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The Joe Murphy Column As it is the end of the year, I thought I would go through my old photographs and pick some out as a way of cheering myself and hopefully some readers of my column up and take our minds off the ‘madness’ that is going on around the world; at this time. We always remember people who were close to us during this time of the year, more so if they were involved in our sport. Obviously, our son Kevin is never far from our daily thoughts. He like Margaret and I loved the pigeons and I have included a photo of the 3 of us when he timed in his ‘My Little Rachel’ to win 4 th open SNFC Alencon. This blue hen contained the bloodlines of another dear old friend whom we have also lost; Ian Gilmour of Leven and his wonderful SNFC winner ‘Robbie’s Boy’, who was named after Ian’s brother, whom I participated about with when I was 14/15 years old. Then there was my old pal from Arbroath ‘The one and only’ Jim George i.e., ‘Round O’ and Jim Renwick who were both scribes of the BHW for a long time; and both encouraged me to take up the ‘pen’ and cover the Fife area; which I did then; but now cover our sport up here in Scotland. I wasn’t as regular with the pen when I took on a job as a lorry driver with Kestrel Kitchens as I used to leave home on a Monday and cover the area from Fife to Glasgow, Ayr; Stranraer, Dumfries up to Langholm. Then the next day arrive home and loaded up for the next day, and on Wednesday travelled north via Dundee, Forfar; Aberdeen sometimes meeting up with Dave Pirie and Gibby Reed. Then up to Peterhead; where I would meet up with the pigeon lads after doing my drops at the shops. I used to spend the evenings; with Jim Wiseman; Anne & Jim Donaldson, Irvine Buchan & sometimes George Duthie. We had some great nights talking about ‘pigeons’ and having a good laugh. After I quite the driving job, I then started doing my column on a more weekly basis; away back in 2005 I remember reporting on the SNFC Tours winner ‘Petite Rose’. At that time, I did not have a computer or was able to type. So, I used to phone up the national winners and obtain details of their winning bird. Margaret and I would sit down and re-write the details and on a Sunday night Linda Richards from the BHW would go to the office in Welshpool and phone me for the National report. After she had obtained all the information, she would type this up and it appeared in the Thursday issue of the BHW. I remember Tom McEwen phoning me on the morning the paper came out and he could not believe that his winning pigeon was being highlighted so quickly after the race. Whereas now it is much easier to obtain the details of the winners and have it typed and forwarded via email to the pigeon press for publication that same week. I also started up the ‘Joe Murphy/BHW Sporting Challenge’ (see logo). This highlighted some of the best long-distance pigeons and fanciers who raced into Scotland. Including my two good friends Andy Miller & Barry Kinnear. I cannot finish the year without mentioning Billy Bilsland who won 14 national races with his team of pigeons; he will be a big loss the sport. Going back to my review; A few jobs and years later I started working in a ‘care home’ and undertook the training and further education to obtain my Higher National Certificate in Social Work and was promoted to a Senior Social Care Worker. My last job was working with the Deaf & Blind and I loved the job, but unfortunately, I took a heart attack and had to stop working. May I wish everyone a Happy New Year; let us hope that this year will be much better than 2022; which for some people has been a nightmare. The most important thing for ALL of US is our health, and here we are still having to deal with Covid; and all problems with the hospitals and health service. It seems like we are away back in time to the dreaded Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher governments. Plus, we have the war in the Ukraine it seems like the whole world has gone ‘mad’; the one shining light in the whole episode is Volodymyr Zelenskyy who has been named the 2022 ‘Person of the Year’. Let us pray that 2023 can only get better. The Joe Murphy Column Joe’s Joke THE CAB RIDE For about twenty years I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at my pickup point at 02:30am, the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So, I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the kerb. She kept thanking me for my kindness 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'. 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. ‘'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.’ ‘Nothing,' I said. 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. The Joe Murphy Column PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT 'YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. Wishing You ALL a Happy New Year!!!! 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 Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland? © COMPILED BY JOE MURPHY

UP NORTH COMBINE LOFT VISITS (PART 6) Brian Pearson of Gateshead. Brian Pearson has had pigeons most of his life and started racing with all the fashionable strains over 30 years ago. At the time of my visit to his loft he had settled on the Busschaerts and Smits-Van Winckel bloodlines and has never looked back, with success after success, including: 1988: 6th UNC (17,960 birds) Lillers: 1992: 1st open UNC (18,948 birds) Lillers and 1995: 1st open UNC (21,389 birds) Lillers. In my opinion he is a master at the art of racing pigeons. The loft’s performances at that time, racing in the hotbed of the Up North Combine, were fantastic and he only races a very small team of pigeons. What is also amazing is that his loft was only a few yards away from and facing main railway lines. When I met Brian in the mid-1990’s, on my visit to Newcastle, I found him to be a very pleasant gentleman. I asked him if the trains bothered the pigeons and he said not really, the pigeons are quite used to the passing trains, but if one comes by when they come home from the race, they can’t trap through the open doors, so have to fly around until they’ve gone. The passing trains have never hit the exercising birds, but the big coal trains do make the loft shake. On my visit, Brian’s two Up North Combine winners were paired together in the stock partings and were typical of his ideal type of pigeon, small to medium in the hand. The 1995 Lillers Combine winner is a yearling blue white flight cock, ‘The Fonz’, whose sire was bred by Brian Clayburn of Yorkshire and his dam a Busschaert from Pearson & Dransfield of Barnsley. ‘The Fonz’ is a small cock in the hand, raced on Brian's own widowhood system and was rung with his last ring of the 1994 season. Brian's main base family is Busschaert and he says that in the last 20 years this great strain has been second to none for the base family in major Up North Combine winning lofts, in day races up to 500 miles. He says that when he won the UNC from Lillers (345 miles) in 1992, it was the greatest feeling in the world and his then champion Busschaert dark hen, 'Charlie's Angel', has not raced since she won the combine. She won on what Brian calls, his 'reverse widowhood system'. Her sire was a Busschaert pigeon bred by Arthur Wilkinson of Toft Hill. Brian isn't really a strain man, he just likes good pigeons and enjoys racing from 250 to 450 miles. Ron Evans & son of Sunderland. On a 1995 video trip to the North-East, I visited Sunderland and the fantastic loft of Ron Evans & Son, who have raced with outstanding results for many years. Ron Evans was born in Sunderland and his father was a successful fancier, winning the federation many years ago. Ron Snr and Ron Jnr started racing together in Castletown HS in 1972 and their loft is sited at Fulwell Pumping Station in Sunderland. The father and son partnership had a lay-off from pigeons in the early 1980s and say that T. Laskey put them on the right track when they started to race pigeons again in 1988. They obtained Busschaerts from him and they hit on straight away, winning the Young Bird Average in 1989. On their re-start in the sport, they joined the High Southwick HS and flew to a standard wooden, wire-fronted loft. The Evans partners used to race on the natural system and feed on the hopper, with training every day. They now race on widowhood and do not train in the first part of the week, keeping the cocks on break down morning and night. They go back on widowhood mixture from the Tuesday night and all depends on the distance of the race the following Saturday. The cocks get a bath on Friday and are always shown the hens before going into the basket for the race. The partners' present loft is made of fibreglass and sited high above a river bank. With no windows in the