Joe Murphy Article 29th July 2023

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The Joe Murphy Column

I start this week’s column by highlighting some interesting statistics on some of the winning pigeons from
the national races flown this year. The Port Seton partnership of Sinclair Thompson & son Sinclair timed in
their blue bar hen ‘Seton Bluebelle’ who raced to Newark as a young bird. Then last year as a yearling she
flew the club race programme on roundabout, and she was then sent to the SNFC Brighton race sitting 8-
day eggs and she won 1 st region B; 1 st east section 1 st open SNFC from an entry of 1480 birds flying 272
miles. This year she once again flew the federation programme on roundabout and she was sent to the Upper
Heyford race after spending the whole afternoon with her cock, and she won 1 st region B 1 st east section B
22 nd open flying a distance of 287 miles. Breeding of ‘Seton Bluebelle’ is as follows her sire is an Albrecht
direct from Taylor Brothers of Newbiggin by Sea. Dam of ‘Bluebelle’ is a Van Drop a daughter out of Bob
Donaldson’s ‘Good Hen’ who bred a lot of UNC winners. While talking to Sinclair he looked like he was
going to win 2 nd open in the SNRPC race from Eastbourne this weekend 1 st July 2023 when he timed 9 ½
hours on the wing. Sire is a Geerdix (Whiten Sylvester) and the dam of this 2 nd open Eastbourne winner is
‘Seton Queen’ the (Scottish Homing Union Bird of the Year 2016) she also won the SHU Dewar Trophy for
(Scotland’s Bird of the Year 2016) this wonderful hen won 286 th open SNFC Buckingham from an entry of
4328 birds; 45 th open SNFC Littlehampton 4482 birds; 45 th open SNFC Ypres 2324 birds and 2 nd open SNFC
Roye from an entry of 1135 birds. HOW MANY OF US WOULD LOVE TO OWN A PIGEON THAT
WON 4 TIMES IN NATIONAL RACING IN THE SAME SEASON. See Picture of this wonderful hen.

SNFC Alencon

This year’s SNFC Gold Cup race from Alencon was flown on Sunday 2 nd July with the convoy of 801 birds
entered by 177 members liberated at 06-30am into a very light south west wind. The leading pigeons timed
into the south section were W V Nuil from Gretna, Billy Jamieson from Annan and Dennis Anderson of
Annan who won 2 nd open last year. These 3 birds were timed between 20-30 and 20-50pm. Dennis and
Junior timed in a bird each. Dennis chequer cock was sent to SNFC Upper Heyford on widowerhood and
won 144 th open. He then went to the SNFC Brighton and was 19 th section 49 th open he was then repaired and
sent to Alencon sitting 11 days on eggs at basketing, his 2 nd flight had burst well through and I’ve sent you a
photo of his wing. He was never trained after Brighton and was out for exercise morning and night and all
the cocks were allowed to do what they wanted around the lofts with no pressure; with Junior and I enjoying
sitting watching them for hours cracking around the lofts. Then on handling my 2 entries for Alencon
we both agreed the chequer cock just edged the condition. He now wins a SNFC Silver award this year for
winning his 3 rd channel prize. His performances are as follows; 2020 he won 1 st section & 21 st open Reims;
2021 he won 12 th section 17 th open Guernsey and now in 2023 he is 3 rd section & should be in the top 10 in
the open from Alencon 2023. Joe in the past 13 SNFC races have won 7 section positions in the TOP 10 in
national races; these are as follows; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd , 5 th , 5 th , 7 th , 8 th all in the top 10 positions; Please see details of
mine and Junior’s timers from Alencon. ‘Cipo’ Chequer Pied Cock SU19 S 2225; winner of the following
positions; 8 th sect 188 th open SNFC Young Bird National 2019; In 2021 won 12 th section 178 th open SNFC
Maidstone- 2021 won 5 th section 23 rd open SNFC Yeovil; 2021 won 17 th section 23 rd open SNFC Guernsey;
2022 won 38 th section 156 th open SNFC Upper Hayford; 38 th section 70 th open SNFC Yeovil; 2 nd section 2 nd
open SNFC Alencon; 5 th section 13 th open SNFC Carentan; This same season he won 6 th Titan Games Long
Distance Category & Scottish Homing Union Ogilvie Trophy. ‘Bonnyrigg Lion Heart’ chequer cock SU18
S 3182; winner of the following positions; 1 st section 21 st open SNFC Reims 2020; then in 2021 won the
following; 37 th section 239 th open SNFC Huntington; 7 th section 147 th open SNFC Maidstone; 12 th section 17 th
open SNFC Guernsey & in 2022 won 5 th section 34 th open SNFC Brighton 2022. Both cocks bred and raced
by Dennis Anderson Snr of Annan.
‘Super Ally’ blue cock SU 20 S 6420 won the following position in 2022; 27 th section 44 th open SNFC
Alencon; he was bred by Dennis Anderson Senior and raced by grandson Dennis Anderson Junior.

