THE FIFER Posted November 2, 2019 Report Posted November 2, 2019 xThe Joe Murphy Column Many of the older generation or readers will remember the great boxer Cassius Clay whose quote was ‘I’m the Greatest’ when he started off his boxing career. He was without doubt one of the best fighters of his generation and I always admired him for his ‘skill’. Over the years in our sport of racing pigeons we in Scotland have also been blessed with ‘Great’ distance pigeons that are still spoken about up to this present day. I have had the pleasure of being a scribe for the pigeon press for 43 years and during this time have been the Press Officer for the Scottish Homing Union and Scottish National Flying Club. I have also had the pleasure of visiting and handling some ‘Champion Pigeons’ during this time. For example Mr & Mrs Jimmy Smith of Elphinstone great hen ‘Fortune Lady’ who won 10 times in the Scottish national competing from Sartilly (499 miles) and Rennes (542 miles) accomplished between the years of 1987 and 1994 and was the first pigeon to win a Double Gold Award in the national; (to gain a Gold Award a pigeon has to win 5 times from France). In 2008 the Scottish National introduced a Silver Award for pigeons that won three times from France racing into Scotland and even this was a hard task to win. Then we had George and Brian Hunter of Dunfermline great blue bar hen ‘Kingdom Spirit’ a late bred in 2008 with an old ring placed on her leg was raced from the Kingdom of Fife in Scotland. She won her 1st SNFC Silver Award in 2011 the following year she won her SNFC Gold Award and then in 2013 she won her 2nd Silver Award and repeated history as she then became the second pigeon to win a Double Gold Award in 2015. She won from Reims (567mls) Clermont (524 mls) Messac (573mls) and Alencon (547 miles). She also won the Scottish Homing Union Dewar Trophy for Scotland’s Pigeon of the Year’ 2010, She was runner up for this award in 2011. She correspondingly won 1st prize in the Joe Murphy One Bird Sporting Challenge from Alencon in 2012. We then had Jocky King of Kirkcaldy famous hen ‘Mary’ named after his wife. Mary was an 11 times winner in both the SNFC & SNRPC and won a Gold Award with both clubs. Winning from the following race points; Clermont (523 miles) Falaise (520 miles) Reims (565 miles) Alencon (549 miles) Andrezel (578 miles) and Bourges (667 miles) and as you can see a true LONG distance winning pigeon. Then we have Davie Glen of Forfar outstanding blue cock ‘Lawson Lad’ a winner of 9 times in the national winning a Silver and Bronze award in seasons 2016 & 2017. From the following race points Buckingham (330miles) Maidstone (401miles) Portsmouth/ Bedhampton (407miles) Littlehampton (415miles) Eastbourne (427miles) and Ypres (465miles) He was earmarked to go for his Gold Award in 2018 but unfortunately he was lost from a club Ripon race a distance of 138 miles. This was a bitter pill to Davie Glen but he is man enough to know that this happens in pigeon racing. I think you will agree the above are outstanding pigeons and I apologise if I have missed a pigeon or fancier out; however if you contact me I can add this to this story. The SNFC held their annual presentation recently and I noticed only one pigeon won a Gold Award this year and THIS IS a very special pigeon that I have written about in the past and have followed his racing career over the years. He lives up to the name given to him and it gives me great pleasure to highlight his racing performance to readers of my column I hope you will Enjoy ………… ‘Mr Consistent’ I now have the pleasure of highlighting a pigeon that has created a UNIQUE part in the history of racing pigeons in Scotland as far as I’m concerned. This dark chequer cock has won 14 times (yes 14 times) in the SNFC during a 6 year period and no wonder is called ‘Mr Consistent’. This wonderful cock is raced by the father and son partnership of Sinclair Thomson & son Sinclair jnr of Port Seton a little town near Cockenzie on the edge of the Firth of Forth. Mr Consistent has won in all types of winds and from various distances from 286 to 507 miles with velocities ranging from 942 up to 1335ypm. Proving he is something very special and I’m sure once fanciers read this story they will agree that he is a ‘Pigeon in a Million’. The Thomson partnership are quiet and unassuming fanciers and do not like to boast about their achievements however I have the greatest of pleasure in giving them a large pat on the back. So here is his story!!!!!! The Sinclair Thomson & Son (also named Sinclair) of Port Seton have been household names in the Scottish racing pigeon fraternity for more years than I care to remember. They won 1st open SNFC Clermont in 2013 with their blue bar cock ‘Rossi’ who beat 1500 birds home doing a velocity of 1090. The following year 2014 a little dark chequer cock was born (Mr Consistent) and won 138th open from the young bird national doing a velocity of 1149 from Buckingham flying a distance of 286 miles against 1552 birds entered by 212 members. Then as a yearling he went to Portsmouth a distance of 363 miles and won 132nd section B 219th open doing a velocity of 1134 participating against 4767 birds entered