Joe Murphy Article 17th July 2022

sapper756 · July 25, 2023

Received an email from Ron Fewings from Ireland who wrote; ‘Hi Joe, I hope you and Margaret are
keeping well? Do you remember me sending you a reply in February this year. Following on after
you catch up below. ‘Hi Joe, Yes you can use any of my email in your column.’ Ron then went on to
say; ‘I got 2 from your bird in 2020 they were a bit late so never raced them but 2 of them were
double rung for future stock. Now last year 2021- I paired your bird to close relation to 2 nd Pattaya
One Loft Race; and I got 4 beautiful chequers 3 cocks and 1 hen. Our young bird racing was terrible
last year and from our first race a 1/3 of federation was lost; nobody knows what actually happened
but your 4 birds came through. With the hen my first bird from 50 birds sent on several occasions.
As you know Joe these birds are not sprint birds but long-distance bloodlines; so, I can’t get my head
round how they are beating my sprinters to be honest. Another week both nest mates came from your
bird so I couldn’t wait to race all 4 this year to be honest and I set them up for the Irish National
Flying Club Yearling race. Chat soon
Moving on to this Year 2023;
Now the 3 cocks and hen from your bird above. The cocks are flying steady but the little hen whom I
have now named ‘Joe’s Joy’ has really exceeded expectations. Having our INFC Yearling national
last Wednesday 14 th June; I sent a solid team but if given a choice only to send ‘ONE BIRD’ it would
have been ‘Joe’s Joy’ as the money I put on her would suggest. The INFC Yearling national
attracted 485 members sending 3070 birds; The North section had 319 members sending 2200 birds;
the South section had 166 members sending 807 pigeons; (These are the best yearling in every man’s
loft Joe).
With total pools and prizemoney being £24.083.97p. The convoy was liberated on Wednesday 14 th
June at 07-30 into a light easterly wind, and the winner of 1 st north section 1 st open is Martin Graham
of Ballymena with his winner doing a velocity of 1398. 1 st & 2 nd south section 1 st & 2 nd open are the
Trim RPC partnership of Zeballos & Thorpe recording velocities of 1384 point 6 and point 3 with
their 2 birds. Ron’s club mates J Fitzgerald & granddaughter won 5 th south section 7 th open doing a
velocity of 1279; Ron won 8 th south section 18 th open doing a velocity of 1189 for the 199 miles. He
wrote, ‘I was so happy how ‘Joe’s Joy’ was racing on the land I decided to pool and nominate her
across the board; I have never done this before but felt she deserved a ‘punt’ as her eggs were
chipping out the morning of basketing this worked a treat. The birds were liberated at 07-45 into an
east wind. After flying 4 hours 54 minutes ‘Joe’s Joy’ trapped like a dream to win 3 rd in the marking
station and 8 th south section 18 th open doing a velocity 1189. But the icing on the cake Joe was she
won £1430 the most money won by an individual pigeon from the 3070 birds. To say I am delighted
is an understatement; hence the reason why she is named after you. I thought I would let you know
this recent success as you asked me to let you know how the birds got on when I got them from you.
Thanks again Joe for giving me the opportunity to purchase her father this pair to me are the
GOLDEN PAIR. I have attached a photo of ‘Joe’s Joy’ on the nest after arriving home to her baby.
Thank You once again Joe, yours Ron’.
Ron sent me a photocopy of the pedigree of the cock I sent him; The bird was a son of ‘Saul’ my
stock Bernard DeWeerdt’s cock who was bred from a son of ‘Triple’ who won 3 times from
International races; when he was mated to ‘Inita’ a winner 5 times from Barcelona for Bernard.
‘Saul’ was mated to my No 1 stock hen ‘Veronica’ a double granddaughter of ‘Emiel’ Bernard’s
International winner. The dam of the cock sent to Ron was ‘Joanna’ her sire was a son of ‘Clovis’
one of Bernard DeWeerdt’s top Barcelona pigeons between the years 2011-12 & 2013. Dam of
‘Joanna’ was the above ‘Veronica’ my number one stock hen. So, you will see the cock was bred in
the ‘purple’ from the best of Bernard DeWeerdt’s distance bloodlines. I’m over the moon for Ron
and it is good when fanciers do well with pigeons you have given them; and on a personal note, it is

2

nice to have feedback which doesn’t always happen. See the photograph of ‘Joe’s Joy’ which is sent
with this article.

