Ian McKay

I know some fanciers who's smell has not decreased Fred :emoticon-0136-giggle:

12 till 1 viewing Have added it to above

Your 70th birthday cards are no closed yet :emoticon-0136-giggle: So it's good enough for the doos (weather)but not you think you been in England too long you have went soft :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Same age as you pete and still got shorts and short sleeved T shirt on and I am in Sunny Aberdeen :emoticon-0136-giggle: I will check your theory tomorrow as my loft is wide open to the elements 24 / 7

Hi Gordon Go on to PMs on right hand side you will see a square box opposite each message to delete tick the box of messages you want to delete then go to the bottom box at bottom allows you to delete all ticked If you want to delete all tick top square box and you can delete them all in a wonner Phone me if you are stuck

The Joe Murphy Column Received an email from fellow scribe Mike Smith who wrote ‘Hi Joe, I feel it’s important to ask Chris what was stored in these plastic boxes before he was given them and what he actually put in them after he was given them. I’ve used four plastic boxes for over twenty years, for water fittings, electrical fittings, plant pots etc. for putting in seeds and potting up plants, the fourth for odds and ends. These crates were under my bench, in the summer the temperatures in the 90s, but I never had a problem with toxic smell coming from the plastic crate. Re your own plastic nest bowls; you said you washed these out before using them, as some cleaning products later give off toxic fumes, could it have been the fumes of the cleaning product you used or ammonia from their droppings that killed them. Think back to when nest felts were first introduced, fanciers were falling over each other to buy them. Then fanciers had youngsters dying in the nest. Although fanciers argued about the different colours of the felts, they didn’t think the nest felt blocking the hole at the bottom may be responsible, and the smell of the nest felts and the toxic smell from their ammonia droppings may be killing them?, I mentioned this at the time. But it still happens today, because fanciers have accepted youngsters dying in the nest as part of the norm in breeding season. When I was using Algy water I put the water bowl in the sun to get Algy at the bottom of the bowl, and one fancier actually picked the bowl up and drank the water, and said it tasted nice. Thinking about the plastic crates they use in the transporters, with the immense heat inside the transporter, if plastic was responsible and gave off fumes, all the pigeons would be dead, so I don’t think you need to worry about the plastic water bowls and the drinkers on the transporter giving off toxic fumes, the only danger is, if these are stood in the direct sun all day they will go brittle and break, yours Mike’. Young Bird Sickness Received a phone call from a fellow fancier Colin who informed me that a few years ago he went to purchase medication for young bird sickness and while waiting to be served he heard the man in front of him ask the assistance for treatment for young bird sickness. The assistance told him to save his money and put ‘Cider Vinegar’ in his drinkers. Colin has done this ever since and has not had young bird sickness since. He thought that this might be of interest to other fanciers hence this mention in the column. Colin also told me a unique way of catching mice if you have them in the loft. If you get a piece of plywood 2 foot long by 15 inches wide, stick a piece of sponge in each corner. Then put at the inside entrance of your loft door with some small seed’s underneath it. Once the mice know that there is feeding they will go underneath the board. When you come into the loft first thing in the morning if you stand on the board the sponges will go down and you will kill the mice with your body weight. This may not seem a nice way to do away with vermin but Colin says it works and it is better than having them crawling all about your loft. I have to say that I keep traps under my nest boxes and if you have mice then you can smell them when you go into the loft (Well I do if I have them) Giving up the Sport I spoke to Margaret Campbell of Aberdeen wife of Larry who has not been keeping well of late. The family have decided to call it a day regarding the pigeons as Larry will never be able to go out to attend to the birds again. Plus the fact that Margaret does not keep the best of health either and is registered disabled therefore it has fallen on their children to look after the birds. With having their own lives to lead and work commitments they are finding it hard to deal with the birds as well. So you can understand the need for parting with the birds and you will have seen the advert in last week’s 2nd September issue. Larry was without doubt one of the top fanciers in the North section for many years and achieved some ‘great’ results in the SNFC. I know for a fact that he used to meet