Joe Murphy Article 20th September 2023

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By the time this article appears in print the racing season will be over for another year; some races have
gone to plan with others a bit erratic with pigeons taken longer than normal to return home. This could
obviously be caused by classing with other federations; however, you would think in this day and age,
communication with other organizations would be easier. We have the race programmes highlighted at the
back of the BHW every week during the racing season and I sometimes wonder if fanciers (or controllers)
take note of these. Obviously, the weather play’s a big part in our sport but I think clashing is also a major
issue. Once it gets a little colder you will hear of birds returning to their home lofts. I have always found that
these birds have become ‘streetwise’ and some of them turn out to be good racers in later life.

Calling it a Day

I received a phone call from Tom McLoud from Elphinstone which was as follows; ‘Hi Joe hope you and
Margaret are well. I am going to hold my clearance sale will on Sunday 26 th November at Danderhall Miners
Club; with viewing from 11:30 and the sale will start at 1-00 pm; watch out for an avert appearing in British
Homing World nearer the time. Tom tells me; ‘After 60 years with pigeons Joe I contracted pigeon lung a
few years ago but now cannot be amongst them without suffering badly. I’m not doing the pigeons
justice, or my own health. Many people over the years; even up to this day are still winning with
‘Constellation Lofts’ Gold Line which is as good a family as any in the British Isles. Having won for 40
years and still winning up to the present time like ‘Champion Dolomite’ a Scottish National Gold Award
winner.  This cock has won prizes from 6 different race points in France. His positions are as follows; 1999
won 11 th open Nantes & 58 th open Sartilly; 2000 won 144 th open Messac; 2002 won 166 th open Reims & 151 st
open Clermont and 33 rd open Chenoise in 2003. Incidentally Dolomite sire was ‘Red Adair’ who was also a
SNFC Gold Award Winner. The latest top pigeon of this line is known as ‘Prince Charlie’ Tom’s SNFC
Silver Award winner which will be in the sale. Tom’s line also had a big influence on the winning lines of
‘Midnight Son’ another SNFC Gold Award winner for Richard & Jamie Combe. The original 2 birds that
started this line in 1981 was ‘Chris’ 4 times a SNFC prize winner; crossed with ‘Stella’ also 4 times a
SNFC prize winner. Plus, she won 1 st 8th & 12 th federation in club racing for Tom and she was the dam of
John Bell of Tranent’s 1 st federation winner. I have added a photograph of Tom’s ‘Dolomite’ and you will
see Tom has been a hard taskmaster and he has line bred this Kirkpatrick family for 40 years; and is there
any better blood anywhere???? Watch out for Tom’s advert and I wish him all the best for the future and
hope his health improves.
Kingdon RPA
News from Pete Penman who writes ‘Hi Joe, the KRPA held their final young bird race of the season from
Wakefield on Saturday 2 nd  of September. Our small convoy was transported along with the Fife & Dundee
federations to the race point where they were all liberated together. This turned out to be a first-class race
with most members reporting full returns by the time the clocks were checked. Taking the honours this week
is the consistent loft of Sandy Proctor of St. Serfs with the same bird that won last week. A darkness checker
hen on her second flight; she was a gift bird from Dyke Armour. In six young bird races Sandy has topped
the Kingdom on 3 occasions and also been 2 in another. In 2 nd place is Bob Blyth also of St. Serfs; who is
another consistent loft with the youngsters. He timed in a natural checker cock bred by Steve Wright from
Martin Buik sprinters. Third is Coaltown's Chic Dinsdale with a dark checker whose grandsire won
1 st  section from SNRPC Arras on one side; while on the other side the grandam is Chic’s blue pied hen; who
was a multiple winner from the channel. 4 th spot goes to Coaltown’s Gary Hall with a mealy cock; this being
an Andy Gregson DeWeerdt x Stuart Davie of Dundee. Next place goes to Alec Brunton also from St. Serf’s
club with a checker hen bred by Dyke Armour. 6 th place goes to Gary Hall with a blue hen that won the club
last week flying to a 4-day old youngster. Well done to all and once again Joe THANK YOU for giving our
members a much-deserved mention in your weekly column. The publicity we have received is excellent;
kindest regards Pete Penman.
Pentland Hills Federation
News from Andy Miller with the 5 th race from Harrowgate flown on Sunday 27 th August; a distance of 138
to 152 miles for the members. The convoy was liberated at 10:35 into a west to north west wind, the least