front, it has a full length corridor with open-door trapping and an apex roof, with ventilation in the sides of the roof. Ron likes to see a dry loft that should be light and draught-proof, with plenty of space for the inmates. The loft houses 20 pairs of stock birds and 44 pairs of racers which are all paired up in early January. They breed an average of 80 young birds each season. The loft's best performance at the time of my visit was 2nd open UNC with 27,500 birds competing. Some of the loft's best racers were: 'Rags': a Busschaert who won 17 cards including 5 times 1st club, 3 time 1st Federation, also winning the 2-Bird Club six times and was put to stock; 'Deacon's Boy': who won 5 times 1st club, once 1st Federation, 2 times 2nd Federation, once 3rd Federation and many other positions; 'Grumpy': 5 times 1st club, 3 times 1st Federation, once 2nd Federation and once 3rd Federation; 'Vauxy': 3 times 1st Federation and won the section with 3,500 birds competing. The loft housed two Van Loons which have both won 4th open UNC and won the section. At that time the High Southwick HS races on the south route, starting at Selby, 78 miles and going through to Bourges, 568 miles. The loft housed Busschaerts as the main family, with introductions of Janssens, Van Loons and Lefebre Dhaenens, with the Busschaerts being outstanding up to Provins, 483 miles. The old birds and some yearlings were sent through to Provins and the youngsters were raced through the full programme to 262 miles, with fancied birds being stopped at 170 miles. The partners liked a good widowhood mixture and told me it was ideal in its make-up for racing pigeons at any distance. The birds were given a seed and Hormoform mixture every time they came into the loft from training and exercise and the partners maintained this kept the birds in good feather. The racers got multivits and pigeon tonic in the water during the week. The widowhood cocks and yearlings got tosses while sitting their second round of eggs and once racing started, only flew out twice a day for regular exercise. Young birds were trained up to 30 miles, up to the first race, then they exercised around the loft every morning and had a 20-mile training toss in the afternoon. Ron said that after a couple of loft visits with Brian Vickers he realised there is definitely something in the eye sign method. In the club, the two Ronnie’s had won countless averages and trophies and top Combine positions since 1989 had been as follows: 2nd open UNC Folkestone (27,878 birds), 4th open UNC Maidstone (23,338 birds), 4th open UNC Lillers, 342 miles (21,347 birds), 5th open UNC Folkestone (22,375 birds), 6th open UNC Provins, 483 miles (8,756 birds), also winning 1st section in these five races including 7th open UNC, 2nd section Young Bird National (23,548 birds), 8th open UNC, 3rd section Provins (6,250 birds), 21st open UNC Folkestone National (23,740 birds), 22nd open UNC Lillers (19,867 birds). A really fantastic loft performance! Full article to appear in the BHW soon. (December 2022)

Nicole Bell of Catrine in Scotland. The John and Alice Bell partnership have won ‘Supreme Champion’ at the BHW Blackpool ‘Show of the Year’ a record seven times and are a ‘house hold’ in the UK Show Racer fraternity. Not many people know that their daughter, Nicole, is an outstanding pigeon fancier in her own right, winning several premier shows, including ‘Supreme Champion’ at the RPRA Southern Region Show held at High Wycombe in November 2016. Her winner was her four year old mosaic cock, ‘Mervanic’ and he was a gift Show Racer from Mervin Hosking of Wales. ‘Mervanic’ went on to be a champion breeder at the Bell loft! Nicole was only 23 years old and worked for the National Autistic Society as a support worker. She tells me, her work commitments was the only thing that makes her miss the shows, but she tried to work her shifts around it and uses her annual leave to cover time off so she could attend the pigeon shows. I had a chat with Nicole and what a smashing girl she is! She had very definite and positive views on the direction she was going in with her pigeons, and this is what she had to say, ‘I have been brought up with pigeons all my life, with my mum and dad being John and Alice Bell. Dad raced pigeons from 1975 until 2006, when he parted with the racers and started with show racers. From about 2002 till the present day I was always in the loft with the birds, starting when I could first walk and I loved it when the babies were parted and I could sit on the floor with them. People used to say to dad, she will frighten them or pull a feather out of them, but dad said they will soon get used to her. I always went to the shows with them up until I was about 12 years of age, then I did want to go as much, as I wanted to play with my friends. Then when mum and dad were away I was left to look after the birds and I started to get interested again, so I asked them if I could have my own team to show. So I set about picking my favourites from mum and dad’s loft and at the end of that season. In 2015 I had two Society shows and then it was into the BHW Blackpool Show. In my first season I had some success in the Society events, but when it came to Blackpool I knew it was a different ball game. I had a 2nd and won the fancier with most points Inter Society classes and this was a fantastic achievement for someone to get in their first season. This year, the 2016/17 season was my first full season showing and I finished up at the Society with runner up to mum and dad for the ‘points trophy’ and won one of the best trophies in the Society. It was the ‘A. & A. Clark Trophy’ and this is for the birds that won Best in Show or Reserve Best in Show at the Society during the season. They are all put in a class at the end of the Society season and judged the ‘Best in Show’ out of the eight winning birds of the season. My yearling blue chequer cock that won the trophy also won the accumulator money of £100 for the first nominated bird to win a ‘Best in Show’ and a bottle of Rum donated by the judges on the day. As everyone who shows knows it's very difficult to take this team on and beat them, but I did and gave them a run for their money, finishing up with a good few firsts and a load of cards. Then it was the open shows, I wanted to beat them at this so everyone would see I was dedicated to my team and not just helping mum and dad. I showed at all the open shows this season winning 1st prizes and cards at all of them. The best result by far was when we travelled all the way (800 miles round trip) to the RPRA Southern Region Show held in High Wycombe and my mosaic cock that Mervin Hosking kindly gave me when I started, won his class of coloured cocks and then went on to win ‘Best in Show’. With 478 birds entered in the Region show, that got him qualified for ‘Supreme Champion’ class at the 2017 Blackpool Show. I was over the moon just to beat mum and dad, and to also win my first big open show in my first full season showing. Mum and dad won ‘Supreme Champion’ for a record 5th time at Blackpool 2017 and congratulation to them for that wonderful achievement, but I will be back next year and to try again. I also had a first in class 8 with a young chequer hen and I hope she keeps improving all year for a shot at the big shows at the end of 2017. I'll have to go in mum and dad's loft when they are not in and ring a few young birds for myself! You know accidents happen. LOL! My plans for this season 2017/18 are to copy dad's feeding methods more strictly and keep my eyes and ears open. Dad is a heavy feeder and always says the birds will only eat as much as they need and the mixture he uses is his own method of tic beans, maples peas and barley. The barley is there for when the birds have had enough, the barley will always be left and if they don't eat that then they don't get any more corn. So that's what I will be doing in 2017, with no tip bits for them because dad said mine were too heavy. I have to say a big thanks to my mum, as when me and dad are working she cleans and feeds the birds for me as well as her own. Hope to see all of the fancies at the open shows for 2017 and can I also give a special mention to all the members in ‘Team Bell’, as they all have helped me get started not only with birds but with just about everything that has to do with me showing, from lofts to birds and advice and friendship’. Nicole has got only six pairs for the 2017 season, so hopes to get around 20 young birds. She will not be breeding off the six pairs and will be breeding off four pairs and the other two pairs will be used to rear the babies for her. She said, ‘I know some people will think why not take young birds off all, but they have to be compatible to one another and this is why only four pairs will be bred off. Dad always does this