One of the most successful partnerships within the whole of Scotland is the father George, son William & grandson Paul Macaloney from Coatbridge in Lanarkshire; they have become a household name within the sport and have achieved results that may never be beaten in my life time. Let us start at the achievements George Macaloney has won since his introduction into the sport of racing pigeons I have no fear in saying he is the Ultimate Racing Master, driven by the desire to have the first bird home from the complete convoy whether it be a 50 miles or 600 miles race as far as George is concerned The name of the game in pigeon racing is WINNING races and not just having pigeon that home as he says Far too many fanciers have reputations as great flyers but when you analyse their results Joe they haven t actually recorded the first bird home from a convoy very often. This steely mental attitude has driven George all his days within the sport and now reaching 80 years (in 2014) he is still the same today. This winning approach has provided him with a full range of honours that I doubt if anyone in the sport can match over the last five decades, as the following list of his achievements testify. 1 st open Scottish National Flying Club Sartilly 508 miles (3 birds entered) 1 st Open Scottish Central Combine Avranches 504 miles (3 birds entered) 1 st Open Lanarkshire Fed Falaise 514 miles (6 birds entered) 1 st West Section S.N.F.C. Nantes 610 miles (2 birds entered) 1 st West Section S.N.F.C. Sartilly 508 miles (3 birds entered) 1 st West Section S.N.F. C. Appledore 400 miles (4 birds entered) 1 st Open Strathclyde Amalgamation Huntingdon 275 miles (18 birds entered) 2 SNFC Gold Awards (for a bird winning 5 times from France into Scotland) 3 Scottish Homing Union Bird of the Year Awards Lanarkshire Social Circle Gold Cup Winner Glasgow Federation Champion Midland Federation Champion 13 times Lanarkshire Federation Champion Over 130 times recording the 1 st bird from total convoys ranging from 50 to 514 miles with up to 12,000 birds competing; over 500 times 1 st club when racing in Coatbridge Premier, Coatbridge Social Circle, Glenmavis and Lanarkshire Social Circle flying club. Over 30 times topping the complete convoy by more than 20 yard per minute ahead of the next member and in every wind direction; over 100 team performances at section and federation level that most people could only dream about for example; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th and 12 th federation against 9738 old birds; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th and 8 th federation against 8593 young birds; The creator of a stock loft that is producing winners at all levels; club, federation; Amalgamation; Combine and National Level for other fanciers from all over the United Kingdom; this partnership have the T-shirts to prove they are the complete package. Think about this!! When analysing their results for this article it is surprising how many fanciers don t realise how difficult it is to top a complete convoy and if they would just sit down and take a hard look at their own record, they would be shocked at how low the ratio is of races entered to gain the 1 st prize card. Some fanciers kid themselves on, by hiding behind the excuse that they are only interested in distance racing, so why then are they getting a clock set on a weekly basis and even then how many distance races have they actually topped the convoy? 1
George, Willie & Paul believe that at national level loft location will always have the greatest impact on the result on any given day, greater than any impact the fancier can actually influence when preparing his entries, for example: With the prevailing west winds and the terrain variations between the east and west coast of Britain, a fit bird on the east coast will always be well in front on paper of a fit and motivated bird racing to the west coast, that is why you have clubs on the east coast of Scotland that nearly every member is a National winner and full federations on the west coast where 99% of the members haven t even come close to winning a national. Statics show that from east to west, your chances of winning a national decrease federation by federation and testimony to this fact is that Lanarkshire federation members have only won 3 SNFC race from over 500 miles in the last 36 years and all 3 were disasters when all the variables went out the window with less than a 2% strike rate. The Macaloney partnership think that it is nearly impossible to win a straight forward race at SNFC level in their federation situated in the centre of the country with full federations north, south, east and west as irrespective of wind direction they are always at a disadvantage. There are some fantastic fanciers in every part of the country and you can at the end of the day only be the best in your area and that area will determine where you finish up in the overall picture. George, Willie & Paul Macaloney would rather record the first bird into their own area than finish in the first 100 of the SNFC when getting beat by birds all around their own loft location, but it suits some people to always quote the big image rather than concentrate on fact that birds are beating them on their own doorstep. The Beginning George was born on the 8 th September 1934 into a family with 7 sons to Willie and Annie Macaloney in the small village of Gartcosh which is approximately 7 miles east of Glasgow. Dad Willie an ex steel worker and was a first class pigeon man who had a wonderful way of dealing with his stock which showed in his results as he featured near the top of the prize list in the Glasgow federation on a regular basis. In 1954 after George finished his national service he entered the partnership with his father and raced as W Macaloney & son and they duly became Glasgow federation champions. In 1956 George married Ellen and set up home in the nearby town in Coatbridge where he immediately erected a loft and joined the Coatbridge Premier flying club, at a time