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I came across an article written by Major A Neilson Hutton in 1968 - which I found interesting and may use some of his thoughts over the next few weeks; as we are coming to the end of the old bird season. ‘Once young bird racing is over, in the majority of lofts, the sexes are separated and we have entered into what some regard as the quiet season. This may appear to be so in so far as the physical activities of the birds themselves are concerned. However, there are visible signs of great activity in this period in which nature provides the means of refurbish by the casting of the old feathers and regrown of replacements. The decreasing hours of daylight increases the period of quiet rest. This compensates for any additional strain which otherwise might arise in the growing of the new feathers and by mid-December healthy pigeons are sleek and shining in their new coat of feathers. Thus, equipped and having put on weight they can stand up to the cold weather we experience in January and February braced and ready for the breeding and racing season which follows. The habits of their owners have also changed. They spend less time in their lofts and have more time to do a bit of serious thinking and planning free of the stress, strain and disappointments in the hurly-burly of racing. Now is the time to try honestly to find the reasons for the disappointments suffered. Do not mislead your-self with excuses which no doubt seem plausible enough to you, but readily recognised for what they are by others. Pigeon racing is no different from any other competitive sport in that it is the man who makes the fewest mistakes who wins. Let your successes take care of themselves. Seek out the mistakes you have made. Write them down and take care they do not happen again. It is all up to you. Every fancier has the kind of pigeons he deserves as it is he who does the planning and choosing. He thus sets his own standard and bit it he either succeeds or falls. Money can buy apparently good pigeons, but it is the man and his management which brings success. I may be howled down when I say that successful fanciers may have at times no better pigeons than some of their less successful rivals. The differences lies in the management of ‘Know How’. I have known so many fancier friends and acquaintances past and present, who were nice follows and keen in their way, but a flaw -or shall I call it an attitude of mind- prevented them time and time again from reaching the top. The devil of it is that your friends are afraid to tell you from fear of giving offence. If a friend has the moral courage to mention quietly what he thinks is the trouble, it is rarely it is taken to heart. I am sure no one will disagree with me how important the performance of pigeons he has sold to others is to a fancier’s reputation. Fairly recently this fact was brought home to me in a rather startling fashion. While listening to a general conversation at a show, the name of an old established and successful fancier cropped up. Immediately one of those present declared he would not take one of this fancier’s pigeons as a gift. He then proceeded to tell of a fancier who had bought quite a number of birds old and young from the fancier whose name had been mentioned but they were just a lot of rubbish. It so happened that I knew this individual who had bought these pigeons and a more haphazard and careless fancier I have yet to meet. It was rarely that his birds had any training before the first race. He had been known to forget it was marking night, or to feed his birds and to fall asleep in a deck chair while waiting for his birds on race days. Believe it or not on one occasion he let his birds out for their exercise one evening, threw some food on the floor, and went into the house for his evening meal. Next morning he discovered that he had omitted to open the traps and that his birds had been locked out all night; result spoiled eggs and dead youngsters. While listening to this tirade two questions occurred to me. What reason had the had the speaker to denigrate the successful fancier and how well did he know the man who bought the pigeons?? I discovered right away that the speaker’s name to the successful fancier, I was told that some years previously the speaker had visited this fancier to buy pigeons, but wanted them for next to nothing so went off empty handed. To my way of thinking taking care that the birds, you sell get into good capable hands is just as important