SNFC Alencon 2023

Then I heard of 2 cracking pigeons into East Lothian to the loft of W McCormack & son of Tranent at 21.00
who are probable winners of 1 st region B 1 st open well done. My dear friends Sinclair Thomson & son

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Sinclair of Port Seton are probable 2 nd region and Open, They are also probable 2 nd open SNRPC Eastbourne
national flown this same weekend, (but I have not seen the probable result as yet as it is not out) However it
is great flying and well done to both Sinclair’s. Fife had 2 outstanding pigeons from the Alencon race that
crossed over the Firth of Forth about 22-00 hours to the lofts of R Cook of Rosyth at 22-22pm who wins 1 st
region C 4 th open and Hugh Gormley of Valleyfield timed at 22-28 to win 2 nd region C 5 th open. I remember
going to verify Hugh’s national winner from Dorchester (3) in 1983 which was quite a while ago. As many
of you know you have to let the pigeon out and after it’s fly must land on the loft and go in through the trap.
Well Hugh’s hen flew and flew and, in the end, we went into the house and had a cup of tea while waiting on
her to land and I watched her go into the loft. Great memories and well done to you both with your 2
outstanding pigeons. Another household name within the pigeon sport is Billy Jamieson of Annan who
probably wins 1 st region A 1 st south section 6 th open. My dear old friend Derek Hay of Kirkintilloch timed at
05-28am the following morning and is the probable winner of 1 st region E 1 st west region 10 th open with his
little hen ‘Kirksyde Kendall’. Derek and I were both on the SNFC management committee away back in
2005 when I was the clubs press officer. I have highlighted Derek’s birds and performances over the years
with loft reports; and his birds have put up some outstanding open results when you consider that he does
not live in a favourable part of the country. His winner is Kirksyde Kendall, is a direct daughter of his ‘Little
Owl’ who I’m led to believe is the only bird in the history of the West Region to win a Silver Award for
winning 3 times flying over 600 miles. The Kendall part of the name is after Derek & Linda’s first
granddaughter. Derek sent me a photo he had taken of the pigeon was within 5 minutes of her being timed
in. Well done my old mate. My dear friends Charlie & Glen Cameron of Arbroath are 4 th region C 12 th open;
more importantly for Margaret and I is they are the Probable winners of 1 st bird north of the River Tay and
therefore will y win the Kevin J Murphy Memorial trophy for 1 st bird north of the Tay, well done lads. As a
matter of interest last years winner of Kevin’s Memorial trophy was Donald McPherson of Aberdeen.
Donald once again wins 1 st region G 1 st North section & 131 st open flying a distance of 610 miles, this time
with the pigeon who won 2 nd region G from Carentan in 2022 flying 544 miles. The ever-consistent Davie
Jamieson of Linlithgow wins 1 st region D 17 th open with another very consistent fancier Liam Byrne of
Glasgow winning 1 st region F 42 nd open. Congratulation to all the fanciers who made the result and once
again a vote of ‘WELL DONE’ to the club secretary Donna Thomson and her partner Scott McEwen on
having the probable result out so quick. The race did not finish until after 4pm yesterday in the north of
Scotland and today Tuesday at 2pm I received a phone call from Charlie Cameron telling me the result was
out and he and Glen look probable winners of Kevin’s trophy. They were club mates of Kevin and swapped
birds with each other. Their probable 12 th open winner (see photo Charlie sent me) sire was bred from their
good cock ‘Bobby’ who won the north section twice. He was mated to ‘My Little Rachel’, Kevin’s winner
of 2 nd region C 4 th open SNFC Alencon flying 573 miles. As a matter of interest, she was a granddaughter of
Gilmour Brothers 1 st open SNFC Falaise winner ‘Robbie’s Boy’. The dam of Charlie & Glens winning hen is
bred from a son of ‘Branch’ winner of 2 nd region 3 rd open SNFC Roye and the following year won 1 st region
C 1 st open SNFC Roye when he was mated to a ‘Malfait Hen’. So, to say that all 4 of us, Charlie & Glen
and Margaret and I are over the moon that our dear friends have won the Kevin J Murphy Trophy in the
SNFC WELL DONE LADS. I have just received a phone call from Michael Main of Portlethen in the north
section of the SNFC, Michael has 6 birds at the race and does not have one home today 3 days after
liberation. The race in the north section does not close until 4pm this afternoon. Mike told me it has rained
cats and dogs all day. While Michael sitting in the kitchen looking out of the window at his loft; he saw a
pigeon land on the board and go right into the loft. The ETS did not register the bird so he went out and
believe it or not the bird was not one of his entries. It had an F registered ring on its leg, so he contacted the
SHU and the bird belongs to J Proctor of Kirkcaldy who purchased it from Jock King. He sent 9 birds to the
Alencon race and only has one home and now hears about this pigeon away in the north section. Michael
thinks the bird has come over the north sea as he did not think it would have overshot it loft. He is going to
look after the bird and send it down in the transporter this week when it goes down to Fife for the Brighton 2
race which is to be flown on the 8 th July. I also saw on the lib line that Donald McPherson is the only north

