THE FIFER Posted October 13, 2019 Report Posted October 13, 2019 The Joe Murphy Column Received a nice card from Irene Lockhart of Larkhall, thanking me for my support in highlighting her late husband Andrews’s sale of pigeons and the kind words I said about him. She would also like to say a Special thank you to Tom McQuire for all his help and commitment to her with attending to their birds and the sale of the same. Tom has been a 1st class friend to the Lockhart’s for years but even more so over the past 9 months so from myself and Irene and family we thank you Tom. Also received a letter from Frank Payne of Rutland who wrote, ‘Hi Joe hope this letter finds you in good health, I am writing to say how interesting the suggestions were in you conversation with you friend Derek Hay. I have been trying for years in our federation meetings to get thinks changed to do just as Derek said. Young birds apart, we start the season a good month too early and finish it about 3 weeks too soon. April can be a really punishing month, I have lambs and ewes out in it so I know what it can be like and I am a lot further south than you. When I first got into racing pigeons we never made a start until the 2nd weekend in May, and carried on to the end of September with the youngsters. They seem to cope without the darkness system; I have raced them with almost bald heads and gaps in their wings and still put up some good performances. All young stock needs fresh air and the sun on their backs to thrive and grow. We only had 6 young bird races, it was a way of education them for the future. Now they are trying to make old birds out of them before they have had the chance to be young birds. They are stressed out before they have had time to develop physically and mentally. This is just my opinion, but when you see all the various potions on offer that they put in the water, they don’t get a proper drink because the stuff in the water just doesn’t tastes right. I only keep 8 or 10 young birds no overcrowding; an open loft all day, fortunately the hawk problem isn’t as bad with me as it is in many other areas. Derek’s ideas are sound, and make a lot of sense, but then anything that makes sense very rarely happens does it Joe. All the best to you in the future and keep up the good work in the column and keep the jokes coming in, yours sincerely Frank Payne’. I also received another letter from A Rosbottom of Scarborough who wrote ‘Dear Joe, I read your article with regard Derek Hay, ‘A New Alternative’. In fact these proposals were suggested years ago. No one was bothered. I also suggested that you could basket for the short races on the day of the race, making the risk of dehydration less. I did the darkness and widowhood systems along with the clinical conditions would ruin the pigeon’s immune system. Irrespective of what fanciers ‘Say’ nearly all have to treat and treat, immune system in the vast majority reined. Nearly everything the hall report recommended I have previously (many years in fact ago) said exactly the same. RPRA not fit for purpose, and fanciers only interested when things affect them. Read the BHW around the 1970’s and see what I and friends the late Steve Spinks and Mike on the Hill were saying at that time and not nearly 50 years later. Too many self-important- I’m all right Jacks. Would take at least 40 years to get rid of the damage done to our feathered friends and the manner our sport is portrayed, prices of our feather friends, over 200 products the manufacturers promote F so necessary for success. I enjoyed over 77 years association with our sport and seen it go from a wonderful sport with wonderful fanciers (many the salt of the earth miners) to its present state, some fanciers I would not want to associate with, no respect for the sport nor for other fanciers, self, self and more self; yours in sport A Rosbottom. Received an email from Graham Connah fellow BHW scribe of Wrexham & District federation, who wrote ‘Hello Joe, hope you are well; the season is now over. I have just returned from holiday but missed our last young bird race as the programme was put back a week because of the weather. This was only our 3rd young bird race as we missed the first 2 because we were late starting training and we sent 39 to Hereford a distance of 78 miles and had 100% returns, which we were very pleased with. However, the following Friday we had young bird sickness and this happens every year after the first race not just for us and other federation members. Who have said the same and most are getting it on the same day as the previous year. As a result we stopped racing