sapper756
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If you have or know of anyone who can help, please contact Jeremy Davies on 07739148679 and mention Pigeon Basics
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Metal ring details needed
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IF INTERESTED CONTACT 07719123144
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8 minutes ago, snakeman79 said:
I’m hoping to go but never got the tickets I wonder if I can get tickets at the door
There's always tickets available at entry
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New Couriers
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As we start off a New Year, may I wish ALL readers of my column, all the very best in Health & Happiness
for 2024. These are the most important items within each and every one of our lives. I always look forward
to the New Year as one never knows what is in front of us; however, there is nothing we can do about it;
except take each day as it comes. It is the same with our racing pigeons; how many winners are in our loft at
this time of the year, Only God Knows; and by this time next year you may have a champion in your loft. (I
HOPE YOU DO)
Away back in 1966 it was the same story for a partnership competing in the Scottish National Flying Club;
successful races come and go, however only one pigeon leads the way to bring honour and glory to its
owners, by winning the Blue Riband race of pigeon racing sport in Scotland; thus, gaining the GOLD CUP.
However, like lightning one never knows where this honour is going to strike next. The 1953 winner
Montgomery Brothers, in their speech at the presentation of the club’s trophies, related that prior to their
winning, in discussing their chances of winning the National, his brother expressed the opinion that; ‘They
had as much chance of winning the national as being struck by Lightning’.
Lightning, however does strike in likely place and in the year 1966 the honour of winning the Rennes race
and the Gold Cup was won by M Nash & sons of Croy. By their performances in races from 60 to 60 miles
that are well known far beyond the boundaries of Club, Federation and Combine of which they are
members, and their winning the Scottish National and all that goes with it came as no surprise. The present
partners are the third generation of the Nash Family who have raced pigeons in this district. Inscribed on the
old bird average cup of the Kilsyth Club is the fact that it was won by James Nash in the years 1906 & 1907.
About five years ago Matt Nash (son of James) and his two sons moved to the Condorrat end of Croy and
while retaining their membership of the Kilsyth Club they joined the Condorrat Club. They were not long in
making their presence felt thereby increasing, if that is possible, the keenness of the competition in this old
established club. During my conversations with Jim Nash, I questioned him about his prospects in the
national from Rennes. I was impressed with his quiet confidence of doing well, which is not surprising when
we take into consideration how his team of pigeon had been performing, they certainly looked the part. I am
well aware that bloom and past form are fickle jades, but I also knew that Jim and John Nash were
exceptionally keen and observant fanciers. Nothing was too much trouble to them as far as their pigeons
were concerned, nothing was left to chance. Jim spends two evenings a week as physical instructor and sees
to it that his pigeons are put through the same rigorous performance of up at day break and down the road
for exercise before the majority of us are out of bed. On this occasion my parting words to Jim were that, ‘I
would look forward to coming out to Croy to see the Rennes National winner n 1966’.
When the great day arrived, it brought the news that the pigeons had been held over. The information on
Saturday 25 th of June 1966, was that the 5,730 pigeons entered from 3,030 lofts had been liberated at 06-15
hours in a west wind; later in the day reports from several cricket matches suggested that a belt of rain was
passing over the midlands of England and we were left wondering if it would spoil the race. So, we waited
wondering where the lightning and the honour and glory would strike this time. Those of us in Mid-Scotland
normally hear the rumbling of the thunder away in the south in the form of birds having been timed and
wondered if the lightning has also struck in that area. This then was the situation on the evening of Saturday
25 th June. About eight o’ clock news filtered through that a pigeon had been timed in Annan, 480 miles, a
few minutes after seven o’clock, and another about a quarter to eight. Out came the pencils and paper and
from rough calculations t appeared that pigeons flying around the 540-mile mark would be required to be
timed on or before 20-45 hours.
Now let us go over to the loft of Matt Nash and sons at Croy. Experienced are well aware of the tension
which builds up as the time approaches when they feel winning pigeons might be expected to arrive. There2
is always hope while you know of no birds being timed, but when you know birds have been timed and the
ticking clock seems to gather speed with every passing minute. Jim and John together with a few friends
had, of course, been busy with calculation and reckoned the absolute deal line would be 21-10 hours. Jim
looked at his watch; it was now 21-00 hours, the fatal minutes had arrived, every second counted now; five
agonising minutes passe-six-seven. Jim turning to a friend rose saying, ‘Watch that blue hen drops out of the
sky now to win’. He was about to open the door to enter the house when John shouted, ‘Here is the blue
hen’.
The timing was all over in a matter of a few seconds, it is easy to imagine the excitement and relief at having
timed a pigeon. There were more hurried calculations; had the blue hen done the trick? The phone was kept
busy as there was always the nagging thought that somewhere in Scotland another pigeon had done better
still. Having got a pigeon, thoughts turned to the other good pigeons still to come and a watch was kept until
night closed in on the scene. The final count of birds on the day was 11 in the south, 10 in the west and 3 in
the east. The Nash pigeon was not only the winner but had flown further than any other pigeon on the day,
further I cannot recall, that the first three pigeons consisted of one from each of the three sections.
When I had the information confirmed that M Nash & Sons were the winners, I phoned to arrange a
convenient time to call and photograph the winner. Jim’s first words to me were, ‘Well you have had your
parting wish granted’. The winner ‘Daphnie’s Delight’ SURP63 48652 is as lovely a blue hen as anyone
could wish for. There she was tight of feather in lovely condition, sent sitting eight days on eggs and
growing her first primary flights. You will know how keen she was when I tell you that she had taken to her
eggs on return, which to me is an indication of the skill of management displayed by her owners. She is the
kind of pigeon we all desire to possess, showing her quality right from the start. As a young bird she won 1 st
club 3 rd federation Lancaster 140 miles. Then as a yearling she won 1 st club Dumfries 62 miles; 2 nd Penrith
103 miles; and 3 rd club Whitchurch, then 4 th club Bournemouth 372 miles. In 1965 as a 2-year-old she won
1 st club 6 th open and 8 th Scottish Midland Federation velocity 1207; winning £38-12 shillings. She was sent to
Avranches and was timed but not placed. This year she got four races before going to Rennes and her great
triumph, winning 1 st Scottish National Rennes from the cream of Scottish pigeons, velocity 1086 over the
551 miles 300 yards. Trophies won include; ‘The King George V Cup; the club Gold Cup, the H A French
‘Jubilee’ Challenge Trophy, the Mrs H A French ‘Challenge Rose Bowl (two nominated birds) these being
‘Daphnie’s Delight’ and ‘Baron Barbeg’. The BHW Trophy, West Section Cup and Co-operative Special.
She was bred by John Reid of Stenhousemuir; for me to reiterate here the successes obtained by other
fanciers by birds bred by John Reid would savour an attempt o ‘Paint the Lily’.
Her sire is a blue cock 9828, nestmate to his well-known ‘Tryst Girl’. Their parents are a pair of Delbars, a
blue cock Belge 58 3058832 and a blue hen Belge 56 3056786 presented to John by Mr S Bishop. The cock
‘832’ is from ‘Coppi’ and ‘Montesi’ and the hen ‘786’ is from ‘803’ and ‘812’. ‘803’ is an own brother to
‘Favori’ and ‘812’ is from ‘Old Delbar of 43’
Note; ‘Daphnie’s Delight sire 9828 is inbred to the champion stud pair ‘75’ and ‘Lelyke’; ‘803’ being a son
and ‘Montesi’ a granddaughter.
Dam of ‘Daphnie’s Delight’ is a blue hen NU62L6821 bred by J W Langstone of Worchester, bought at
Langstone’s sale by Lance Severn of Bulwell and presented to Jock Reid.
Her sire is a blue chequer white flight cock NU58N-15 Lot 11 at the sale; he was bed from a blue white
flight cock ‘Delbar’ a grandson of ‘Le Bon Bleu’. Dam of 6821 was Langstone’s well known Sister to
Cinderella’ the winner of the 1956 NFC Pau race. The sister herself won 3 rd 110 th & 8 th open in 3 consecutive
English nationals from Pau.
This pedigree could be considerably extended but Scottish National winners require no pedigree, it will be
found that very soon they will be featuring in the pedigree of others. I have seen and handled very many3
Scottish National winners; one of my earliest being D McInroy’s of Dundee ‘Lady Betty’ and my first
attempt of taking a photograph was of McGinn Brothers winner of 1927.
Many of the successful came as bolts out of the blue; unknown except within their own locality; however, I
usually found that they had be trying for years with varying success as the SNFC certificates they produced
to me proved. To the best of my knowledge there is only one fancier who, sending a single pigeon, won the
national at the first time of trying, and that was my old friend John Robertson of Slamannan in 1930 and
who came near to winning the Nantes race in 1955. The cycle of success waxes and wanes in the very best
of lofts. A prepotent pigeon or pair of pigeons appear and produce a generation or two of successful racers at
the long distances; but when they are gone so also is their success. As an enquiring looker on there appears
to be a common failing in not realising that you cannot sell pigeons and still have them. Winning lofts are
healthy lofts, it is a gamble whether a grand new loft will be a healthy one or not. As each SNFC Rennes
race comes round and the result published my thoughts turn to the between three and four thousand bitterly
disappointed fanciers, it is a common experience and nothing that they need be ashamed about because they
have at least tried.
I will continue with part 2 of this story next week; as I have to have 3 articles away to the pigeon papers
before the Christmas holiday period.
I hope fanciers have had a good Christmas and I wish EVERYONE WHO READS MY COLUMN; ALL
THE VERY BEST FOR THE 2024 SEASON.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 log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk
www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland -
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Who's planning on attending the Show thus year?
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Good luck with your venture
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I have been given permission to share this with Basics members
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I would like to take this opportunity to wish Basics Members a Happy New Year and all the very best for 2024
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At long last I have finished my book on the 50 Years of The Dewar Trophy Winners; which is awarded to
Scotland’s ‘Pigeon of Year’. I have also tried to highlight the runners up as well but failed to obtain
information on some of them. I was hoping to get the book out for Christmas, but unfortunately the printers
were too busy and they will start printing after the festive season. All going well I hope to have it on sale at
Blackpool Show in January. I have attached a photo of front cover of my book.TV Star
While watching TV prior to having our evening meal, a lady named Sharon (from Harlow; in the west of
Essex) was on ‘The Chase’ with Bradley Walsh. He asked her what she would do if she won the money, and
her reply was; ‘I would buy my husband Mark a NEW STATE OF THE ART PIGEON LOFT’. Bradley
could not believe her answer and they started talking about pigeons’. Sharon did well and managed to get to
the final, and they competed against the ‘Chaser’ and low and behold they won the money. When asked
what she would do with her share of the money, she replied. ‘A NEW PIGEON LOFT’. Margaret & I
laughed and we wish Sharon & Mark all the best with their new purchase. Maybe when it is up and finished,
they may send me a photo of it to go into my column.Short Story From the Past
Once again, I continue with my short articles on some of the great named fanciers and pigeons from the past.
I came across an old article written by Mr & Mrs Tom Birkley and their famous hen ‘Rashiehill Supreme’.
(I have attached a photograph of her to go with this short story)
Tom wrote; ‘I was born into pigeons, as my late father was a keen fancier also my uncles and cousins. The
first fancier who came to mind is the late Andrew Smillie, he was more respected by fanciers of all ages, and
he was so efficient and understanding in his work and could find time, along with his sons, to race a good
pigeon from all channel races.
Next on my list is the famous Jock McGillivary of Forth, I reckon ‘Jock’ taught me more about pigeons than
anyone; he always raced his birds hard, this way bad ones didn’t last long. His famous ‘Dream Girl’ was one
of the finest birds I have ever handled.
Then one must always count it a pleasure to meet and talk with fanciers of Annan, along with my very good
friend Fred Jubb from Kirkfieldbank; we have enjoyed the company of G Lapton who has won the National
from Rennes in1950, also G Hinds and his partner who were second from Rennes in 1966, with their
champion blue hen. I have seen the birds of that great racer John Jamieson & Son, also his brother Matt, and
no fancier should leave Annan without paying a visit to the loft of Bob Thomson, his family of Kirpatrick’s
are one of the finest in the country.
The say these Annan lads have a lucky position for channel racing. I have been to Annan before 07-00am on
a Sunday morning and most of these Annan fanciers have their birds fed and cleaned out before this time, no
wonder they win. I reckon they could win if they were living anywhere.
I journeyed to Cornwall in 1964 and met the world famous A R Hill of St Just. I handled the champion
‘Galabank Prince’ also the Grizzle hen ‘6498’. I have learned since she has died.
Many a happy visit I have had to Ballymena, Northern Ireland, to my dear friend Bobby McAdorey, who
introduced me to the Smyth Brothers; who have one of the finest inbred families in Ireland. Then there was
Billy Irwin who seems to always score on a hard day, and Tommy Harper who has made a name for his
channel performances, and Bob Keilty, one of the oldest fanciers in Ballymena.
To come home again to my own area, Wilkinson Brothers, my club mates, have one of the finest records in
West Lothian Federation for channel racing, with their champion mealy hen, seven times the channel andThe Joe Murphy Column
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seven diplomas, is a champion in every sense. I must never forget the famous Davy Angus, a most
interesting fancier, also Leishman Brothers of Douglas Water.
When one thinks of national racing, you always bring up the one and only Charlie Graham, the SNFC
Secretary, the greatest secretary in the country. Charlie, one said to my wife, was I the ‘springer’ in the
family, after my father had won £300 from Rennes in 1957. I would like to hear his remarks now.
Before I draw near to the end of this article, a word of comfort to the novice-never join the ranks of the
‘Gossips and Grumbles’ that you find in most clubs, always learn to admire a good pigeon when it beats
you, this way you will learn to be a good fancier, then you will enjoy the greatest sport in the world.
Now, I must say thanks to the fanciers who helped me to get my gallant pigeon, ‘Rashiehill Supreme’, he is
Colin McKinnon, for presenting me with his dam, a blue chequer hen Kirkpatrick blood, which was mated
to a red cock, from McGillivary stock.
I consider that ‘Rashiehill Supreme’ has brought me my greatest thrill in pigeon racing, and he has won
since he was a youngster. I would also like to say, to all my many fancier friends, Jock Anderson of
Anstruther, Bob Gebbie of Forth, Big Jim Clarkson of West Calder, and my club mates, and the names I
haven’t mentioned, best of luck for 1967; Yours Mr & Mrs Tom Birkley.
I was only 20 years old at this time and Margaret and I got married in October of that year. However, I had
heard of some of these names from my father who tried hard to make it onto the SNFC race results. When I
look back on it, his birds were never fit enough as he only every trained them from Kirkcaldy; (which was 8
to 10 miles) as he worked in the coal mines, Plus the fact he cycled to work and the pigeon was in a paper
bag. As he could not hold onto a small basket while peddling his bike. This never stopped his enthusiasm
and his will to win; which obviously he passed on to me.
It was good to read about the ‘famous’ great names within our sport up here in Scotland, that will live in the
history of Scottish Pigeon Fraternity.Joe’s Joke
A Jewish grandmother is giving directions to her grown up grandson who is coming to visit with his wife.
‘You come to the front door of the apartments. I am in apartment 301. There is a big panel at the front door.
With your elbow, push button 301. I will buzz you in. Come inside and the elevator is on the right. Get in,
and with your elbow, push 3 rd Floor. When you get out, I’m on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell,
OK’. ‘Grandma, that sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow? ‘What? You’re
coming empty handed?’.Merry Christmas
May I wish ALL READERS OF MY COLUMN a very Merry Christmas, and I hope YOU ALL have a
happy time, with your families. Joe & Margaret MurphyPlease 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 log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk
www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland
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