up with Andrew Lees of Eyemouth when he docked at Aberdeen harbour (Andrew had his own fishing trawler) to offload his catch. Larry would give him some pigeons and when Andrew was still out in the North Sea heading for Eyemouth he would single up Larry’s birds and he made individual pigeons of them. These birds were not afraid to fly over the sea and on race days would go up the coast to Aberdeen especially from the national races. I wish the family all the best for the future and Larry will be remembered as one of the impressive fanciers of the North Section Results Up to going to press I have not received the Angus federation result however I will continue with the people who have forwarded their results. Central Federation News from Bernie Britton whose result came on Thursday after my article was away, The Broxburn club result for Ripon 2 were 4 member’s sent 130 bird’s liberated at 08-00 am into a North West Wind. Taking the 1st x 3 places in the club and federation is Gordon Makenzie with a chequer hen on darkness she is a granddaughter of M & D Evan’s Benetton. 2nd club 2nd federation is a dark chequer hen on darkness this hen won 1st club 2nd fed last week. The 3rd club & federation winner is a chequer cock from his good friend’s the Macaloney’s and Gordon would like to thank Willie for all his help and advice on his many visits to their loft. As a matter of interest Joe Gordon was also 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th & 15th federation Great Flying. John McNeill won 7th, 13th & 14th federation, with Pat Rafferty & son’s in 16th & 19th open. Well done to one and all that is it for another week Joe it is coming to the end of another season yours Bernie’. East of Scotland Federation News from John Baillie of Tranent who sends in the result for the federation Wakefield race flown again on Friday 26th of August the birds were released at 10-00 into a West South West Wind and the birds were falling in this week. It gave the young birds a bit off confidence after last week’s hard race. On with the result and topping the federation this week again is Tom Hunnam from Port Seton with a blue hen, she was previously won 9th federation from Tow Law. Having another good race is John Bird of Prestonpans who took 2nd & 8th open positions. Up the hill to Tranent for 3rd open to yours truly John Baillie and staying in Tranent we have Jim McNeil who had a good race winning 4th, 9th & 10th positions. In 5th open we have Mr & Mrs March from Prestonpans and last week’s federation topper Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton takes the 6th position and Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone are in 7th place. Prestonpans HC. Winning the club this week for the 4th young bird race we have Tom Hunnam this young hen is again bred by the loft manager Corker Thomson from a Sheader Soontjens bred from stock from Jim Able up in Banff. The 2nd spot is filled with John Bird with a Vandenabeele from Woodside lofts. In 3rd position is John Baillie with a Border Lofts bred Frans Zwolle that’s it for this week Joe many thanks John B’. Fife Federation Dunfermline LRPC news from David Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe, from the Ripon young bird race 6 member’s sent 106 birds and this week’s result was a very close run affair. However taking the red card is Walker & David Kennedy Loft No 2 with a velocity of 1262.8 ypm. We timed a darkness young cock bred from a Louella Jan Aarden crossed with a Van De Rhee hen bred by George Atkinson of Market Weighton. This is the first year flying young birds to the No 2 Loft which is up at my house. Second this week is Frank Mitchell with a velocity of 1262.5 ypm Frank timed a young darkness hen bred by Andrew Langley of Elson from his M & D Evans stock. Readers of your column will have noticed how well these young birds have flown this year for Frank who also takes 3rd spot with velocity of 1252.4 ypm. This darkness young cock was home bred down from Jocky Kings national winning pigeons. The club nomination and 2 bird comp were both won by Walker & David Kennedy Loft 2 that’s it for this week Joe best regards David’. North of Scotland Federation The 49 federation members sent 874 birds to Arniston liberated with No wind at the race point. Taking 1st open & 1st east section is R McKenzie of Inverurie with a velocity of 1439. Jim & Ann Donaldson of Peterhead & District take the nest 3 places in the section and open. With Walter Masson of Fraserburgh & District winning 5th 6th & 8th section and open. C & M Williams of Peterhead & District are 7th section and open with Ian Gibb of Fraserburgh & District taking the last 2 places in the top 10 in both section and open West Section Had 26 members sending 422 birds taking the 1st place in the section and 17th open is A Wilson of Devern Valley club he is also 4th & 10th section and 20th & 42nd open. A Milne of Devern Valley is 2nd 3rd & 5th section 18th 19th & 21st open with Fulton & Ritchie of the same club in 6th