when the membership peaked at 132 members flying over 1200 birds in the early races, which was at that time the largest club in the United Kingdom and from day one George would take top honours in this ultra-competitive club. In 1964 at the age of 7 his eldest son Willie entered the partnership and they continued to win not just at club level but started to compete for top prizes in the very strong Midland federation even although they were in the most westerly club within the federation with 90% of the members east of their loft location. At this time George and Willie s target was to try and emulate the performances put up by Jim Nash of Croy who was without doubt one of the best flyers in Scotland at that time. Jim also had his snipers regarding his loft location, number of birds entered or whatever, but George and Willie recognised that the fanciers making all the excuses under the sun for failing to compete with Jim and they were only jealous of his performances. Away back then just like now, it s easier for some fanciers just to make excuses rather than raise their own game but not the Macaloneys as they strived to improve their performances by learning good habits and applying good honest hard work. Their dedication paid off as by the late 1970s and early 80s they started to win federation trophies on a regular basis and put up some terrific individual results like 1 st fed, 1 st open Scottish Central Combine Avranches in 1974 with their chequer hen Caroline. This hen 2
topped the federation by 55 minutes and topped the Combine by 35 minutes and is still the furthest lying west loft location to win a 500 mile combine race, on a day when the wind was totally against such a performance. In 1981 they also won 1 st west section, 11 th open SNFC Nantes a distance of 610 miles with Janefield Mary a dark white flight hen bred by Bob McLaughlan of Salsburgh giving them their 1 st section win at SNFC level. During this period the partnership featured in nearly every SNFC race they entered and their federation performances grew to the extent that one year they won every average and most of the individual trophies at federation level, to the point that the then secretary contacted George to inform him that the presentation night would have to be cancelled due to the lack of ticket sales but George s family and friends rallied round and purchased the tickets and made it a night the Macaloneys will never forget. As a matter of interest the first person to congratulate George on his fantastic season was none other than Jim Nash of Croy a true fancier that recognised and appreciated the challenge thrown down by the Macaloney partnership, a gesture that George has never forgotten and why George never fails to give credit to any fancier finishing above him in any given season, as he knows the work and dedication these fanciers have to apply to reach the top. Family of Distance Birds George s distance family of birds were a mixture of Willie Warwick of Symington, Bob McLaughlin of Salsburgh, Bobby Caruthers of Bonnyrigg and birds down through his own father s loft. In 1977 George contacted Dr Jeff Horn and enquired about the Busschaert family of pigeons that were having a massive impact in the north east of England and subsequently purchased 6 late bred s bred down from the famous Newton Pair at a cost of 175 each which at that time was more than a month s wages for George but in the long run they turned out to be a very sound investment. All 6 purchases bred winners but 2 of them turned out to be exceptional breeders and they were a ½ brother and sister and both grandchildren of the Newton Pair. This pair became known as the Horn Cock and the Spreckle Hen and they founded an absolute dynasty of top performers that could win from 50 to 550 miles and at velocities ranging from 700 to 2000 yard per minute. In the infamous Hastings Smash Georg and Willie sent 7 widowhood cocks and timed in the only 3 birds in the club in race time, winning 7 th, 21 st & 23 rd open federation when only 28 birds were recorded from an entry of over 3000 birds they also won the best 2 bird average with 2 pigeons timed 6 hours apart. Incidentally George and Willie had all 7 entries back in 3 days when 80% of the federation members never seen a feather. In 1982 other Busschearts were introduced from Eddie Lauder of Eddie s Supreme fame, including a long necked, ugly, deep keeled blue cock inbred to the sire of Eddie s Supreme, that was supplied with the promised that it would breed winners despite his appearance. The Macaloneys trusted Eddie s judgment and coupled the Lauder Cock as he was now known onto the Spreckle Hen and produced 4 young birds for racing, one of which was a stunning chequer cock. In 1984 whilst racing in the Glenmavis club and the Coatbridge social circle club in combination with the Midland federation (with a split team of birds). This chequer cock won 1 st federation; 2 nd federation to his half- brother and 2 nd federation again to his half- sister all sired by the Lauder Cock. So much for being able to select breeders on looks as in his first year breeding the ugly swan like, deep keeled, weak backed Lauder blue cock had bred 3 x 1 st feds, 2 x 2 nd feds, 2 x 3 rd feds, 1 x 8 th fed and a 12 th fed. Incidentally in the Hasting s Smash previously mentioned the 3 birds timed in on the second day consisted of 2 sons and a grandson of the Lauder Cock. In 1985; 7 years after moving to their present address at Janefield, Waverley Street, and the Coatbridge club decided to part company with the Midland federation and they join the Lanarkshire fed which was the largest federation in the 3
