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Good morning folks and Happy St Patrick's Day

The Joe Murphy Column 1 I have my little stock team down on eggs with the exception of an old 2008 hen who doesn’t lay and 2 late bred hens from last year who have also not laid; however, all 3 are sitting on pot eggs. I will slip a youngster under them at the appropriate time. So far everything has gone well and the birds are looking well. I received a phone call from the lad who purchased my bird at the online Show of the Year auction. He explained to me that one of his friends had told him after reading my column that I was not happy because the bird was not paid for. He explained he had sent the money to the wrong address, (think the Reedings) and this had been rectified. I explained that I had paired the hen up and she would be laying very soon, and if he wished once the babies were ready to move. He could come and collect the hen and he can have to 2 babies away with him to race. He thanked me for this offer and appreciated the gift of the 2 youngsters and looked forward to coming to Thornton to collect the babies and to also see the stock birds. Photographer Last year at this time I had a request from a photographer named David McIntosh of Dunfermline; who wished to visit me and take some photos of my pigeons. David had taken pictures of feral pigeons in the park etc, but wished to have a better insight into racing pigeons. He visited when the birds were sitting eggs and some had hatched, and he was quite amazed at the contentment of the birds and how others guarded their youngsters in the nest. He enjoyed it so much that he came back later on when the babies had left the nest and were just starting to fly up to a perch. Needless to say, a friendship grew between us and he visited us last Sunday for a couple of hours. David has asked if I would do a questioner for him and he also wished to have a photograph of me holding a bird while the other birds were going about in the loft, which he has forwarded onto me, which I have added to my column. I think it is a good picture and David has done a wonderful job catching the other birds in the background. Good to see John Hardwood Back It was good to see John’s article back in the BHW last week; however John said ‘I did not get it quite right’ when I wrote about him in my column. To be honest I didn’t want to comment on John’s health issues; as I felt this was a personal matter for him and his family. Nonetheless; it is good to see his column in the BHW. Dewar Trophy Winners & Runners Up I have been working on my file regarding my book on the SHU Dewar Trophy Winners from its first introduction in 1973 up to this 50 th year. I’m hoping to cover ALL these winners and runners up; however, I have hit a snag as I require some more details on these wonderful winning pigeons, and unfortunately some of these fanciers are no longer with us. I thought more about this after receiving some Old Gazette’s from Brian Peat at the Forfar presentation (see below). I’m hoping some other fanciers have memories or old stories on these winning fanciers and pigeons. I’m also struggling to find information on the following fanciers, if so, can you please contact me either by phone or email. The pigeons I require information on are as follows; 1983 winner Sandy Bain of Wick (I have no details) 1985- W Gibson of Auchinleck (I have no details); 1994 – J Telfer of Allenton who was Runner Up (I have no details); 1997- A H Maxwell of Dumfries who was the Runner Up (again no details); 1998- J Ferguson of Eastriggs (no details); 2002- S Kelly of Glasgow (no details); however I’m led to believe he raced his pigeons in Lanarkshire federation and topped the federation 3 weeks on the trot with a North West Federation bird that came into him as a stray. I have some details on the The Joe Murphy Column 2 2007- Mr & Mrs Mark Goldie of Eastriggs (However I require more details on their pigeon). I hope fanciers can help me out on the above; Nevertheless, the more information I obtained on any of the Dewar Trophy winners, the more interesting this story will be. You will get my phone number and email address at the bottom of my column. This year is the 50 th anniversary of this wonderful award and I would love to compile this book on the winners and their wonderful pigeons. I would like to thank all the fanciers who have so far; supplied me