Joe Murphy Article 3rd February 2023

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I had a phone call from a vet from Dundee; who said he had one of my pigeons brought into him.
The ring number was GB1826509; I asked him how he gained my number and he replied he
obtained it from the RPRA. He informed me that the pigeon was in a poor way and he thought a
cat had caught the bird, and the pigeon was suffering and the nicest thing to do was to put the
pigeon down. So I agreed with him, on checking my Pigeon Loft Organizer on my computer, this
pigeon was not on my filing system. So, I don’t know how he thought the pigeon was mine.
Anyway, whoever it belonged to will know that the Vet put the pigeon out of misery.

My Trip down Memory Lane

Over the years I have become very good friends with Guy Reed of the Isle of Wight; who raced
(and still does) the Bernard DeWeerdt family of pigeons. I went with Guy; and his good friends
Mark Gower who lives near Fordingbridge and his good friend Andy Parsons of Salisbury, we
had a great weekend and these fanciers were ‘first-class’ and I thoroughly enjoyed their
company; and have wonderful memories of my trip to visit Bernard in Belgium. Many fanciers
throughout the world have done well with this family of pigeons over the years. Their champion
‘Emiel’ was named after Bernard’s father who died in 1990; and the pigeon won 1 st International
Dax/Bordeaux against 9.493 pigeons in 1992. Other famous pigeons raced by the family were
was ‘TED’ who scored 100% from 7 International races (3 x Pau; Dax; Narbonne; Perpignan &
Carcassonne. ‘TOULON’ 1 st provincial Marseille (907 km); 40 th National 3.586 birds; 115 th
International 11.933 birds. ‘KEDIR’ winner of 1998; 143 rd International Perpignan 16.025 birds;
1999; 78 th International Dax 12.880 birds; 2000; 34 th International Dax 11.807 birds (as a 7-year-
old still scoring from Barcelona & Perpignan) ‘ROXANNE’ in 2004 she won; 107 th National
Barcelona 12.245 birds 18 th national hens 3.012 hens; 378 th International 24.913 birds 111 th
international hens 6.903 hens. 268 th International Perpignan 17.570 birds 61 st international hens
4.670 hens. Winner of 4 th provincial Ace Pigeon KBDB Extreme long distance; 13 th national Ace
pigeon KBDB Extreme long distance (probably the best Belgian extreme long-distance hen in
2004); 1 st Barcelona Ace Pigeon FC Gistel 2004-2006 winner ‘Golden Feather Trophy.
RALDO scored 100% from 13 international races sent 3 times each year. MAGNUS; won 4 th
National Dax (868 km) 3.276 birds, 19 th International 7.194 birds; 36 th International Perpignan
(928 km) 13.367 birds 33 rd International Dax 12.880 birds his sire was Masahiko a son of
EMIEL. Finally, a pigeon I handled and fell in Love With was ‘INITA’ she scored from
Perpignan; won 1249 th national Barcelona 12.612 birds; 69 th National 11,484 birds & 207 th
International Barcelona 23.708 birds; 206 th National 13.503 birds & 424 th International Barcelona
27.669 birds; 777 th national 12.641 birds & 1621 International Barcelona 25.750 birds; Winning
4 th best Belgian National Barcelona racer between the years of 2008-2010 and in 2011 she
won 2829 th National against 12.170 birds from Barcelona. It is enough to say that Mark Gilbert
and Catherine & Geoff Cooper have done exceptionally well with the DeWeerdt family of
pigeons over the years. For example; the Cooper’s ‘George’ was the winner of 1 st NFC Tarbes,
he is also the grandsire to 1 st international Bordeaux; 8 th international Pau; 2 nd International
Bordeaux Yearlings; 3 rd International Bordeaux Hens and is uncle to 1 st International Pau. I was
appalled to read recently that their loft was broken into and some of their stock pigeons stollen. I
have since heard that 3 or 4 birds have returned with their rings cut off. This will have broken the
Cooper’s trust within the sport and hell mend the culprits who did such a disgraceful act.
Another time while on holiday in the Lake District I visited Andy Gregson who also had the
DeWeerdt’s family of pigeons and had done exceptionally well with them. John Little of
Ecclefechan won my Sporting Challenge in 2010 with a hen bred down from stock off Andy. At