as the money you get for them. Part Two next week. Irish Eyes Are Smiling Received a phone call from Christopher Tweed informing me that he had timed his good hen ‘Tommy’s Dream’ for the 4th time from St Mallo. Her positions won in the NIPA are as follows; in 2021 she won 5th section B 43rd open recoding a velocity of 578 flying 488 miles. In 2022 she won 7th section B 71st open with a velocity of 280 to win a Bronze Award. Then last year she won 3rd section B 30th open doing a velocity 625 from an entry of 1309 birds and this year 2024 she wins 4th section 61st open with a velocity 798. Her sire is Black Cock from R Cage x with the famous distance fancier Robin Duddy (who needs no introduction to the Irish Fanciers). The dam of ‘Tommy’s Dream’ was bred by yours truly Joe Murphy being a daughter from ‘JS’ a gift from my dear friends Jock & Willie Strang of California in the North West federation. Jock phoned me up to say that he had some youngsters for Kevin and would I go and meet his brother ‘Wull’ (short for Willie) to collect these babies. He had a couple of young bird races and was still there at the end of the season so we named it ‘JS’ after Jock Strang. He had a good moult and was put on the road as a yearling where he did very well. He was timed on the day from Eastbourne (only bird in the Arbroath club on the day) winning 26th section C 130th open flying a distance of 419 miles. He was then sent over the channel to the SNFC Ypres race a distance of 452 miles and he won 11th section C 65th open flying 454 miles. He was then sent to the SNFC Clermont race and he won 15th section C 36th open. Not bad going for a yearling. Needless to say, we phoned Jock & Willie every time we timed him in; and they were as happy as us that the bird was doing so well. Then as a 2-year-old he was entered into the inland Cheltenham race and won 23rd section C 213th open flying 321 miles. He was then entered into the SNFC Clermont race a distance of 539 miles and he won 107th open but no section prize card. He was then set up for the SNFC Ypres race going for his SNFC Silver Award; unfortunately, he never made it home. To say we were devastated was an understatement. However, a youngster from ‘JS’ when paired to a chequer pied hen ‘326’. She won 2nd club Hexham as a young bird and had 5 races to Wakefield. She had 8 races as a yearling and won 6th club Eastbourne and was then stopped as she was paired to ‘JS’ as Kevin wished her to be at home for ‘JS’ returning from a race. She was off the road for 2 years and then put back into the racing team in 2014 and she flew the channel from the Clermont race. Her sire was bred from a Jim Cullen of Uddingston cock; his sire won 60th section 185th open Eastbourne & 16th section 138th open Ypres. He also turned out to be a top stock cock for Jim. Dam of ‘326’ was a Willie & Barry Kinnear hen; she was a ½ sister to their famous pigeon ‘Auld Reekie’ the winner of 1st 2nd 11th & 24th open SNFC races. He was the BEST COCK in Scotland over a 2-year period in fact he was also a DOUBLE DEWAR TROPHY WINNER – which is awarded to Scotland’s Bird of the Year. As a matter of significance, Auld Reekie was also a double grandson of the Kinnear’s partnerships ‘Back to Basic’s’ their Runner Up for the Dewar Trophy in 1995. (You can read more about these wonderful birds in my book on ‘The Dewar Trophy The First 50 Years’ Which you can obtain direct from me. Let’s go back to Anne, Tommy and Christopher Tweed of Rasharkin good hen ‘Tommy Dream’ (see photo) she has now won the following positions in the NIPA. In 2021 she won 5th section 43rd open St Mallo a distance of 488 miles. The following year she won 7th section B 71st open to gain a Bronze Award plus winning over £1000. Last year she won 3rd section B 30th open from an entry of 1309 birds and now wins 4th section 61st open flying a distance of 470 miles. A winner of 4 times St Mallo is exceptional; and to say I am over the moon for the Tweed family would be an understatement plus the fact that I’m happy to be part of their wonderful success and I thank Christopher for phoning to tell me she was timed for the 4th time; Well Done one and all. While going on about Jock Strang please read the following on this year’s SNFC Gold Cup race flown from Alencon this week the 28th June with the 778 birds liberated at 06-00am with no wind at the race point. Winning 1st region B 1st east section 1st open is John Bosworth of Elphinstone with a mealy hen. First region A 1st south section 2nd open are the S & L Trodden of