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section fancier to time in from the race. Donald won the Kevin J Murphy Memorial Trophy last year for
being the first bird north of the River Tay on the open result, and I was wondering if it was the same pigeon.
However, Michael Main informs me that Donald lost the blue cock during the racing season; which was a
pity.

SNRPC Eastbourne

Race was flown this weekend 1 st July with an entry of 244 birds, the wind was a strong west wind and the
convoy would be blown up the east side of the country. I noticed that my dear friend Sinclair Thomson of
Port Seton had a good bird in probable 2 nd open with others in 8 th 15 th 35 th open. They are having a very good
season as they have timed in another good bird in the SNFC Gold Cup race from Alencon mentioned above.

Many Thanks

News from Ron Fewings whom I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, Ron wrote, ‘Hi Joe, I have to write to
say your article about ‘Joe’s Joy’ was impressive and I thank you for giving her a great home coming. I have
a lovely sister in my young bird team as I obviously left her parent together so I’ll keep you posted specially
if they as good as ‘Joe’s Joy’. Once again, all the best your friend Ron’.
Dewar Trophy Winners

Many of you will know that I’m in the process of compiling a book on the SHU Dewar Trophy Winners.
This week I have been proof reading the stories on the winning birds, however I would like the fancier who
assisted me with some information on George Wilson of Wilson Brothers of Edinburgh who won the Dewar
Trophy in 1977 to please contact me. I’m sorry I cannot remember this person’s name and I don’t have a
phone number or email address to assist me contact them.
Results

