The Joe Murphy Column Received an email from my friend Ron Fewing from Ireland who wrote ‘Hi Joe hope you and the family are well, I would just like to give you some feedback on the stock birds I received from you. Pair 1 reared 5 babies and I still have all these were race all land young bird races and I’m very impressed with this stock pair as they have given me a full strike rate. I cannot wait to race these offspring from over the channel as this is the reason I wanted the stock birds. Pair 2 reared 4 babies and I still have 3 left I clocked one from the INFC young bird national taking a club position so again looking forward to racing them next year as yearlings. I also got 2 x 2nd places with brothers to the young birds I sent over to Kevin with one of these positions being 2nd from INFC national so again next year please God something clicks. Once again I wish to thank you for the quality of birds you sent as they have made me very happy. Keep up the good work with your articles I enjoy taking time out to read them weekly and your jokes keeps me smiling. That's what it's all about at the end of the day Joe been happy with our lives and birds. I have received some good feedback from fanciers who had young birds from me in 2016; two lads have 5 out of 6; another 4 out of 6 etc. so I cannot complain plus Kevin has a good team left for the yearling stage next year. Good SNFC Birds Continuing on the theme of highlighting these good Scottish national pigeons we now come to birds who have won an SNFC Silver Award in 2016. This is for a pigeon that has attained 3 section prizes from a race across the English Channel. Starting with Bob Wilson of Strathmiglo in Fife with chequer pied cock SU13F 3141 named ‘POLO’ who wins an SNFC Silver Award for 3 wins from across the channel. His sire is a Roland Janssen grizzle cock paired to blue hen a present from Kenny Gifford from the Shetland Islands. Unfortunately Kenny had to give up racing his birds due to the lack of fanciers left in the 'Shetlands' he sent Bob down 10 and the pick of them being the blue hen who flew well at the distance. Now for some information on ‘Polo’ results; in 2014 the pied cock won 26th section C 88th open from Ypres flying 453 miles the following year he won an open prize from Eastbourne being 247th open from a distance of 409 miles. He was then entered into the Clermont race a distance of 533 miles and he won 36th section C 96th open then this year he was entered into 3 national races and won twice. He was entered from Buckingham a distance of 310 miles but did not make the result he then went to Littlehampton and won 88th section C 357th open flying 394 miles. He was then entered into the Ypres race a distance of 453 miles and won 36th section C 123rd open to triumph for his SNFC Silver Award He was also timed 07-52 next day from the Clermont race (winner was clocked on the day into Fife) however Bob’s clock stopped and he therefore could not win a prize, nevertheless a hearty well done to Bob and ‘Polo’. Our 2nd pigeon is raced by Stan Reap of Eyemouth with his blue bar cock NEHU2009BOR 2723 named ‘Mysty Lad’ who now win an SNFC Silver Award In 2013 he won 73rd section B 195th open from Maidstone a distance of 340 miles he was then set up for the last old bird race of the season from Clermont and he achieved 8th section B 38th open flying 487 miles. The following year he was entered into the Ypres race and just about pulled it off by winning 1st section B 2nd open flying 403 miles beaten by ‘Poppy’ raced by Maskame & Mackie of Peterhead. In 2015 he was again set up for Ypres however the national could not get over the channel and the race was held from Eastbourne a distance of 367 miles and ‘Mysty Lad’ won 40th section B 56th open. This year 2016 he achieved his goal and wins an SNFC Silver Award as he won 3rd section B 3rd open. As you will see he has triumphed twice from Ypres being 2nd & 3rd open makes you wonder what he would have accomplished had they not gone to Eastbourne in 2015. Well done to Stan on attaining his Silver Award. Our 3rd SNFC Silver Award winner is bred and raced by Colin Bain of Ratho in Central Scotland with his blue pied hen SU12AV 5238 named ‘Miss Abigail’ This hen won 6th section D 109th open from Ypres a distance of 436 miles in 2014. The following year she was sent to the SNFC Gold Cup race from Alencon and she won 1st section D 7th open flying 537 miles. This year she was again entered into the Gold Cup race which was Reims in 2016 a distance of 558 miles to Ratho and she won 1st section D again and was 18th open. To win the section once is a very good achievement but to win it twice is exceptional and ‘Miss Abigail’ is indeed this well done to Colin who in the past has supplied me with his club results for my column. Joe’s Joke Brenda and Steve took their six-year-old son to the doctor. With some hesitation, they explained that although their little angel appeared to be in good health, they were concerned about his rather small penis. After examining the child, the doctor confidently declared, 'Just feed him pancakes. That should solve the problem.' The next morning when the boy arrived at breakfast, there was a large stack of warm pancakes in the middle of the table. 'Gee, Mum,' he exclaimed. 'For me?' 'Just take two,' Brenda replied. 'The rest are for your father.' 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