and did not send for over 4 weeks then sent to Chepstow a distance of 107 miles and lost 7 and then Portland 184 miles and had 2 on the day and 5 on the Sunday and 2 reported dead and 5 still missing. Fortunately we stopped all the young cocks after 2 races as we have done in recent years and this seems to work as they race well as yearlings. I seem to recall that you and your son stopped young bird racing - not sure if it was because of young bird sickness? (I answered Graham’s email privately) Out of the team there were only about 6 that were throwing up and after 2 days they were fine. I think this is where the problem starts and many fanciers ‘cherry pick’ and send the rest and as a result it spreads throughout the transporter and losses occur. Fanciers need to be more honest. (I agree with Graham on this point and the way things are going they are killing our sport JM) thanks for your email Graham and good luck in the future. Also received greetings from sunny Devon! From fellow scribe Owen Vaggers who wrote ‘Hi Joe, I read in your article this week and your appeal for information regarding your previous article regarding lemons. Please find attached copy of that most interesting article to which you refer. Keep up the good work and I still enjoying reading your column as always. Stay well and all good wishes, yours Owen Vaggers’. Whom I thank for the article which will come in handy as I still have enquires from people asking about the Lemmon’s so thanks once again Owen. Old Ringed Bird I had a phone message from Hughie Gray of Ayrshire who had a bird in with an old F ring on its leg. This was SU 09 F 7534; the SHU only keep records up to 10 years so I contacted my old friend Mel Jarvis of Cardenden as I knew he would be able to help me out. Within 10 minutes Mel was back on the phone saying the birds was registered to the Valleyfield club in west Fife. I contacted Hughie who informed me that he had fed and watered the bird and looked after it for a few days and managed to get a friend who was going up into the central area to release it there. Hopefully this bird made it back home but at least this will let them know where their pigeon has been. Ayrshire Federation last race of 2019 Received the attached final race report from Archie McIntyre for the Dunbar 2 race flown on the 7th of September, as well as the report I also received attached pictures of Derek Kane 1st Federation; Davy McKenna of the Stirrat & McKenna partnership who were 2nd Fed and Ricky Young who won 3rd fed. Archie wrote ‘Many thanks’ once again Joe for promoting Ayrshire federation throughout the season in your weekly column and giving the lads over here a wee bit of recognition. I will send you in a few weeks’ time; the Dalry 2 Bird Challenge photographs and write up of their presentation night as well as Ayrshire federation presentation night in November if that’s ok. (No problem Archie and any other federation or organisation who would like to send in their details and photos then I will give them some coverage in the column JM). The federation’s 7th and final young bird race of the season was on the 7th September and saw us back at Dunbar. This young bird season has just seemed to go on forever for one reason and another. Yes we did not manage to get our young birds past 100 miles, but, the remaining changes put in place by the top table did see the 4 remaining races have near to 100% returns and that a least gives members some building blocks for the start of next season. Jim had the Dunbar 2 convoy of 708 birds up and away at 08-00 into a light northwest wind for a race of between 75 miles to 93 miles to the top end of the federation. Leading the way into the federation this week taking 1st fed on 1484.4 and winning by point 3 of a decimal is Derek Kane of Ardeer HS. Derek timed a blue bar pied ‘2291’ a Janssen cock flying on the darkness system and to the perch. ‘2291’ sister ‘2290’ just the week before also from Dunbar won the 2nd highest velocity prize in the Dalry 2 bird challenge winning £50. Both these pigeons were bred down from pigeons Derek got from his good friends John & Simon Turner from Chesterfield. 