section 35th federation place. G R Duncan of Keith is 7th 8th & 9th section winning 38th 39th & 40th open federation. Clubs First Bird R McKenzie of Inverurie: J & A Donaldson of Peterhead & District: W Masson of Fraserburgh & District: A Wilson of Devern Valley: R Higgins of Fraserburgh West End: G R Duncan of Keith: N Christine of Buckie & District: A Flett of Elgin & District: R Murray of Forres, Nairn & Inverurie. Buckie RPC news from Gavin Russell who sends news of the Thornton 2 race were 6 members sent 113 birds. Taking the 1st x 3 positions is Mr Ian Coull with the winner a mealy cock doing 1211 his sire was bred by Davy Burns of Fife while the dam is from John Proctor also of Fife. His 2nd bird is a blue chequer cock his sire & dam are from Paul Woolliss of Grimsby. Ian’s 3rd bird was a mealy cock nest mate to the winner; returns were gappy from this race. From Arniston flown on Monday 22nd of August 2 members sent 20 birds. Taking the 1st x 3 positions is John Cumming with is winner a blue chequer cock on 1204 his sire is from Stuart Maskame of Peterhead while the dam is from Gilmour Brothers of Leven. His 2nd bird is a blue bar cock sire & dam Johnnie Strachan of Inverbervie the 3rd bird is a blue chequer cock the nest mate to the winner, the returns were good. From the Arniston race flown on 27th August 5 members sent 85 birds and taking the 1st x 2 places is Mr Neil Christie with the winner a dark chequer cock on 1230 he is from Macaulay Ferguson & Curran from Forfar. His 2nd bird was a blue bar cock and is from the same breeding as the winner. 3rd is Mr Ian Coull with a blue chequer cock his sire is Davy Burns of Fife while his dam is from Paul Woolliss of Grimsby. Once again the returns were good so that’s me up to date with results Joe and we only have 2 more club races left plus the young bird national where has the year went? Thanks once again for all your help yours Gavin Russell’. Pentland Hill’s Federation News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation were at Wakefield on Friday the 26th of August with the convoy of 1556 birds sent by 14 clubs liberated at 10-00 into a west to south west wind. Taking the first 2 places are Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall with Woodburn’s Brown & Black are 3rd with Willie Kinnear & son of Danderhall in 4th place the remainder of the top ten places are won by T Nolan & son of Danderhall club with all 6 birds being spit by decimals, great flying. Club Winners are as follows; Danderhall 399 birds; 1st & 2nd Aitken 3rd Kinnear Woodburn 99 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Brown & Black Gilmerton 89 birds; 1st & 2nd Linton 3rd Robertson Castlebrae 68 birds; 1st McCormack & Fraser 2nd & 3rd L Mitchell Edinburgh Premier 72 birds; 1st & 2nd Gilchrist 3rd Affleck Bonnyrigg 106 birds; 1st Neill, 2nd Winters 3rd Russell Sighthill 52 birds; 1st Miller 2nd & 3rd Keenan Easthouses 129 birds; 1st Blackhurst 2nd W Pryde & Son 3rd Milne Edinburgh West 69 birds; 1st I Bennett 2nd McLaughlan 3rd Lamb Arniston 26 birds; 1st Ray 2nd Mercer New Lothian 16 birds; Peebles 85 birds; Rosewell 58 birds; 1st McCormack 2nd W Tytler 3rd G Tytler Traprain 277 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Thomson Others 10 birds New Lothian RPC from the Wakefield race on Friday the 26th of August with the convoy of 955 birds entered by 46 members liberated at 10-00 into a west to south west wind. Taking the first 2 places are Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall with the winner lifting nearly £120. Brown & Black of Woodburn are 3rd with Willie Kinnear & son of Danderhall in 4th place with T Nolan & son of Danderhall winning the remaining places with all 6 birds all on the same yard. Joe Murphy with Mark Gilbert Joe Murphy with Nigel Langstaff Joe’s Joke There was an elderly couple who in their old age noticed that they were getting a lot more forgetful, so they decided to go to the doctor. The doctor told them that they should start writing things down so they don't forget. They went home and the old lady told her husband to get her a bowl of ice cream. "You might want to write it down," she said. The husband said, "No, I can remember that you want a bowl of ice cream." She then told her husband she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream. "Write it down," she told him, and again he said, "No, no, I can remember: you want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream." Then the old lady said she wants a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top. "Write it down," she told her husband and again he said, "No, I got it. You want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top." So he goes to get the ice cream and spends an unusually long time in the kitchen, over 30 minutes. He comes out to his wife and hands her a plate of eggs and bacon. The old wife stares at the plate for a moment, then looks at her husband and asks, "Where's the toast?" 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

