Ian McKay

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The Joe Murphy Column Received the following email from Dougie Bald of Balerno who wrote; ‘Dear Joe, Freddy Jamieson and I have organised a one off auction sale on behalf of the 16th Royal Scots Battalion Trust. The sale will be held at 1.00pm on the 2nd April 2017 at Newmains. The Newmains club has kindly donated the use of the sale room to the Trust. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of what must be the top fanciers in Scotland who have immediately, when asked, donated their young birds to the sale. The Battalion Trust is the world's first registered charity to be inspired by the sacrifice of an infantry battalion of the Great War. On 1 July 1916 - the bloody opening day of the Battle of the Somme - seventeen British divisions assaulted an impregnable German defensive system, bristling with barbed wire and machine-guns. 20,000 British soldiers died that morning - the idealistic best that the New Armies had to offer. A further 40,000 were wounded. Entire battalions of pals, brothers, neighbours and work-mates were wiped out in a matter of minutes. Amid the carnage it was a unit from the capital of Scotland that penetrated furthest into the enemy position. The 16th Royal Scots, the 2nd Edinburgh City Battalion, named after their charismatic colonel, Sir George McCrae, lost almost three-quarters of their strength. Somehow, though, a small party pressed on to reach the tiny ruined village of Contalmaison, deep inside the German trench system. In their time they were recognised as heroes, but posterity is unkind and the achievement was forgotten. In November 2004 a fourteen-foot-high traditional Scottish cairn was unveiled in Contalmaison to finally right this historic wrong. Constructed by Scottish craftsmen, using entirely Scottish materials, sourced in Caithness, Nairnshire, Moray and the Lothians, it is now recognised as' the most handsome battalion monument to be erected on the Somme since the high-water mark of commemorative projects in the 1920’s. It is truly 'the last of the Great War memorials' and has already become a distinctive Scottish presence on the Western Front. The future Remembrance lies with the young and the Trust organises regular trips and included on these are Scottish sixth-year students and young soldiers from the Personnel Recovery Unit at Craigiehall who are recovering from a variety of injuries sustained on recent active service. The establishment of the Contalmaison site and our annual pilgrimage has firmly cemented Scotland's links with France and the Somme. We have established a new tradition of Franco-Scottish remembrance, reviving the ancient friendship of Europe's oldest alliance. The Scottish Footballers' cairn is now an important part of the local fabric, The battalion was notable for its high number of professional sportsmen and fans drawn from the football clubs Heart of Midlothian FC, Hibernian FC, Raith Rovers FC, Falkirk FC and Dunfermline FC and a variety of other sporting clubs. Visiting the Contalmaison Cairn has become something of a pilgrimage - particularly for football supporters and school groups yours Dougie Bald’. Royal Scots Monument Good SNFC Birds While going over the national results of 2016 I came across a fancier who had 5 pigeons that had won 3 times in national races and in fact one had won 4 times these were all raced by Billy Bilsland of Ayton. I know I have previously written about Billy performances but I did not know about these 5 pigeons and I think you will agree they deserve a little publicity for their efforts regardless of who raced them. We start with the 4 times winner who is a chequer white flight hen rung NEHU14BOR 335 in 2014 she won 27th section B 35th open from the SNFC Buckingham young bird national race flying 270 miles against a convoy of 1552 birds. As a matter of interest Billy was 3rd 4th 5th 6th & 7th open SNFC with his first 5 entries. Then in 2016 the chequer white flight hen won 77th section B 229th open from SNFC Buckingham from an entry of 2084 birds, she was then went to SNFC Littlehampton race a distance of 354 miles to Ayton competing against 4482 birds and she won 62nd section B 138th open. She was then entered for the last old bird race of the season from SNFC Roye a distance of 471 miles and she won 68th open (but no section prize) against 1135 birds. Billy’s second pigeon highlighted is a blue pied hen NEHU14BOR2110 as a yearling in 2015 she was his 2nd pigeon in the clock from the SNFC Portsmouth race when he time in 6 birds to win 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th & 6th open Scottish national with the blue pied hen winning 2nd section B 2nd open flying 348 miles against a convoy of 4767 birds. She was then entered into the Eastbourne race a distance of 366 miles and she won 19th section B 25th open from an entry of 2494 birds. Then last year 2016 she was entered into the first inland national from Buckingham a distance of 270 miles and she won 84th section B 241st open contesting against 2084 birds. We now come to a blue white flight cock GB14C 34716 as a youngster he won 32nd section B 40th open from the Young Bird national from Buckingham SNFC race flying 270 miles. Then as a yearling in 2015 he was to the front of the 4767 birds in the national convoy from the Portsmouth race when he won 3rd section B 3rd open beaten by 2 loft mates, at this point I have to say he would not have won the national as he was clocked 10 minutes after Billy’s national winner ‘Welltower Greer’. In 2016 the blue white flight cock was sent to the Buckingham national race and he continued to win by being 71st section B 208th open from a participating 2084 birds. Our next pigeon is a blue bar hen NEHU12BOR2684 in 2015 she won 4th section 4th open from the Portsmouth national from an entry of 4767 birds. Then in 2016 she won 3rd section B 11th open from the Buckingham national race from an entry of 2084 birds flying 270 miles. She was then sent to the Littlehampton race competing against a convoy of 4482 birds and she won 121st section B 292nd open flying 354 miles. Finally we now come to a Blue bar cock NEHU14BOR 320 who in the year of his birth won 24th section B 32nd open from the Buckingham young bird national flying 270 miles against 1552 birds. In 2015 he was entered into the Portsmouth national race and he won 41st section B 50th open from a convoy of 4767 birds. In 2016 he competed from the Buckingham inland national and successively won 9th section B 35th open from an entry of 2084 birds. You must agree the above performances are worth emphasising and many fanciers wish they had a team of this quality within our own lofts. So let us take our hats off to Billy Bilsland and his wonderful team of pigeons and not forgetting David Reed of Chainbridge Lofts whose bloodlines Billy races. Billy Bilsland I now highlight ‘Hillview Star’ raced by Ian Chalmers of Falkland in Fife this lovely red cock won 40th section C 168th open SNFC Maidstone in 2014 flying 381 miles from an entry of 4484 birds. The following year he won 48th section C 142nd open SNFC Billericay a distance of 354 miles against a convoy of 3406 birds. Then in 2016 he won 38th section C 174th open from the Buckingham race point from a convoy of 4326 birds. May I once again thank Jim Hannah of Blantyre for supplying me with the picture of Ian’s victorious pigeon. Hillview Star John Baillie Scotland's Fancier of the Year 2016 Joe’s Joke WHO DOES WHAT.. A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, 'You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee.' The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.' Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee...' Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me.' So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says..........'HEBREWS' So to all you smart women who need a laugh and to men who think they can handle it !!! 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 and www.pigeon-chat.co.uk also www.pigeonbasics.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland. © Compiled by Joe Murphy