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said about this weekend’s race the better with about 60-70% of the 3000+ convoy missing. However, there’s
always a winner and this week its Freddie & Willie Robertson from Danderhall club, with a darkness
youngster bred by Danny Henderson from Dundee. Danny sent me details which are as follows: Sire was
bred from a son of Ian Jamieson of Amble UNC winner ‘Money-spinner’; the dam of the sire was from
Dutch fancier Leo Van Rhyn from his ‘Champion Dakota’. Dam of the winner was 24 th & 64 th open SNRPC.
Her sire is a son of ‘Frizsion Boy’ of Franz Zwols when paired to a Wilf Reed hen that was 2 nd section young
bird national for Gavin Ferguson of Forfar. A Winter of Danderhall is 2 nd with A Baillie of the same club in
3 rd spot. Andy Miller of Sighthill club is 4 th with Mr & Mrs Lindsay of Danderhall club in 5 th place. Helen
Aitken & sons of Woodburn club take the next 4 places. From the Bubwith race flown on Saturday 2 nd of
September 38 lofts sent 500 birds; liberated at 09.00 into a light north east wind. Freddie & Willie Robertson
from Danderhall club are 1 st 6 th & 7 th with A Winter of the same club in 2 nd & 3 rd positions. A Baillie is 4 th &
8 th . S & S Tierney are 5 th with A Baillie winning 8 th spot. J Quinn of Sighthill club wins 9 th 10 th & 11 th
positions.
Danderhall Racing Pigeon Club
News from Barry Kinnear regarding the Peterborough Midweek open young bird race; which had 26
members prepaying 105 birds with the actual entry of 19 members sending birds; these were liberated on
Wednesday 30 th August at 08-00am into a light north wind. Taking top spot is Sinclair Thomson & son of
Traprain club with 2 nd 3 rd & 6 th places going to A Winter of Danderhall; S & S Teirney of the same club are
4 th with Jimmy McNeil of Traprain in 5 th spot. Tam McLeod is 7 th with his Traprain club mate J Bosworth
winning 8 th & 10 th places with Walker & Brown of Danderhall winning 9 th spot. Sinclair Thomson & son win
the Yearling- Annual Jocky Brown Memorial Trophy, The Young Birds Sporting Challenge Trophy and the
2 Race Average – Joe Murphy Trophy.
The support (birds entered) for these races does not make this a viable venture in the current format; Anyone
with any suggestions on the format for going forward please contact club president or secretary for
consideration – need some innovate thinking!!!!!!
Also – 2 bits of feedback received for consideration on races going forward –Have the race from a shorter
distance; earlier in the season with an entry of £10 bird. - Continue with prepaid £20 birdage (max 10) but
duplicate with SNFC inland National (yearlings) & Young Bird national (youngsters).  Any further
suggestions for consideration to Barry.

 North of Scotland Federation
News from George Duthie who informs us that 31 members sent 511 birds to Strathkinness in Fife with the
birds being liberated into a light south west wind. Topping the (east section 11 members sending 250 birds)
east section and federation is Peterhead & District’s R H Whyte with a bird doing a velocity of 1715 ypm.
He also wins 9 th & 10 th east section and open. Maskame & Cordiner of the same club win 2 nd 6 th & 7 th east
section and open. Neil Holt of the same Peterhead & District club win 3 rd 4 th & 5 th east section and open.
With club mate J Holt winning 8 th place in both section and open. The West Section had 20 members sending
261 birds. Topping the west section and also winning 4 th & 8 th section 18 th 24 th & 30 th open are the partnership
of Fulton & Ritchie Loft 2 from Devern Valley club. (A West section positions were won by Devern Valley
members) G McLeod wins 2 nd & 3 rd section; 20 th & 21 st open. A Hay wins 5 th 6 th & 7 th section 25 th 26 th & 27 th
open. A Wilson wins 9 th & 10 th section 31 st & 32 nd open.
Clubs First Bird
Peterhead & District’s winner is velocity 1715.946
Inverurie; S Witherspoon velocity 1532.610
Devern Valley Fulton & Ritchie Loft 2 velocity 1512.242
Elgin & District J Jack velocity 1180.152
Well Done To R Whyte On Topping The Fed, Well done to Fulton & Ritchie 2 on Winning the West
Section.
Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club

