Joe Murphy Article 27th January 2023

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The Joe Murphy Column

I have had a few nice phone calls regarding last week’s article which highlighted my visit to Jim
Biss; I found another folder with some extra photos in it, this contained the very good pigeon
called ‘Basher’ see photo; who was a decedent of the ‘Vale Cesar’. ‘Basher’ was bred in 1995
and won the following positions for Jim Biss; 1 st section 22 nd Grand National Pau 645 miles in
1998; 8 th National Marseilles 668 miles in 2000; 10 th section 261 st open Grand National San
Sebastian 2001 flying 662 miles; 10 th Gellenville 2001; 16 th section Nantes National 2002 from
an entry of 10,150 birds; 1 st National Marseilles 2002 beating 15,022 birds from this International
race. Sire was Nomad; bred from Bear x Vale Cesar; Dam of ‘Basher’ was a daughter Dali
from Silvere Toye.

Another Memory

While going on about my reminiscing above; I remember Cameron Stansfield who was the editor
of the BHW at that time, wrote article; ‘Five out of 6 Ain’t Bad’; this was about John & Julia
(his daughter) Barnett of Telford. Who had prepared just 6 pigeons for 3 open races; entering 2
into the NFC Pau event (they were liberated at Saintes instead), 2 for the Midland NFC Bergerac
race and 2 for British Barcelona Club race from Bordeaux. All 6 were cocks - but the thing that
impressed me was this was NO Widowhood set up. Each of these cocks was raced natural, and
their cycles had not been broken since being paired in March. Two cocks were sent to the NFC
race; however, these were brought back to Saintes and were liberated at 17-00 hours; thus, also
reducing the 653-mile trip to one of 488 miles. John and Julie didn't know what to expect in
terms of an arrival time for their entries; however, they timed a 4-year-old chequer cock seconds
before noon and he was to win 1 st section J, 53 rd open, from an entry of 2,770 birds. As a
youngster this cock was the only bird on the day into Telford from the young bird national and
his breeding could be traced back to 67F1389, who scored from Pau on the day in 1970 for the
legendary Cyril Ball & Sons of Telford (who was a household name within our sport). This
pigeon had won 2 nd Shropshire 500-mile club; 2 nd Wrekin Federation Championship Angouleme
flying a distance of 500 miles. He also won 126 th open NFC Nantes; 18 th open Pau NFC and 31 st
open Pau NFC flying 650 miles ON THE DAY. He also won 46 th section Lamballe NFC. So, you
can see reading the above he was a quality pigeon indeed. The Barnett’s 2 nd entry was a 2-year-
old chequer cock who won 5 th section J & 156 th open flying 559 miles. The BBC let their convoy
go at 06-15am and the MNFC Bergerac birds were airborne at 07-00am and John and Julia were
looking for pigeons when on 11 hours 17 minutes, their 2-year-old chequer cock swung into
view and was promptly clocked. A natural pigeon from an 'old-fashioned' lineage, showed the
versatility of the Barnett pigeons. He ended up winning 8 th south-west section, 30 th open from an
entry of 2,016 birds. In his previous race he had won 4 th section J, 26 th open NFC from Saintes on
the 21 st of June from an entry of 4,526 birds. He is the nestmate of the cock mentioned earlier
who won 5 th section Pau/Saintes. The dam of this pair was the only bird on the day in the Telford
area from the 2000 young bird national; and their sire is a full brother to the sire of their 1 st
section J from the Pau/Saintes race in 2003. Then at 18- 24pm their 2 nd Bergerac entry arrived; he
was another 2-year-old chequer white flight cock. He won 10 th south-west section, 35 th open to
add to his 51 st section, 435 th open NFC Saintes 5 weeks earlier. He was a full brother to the dam
of their 5 th section Saintes/Pau and 30 th open Bergerac 2003 winner, being bred from John's and
Julie's No. 1 stock pair, who were a dark chequer cock ‘Peanut’ and a blue white flight stock hen,
they were also parents of 27 th & 38 th open NFC Saintes. The BBC Bordeaux race birds were
liberated at 06-15am, which was 45 minutes earlier than the Bergerac birds, although racing a

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similar distance but on a different line. Also, the structure of the convoy was different with most
of the 1,574 birds heading into a wide front along the south coast of England. Although their
hopes were high of recording day birds, this was not to be, but they didn't have to wait long the
next morning to welcome their 3-year-old chequer cock who won 7 th section E, 356 th open. This
cock had taken 15 th section 89 th open NFC Saintes on the 21 st June. He was a grandson of ‘Bella
Donna’ a winner of 2 nd section J 6 th open NFC San Sebastian, flying 648 miles on the day in
2001. His sire is the brother to the sire of 1 st section Saintes, 5 th section Saintes, 30 th open Saintes
and 30 th open Bergerac, and he is a brother to the dam of ‘Bella Donna’. John and Julie had to
wait another 3 days for their 6 th entry to return home, however, he had hit the wires so it was not
surprising he was late home. This article had an intense impression on me that I contacted
Cameron for the Barnetts phone number and made contact with John. Who invited me down to
visit him and see the pigeons which I did. I spent a lovely day seeing their famous ‘Belladonna’
who won a 486 th open Sartilly NFC young bird race from an entry of 8.366 birds. She was also
won 10 th open 1.800 birds NFC Bergerac flying 559 miles; she won 2 nd section 6 th open NFC San
Sebastian 5.570 birds; flying 648 miles ON THE DAY. Then there was ‘Peanut’ who flew
Saintes 489 miles on the day and was then put to stock. The ‘NO RING BLUE COCK’ bred for
stock by C Ball & sons of Telford, he was bred from 9 th open Pau x Ref A winner of 18 th & 31 st
open Pau flying 650 miles on the day & 7868 winner up to Pau. ‘The Palamos Hen’ winner of
81 st -101 st & 186 th open Palamos flying 791 miles. It was a wonderful experience to meet the
Barnett family and see their pigeons, and needless to say I ordered some of their family, in fact
we became very good friends; and they had some of my ‘Mystical Rose’ bloodlines sent down to
them. I would often meet up with them at Blackpool Show as they had a stand there. Wonderful
people and a Great family of Distance pigeons, happy memories indeed. Now for something up
to date!!!

Scotland’s Bird of the Year 2022

The above winner of this wonderful accolade is a 3-year-old chequer white flight hen bred and
raced by that wonderful fancier John Hodgson of Annan, who has won the Scottish National
Flying Club 7 TIMES. These wins are as follows; Sartilly (2) in 1986; Sartilly (1) in 1987;
Rennes in 1990; Sartilly (2) in 1990; Sartilly (1) in 1991; Falaise in 2008 & Clermont in 2020.
So, you will see John is a household name within the annuals of Scottish National Flying Club.
John has named his winning Dewar Trophy hen ‘Bella’; as a young bird she scored in the club
and flew the SNFC young bird national from Buckingham a distance of 226 miles. Then as a
yearling she scored in club and flew from the SNFC Maidstone race (305 miles) and she also
flew from this same race point with the SNFC as 2-year-old. In 2022 she flew Guernsey a
distance of 382 miles with the NFC prior to going to the SNFC Alencon race where she won 11 th
open flying 475 miles recording a velocity of 1175.91 competing against 713 birds. Then from
the SNFC Carentan race a distance of 402 miles ‘Bella’ won 2 nd open doing a velocity 1046
competing against 396 birds. The breeding of ‘Bella’ is as follows her dam is ‘Roxy’ a SNFC
Silver Award winner; her positions are as follows; In 2019 she won 173 rd open SNFC
Buckingham and then won 17 th south section SNFC Burdinne 2019. In 2020 she won 16 th south
section Reims and then in 2012 she won 6 th section 8 th open SNFC Guernsey she is 100% Oswald
Schneider; Regarding the Oswald Schneider pigeons; John had this family for the last 12 years
and these are direct from Oswald who lives in Notulin in Germany. They are an exceptional
family of long-distance pigeons and he flies 767 miles from Barcelona and Oswald is one of the

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furthest flyers in Zone 3. Her sire is 50% Oswald Schneider and 50% Louella Jan Aarden down
through ‘Icarus’ a (Silver Award Winner) ‘Icarus’ positions are as follows; 1 st south section 49 th
open SNFC Alencon; 13 th south section 60 th open SNFC Falaise; 7 th south section 9 th open SNFC
Newbury; 148 th open SNFC Maidstone; 150 th open SNFC Newbury; 432 nd open SNFC Newbury
and 14 th south section 21 st open SNFC Alencon. So, you will see that ‘Icarus’ has scored 7 out
times and he missed out on his 8 th SNFC race by one position. His lines are ‘Smaragd’ 1 & 2 plus
‘Invincible Spirit’. So, you will see that he is bred for the job. John has kindly forwarded me a
photo of his Dewar Trophy Winner and also a photo of John holding the Dewar Trophy and the J
Renwick Trophy. Once again, I send my congratulations to John and thank him for supplying the
details of his winning pigeon.

Joke

Three Irishmen are sitting at the pub window, watching the front door of the brothel across the
street. The local Methodist vicar appears and quickly goes inside. ‘Will you look at that’ says the
first Irishman ‘Didn’t I say what a bunch of lying hypocrites they are’. No sooner are the words
out of his mouth when a Rabbi also goes inside. ‘There’s another bunch who try to fool everyone
with their pious preaching and funny little hats’, says the second Irishman. They continue
drinking roundly condemning the vicar and the rabbi when they see their Catholic priest sneak
inside. ‘Oh how sad says the third, one of the girls must have died’.
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 Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon
topics from Scotland?
© COMPILED BY JOE MURPHY