2nd federation on 1484.1 and just squeezed out of the top spot is the ever consistent Ardeer partnership of Jim Stirrat & Davy McKenna with a Staff Van Reet on darkness. Jim & Davy’s pigeon ‘28931’ had just the previous week won the 1st prize of £500 as part of a pair in the Dalry 2 bird challenge and ‘28931’ also won £100 for the highest velocity in the challenge race. 3rd federation on 1474.6 is Ricky Young of Kilmarnock Invitation HS. Ricky had another good race timing his first 3 pigeons in the same second and 7 pigeons in the top 10 in the fed. Ricky’s timer was a darkness chequer cock whose sire is a son of ‘Chieftain’ and ‘Dark Lady’ bred by his good friends D H Ogilvie. The dam is a daughter of ‘Euro Boy’ and ‘Don’s Girl’ which is the mother of Tam Blair’s 1st open SNFC Maidstone winner. This hen was a gift from his very good friend Tom Blair from Stirling who Ricky sees as a genius of a pigeon man. Well Joe that another season gone and we are all glad to see the back of it across here in the Wild West. Between the weather, vehicle breakdowns and the odd race disaster for good measure, we have stuttered and spluttered all season right through to the young birds. On a final note I would just like to congratulate Ayrshire federations champion for the 2nd year running fellow club member Robert Reid of Beith. As well as being Ayrshire fed Champion, Robert has had one of the best SNFC season into Ayrshire any member has ever had winning averages that’s has never ever been won before flying into Ayrshire. I will possible do a small write up later on Roberts exceptional season across the SNFC races later on Joe if that’s alright. (No Problem Archie looks forward to reading it JM). North Section 427 birds, 1st Derek Kane of Ardeer HS 1484.4, 2nd are Stirrat & McKenna of Ardeer HS 1184.1. and 3rd are Grant & McGovern also of Ardeer HS on 1462.1. Central section 160 birds; 1st, 2nd and 3rd is Ricky Young of Kilmarnock Invitation HS 1474.6, 1474.6 and 1474.6. South section 121 birds; 1st are Cuthbert & Cree of Whitletts & District on 1430.2, 2nd is J Simpson of Annbank & District on 1421.9. With Cree & Cuthbert of Whitletts & District 3rd on 1399.4: Other club winners not mentioned above are as follows: T Smith of Dalry HS wins 1435.9. Cowan & Findlay wins Darvel HS on 1434.4. H Pollock wins Irvine NTHS on 1402.3. R Thornhill wins Kilwinning HS on 1386.3; A Wilson wins Crosshouse HS on 1303.9 and J Stark wins Dalmellington PC on 1197.3. Thank you once again Joe yours in sport Archie. Andy Miller double SNFC Winner see text David McKenna of Stirrat & McKenna partnership 2nd Fed Dunbar 2 YBs Derek Kane 1st Fed Dunbar 2 YBs Ricky Young 3rd Fed Dunbar 2 YBs Robert Reid see text. Pentland Hills Federation Trophy Winners 2019 News from Andy Miller with the federation trophy winners which are as follows; From the Billericay federation open race Brown & Black of Woodburn won 1st open. The best average federation open races from Billericay and Burdinne winner is Andy Miller of Sighthill winning 49th open Billericay and 1st open Burdinne. From the Buckingham old bird SNFC race the winner was A Mitchell of Castlebrae winning 28th open. From the Maidstone old bird SNFC race the winner was Andy Miller of Sighthill winning 12th open. The best average from the 4 longest old bird races is won by D & J Allen of Woodburn with a velocity of 1441.3. The SNFC Reims trophy was won by B Thomas & Son of Woodburn winning 17th open. The SNFC Ypres winner was J S Smith of Bonnyrigg who won 2nd open. From the SNFC Roye race Andy Miller of Sighthill won 2nd open Andy also won the best average from Burdinne and Roye in the SNFC races being 1st open Burdinne and 2nd open Roye (fantastic performances Joe M) the 1st Newark young bird federation open is won by D & J Allen of Woodburn who were 1st open. The best average Billericay and Newark the federation open races is won by Brown & Black of Woodburn who won 1st open Billericay and 5th open Newark. The best average in the 3 longest young bird racing is won by Freddie Robertson of Danderhall with a velocity of 1496 Freddie also won the Buckingham young bird SNFC trophy as he won 1st open. New Lothian R.P.C. Trophy Winners 2019 Old Bird Average winners are Willie Pryde & Son John of Arniston with a velocity of 1413. Runners up for the old bird average are the D & J Allen of Woodburn with a velocity of 1401. The young bird average is won by Freddie Robertson Danderhall with a velocity of 1465; and the runners up for the young bird average are Brown & Black of Woodburn with a velocity of 1462. The combine average is won by Freddie Robertson of Danderhall with a velocity of 1421. The runners up to the combine average are Brown & Black of Woodburn with a velocity of 1416. The competition for old bird points is won by Willie Pryde & son John of Arniston with 39 points; (well done to everyone mentioned above on a fantastic season JM.) Thanks also to Andy Miller who has done a wonderful job as press officer for the above 2 organisations and is a credit to the sport. Plus he has had a season you dream about and it has