with details so far; this has been great as many of these people knew or were personal friends of the winners of this Prestige Award. Angus Federation Of Racing Pigeon Societies Trophy Winners For 2022 Pete Penman of Thornton accompanied me to the above presentation, as it was mostly going to be a male evening. There were fanciers from the above federation and Dundee federation and there was also the Tayside Combine trophies to be presented. Starting with the Angus federation Davie Glen won the Fancier Of The Year Trophy with a staggering 290 Points; he also won the young bird average and had the 1 st bird from Harrogate young birds. Kenny Droog & son won the following; Old Bird Average; Combined Average; 3 Longest Race Average & 1 st Billericay. Charlie & Glen Cameron won 1 st federation SNFC Alencon thus winning the Kevin J Murphy Memorial Trophy (this photograph did not turn out, and cannot be used); they also won 1 st Huntingdon and the 2-bird average from Huntingdon; D & D Hay won the Ian Gray Memorial trophy for the Lowest winning velocity. Forfar Racing Pigeon Club; Trophy Winners 2022 are as follows; Top prize winner was Kenny Droog & son who won the following trophies. Old Bird Average; Combined Average; 3 Longest Inland Race Average; Best Average 3 Longest Old Bird And Young Bird Races; Best Average Billericay OB & Harrogate YB; Old Bird Points; Young Bird Points (Share); Combined Points; 1 st Wakefield; 1 st Newark (2); 1 st Billericay; 1 st Darlington Yb; Young Bird Of The Year; 1 st Yearling Newark (2); 2 Bird Average; 2 Bird Combined Average. D Glen won the following trophies; Young Bird Average; Best Average 1 st 6 Ob Races; Best Average 1 st 5 Old Bird And Young Bird Races; Young Bird Points (Shared); 1 st Newark (2); 1 st Huntingdon; 1 st Harrogate Yb; Old Bird Of The Year; 2 Bird Yb Average Ian Scott won the Highest Winning Velocity trophy. To date; 2 weeks after this presentation I have not received the list of Dundee Federation or Tayside Combine winners to go with a report and photos. Joe’s Joke GIRL'S NIGHT OUT The other night I was invited for a night out with the girls. I promised my husband that I would be home by midnight. Well, the hours passed way too quickly and the margaritas went down way too easy. It was around 3:00 a.m., when just a bit tipsy, I finally headed for home. Just as I walked in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall cuckooed three times. Quickly realizing my husband would probably wake up, I cuckooed another nine times. I was really proud of myself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution in order to avoid a possible conflict with him. Because I, even when totally smashed, know that three cuckoos plus nine cuckoos total twelve cuckoos - midnight. The next morning, my husband asked me what time I got in and I told him midnight. He didn't seem concerned at all. Whew! Got away with that one! Then he said, "we need a new cuckoo clock”. Then I asked him why, he said, ‘Well last night our clocked cuckooed three times, then said, ‘Oh No’ The Joe Murphy Column 3 cuckooed four more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, hiccupped, and then fell over the coffee table and passed wind. 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

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Billy has lost 2 youngsters off his loft SU 23AB 1005 Blue Cock SU23AB 1007 Chq Cock Both birds are wingstamped

The Joe Murphy Column 1 Received a phone call from Micky Ward whom I highlighted in my article 2 weeks ago, Micky along with John Conlin; and others (sorry cannot remember all their names) all from the Dublin area; were over at Edinburgh international show. They came and visited us on the Sunday, and one of the lads asked me while in the loft if I had any birds down from ‘Dundee Joe’. I was taken aback and asked him how he knew about ‘Dundee Joe’. It transpired that ‘Dundee Joe’ the pigeon he had gone into his loft from a race from France and I allowed him to keep it and transferred the pigeon. What are the chances of this ever happening???? There is another part to this story as well … We only had a small team of youngsters and one of our club mates Jim Wilson asked if I would like a training toss with our youngsters as he was going over to Kirkliston with his. I basketed the birds and Jim took them with him. I waited and waited but no youngsters home; I was dayshift the next