The survey might have pointed in a direction some never expected or believed (including me) so I am convinced. You, the the people, that gave the information so freely might have given us an answer to the problem. Whether this proves to be the case or not it is the ONLY survey set up to try and help and has been 2yrs of hard work The results have been published (what next?) The option is to believe it or not ? I have asked some who are willing to give it a try if they are willing to have their names published so you can see through the year (2017) if it makes a difference ( now I am putting my head in the chopping block) but feel it is the correct way forward Each individual named has paid for the product, been given specific instructions, there were no freebies for good feed back which they will confirm. I feel this is the ONLY way forward after the results I will ask each trialist at the end of the season 2017 to give his views I am open to others if you wish to join in Good luck to all the trialist in 2017 hope you do well Ian

Caway the Dandy Dons :emoticon-0136-giggle:

I am not asking you to edit your post you are entitled to your opinion It must be very frustrating being in your position I am only pointing out the other side of the coin they have been good for the sport but I know they have also been abused by some

The problem is the Lottery cannot get rid of the money they have yes pigeon fanciers have benefited my Fed got a brand new transporter from it I was told it would not happen but I proved it and supplied the goods. I had some very good helpers that believed we would get The Lottery is there to help all if you can be bothered to apply they cannot and will not be prejudice against any organisation Our upper organisations do not give us enough help as I am sure they could do more for us we sometime do not do ourselves proud in the way we conduct our internal business affairs Ian McKay Ex president of Aberdeen Fed who received a NEW transporter in 2007 Reg AB 07 FED Thanks to the lottery so they can be helpful if used correctly