and what he does is good enough for me. I always travelled with mum and dads to loads of shows when I was younger and just listened and watched what they done and now I just put this into practice. I have handled all mum and dad's birds, but dad never makes me pick the same as them and I pick my own type and colour. My favourite bird is the mosaic cock as he is tame and likes fighting with me when I am in the loft and this is good because tame birds are easier to work with and when you have them like this they love coming to you and sitting on my shoulder showing off. This makes the young birds tame as well, as when they see their parents are okay with me it steadies them and give then confidence’. Nicole hasn’t got a favourite colour, just looks of good handling abilities and a good body with tight feathering. She doesn’t like birds that are looking slack and puffy, as they need to be standing straight and showing themselves off, with tight condition, white wattles and nice clear eyes. She maintains the showing game is all about opinions and everyone likes different things, so she just stick to what she likes and if she wins great, if she doesn’t then she just has to take it and come back again. Nicole said, ‘when I show against mum and dad is hard to beat them but I'll give it my best and see what happens. I have been very lucky to have mum and dad to supply me with two quality birds and I know when you start up in showing it is very difficult to obtain good birds. People think I get it easy but I can assure you that I don't, if I make mistakes dad just says make sure you don't do it again and learn from it’. She told me, they are always there for her, but she likes doing her own thing in my short showing career. She has done fantastic, with her mosaic cock, ‘Mervanic’, winning 2nd at BHW Blackpool Show in 2015 in the Inter Society cock class and he then went on to win ‘Best in Show’ at RPRA Southern Region Show in 2016 with 430 birds competing, he then was in ‘Supreme Champion’ class at the BHW Blackpool Show in 2017. Nicole also had a 1st with a young chequer hen in class 8 (young hen handling) at Blackpool 2017 and plus a few other cards. She was runner up in Society to her mum and dad and I was part of the Society that won best Society at the BHW Blackpool Shoe in 2017. She had firsts in classes at SHU Open Show 2016, RPRA Southern Region Show 2016, Midlothian Open Show 2016, the Kingdom Open Show 2016 and Dublin was the only open show she didn't get a first prize at. She told me, ‘that's not bad for a beginner! Some people don't give me credit for what I have achieved in my first full show season because they think it's all mum and dads work, but it's not. I only missed two shows all season and travelled 400 miles each way on the same day to show at the RPRA Southern Region Show and this is not something you would do if you are not mad or mad keen. LOL! I get my own birds ready for the show pen, them at the shows and clean them if needed and mum and dad do their own birds’. Nicole is now looking forward to pairing up on Valentine's Day and then the time will soon come when she will have babies. She likes this time best, but doesn’t like pairing them when the cocks start pecking the hens, and get too rough with them. She is looking forward to the show season and hopes everyone has a good breaking season and gets plenty of quality young birds. What a girl, she really is ‘Miss Dynamite’! Winning ‘Supreme Champion’ at a National show in her first full season was competing. A fantastic achievement! Since I penned this article a few years ago, our Nicole has had a wonderful son named; Jaxon and we all love him! A real little cracker! (December 2022)

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Good luck with this venture

When I first started with pigeons away back in the early 90's, my first 6 stock birds I purchased to base my race team on, were from John Crowder. He selected 3 breeding pairs for me The Buschaert lines of Pluto, Little Black, and the Crayon.

Over 180 years of top national and classic experience here. I am so lucky to be around these great fanciers during my work. Bob Smith, Roger Sutton and Geoff Kirkland

UP NORTH COMBINE LOFT VISITS (PART 5) Colin Allison of Redcar. Fanciers who exhibit at the Peterlee NEHU Show a few years ago will know the hard-working Show Manager, Colin Allison of Redcar, who was not only one of the sport's workers but was an ace racer, winning 1st open Up North Combine Maidstone Young Bird National (14,047 birds) in 1997. Colin started up in pigeons as a six year old with strays and, after several seasons in the boy’s club, starting racing in 1965. He says one of his best seasons was in 1977 when he won 23 firsts racing in two clubs He had always raced his pigeons on the natural system, turning onto the roundabout system in1996 and winning a record four times 1st Federations in four races on the trot that season. The 1997 season saw him win the greatest prize, 1st open UNC Maidstone, with his wonderful blue pied hen, ‘Miss Destiny’, and she didn’t have the best build up to her Combine win. This Van Reet darkness youngster got lost for three weeks from her first race of 60 miles and returned home in good condition. She went straight back to Peterborough (150 miles) to record 27th Federation before going to the Maidstone National to win 1st open with 14,047 birds taking part. Her sire won the Federation in 1996 and her dam had recorded 2nd and 3rd. A wonderful winning family! Colin went on to the roundabout system as he never fancied widowhood as his hens have always been outstanding. One of his best was the blue chequer Busschaert, ‘Third Choice’, which had won many outstanding prizes from Lillers, including 1st club, 1st Federation, 14th open UNC (25,000 birds). This roundabout racer had also won 24th open UNC Folkestone (20,000 birds) and two televisions. His main racing loft had four sections, corridor trapping and was a rather smart pantile loft that was set in his very neat garden. The nest boxes in the old bird section were set out facing one another on the two sides of the parting and he paired up the racing team at the end of January. All the old birds’ reared one pair of youngsters before going onto the roundabout system, where he said his birds were outstanding up to about 320 miles. He fed a good Versele-Laga mixture and sometimes broke down until Wednesday during the racing season. The hens and cocks were trained separately twice a week up to the mid-racing season. The Allison loft housed several families, including Van Loon. One of the premier Van Loon racers was the blue hen '550' which had recorded 1st Federation Harlow and 1st Federation Epping. Colin told me on my visit that she liked 200 miles on a fairly fast day. Her sire had bred his best three hens. He kept a young bird team of about 50 birds each season and started the darkness system in 1997 so he could compete in the young bird events. They were put on darkness when weaned, got eight hours' light per day up to late June and were raced to the perch. The youngsters were trained down the east coast to Scarborough (35 miles), starting at ten miles in the Cleveland Hills, After they had gone down the coast, they went down the A19 (which Colin called the inland route), then into the first race. The whole young bird team raced up to 150 miles, then some were stopped. Although Colin won 1st UNC on darkness, he was not happy with their performances at the yearling stage. He said he was mostly interested in old bird racing and at that time told me he may stop using the darkness system. Verrill & Armstrong of Staithes. Verrill & Armstrong had their loft on the side of the valley overlooking the sleepy little fishing village of Staithes, a stone's throw from the five times Up North Combine winning loft of Bill Porritt. Matt said that the day they won the mighty Up North Combine from Maidstone Young Bird National in 1998, the wind was westerly and just right for their loft location on the east coast. He had been in the sport since 1960 and formed his highly successful partnership with Tom in 1978, winning many major positions in their favourite young bird races, including 1st open Up North Combine Harlow National in 1989; 5th open Up North Combine Folkestone National in 1982 and their latest Up North Combine win from Maidstone, with 17,076 young birds competing in 1998. The partners' Maidstone combine winner was a medium blue chequer white flight hen, bred from the best Mr & Mrs Whitehead of Co. Durham, Busschaert bloodlines. She was hatched on March 8th and put on the darkness system, after which she was raced to the perch playing around with an odd cock bird. She hurt her wing in the Peterborough race in 1998 and could not fly for three or four days. When she began to exercise well around the loft, she was