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the time John wrote; Hi Joe; please find the details of my pigeons in your sporting challenge; it is
indeed a privilege to once again be part of this fantastic competition. Everyone down here in the
south section try to get into the first 3 in section from the Gold Cup race as this is your
opportunity to take part in challenge and I was lucky enough to gain 2 nd section and open last
year with my candidate named ‘Little Miss Darci’. She is a 07 bred chequer hen and won 1 st
Hoddam flying club Worcester in 2008 and she was also 2 nd section A 2 nd open SNFC Alencon in
2009. As a young bird she only had one race and as a yearling she flew 7 races up to
Mangotsfield 249 miles. Then as a 2-year-old she had 5 races before going to the SNFC
Newbury inland national. She is home bred from a pair of pigeons from Andy Gregson from
Preston; I took a fancy to the sire at Blackpool show and Andy selected a hen to pair to it. The
cock was actually raced by Andy before I bought him and he had scored on a number of
occasions through to Fougeres 378 miles. He gained 1 x 2nd; 1 x 3 rd ; 2 x 5th; and 2 x 6th in club
and 1 x 15 th federation. These 2 pigeons purchased from Andy were bred in different years but
are identically bred the sire and dam both being bred by Jac Van Der Wagen from Steenburgen
with the famous De Barcelona Hen 65 20234862 featuring prominently in each side of the
pedigree of the sire and dam.’
I also met Andy at Blackpool show where he had a stand and did very well; as a matter of fact, I
got on really well with Andy; and I purchased some of his DeWeerdt family to go into my own
introductions. Another great recollection was when at Blackpool Show Charity Auction, I sat
next to Dennis Dall who was interested in Tom Riding of Stockport pigeon which was direct off
his famous ‘Pau Cock’. Dennis paid over £100 for the pigeon which was more than my weeks
wages at that time. He bred off the hen the following year and a youngster from her won the
Auchtermuchty Classic young bird race, winning over £100 so he got his money back. He
winked at me when I asked him the breeding and he said ‘Joe, Blood Aways Tells’ and he was
right and I have always remembered that. The nearer you get to the ‘Champion’ be it a national
winner, Gold OR Silver Award winner. The closer you get to the direct ‘Winner’ then the more
chance you have of breeding a ‘The Good’s’; we are not stupid enough to think that EVERY
BIRD will breed winners; but somewhere along the line be it a grandchild or great grandchild;
the winning line will come out. I also have a pleasing memory of going to visit Tom & May
Riding in Southport. Kevin was a small boy at this time but wanted to keep me company. We
departed early in the morning and by the time I drove to the Forth Bridge he was sleeping. We
stopped at Southwaite service area for something to eat; and soon after he was sound asleep; by
the time I arrived at Tom’s he had woken up. After seeing Tom’s Pau Cock and handling some
other quality pigeons; his wife May had made us something to eat; she had an old-fashioned
range and when she gave Kevin some rice pudding; he was nearly licking the plate. He swears he
never tasted rice pudding like it in his life. When we started to drive home, he fell asleep and
woke up as we came over the Forth Bridge; and said ‘I’ve had a good day’, which I laughed at as
he had slept most of the time. When we got home all he could talk about to Margaret was about
May’s ‘rice pudding’ we both had a good laugh and these are great memories indeed.

Obituary

Wilma Peggie of Methilhill;
I was sorry to read about the passing of Wilma age 73, on 14 th January 2023; She was the wife of
Jimmy, and mother to son Gary and his sister Gail; and mother-in-law to Jackie and Terry. Also,
Gran and Gaga to Reis and Neve; dear Sister, Auntie, and special friend to many. Wilma will be
sadly missed by all. The Funeral service will be held in Methilhill Bowling Club on Friday 10 th

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February at 10-15am; thereafter to East Wemyss Cemetery where Wilma will be laid to rest at
11am, to which all family and friends are respectively invited.
Joe’s Joke

Angus Broon of Glasgow comes to the little lady of the house exclaiming, "Maggie, could ye be
sewin on a wee button that's come off of ma fly? I canna button ma trousers." "Oh Angus, I've
got my hands in the sink, go up the stairs and see if Mrs MacDonald could be helping ye with it."
About 5 minutes later, there's a terrible crash, a bang, a bit of yelling and the sound of a body
falling down the stairs. Walking back in the door with a black eye and a bloody nose comes
Angus. Maggie looks at him and says, "My god Angus, what happened tie ye? Did you ask her
up the stairs like I told you too?" "Aye," says Angus. "I asked her to sow on the wee button, an
she did, everything was going fine but when she bent doon to bite off the wee thread, Mr
MacDonald walked in."

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

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