morning so went to bed about 11pm when I heard a knock at the back door. I got up opened the window and there was Jim, ‘How did you get on with the youngsters, he asked’. ‘I never got a bird home’ was my reply; when all of a sudden a ‘woosh’ came over the top of the house, and; there was my team of youngsters. It was dark, but I got up and went outside looking for them but they were nowhere to be seen. The next day when I came home from work, Margaret had 2 youngsters’ home, one with both legs broken, which I had to attended too. Then over the next day we were up to 5 plus a Dundee stray; which I reported. Mark and Kevin were wee boys at this time and wanted to go to see ‘Herby Rides Again’ at the pictures, but I was not in the mood for sitting watching a picture; as my youngsters were lost.!! It came to the Friday basketing night and the boys picked out a pigeon each, with Kevin’s picking a speckled blue cock that he named as ‘Young Kev’. Mark’s pigeon was sent to the race and was never seen again. Over the next few weeks ‘Young Kev’ made the club result and in the last young bird race he was our pooler and nomination and he won the club and pools and the boys were taken to the pictures to see ‘Herby Rides Again’. On the Sunday lunch time a car drew up at the house and this man came and said ‘I believe you have one of my pigeons’. His name was Joe Hunt (he was the father of Joe Hunt who won a Silver Award and a Meritorious Inland Bronze Award in 2019 with his famous pigeon ‘Cool Hand Luke’, prior to his death) Joe senior saw that we only had 5 youngsters and allowed us to keep the red chequer. Whom we named as ‘Dundee Joe’ after Joe Hunt; he turned out to be a very good pigeon and won us a lot of prizes and pool money for us. I sent him to Avranches and he failed to return home, a few weeks later he was reported in Ireland, so I transferred him to the fancier. So for this same fancier to be standing in my loft all this time later was ‘quite spooky’ he did informed me that ‘Dundee Joe’ had bred some very good pigeon for him. A small world indeed, however it was good to speak to Micky the other day, time moves on but happy memories always live with us forever. My Trip Down Memory Lane I received an email from Alan Reed of Wales whom I wrote about in last week’s column; regarding my trip to Wales. Allan wrote; ‘Hi Mr Murphy. I remember the Thurso race very well, there was a strong wind blowing with low rain clouds passing over our area, while waiting for the birds I was making a crate for training my young birds. It was around 10 o’clock and the weather was not good so I knew there was a film just starting on TV so into the house went to get warm and have a cuppa. I watched the film to the end and was going to get ready for bed, The Joe Murphy Column 2 when I went into the kitchen, I opened the back door. What a shock I had, there on the wires was my bird from Thurso, and that is where I caught him and clocked in at 11-40. What time did he arrive? I could not say, and no one phoned me, to say there was any bird’s home. I was very lucky in that I opened the back door to see what the weather was looking like for arising the next morning. Yours in sport Alan Reed.’ Alan had given me his phone number and I phoned him and he told me that it was his 86-birthday last week; he also informed me that he used to drive a lorry up into Kirkcaldy in Fife and dropped off items that were to go to Thurso and Lerwick, as he did not drive to the islands off the Scottish coastline. Alan was quite surprised that I had contacted him and asked if I had received his email ok, as this was the first time, he had ever sent an email, as a friend had shown him how to do it. He then informed me that he reads my weekly column and it was nice to read the report on the Thurso race. Allan was telling me that he has won 1 st national from Thurso; was twice 2 nd open National from Lerwick; he also won 1 st open National Welsh South Road from Nantes (winning a motor car) and was 1 st open National Ostend and he also was 10 times 2 nd national. Truly outstanding results and he sounded a great character and I enjoyed speaking to him. I also rreceived an email from my dear old friend Guy Reed of the Isle of Wight who wrote ‘Dear Joe, loving your articles of late, great to see your story on our trip to meet Bernard DeWeerdt, and it was good to see your photo of ‘Veronica’ and her excellent