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News from Charlie Cameron with the 7 th young bird race from Wakefield with 3 members sent 58 birds; the
race was flown on the 2 nd September with the convoy liberated into a light north east wind. Charlie & Glen
took the first 5 places with all these birds dropping together.
East of Scotland Federation
News from Tom McEwen with the result of the Bubwith race flown on Saturday 2 nd September with the
convoy liberated at 09-00am into a light north east wind. Topping the federation; having a great race is John
Bird of Prestonpans as he won 1 st 3 rd 5 th & 7 th federation. Another fancier who is having a very good season
with 5 birds in the top 10; winning 2 nd 4 th 6 th 9 th & 10 th places is Keith Howie also from the ‘Pan’s’. Also, in
with a nice one in 8 th spot are Mr & Mrs March of Prestonpans this competes the top 10.
Prestonpans HS;
Winning 1 st & 3 rd places is John Bird with both birds being Vandenabeele from original stock from Woodside
Lofts. John’s 2 nd bird is also a Vandenabeele blue hen; her sire is a half-brother to champion ‘Flight Leader’;
while the dam is a dark chequer hen from Graham Stewart of Whitecraigs. Keith Howie is 3 rd with a
granddaughter of ‘Shadow’. Thank You Joe; for ALL the publicity the East of Scotland Federation and
Prestonpans HS has received this year from you in your weekly column. We in Central Scotland would not
receive any publicity if it was not for the Joe Murphy Column. More power to your pen and may I wish both
you and Margaret good health and happiness in the future; yours Tom’.
Fife Federation Of Homing Pigeons
News from Geordie Todd who tells us there was an entry 237 birds entered into the Wakefield federation
open race with the convoy liberated at 8:00 into a light north east wind on 2 nd September. Taking 1 st 2 nd 3 rd
east section and 1 st 2 nd & 4 th open is John Harcus of St Andrews. Kennoway’s B Chalmers wins 1 st & 4 th
centre section 3 rd & 9 th open. Club mate Brian Kinnear wins 2 nd 3 rd & 5 th centre section 5 th 8 th & 11 th open.
Davie Jack of St Andrews wins 4 th 5 th & 6 th east section 6 th 7 th & 10 th open. Geordie finishes off his report by
saying ‘Joe, on behalf of the federation member’s I would like to thank you for the service you have done all
season; i.e., in publicising our federation results in your weekly column; it is much appreciated. My thanks
to Geordie for this remark.
Almond Valley Federation
News from Lynn Stewart with the Catterick race flown on 2 nd September with the convoy of 483 birds
liberated at 11:00 hours. Taking top honours and also winning 12 th & 13 th places are Freddie Jamieson & son
of East Calder club with the winner doing a velocity of 1349. Mr & Mrs Fleming of the same club are 2 nd
with the partnership of Burnside & Drysdale also from East Calder club winning 3 rd spot. West Calder’s John
Bird who has had a very good young bird season wins 4 th 6 th 7 th 8 th 9 th & 10 th positions. John Hadfield splits
the above positions as he wins 5 th place.

Thank You

To the press officers who have supplied me with their club and federation results throughout the season; it is
hard to believe that the 2023 season is now over. It doesn’t seem that long ago when I started looking out the
Space Weather as I know many fanciers appreciate this and follow it rigorously especially when the young
bird racing starts. I would also like to thank all the people who have sent in little snippets of interest that I
have used throughout the season. It amazes me why some federations never send in their results; as this
would at least gives their members some publicity for their efforts. However, to the people who have sent
their results in on a weekly basis I THANK THEM SO MUCH.

My Last Request re Dewar Trophy Winners

It seems to have been harder this year putting together my weekly article, maybe it is because I’m getting
older, or it could be the fact that I have also been working on my book on the SHU Dewar Trophy winners.
The 50 th winner will be awarded with this wonderful trophy at the SHU show later this year. I have sent Jim
Hannah a list of all the previous winners and runners up and he is going to see if he can find any
photographs to go with the article. However, I’m NOW asking these winning fanciers if THEY could send
me a photograph of their winning pigeon or of THEMSELVES, with the Dewar Trophy. I know that if I
won this lovely trophy, I would have had a photograph taken, so once again I ask these fanciers to HELP ME
OUT BY SUPPLYING A PHOTOGRAPH OF THEM OR THEIR PIGEON to go with the book. This will be

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my last request as it will soon be the time to select the 2023 winner; and then the book will go to the
printers.
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
www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland