Joe Murphy Article January 2023

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The Joe Murphy Column

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Here we are again at the beginning of another year, and may I wish ALL READERS OF MY
COLUMN a Very Happy New Year. You wonder were the times goes and when I just think back
to our youngest grandson who is now 10 and we now have a great grandson also born in 2022. It
is great to see them all getting on so well, and this year will be our daughters Beth’s oldest
children leaving school, oh how time flies and make you feel old at times.

John Hardwood

Received a phone call from John Hardwood who used to write an article in the pigeon papers.
John was very disappointed to read in my column about the theft of stock pigeons from
Catherine & Geoff Coopers of St Just. John has never met the Coopers but for someone to do
this to this couple was disgraceful and he was in near tears when he read the story. John like the
most of us are just happy to have pigeons as our hobby; however, John does not have them now
as his health has deteriorated during the Covid period and he is now attending the Beatson
Institute in Glasgow for treatment. John has always been an outdoor type of man and we will all
know from reading his articles how much he loved going out with his dogs and also fishing,
which was his main hobby. He was also outstanding at making his own ‘flies’ and a few of them
have become very well known in this sport. John used to come with his good friends the Hood’s
to my sporing challenge nights out and they enjoyed mixing with the other top fanciers who
attended. I know John loves reading the BHW when he comes home at the weekend, and I know
that many readers of his column will wish him all the best and he is in our thoughts as he fights
this - dreaded diseases.

Has pigeon racing changed

A couple of articles ago I covered the Edinburgh International Charity Show of 1986 which
Henry Mair had forwarded to me. Henry also expressed a few questions to me; Do you think the
(Pigeon Sport) peaked in the 1980’s -1990’s as the Scottish National had about 3500 birds
competing regularly. Also, the Up North Combine had 23,000 birds competing regularly in their
races. My answer to this question was the 1970-80’s were the best times; as the number of birds
competing then was exceptional and no other competition. They did have a race from Beauvais
in 1963 that was won in Fife by Geordie Robertson of Cupar with ‘Isabella’ then in 1966 they
introduced the Avranches race with the famous Tommy Little of Creca (which is north east of
Annan) winning the race. A young bird national was also introduced this same year 1966. From
the Rennes race of 1974 there was an entry of 7789 birds. In 1975 this increased to 7842 birds,
and in 1976 the entry was the highest on record with 7953 birds taking part, and the winner was J
Murray & son of Ecclefechan. The following year 1977 there was 7476 birds and in 1978-7293
birds and then in 1979-7359 birds. So, you will see that there were over 7000 birds at each
Rennes race in this period. The Nantes race was a different race altogether as this was the longest
distance race flown in Scotland in the national and many fanciers did not have these true long-
distance pigeons. The Scottish National Nantes race flown in 1973 had an entry was 1689 birds.
In 1974-1556 birds.1975-1742 birds.1976-1944 birds (which is the highest entry from
Nantes).1977-1798 birds. 1978-1576 birds.1979-1473 birds and in 1980-1872 birds. These last 2
years we have had W Kinnear & son winning Reims with an entry of 1490 birds in 2021 and due
to not getting into France due to Covid the race was flown from Guernsey with an entry of 1273
birds and P White of Hamilton won the event. Then in 2022 we managed to have a race from

The Joe Murphy Column

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Alencon with 713 birds participating (the drop in the numbers could have been due the rule that a
vet had to authorise the entries prior to the race) the race was won by Jimmy Dalgleish of
Ecclefechan. With the other national race from Carentan which only had an entry of 396 birds
and the winners were Mr & Mrs Power of Gretna. So, my answer to Henry Mair, is there have
been big changes in our sport since the ‘GREAT’ days of the 1970’s & 1980’s; these days are
long gone and our National and long-distance sport is at the point of losing the battle to continue
in the years ahead. (especially if
DEFRA is involved as has happened in 2022) I hope I’m wrong but I have been involved in the
sport of pigeon racing since 1965 as I stated in my Christmas article; and as much as I LOVE it,
it is getting smaller and smaller every year. While on about the articles; I have attached a photo
of ‘Susan’ winner of 1 st section 14 th open SNFC Rennes in 1954; she was bred and raced by A
Milligan of Lochwinnoch and she contained the Slabbinck bloodlines. As a matter of interest, the
Rennes winner was Davy Fowler of Methil from an entry of 5106 birds. I have also included an
old photo of Norman Dall (Dennis’s father) taken when the new Fife Federation transporter was
purchased.

Joe’s Joke

No one believes seniors; everyone thinks they are senile. An elderly couple was celebrating their
sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to
their old neighbourhood after they retired. Holding hands, they walked back to their old school.
It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they’d shared, where Andy had carved
“I love you, Sally.” On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armoured car,
practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do with it, they
took it home. There, she counted the money - fifty thousand pounds!
Andy said, “We’ve got to give it back.” Sally said, “Finder’s keepers.” She put the money back
in the bag and hid it in their attic. The next day, two police officers were canvassing the
neighbourhood looking for the money, and knocked on their door. “Pardon me, did either of you
find a bag that fell out of an armoured car yesterday?”
Sally said, “No”. Andy said, “She’s lying; she hid it up in the attic’. Sally said, “Don’t believe
him, he’s getting senile” The agents turned to Andy and began to question him. One said: “Tell
us the story from the beginning.” Andy said, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from
school yesterday ....” The first police officer turned to his partner and said, “We’re out of here!”

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?