Results

News from Andy Miller with the Pentland Hills Federation race from Ramsgate: flown on Saturday
17 th June 2023: with the convoy liberated at 07-00am into a variable wind; with 52 lofts sending 433
birds: The Danderhall loft of A R Pringle (see photo) take the first 2 places with the winner doing a
velocity of 1621 and his 2 nd bird being his nomination entry doing 1520. Press Officer Andy Miller of
Sighthill club is having a good season and he takes 3 rd place. S & S Tierney of Danderhall club are 4 th
13 th & 14 th open with their first bird lifting £483. Ian Summers of Sighthill wins 5 th spot with Gilchrist
& Murray of Edinburgh Premier club are 6 th & 7h with Black & Robertson of Danderhall club
winning 8 th place. Freddie & Willie Robertson of the same club are 9 th winning £9 short of 300
pounds. Willie Pryde & son John of Arniston are 10 winning over £100.
Central & East of Scotland Amalgamation News from Andy Miller with the result of the
Ramsgate Old Bird race flown on the 17 th June; with 1356 birds liberated at 07-00am into a variable
wind. Taking the top spot plus 6 th open with the winner doing a velocity of 1621 is A R Pringle of
Pentlandhills. Fife members C Buchanan had a good race winning 2 nd 12 th & 20 th open with J Hynd &
son winning 3 rd open. D Finnigan of Scottish Borders wins 4 th open; with another Fife loft of J & J
Greenhorn winning 5 th open. Organizer Andy Miller of Edinburgh wins 7 th open with the loft of J D
Armour of Levin in Fife winning 8 th 9 th & 13 th open places. Moving back to Pencaitland loft of S & S
Tierney who win 10 th open and lift over £254 in cash; with Ian Summers of the same organisation
winning 11 th open with another Pentland Loft of Gilchrist & Murray winning 15 th & 16 th positions.
Fifer’s C Buchanan wins 12 th & 19 th open with Sean Diamond winning 14 th open. Fifer’s Jocky Scott
wins 17 th open; with John Harcus winning 18 th open. So, the Fifer fanciers did very well in this race
having 12 birds in the top 20 open positions.
Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club
From the Ramsgate race flown on 17 th June; 3 members sent 29 birds; these were liberated into a
light variable wind. With Charlie & Glen Cameron taking the first 3 places and Les McKay wins 4 th
spot. No details now as Kenny seems to be getting all the information now. From the SNFC Brighton
race the partnership had a fantastic race see photo
Almond Valley Federation
News from secretary Lynn Stewart who wrote; ‘Hi Joe, I've attached you the Almond Valley's open
yearling race result from Melton Mowbray; we had 182 club birds competing; with the race flown on
the 17 th June with the convoy liberated at 08-30 hours. Top honour goes to Vic Couper of
Bonnybridge club with a velocity of 1399 ypm. Henderson & Connolly of the same club are 2 nd on
1354 velocity. Winning 3 rd open is Freddie Jamieson & son with T Gavin of Fauldhouse club
winning 4 th & 5 th positions. J Burt of West Calder is 6 th followed by J Hadfield of the same club in 7 th
spot. 8 th place is won by I McLelland of Bonnybridge club with John Bird of West Calder not far
behind and Burnside & Drysdale make up the top 10 th positions. Lynn also sent me the Catterick race
result with 639 birds liberated at 06-00 hours on 17 th June. Topping the federation are the
Bonnybridge partnership of Law & Brady with their blue hen doing a velocity of 1592. Freddie
Jamieson & Son of East Calder club are 2 nd & 3 rd with L & N Redmond of Fauldhouse club in 4 th
spot. R & L MacDuff of Bonnybridge club are 5 th with Balerno’s Bald & Johnstone in 6 th spot. John
Hadfield of West Calder club is 7 th & 8 th with club mate D McBeath winning 9 th & 10 th positions.