North of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie who informs us that 39 members sent 400 birds to Strathkinness (2) race on 1 st
July with the convoy liberated into a light west wind. The East Section took the first 30 open positions with
Peterhead’s Neil Holt taking the top honours by winning the first 2 places plus 6 th open. His club mates
Maskame & Cordiner are 3 rd & 4 th with G Findlay of the same club winning 5 th & 7 th spots. Colin McRae of
Fraserburgh & District wins 7 th 8 th 9 th & 10 th east section and open.
The West section had 18 membe rs s en di ng 166 bi rds with Buckie & District J Cumming taking the top honour in
the west section who had 18 members sending 166 birds; he also won 31 st open, with Fulton & Ritchie Loft
1 of Devern Valley club win 2 nd west section 32 nd open; Ryan Hay & Family of the same club won 3 rd 4h &
5 th west section 34 th 35 th & 36 th open, with A Milne again from Devern Valley club wins 7 th & 8 th section 37 th
& 38 th open with club mate G Wilson winning 9 th section 39 th open and Keith’s A J Reid wins 10 th west
section 40 th open.
Clubs First Bird
N HOLT wins Peterhead & District doing a velocity of 1536. Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District club
velocity 1459. J S Robertson wins Inverurie with a velocity of 1436. A Higgins of Fraserburgh West End
recorded a velocity of 1412. J Cumming wins Buckie & District on 1261. Fulton & Ritchie Loft 1 win
Devern Valley with a velocity of 1209. Keith club winner is A J Reid on 1148 & Elgin & District winner is J
Jack on 1016. Congratulations go to N Holt on topping the federation and well done to J Cumming on
winning the West Section.
Almond Valley Federation
News from secretary Lynn Stewart regarding the Billericay race flown on 24 th of June with the 185 birds
being liberated at 06:15 hours. Taking 1 st west section 1 st open are Thomson Brothers & I Thomson of
Carnwath club, they were doing a velocity of 1266. John Bird of West Calder club won 2 nd 5 th 6 th & 9 th west
section 2 nd 5 th 6 th & 10 th open positions. John Hadfield of the same club won 3 rd 4 th 7 th 8 th & 9 th west section
winning 3 rd 4 th 8 th 9 th & 10 th open. J Fairley of Balerno won 1 st 2 nd 3 rd & 4 th EA & 7 th 15 th 22 nd & 26 th open. T
Gavin of Fauldhouse wins 1 st 2 nd & 3 rd club 13 th 14 th & 16 th open. Law & Brady of Bonnybridge wins 1 st NO

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& 17 th open. Prize money J Bird of West Calder wins £20.00; Burnside & Drysdale win East Calder £20.00.
Summary list of money winners; J Bird West Calder £87.20. J Fairley Balerno £ 59.10; J Hadfield West
Calder £ 34.20; Thomson Bros & I Thomson £ 20.00; T Gavin Fauldhouse £ 20.00; Law & Brady
Bonnybridge £ 20.00; Burnside & Drysdale East Calder £ 4.50 and C Ross of Balerno £ 0.90 Total payout
£245.90.

Space Weather News
27-day Space Weather Outlook Table Issued 03-07-2023
UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2023 Jul 03 170 5 2
2023 Jul 04 170 10 3
2023 Jul 05 165 8 3
2023 Jul 06 155 5 2
2023 Jul 07 155 5 2
2023 Jul 08 155 5 2
2023 Jul 09 155 15 4
2023 Jul 10 155 10 3
2023 Jul 11 160 5 2
2023 Jul 12 165 20 5
2023 Jul 13 170 30 5
2023 Jul 14 175 8 3
2023 Jul 15 175 8 3
2023 Jul 16 175 8 3
2023 Jul 17 175 8 3
2023 Jul 18 175 8 3
2023 Jul 19 170 8 3
2023 Jul 20 170 8 3
2023 Jul 21 170 8 3
2023 Jul 22 160 8 3
2023 Jul 23 160 5 2
2023 Jul 24 155 5 2
2023 Jul 25 155 5 2
2023 Jul 26 160 5 2
2023 Jul 27 160 5 2
2023 Jul 28 165 5 2
2023 Jul 29 165 5 2
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 log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk
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