given me great pleasure to do a loft report on him for later in the year. SHU Gold Ring Draw Received an email from Linda Brooks informing me of the result of the above draw; the winners of the August draw was won by John Bird of Almond Valley and September draw was won by Chris Bonnington of Traprain club. Both win £70 and the cheques, as they say, are 'in the post' Congratulations! To both. The next draw is end of October. Outstanding Performances The weekend we left to go on holiday was the SNFC young bird national from Buckingham this turned out to be a funny type of race as some fanciers had a great race while others had to wait a long time on their youngsters. I would like to highlight a few outstanding performances achieved by some of the members taking part. 211 members sent 1548 birds broken down into sections as follows; A had 99 birds, B had 613 birds; C had 309 birds; D had 123 birds; E had 153 birds, F had 103 birds and section G had 148 birds. The outright winner of the race Freddie Robertson of Edinburgh whom I have commented on in the Pentlandhill federation racing results this year. Freddie won 1st 2nd & 5th open with his winner a blue bar hen named ‘Golden Mile Ashley’ she had previously won 1st club 6th federation from Newark flying 218 miles, the 2nd open winner is a named as the ‘Golden Mile Cock’ he won 20th club from Newark the week before the national. Both these two winners were bred by Chris Vasey and are off Ven Bel lines. Freddie also won 98th 102nd 104th 105th 109th 147th & 152nd open. Pentland Hills federation took the first 8 places in the open national with L Mitchell in 3rd spot, followed by K Dick also of Edinburgh 4th A Young of Danderhall club was 6th with Brown & Black of Dalkeith in 7th spot (they have had a very good young bird season) A W Robertson of Edinburgh is 8th. My dear friend Billy Bilsland of Ayton had an exceptional race winning 33 certificates from his entry of 48 birds; Billy won the following positions; 9th 10th 11th 13th 14th 16th 17th 18th 20th 21st 23rd 24th then the next 12 places from 28th to 39th open then 45th 46th 47th 53rd 61st 64th 74th 100th & 150th open. Regardless of where he lives or the amount of birds he sends to time in this amount of pigeon in any national race is stupendous. Section C winner was Dean Bridges of Milton of Balgonie who won 48th open flying 302 miles. John McNeill of Broxburn won 1st section D 22nd open flying 290 miles; George A Firth of Lockerbie won 1st section A 54th open flying 241 miles; Section E winner was J Craven of Cumbernauld flying 298 miles; Winning 1st & 2nd section G 51st & 59th open is A Coburn of Aberdeen flying 361 miles. I purposely missed out section F because I wish to highlight this wonderful fancier achievement in the SNFC during 2019. Robert Reid of Beith in Ayrshire won 1st section F flying 298 miles from the young bird national. However this season in the SNFC Robert he has won the following positions with his old birds; 2nd & 3rd section F from Buckingham flying 298 miles; 1st section F from Maidstone flying 380 miles; 2nd section F from Burdinne Gold Cup flying 538 miles; 2nd & 3rd section F from Ypres flying 460 miles; 1st section F from Reims flying 580 miles; 1st section Roye flying 520 and now wins the section F for the 4th time this year from the young bird national. I have spoken to Robert via email and once his winners have been through the moult he is hoping to have a montage taken of the above winners and if and when I obtain a copy of this I will have the greatest of pleasure in publicizing this in my column; so watch this space. Well done Robert on a truly marvellous season you have done not only Ayrshire proud but the whole of Scotland. Since I started to write this article I have spoken to a few fanciers who have told me of the losses they have experienced in the young bird national some have only 3 birds home from 20+, others 1 out of 10; 2 home from 14 entered, in one area there was 60 youngsters sent to the young bird national and only 1 bird made it home, needless to say these fanciers are very depressed as this was the last race of the 2019 season. Joe’s Joke As an airplane is about to crash, a female passenger jumps up frantically and announces, "If I'm going to die, I want to die feeling like a woman." She removes all her clothing and asks, "Is there someone on this plane who is man enough to make me feel like a woman?" A man stands up, removes his shirt and says, "Here, iron this!†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 or https://sites.google...onalracingpigeo
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