Silver City R P C 5 members sent 30 birds approx 210ml Liberated at 07.10 in no wind 1st E & K Elliott 1394.231 2nd E & K Elliott 1305.842 3rd A Baxter 1262.155 4th A Baxter 1261.656 5th M Mooney 1252.357 6th E & K Elliott 7th M Main 1221.379 8th W & A Ross 1171.618 Food nomination was won by E & K Elliott bird nominated by I Sammons Last club race so good luck to all going to YB National Ian

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It's not normal to congratulate good officials everyone thinks they are there for knocking :emoticon-0136-giggle: Well done to you for bringing it to light Cheers Ian

As you know we hold charity sales on Pigeon Basics which are very well supported, my question is Who has Won with birds from these sales or birds bred from birds bought at these type of sales Don't be shy get them up

Jammy git Well done :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Silver City R P C Aberdeen 5 members sent 30 birds to Ripon approx 210mls Good luck

1050 for me please :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

The Joe Murphy Column Last weekend the weather forecast was to be terrible and there looked no prospect of pigeon racing at all and I heard that Pentland Hills federation informed their members they would basket on Thursday night for a race on the Friday. I have not heard from their press officer Andy Miller this week so far and this must be one of the very few times Andy has not sent in his result. I text him to see if he was OK but alas he has not replied but he could be caught up with work issues. As far as I’m lead to believe quite a number of fanciers did not have good returns which is a pity as we are coming to the end of the young bird season. With no members of his club racing that weekend Kevin decided to call it a day and keep his youngsters till the yearling stage. He has some later bred birds that he has started to train and will continue to do so weather permitting until the end of September. With the stopping of the racing the pigeon season is getting shorter and shorter not only for us but for other fanciers as well. Far too many people have lost their youngsters and this has ‘disgusted’ people so much that they have just stopped altogether. Every year we hear about ‘young bird sickness’ and it fanciers ‘STILL’ send their birds in the federation transporters and this ‘sickness’ spreads like wildfire. It is little wonder are abandoning our sport and ALL our association officials need to do something about this quickly or they too will be out of a full time job. Results Angus Federation The members sent 433 birds to T ow Law liberated at 07-30am into a North West wind. Topping the federation is the loft in form this year with young birds Bob Baldie who takes top spot as well as 3rd 4th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 13th 15th 16th open with Davie Glen in 2nd place Ian Scott is 5th & 14th with W MacKnight in 19th place and the remaining 12th 17th 18th & 20th positions are won by Macaulay Ferguson & Curran East section winners are as follows: G Campbell of Montrose is 1st 7th & 8th with B Main of Inchcape in 2nd 5th & 6th spots. K Gourley of the same club is 3rd with Chic & Ann Carrie also from Inchcape in 4th place. B Craig of Gourdon is in 9th place and the final top 10th position goes to Les McKay of Inchcape. Club Winners are as follows: Forfar 305 birds R Baldie; Gourdon 29 birds B Craig; Montrose 45 birds G Campbell; Inchcape 53 birds B Main. East of Scotland Federation News from John Baillie of Tranent who tells us East of Scotland Federation race from Ripon had 1st open position won by Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton. The loft in form of Tom Hunnam of Port Seton takes 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions with John Bird