sapper756

UP NORTH COMBINE LOFT VISITS (PART 3) Terry Callan of Brotton. The next fancier we are going to feature was one of the sport's workers and was a major cog in the workings of the NEHU Peterlee Show each year. Not only was Terry Callan a good worker but he was also an outstanding pigeon fancier, winning many premier prizes, including: 1996: 6th open UNC Folkestone; 1997: 1st and 12th open UNC Folkestone. Terry's UNC winner was his champion yearling blue pied Busschaert / Van Loon hen, ‘Nikki Louise’, which was named after his young granddaughter. This game hen was racing against 13,980 birds from Folkestone and won the North of England Championship Club, lifting the Gold Medal. ‘Nikki Louise’ was produced from a gift egg from the Washington partnership of Mr. & Mrs. Hindhaugh & Donaldson and was raced on the roundabout system. Terry's father was also an outstanding fancier and he really started up in the sport in 1954, when he helped out at his dad's loft. Terry liked to race from any distance but his loft was arranged each season for what he really enjoyed, Channel racing. He races two systems; natural for the Channel races and roundabout for sprint and all the old birds were paired up on 14th February. The roundabout pigeons were raced natural to the nest for the first old bird races, before being split to go on roundabout and both cocks and hens went to the same races. The roundabout racers were broken down only on the day of the race and were never let out of the loft the day after, as they had to rest. In the north east of England they checked the clocks directly after the birds return so Terry always split the roundabout pigeons when he returns home from the club after race checking. The natural race team was fed twice a day on a heavy mixture, which was beefed up for the Channel races, and they were only trained if they were not exercising well around the loft. Normally they would fly for 50 minutes. I must say that Terry's natural racers looked in brilliant condition when I visited and these were housed in a one section 12ft loft with open-door trapping. The main, very smart, racing loft had four sections and a nice big wire flight for the stock birds. On my visit, Terry showed me his good red grizzle black-splash cock, whose best nest condition for the Channel was sitting 14-day eggs. This handsome cock was a cross between Terry's old Channel family and Alf Rothwell's De Baere bloodlines and had won in 1997: 1st club, 6th Federation Bourges (Terry's sole entry); 1996: 2nd club, 2nd Federation, 94th open UNC Bourges. When Terry and his wife, Jean, moved to their present address in 1968, he obtained pigeons from J. & W. Douglass, who had won the Combine from Corneilles in 1965 with a widowhood cock and at that time, no one had heard of widowhood. The Holy Island lofts of J. & W. Douglass had a wonderful family of Bourges blues and in 1974 Terry won the Up North Channel Average with their pigeons. Terry introduced the Busschaert pigeons from Taylor Bros, Tom Larkins, Alan Hindhaugh and Alf Rothwell and won the UNC Average again in 1977. The Van Loons were brought into the family from Planet Bros in 1985 and these had been highly successful, right up to the present day. He kept 20 pairs of stock birds and when a new breeder was obtained it must have be from a long line of outstanding winners. Another top racer at the Brotton loft was the Busschaert chequer pied hen off the very best Tom Larkins and Alf Rothwell bloodlines. At that time, this wonderful hen had only flown Folkestone three times and had recorded: 1996: 6th open UNC (22,168birds): 1997: 12th open UNC (13,980 birds), being beaten to the loft by ‘Nikki Louise’ when she won 1st open Combine. Terry raced his 60 young birds on the natural system and although he had tried the darkness, said that if you are interested in Channel racing, this system doesn't let the young birds mature properly for long distance racing in later life. Sonny & Phil Galloway of Hartlepool. The first loft I visited belongs to the father and son partnership of Sonny & Phil Galloway of Hartlepool, an east coast town a few miles north of Middlesbrough. The area is a hotbed of pigeon racing and the Galloway’s have their lofts sited on some allotments alongside several other premier fanciers. At the time of my visit, Sonny had been in the sport for 50 years and said he remembers that years ago fanciers helped one another but these days the friendliness