eye picture. You will remember the inbred hen too ‘Saul’ you gave me. She is making her mark here still and I believe she is also related to ‘Veronica’. I have shared your recent pages with Bernard and he says a big ‘Hello’ to you and was surprised but pleased to know that you are still writing; in the weeklies. Well done pal, dedicated work indeed regards yours Guy’. I thanked Guy for his email, and it was nice to know that Bernard had seen and read my article, regarding our visit to him, very fond memories. Yes; still doing the articles, on this computer most days, although I had the day off yesterday as we visited my aunt and uncle in Dundee as it was his 91 st birthday (she is 90 next year) My uncle goes out every day to put on his horse bet and goes for a couple of pints. I hope if I reach that age, I’m able still go out for a walk although I don’t think I will still be writing my column. Continuing with my Blast from the Past; I have visited many of Scotland’s household ‘Greats’ over the years; for example, after leaving the pit, I undertook the Heavy Goods Vehicle training course and passed and then obtained a job as a HGV driver. Then I worked with a Kitchen company in Kirkcaldy and used to deliver kitchens and accessories throughout the whole of Scotland. On a Monday I started off in Kirkcaldy, then worked my way throughout the center of Scotland and made my way over to Glasgow and then headed to Ayr. Then making my way to Dumfries (where national winner Karl Guenther lives; although I didn’t visit him but know him very well) while in the south section I visited Jaqueline & Billy Wortley who was the scribe for the south section at that time and he did a wonderful job covering all the top lofts in this area. Billy introduced me to some of the famous fanciers ever to grace our sport; namely Matt Jamieson and his brother John plus his son Billy all from Annan; then there was Jimmy Dalgleish; Roy Seton; John Hodgson & Dennis Anderson whom I highlighted recently as they won the Dewar Trophy and were Runners Up in 2022. Then there was and my old pal Stevie Ferguson of Annan who won 1 st SNFC Dorchester (2) in 1983; Stevie was a great lad and used to love coming to my Sporting Challenge presentations in Whitburn. plus, many other top fanciers. I also went and viewed ‘Galabank’ and sat outside the house were the famous John Kirkpatrick once lived. At Langholm there was Ralston Graham a top fancier who won a Gold Award in 1976 and another in 2005; he also won 2 Silver Awards these were achieved in 2009 & 2011. I used to meet up with his near neighbours Anne & Derick Norden who had won Gold The Joe Murphy Column 3 Awards in 1983 & 1989 and then won a Silver Award in 2018 prior to Derick’s passing. We used to spend most nights talking pigeons and Albert Tedham who also won a Gold Award in 1994, would come and join us. To begin with I slept in the lorry but as time progressed the nights became colder and Anne & Derick allowed me to sleep in their spare room. Birds Photos Jim Hannah has kindly sent me 2 photographs of Fife pigeons that have done; Willie Pratt of Rosyth has a montage with 4 cracking pigeons on it. His dark chequer hen named ‘Santa’s Dark Silver’ has won a SNFC Silver Award as she has won 3 times from over the channel from Ypres; Guernsey & Alencon; plus she also won from the Maidstone race point see photo. The next photo is of ‘3 J’S’ raced by Keith Cochrane of Crossgates, he has won 4 times from over the channel and requires one more win to obtain a Gold Award, we will need to keep an eye on the results in 2023 to see if he achieves it. Joe’s Joke Husband walks into Ann Summers to purchase some see-through lingerie for his wife. He is shown several possibilities that range from £50 to £150 in price, the more see-through, the higher the price. He opts for the sheerest item, pays the £150 and takes the lingerie home. He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs, put it on and model it for him. Upstairs, the wife thinks, ‘I have an idea. It's so see-through that it might as well be nothing. I'll not put it on, do the modeling naked and return it tomorrow and get a £150 refund for myself’. So, she appears naked at the top of the stairs and strikes a pose; The husband says, ‘My God! It wasn't that creased in the shop’. His funeral is on Thursday. 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

27th February 2023

Cracking bird