Joe Murphy Article 2nd September 2023

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I had a couple of phone calls after I reported about Fat Eye being found in some federations; with
fanciers wishing to know more about this. I have personally not seen this so I looked it up on the internet
and these are the following observations. {In the 'Fat Eye' the eye is almost always dry whereas in the eye
infected with ornithosis the eye is wet also the fat eye has a tinge of yellow. Young pigeons with the fat
eye tend to avoid sunlight. It has also been reported that chloramphenicol eye drops have successfully
cleared the problem. It is important to keep some disinfecting agent in the drinking water as the 'fat eye'
can spread via the drinking water. In 2017 there was a number of cases reporting youngsters with ‘Fat
Eye’ in Germany. The eye lids are inflamed and the lower eye lid often hangs down a bit. It almost looks
as though the pigeon is squinting. The typical Fat Eye/Herpes Eyes are almost always ‘DRY’, in contrast
to the ‘Wet’ ornithosis eyes. Sometimes the eyes have a slightly yellow tinge and some bristling. Young
pigeons with Fat Eye avoid the sunlight and blink when exposed to direct sunlight. Some close their eyes
completely. It is inappropriate to expose the youngsters to additional light at this time. If the youngsters
show these symptoms there will be losses in training and racing. Mortality does not occur in youngsters

with Fat Eye, unlike in youngsters with yellow herpes deposits in the beak. Incidentally, the Paramyxo-
Herpes vaccine is not effective against Fat Eye at the clinical stage, rather special eye drops and an

injection with ‘Orni 1’. Alternatively, you can choose not to treat the youngsters but this can take weeks
for the outbreak to run its course. Over the last few years, Fat Eye has been seen more frequently in
Belgium, Netherlands Germany and the UK. I have just received a phone call from Nigel Llewelln
regarding the above subject and Nigel informs me that fanciers MUST look out for a small MARK on the
eyelid of their birds. This mark is at the bottom of the eye and this is the start of Fat Eye. Nigel informs
me that if fanciers use Karidox 100mg/ml oral solution this will definitely work. If you use this treatment
for 5 days the Fat Eye will be gone. He also told me that it would not do fanciers any harm to use this for
a 31-day treatment over the winter months, this longer period of treatment will help clear birds who are
‘carriers’ and all your birds will be ‘sound as a pound’ after this time of treatment; as this definitely
works. My thanks to Nigel and it was lovely to talk to him once again as it is a while since we did so. I
hope this of some interest and support to help readers of the column.

Results

East of Scotland Federation news from Tom McEwen who writes; ‘The federation were at Consett on
the 20th of August with the convoy liberated at 9-15am into a light south west wind. Taking the first 3
places plus 6

th open is John Bird of Prestonpans HS keeping up his fantastic run in the federation. His
federation winner is a blue cock a grandson of the ‘Mosaic Cock’ out of Brian Shipley of Woodside Loft.
Gus Jackson of Macmerry wins 4
th 7
th 8
th 9
th & 10th places well done to Gus as well. Keith Howie of the

‘Pan’s’ has a nice one in 5th

federation.

Prestonpans HS.
Taking the first 3 places in the club is John Bird with his winner a blue cock and the runner up was a blue
hen both are grandchildren of the ‘Mosaic Cock’ of Woodside Lofts fame. They are from different rounds
John’s 3
rd club winner who won 2

nd club last week when she was beaten by a loft mate. Her parents are
Jan Aarden stock pair; purchased from House of Aarden. They are a granddaughter of Padfield Blue
Badge on the sire’s side and Padfield ‘De-Cas’ on the dam’s side.
Pentland Hills Federation:
News from Andy Miller who writes ‘Hi Joe, from the 3
rd
race again from Otterburn on Sunday 13th
August liberated at 09:00 in a SW wind. This week’s winner is Brown & Black and loft laddie Peter from
Whitecraig who fly with the Woodburn RPC. They timed their Lambrecht youngster, flown on the
darkness. Their youngsters have access to an aviary through the whole of the darkening procedure and are
only given their freedom at the end of the old bird inland programme which leaves about 5 weeks to get
them moving and prepared for the start of the young bird programme. Food for thought! Again, returns
were excellent this week.
Our 4
th
race was once again from Consett on Sunday 20th August (the third week in a row due to poor
weather) a distance of 85- 98 miles for the members the birds were liberated at 09:15 in a south west
wind. This week’s winner is our federation secretary Helen Aitken & her son Graham of the Woodburn
club who timed their darkness youngster bred from stock obtained from Peter Fox of Syndicate Lofts
from ‘Propere Rik’ lines winning £125 with the winner doing a velocity of 1563 they are also 6
th & 8
th