United Kingdom. At the very first Lanarkshire federation club delegate s meeting in 1985 the two Coatbridge officials were told by a federation official that The Macaloneys would not find it as easy in this federation as they did in the Midland They were in with the big boys now. Well it didn t take long for the Macaloney partnership to make their mark, as in their very first race they won 1 st section 1 st open fed with the chequer son of the Lauder Cock and the Spreckle Hen that had won 1 st and 2 x 2 nd feds the previous year in the Midland federation. This cock would go on to set a record in the Lanarkshire fed that still stands to this day by winning 4 x 1 st feds and accumulating a total of 17 x 1sts and was christened Super Mac by Jim Hannah. Another son of the Lauder Cock and half-brother to Super Mac was Janefield 63 a winner of 1st fed, 2 nd fed, 8 th fed and 12 th fed as a yearling in the Midland fed and then won 1 st fed, 3 rd fed in the Lanarkshire as a 2 year old. This cock would go on to win 1 st club, 7 th open in the Hasting s smash and 2 weeks later won 1 st club, 14 th open Lanarkshire federation Sartilly and later provided the partnership with their second section winner at national level by winning 1 st fed, 1 st west section Scottish National Flying Club from Appledore a distance of 400 miles. Super Mac when retired from racing became one of the best producers they ever owned, he was sire to a pair of blue cocks that between them won the Lanarkshire Social Circle Bird Of The Year Award 3 years in a row. Super Mac was also grandsire to Hamish Ferguson s of Broxburn famous Father Jim and grandsire to Hamish s fed cock a bird that twice won Bird Of The Year in the Central federation. Another grandson was George Mann s Imperial Mac a winner of 1 st federation 1 st open Scottish Central Combine Sartilly and Imperial Mac in turn went on to produce a dynasty of winners for George and even to this present day his blood runs through George s loft. Another fancier to do extremely well by introducing the Macaloney Busschearts was John Duthie from Dundee, as a matter of fact it is well documented that the first 6 birds received from the Macaloney loft all won 1 st open in the Dundee Federation. John is now one of the best National Flyers in Scotland, having won the SNFC and a Gold Award along with many top positions in the top 20 in SNFC racing with most of his performances containing the same Busscheart blood obtained from George and Willie Macaloney. In 1985 George and Willie in their first year racing in the Lanarkshire federation won the first of many fed trophies and in only their second season were crowned Federation Champions when flying against some of the best fanciers in the country the likes of: Douglas Telfer, George Rankin & Son, Martin and King, Eadie Kelly & Devine, George Brownlee and Jim Hannah etc. a feat they duplicated in 1989, 1990 and 1991 making them federation champions for the fourth time in only 7 seasons since joining this federation smashing the record set by only a handful of members that had finished federation champions on two occasions. The Federation has over 800 members and containing some of the best fanciers within the whole of Scotland and to crown it all the Macaloneys finished federation champions in 1996 for the fifth time. SNFC Results During this period the partnership were also one of the best national flyers in Scotland achieving some top results when you consider they never entered any more than 4 birds in a race and their results still rank to this day amongst the best ever achieved flying into the west section for example: in 1987 they won 1 st west section, 1 st open S.N.F.C. Sartilly 508 miles, in a disastrous race with a winning velocity of only 693ypm the lowest in the last 60 years. Their winner a dark cock known as Janefield Andy was bred by their good friend Andy Durning from a mealy cock bred by Jim Nash and direct from his 4 th open SNFC Rennes winner. The dam was a good dark hen bred and raced by George and Willie that had a string of performances from 50 to 500 miles to her credit and one thing that a lot of people don t 4
know is that a daughter of Janefield Andy went on to produce one of the greatest SNFC birds ever to fly into Scotland, none other than Kardale Regatta a winner of 7 times in the Scottish National Flying Club from races over 500 miles for the late Dale Newcombe of Macmerry. In 1987 they also won the Lanarkshire Social Circle Gold Cup and were one of the few lofts that season to finish on every SNFC result the following year they won their first SNFC Gold Award with Janefield Geordie a mealy cock that gained 4 certificates from Rennes and once from Nantes, his best position being 3 rd west section, 14 th open Rennes. Over the next few seasons they continued to put up some outstanding SNFC performances and in 1997 became one of the very few fanciers to win a second SNFC Gold Award this time with Janefield Paul. This dark cock was bred by good friend Hamish Ferguson and still to this day is only the 3 rd bird to achieve a Gold Award by winning 5 certificates in the Blue Ribbon Race Gold Cup race from Rennes and he completed this achievement in one of the worst SNFC races ever when only 21 birds were recorded in race time. This was the final straw for George Macaloney as he was becoming totally disillusioned with the quality of racing the SNFC were providing for fanciers during this period and in August 97 George turned his back on racing at this level and decided to concentrate on federation racing. He gifted the National winner Janefield Andy to his breeder Andy Durning and his Gold Award winner Janefield Geordie to his good friend Bob McLaughlan and his second Gold Award winner to his breeder Hamish Ferguson. George never entered the next 70 or so SNFC races for the next 11 years, but when you look at his achievements up to 1997 he had already done it all. Even way back in 1997 George was the complete package, a winner from 50 to 600 miles at every level of competition including winning federation trophies in all of the 13 seasons since joining the Lanarkshire Federation, breaking and setting new records along the way and doing it racing Against the big boys. In the Autumn of 1997 George started to lay down the foundations for assembling the best middle distance team of birds that ever competed in Scotland which I will tell you about in PART 2 Compiled by Joe Murphy. 5