by 588 members. Then on the 5th of July he was then sent to Eastbourne a distance of 385 miles (this was instead of Ypres as the national could not get across the channel due to a ferry strike) the Thomson’s won 1st section B 1st open SNFC with a chequer hen named ‘Liberty Belle’ doing a velocity of 1414ypm against 2494 birds sent by 445 members. They timed the dark chequer yearling cock to win 48th section B 70th open doing a velocity of 1295ypm. The following year as a 2 year old the Sinclair’s entered the dark chequer cock into 4 Scottish national races with the first of these being flown on 4th June from Buckingham were 521 members took part sending 4328 birds and he won 52nd section B 164th open doing a velocity of 1303 for the 286 miles home. The Littlehampton race came next 14 days after the Buckingham race and he was flying a distance of 370 miles partaking against an entry of 4482 birds entered by 510 members and he recorded a velocity of 1084ypm and won 17th section B 43rd open. Two weeks later he was set up for the Ypres national with 2324 birds contested their skills against the best of Scotland’s 440 members and the dark cock was to the fore as he won 6th section B 7th open doing a velocity of 1146 ypm. Then 14 days later he competed from the last old national from Roye a distance of 494 miles to his home loft at Port Seton and was again up with the leaders as he won 17th section B 49th open doing a velocity of 942 against an entry of 1330 birds submitted by 258 members. In 2017 he only won one national diploma from Buckingham flying a distance of 286 miles against an entry of 4169 birds submitted by 495 members returning with his cover feathers all out yet he still recorded a velocity of 1304 to win 179th open but did not win a section prize. Needless to say he was not raced again that season however the rest must have done him the power of good as he excelled in the 2018 season. Named as ‘Mr Consistent’ he once again competed from 4 Scottish national races starting with the Buckingham race were he won 31st section B 223rd open doing a velocity of 957 for the 286 mile journey back to his loft from an entry of 2941 birds taken part despatched by 441 members. Again 2 weeks later he was entered into the Maidstone race a distance of 359 miles which had 444 members submitting a convoy of 3001 birds and the Thomson father and son partnership won 1st section B 1st open with a blue pied cock named ‘Alfie’ who recorded a velocity of 1444ypm winning the national by 35 ypm. He is bred from the Sinclair’s family of birds direct from the famous Taylor Brothers of Newbiggin, his breeding being ‘Geerinckx’ crossed ‘Van Drop’ bloodlines. ‘Mr Consistent’ was the Thomson’s 7th bird home to the loft from this race however he did win 23rd section B 61st open doing a velocity of 1300 ypm. Two weeks later he was back in the race basket to the Liege race a distance of 507 miles and recorded a velocity of 1144 as he did not wish to be outdone by ‘Alfie’ he kept the Thomson partnership name to the fore by winning 1st section B 5th open from an entry of 1072 birds entered by 327 members. Three weeks later he competed from the last old bird national race of the 2018 season from Roye a distance of 494 miles and he was again to the forefront winning 3rd section B 12th open recording a velocity of 1194 ypm from an account of 747 birds presented by 186 members. In 2019 he was entered into the Maidstone race and was again displayed his ‘class’ by winning 2nd section B 5th open recording a velocity of 1713ypm from a convoy of 2957 birds sent by 421 members contesting in the race. Two weeks later he was set up for the Gold Cup race from Burdinne a distance of 498 miles and he won 11th section B 51st open doing a velocity of 1335ypm against an entry of 1251 birds submitted by the 358 members. This last section B prize from over the channel won the Sinclair Thomson and Son ‘Mr Consistent’ his SNFC Gold Award in 2019 which is a quite unique as he has previously won a Silver Award for being a 3 times a prize winner from France in 2018 and a Meritorious Inland Bronze Award for 5 times a winner from inland national races in 2017 ALL with the SNFC. In the 14 races that ‘Mr Consistent’ has raced only 1226 birds have overcome him and he has outclassed 36,189 birds to achieving his SNFC Gold, Silver and Bronze awards which must also rank as magnificent accomplishment. Parents of ‘Mr Consistent’ are direct from Taylor Brothers of Newbiggin with his sire being a Marcel Aelbrecht a household name in Belgium with the base of their birds from his best friend and neighbour Frans Sablon of the world famous combination ‘De Rauw Sablon’ winners of 1st national champion long distance in 2001 and 2nd national ACE long distance pigeon in 2001. Dam of ‘Mr Consistent’ is a Van Dorp, Klaas Van Dorp and his son are top winning fanciers in and around Rotterdam vicinity and they have the ability to perform very consistently at the highest level in their area. Besides their old foundation birds, most of their champions are related to such renowned names as Jan Ouwerkerk and Bart Geerinckx. It was the Ouwerkerk breed that delivered ‘Kleine Jan’ the team's current stock breeder which