open. 2
nd 3
rd 4
th 5
th & 9
th
is Freddie & Willie Robertson of Danderhall club. A Winter of Danderhall club is

7
th with club mates J Dowling winning 10th place. Returns again were excellent Joe with only the odd bird
missing; regards Andy.
Footnote; Can members please ensure that you have transferred the ring numbers to your ownership of
any young birds which you may have purchased, before you enter them onto a race sheet, as random
checks will be made on a weekly basis; Andy Miller (President) & Helen Aitken – Secretary.
Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association
News from Pete Penman regarding the Alnwick young bird race flown on 20th August with the 237 birds
liberated at 09-30 into a south west wind. Lou Mitchell of Rosyth took the first two positions with two of
his Welsh birds bred by Gary Thaviner and sons. A very good performance considering the westerly wind.
He was also 7

th with another Welsh youngster. Third and 4

th positions went to the Leuchars partnership of
Eric & Liz Young, their first bird is a red cock whose sire was a gift bird from Dyke Armour and the dam
scored out of Ramsgate this season. Next was a Frans Zwols out of stock birds from Mike Samuels. Fifth
place went to St. Serfs club member Bob Blyth with a Dave Burns x Brian Chalmers bred from two
yearlings. In 6

th place was Coaltown's Pete Penman with the same mealy that was 2

nd club Wooler1. The

sire and dam were gift birds from Dyke Armour.
St. Serfs if you win the race you have to buy the sweets the following week, so this week the club
members have scored because as well as Bob, his loft manager Alec Brunton and his first team coach
Matt Shields; they too have also to supply sweets!
Coaltown club; Pete Penman took the top spot with Chic Dinsdale in 2

nd place with Gary Hall in third
place. Most fanciers reported excellent returns with some guys with the odd one missing and others with
full returns within an hour of their first bird, Thanks again Pete
North of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie who informs us that 30 members sent 727 birds to Brechin 3 race with the
convoy liberated into a very light south wind; the East section had 11 members sending 250 birds. Taking
the top spot was R H Whyte of Peterhead & District club with his winner doing 1804 velocity. He is also
3
rd
& 7th
section 4th
& 8th
open. Clubmate N Holt wins 2nd
4th
& 5th
east section 2nd
5th
& 6th
open.

Maskame & Cordiner of the same Peterhead club are 6th
8th
& 9th
east section 7th
29th
& 30th
open. S

Witherspoon of Inverurie club wins 10th

east section 31st

open. The West Section had 19 members sending

477 birds. With Devern Valley’s members taking the 10 section prizes; G McLeod wins 1st
6th
& 7th
west

section 3rd
13th
& 14th
open. A Hay is 2nd

section 9th

open; N Raymond wins 3rd
4th
& 5th
section 10th
11
th

& 12th
open with N Pirie winning 8th
& 9th
west section 15th
& 16th
open and A Wilson wins 10th
west

section 17th
open.
Clubs First Bird
Peterhead & District winner is R H Whyte velocity 1804.248
Devern Valley winner is G McLeod velocity 1676.583
Inverurie winner is S Witherspoon velocity 1260.407
Elgin & District winner is P Thomson velocity 1066.061
Well done to R Whyte on topping the federation and also well done to G McLeod on winning the west
section
Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club
News from Charlie Cameron with the Swalwell 5th

young bird result flown on 20th August with the
convoy liberated at 10-30 into a south west wind, with 5 members sending 118 birds. The first 4 places
were won by C & G Cameron with P Cameron in 5th
& 6th
.

