A Dundee pigeon fancier is flying high after winning Scotland”s most prestigious racing competition.
John Duthie, of Harestane Road, pulled off a coup for Dundee’s racing pigeon community by landing the first prize in the Scottish National Flyers Club’s Gold Cup event.
His triumph is reckoned to be the first time a city trainer has won the competition in its 100-year history.
The race, which is considered to be the Grand National of pigeon racing, saw more than 1000 birds fly home to Scotland from Reims in France.
John’s four-year-old pigeon, Better Still, proved the fastest, covering the 582 miles back to Dundee in just under 14 hours on Friday.
“It is the most prestigious race in Scotland so I am over the moon,” said John.
“I couldn’t believe it I went about in a daze afterwards.
“It was only confirmed on Sunday night and I could hardly sleep I was so excited about it.
“It is absolutely fantastic.”
John, who is married with three children, said the win which comes with a £1000 prize was the proudest moment in his 35 years of racing pigeons.
“I took it up as a kid and just kept it up ever since,” he said.
“I had some success before, but to win it is just amazing.
“This pigeon’s father was a great racer and I called him As Good As It Gets, but Better Still has really lived up to his name.”
But John, a member of the Dundee and District racing pigeon club, said he was postponing any celebratory “do” until the end of the racing season.
“I’ve had people from all over Scotland saying we’ll have to celebrate, but I can’t do it yet as we still have national competitions every weekend at the minute.
“But once they’re finished we’ll definitely be having a party we’re good at that!”
Andrew Thomson, president of the Dundee Federation of Racing Pigeons, agreed the win was great coup for the city’s racing pigeon fraternity.
“As far as I am aware nobody from Dundee has ever won it before in its 100-year history.
“It is terrific for Dundee that John has done this.”