Having been to SA a few times and having the opportunity to meet Wim / Colin Walker and Dr Botha guess where I got my first introduction to the product and been using it since 2002 in loft and birds I introduced Kevin to it and he has been a good subject Well done Kev bet you never thought you would be a super star :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Kevin works natural darkness

Ardap is an aerosol spray and while effective it is expensive A more effective product for the pigeon fancier is a water based one Kevin has used Deosect supplied by me to date but because it is a POM medicine it is not available to all pigeon fanciers and the cost is £78 per ltr without a vets fee I have obtained the same product from abroad not POM as it's use is not for animals it is for agriculture / human use or hotels / hostels / dormitory use and is a lot more cost effective Ian

Survey is pointing to your first guess

I think it's like Carlesberg it get's to the right places and is the best :drinking-coffee-200: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Hi Steven Like a lot more you are doing something again and again and expecting a different result WHY would you do that at work? Ian

Andy you do not know it but you have joined the 2 who are on the right track if the survey is correct if you remember I did contact you about what you use because you were so close Not racing young birds has nothing to do with it I have spoken to fanciers who get it long before going into transporters I spoke to a stall holder at Blackpool who gets it every year and his birds do not get out at all except into an aviary (he has a small breeding stud) Ian

Permitherin cannot and should not be added to drinking water

Thanks Kev I did NOT want to name anyone as that is not what the survey was about You are correct my interest in your RESULTS and failure to get YBs has been eating at me for years I am fortunate to know all about Pigeon Land your training program and how many birds you train and race as I am the club secretary Permitherin did not come into the equation when I started this venture I honestly believe 2 other products were responsible for you failure to get YBs Some of your results as advertised recently (will try to find more) Trophies Won 2016 Club first 6 Ybs races @ Yb Averages, Fed 2 Longest Yb races @ Yb Averages I will give 2 more for the second sale no problem Kev CLUB PRIZE 7 X 1ST 7 X 2ND 8 X 3RD 7 X 4TH 6 X 5TH FED 23 PRIZE 1 X1ST SNFC 3 RD AND 14TH NORTH SEC BUCKINGHAM 361 MIL OBS SNFC 20TH NORTH SEC BUCKINGHAM 361 MIL YBS 1 LAMB YB C HAS 2 X 1ST CLUB 1X1ST FED RIPON 212 MIL This is not an advert for Kev just to show some of his results as I was asked If you got any more put them up I also know your birds won 3 breeder buyers in one year never heard of this before Unfortunately some want to make an issue of things and rip the survey apart so let it be. The survey was done for my big nose as it bothered me in a nice way why you always escaped this ailment I have no problem with other peoples points of view if viewed with an open mind but if you have fixed beliefs fine! Just keep out of the survey. I have another 5 guys who have joined the plan and I have all there names I will publish there findings in September (with their permission)when racing is finished I cannot be fairer than that sink or swim by results. It's not about Ian McKay it's about trying to find the cause of it and trying to eliminate it. Like any other survey I have to work with the answers given to me from 175 fanciers Good luck for 2017 hope I get the chance to beat you :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

I have never seen 25% permitherin and I have researched it max I found was 11%

Google always give you options Bob can be mis-leading

Cheers Fred Been about 3yrs now but met some nice people and had some cracking conversations with some positive people just trying to find a reason for some getting it and some not Ian

Nah George you are the one asking all the questions I can only try and answer them The survey was 175 people not my opinion Lets see your findings and any others I will gladly try and help Ian

Do you want a subject to study :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Yes I also contacted some who used it and got YBs and discovered they used it incorrectly It has a lot to do with the quality of the produce purchased I also predicted some who never had YBs and asked what they used and you witnessed one of them But George if you do not want to be open minded about the survey just go to bed and YBs might go away by the morning Ian

Yes but not my job to name them

As stated on the original post it was one of the products used by the 2 subjects as was most of the other products

Nae rammy John will look into it

Sorry Peter I was advised by a Vet to use it and it does not harm the birds I have been using it since 2002 with no problems I even spray the birds with it It is also used on horses