3

Club Winners;
Balerno; sent 64 birds; with 1 st place going to Bald & Johnstone; C Ross is 2 nd & 4 th with J Fairley
winning 3 rd spot.
Bonnybridge; entered 156 birds with Law & Brady taking the top spot, followed by R & L MacDuff
and Vic Couper taking 3 rd & 4 th places.
Carnwath; sent 31 birds; the McArdle & Thomson partnership are 1 st 2 nd & 4 th with S McArdle
winning 3 rd place.
East Calder; sent 94 birds; with Freddie Jamieson & Son winning 1 st 2 nd & 4 th positions and brother
John Jamieson winning 3 rd place.
Fauldhouse; club sent 125 birds; with L & N Redmond taking the red card; C Smillie is 2 nd & 4 th
with T Gavin winning 3 rd place.
West Calder; had an entry of 169 birds with John Hadfield taking the first 2 places and D McBeath
taking 3 rd & 4 th positions.
North Of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie who informs us that the federation held their Yearling Race from
Weatherby on 17 th June with 50 members sending 527 birds. The birds were liberated into a very
light south east wind. The East Section had 26 members sending 335 birds; Topping the East Section
and Open is S Witherspoon of Inverurie with a bird doing a velocity of 1581; he also wins 4 th east
section 6 th open. R Barclay of Fraserburgh West End club is 2 nd east section 3 rd open with Eric &
Nicky Yule of Inverurie club are 3 rd east section 5 th open. Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District
club wins 5 th 6 th 7 th & 8 th east section 7 th 8 th 9 th & 10 th open. The west section had 24 members sending
192 birds; with the West section positions winners as follows; Winning 1 st west section 2 nd open is A
Milne of Devern Valley on a velocity of 1561; with the 2 nd west section 4 th open is Devern Valleys A
Hay; with club mate G Wilson winning 3 rd section 11 th open. 4 th west section 18 th open is J Cumming
Buckie & District with A J Reid of Keith winning 5 th 6 th & 9 th west section winning 24 th 26 th & 33 rd
open. 7 th & 8 th west section 31 & 32 nd open is R Wilson of Keith with R Hay & Family of Devern
Valley winning 10 th west section 34 th open.
Clubs First Bird
Inverurie is won by S Witherspoon velocity 1581. Devern Valley is won by A Milne velocity 1561.
R Barclay wins Fraserburgh West End velocity 1555. Fraserburgh & District is won by Colin
McRae with a velocity of 1524. Buckie & District is won by J Coming on 1502. Keith is won by A
J Reid doing 1497. Peterhead & District is won by Maskame & Cordiner doing a velocity of 1487.
P Thomson win Elgin & District on a velocity 1411. Well Done to; S Witherspoon on topping the
federation and also well done to A Milne on winning the west section.
East of Scotland Federation
News from Tom McEwan with the Ramsgate result; Tom says; ‘This turned out to be quite a testing
encounter for the federations last old bird race of the season. The convoy were liberated at 7-00am
on 17 th June into a light variable wind. Topping the federation for the 2 nd week in succession are the
father and son partnership of Tom & Scott McEwan of Elphinstone; Completing a nice treble is
secretary John Bird who wins 2 nd 5 th & 7 th positions. Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton has a good
double winning 3 rd & 4 th federation. Brian Lavery from the ‘Pan’s’ is 6 th federation with Gus Jackson
of Mackmerry winning 8 th federation place.
Prestonpans HS
The winners are Tom & Scott McEwen with a 2-year-old chequer hen; whose sire is bred down from
their SNFC Tours SNFC winner ‘Petit Rose’ when crossed with the ‘Bib’ a 4 times SNFC prize

4

winning cock. Dam of the winner contains the DeWeerdt bloodlines via Mark Gilbert. 2 nd & 3 rd
places go to club secretary John Bird with his 1 st bird a yearling blue hen; her sire is a Vandenabeele
blood while her dam was bred from Freddie Jamieson of East Calder. John’s next pigeon is a 4-year-
old chequer pied cock, he is a pure Padfield House of Arden ‘Invincible Spirt’. Wishing you and
Margaret all the best Joe, and THANK YOU once again for the publicity in your weekly column.
Dundee
News from Brian Donnelly who writes, ‘Hi Joe, for our 9 th race of the season, we are at Ramsgate,
around 400 miles to most club members. Seven members sent 58 birds; these were liberated at 07-00
am into a light north east wind. Winning 1 st club this week is Graeme MacKenzie on a velocity of
1482 ypm. Graeme timed a 4-year-old grizzle cock, that won 2 nd club last week and goes one better
this week to claim 1 st club & 1 st federation. The winner’s hen laid her 2 nd eggs Thursday a day before
race marking, he was bred by Charlie Watson from a pair of birds bred by the late John Duthie. 2 nd
club is Darren Phinn with a 2-year-old blue cock on 1291 ypm. Third club is Danny Henderson on
1191 ypm with a 2-year-old. Our congratulations go to Graeme, Darren and Danny. I have attached a
photo of Graeme with his winner; kindest regards Brian’.
Winchburgh & District P C
News from Bernie, with the result of the Thirsk race flown on the 10 th June; were 8 members sent
180 birds, these were liberated at 09-30am into a North East Wind. Taking 1 st club & 13 th federation
is Peter Keogh with a chequer white flight cock; who was flown celibate. He won 2 nd open SNRPC
yearling national which was flown in conjunction with the Littlehampton; where he took 9 th open. In
2 nd club 14 th federation is Henry Borthwick, with his good blue bar cock flown on widowhood. He is
home bred and won 2 nd club from Hexham earlier this year and he also topped the federation from
Thirsk & Newark last year. In 3 rd club 16 th federation position is Charlie Job; with a blue chequer
cock a Hermans Ceuster, bred by Ritchie Elliot. As a matter of interest Joe this is his first race of the
season. 4 th club are Tom & Georgina Weir with a Herman Ceuster; he was on the SNFC Upper
Hayford result last year and he also won as a young bird so he is a steady pigeon. Thanks once again
Joe for adding us into your weekly column. Both you and Margaret are good friends. Bernie.’