Gretna partnership with the same pigeon that won 15th region 16th open last year. Continuing on this same topic the winner of 1st region C 2nd east section 6th open is Rory Cook of Leslie in Fife flying 554 miles with the same blue bar hen who won 1st region C 4th east section 4th open last year flying to Rosyth a distance of 546 miles when Rory lived there. This blue hen is a very good pigeon to win the Fife Federation and Region C twice from the SNFC Gold Cup race is quite exceptional, nevertheless to do so racing to two different locations within a year is outstanding. I will try and obtain more information on this hen for my next column. Charlie & Glen Cameron of Arbroath win 2nd region C 7th open and win the Kevin J Murphy Trophy for the first bird north of the River Tay on the open result. This is very fitting as Charlie & Glen were club mates of Kevin and I know how much they wanted to win his trophy, well done lads. First region D 15th open is my dear old friend Jock Strang of California with his 2-year-old blue hen whom he has named ‘Lady Betty’ after his dear wife who passed away in April, I have added a photograph of ‘Lady Betty’ to go with this column. This blue hen was a gift to Jock from a friend whom he had done a favour for, Jock would not take any money for the job he did. So, the person purchased 6 babies from Royal Oak Lofts and gifted them to Jock. One of these is the blue hen whom Jock timed in. However, there is a story attached to this hen, she was sitting 12 days when her cock failed to return from the Thirsk federation race. She sat the eggs and Jock kept a keen eye on her, when she was getting restless, he slipped a young bird under her. She took to it no problem; however, as she did not have soft milk to feed the baby, Jock would take her out of the section and then put the baby back under its mother/father to be fed. Later on, he would put the baby back in the nest pan and let the blue hen back into the loft. She was so keen on the baby that she would have taken Jock’s hand off every time he went to take the baby away from her to put it under its parents. On the day of basketing for the SNFC Gold Cup from Alencon she was still sitting the baby and was going ‘mad’ as Jock put her in the basket to take her to the national marking station. The baby was put back under the parent’s while she was away to the race point. The convoy were liberated at 06-00 hours and with a journey of 551 miles back to her home loft and she was timed at 21-39-55 to record a velocity of 1032 to win 1st region D 15th open. Needless to say, Jock slipped the baby back under her after he had timed in. To say that Jock was over the moon would be an understatement. He has now named this winning blue hen; ‘Lady Betty’ after his dear wife. Regarding her breeding this is a story in itself; Jock assister a near neighbour Jock McMullen who was doing a job near him to put a roof onto a shed. When the job was complete Jock McMullen wanted to pay Jock for his time and assistance however refused. So, Jock McMullen purchased some young birds from Mike Brennan of Royal Oak Lofts for Jock Strang as a thank you for his help. One of these babies is the blue hen who has now won 1st region D 15th open SNFC Alencon flying 551 miles on the day. As Jock did not know the breeding of the hen, he asked me to contact Mike Brennan via email to obtain the details which are as follows. Mike informs me her sire is a self-bred Zwols from his stock loft he was a winner of 1st club 2nd federation & 2nd club 2nd federation. His bloodlines are from Dutch Prince x De Diament lines. Frans Zwols also had a super hen called ‘Chinese Lady’ who bred De Diament the hen that produced Frans famous 3 Musketeers and the seven sisters. Musketeer 1 scored 1st Maasiek 6226b, 2nd Boxtel 12,595b, 2nd Boxtel 4571b, 3rd St Quentin 5071b, Musketeer 2 won 2nd Beek 14,940b, 2nd Hannut 12,455b and 2nd Maasiek 6926b and Musketeer 3 won 2nd Chimay 8042b. I thank Mike Brennan of Royal Oak Lofts for supplying these details. The winner of 1st region E 25th open is G Harrison of Lesmahagow; with the F1 winner securing 43rd open position are Cowan & Findlay of Ardrossan. John Hodgson of Annan had a great race timing in 9 birds in the top 33 open positions. With his 4th open winner having already won 57th open Alencon last year; his 14th open winner won 28th open last year from Alencon; and his 4th open won 57th open last year. W F Van Nuil of Gretna blue bar cock who won 8th open last year; won the same 8th open position this year; not bad