entered in the young bird Maidstone National, to win 1st open Up North Combine, a wonderful performance! The dam of the combine winner was a nice Busschaert light blue chequer which had won 10th open Up North Combine from 252 miles. Verrill & Armstrong liked young bird racing best and bred 25 youngsters each season for their sport. They went onto the darkness system in 1998 with outstanding success; the young bird team was put on the system on weaning and taken off at the old bird Bourges race. They were trained hard down the coast to Whitby and fed well on a good widowhood mixture, never being kept short of feeding. They were raced to the perch, being allowed to pair up if they wish and Tom said a big disappointment in the 1998 season was the nest mate of the Combine winner, being killed on some wires. All the young birds were raced through the programme to the longest race. The partners' loft was 30ft long, made up of three sections, two for old birds and one for the young birds, with all trapping done through the open doors. The five pairs of stock birds were all Busschaerts, originating from Mr & Mrs Whitehead and the old birds were raced on the natural system. Trevor Rowland of Sunderland. At the time of my loft visit, Trevor Rowland had started up in the sport 16 years previously and told me he has always done well out of Lillers, which was a 342 mile fly to his allotment lofts. In 1992 he won the ‘LNRC Cup of Friendship Trophy’ for the best two bird performance in Up North Combine Lillers race, recording 6th and 13th open. In 1996 season, Trevor hit the jackpot by winning 1st open UNC Lillers (16,248 birds) with a Busschaert blue widowhood cock. This game pigeon was only lightly raced as he got injured as a young bird, then recorded a good Combine position in the Folkestone National two weeks before winning 1st open UNC Lillers. The loft had won the Federation many times through the years, but Trevor rated his Combine win as his best performance. The main family raced was Busschaert, one team on Natural for the long distance races and 40 cocks on Widowhood for sprint and middle-distance events. None of the racers were broken down in the race season as Trevor said the climate in the North East was wrong for this practice. For the short or long distance races he paired up on Boxing Day and had to pair the whole loft up that week because that's the only time he got off work. The birds were trained hard before the season started and they were never forced to exercise around the loft. Trevor never saved young cocks for the Widowhood system, the one time he did, he lost them on dodgy races the following year, because they hadn't any race experience. When bringing in a new stock bird, he had to have a good gut feeling and really fancy it, and they had to be from good winning lines. Trevor tod me the champion of the loft was his good Busschaert blue pied cock and he won twice 1st Federation, twice 2nd Federation and 6th open UNC Lillers. This 'Ace' was raced on Widowhood and was breeding winners in the stock partings. Full article to appear in the BHW soon. (December 2022)

May I wish ALL readers of the Joe Murphy Column a Very Merry Christmas and I hope you ALL have a lovely day; and may I wish each and every one of you all the Very Best for 2023. I would also like to thank all the fanciers who throughout the year have remarked how much they enjoy the column. With quite a lot of fanciers and their wives also enjoy the weekly joke, which seems to go down well. Christmas is a special family occasion and we normally go to our oldest sons for Christmas dinner. This year is going to be something special as both he and his wife have a Ukraine mother and daughter whom they took in after the appeal to help families out. They are lovely and the young girl’s English has improved tremendously and she is enjoying school in Scotland. So hopefully when we raise a glass to celebrate Christmas we can also think about her husband and the girl’s father; and with any luck they will be able to join up once this terrible war is over. Wet Weather Like most fanciers within the UK, we have been having terrible rain and everything is soaking wet. I shut over half my windows in my small stock loft to try and stop the rain from getting into it, but to no avail; as it still gets in. I am blessed in the comfort of knowing that I have a bucket of Respiro San Dry and I sprinkle this on the floor and it act as a quick drying agent, absorbing moisture and within hours the loft floor is dry again. I swear by this product and you can obtain it from Phil Gardner his email address is; pgardner25@btinternet.com Slabbinck-Cattrysse While speaking to Jim Hannah the top Scottish pigeon photographer one day, he said he would send me an old RP dated the 27 th November 1965; which had the sale of the above family of pigeons. My father was a great Slabbinck enthusiast and he purchased a couple of pigeons of this breed in 1959 & 1966. (see photos of bird’s pedigree). I also found a cutting from the RP in Scottish Notes, regarding Fife; From the Fife Federation Christchurch race with an entry of 1157 birds, Tom Stevenson & son (this would be you and your dad -Ronnie) who won Leven club. Davy Cook won Kennoway with Joe Murphy & son (this was yours truly) the only two Kennoway members making the open result. In my dad’s scrap book was a De Belgische Duivensport dated the 25 th March 1969. I have enclosed a photograph of this; it measures 43 centimetres by 62 centimetres and has 4 full pages. I have also added a few photographs of their wonderful winning pigeons. The Tip a famous pigeon in the family; He was a winner of 11 x 1 st prizes and won over £1000 (which was a fortune in those days) The Tip flew NFC Pau and won 31 st open 3207 birds; 102 nd open 3560 birds in English Nationals. He was sire, grandsire, great grandsire of many of Slabbinck winners. The Tip was a son of ‘Bismark’. Blauwetik Barcelona’ Belge 55 3016795. Five times Barcelona International, 1100km, This remarkable long-distance ace won 41 st open 3578 birds; 41 st open 4114 birds; 15 th open 3599 birds; 80 th open 3300 birds; competing against ALL Belgium; ALL Holland; All Germany; All Luxembourg; All France; All Great Britain. Even as a 4-year-old in his first attempt he was placed 471 st with 481 birds competing-a terrible race when many birds were lost. ‘Grace Kelly’ Violet Eye Hen; an exceptionally nice hen; raced well as a yearling; won 3 prizes in the first 6, also 14 th & 22 nd Orleans; was then stopped for stock. As she was something special. Her sire was The Tip and her dam was a daughter of The Joe Murphy Column 2 ‘Little Mo’; who was a little Diamond. Her half brothers were The Favourite; The Young Tip & Wittepenne and they won 21 x 1 st prizes between them. ‘The De Pol Hen’ Cattrysse at it best. She was a ½ sister to the famous 6 times Barcelona cock; another brother was ‘Bismark’ winner of 11 th , 28 th & 23 rd international Barcelona; The Oude Pol, produces numerous national winners and his stock was wildly sought after as his offspring were also very good producers. Sire of Oude Pau was 1 st national Pau from Pol Bostin, his dam was a sister of De Kleinen, also a 1 st prize National winner for Cattrysse, they were paired together and both fanciers had an egg each. So, fanciers will see that the Oude Pau was a first cross. Another hen was the De Ide Hen; her sire was De Boer; always stock; he was a brother to two 1 st prize National Winners; De 90 and De Draaier; winner of 297, 4901franks by 1964 only. He was a phenomenal racing cock, whose wins made history in Belgium. Dam of De Ide Hen; was De Boerinneke 61 3301395. A daughter of the famous outstanding ACE long distance pigeon of ALL Belgium in 1958. De Jerome from De Ide of Gistel in Belgium; Paired to a sister 58.3301287 who is De Durumeaux 55.3016912; Sire of two 1 st prize national winners. I could go on and on about this wonderful family of pigeons as I was brought up on them when I was a young boy. So, looking over my late father’s old loft book has brought up so many happy memories. The thing that caught my eye was how Cattrysse used the crossing of two inbred families to heightens the vigour of their strain. If you look at the breeding of my own pigeon in the 2023 Blackpool Charity Sale you will see that I have done exactly the same principles at these past wonderful fanciers. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that I’m in the same bracket as them but one thing I have learnt over my 75 years is this is the way to go if you wish to succeed in racing pigeons. Joe’s Joke No one believes seniors; everyone thinks they are senile. An elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighbourhood after they retired. Holding hands, they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they’d shared, where Andy had carved “I love you, Sally.” On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armoured car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do with it, they took it home. There, she counted the money - fifty thousand pounds! Andy said, “We’ve got to give it back.” Sally said, “Finder’s keepers.” She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic. The next day, two police officers were canvassing the neighbourhood looking for the money, and knocked on their door. “Pardon me, did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armoured car yesterday?” Sally said, “No”. Andy said, “She’s lying; she hid it up in the attic’. Sally said, “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile” The agents turned to Andy and began to question him. One said: “Tell us the story from the beginning.” Andy said, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday ....” The first police officer turned to his partner and said, “We’re out of here!” Season Best Wishes to ALL May I once again wish all readers of my column a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; I hope you all have a very enjoyable time; God Bless. The Joe Murphy Column 3 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

