Ian McKay

1305 for me :emoticon-0136-giggle:

Silver City R P C Aberdeen 4 members sent 139 birds to Arniston approx 98 Good luck to all racing

The Joe Murphy Column Received an email from John Barlow past president of the SHU who writes ‘Hi Joe, I know earlier in the season you have covered ‘Good SNFC Pigeons’ in your column and a great feature this is as you are highlighting some outstanding pigeons so more power to your pen. I think you have mentioned Billy Bilsland’s good blue hen ‘Welltower Margaret’ named after Billy’s sister. She was bred in 2013 her sire was a chequer cock who won 7th SNFC Maidstone in 2013 as a yearling. He was bred by Joe Gormley of Lenzie from his Super-crack bloodlines. The dam of Welltower Margaret was ‘Welltower Isla’ winner of 1st open SNFC Leicester young bird national in 2012. Welltower Margaret was bred in 2013 and I just wish to let you know she has scored 3 times again this season and has now won 8 SNFC diplomas and the amazing thing is she is only 3 years old. Her positions won are as follows: In 2013 she won 16th section B 17th open Leicester young bird national; 2014 she won 13th section B 14th open Maidstone and then won 36th section B 61st open from Ypres; In 2015 she won 5th section B 5th open Portsmouth when Billy took the first 6 open positions in the race. She then went on to win 5th section B 7th open from Eastbourne; This year 2016 she has won 76th section B 217th open Buckingham; 11th section B 28th open Littlehampton and then 13th section B 23rd open from Ypres. She will now win an SNFC Meritorious Bronze award for winning 5 times from inland races; however she has won 8 national diplomas from 7 different SNFC race points and is without a very special pigeon all the best John B’. I have attached a picture of Welltower Margaret mentioned above and ‘Welltower David’ winner of 1st open SNFC Ypres 2016 this winner is named after Billy’s good friend David Reed of Chainbridge Lofts as he is the breeder of the SNFC winner in fact David has bred 4 of Billy’s national winners. The dam of the Welltower David’s is a Gabby Vandenabeele and contains the bloodlines of ‘Pre Olympic’ one of Gabby’s super racing pigeons, and he was mated to his own daughter to breed the dam of ‘Welltower David’. The sire of David is ‘Welltower Neil’ the winner of 1st open SNFC Leicester young bird national in 2013 he contains the M & D Evans pair Jester and Carrie bloodlines. Welltower Neil’ is turning out to be an excellent stock cock. Welltower Margaret Welltower David 1st SNFC Ypres 2016 Another pigeon brought to my attention is the bird of Mrs Gracie Scaife and her cousin John Gardner of Brydekirk this 5 year old chequer Busschaert hen contains the Ron Williamson bloodlines of ‘Stud 74’ who was responsible for 40 x 1st open N.I.P.A winners. The chequer hen won 2nd section B 2nd open SNFC Ancenis in 2014 beaten by Craig Halbert of Eastriggs and low and behold Craig wins 1st & 2nd open Ancenis this year and the Scaife & Gardner chequer hen wins 3rd open. Truly a great performance by an outstanding pigeon to win 2 & 3rd open national in the 2 longest national races is excellent well done to the partnership. Response I received a number of phone calls and emails regarding my comments in my 19th July column with 95% of the people agreeing with what was written. HOWEVER I stated the following right at the start of the column -‘Now the SNFC officials and committee will not like what I’m going to highlight but believe me this is not ME speaking it is the members who are sick to death with what is happening to this great club. The majority of the fanciers whom I spoke to all highlighted the amount of losses we have experienced this year in National racing’. Obviously some of the south section fanciers did not like my comments regarding the Ancenis race (not one phone to say this to me but got a lad from the North East of England to call) Plus one official asked me to name the people whom I had spoken to which I refused to do also my comments about the south birds being spread out in the baskets. I was also accused of ‘Causing trouble’. As stated above I only emphasized what I was told by fellow fanciers and did not just make these up. Well let me tell you the majority of fanciers whom I spoke to said ‘You are only telling the truth but it seems that the truth – hurts’. I will give you just one example from an email sent to me. ‘Hi Joe I have just read your article and whilst I do not race the nationals, last year managed the last fed race before the national, as my federation races the nationals with the SNRPC. I was quite concerned when starting the fancy in 2009 because of the animosity I perceived between the warring faction the SNRPC and the SNFC. My very simplistic view of the situation was that the SNRPC debarred none whilst the SNFC debarred all non-SHU members. I have no knowledge, nor do I wish to receive the knowledge of the background to this dispute, suffice to say that in this day and age there are too many entrenched views and opinions which are serving the detriment of the fancy when we should be working to improve the fancy. You will also be aware that I also fly north with Ayrshire North Road Federation and this brings me to the main point of my email. We recently refurbished our trailer and, due to the knowledge gleaned from a conveyer's observations and because we transported some races with the NRCC, the design was altered to the one you commented on last year. Our pigeons now have water on both long sides of the crates, 34 drinking spots for 19 / 20 pigeons in the crates. The base of the crate is covered with cardboard / paper and a grill fitted above this means the pigeons are kept in a clean condition. We do have holdovers, but if we did the feeding would be put in the same vessels as the drinking water. I have heard the discussions regarding the National pigeons and commend you for highlighting this -surely changes must happen. Keep up the good work yours Andy Kyle’. Quite a number of fanciers also remarked about the use of federation transporters to take our birds to national races, especially concern is the number of birds being put into a basket plus the use of the small ‘blue’ drinkers attached to ONE end of the basket. This major must be addressed as the members whom I spoke to wish changes especially for the welfare of their birds and many stressed that the SNFC should change NOW to Geraldy transporters. With the majority of fanciers highlighting the LOSSES occurred during SNFC races this year. One fancier started of the season with 54 old birds he trains hard and sends his birds in 100% condition and he has been left with 4 old birds at the end of the old bird season. Will he continue to race his pigeon’s next year it depends on the young bird season but one thing for sure if there is No Change within the structure of the SNFC then he might not renew his membership next year? NFC Tarbes The NFC main event was held on Saturday 23rd July and my mate Guy Reed texted me to say that our good mate Mark Gower of the Mr & Mrs Gower partnership had timed on the day and was well in. On looking at this result is was outstanding to see that 7 pigeons were all section winners and the other section winners were also well placed in the open result. The winner of 1st section L 1st open is M K Locke of the Wirral flying 711 miles so well done to this fancier. 1st section P 2nd open is M Hope of Telford at a distance of 665 miles 1st section P 3rd open Tom Williams of Orpington flying 562 miles. 1st section B 4th open is Mr & Mrs Gower of Fordingbridge flying 540 miles. 1st section C 5th open is M A & S C King of Blandford Forum flying 535 miles, 1st section G 6th open is N Templar of Bristol flying 578 miles. 1st & 2nd section F 7th & 8th open is last year’s Tarbes winner Lloyd & Kelly of Abingdon flying 583 miles. 1st section K 9th open is P Curtis & son of York flying 736 miles with 1st section E 14th open R Besant & son of Worcester Park flying 563 miles 1st section A 16th open are P & L McMahon of Brighton flying 525 miles with 1st section L 18th open Alwyn Hill of Ilkeston flying 676 miles. 1st section H 46th open are T E & J Stygall of Norwich flying 652 miles; 1st section W 47th open Mr J Smale of Abergavenny flying 613 miles and 1st section D 230th open is Bob Brown of Plymouth flying 532 miles. Guy also informed me that another good friend of ours Andy Parsons had timed in the following morning to win 2nd section B 29th open and Andy had a few in the clock in what was turning out to be a hard race. Mark Gower also sent me an email to say that he had timed in a cock we bred and sent down to him ring number 2229 he returned from Tarbes at 15-30pm and hopefully would make the open result. Guy also contacted me to say he also timed in with a red chequer cock that was missing for a few months as a young bird and turned up at the start of the following season. I said to Guy this would be the making of this pigeon and he kindly reminded me when he said ‘Aye he will make a good pigeon for you Laddie’ and we both burst out laughing. However it was good to see these friends and the leading pigeons showing their true potential in this testing Tarbes race well done to one and all. Good Feedback Mark Gower also informed me that he had timed in a yearling from Bergerac flying 434 miles to win 40th open from 950 birds in one of the classic races. This bird is a grandson of our 4th open SNFC Alencon winner flying 573 miles. The sire of the 4th open is also the sire of a pair of pigeons I sent down to Rob Glover of Earl Shilton in the Midlands. Rob informed me that he timed one of these blue hens to win 5th section 51st open MNFC Bordeaux race with 1700 birds competing flying 531 miles today 24th July. This hen has previously won 31st section 121st open MNFC Bordeaux last year and she also won 12th section (55 members sent 583birds) 53rd open (461 members sent 3923 birds) MNFC Ancenis this year flying 370 miles. All I need now is for Guy Reed to win with his ‘Scottish Joe’ pigeon next week from Bordeaux and it will be a foursome as John Tyerman the BICC president also won last year from Bordeaux with a bird I bred for him. Results Angus Federation Arbroath RPS from the 1st young bird race of the season 3 members sent 48 birds liberated at 08:00 hours into a light south west wind. Taking the top spot in his first race in the club is Glen Cameron (son of Charlie) with club president Bill Dorward in 2nd place followed by A & A Shepherd. Kevin never sent this week as he has been ill and the youngsters have not had enough training. Ayrshire North Road Federation news from Andy Kyle who informs us that the federation were racing from Arbroath on 26th June with 17 members sending 149 pigeons which were liberated at 06-30 with no wind at the race point. Valley North Club winner and 1st federation with a winning velocity was 1218ypm is Mick Hilland with his pigeon a 3 year old dark chequer cock. Rod Wilson gave Mick pigeons when he moved away from this area. Their breeding is Vermotte x Janssen. As a matter of interest Mick’s 1st club 1st federation winner from Thornton young birds in 2015 was bred the exact same way as this cock, but from different nest. Mauchline Club winner and 2nd federation on 1098 is Kory Galloway. His pigeon is a yearling black grizzle cock whose sire is "Boy George", a Starview Busschaert direct from J Duncan, his dam being a Kirkpatrick from Kerr Stainthorpe Kirkpatrick strain. The winner 1124 is a full sister of 04405 who as a young bird won Montrose in 2014 but was pipped to the post by 1 yard for 1st federation by J McWhirter. Carrick Club winner and 4th federation on 1085 is Jamieson & Cameron; their winning pigeon is a yearling chequer pied hen. Her sire is a blue pied cock bought from Cumnock young bird sale bred by David Jamieson of East Calder, while her dam contains the blood of the famous Jan Aarden family from the House of Arden. She is a daughter of Young Boris and was un-raced as a young bird. Cumnock Club winner and 7th federation on a velocity of 1071 is Alfie Lawrence with a 2 year old blue hen. She is bred from Gerry Clements Tracker lines crossed with Mark Gilbert of Southfield from his famous ‘Ted’ lines. The Ayrshire North Road Federation once again attempted a race from Fraserburgh on 3rd July with 14 members sending 111 pigeons, but once again the weather beat us and we had to bring them back to Portlethen. They were liberated at 07.00 into no wind changing to West South West on route home. Cumnock Club winner and 1st federation on a velocity of 1131 is Alfie Lawrence with his pigeon a 2 year old hen she is bred from Gerry Clements Tracker lines crossed Mark Gilbert of Southfield ‘Ted’ lines. This is the same that that won for Alfie last week, but has gone 6 places better to top the Federation this week. Mauchline Club winner and 7th federation on 1106 is Drew Lymburn his pigeon is a 2 year old blue pied cock. His sire is a Louella Van Leeuwen when paired to an Andy Drummond Delbar hen. Valley North Club winner and 8th federation on 1104 is R Dignam with a 2 year old chequer hen a Gabby Vandenabeele from James Bond lines. This pigeon won Arbroath mentioned above. Central Federation News from Bernie Britton of Broxburn Club’s first young bird race from Stobbs Camp with 4 members sending 198 birds liberated at 07-00 with no wind at the race point. 1st x 3 places are won by John McNeil with the winner a blue bar hen ¾ Gabby ¼ Hartog dam of this young bird won 4th section D 44th open Roye 2016. The 2nd bird was a red chequer hen Lambrecht bred by Gerry Rigney while the 3rd bird was a dark chequer cock out of the stock loft his sire is a grandson of Sanny’s Memory while the dam is a daughter of the same Sanny’s Memory and both birds have bred previous winners. Joe I would like to welcome a new member to our club John Muir and we look forward to seeing John on a weekly basis so welcome John. East of Scotland Federation News from press officer John Baillie of Tranent who discloses; It is now time Joe for our new hopefully generation of winners to start their careers. The first young bird race from Ridsdale with the East of Scotland Federation convoyed with the Pentland Hills Federation got off to a great start with very few losses. Hopefully with Pentland having their usual 2 Friday races from Ripon and Wakefield it gives the young birds a great start to try and stop the possibility of clashing on the Saturday. Now on with the results for the federation and taking pole position this first young bird race is Ton Hunnam of Port Seton followed in 2nd open by Jim McNeil of Tranent with Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone taking 3rd open. 4th open is Spider Rowley of Prestonpans and staying in Prestonpans club we have John Bird who wins 5th position and Mr & Mrs March are in 10th place. Back to Tranent for 6th open position for yours truly John Baillie and the remaining 3 positions 7th, 8th and 9th open filled by the holiday makers Mr & Mrs Burgess of Ormiston (Must have been the care and attention the birds received when they were on holiday) Something for your diary - after a very successful quiz held by the federation by John Bird in February 2014, we have decided to have another one on 12th February in 2017. The panel will be Norman Renton, Andrew Lees, Davie Jamieson and Jim Wilkinson. Tickets will be limited to 65 and costing £5 each with pie and beans included (This was a sold out last time very quickly so don’t delay if you are interested). Prestonpans HC taking 1st position is Tam Hunnam with a Braspenning hen. In 2nd spot we have Tom & Scott McEwen with a chequer hen youngster from their Mark Gilbert stock. She is from Mark's Deweerdt lines the sire is from Emiel and the dam bred through Ted & Magnus lines. Taking the 3rd place is John Bird with a white flight hen she is bred through a red cock from Bobby Dickson, who is a grandson of Red Barcelona from R Moleveld and the dam of the young hen from a full sister to "Peg". Reading the Sportsman FC notes by Bob McKie /Jeff Walton gives us an inspiration for long distance racing. I see from Tarbes NFC ,one of their members M Anderson & Son of Washington, timed flying 810 miles, the title of their last notes - Dare to Dream is what most of us try to do within the SNFC these days. Thanks Joe yours John B’ Fife Federation Glenrothes & Leslie PC news from Rosie Armit who tells us that 3 members sent 57 birds to Roye for the channel race.1st were Turpie & McCord on a velocity of 1078 with a 4 year old blue hen sent sitting 2 day old young birds. She is bred from Dougie Hain of Ladybank Dordin’s and has already been 6th open Clermont Fife Fed: 22nd section C 90th open SNFC Clermont in 2014, 22nd section C 58th open SNFC Ypres 2016 and now 4th section C 16th open SNFC and 1st section 2nd open Fife federation Roye in 2016. 2nd & 3rd club is Brian Kinnear with a velocity of 884 with a blue chequer cock sent feeding a 1 day youngster. He is an inbred grandson to a dark hen that was 1st section Ancenis. Brian’s 2nd bird is a yearling blue hen on a velocity of 792 she was sent sitting 15 day eggs and is bred from Brian’s ‘Stitchy’ lines. The next report will be about young birds Joe!!! Pentland Hill’s Federation News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation held their first young bird race of the season from Ridsdale a distance of 60-72 miles for the federation members. 13 clubs sent 2456 birds liberated at 08-30 hours into a light south wind. Winning 1st New Lothian and 1st Pentland federation is the former inland national winning loft of Stevie Lapinski who flies with Woodburn RPC. Breeding details are as follows the sire is a grandson of Kannibaal when paired to Granddaughter of Hannibal both purchased from the RPRA one loft race sale. This is their first year breeding so no pressure on their box so far! Returns were excellent with virtually all birds home, although a lot of lofts didn’t send; this could be down to the fact that we have another Ridsdale next week?? Stevie took the 1st x 3 places plus 5th & 6th federation with W Smith of Danderhall in 4th place. Brown & Black of Woodburn club are 7th 8th 9th & 10th places. Club Winners are as follows; Woodburn 209 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Lapinski Danderhall 648 birds; 1st Smith 2nd Kinnear 3rd Watson & Daughter Gilmerton 107 birds; 1st Robertson 2nd & 3rd Bennett Castlebrae 151 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd McCormack & Fraser Arniston 51 birds; 1st Ray 2nd Mercer 1283 Easthouses 265 birds; 1st J Pryde 2nd Nimmo 3rd Milne Edinburgh Premier 165 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Black Edinburgh West 77 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd C Bennett Loanhead 87 birds; 1st & 3rd Murray 2nd Archibald Bonnyrigg 102 birds; 1st Lannan 2nd Russell 3rd Neill Sighthill 103 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Keenan New Lothian 86 birds; Traprain 338 birds; 1st Hunter 2nd Bosworth 3rd Newcombe Others 67 birds; New Lothian RPC from the Ridsdale race flown on 23rd July 57 members sent 1546 birds. Stevie Lapinski of Woodburn RPC had a good race taking the top 3 place with 5th & 6th as a bonus. W Smith of Danderhall is in 4th place with the Woodburn club’s Brown & Black taking the last 4 places of 7th 8th 9th & 10th places. Joe’s Joke A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on." The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now." The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me!" His father replied, "No, your mum was talking about her side of the family." 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