going when you think of a pigeon that has been in the top 10 twice in 2 Gold Cup races. Fife’s Joe Mullen has a blue chequer hen who won 11th open last year now wins 42nd open in 2024. I have only had a quick look at the open result as it is just out so will have a good look once I have forwarded this article away to the BHW. Results Almond Valley Federation Received the Billericay result from Lynn who informs us that the 216 birds were liberated at 07:15 hours. Winning 1st open is Geordie Harris of Bonnybridge club, he is also 2nd & 3rd club 5th & 19th open. John Bird of West Calder is 1st & 5th club & 2nd & 18th open. C Smillie wins 1st 3rd 6th & 7th Fauldhouse club, 3rd 8th 13th & 15th open. T Gavin is 2nd 4th & 5th Fauldhouse 4th 10th & 12th open. Freddie Jamieson & son win 1st East Calder 6th open with Colin Ross of Balerno wins 2nd 3rd & 4th club 7th 16th & 17th open. John Hadfield of Armadale wins 2nd 3rd & 4th club 9th 11th & 14th open. D Hay of Bonnybridge club wins 4th club 20th open. Summary list of money winners; members; amount; McArdle & Thomson C/W £ 120.00; J Bird W/C £ 68.50; F Jamieson & Son, E/C £ 67.50. C Ross BAL £ 27.00; the total was £283.00 Ayrshire Fed Maidstone SNFC New from Bas Nicol who wrote; Hi Joe a quick catch up while I am on holiday this week from work and I can do a short round up on recent results. From the Maidstone OB (SNFC) 37 members sent 186 birds North Section 92 birds; winner and 1st open is Robert “Speedy” Reid of Dalry HS - topping the fed clear by over an hour and half on a superb velocity of 1310. Robert’s winner took 1st section 13th open in the SNFC. He is also 4th federation with his 2nd pigeon. The 3rd & 4th section places go to Cowan & Findlay who are 5/6th federation for good measure. Ian Cameron makes up the top 5 in the North. A fantastic effort and supported by Matt Smith 48th open and Cree & Cuthbert in 49th place. Well done all, superb. Centre Section had 36 birds; the winner of 1st & 3rd Centre section is Rob Donegan who is 8th open federation. 2nd is Irvines Harvey Pollock followed by Jim Meikle in 4th & Andy McKenna of Irvine NTHS in 5th. South section 56 birds this week’s winner is Matt Smith with another gallant day bird on 1052 for 2nd federation. Cree & Cuthbert of Whitletts are 2nd & 3rd in the federation just behind Matt. Eben Stewart is 3rd section with J & A McDougall 4th & Boyd & Son in 5th. Well done all. Club Winners; Robert Reid tops the Dalry result. Kilmarnock Invitation is won by Jim Meikle. Irvine New Town is H Pollock; Whittlets winner is Matt Smith; Ardeer winner is Hughes & Donald; Cumnock winner J & A McDougall; Mauchline is won by E Stewart; Darvel winners are Cowan & Findlay. Hunter & Duignan Points Trophy - Leader Board; 1st Ardeer HS 12 points; 2nd Dalry HS 7 points; 3rd Kilmarnock Inv HS 4 points; 4th Kilwinning 4 points; 4th Irvine NTHS 4 points; 6th Darvel HS 3 points; 7th Cumnock 1 point; Whitletts 1 point. Race Points; Lauder; Wooler; Appleby; Appleton; Stafford; Kettering; Wooler; Maidstone; Appleton; Appleby; Guernsey; Lauder; Lauder; Wooler; Wooler; Appleby & Appleby. Points currently top 3: D Howie 76 points; A Barbour 64 points; R Reid 60 points; Kins regards Baz Nicol North of Scotland Federation News from George Duthie with the Maidstone result which had 35 members sending 320 birds; there were liberated in a very light wind. East Section 17 members sent 190 birds, topping the east section and open is Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District club with 2 birds together to win 1st & 2nd places both on velocities of 1318 for the 458 miles. Colin is also 4th & 8th east section 4th & 10th open. R Bain of Fraserburgh & District club wins 3rd east section 3rd open with N Holt of Peterhead & District club wins 5th east section and open. S Witherspoon of Inverurie club is 6th east section and open with Peterhead & District’s member S Glue winning 7th east section and open. C Donaldson of Fraserburgh West End timed 5 birds to win 9th 10th 13th 14th & 15th east section 11th 12th 16th 18th & 19th open. R Barclay of Fraserburgh West End club winning 11th & 12th east section 14th& 15th open. The west section had 18 members sending 130 birds; with R Wilson of Keith winning We now have 2 birds arrive together to the town of Keith with R Wilson winning 1st & 5th west section 8th & 26th open with club mates Duncan & Thomson winning 2nd west section 9th open. Devern Valley A Fulton wins 3rd west section 13th open with A Flett of Keith wins 4th & 8th west section 17th & 33rd