British International Championship Club Phil Hodson of Irlam Salford, an 800-mile fancier A truly amazing experience ‘A truly amazing experience’, this is how Phil Hodson described timing his 1st North West Section winner from Barcelona over 849 miles on 8th July 2022, taking 33rd Open. There are several fanciers, albeit few and far between, who relish the challenge of extreme distance racing, this is usually over 800 miles. The BICC International races allow fanciers to compete at these extreme distances with races over 700 and 800 miles. The fancier Jim Emerton, himself an 800-mile virtuoso, thought that reporting on extreme distance fanciers would offer an insight into the mind set of these fanciers and encourage others to think about taking up the challenge. For many years now, Jim has sponsored three fantastic BICC trophies, to reward those fanciers who have excelled at the distance. They are awarded to the winner of the highest velocity over 750 miles, the best two bird average from Barcelona and the ACE International pigeon award, presented to a bird recorded in two International races in the same year. This report is part of a short series on one of those fanciers, Phil Hodson of Irlam, in City of Salford, Greater Manchester. Phil is in line to pick up two of those trophies, the Jim Emerton Barcelona Dream Trophy for the highest velocity over 750 miles and the Jim Emerton Trophy for the longest flying bird in race time. Phil started keeping pigeons in 2019 and bought 6 young birds from Tumley Lofts. As a beginner, they kindly have him any extra 2 to start him off. These birds have raced well and are mainly raced by Thomas, Phil’s son, who enjoys racing the shorter races. However, Phil quickly came to the realisation that sprint racing wasn’t for him, and it was the longer races that caught his imagination. It appeared to everyone who knew Phil, that this was no surprise. Phil has been a long-distance walker and has walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats in one continuous walk. It took him 52 days with an average of 26 miles a day. In fact, Phil has walked up to 48 miles in one day and has walked many of the long-distance walking routes throughout England. Phil enjoys the challenge of long-distance walking, and he has taken this approach into his pigeon racing. He isn’t someone who looks for instant gratification with the pigeons, and when he took 1st Section Barcelona back in July, Phil said to me, ‘Good morning, Mike, I am just calming down now, from clocking a bird in from the BICC Barcelona race! What an experience that has been, she clocked in at 6.56am on the 14th July, a few minutes after I had let my son’s young birds out. He had a bird with a bruised wing which landed almost straight away, and I watched as a bird landed on my let board. Thinking one of my young birds had got in with his, I returned to the loft to find the hen looking at an empty feed bowl then looking back at me. I said out loud, you can have as much as you want. I had tears in my eyes, what a bird, she had flown 849 miles in a north wind through warm weather; what a tough race. I was quite surprised to find she had lost very little weight and was in good shape. What a bird to complete a personal challenge!’ Phil is 59 years old and is a retired engineer having worked on commercial vehicles, mainly for Mercedes. He races out of a converted 40-foot trailer and prefers the open hole, flying the natural method as advocated by Jim Emerton. In fact, Phil has gained much of his knowledge from reading Jim’s books. However, hawk attacks have forced him to vary this and control the times that the birds are exercised. He feeds them on a hopper of layers pellets with a premium race mix. Phil obtained his long-distance birds from an Elimar online auction following the advice of his friend and fellow pigeon fancier, Steve Carroll. They went out on a trip to Lier pigeon market in Belgium and this is where they had the conversation about Phil’s passion for the distance. Phil recalls Steve saying to him that sprinting wasn’t going to appeal to him and that he needed to race pigeons in the same way as he walks, over the distance and often for many days. Steve was right and he has supported Phil ever since he took up the sport. Mike Mathews, a retired fancier, has also provided some sound advice, for which Phil is extremely grateful. The birds Phil bought were from the original Etienne Meirlean family. Phil has adopted an approach of experimentation with the birds to see what they can do. On one occasion, he took 6 late breds to Cheltenahm, 105 miles, for their first toss and they all made it back home. Phil also trained his old birds from Cheltenham on five consecutive days and on the fifth day, the cocks left the basket and flew a few feet onto the top of a KFC restaurant. They sat there until he released the hens, and they then flew home with them. He says that this experience taught him that the birds had the physical ability to fly home, but they may have reached the motivational threshold and didn’t have the appetite to fly back immediately. From this, he learned that motivation is as important as physical fitness in relation to the birds’ desire to be keen to fly back to the loft. Nonetheless, he is still keen on training and racing as preparation for the distance and his 18 entries for the 2022 Barcelona race, raced Weymouth, 198 miles on Friday on 24th June, Yeovil on Sunday 26th June before being sent to St Philbert with the BICC on Thursday, for a release on Saturday 2nd July. He took 4th Section, 250th Open over 430 miles with his Barcelona hen being his second bird home. They were then sent to Barcelona on Monday 4th July. So, what does the future hold for Phil? He says more of the same. He has a team of about 100 young birds, and he intends to train and race these to find the ones capable of once again achieving the 849-mile distance from Barcelona. He has also teamed up with Jim Emerton and Nick Harvey to pair his Barcelona hen with Nick Harvey’s mealy cock which is bred from two Barcelona section winners into the west. One of those is the blue hen, Musgrove Inevitable, 1st BICC Section Barcelona for Nick, and 3 times Barcelona. The deal was sporting friendship to improve their extreme distance stock. And that concludes Phil’s account of his Barcelona section winner. If this has encouraged anyone to try racing from the distance in the Internationals, then the BICC will be staging 5 International races in the 2023 season. These will be from Pau, Agen, St Vincent, Barcelona, and Perpignan. Anyone interested in racing with the BICC to compete in these races, against the best in Britain and Europe, can join the BICC for £40 membership with £9.50 birdage for each International race. The BICC are always keen to welcome new members and Jim would love to see a new name lift one of his trophies. So, why not give it some thought over the winter? Mike Jackson BICC Press Officer Email:mike.jackson026@hotmail.com Tel:07964448291