has gone out of pigeon racing. He was a bit of a tearaway when he was a lad and says that helping his father with his pigeons was the only thing that kept the young Sonny out of trouble. His dad was his tutor in outstanding racing pigeon management. The Galloway’s have won the UNC several times and maintain that their old champion, which they called ‘The Bourges Cock’, was the best pigeon they ever owned. This wonderful cock had nine wins before he won 1st open UNC and bred 73 winners for the Galloway loft. The partners like racing from 60 through to 600 miles and have bred many top racers for other lofts in the north east of England including a 2nd open UNC winner for the late President, Ralph Iley. At that time Sonny and Phil's most recent UNC win was from Chenoise in 1998 and this was with a blue hen bred by Gordie Hastings of Berwick. This game hen had three races on her build-up to winning the Combine and was at her best sitting overdue eggs. She has several other good performances under her belt, including 10th open UNC Chenoise the season previous to winning the Combine. A fantastic hen! The Galloway’s race two systems natural and roundabout with their old birds and Phil says that the natural racers have done most of the damage. The 20 pairs of roundabout pigeons are paired up on 1st January, with the 20 pairs of naturals being put together on 16th February every season, training starting three weeks before the first race. The birds are fed a good mixture of beans, peas and maize and the roundabout team is broken down three days a week during the racing season. During the season the natural racers are trained from 30 miles twice a day up to Thursday and both the roundabout hens and cocks are raced on the same weekend. The natural old birds are raced to a 16ft section with open door trapping, and Phil says that they like them sitting due to hatch for Channel racing. At the time of my visit the basis of the family was Janssen / Sions obtained from a Yorkshire fancier named Freddie Dawson in 1957, with the odd cross being introduced from time to time. Sonny says that when he brings in a new breeder he mostly looks for good winning lines, but picks out pigeons that he likes in the hand and although he judges eyesign shows, he never uses the method for pairing up. The latest successful introductions were the de Klak Janssens from Brian Long and he obtained them direct from de Klak. The partners' 15 pairs of stock birds are paired up in January and are housed in a three section, 28ft-long loft. Sonny showed me a nest pair of blue cocks, which were grandsons of ‘The Old Bourges Cock’ and both were champion racers on the natural system. The Galloway’s say that there is no such thing as a long-distance or sprint-type pigeon. Pigeons fly only to the distance they are managed for. Sonny said that the proof is this nest pair of blue cocks. One had won eleven times first in sprint racing, was several times 1st open Federation and was the sire of 46 winners; the other had nine times 1st, seven of them over the Channel, and loved having 10 hours on the wing. This nest pair, both being the same breed and type but both liking different distances when it came to racing. He maintains that when you have a good family of pigeons, you get to know the winning eye and you must breed for that, which is the advantage of the eye sign method. The Galloway partners have tried both natural and darkness systems and maintain that the natural young birds are by far the best in the young bird races. They think that darkness young birds never make good old birds and have proved this fact in their own loft. The partners' team of 70 youngsters was raced all the way through the programme to Maidstone (260 miles) and like the old birds; they were trained twice a day up to Thursday during the racing season. They were fed heavily on a good young bird mixture and are raced to the perch, although the odd nest bowl was put in the box perch for any that might want to pair up. The young bird team was trapped through open doors and the partners have recorded many great young bird winners, with the local competition being very hot. When I met Sonny Galloway he was very much again at the darkness system with young birds and said he would never race it again. Thanks to Sonny & Phil for a very enjoyable loft visit all those years ago! Richie Stephenson of Great Ayton. We went to great lengths for our last Up North Combine winning