Almond Valley Federation
News from Lynn Stewart with the Otterburn race result flown on 19th August with the 1043 birds
limbered at 08:30 hours. Topping the federation is Bonnybridge club S Russell with the only bird doing a
velocity in the 1700’s, he is also 3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
& 8th
all these birds were timed on the same minute;
(being separated by 38 seconds, well done Mr Russell Joe M). Geordie Harris of the same club is 2nd
with

Cairns & Hardie in 9th

place and Mr & Mrs Conlin in 10th

place. All the above are flying into the same

Bonnybridge club.
Club Winners;
Balerno had no birds at the race.
Bonnybridge 340 birds; 1st
to 4th
S Russell 1741.813, 1677.278, 1675.764, 1674.252

Carnwath 75 birds; 1st

McArdle & Thomson 1209. 2nd Thomson Bros & I Thomson 1198.083, 1181.926,

1180.260
East Calder 162 birds; 1st
& 4th
Burnside & Drysdale 1642.482, 2nd
& 3rd
F Jamieson & Son 1617.432,

1617.074, Burnside & Drysdale 1566.338
Fauldhouse 165 birds; 1st

to 4th T Gavin 1654.701, 1653.678, 1653.678, 1648.244

West Calder 301 birds; 1st
to 3rd
J Bird 1645.083, 1644.381, 1643.680, 4th

J Hadfield 1643.031

Fife Federation
News from Geordie Todd with the Alnwick young bird race flown on the 20th August with the 969 birds
liberated at 09-30 into a south west wind. Topping the East Section (Methilhaven club sending 169 birds;
St Andrews sent 90 birds) Are the father and son partnership of Jim & Gary Peggie of Methilhaven club
they are also 3
rd & 5
th
section and open. Davie Baldie of St Andrews club is 2
nd 6
th & 7
th open with near

neighbour John Harcus winning 4th
8th
9th& 10th
open.

Centre Section; had Kennoway club sending 255 birds and Glenrothes & Leslie sending 34 birds.
Kennoway members take the top 6 places with B Chalmers winning the first 4 spots, Mook Honeyman is
5
th
with Stevie Ritchie in 6th
spot.

West Section; had Dunfermline club sending 96 birds; Crossgates 190 birds & Lochgelly 135 birds. J
Hynd & son Ian take the top 6 positions in the section.
Photos

I never receive photos of fanciers or their winning birds now, so I have had to dig into my archives to find
some photographs to go with my column; this week I have found some nice photographs of TOP
SCOTTISH fanciers from the ‘past’ these being Davie Rose of Aberdeen and Jock Grieve of
Auchtermuchty, I have also added a photograph of my very dear friends George Ranking and his son
Gareth; plus I also have another picture of the top father and son partnership of Robert Rome and his son
Robert from Annan. Young Robert is now flying his pigeons in England and I often see his name on the
national results. All the above are quality men who have left their name in the annuals of Scottish pigeon
racing.
Space Weather
I would think this should be the last Space Weather Chart for 2023 as the racing will now be coming to an
end. I thank all who have contacted me regarding this chart; as many fanciers follow it rigorously.
The 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table issued on the 21st

September 2023

UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2023 Aug 21 153 10 3
2023 Aug 22 153 10 3
2023 Aug 23 155 10 3
2023 Aug 24 158 10 3
2023 Aug 25 158 10 3
2023 Aug 26 158 5 2
2023 Aug 27 158 5 2
2023 Aug 28 162 5 2
2023 Aug 29 162 5 2
2023 Aug 30 165 5 2
2023 Aug 31 165 5 2
2023 Sep 01 165 5 2
2023 Sep 02 163 5 2
2023 Sep 03 160 5 2
2023 Sep 04 162 5 2
2023 Sep 05 162 5 2
2023 Sep 06 158 10 3
2023 Sep 07 158 8 3
2023 Sep 08 160 8 3
2023 Sep 09 162 5 2
2023 Sep 10 158 5 2
2023 Sep 11 158 5 2
2023 Sep 12 155 5 2
2023 Sep 13 152 5 2
2023 Sep 14 152 12 4

2023 Sep 15 152 10 3
2023 Sep 16 153 10 3

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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© Compiled by Joe Murphy