Joe Murphy 2nd Article December 2022

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I noticed in this last week’s BHW an advert for the position of Secretary/Treasurer for the SNFC; saying this would be a Full-Time Appointment. Surely in this present climate within our sport this has to be a PART TIME post. Back in 2006 when certain individuals including the then president of the club; did not get their own way at the SNFC A.G.M. They walked out and within a week or so formed the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club to compete against the SNFC. During their first season they had 225 members (including members of the SNFC) sending 1531 birds to their inland race from Newbury. This year 2022 the SNRPC sent 399 birds to Eastbourne; and 390 birds to their Newark young bird race (no details of members). This shows the club are losing members nearly every year. When the SNFC present-day secretary took over the post in the year 2014; we still had the challenge of competing against the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club; the club averaged between 431 to 645 members to the nationals. With entries from 1355 birds to the Gold Cup race sent by 431 members. With 645 members sending 4855 birds to Maidstone inland national. At the present time 2022 the most membership was from the inland race from Upper Heyford with 369 members sending (this includes fanciers who are in both Scottish Nationals) 3002 birds. From the Alencon Gold Cup race 142 members entered 713 birds and from their other channel event from Carentan; 97 members sent 396 birds. Therefore, the SNFC creates most revenue from the inland race points. However; I have it on good authority; subject to agreement; that the Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation is looking to re-start up in 2023; This consists of races from the 250 miles stage to the South coast of England; i.e.; Maidstone; Brighton; etc. They believe if the combination of the following federations; i.e., Aberdeen, Dundee, Angus, Fife, Central, North West, Midlothian, Traprain, Pentlandhills, East of Scotland, Scottish Borders ALL JOIN, they will be able to take the pigeons to the longest South Coast race for a £1-00 A BIRD. Plus, the fact again subject to agreement and some minor logistics, THEY can leave on the Friday night and be down in time to liberate the next morning if the weather is good. If this transpires; it will take all the birdage away from the SNFC inland nationals. Which would result in a massive loss of revenue to the club. Plus, the fact that if this appointment is made for a full-time secretary, then that person will be entitled to a full-time salary. Membership is dropping every year and you just have to look at the number of fanciers who are calling it a day. We have just seen our ‘Greatest Fancier’ Billy Bilsland winner of 14 nationals; give up the sport, plus there are others who are not so well known, but are members of the national, the pigeon sport is dying and we ALL KNOW THIS FACT; so, a Full-Time secretary will be a massive mistake in this present climate.  

Here is Another Example of this Fact

 

I received an email with the sad news that the father and son partnership of Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone are also giving up the sport. Jamie wrote ‘Hi Joe, hope you are well. You might have heard on the jungle drums but just to say that I'm intending to have an advert in the BHW on Thursday 24th November edition, advertising all the birds for sale. My dad and his wife are looking to move house and have put their house on the market now; so, the birds need to go asap. I wondered if you could give it a wee mention in your column that week, please? I don't have time to organise an auction so I’m just going to advertise them and sell them from the paper. I have a week off work from Friday 25th November until Monday 5th December and would hope to have the birds away during that week. I'll be happy to show any visitors the birds that are available, provided they make an appointment - strictly no unannounced visitors.  I will have a sale list ready that can be e-mailed out so folk will know what is available. I can be reached on 07910 514078 or by e-mail jcelphi@hotmail.com

Anyone who follows the SNFC results or reads my column will have read about Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone; as their name has been at or near the top of SNFC results for many years. They have also raced some wonderful pigeon over the years, including; ‘Setonpark Caelan’ winner of The Joe Murphy Sporting Challenge; she did not only win this top award; but she was the only pigeon recorded in race time. Which was something unique as this had never happened before in my Sporting Challenge. Richard and Jamie also raced their famous ‘Midnight Son’. A dark chequer cock, who was one of the best, if not the best, pigeon that Richard & Jamie had the privileged to breed and race. His sire was ‘0400’ a black-splashed red chequer Kirkpatrick stock cock. His brother was rung ‘0399’ and won 33rd open SNFC Rennes as a yearling and his sister, ‘3220’ won 22nd open SNFC Sartilly. The dam of ‘0400’ was 8566 a dark blue chequer hen who won 5th open Sartilly (1) and 99th open Sartilly (2) with the SNFC in 1995. So, as you can see, ‘Midnight Son’ was bred in the purple! ‘8566’ in turn was a ½ sister of their great hen ‘Sapphire’ a winner of 5th open SNFC Sartilly (1) & 31st open Sartilly (2) in 1993; & 29th open SNFC Beauvais in 1994. Both ‘0400’ and ‘8566’ left a exceptionality amount of good channel winners for the partnership.