loft this week and feature the widowhood loft of Richie Stephenson & Son. Richie's champion widowhood Van Riel blue cock was 1st open UNC Bourges (537 miles) in 1997 and 12th open UNC Bourges in 1998. This cock was raced on the widowhood system with a difference, being teased with a tumbler pigeon. Richie had been involved with pigeons all his life, starting racing in 1991 and in 1995 only raced six cocks on widowhood to win several top positions, including 1st and 2nd open Federation. He had always liked sprint racing but at the time only mostly interested in channel racing with the UNC. Richie told me his normal build up for the long-distance races was to race them down to the south coast, then two short Channel races, then into Bourges. He paired all his racers and stock birds 64 days before the first race, so some eggs could be floated, and only a small team of 16 cocks was raced. The cocks were fed on a first-class widowhood mixture and were only broken down if the racing was fast, with the main corn being beefed up for Bourges. The widowhood cocks were only normally trained before their first race and were sometimes repaired for the Bourges race, being sent driving to nest. The Stephenson set-up consisted of three very smart lofts. Richie only kept eight pairs of stock birds, mainly of the Van Riel strain and when bringing in a new breeder, he liked medium-sized birds with good balance in the hand. The top stock cock was a blue Van Riel, bred by Tony Reed of the Midlands, and this cock had bred many premier pigeons, including the Bourges Combine winner. Ritchie raced his 40 young birds on the darkness system and kept the sexes separate, running them together on Friday night before going to the marking station. The young hens raced the whole programme down to the south coast and the young cocks were stopped at the 120 mile stage and saved for the widowhood system later in life. The youngsters were trained up to 30 miles and were raced to the perch. Full article to appear in the BHW soon. (November 2022)

What a cracking looking bird

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The colour of GB rings for 2023 are Green

I have been given permission to share with Basics members

Saw this on Facebook and thought I'd share it with Basics members Walsall Area

Well done folks

Good luck with your sale

UP NORTH COMBINE LOFT VISITS (PART 2) The late, great Ralph Iley. The sport of pigeon racing recently lost one of its best ever fanciers when the great Dr. Ralph Iley passed away, at the age of 83. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ralph several times through the years and visited his loft in the mid-1990s, with ‘Many Miles with Mott’ video team. He loved the sport and even after so many year racing pigeons, he always seemed to have the enthusiasm of a new starter. Ralph is famous for the good work he did in the sport, especially for his beloved Up North Combine. Another legend has left our sport! Ralph had been president of the Up North Combine for well over 30 years, and said he had seen a lot of changes in our sport in that time. When visiting his loft a few years ago he told me he thought the main progression had been going over to the road transporter, since which the Up North Combine has never once failed to get all the birds to the race point, at that time. This is a fantastic achievement when you realise that on some Up North Combine races there are 15 road transporters and over 20,000 birds taking part. Ralph also told me that the Up North Combine is a limited company and has a wonderful team of workers behind it. Ralph built his first loft as a schoolboy in 1939, and joined the Percy Main Club, and his first pigeons were obtained from his later to be father-in-law. He liked the middle to long-distance races, but had won his fair share of sprints and had been 2nd Open Up North Combine a fantastic seven times through the years, although he had never won the Combine. In 1991 he was 2nd Open Up North Combine in three races on the trot, from 360 miles through to 580 miles. A wonderful performance by a brilliant fancier! On my visit to his loft, Ralph showed me his wonderful widowhood blue pied cock which had won 2nd Open Up North Combine Clermont (20,000 birds) in 1991, bred off Ralph's old Channel family. Ralph raced both widowhood and natural, but had never won a 600-mile race with a widowhood cock. His loft housed 90 widowhood cocks split into three teams, as