old blue hen from my own family x Battenburg. She is raced on the roundabout system. I have not trained my pigeons for the last eight years as I don’t drive. The sire is a pied cock that I bred for Georgie Chalkley and he won 2nd open LNR combine with from Lerwick with as a yearling before returning him to me my blue hen GB23S50040 has won before she was also 2nd open LNR Combine this race with only 8 on the day. Flying 508 miles the Battenburg’s are from Jutla brothers of Upton Park.
J & T Gateley – 1st Section D/E – 74th Open – Market Harborough, flying 437.189. Velocity 1135.031: Our 1st section E winer from Thurso raced on the widowhood system has won at club and fed level and comes from a line of good national birds that raced South Road. His sire was1st section Tours.
Alan Scarborough – 1st Section I –6th Open – Basildon, flying 509.1346. Velocity 1234.222: My section winner is a 3-year-old blue he has been a very consistent bird taking many places including 1st he was flown on widowhood he is bred from a brother and sister paring very inbred he is from birds bought from Russ Skinner my second bird on night is also half Russ skinners
The NRCC would like to thank everyone for sending in their photographs and the information about their section winners. It is always is a pleasure and interesting to read the members own words about what motivates and encourages them and the different ways they prepare for the longer races. For more information about the NRCC, the race programme, latest news and results will always be found here.
Christina lincolnshirelondoner@gmail.com
A full result may be viewed here