Dave Bunker Brierley The Donaldson Hen "A tale of friendship and camaraderie tinged with a little sadness but overwhelmingly full of happiness" In the not so distant past well not for the older generation two men were drawn together over their passion. These were pigeon racing fanciers but not just any old pigeon fanciers these were marathon men a select few pigeon fanciers that push distance racing to their extremes. These two men Jim Emerton and Jim Donaldson both excelled at this genre of the sport but both also held the same yearning to push the boundaries that little bit further. Their meeting I liken to when two star's collide in that both not only shared their methods they also shared their families of their birds strengthening both families in in essence the two families became one and the two fanciers became friends. What’s all this got to do with the Donaldson Hen I here you ask? Well everything. Approximately three years ago I was searching around Facebook pigeon sites when I came across a photo post about the Donaldson Hen. I put a photo of my pair of direct Jim Donaldsons pigeons which my dad had previously bought for me for Christmas on the post. Out of the blue I received a comment which just said "swap" I replied "swap what" and that was the start of another friendship that was the Donaldson Hen weaving her magic again! The fancier who said "swap" was no other than Jim Emerton. Jim and i became friends he goaded, teased and pushed me (or at least that's what I tell the wife) with my pigeons to do better and I did. But more than this he taught me to believe that anything is possible if you dare to dream it and then do it. Last year Jim said to me "what pigeon if you could have would you like to have?" I replied "a pigeon off the Donaldson Hen to pair into my two to enhance my little embryonic beginnings of a family" We carried on chatting as we do said our goodbyes and i never thought anymore about it, well to be absolutely honest I did fleetingly think wow wouldn't that be great but I daren't dream! The next time we were speaking Jim said "you know I asked you what pigeon you would like and you said a youngbird off the Donaldson Hen" I replied "yes" he said "I can do better than that do you want the Donaldson Hen" well you could of knocked me over with a feather and of cause I said yes. I was like a kid at Christmas. Oh yes I know you'll all be wanting to know what her breeding is but again being completely honest this is secondary to the Donaldson Hen being a bastion for friendship offering hopes and dreams to the custodians of her. Anyway here's her bloodlines the Donaldson Hen is as Jim Donaldson in his own words said "she's the best of my family lines being bred off two Scottish national section winners at around 700 miles I have no better bred or looking pigeon" Here’s a few of Jim Donaldson's great pigeons that are in her lineage. Ancenis Lady the Dal cock, Reims Girl, Rennes Lass, Donanne, Little Lara, Blue Mist, Noit Lady and Circus Boy to name but a few. But here's a twist in this tale there is some boxes left blank in the Donaldson hens pedigree just with the colour and ring numbers and the words bred for stock documented. With a little research I have managed to track down what this line is and the pigeons are. Are you ready for the twist well here goes. The blanks which appear on the hens side of both the parent section winners of the Donaldson Hen are Unique a son off Barcelona Dream and Dark Enchantment called Unique because as Jim Emerton says "there's no other youngster with parents that both flew Barcelona at 879 miles so I called him Unique". So the twist in this tale is that the Dark chequer hen is the Dam of both section winners SU 06 NE 757 who flew 3rd section SNFC Alencon 32 open 631 miles 2009 was Jim Donaldsons 1st bird from Bourges 739 miles 2nd section Tours 705 miles 2011 Just out of time from Noit 775 miles smash only 7 birds back in race time 2012 and of course she is the dam of 2 section winners. The dark hen SU 06 757 is a granddaughter of Jim Emerton's Bicc record holding Barcelona Dream flying Barcelona at 879 miles. Although I never spoke to Jim Donaldson I know Jim Emerton did to check with him to make sure it was alright to pass the Donaldson Hen on to me. Sadly not long after Jim Donaldson passed away but his legacy still lives on in his racing results and in the kind gestures he did. So there is a moral to this tale, life sometimes can seem bleak especially if you get involved in the politics. Pigeon racing is more than just winning and the pigeons being a conduit to perform the task it's a form of escape, solitude and you being in control. It's about friendship and camaraderie and winning is just a bonus. The humble pigeon is an extension of the fanciers personality giving us fanciers the opportunity to dream and make dreams become reality if you only dare to believe. Yours in Sport Dave Bunker Brierley

Have a great Auld Years Night folks. And hopefully 2023 brings you all success for the racing season. Thanks once again for your support Sapper756

I have contacted the 2 fanciers who are the winner & runner up for The Dewar Trophy for 2022; these were John Hodgson of Annan and Dennis Anderson of Annan. To obtain information on their winning pigeons; I explained to both fanciers that I'm hopefully going to write a book on The Dewar Trophy Winners and their runners up; the Dewar Trophy is awarded to Scotland’s Bird of the Year, next year is the 50th anniversary of this award. Because of the Covid virus we have not raced from France these past 2 seasons. So, it was a pleasure to get back into the swing of things in 2022 with pigeon racing from over the channel. I have acquired a lot of quality information on the majority of previous Dewar Trophy winners throughout my research. In-fact I can remember the very first winners of the trophy which was won in 1973; this was to the father and son partnership of William & David Ree of Broughty Ferry near Dundee. The partnership won the Dewar Trophy for the best Channel Performance over 600 miles with their grizzle cock; named ‘High Degree’ who won 1st open SNFC Nantes flying a distance of 642 miles recording a velocity of 1040 from a convoy of 1689 birds. This Ree partnership had a very successful plumbing business in the town, but more importantly to me they also had an outstanding record at long distance racing in the SNFC. Their results were exceptional as they had previously won 3rd, 26th 31st 32nd 44th 46th 50th & 61st open from Nantes. From Rennes a distance of 580 miles they won 28th 150th 196th 237th & 274th open in the space of 4 years period. From Beauvais a distance of 528 miles they won 27th 39th 41st 52nd 112th & 116th open and from the 1975 Usher Vaux Avranches race with an entry of 6414 birds the W & D Ree loft flying a distance of 542 miles won 76th east section 109th open. They were without doubt a very successful distance loft and a worthy frontrunner of the Dewar Trophy. The runners up to the first Dewar Trophy winner were Jock & Ann Grieve of Auchtermuchty with their famous blue cock named ‘Jock’ who won 2nd East Section 2nd open Nantes national flying 630 miles. He also won 1st east section 2nd open the following year flying 98 miles further than the outright winner. He was a wonderful pigeon and I remember going to view him at the Grieve’s loft in ‘Muchty’ as the local’s call it. Back in those days fanciers used to go and visit the winners of the big open races, and there was none better than a ‘National Winner’; and believe me you were always made welcome. I think I got the inspiration from this and I wanted to learn as much as I could from speaking to these successful fanciers, which has continued even to this day nearly 50 years later. Next year 2023 will be the 50th Anniversary of the Dewar Trophy and I would like to get the book printed as soon as possible after the winners have been announced. 2022 Winners This year I contacted the winner John Hodgson of Annan, unfortunately he is away on holiday, and has promised to contact me when he returns. However, I have been successful in speaking to the runner up who was Dennis Anderson of Annan. Dennis sent me an email as follows; ‘Hi Joe, it was good to see you at the SNFC dinner, and I’m sorry that I did not find the time to come and speak to you. Please find the performances so far of my pigeon named ‘Cipo’ who is our Runner Up to the Dewar Trophy Winner. His dam was bred by ‘House of Aarden’ through their Padfield’s family crossed with my own Anderson/Jan Aarden family which I have had for 35 plus years. ‘Cipo’ is a chequer pied cock rung SU19 S 2225: As a young bird he won 8th section A 8th south section 188th open SNFC young bird Buckingham national; from an entry of 1548 birds sent by 211 members. As a yearling he was paired to a potentially good racing hen and both of them had scored in early Annan homing club races; but we had a bad race from around 120 miles and he came home a little out of sorts. I decided to rest him for a couple of weeks which then turned into being for the rest of the season. You may remember Joe, 2020 was the year we only had 2 old bird SNFC races from Maidstone and Reims. I sent 14 birds to Maidstone and had 3 of them on the result on the Saturday. Then 3 days later; I sent 12 to Reims including my good cock ‘Bonnyrigg Lion Heart’ a chequer cock SU18 S 3182; he won 1st section (only bird on the day in the section