Ralph raced in four clubs. He started to pair up his widowhood cocks during the second week in January, each team being paired up at a different time, at two-week intervals. The cocks raced at the beginning of the season and were put on widowhood after about four races. The reason Ralph liked widowhood was because you don't have to train the cocks; he said he had never trained a widowhood pigeon in the 18 years he had used the system. Bill Porritt of Staithes. Bill Porritt's loft was halfway up a cliff overlooking the North Yorkshire coastal fishing village of Staithes. He had to cross a river on stepping stones, and then climb a long, steep path to reach his pigeons. Corn had to be carried up and the pigeons had to be carried down, which was bad enough in the summer, but must have been horrendous in the ice and snow. In spite of this hardship, this great fancier had won the mighty Up North Combine four times on a Saturday and once on a Wednesday. The Bill Porritt pigeons were raced on a natural system, but were fed the widowhood method, with a light feed in the morning and a heavy one at night. Bill told me you feed pigeons according to what you want them to do, and said likewise you wouldn't pair up early if you want to win the late long distance races. He fed a good widowhood mixture; which was beefed up for the long-distance events. Birds were paired up at the end of February, and Bill liked races from 200 to 500 miles, declaring that these distances are true races. Bill won his first race at 13 years of age and had at the time I visited his loft, had actually been in the sport over 40 years. He said he had won many premier races throughout the years, but his main achievement was to win the Up North Combine. Apart from his five wins in the Up North Combine, he had won countless other positions including 2nd, 3rd (twice) and 4th open Up North Combine. On my visit to his loft, Bill showed me his champion blue pied Busschaert cock 'Shergar', which he said, was the finest pigeon that had ever been or will ever be. This fantastic cock has won many top prizes, including 2nd and 11th open Up North Combine in 310 mile races, and in north-west winds. 'Shergar' was also an ace breeder with Bill's good hen 'Blue Haze' which was inbred to the champion cock. This natural blue hen won 1st open Up North Combine Folkestone (22,000 birds) and was dam and grand dam of many winners. Another of Bill's top racers was the Janssen blue chequer hen Champion 'Diddy Girl' which won 35th open Up North Combine (22,000 birds) as a young bird, then went on to win 1st open Up North Combine (27,000 birds) Folkestone Old Bird National. This great hen had proved golden at stock, breeding many premier winners, their credit including 4th, 6th, 9th and 13th open Up North Combine. A fantastic pigeon! Bill's families were Janssen, Busschaert and Geerts. He told me he had won the Combine with all of them. Because of carrying the birds down the cliff path, he never kept more young birds than he can get in two baskets, which was usually 35, and his main aim with the youngsters is the National race. Bill Porritt, one of the ‘all time’ greats of the Up North Combine! George Wandless of Hetton-Le- Hope. George Wandless first became interested in pigeons immediately after the Second World War. He was 12 when he and his friend Robert Lowery, who was then a retired police inspector, built a little 5ft loft to house two pairs of tumblers. He says he was not encouraged by any fancier, but the birds he got from Rutter Brothers, the late Tom Kilner (a very good friend), J. J. Horn and Tommy Mercer of Trimdon got him where he is today. George is a retired miner, working at Eppleton Colliery for many years and today the 30ft Wandless loft, at Hetton- le-Hole in County Durham, houses both widowhood and natural racers and has put up some fantastic performances over the last 30 years, racing in two clubs, Hetton Workingman's and Croft P.C., including in 1985 sixteen times first in Channel and inland races; 1994: ten times first; 1995: eleven times first and 1996: ten times first prizes. George's biggest thrill was winning 1st open Up North Combine Clermont and the ‘Queen's Cup’ in 1991. Some of the loft's best performance birds were as follows: mealy pied hen 90HET4614 winner of 3rd club, 7th Federation Lilliers, 1st club, 1st Federation, 1st open Up North Combine Clermont and winning the ‘Queen's Cup’; blue hen 91HET2135 winner of 2nd club, 