most of today's racing birds are related to. In concluding this short write up on ‘Mr Consistent’ I think you will agree that he is an outstanding pigeon and our congratulations go to both Sinclair’s who obviously are very proud not only of him but their team of pigeons which have excelled in SNFC during the past 10 years or so. Other outstanding Loft Mates This father and son partnership also have a blue cock named ‘Donald’ SU14P 5640 who has believe it or not won 10 times in SNFC races, and I will just highlight his performances; As a yearling he won 3 times; from Billericay he won 45th section B 71st open from an entry of 3406 birds. Then from Portsmouth race he won 9th section B 9th open flying against 4767 birds and from the Eastbourne race he won 33rd section B 44th open competing against 2494 birds. Then in 2016 he participated from the Ypres race and won 8th section B 9th open flying against 2323 birds and in 2017 he won twice winning 10th section B 33rd open from the Buckingham race with an entry of 4170 birds and then he won 10th section B 16th open from Ypres with 2320 birds participating. In the 2018 season he won 16th section B 31st open from Maidstone competing against 3001 birds and then from Liege against an entry of 1072 birds he won 11th section B 51st open. This win achieved his SNFC Silver Award for being a 3 times a prize winner from France and in 2018 he won the Meritorious Inland Bronze Award for 5 times a winner from inland national races with the SNFC. This past season 2019 he again won from Maidstone being 153rd open but no section prize from an entry of 2957 birds and from Ypres he won 213th open again no section prize with 2483 birds competing. Only 630 birds beat him during this period and he beat 26,212 birds to achieve these aspirations. He is again from the Van Dorp crossed Marcel Aelbrecht bloodlines much the same way as ‘Mr Consistent’. The Thomson partnership furthermore have a marvellous chequer hen SU14P 5619 named ‘Seton Queen’ who has won 8 times in the national as a 2 year old she won 4 times in 4 Scottish nationals in the same year being 286th open (no section prize) from Buckingham 4328 birds flying a distance of 286 miles; she then went to the Littlehampton race with 4482 birds entered and won 18th section B 45th open. She was then entered into the Ypres race with 2324 birds competing and won 25th section B 45th open and to crown it all off in a season to remember from the last old bird national race from Roye won 1st section B 2nd open against 1135 birds and triumphantly won the Scottish Homing Union ‘Dewar Trophy’ and hailed ‘Scotland’s Bird of the Year’ in 2016’. In 2017 she was sent to Bedhampton race and participated against 6065 birds and won 94th section B 350th open and her next race was Ypres and she won 2nd section B 6th open from an entry of 2320 birds. The following year ‘Seton Queen’ was sent to Maidstone with a convoy of 3001 birds participated and she won 19th section B 36th open and a few weeks later was entered into the Ypres race and won 17th section B 51st open from an entry of 2541 birds and this won her a SNFC Silver Award for winning 3 times from France. Like the 2 above pigeons I have worked out her overall achievements and she has been beaten by 821 birds during her racing career but overall she has also beaten 22,662 birds which his again an outstanding objective. ‘Seaton Queen’ is also bred from Taylor Brothers of Newbigging stock pigeons. Needless to say the partnership have other outstanding pigeon which I have not highlighted in this short story however I hope fanciers have enjoyed my efforts in highlighting these 3 wonderful pigeons raced by Sinclair Thomson and son Sinclair, believe me it has given me a great deal of pleasure in doing so, as there is nothing I love more than writing about ‘Good Honest Pigeons’ to which this father and son have. I’m intending to do a more in-depth report on them during the winter time, so something to look forward too. Sinclair Thomson and son Sinclair Donald Mr Consistent Joe’s Joke Maria, a devout Catholic, got married and had 15 children. After her first husband died, she remarried and had 15 more children. A few weeks after her second husband died, Maria also passed away. At Maria's funeral, the priest looked skyward and said, "At last, they're finally together." Her sister sitting in the front row said, "Excuse me, Father, but do you mean she and her first husband: or she and her second husband?" The priest replied, "I mean her legs." OR Joe’s Joke Tom was at the hospital visiting with his best friend Larry who was dying. Tom asked, "If there is football pitch in heaven will you come back and tell me?" Larry nodded yes just as he passed away. That night while Tom was sleeping, he heard Larry's voice in a dream, "Tom..." "Larry! What is it?!" asked Tom. "I have good news and bad news from heaven." "What's the good news?" "There is football pitch in heaven after all, but the bad news is you're playing centre half on Tuesday." 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...alracingpigeon/ Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland © Compiled by Joe Murphy
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