As a young bird in 1996, ‘Midnight Son’ had 7 races out to Worcester (252 miles) and won 1st club from Penrith. He only had 3 races as a yearling from Preston, Stafford and finally Frome with the SNFC homing early on the 2nd day. In 1998 he was raced from Longtown, Penrith and Leyland before being sent to Frome with the SNFC. Then on the 8th June, after a one-day holdover, he won 9th east section, 16th open from an entry of 4005 birds. He was then entered in the SNFC Gold Cup race from Rennes and on the 28th of June after a 2-day holdover; he won 72nd east section, 131st open from an entry of 3019 birds. Finally on the 8th of July this same year he won 3rd east section, 7th open SNFC Sartilly competing against 2042 birds. These results with the SNFC won him the coveted SHU Dewar Trophy for Scotland’s Bird of the Year.  He also won ‘Bird of the Year’ in the Edinburgh and Lothians Social Circle. It was his performance from the Sartilly race which gave him his name. The convoy were liberated at 09-00am, and he was timed – (amid much excitement - at 00-31) by Richard; hence the ‘Midnight’ part of his name. Somehow son Jamie, arouse from his bed when it was realised the cock was on the trap. He reached the loft -dressed in pyjama top and shorts; and in his bare feet - at the same time as Richard. And so, this is the reason the ‘Son’ part came of his name. ‘Midnight Son’ went on to win 109th east section, 241st open Frome against an entry of (3827 birds); then won 65th east section, 155th open from Rennes against a convoy of (2862 birds); and he then won 4th east section, 37th open Sartilly from an entry of 1973 birds with the SNFC in 1999. He then met with a serious injury in 2000 which greatly curtailed racing for a while until the partnership were sure he had fully recovered but in 2002 he was sent to Reims with the SNFC and he won 45th east section, 62nd open from a convoy of 2650 birds; thus, securing his SNFC Gold Award for winning 5 times from France. Needless to say, he had nothing more to prove and was then retired to stock and was the sire and grandsire of many good channel winner’s; not only for Richard & Jamie but also for great fanciers like; Eddie Newcombe, Bobby Carruthers, Dale Newcombe (all sadly no longer with us) and many others. To win 3 times in the top 10 of the east section of the SNFC, was a great feat at that time and ‘Midnight Son’ and as far as I’m concerned ‘Midnight Son’ will always be a Champion in my eyes. Richard and Jamie achieved many prizes within the top 5 open positions in the SNFC results; for example; they were 2nd open Tours, 2nd open Chenoise, 3rd open Sartilly, 4th open Rennes, 5th open Rennes and 3 times x 5th open Sartilly. They also twice won ‘The Fancier of the Year’ award in 1998 with Jim Renwick and in 2004 with my Joe Murphy Sporting Challenge; and they were also runners up in 2006. They have also won the SNFC overall and section averages plus the Gold Award mentioned above; They also won SNFC Silver Awards won in 2008; 2009; 2015; 2016 & 2018. I have highlighted a good few of these achievements in previous articles. My thanks to Jamie for his email and I hope Richard |& Jamie’s sale goes well, look out for the advert in this week’s paper. 