open position. A Wilson of Devern Valley is 6th west section 31st open with P Thomson of Elgin & District club winning 7th section 32nd open with a NWHU rung bird. P Thomson of Elgin & District club is 7th west section 32nd open with Keith’s A J Reid winning 9th west section 34th open. A Hay of Devern Valley wins 10th west section 35th open. Well done to Colin McRae on topping the federation. Clubs First Bird Winners are as follows; C McRae wins Fraserburgh & District velocity 1318.753; Peterhead & District winner is N Holt velocity 1294.687; Inverurie winner is S Witherspoon velocity 1288.154; Keith winner is R Wilson velocity 1279.847; Fraserburgh West End winner is C Donaldson velocity 1270.137; Devern Valley winner is A Fulton velocity 1260.747; Elgin & District winner is P Thomson velocity 1065.704 27 Day Space Weather Outlook Table. Issued: 1st July 2024 at 02-20 UTC UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2024 Jul 01 180 15 5 2024 Jul 02 180 12 4 2024 Jul 03 175 12 4 2024 Jul 04 170 10 3 2024 Jul 05 170 5 2 2024 Jul 06 170 5 2 2024 Jul 07 170 5 2 2024 Jul 08 170 5 2 2024 Jul 09 170 5 2 2024 Jul 10 170 5 2 2024 Jul 11 170 5 2 2024 Jul 12 170 5 2 2024 Jul 13 170 5 2 2024 Jul 14 180 10 3 2024 Jul 15 175 10 3 2024 Jul 16 175 8 3 2024 Jul 17 175 5 2 2024 Jul 18 180 5 2 2024 Jul 19 180 5 2 2024 Jul 20 180 10 3 2024 Jul 21 180 8 3 2024 Jul 22 185 5 2 2024 Jul 23 180 5 2 2024 Jul 24 180 5 2 2024 Jul 25 180 5 2 2024 Jul 26 180 5 2 2024 Jul 27 180 5 2 © Compiled by Joe Murphy 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?

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Good luck folks

Angus & Dundee liberated at Blaydon at 7.00 a.m. South/South West wind

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Please post your Club/Federation/Organisation liberation time on this topic Good luck

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Please share with Basics members where your Club/Federation/Organisation are racing from this weekend Good luck folks

Just heard the very sad news that Tam Cook of Kennoway HS passed away this morning, after a short fight with illness RIP Tam

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Fanciers from the Past; Alex McNeill of Winton near Tranent, began to race pigeons at the age of eleven, which was in 1903. He competed monthly against older fanciers in what were called ‘Sweepstakes’. Around 1910 he joined Winton HS. Matthew Inverarity, who with his brother John, had founded the club, as then secretary. Winton HS was a prominent club in the early days with a loft in almost every garden. Every body had to run to the village green when their birds arrived from a race and the times were checked by a man with a stop watch. Alex remembers that the club then purchased a 19 bird Toulet to which all members had to run too. Alex was quite successful in club racing to the pre and post 1914-1918 war years racing as far as Bournemouth. In 1922 he sent a pigeon to Rennes with the SNFC. In those days the birds had no race rubber but had a number stamped on a flight. His red pied hen finished 2nd open. W Gardner of Glasgow winning, and her flight with the number on it was S.38 has been kept by Alex since it was moulted. Most of the records which he kept have been destroyed by accident, but some of the positions won by him in more recent years were; 70th open Rennes SNFC 1933. 6th open East of Scotland Combine Guernsey 1948 winning £49-3shillings & 11 pence (which was the largest prize) 94th open Rennes 1955; 286th open Rennes 1956; 32nd & 33rd open East of Scotland DOL and 179th open Rennes in 1959. 129th open Nantes 1961 and 63rd open Dol 1962 and 75th open Beauvais in 1965. The last two positions with the East of Scotland Championship Club. Last year 1966, he had quite a good club record with his birds and also took 92nd open Avranches. He again enjoyed a good season this year, winning 10th east section 14th open Nantes and a position in the East of Scotland Championship Club Avranches race. In 1963 his loft was broken into and the cream of his loft was stolen. He began almost from scratch and rebuilt a good racing team. His stock is from Jimmy Clydesdale of Ormiston and the late Mrs Bridges of London. He keeps only 8-9 pairs of old birds and each year he rears about sixteen young birds. He believes in giving them a mid-week toss from around 15-20 miles to ‘Keep them on their toes’. His advice to beginners; be observant; Watch you birds as often as possible and be a good listener when old hands are talking