of Prestonpans filling 5th and 7th positions. Tam Waddell also from the Pans is in 6th place then it is up to Tranent for Jim McNeil who wins 8th open we are back down to Prestonpans for the 9th place to Mr & Mrs March and club mates Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone take the 10th position. Returns were not so clever at the time we struck off the ETS at the club. As usual some ended up with reasonable returns while other members suffered. I lost a third of my team, but we should all be our own race controller and keep the birds at home if we think the weather might be a bit dodgy, but we keep pigeons to race and not just look at over the winter months. I have enclosed a photograph of Tom McEwen of Elphinstone, Federation president Dougie Grieve and Bert Nisbet president of Gladsmuir RPC. Prestonpans HC taking the first 3 places is Tom Hunnam with Corker Thomson phoning me with the breeding of these birds. (Corker is advising Tom on the racing of his young birds). The winning pigeon is bred from an Aiden Minnett Soontjens from birds from Jim Able from Banff. The 2nd bird is another Braspenning and the 3rd is a Braspenning crossed Bricoux all bred in Corker’s loft, I have added a picture of Tom Hunnan, that's it for this week Joe not many races to go before the season ends, yours John Baillie’. Tom McEwen, Dougie Grieve & Bert Nisbet Tom Hunnam Fife Federation Dunfermline LRPC news from David Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe, please find the results for Sedgefield 1 & 2 races, sorry for sending both but last week I just never had a minute and knew your article would be away. From Sedgefield 1 race, 11 members sent 112 birds taking the red card is Frank Mitchell with a velocity of 1063 ypm, he timed a darkness young hen bred by Andrew Langley of Elson from his M & D Evans stock. This pigeon was 2nd club last week from Alnwick. John Skelton takes 2nd & 3rd places with velocities of 965 and 957 ypm he timed a Louella bred natural young bird, with the bloodlines being Boxford Busschaert his 2nd bird is another Louella bred natural young bird containing the same bloodlines. From Sedgefield 2 we had 11 members sending 176 birds with Frank Mitchell taking a clean sweep of the tickets this week. His winner is doing a velocity of 990 ypm and is a darkness cock bred by Andrew Langley of Elson from his M & D Evans bloodlines. Frank’s 2nd bird was doing a velocity of 987 ypm and was a darkness young cock bred from ex club mate Danny McNeely distance bloodlines. The hat-trick was completed with a velocity of 976 ypm by another darkness young cock bred down from Jocky King national winning family of pigeons. This week’s club nomination was also won by Frank Mitchell and the 2 bird was won by Eddie McWilliams. The 4th young bird race of the season is the chosen race point to fly for the clubs Gold Ring Race. This year the 1st prize went to Frank Mitchell and Eddie McWilliams takes the runner up spot. That’s it for this week Joe you keep up the good work David’. Glenrothes & Leslie PC news from Rosie Armit who writes: ‘Hi Joe, from the YB race from Sedgefield the first 3 places are won by Brian Kinnear, with a velocity of 1110 with a blue cock on darkness. He has been the 1st bird to loft every young bird race so far, his sire is an inbred grandson of Stitchy while his dam is a Vandenabeele from J Anderson of Anstruther she was 4th & 24th open Billericay for John. Brian’s 2nd bird on 1098 with a blue hen on darkness she is an inbred granddaughter of Stitchy. His 3rd bird on 1098.1 was a blue chequer hen on darkness. Her sire is a Vandenabeele from John Anderson he won 18th open Fontenay and her dam is a granddaughter of Tom & Scott McEwen’s ‘Petite Rose’ winner of 1st open Tours SNFC. The first bird home from Sedgefield 2 was to