and he was on his 5th flight) plus 21st open SNFC Reims from an entry of 1490 birds in 2020. The following year he won 37th section 239th open from SNFC Huntington 3891 birds; then from the SNFC Maidstone race 3460 birds he won 12th section 178th open flying 305 miles; that same year he won 5th section 23rd open SNFC Yeovil 282 miles; 1152 birds; he then went to the SNFC Guernsey race a distance of 381 miles and he won 17th section 23rd open contesting against 1237 birds. Then in 2022 ‘Cipo’ was sent to the first old bird national from Upper Hayford a distance of 226 miles and won 38th section 156th open from an entry of 3002 birds. He then went to the SNFC Yeovil race with a convoy of 1631 birds and he won 38th section 70th open flying 282 miles. He was then sent to the SNFC Gold Cup race from Alencon a distance of 474 miles with the convoy of 713 birds and he was to the fore winning 2nd section 2nd open. Joe, you have seen his performances so far and I think he is the best ‘Doo’ in my loft for the 2023 season. All my Widowerhood cocks were at the first inland national from Upper Heyford which turned out a tough race, they were held over and liberated on the Sunday with many Doo’s out for the night. On the Monday night I decided to re-pair all the widowerhood cocks up and they went to Reims sitting around 10/12 days on eggs and in great condition. When I timed ‘Cipo’ from Alencon at 17-38pm, he went back onto his eggs and was as keen as ever and straight away I decided to consider him for the Carentan race, providing he exercised around the loft and continued to look as if Alencon had taken little out of him which it hadn’t. With him going back onto his eggs and his hen being as keen; they sat over their time and I gave him eggs that chipped out 3/4 days before basketing!! When Michael Currie came to verify him after winning 2nd section 2nd open from Alencon; I told Michael he was probably going to Carentan in less than 2 weeks, Michael said ‘He was in great condition with plenty of body that you’d hardly think he had anything taken out him from being at the Alencon race!! My Doo’s are always for racing and sometimes you need to have the bottle or take a chance, especially when sending back a ‘Doo’ that had been 2nd open Gold Cup, but; he proved my decision right and junior and I were pleased to see him hit the trap on Carentan night at 21-37pm to win 5th section 13th open SNFC. I’ve raced Doo’s since joining Annan Homing club for the 1978 season and been fortunate to have scored many top positions in club, section and open results but my best feeling ever was after timing the pied cock ‘Cipo’ from Alencon race. Then taking a call from my grandson Dennis junior that night to say he’d timed his blue cock in at 21-24 and then seeing both our names on the national Lib-Line. Young Dennis is only 14 years old (he turned 14 in August) and totally racing his own team of pigeons. Dennis Snr also bred the blue cock SU20S6420 who is now named ‘Super Ally’; he was raced by Dennis Anderson junior; and won 27th section A 44th open SNFC Alencon Gold Cup. Young Dennis is looking forward to racing him again next year. The blue cock was bred by Dennis senior and his dam is the hen that is paired to ‘Cipo! Young Dennis’s loft has now been brought down to his grandfather’s place and all his Doo’s have been broken into their new surroundings. Young Dennis has commandeered a load of his granddad’s 2022 youngsters. Which will give him a good team of around 30 racers to start the 2023 season with. Which he’ll race on his own but as his granddad says ‘We are ‘, i.e.; Team Jan AAndersons’ and we’ll work and help each other to get the best out of our racing teams in 2023 and hopefully many more years ahead. Dennis senior says ‘It’s great having young Dennis involved and being as interested as he is; which Joe this has awoken the sleeping Giant in my loft; and given me back my ‘mojo’ for racing the doo’s again especially from the SNFC Channel distance races!! Dennis senior has sent me a few photographs; One of young Dennis loft and you can see by the colours which football team he supports. I thought that when I saw the name of the pigeon i.e., Ally McCoist. ‘Cipo’ won 6th place in the Titan Games Long Distance Category & also the Scottish Homing Union Ogilvie Trophy as well as being the Runner Up for the Dewar Trophy in 2022. My thanks to Dennis senior for the above details and photographs to go with my column, and his kind words regarding my work within the pigeon sport in Scotland. © COMPILED BY JOE MURPHY

I noticed in this last week’s BHW an advert for the position of Secretary/Treasurer for the SNFC; saying this would be a Full-Time Appointment. Surely in this present climate within our sport this has to be a PART TIME post. Back in 2006 when certain individuals including the then president of the club; did not get their own way at the SNFC A.G.M. They walked out and within a week or so formed the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club to compete against the SNFC. During their first season they had 225 members (including members of the SNFC) sending 1531 birds to their inland race from Newbury. This year 2022 the SNRPC sent 399 birds to Eastbourne; and 390 birds to their Newark young bird race (no details of members). This shows the club are losing members nearly every year. When the SNFC present-day secretary took over the post in the year 2014; we still had the challenge of competing against the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club; the club averaged between 431 to 645 members to the nationals. With entries from 1355 birds to the Gold Cup race sent by 431 members. With 645 members sending 4855 birds to Maidstone inland national. At the present time 2022 the most membership was from the inland race from Upper Heyford with 369 members sending (this includes fanciers who are in both Scottish Nationals) 3002 birds. From the Alencon Gold Cup race 142 members entered 713 birds and from their other channel event from Carentan; 97 members sent 396 birds. Therefore, the SNFC creates most revenue from the inland race points. However; I have it on good authority; subject to agreement; that the Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation is looking to re-start up in 2023; This consists of races from the 250 miles stage to the South coast of England; i.e.; Maidstone; Brighton; etc. They believe if the combination of the following federations; i.e., Aberdeen, Dundee, Angus, Fife, Central, North West, Midlothian, Traprain, Pentlandhills, East of Scotland, Scottish Borders ALL JOIN, they will be able to take the pigeons to the longest South Coast race for a £1-00 A BIRD. Plus, the fact again subject to agreement and some minor logistics, THEY can leave on the Friday night and be down in time to liberate the next morning if the weather is good. If this transpires; it will take all the birdage away from the SNFC inland nationals. Which would result in a massive loss of revenue to the club. Plus, the fact that if this appointment is made for a full-time secretary, then that person will be entitled to a full-time salary. Membership is dropping every year and you just have to look at the number of fanciers who are calling it a day. We have just seen our ‘Greatest Fancier’ Billy Bilsland winner of 14 nationals; give up the sport, plus there are others who are not so well known, but are members of the national, the pigeon sport is dying and we ALL KNOW THIS FACT; so, a Full-Time secretary will be a massive mistake in this present climate. Here is Another Example of this Fact I received an email with the sad news that the father and son partnership of Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone are also giving up the sport. Jamie wrote ‘Hi Joe, hope you are well. You might have heard on the jungle drums but just to say that I'm intending to have an advert in the BHW on Thursday 24th November edition, advertising all the birds for sale. My dad and his wife are looking to move house and have put their house on the market now; so, the birds need to go asap. I wondered if you could give it a wee mention in your column that week, please? I don't have time to organise an auction so I’m just going to advertise them and sell them from the paper. I have a week off work from Friday 25th November until Monday 5th December and would hope to have the birds away during that week. I'll be happy to show any visitors the birds that are available, provided they make an appointment - strictly no unannounced visitors. I will have a sale list ready that can be e-mailed out so folk will know what is available. I can be reached on 07910 514078 or by e-mail jcelphi@hotmail.com Anyone who follows the SNFC results or reads my column will have read about Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone; as their name