 

SHU Trophy Winners 2022

 

The SHU Celtic Trophy; was presented by Taffy Bowen of Wales; for the performance(s) Old Birds up to 300 miles. The winners were G W & P McAloney with the following performances;              

Race Point Organisation Date of Race Position in Race Number Birds   Distance Velocity 

Alnwick       Lanarkshire     30/04/22         1st Fed     5391 Fed     96-1091     1494

        1st Section              1509 Sect

Alnwick       Lanarkshire     18/06/22         1st Fed     2462 Fed     96-1091     1270

        1st Section               747 Sect

Thirsk          Lanarkshire     07/05/22         24th Fed     5072 Fed     154-627     1372

        10th Section            1408 Sect

Worksop     Lanarkshire     21/05/22         31st Fed     3447 Fed     213-1717   1329

        15th Section            1005 Sect

Worksop     Lanarkshire     21/05/22         15th Fed     3447 Fed     213-1717   1329

Yearling         7th Section              1005 Sect     213-1717   1329

Budworth    Lanarkshire     14/05/22         32nd Fed                  4250 Fed     189-1036   1246

Yearling         18th Section            1160 Sect     189-1036   1246

Alnwick       Lanarkshire     3/07/22         34th Fed     1193 Fed     96-1091     1270

        9th Section                643 Sect

Wooler        Lanarkshire     16/04/22         77st Fed     3484 Fed     77-1057     1362

        32nd Section             973 Sect

 

The SHU Yearling Trophy Friendship Cup; for Outstanding Performance was won by S & S Tierney of Edinburgh. From the SNFC Alencon race point flown on the 1st July 2022, flying a distance of 534 miles 449 yards recording a velocity of 1087.64 winning 21st open competing against 713 birds. This pigeon has already won 7th section B 47th open Yeovil, from an entry of 1631 birds, and also won 36th open Carentan from an entry of 396 birds. We move on now to the Annie Ross Bowes Memorial Trophy; which is awarded to the fancier who has donated their free time in promoting the pigeon sport in Scotland. The winner of this award is Joe Allan of Midlothian, nominated by Jimmy Simpson of the same federation. His letter is as follows; Dear Andrew, I would like to nominated Joe Allan of Easthouses for the ARB Trophy. Joe is in his 83rd year and has been an inspiration all over the Lothians for helping pigeon men; i.e., moving their lofts also house moving; anything you ask Joe he would always help. He has been Midlothian federation clock ‘convenor’ also convenor for the SNFC for more years than I can remember. I am 70 years old and could not have done ½ of what Joe has done, he also ferries race birds on Friday night from 12 clubs and brings the baskets back on a Saturday. As I have said before he is in his 83rd year, suffers from C.O.P.D and has vowed to die ‘A DOO MAN’. He lost his wife Violet 3 years ago and ‘Doo’s’ is all he has left. Hoping that you can give my nomination consideration yours in sport Jimmy Simpson’.  I would like to congratulate Joe on winning this award, and I can also reiterate to Jimmy’s letter. Many years ago, I was asked to help out a widow whose husband had passed; she was wanting all the pigeons and loft removed. Our son Kevin was interested in her small stock loft and he purchased it. However; how was he going to get it over to Thornton in Fife, where he would collect it. Joe Allan come to the rescue and brought the loft over in his van. I have known Joe Allan for many many years, as we were both friends of the late Chris and Roy Anderson of Ayton; who were great fliers in their day. On many occasions when we visited the Anderson’s Joe would often be there as he had trained his federation members birds from down in this area at least twice a week. Then he would drop in and see the Anderson’s. Great memories and Chris and Roy had a fantastic team of birds, and the pigeon club room was in the bottom half of their property; opposite the Black Bull Pub in the main street of Ayton. Billy Bilsland lives in the top part of the village now, and we all know how successful Billy has been.    

Joe’s Joke

A Cup of Tea One day a mother was out, and dad was in charge of his daughter. She was only maybe 2 ½ years old. Someone had given her a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of her favourite toys. Her Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news; when she brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such ‘yummy tea’, her mum came home. Dad made mum wait in the living room to watch their daughter bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!'  Mum waited, and sure enough, here she came down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy; and Mum watched him drink it up. Then she said, (as only a mother would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"

 

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.com/site/internationalracingpigeon/ Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland?

© COMPILED BY JOE MURPHY

Midnight Sun

 

Seatonpark Caelon