Brian Kinnear doing a velocity of 1111 with a blue white flight hen on darkness she was just starting to look at a cock. Her sire is a grandson of a dark hen who won 4th open Ancenis and her dam was bred by J Watkins of Wales and bought at Kennoway Breeder/Buyer sale and won 2nd prize in 2015 as a young bird. Brian is also 2nd on 1110 with a blue white flight cock on darkness he is a grandson of Stitchy. In 3rd place is Turpie & McCord on 1107 with a grizzle cock flown natural. His sire is a grandson of Charlie Cameron Belge stray winner of 21 x 1st prizes with a hen from Ian Chalmers of Falkland. His dam was a gift bird from Alan Wright from Lincolnshire breeding Mick Ganus. North of Scotland Federation News from George Duthie with the federation result 50 members entered 1022 birds these were liberated at Arniston into a light west wind (sorry no time Joe M) taking the first 2 places are Jim & Ann Donaldson of Peterhead club with the fed winner doing 1566. George Duthie of Fraserburgh takes the next 3 places with Stuart Maskame of Peterhead is 6th with Ian Gill of Fraserburgh taking the next 3 places and making up the top 10 in the federation is C McCrae of Fraserburgh. West Section had 28 members sending 537 birds, topping this section was George Wilson of Devern Valley who also won 14th federation. Fulton & Ritchie of the same club are 2nd & 6th section 19th & 26th open with club mate A Wilson in 3rd section 20th open. J Abel also of Devern Valley is 4th & 5th section 21st & 25th federation. A Milne of Devern Valley is 7th & 8th section 29th & 30th open with G R Duncan of Keith is 9th & 10th section 31st & 32nd open. Clubs First Bird J & A Donaldson of Peterhead & District 1566 G Duthie of Fraserburgh & District 1551 G Wilson of Devern Valley 1486 G R Duncan of Keith 1366 R Barclay of Fraserburgh West End 1333 R McKenzie of Inverurie 1325 J Cumming of Buckie & District 1204 B & N Hadden of Elgin & District 1186 R Murray of Forres, Nairn & Inver 700 Joe’s Joke Two brunettes and a blonde are attempting to fix a roof. While they are on the roof, a herd of cattle run by and knock down the ladder and leave a big pile of poop behind. The two brunettes decide to make the blonde check how deep the poop is so they can jump down. So the blonde jumps down and yells, "It's only ankle deep." So the two brunettes jump down and scream, "What are you talking about?! It's up to our heads!" And the blonde replies, "Well, I jumped in head first." 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

Your only half way to your millionth I too enjoy them and like others read every post Have a nice break and come back fresh as a daisy :emoticon-0136-giggle:

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Special Thanks to Arty Whyte for Bed & Breakfast and the delivery this morning He collected 4 birds for a new start kept them for 3 days then delivered them to me at 6.30 this morning for further shipment Your a Gent Arty THANKS Ian

Watched it brilliant :emoticon-0136-giggle:

So is Stuart better get yoursel a drink and calm doon Stuart :drinking-coffee-200:

Good luck Jason hope you doo well :emoticon-0136-giggle:

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Well done Austin & Betty she's done well :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Well done all Well done Kenny Millar your flying well so much for a bad race point :emoticon-0136-giggle: I believe the writing is Herbert McKenzie I too admire it well done Herbert Can I send the race cards for my club for you to fill in Cheers Ian

Well done Mr Swanson :emoticon-0136-giggle:

5 members sent 76 birds to Consett liberated at 8.30 with no wind 1st M Main 1309.559 2nd E & K Elliott 1282.006 3rd E & K Elliott 1276.314 4th E & K Elliott 1275.642 5th M Main 1201.131 Very poor returns in this club