SNFC

From the SNFC Brighton race the convoy of 1629 birds were liberated at 05-30am into a north east
wind, with the convoy splitting into 2 batches heading north west, clearing the site immediately.
Birdage in the sections are as follows; Section A- 309; Section B-383, Section C-276; Section D-
249; Section E-231; Section F-78, Section G -103. This turned out to be an excellent race with the
probable winner an exceptional PIGEON who must have headed in a straight line north to its loft in
Broxburn a distance of 379 miles; and was timed at 12-42 to record a velocity of 1546 to win 1 st
region D 1 st east section 1 st open to the loft of Gordon MacKenzie, winning the race with a lead of 72
ypm. I’m led to believe that this pigeon contains the Gabby Vandenabeele bloodlines from Mark
Evans. So well done Gordon you have a truly outstanding pigeon as he was timed at 12-42 flying 50
miles further (379 miles) than the 1 st region A 1 st south section to McMorrine Brothers of Carlisle
who timed at 11-45 for the 314 miles and recorded a velocity of 1474. Winning 1 st section B 4 th open
are the partnership of Black & Robertson of Edinburgh who had a great race as they also won 2 nd 4 th
11 th & 16 th region B and 8 th 15 th 39 th & 60 th open. Over in Arbroath my dear friends Charlie & Glen
Cameron win 1 st & 2 nd region C plus 12 th & 13 th open. They also won 13 th 14 th 15 th 18 th & 21 st region C;
82 nd 83 rd 84 th 104 th & 119 th open, great flying well done lads. Another dear friend of mine Derrick Hay
of Kirkintilloch is another fancier who had a great race winning 1 st 3 rd 9 th 11 th 12 th & 19 th region E 21 st
51 st 92 nd 97 th 98 th & 135 th open, great flying well done mate. A Wilson of MacDuff in the north of
Scotland flying a distance of 483 miles wins 1 st region G 32 nd open which is truly outstanding when

5

you think that he only sent 3 birds to the race, so well done. Winner of 1 st region F 107 th open is J
Moffat of Millerston who recorded a velocity of 1251 for the 388 miles; he only sent 3 birds and had
them all on the result. another outstanding performance; well done!!!! I also noticed that my dear old
friend Barry Kinnear of Edinburgh had a good race winning 7 th 13 th 15 th 19 th & 37 th region B 27 th 48 th
56 th 64 th & 144 th open. Another SNFC Gold Cup winner George Veitch of Edinburgh is having an
excellent season as he was well to the fore in the first national and George wins 10 th 12 th 22 nd 29 th &
39 th region B 36 th 41 st 78 th 120 th & 148 th open in this race. While over in Fife Dean Bridges of
Glenrothes is another fancier who had a brilliant race as he wins 8 th 9 th 10 th 19 th 20 th 23 rd 24 th & 26 th
region C 43 rd 58 th 66 th 112 th 118 th 139 th 142 nd & 147 th open. As excellent as a race this was, I was quite
surprised to see some very prominent lofts who didn’t make the result. I know that you can’t always
be on every result. I study the SNFC results and have reported on some of the best fanciers and lofts
in the country in my column, so not to see these established names is quite surprising; especially as it
was such a good race. Once again, my congratulations to the convoyer; race controller for having
the birds away early in the morning (don’t know the last time we had a 5-30 liberation) and to the
new club secretary Donna Thomson who had the provisional result out by Monday night; which was
indeed marvellous; well done to ONE AND ALL.
Space Weather

The 27-day space weather outlook table issued on the 19th of June 2023 is as follows;
UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2023 Jun 19 160 12 4
2023 Jun 20 155 12 4
2023 Jun 21 160 12 4
2023 Jun 22 160 12 4
2023 Jun 23 165 5 2
2023 Jun 24 165 5 2
2023 Jun 25 165 5 2
2023 Jun 26 165 5 2
2023 Jun 27 165 12 4
2023 Jun 28 170 12 4
2023 Jun 29 175 5 2
2023 Jun 30 175 5 2
2023 Jul 01 175 12 4
2023 Jul 02 180 8 3
2023 Jul 03 180 5 2
2023 Jul 04 175 5 2
2023 Jul 05 175 5 2
2023 Jul 06 170 5 2
2023 Jul 07 170 5 2
2023 Jul 08 170 12 4
2023 Jul 09 170 5 2
2023 Jul 10 170 5 2
2023 Jul 11 165 5 2
2023 Jul 12 160 20 5
2023 Jul 13 160 30 6
2023 Jul 14 165 8 3
2023 Jul 15 165 8 3
Watch out if you are training your youngster on the 12 th / 13 th July as the readings are very high Joe
Murphy
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