Joe Murphy Article 12th June 2023

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The Joe Murphy Column

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We would both like to thank all the people who have sent good wishes to us and our son Mark after his heart
attack; he is making remarkable progress and we have been to see him every couple of days and keep in
contact via facetime on the mobile. I also received a lovely letter from G K----- from HM Prison Wymott
Leyland in Lancashire he wrote. ‘Dear Joe & Family, It may be a shock getting a letter from such an address
as this, but I hope you will read on, not only as I have always maintained my innocence; but I too have
suffered a heart attack and I am only 51. So, the reason I am writing after reading your article in the British
Homing World 26 th May 2023. It is to try and give you some confidence. Your son having a heart attack will
have been scary but it doesn’t mean he cannot enjoy lots more years. I had a heart attack and 2 stents, at the
end of September 2011. Since then, I have competed over 6 million meters on a rower. I would have been
past 10 million if Covid had not struck and I’m aware this challenge isn’t done, so I’ve started using the
exercise bike. I do so because the Heart is a muscle; your son’s will be a bit weak at the moment but with
future exercise he could end up with a heart like mine. The last time I have my heart scanned I was told I
had a very good strong heart and I would survive another heart attack, I hope that hasn’t jinxed me. So, Joe,
if Mark takes his time, completes a cardiac rehab course, exercise within reason and eats healthy he could go
on for many more years. I’ve nearly put 12 years on the clock (since my heart attack). I love your writings,
especially the distance methods; all the best G K-----. This person has also donated money to various causes
in the BHW. We would both like to thank Mr K----- for his letter and I have also replied to him. It was very
nice of him to take the time to write and I’m also glad to know that he enjoys my weekly article.

Results

Central & East Of Scotland Amalgamation
News from Andy Miller who informs us of the Melton Mowbray old bird race flown on the 27 th of May with
the entry of 4417 birds liberated at 06-30 with no wind at the race point. Pentlandhills sent 1401 birds, East
of Scotland entered 174 birds, Scottish Border sent 355, Midlothian fed entered 220 birds, Eye Valley sent
43 birds, Dundee had an entry of 378, Angus had 479 birds entered; Fife & Kingdom federations had an
excellent entry of 1291 birds, Central federation had 7 birds with the North of Scotland federation sending
69 birds; which was excellent birdage for this first Amalgamation race. Topping the Amalgamation was K
Wright of Pentlandhills with a 2-year-old cock doing a velocity of 1487 so congratulations to him on his
win. B Thomas & son of Pentlands was 2 nd with another Pentland loft of Walker & Brown winning 3 rd place
just beaten on decimals. Helen Aitken & son of the same Pentlands was 4 th with R Walker of Eye Valley
winning 5 th spot. K Dick of Pentland is 6 th just 3 yards ahead of Gilchrist & Murray of the same federation. D
Crowe & son of Eye Valley are 8 th with Pentland’s Steve Lapinskie winning 9 th spot just ahead of T Nolan &
son in 10 th spot. G Jackson of East of Scotland federation is 11 th open with M Gillies of Scottish Borders
winning 13 th place. John Harcus of Fife wins 22 nd position; John Bird of East of Scotland wins 31 st open with
D White & son of Midlothian winning 32 nd open and M Young of Dundee wins 54 th open.
Pentland Hills Federation.
News from Andy Miller who writes; ‘Hi Joe, from our sixth Federation old bird race along with the Central
& East Of Scotland Amalgamation this was flown from Melton Mowbray on Saturday 27 th May. The
distance being 229-241 miles for the members. The 4417 birds were liberated at 06:30 in no wind. The
Pentlandhills Federation & Amalgamation winner is Danderhall member Keith Wright, who timed his 2-
year-old widowhood cock, ‘Marko’s Boy’ bred by Eric Owenson from Gorebridge, from stock obtained
from Romanians Hendrick & Paul Voeten. Keith received the bird from fellow club member Mark
Robertson last year when Mark had to give up the pigeons, and broke the pigeon out. ‘Marko’s Boy’ was
also a previous winner for Mark too. Regards Andy.
East of Scotland Federation

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News from Tom McEwen of the Melton Mowbray old bird race flown in conjunction with the Central &
East Of Scotland Amalgamation. Topping the federation and also taking 3 rd & 4 th positions is Gus Jackson of
Macmerry; well done Gus. In with another great bird is John Bird of Prestonpans completes a treble winning
2 nd 8 th & 10 th open. Keeping up the good name of the ‘Pan’s’ is Keith Howie with a double winning 5 th & 9 th
position. Completing the top 10 with a double is Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton
Prestonpans HS
The red card goes to John Bird with a 2-year-old chequer pied hen; she was not raced as a youngster and this
year she has been flying spare. John noticed that she started looking at another hen prior to the race and she
was sent in this condition to win the club. Her sire is a Vandenabeele from Woodside Lofts while her dam is
bred from a pair from the Padfield Family through the House of Arden. 2 nd club is Keith Howie with a 2-
year-old hen who contains the Paul Stobbs bloodlines through Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone. The
dam is from Graham Stewart of Whitecraigs from Frank Shearers bloodlines. 3 rd club is John Bird with a 2-
year-old blue hen on roundabout. Her sire was purchased at the East of Scotland sale and was bred David
Jamieson of East Calder, while her dam was bred down from John’s good hen ‘Bits & Pieces’. My thanks to
Tom McEwan for the above report.

Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club
News from Charlie Cameron with the Melton Mowbray race result with 6 members sending 115 birds to the
race in conjunction with the Amalgamation. Taking the first 3 places in the club are Charlie and his son
Glen; with Les McKay of Carnoustie winning 4 th & 5 th spots. P Cameron was 8 th with A & A Shepherd in 9 th
spot.
Dundee & District Flying Club
News from Brian Donnelly with the sixth race of the season from Melton Mowbray around 272 miles to
most club members. Twelve members sent 219 birds, liberated at 06-30 am with no wind at liberation site.
First club is John Wiseman, who is having an excellent season, this being John’s 3 rd win on the trot!  John’s
timer on 1348 ypm is a yearling roundabout hen, her sire is a son of Martin De Poorter (Sluis, NL) ‘New
Rainman’ when paired to a daughter of a hen from Micky Collins off ‘Sagan’ & ‘Kittel’ lines from Dirk van
Den Bulck. 2 nd club is the consistent loft of Danny Henderson on 1347 ypm. Danny’s timer is yearling flown
on the roundabout system and is bred from a Franz Zwols cock, which has been a good breeder having bred
a 2 nd  combine winner in the past. The dam is a Herman Ceuster cross ‘Foxy Lady’ lines. This pair of birds
have always been mated together having bred several good birds in the past. Third club is Billy McEwan on
1346 ypm with a yearling widowhood cock, this bird is starting to show a bit of form for Billy these last few
races and has been improving each week. He is bred from the stock loft and is of Kipp bloodlines. Fourth
club is Darren Phinn on a velocity of 1344ypm. Congratulations to John, Danny, Billy and Darren. See
photo of John Wiseman with his club winner. Cheers Joe yours Brian’.
 North of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie who informs us that 55 members sent 1258 birds to Gateshead (Swalwell) flown
on the 27 th May with the convoy liberated into a light south west wind. The East Section had 26 members
sending 692 birds and Peterhead & District’s A Woodhouse takes top honours winning both the section and
federation with his winner doing a velocity of 1487: Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District takes the next 5
places with his first 3 birds dropping together. G Findlay of Peterhead & District is 7 th with club mate N
Holt next with A Higgins of Fraserburgh West End winning 9 th place just ahead of club mate D Ward. The
West Section had 29 members sending 566 birds and G Wilson of Devern Valley club takes the first two
sections places plus 4 th winning 33 rd 34 th & 36 th open. A Wilson of the same club wins 2 nd 5 th & 6 th section 35 th

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37 th & 38 th open, with Ryan Hay & Family winning 7 th & 10 th west section 39 th & 43 rd open; and Fulton &
Ritchie Loft 1 of the same Devern Valley club wins 8 th & 9 th section 40 th & 41 st open.
Clubs First Bird
Peterhead & District winner A Woodhouse velocity 1487.616. Fraserburgh & District winner Colin McRae
velocity 1484.252. Fraserburgh West End winner A Higgins velocity 1449.779. Inverurie winner S
Witherspoon velocity 1429.224. Devern Valley winner G Wilson velocity 1356.182; Keith winner R Wilson
velocity 1296.574; Elgin & District winner J Jack velocity 1207.716; Buckie & District winner J Cumming
velocity 1204.804. Well done to A Woodhouse on Topping the federation and well done to G Wilson on
winning the West Section.
Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association
The federation were at Melton Mowbray with the Amalgamation with the convoy liberated at 06.30am; with
No wind at the liberation point. Pete Penman forwarded the following report. ‘Hi Joe, the Kingdom RPA
were at Melton Mowbray this week, being liberated along with the East Coast Combine. On what seemed
like an ideal racing day, but by the end of the day there were quite a few empty perches. Taking the honours
this week was Davy Whyte of St. Serfs club with a homebred yearling chequer hen feeding a big youngster.
This hen's nest mate has won the last three club races this year. The next three places went to the man in
form Coaltown's Gary Hall. First over the trap was a 3-year-old Gaby x Ceusters cock, followed by a 2-year-
old Gaby x DeWeerdt who's dam was 2 nd  section 3 rd  open Maidstone in 2021. Next was his consistent 2-year-
old blue cock that won 1 st open KRPA Billericay last year. At Rosyth we had Gordon Cree take the red card
and at Leuchars Tom Berwick lead the way
Pentland Hills Federation:
Flown from Melton Mowbray on Saturday 27 th May in conjunction with the Amalgamation the federation
had 69 lofts sending 1401 birds, these were liberated 06-30 with No Wind at the race point. The top spot
goes to K Wright of Danderhall club 3 yards ahead of B Thomas & son of Easthouses club. Walker &
Brown of Danderhall club are 3 rd winning £408 for their efforts. Helen Aitken & son of Woodburn club are
4 th with K Dick of Edinburgh Premier club 3 yards ahead of club mates Gilchrist & Murray who are 6 th with
Easthouses Stevie Lapinskie who wins 7 th spot. T Nolan & son of Danderhall club are 8 th with Ian Summers
of Sighthill club wins 9 th place and making up the top 10 is R Simpson of Easthouses club. Press Officer
Andy Miller wins the Gold Ring prize of £200 winning 17 th open.
Fife Federation
News from Geordie Todd who forwarded the federation result from the Melton Mowbray race flown in
conjunction with the Central & East Of Scotland Amalgamation. The 1022 Fife birds were liberated at 6-
30 with no wind at the race point. Topping the east section and Federation and also winning 9 th open is John
Harcus of St Andrews with the winner doing a velocity of 1407 for the 257 miles trip. 2 nd open and east
section is J D Armour of Methilhaven club with J Hynd & son of Crossgates winning 1 st west section 3 rd
open. Alan Cassidy of Methilhaven club is 4 th east section and open with Erskine & son of Novar winning 2 nd
west section 5 th open. Jim Doig of Lochgelly club is 3 rd west section 6 th open, with Crossgates Dougie Barnes
winning 4 th west section 7 th open. His club mate R Cook wins 5 th west section 8 th open with another club mate
K Cochrane taking 6 th west section 10 th open.
East Section clubs Methilhaven had an entry of 168 birds, St Andrews sent 180 birds; Geordie Baxter of
Methilhaven club wins 5 th section.
Centre Section clubs Kennoway sent 261 birds and Glenrothes & Leslie sent 23 birds; Kennoway club took
all the section positions with 1 st & 5 th going to B Chalmers; Tam Laing is 2 nd Sean Diamond is 3 rd Brian
Kinnear is 4 th with Stevie Ritchie in 6 th spot.