Thanks John All sorted Ian

Thanks Is he on site

Handed to me by a member of the public I good condition ETS and red rubber

Try tellin Mike Tyson that :emoticon-0179-headbang:

If we lost 10 birds in England it would cost £650 to get them to Aberdeen Roland :emoticon-0179-headbang:

If it's Kevin's it will be one of his own strain they are Bonkers just like him it must be a good one as that's further than any of his race doos have flown :emoticon-0136-giggle: :emoticon-0136-giggle:

I removed the original result as this one is the amended one

4 members sent 115 bird to Thornton 30/07/2016 liberated at 9am in a light W wind 1 M MAIN 1491,811 2 M MAIN 1490.099 3 E & K ELLIOTT 1489.959 4 A BAXTER 1487.790 5 E & K ELLIOTT 1473.156 6 E & K,ELLIOTT 1469.531 7 A BAXTER 1454.809 8 E & K ELLIOTT 1443.149 9 E & K ELLIOTT 1443.149 10 A BAXTER 1442.971

it's only the 3rd time I have won it need to check what I am doing right Do I win anything Andy :drinking-coffee-200:

No he did not phone in the bird clocked at night which I think was his downfall The race was won on the day by someone else who has not had the proper credit because of this sheit :emoticon-0179-headbang: t The race was won by MR. M K LOCKE

I doubt this will happen as the Officials have a lot to answer for a good solicitor will have a hey day with there security and lack of leadership

Robbie you can get a doo out of any crate after it has left the last club No one checks the seals at any time during the travel time or at race point but in this case this is not in question the manipulation appears to have taken place BEFORE any race marking station was in progress I visited a large club in Florida and we could all learn from the way they run there marking station but hey we are speaking about professionals who run things like clock work as far as I have seen we are just playing at it and have to many preconceived ideas and are not open to change and most just want to race there doos and let the few do the work WRONG Peter :emoticon-0136-giggle:

I do not think he was race "marking his own birds at the station" That would have been to obvious, it was the ones he did at home then swapped the race sheets over

Seems to be the way today just how much advantage will I gain :emoticon-0179-headbang:

1305 for me :emoticon-0179-headbang:

Silver City Aberdeen 4 members sent 115 birds some clown thinks it was 118 so will ask for a recount :emoticon-0179-headbang:

The Joe Murphy Column For the last old bird national from Roye 258 members sent 1135 birds to the race as I said last week our hats off to the race control team who on watching the weather forecast decided to release the convoy at 08-45am on Thursday 14th July into a north west wind. There was one good thing we would have the sky to ourselves as no other organisation would be racing on a Thursday. With the late liberation I did not expect pigeons to get into Kevin’s area on the day so told him I would come up to see him early the next morning. However on the Thursday night I received a phone call informing me that birds were being timed in just after 21-00 hours so I gave Kevin a phone. I had just settled down to watch the 10’o clock news on TV when he phoned me to say that Jocky Scott of Kennoway had a good bird at 21-46 flying 510 miles. I told him this would not be far away from taking the top spot and I was up at the crack of dawn and arrived at Arbroath just before 6am. However I have to say I was a little disappointed Kevin had not phoned the car phone to say he had a bird. We patiently waited and watched the sky and checked out the SNFC Lib Line and the arrivals seemed to be well spread out. It was not until 10-02 that a chequer hen came over the house and landed on the aviary and nearly fell over she was going that hard. This yearling hen had previously won a 2 x 1st prizes for us as a youngster and this was her 1st attempt at the channel. She is from a chequer cock from the double NFC winners Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff of Fontwell and contains the best of their Euro Diamond bloodlines so THANK YOU to Ian and Nigel. The dam of the chequer hen was a bird I purchased direct from Bernard Deweerdt when I visited him a few years ago. This hen is starting to turn out the goods so I’m well pleased. Unfortunately when the open result came out we missed it by 2 yards which is a pity, but that’s pigeon racing and 2 yards over 523 miles is a long way, but this chequer hen and her sister are our future. Fife Winner I was over the moon when I heard that Jock Scott of Kennoway had won the national as he used to be the club press officer and would often have a coffee or a breather when he brought his result. Jocky wins 1st section C 1st east region 1st open with a blue bar hen she was timed at 21-46 on the day to record a velocity of 1150. This hen as previously won 108th section C 322nd open from Maidstone in 2013, the following year she again scored from the same race point winning 33rd section C 149th open and last year she won 165th open from Eastbourne proving she is a very useful pigeon. Her sire was a Belgium rung cock and her dam was bred by Gilmour Brothers of Leven being a direct daughter of their 1st open SNFC Falaise winner ‘Robbie’s Boy’. Needless to say Ian and Robbie are over the moon that their Falaise winner is now the grandsire of the SNFC Roye national winner. 1st section B 2nd open is the top loft of Sinclair Thomson & son of Port Seton with 1st section A 11th open going to Billy Van Nuil of Gretna with a chequer Norbert Sierens crossed Vandenbroeke cock is a very special pigeon as he has previously won 8th section A 19th open Clermont in 2014 last year he won 1st section A 4th open Clermont and this year he has already won 13th section A 83rd open from Reims Gold Cup race and now wins again for the 4th time in the Scottish national a very good pigeon so well done Billy. 1st section D 19th open is John McNeill of Broxburn with a 2 year old chequer hen. We now come to one of the team performances of the race winning 1st 2nd & 4th section E 21st 22nd & 27th open is J Stokes of Carstairs truly outstanding well done. 1st sections G 1st north region 90th open are Fulton & Ritchie of Banff flying 592 miles well done gentlemen a great performance. 1st section F 94th open is the ever consistent Morris Brothers of Johnstone in the extreme west of the country this being their 2nd section F win this year as they were 1st from Ypres well done to you both. Some other interesting news from this Roye race Billy Bilsland of Ayton timed his blue bar cock to win 4th section B 5th open this is the same cock that won 5th section B 7th open last year from Clermont not bad winning 2 very good positions in the top 10 of the SNFC. Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone timed in their 2nd bird at 05-53 to win 37th open this same cock won 3rd section B 5th open Clermont last year who says that class does not come to the top. Well done to all who made the result in what has once again been a very hard race, I know the north wind would sort out the wheat from the chaff but once again all I hear from fanciers is the amount of birds lost. The national cannot continue with discontent from members who have lost ½ to ¾ of their teams at in SNFC races. Ok we will always have birds at the appointed time of arrival and members except this but they will not put up with waiting for hours and hours and not seeing a pigeon. The national officials and committee need to address this problem is it the transporters? Do the birds have adequate water supply i.e. water on both sides of the baskets (not just a couple of blue plastic drinkers on the end of the basket) Are there too many birds in each basket (you all know my feeling on this YES there are too many) Does the national need to be like the BICC –BBC- NFC and have their members notify them prior to each race so that they know how many birds are going to the race and have it worked out to the amount of birds in EACH basket. I could go on and on but the MOST IMPORTANT issue is the amount of losses the members have experienced flying with the club this year. I said it last week some people are so fed up of the losses they are thinking of going with the other national next year. One thing for certain they are more organised and seem to care for the welfare of their members birds ok they do not have the same amount of birds going but their returns are 80% better than the SNFC I rest my case!!!! East of Scotland Federation News from John Baillie who writes ‘Hi Joe, thank goodness the old bird racing season is now over however we have the stressful young bird racing to look forward to (some hope). Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone had another great race from Roye with the SNFC winning 7th open and timing in at 21-48 on the day with another bird early next morning to win 36th open timed at 05 -53. Tom and Scott's winning hen was bred in 2011 and won 151st open Clermont in 2015 and she also won 257th open from the Buckingham national this year. She was sent sitting on a 3 day chick and on her 2nd flight. She is bred from their Mark Gilberts stock birds which are the famous Deweerdts. Her sister is an SNFC Silver Award winner and her mate mentioned above who won 36th open Roye he won 5th open from the SNFC Clermont race last year. You wonder what future this chick (youngster) from this pair might do in the future. I will attach a picture of Tom & Scott’s blue hen to go with this story. Yours truly John Baillie timed in at 04-16 the 2nd morning and I found this yearling chequer cock on top of the aviary at 04-12. He was definitely was not there at 23-10 when I closed the loft up. This yearling cock has now won 3 SNFC diplomas this year and he has been flown on roundabout all year but was sent sitting 4 day eggs at basketting for Roye. His positions are 120th section B 290th open Littlehampton, 39th section B 77th open Ypres and now 12th section B and 23rd open Roye I have forwarded a picture of my chequer cock to go with your column. He is bred from the Brugemanns lines of Dave Implett crossed with a hen I had bought with N Black & sons of Northern Ireland from their very best bloodlines. Once again Joe thank you for covering our federation and club in your weekly column it is well received many thanks yours John’. Angus Federation Before I start with the Roye race let me highlight a dear friend of mine Bill Dorward of Arbroath who was a competitor in my sporting challenge a few years ago. As many of you will know Kevin moved to Arbroath due to work commitments and joined the local Arbroath club which Bill is the president. Over the years Bill has achieved some outstanding results being 5th open from Le Farte Bernard and also scored high up from Tours. This year Bill won 7th open SNFC Reims flying 579 miles with a chequer hen who also won 2nd section C she also wins the H.A. French trophy for the nominated pigeon in the race he also wins the H.A. French Challenge Rosebowl for the wives or lady friends of a competing member of the club also with a nominated bird. Bill has not been keeping well this past year but this has given him a ‘great’ boost and I believe he and Charlie Cameron (who won 8th open in the same Reims race) are both looking forward to the annual trophy presentation on 22nd October in the Glynhill Hotel in Renfrew. Kevin has kindly forward me a photograph of proud Bill holding his winning hen. For the 10th old bird race of the season from Roye with the SNFC 2 members sent 14 birds liberated at 08-45 into a light North West wind. Taking the number 1 spot and winning 98th open is Charlie Cameron with a 2 year old black hen sitting 8 days at basketting. She is bred from a son of ‘Snowcap’ winner of 4th open SNFC Reims in 2003 and her dam is from ‘Little Dorrie’ winner of 3rd open SNFC Reims in 2010. Who says breeding does not tell well done to Charlie who has had a very good year with his old birds. All young birds bred this year are now up at his son’s Glen’s who has moved to Arbroath and will be race by Glen. Fanciers may recall that Glen won the north section TWICE last year while living in Aberdeen so he is very capable fancier and look forward to enjoying future racing with him. 2nd club is Kevin J Murphy with a chequer hen doing 817 missing the open result by 2 yards. Phone Call Sean Hughes phoned to say that he had won 31st open INFC St Allouestre with a bird bred down from stock he purchased from me a couple of years ago. This bird contained the old Ritchie & Whyte bloodlines of ‘Last Chance’ winner of 1st North Section 42nd open SNFC Tours flying 721 miles. My thanks to Sean for this information and I hope Lou McGee helped him out. It is good to see other fanciers doing so well with birds obtained from me however it is more important that they inform you. Bill Dorward of Arbroath with his 7th open Reims winner Ian Gilmour Jocky Scott 1st SNFC Roye John Baillie's good yearling Tom & Scott McEwen's 7 open hen Joe’s Joke My wife has these days when she wants us to "talk about things". We were discussing aspects of our future so when it was my turn I asked her "What will you do if I die before you do?â€. After some thought, she said that she'd probably look for a house-sharing situation with three other single or widowed women who might be a little younger than herself, since she is so active for her age. Then she asked me, "What will you do if I die first?" I replied, "Probably the same thing." 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

So you are saying this is OK and not to mention it

Cawaw the Dandy Dons :emoticon-0136-giggle:

He means the stray basket for the stray center but you are not down far enough yet and neither are we

We got some kids stuff (large) just asked Marlene and they are excellent :drinking-coffee-200: We got some kids stuff (large) just asked Marlene and they are excellent :drinking-coffee-200:

George Could you E-mail it to me I will put it up and do any changes nesissary if needed