about the sport. He believes you can learn most about your birds by just watching their behaviour in and around the loft. Results Central Federation News from Bernie who writes; ‘Hi Joe. Hope you are well, please find the following Thirsk result, with 212 birds liberated at 06-30am with no wind at the race point. Gordon MacKenzie wins 1st 2nd 4th 6th 7th 8th & 9th with Charlie Job winning 3rd place. Peter Keogh wins 10th & 11th place. Broxburn and Uphall club: Hamish Ferguson wins 1st club 1st federation 1st Section D & 44th open Scottish National Flying Club Maidstone. His winner is flown on roundabout (see photo) he flew the full federation race programme out to Kettering, and is bred from 2 x 10-year-old stock birds. Their breeding goes back to his old family with the granddam his old Niort hen. She was the dam of G Macaloney Gold Award Cock ‘Janefield Paul’ that Hamish bred. The dam is a granddaughter of Hamish’s 1st open Scottish Central Combine Sartilly winner. Steven and Gullane: timed their dark chequer Lambrecht cock a gift pigeon from John McNeill. He is flown on roundabout and is a good steady bird. He won 18th section D 125th open SNFC Brighton in 2023 and was 7th section D 80th open Maidstone & 5th Scottish Central Federation open. Gordon MacKenzie wins 3rd club, 8th federation 11th section D & 106th open Maidstone. This dark chequer cock is raced on roundabout, he was bred by his good friend Bobby Logan from Ayr. Winchburgh pigeon club: sent 65 pigeons with Central federation who had 212 birds entered to the Thirsk race on the 22nd June which were liberated at 06-30 with no wind at the race point. Taking 1st club 3rd federation and the top spot goes to Charlie Job with a celibate hen from Peter Hall Lofts. Sire is an Andre Verbessalt with dam being a daughter of ‘Mr Perfect’. Taking 2nd, 3rd & 4th club, 5th, 10th & 11th federation is Peter Keogh with his homebred Frans Zwols x Cormack x Bosworth bloodlines also flown Celibate. Broxburn & Uphall Pigeon club: Winner is Gordon MacKenzie whose 1st & 2nd pigeons are both from my ‘Old Gaby’s bred from club and federation winners. My 3rd pigeon is also a Gaby bred by Stuart Knowles the 4th pigeon is also bred by Stuart Knowles its breeding is Herman Custer. Thanks, Joe, for all your help, Bernie. North of Scotland Federation News from George Duthie with the Blaydon 2 old bird race flown on 22th June with 42 members sending 538 birds liberated in a light west wind; with the East Section having 21 members sending 301 birds. Winning 1st section & open us S Witherspoon of Inverurie with his yearling doing a velocity of 1384. Maskame & Cordiner of Peterhead & District are 2nd & 3rd with club mate Neil Holt winning 4th place. Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District wins 5th 6th & 8th section & open. R Barclay of Fraserburgh West End is 7th section and open with J S Robertson of Inverurie club is 9th section and open with R Bain of Fraserburgh & District won 10th section 11th open. The West Section had 21 members sending 237 birds; taking top place in the west section is A Hay of Devern Valley club winning 10th open. J Abel of the same club is 2nd 5th & 6th section also winning 14th 34th & 35th open. R Hay & Family also of the Devern Valley club are 3rd & 8th section 15th & 38th open. A Flett of Keith club is 4th section 34th open. A J Reid of Keith club is 7th section 37th open. Duncan & Thomson of Keith club are 9th section 39th open. A Fulton of Devern Valley is 10th section 40th open. Clubs First Bird; Inverurie is won by S Witherspoon velocity 1384.632; Peterhead & District winners are Maskame & Cordiner velocity 1359.923. Fraserburgh & District winner is C McRae velocity 1345.316; Fraserburgh West End winner is R Barclay velocity 1327.851; Devern Valley winner is A Hay velocity 1295.750; Keith club winner is A Flett velocity 1169.599; Elgin & District winner is P Thomson velocity 1079.650. Well Done to S Witherspoon on topping the federation; also, well done to A Hay on winning the west section. Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club News from Charlie Cameron regarding the Wooler race with 6 members sending 38 birds to the 10th old bird race of the season flown on 22nd June with the birds liberated at 10-00am, into a south-to-south west wind. Charlie & son Glen take the first 3 places with Paul Cameron is 4th Grahame McKenzie is 5th with A & A Shepherd in 6th place, they are followed by Chic & Ann Carrie in 7th spot. Les McKay is 8th place. Fife Federation of Homing Pigeons Societies News from Geordie Todd with the Wooler 3 race held on the 22nd of June, with the convoy of 465 birds liberated at 09-15 in a west south west wind. Birdage; Methilhaven 85 birds; Novar & Leslie 47 birds; Kennoway 84 birds; St Andrews 41 birds; Lochgelly 89 birds; Crossgates 34 birds; Dunfermline 85 birds. The federation top 10 are also the first 10 in the East Section. St Andrews club member John Harcus takes the first 6 places. Brian Kinnear is 7th with Tam Laing in 8th spot. Brian Chalmers is 9th with Methilhaven’s Davy Armour is in 10th place. The West Section & 2nd place is won by G Williams of Novar & Leslie; with J Hynd & son of Lochgelly club wins 3rd 4th 5th 6th & 10th positions. A McCudden wins 7th section with A Fleming of Crossgates winning 9th place. Forfar Racing Pigeon Club News from David Liddle who tells us Hi Joe, that 12 members sent 152 birds to the Wooler race point on Saturday 22nd June, these were liberated at 10-00am into a west to south west wind. The race was a triumph for Davie Glen who had a trio of widowhood cocks arrive together to take the first three in the Forfar club and Angus Federation and first, second and fourth in the combines Angus/Dundee result. The first two were Vandenabeele breeding, the first a yearling followed by the 2-year-old which won 2nd club and fed from Grantham last weekend and also won the second race of the season. The third pigeon was Davie`s ‘Number 9’ making the result for the seventh time in ten races including five times in the first three! Davie also won 10th open position. Ian Scott wins 4th 6th & 9th positions, with Eric Galloway winning 5th & 7th Kenny Droog & son are 8th. Angus Federation of Racing Pigeon Societies From the Wooler old bird race flown on the 20th August 20 members sent 214 birds these were liberated into a west to south west wind. Davie Glen takes the first 3 places with Ian Scott in 4th place, Charlie & Glen Cameron of Arbroath club are 5th & 10th with D & D Hay of Gourdon winning 6th & 7th positions. William Dorward of the same club wins 8th & 9th places. Club Winners Members Birds Name Velocity Arbroath had 6 members sending 38 birds, 1st are Charlie & Glen Cameron velocity 1367.89. Forfar had 12 members sending 152 birds winner Davie Glen velocity 1399.62; Gourdon had 2 members sending 24 birds winners D & D Hay velocity 1349.68; Montrose club did not send to the race. SNFC Maidstone The SNFC liberated their 2004 birds entered by 292 members at 05-15am into a south west wind. (Which to me was far too early) The top fancier Dennis Anderson of Annan wins The Maidstone Trophy & 1st national cock. (I have written about Dennis in my book on the 50 Years of the Dewar Trophy winners; and I will be looking out for his great cock ‘Bonnyrigg Lionheart’ to see if it appears on the SNFC Alencon result. Gordon Turnbull also from Annan wins 1st National Hen with his chequer hen winning 2nd open. D Foster & son of Biggar win 1st section E 4th open with Brian Kinnear of Pittlessie in Fife having 2 birds together to win 1st & 2nd section C 6th & 8th open. His yearling is bred down from his good blue cock ‘Stichy’ who won three times in the top 10 in open national races, these performances are as follows; 1st section C 3rd open SNRPC Newbury 1531 birds recording a velocity of 1178. Then in 2006 he won 2nd section C 8th open SNFC Falaise 2039 birds recording a velocity of 1136 flying 528 miles. The following year he won 2nd section C 6th open SNFC Alencon 558 miles recording a velocity of 1025; with an entry of 1470 birds. I have attached a photograph of this wonderful cock to go with this report) Gordon Turnbull of Chirnside wins 1st section B 12th open; with Robert Reid of Beith in Ayrshire winning 1st section F 13th open. J Coutts & son of Aberdeen are 1st section G 36th open flying 433 miles; with J Ferguson of Broxburn winning 1st section D 44th open. I have known Fife fancier Brian Kinnear since the early 1970’s when he raced his pigeons in Cupar near the loft of George Robertson who won the Beauvais SNFC race away back in 1963. Brian has always been a good racer of pigeons and has won some excellent positions over the years; I remember him doing well in the Fife 3 Bird Championship Club which I was the secretary for many years ago. Brian’s yearling line goes back to his famous pigeon named ‘Stichy’ a winner of …. I have also attached a photograph of Stichy to go along with his 2 winning Maidstone winning pigeons. © Compiled by Joe Murphy 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