4th Federation Mansfield, 2nd club Grantham, 1st club, 2nd Federation, 80th open Up North Combine Abbeville, 1st club, 1st Federation, 1st Section, 1st FCC, 1st TRCC, 1st open Up North Combine Provins. The loft has housed countless champions through the years and at present George calls his pigeons his own old breed, as he thinks this is only right after 36 years of blending. Through the years he has introduced Frans Van Wildemeersch, Vandies, Busschaerts, Staf Van Reets and Janssens and George maintains his birds are outstanding from 75 miles through to 560 miles. Only one of his sons, George junior, has been interested in the pigeons, and his wife has been around pigeons all her life, being the younger sister of the Rutter Brothers Full article to appear in the BHW soon. (November 2022)

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The Joe Murphy Column 1 Margaret and I travelled through to Newmains in Lanarkshire for the sale of Billy Bilsland’s pigeons. There was a good turnout of fanciers, with many coming from a good distance. Even as far as Liverpool and a fancier who obviously lives in the UK but has a loft in China. The pigeons were in excellent condition and to be honest sold themselves, as they were bred from the Scottish National winners or were grandchildren from them. David McCaig did a wonderful job as Auctioneer with fellow fanciers also helping out, and ex SHU president and good pal of Billy’s John Barlow dealing with the transactions. Everything run smoothly however I was quite shocked that very few fanciers from the Lothians and Edinburgh area, with none from Fife. Dundee had a couple of fanciers present and they went home with a bird or two. Overall, I think everyone who attended was happy and some of the TOP pigeons made their way to new homes in England. Billy and Isla were pleased and it will now cut down on his work load and give them both more time to see their grandchildren. A Shock I was very disappointed in reading in today’s BHW that Jim Donaldson of Peterhead had passed away. In the late 1980’s I was an HGV driver and worked for a kitchen company and delivered kitchen, worktops, etc. throughout the whole of Scotland. On a Monday I would leave Fife and travel through to Glasgow, Greenock; down to Dumfries, Gretna and finish up at Langholm, where I spent some great hours with Anne & Derrick Norden. The following day I would travel up the east/central area of the Lothians and finally return home to Kirkcaldy. The lorry was loaded up on the Wednesday, I would travel up to Forfar; Brechin; Stonehaven, Aberdeen; then moving on up to Peterhead, where I met up with Jim Wiseman. He was just starting up in the sport of pigeon racing, but at night he would have Irvine Buchan; George Duthie, Jim & Anne Donaldson and we spoke about pigeons and had a great time. The next week we would go to Jim & Anne’s and I did this for a good number of years. One night we discussed the feeding of racing pigeons and how to load them with carbohydrates prior to going to the nationals. As I was leaving to go and sleep in my lorry; Anne gave me some money and asked, ‘Can you get me some of that special feeding and bring it up in your lorry next week’, which I did. The friendship we had was something to behold and I actually introduced Jim & Anne to Dennis Dall when they came down to Fife with their national birds. I kept in touch with both of them plus Irvine; but Jim Wiseman had a business that dealt with the fishing boats that came into Peterhead harbour and he did not have time for racing pigeons. Over the years we drifted apart as I changed jobs and finally did my HNC in social work and worked as a senior social care worker, in old people care homes. Before finishing up working in with Deaf & Blind service users. The point of the above is I cannot believe that not one person could not find the time; to phone or email me informing me that Jim Donaldson had passed away. To read it in the obituary column and see his photo in Keith Molts column was a complete shock. To Anne and their family, I send my sincere condolences at the passing of their dearly loved one. Rest in Peace my old friend. Edinburgh International Charity Racing Pigeon Show 1986 Another dear old friend of mine; Henry Mair of Irvine has forwarded me the advert for the above show which was printed in the BHW on 31 st October 1986. There was two Grand Auctions the first on Saturday 8 th November at 2-30pm with the Sunday