has been at or near the top of SNFC results for many years. They have also raced some wonderful pigeon over the years, including; ‘Setonpark Caelan’ winner of The Joe Murphy Sporting Challenge; she did not only win this top award; but she was the only pigeon recorded in race time. Which was something unique as this had never happened before in my Sporting Challenge. Richard and Jamie also raced their famous ‘Midnight Son’. A dark chequer cock, who was one of the best, if not the best, pigeon that Richard & Jamie had the privileged to breed and race. His sire was ‘0400’ a black-splashed red chequer Kirkpatrick stock cock. His brother was rung ‘0399’ and won 33rd open SNFC Rennes as a yearling and his sister, ‘3220’ won 22nd open SNFC Sartilly. The dam of ‘0400’ was 8566 a dark blue chequer hen who won 5th open Sartilly (1) and 99th open Sartilly (2) with the SNFC in 1995. So, as you can see, ‘Midnight Son’ was bred in the purple! ‘8566’ in turn was a ½ sister of their great hen ‘Sapphire’ a winner of 5th open SNFC Sartilly (1) & 31st open Sartilly (2) in 1993; & 29th open SNFC Beauvais in 1994. Both ‘0400’ and ‘8566’ left a exceptionality amount of good channel winners for the partnership. As a young bird in 1996, ‘Midnight Son’ had 7 races out to Worcester (252 miles) and won 1st club from Penrith. He only had 3 races as a yearling from Preston, Stafford and finally Frome with the SNFC homing early on the 2nd day. In 1998 he was raced from Longtown, Penrith and Leyland before being sent to Frome with the SNFC. Then on the 8th June, after a one-day holdover, he won 9th east section, 16th open from an entry of 4005 birds. He was then entered in the SNFC Gold Cup race from Rennes and on the 28th of June after a 2-day holdover; he won 72nd east section, 131st open from an entry of 3019 birds. Finally on the 8th of July this same year he won 3rd east section, 7th open SNFC Sartilly competing against 2042 birds. These results with the SNFC won him the coveted SHU Dewar Trophy for Scotland’s Bird of the Year. He also won ‘Bird of the Year’ in the Edinburgh and Lothians Social Circle. It was his performance from the Sartilly race which gave him his name. The convoy were liberated at 09-00am, and he was timed – (amid much excitement - at 00-31) by Richard; hence the ‘Midnight’ part of his name. Somehow son Jamie, arouse from his bed when it was realised the cock was on the trap. He reached the loft -dressed in pyjama top and shorts; and in his bare feet - at the same time as Richard. And so, this is the reason the ‘Son’ part came of his name. ‘Midnight Son’ went on to win 109th east section, 241st open Frome against an entry of (3827 birds); then won 65th east section, 155th open from Rennes against a convoy of (2862 birds); and he then won 4th east section, 37th open Sartilly from an entry of 1973 birds with the SNFC in 1999. He then met with a serious injury in 2000 which greatly curtailed racing for a while until the partnership were sure he had fully recovered but in 2002 he was sent to Reims with the SNFC and he won 45th east section, 62nd open from a convoy of 2650 birds; thus, securing his SNFC Gold Award for winning 5 times from France. Needless to say, he had nothing more to prove and was then retired to stock and was the sire and grandsire of many good channel winner’s; not only for Richard & Jamie but also for great fanciers like; Eddie Newcombe, Bobby Carruthers, Dale Newcombe (all sadly no longer with us) and many others. To win 3 times in the top 10 of the east section of the SNFC, was a great feat at that time and ‘Midnight Son’ and as far as I’m concerned ‘Midnight Son’ will always be a Champion in my eyes. Richard and Jamie achieved many prizes within the top 5 open positions in the SNFC results; for example; they were 2nd open Tours, 2nd open Chenoise, 3rd open Sartilly, 4th open Rennes, 5th open Rennes and 3 times x 5th open Sartilly. They also twice won ‘The Fancier of the Year’ award in 1998 with Jim Renwick and in 2004 with my Joe Murphy Sporting Challenge; and they were also runners up in 2006. They have also won the SNFC overall and section averages plus the Gold Award mentioned above; They also won SNFC Silver Awards won in 2008; 2009; 2015; 2016 & 2018. I have highlighted a good few of these achievements in previous articles. My thanks to Jamie for his email and I hope Richard |& Jamie’s sale goes well, look out for the advert in this week’s paper. SHU Trophy Winners 2022 The SHU Celtic Trophy; was presented by Taffy Bowen of Wales; for the performance(s) Old Birds up to 300 miles. The winners were G W & P McAloney with the following performances; Race Point Organisation Date of Race Position in Race Number Birds Distance Velocity Alnwick Lanarkshire 30/04/22 1st Fed 5391 Fed 96-1091 1494 1st Section 1509 Sect Alnwick Lanarkshire 18/06/22 1st Fed 2462 Fed 96-1091 1270 1st Section 747 Sect Thirsk Lanarkshire 07/05/22 24th Fed 5072 Fed 154-627 1372 10th Section 1408 Sect Worksop Lanarkshire 21/05/22 31st Fed 3447 Fed 213-1717 1329 15th Section 1005 Sect Worksop Lanarkshire 21/05/22 15th Fed 3447 Fed 213-1717 1329 Yearling 7th Section 1005 Sect 213-1717 1329 Budworth Lanarkshire 14/05/22 32nd Fed 4250 Fed 189-1036 1246 Yearling 18th Section 1160 Sect 189-1036 1246 Alnwick Lanarkshire 3/07/22 34th Fed 1193 Fed 96-1091 1270 9th Section 643 Sect Wooler Lanarkshire 16/04/22 77st Fed 3484 Fed 77-1057 1362 32nd Section 973 Sect The SHU Yearling Trophy Friendship Cup; for Outstanding Performance was won by S & S Tierney of Edinburgh. From the SNFC Alencon race point flown on the 1st July 2022, flying a distance of 534 miles 449 yards recording a velocity of 1087.64 winning 21st open competing against 713 birds. This pigeon has already won 7th section B 47th open Yeovil, from an entry of 1631 birds, and also won 36th open Carentan from an entry of 396 birds. We move on now to the Annie Ross Bowes Memorial Trophy; which is awarded to the fancier who has donated their free time in promoting the pigeon sport in Scotland. The winner of this award is Joe Allan of Midlothian, nominated by Jimmy Simpson of the same federation. His letter is as follows; Dear Andrew, I would like to nominated Joe Allan of Easthouses for the ARB Trophy. Joe is in his 83rd year and has been an inspiration all over the Lothians for helping pigeon men; i.e., moving their lofts also house moving; anything you ask Joe he would always help. He has been Midlothian federation clock ‘convenor’ also convenor for the SNFC for more years than I can remember. I am 70 years old and could not have done ½ of what Joe has done, he also ferries race birds on Friday night from 12 clubs and brings the baskets back on a Saturday. As I have said before he is in his 83rd year, suffers from C.O.P.D and has vowed to die ‘A DOO MAN’. He lost his wife Violet 3 years ago and ‘Doo’s’ is all he has left. Hoping that you can give my nomination consideration yours in sport Jimmy Simpson’. I would like to congratulate Joe on winning this award, and I can also reiterate to Jimmy’s letter. Many years ago, I was asked to help out a widow whose husband had passed; she was wanting all the pigeons and loft removed. Our son Kevin was interested in her small stock loft and he purchased it. However; how was he going to get it over to Thornton in Fife, where he would collect it. Joe Allan come to the rescue and brought the loft over in his van. I have known Joe Allan for many many years, as we were both friends of the late Chris and Roy Anderson of Ayton; who were great fliers in their day. On many occasions when we visited the Anderson’s Joe would often be there as he had trained his federation members birds from down in this area at least twice a week. Then he would drop in and see the Anderson’s. Great memories and Chris and Roy had a fantastic team of birds, and the pigeon club room was in the bottom half of their property; opposite the Black Bull Pub in the main street of Ayton. Billy Bilsland lives in the top part of the village now, and we all know how successful Billy has been. Joe’s Joke A Cup of Tea One day a mother was out, and dad was in charge of his daughter. She was only maybe 2 ½ years old. Someone had given her a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of her favourite toys. Her Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news; when she brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such ‘yummy tea’, her mum came home. Dad made mum wait in the living room to watch their daughter bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Mum waited, and sure enough, here she came down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy; and Mum watched him drink it up. Then she said, (as only a mother would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?" 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 Midnight Sun Seatonpark Caelon