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West Section clubs; Crossgates sent 215 birds; Lochgelly sent 95 birds; Dunfermline 160 and Novar 34
birds.
Almond Valley Federation
News from Lynn Stewart the secretary of the federation; who informs us that the federation were at
Wakefield on the 27 th of May with the 940 birds liberated at 07:30 hours. Taking first place are Law & Brady
of Bonnybridge club with a yearling blue hen doing a velocity of 1346. Clubmate I McLelland is 2 nd with
East Calder’s Freddie Jamieson & son winning 3 rd open. John Hadfield of West Calder continues with his
excellent results this week winning 4 th 7 th 9 th & 11 th federation; his club mate John Bird wins 5 th 6 th & 8 th
positions. T Gavin of Fauldhouse club wins 10 th open.
Club Results;
Balerno 66 birds; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th C Ross 1244.118, 1228.259, 1222.396, 1193.747
Bonnybridge 186 birds; 1 st Law & Brady 1346.493, 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th I McLelland 1321.312, 1231.408, 1231.104
Carnwath 117 birds; 1 st Thomson Bros & I Thomson 1215.686, 2 nd McArdle & Thomson 1203.425, 3 rd S
McArdle 1195.057, 4 th J Stokes 1190.775
East Calder 98 birds; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th Freddie Jamieson & Son 1314.720, 1283.142, 1268.265, 1247.431
Fauldhouse 254 birds; 1 st 2 nd & 3 rd T Gavin 1301.405, 1295.230, 1267.511, 4 th C Smillie 1256.107
West Calder 219 birds; 1 st J Hadfield 1314.111, 2 nd & 3 rd J Bird 1313.053, 1312.775, 4 th J Hadfield 1312.71

Space News

27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
Issued 29-05-2023
UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2023 May 29 150 12 4
2023 May 30 145 10 3
2023 May 31 140 5 2
2023 Jun 01 135 5 2
2023 Jun 02 130 15 5
2023 Jun 03 130 12 4
2023 Jun 04 130 15 4
2023 Jun 05 130 10 3
2023 Jun 06 130 8 3
2023 Jun 07 130 5 2
2023 Jun 08 130 5 2
2023 Jun 09 130 5 2
2023 Jun 10 130 5 2
2023 Jun 11 130 5 2
2023 Jun 12 135 5 2
2023 Jun 13 140 5 2
2023 Jun 14 143 5 2
2023 Jun 15 145 5 2
2023 Jun 16 150 5 2
2023 Jun 17 155 5 2
2023 Jun 18 155 22 5
2023 Jun 19 155 15 4
2023 Jun 20 155 12 4
2023 Jun 21 150 10 3
2023 Jun 22 150 5 2
2023 Jun 23 150 5 2
2023 Jun 24 150 5 2
Joe’s Joke

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Fifty-one years ago, Tam Brown, a fisherman from Peterhead was drafted into the Army. On his
first day in basic training the Army issued him with a comb. That afternoon the Army barber
sheared off all his hair. On his second day, the Army issued Tam with a toothbrush, that
afternoon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth out. On the third day, the Army issued Tam
with a ‘Jock Strap’. The Army have been looking Tam for the past 51 years.

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
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