auction on 9 th at 1-00pm. The auctioneer was Oliver Thompson. The Saturday sale had some famous names with birds on offer such as; Davidson & Little of Cockenzie; Albert Witty of Malton; John Carmichael of Annan; The Joe Murphy Column 2 David Rose of Aberdeen; Hugh Brown of Stonehouse; Wilson Noble of Fraserburgh; Brian May of Rotherham; John Ellis of Dundee; Alf Rothwell of Tynemouth; R Telfer & Son Motherwell; G Duncan of Deal; Hendry Maid of Irvine; Johnny Park of Aberdeen; Robert Rome of Annan; J F Roberson of Jedburgh. The Sunday sale started at 1-00pm; again, Oliver was the auctioneer; Birds were donated from Ritchie & Whyte of Cairnbuig; J Elliot of Duns; McIvor Brothers Carnwath; George Gartshore of Deal; P G Hastie & son North Berwick; McIvor Brothers Carnwath; F Douglas & son Aberdeen; Matt Jamieson Annan; R Bearhope of Coldstream; Fear Brothers of Clandown; W Ferguson & son Annan; W (Taffy) Bowen of Rhondda; Davy Rose of Aberdeen; Stan Sudlow of Jedburgh; R & H Kennedy of Irvine; Bobby Carruthers of Bonnyrigg; Robert Cormack of Winchburgh; Bob McDonald of Fraserburgh; A H Bennett of Church Stretton; Brown & Gormley of High Valleyfield; Bob Mayo of Chester; Jim Hannah of Blantyre; G Turnbull of Cornhill on Tweed; Wally Pope of East Ham; Bernard A Miles of Brighton. I can remember some of these names; these fancies were household names within the sport. I was 39 years old at this time and some of the names mentioned above were like ‘supper hero’s’ to me; just like football players are to the youngsters nowadays. Gourdon & District RPC Annual Open Show Received an email from Margaret Hay of the above club who write’s, ‘Hi Joe, It’s almost that time of year again for the ‘Doo Show’ at Bervie, so I’m asking if you could announce the details in your Joe Murphy Column page. The details as follows: The Gourdon & District Annual open show will be held on Sunday 27 th November in the Masonic Hal; King Street Inverbervie. Penning will be from 09-00am to 10-30am; with judging starting at 11.00am prompt. Entries are £1.00 per bird with the prize money being £20.00; 1 st is £10.00; 2 nd x £6.00; 3 rd x £4.00. With teas and coffees, bacon rolls; sausage rolls and dumpling. There will also be a raffle and sale of 2023 youngsters. Classes are as follows; Class One; Any Age Cock Through Wires; Class Two; Any Age Hen Through Wires; Class 3; Likely Old Cock; Class 4; Likely Old Hen; Class 5; Likely Young Cock; Class 6; Likely Young Hen. Class 7; Eye sign; this can be duplicated into any of the above classes. If interested then send your entries to David Hay (jnr) on 01561 361588; or David Hay (snr) on 01561 361526. Entries close on Friday 25 th of November at 10.00 pm; there may be late entries if pens are available; very much appreciated Joe, kindest regards Margaret Hay’. I think you will have to give Margaret a phone to see if the show is still on due to the ‘Bird Flu’ rules that are now in place. 4 Generations Last week Margaret and I met up with our great grandchildren one afternoon at their home. We enjoyed spending time with the older girls when they came home from school. We also managed to hold our first and only great grandson named Remy; who is now 2 months old. As we were enjoying this special time and listing to Remy’s 2 big sisters; Dylahn & Daisy, our grandson Blaine and his dad our oldest son Mark came into the house. This was a fine opportunity to have a photo taken of our 4 generation of the Murphy family. I have attached a photo of us which is a very special occasion and more importantly a very special one. The Joe Murphy Column 3 Joe’s Joke A bloke goes to his doctor’s and said he wants castrating, the doctor said ‘Have you given this a lot of thought’ the bloke replies ‘Yes; it is what I want’. So, an appointment was made and he attended the hospital and was castrated. When he came round and sat up in bed; he turned to the lad in the next bed to him and said ‘What are you in for?’ The lad said ‘Oh I’ve been circumcised’ ‘Oh shit that’s the word’ says the bloke. Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or you can also view online editions on: www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk - www.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! - thecanadianpigeoninternational.com www.internationalracingpigeon.com or https://sites.google.com/site/internationalracingpigeon/ Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland? © COMPILED BY JOE MURPHY