Joe Murphy Article 20th July 2024

sapper756 · August 30, 2024

The Joe Murphy Column

Part 2; of Major A Neilson Hutton article;

Over forty years ago I spent my holidays with a companion touring around the prominent lofts especially of Lancashire, Cheshire and the North-West Yorkshire. During one of these tours I came upon, what I thought at the time, a peculiar way a famous fancier had of maintaining the prestige of himself and his pigeons. He had a friend who was instructed to watch the adverts and to purchase any pigeon bred by him offered for sale at less than he was advertising his young birds at. Remember that at that time youngster were being offered at from one to two pounds each and the man at the height of their fame were selling their very best at from £2-10 to £5.00 per pair. I can recall that working chaps were buying eggs from well-known men at from 10/- to £1 per pair. CHANGED DAYS!!!!

I seem to have drifted from pigeon men and there are a number of them with whom I have little patience. These are those who denigrate all and sundry, grumbling about this and that. They criticise the SHU; the Scottish National F.C, their Federation and club. My immediate reaction to their grumbles is to ask if they attended the last AGMs of these organisations and if not, I refuse to listen. What these people fail to recognise is that as members of any organisation they are individually responsible for how it is managed. It is their duty to see that the rules are strictly carried out. The rules are there for the protection of the members as a whole, and here is a word of advice. Get to know exactly why each rule is there in the book. This makes it so much easier to abide by the rules and it is equally as important that they see to it at that others abide by them.

I can’t recall any instance where any fraudulent act be a fancier has come to light that was not in some way the direct result of the rules not being strictly adhered to. It is perfectly true that those persons found to have committed any fraud are promptly dealt with and punished accordingly. I do not think that in every case the matter should rest there. What about the club that has not carried out carried out the rules which would have prevented the fraudulent act being committed. I am of the opinion that if the clubs concerned were suspended for a period because of their slackness of management such as salutary lesson would not pass unheeded by all others. I readily admit that such a suspension might be thought rather severe as it would deprive any members who were also members of any other club, like say the Scottish National or any similar organisation from competing in the races of these clubs. Perhaps I can make my meaning clear by saying that it would be the operations of the club that would be suspended for a period. I am being repeatedly told that pigeon racing is now what it used to be. The returns on race days are very erratic and losses especially of young birds are far too great. No doubt our unpredictable weather plays a part, but the weather has always been with us and forecasts and weather information are more easily come by than in earlier times. So, if pigeon racing conditions have changed then it must be from some other reason than the weather. Some are convinced that part of the trouble is the clashing of convoys homing to widely different destinations. The number of pigeons racing every week has increased and it is only when the races reach around the 200-mile mark that the travailing pigeons are broken up into small batches to negotiate the bottlenecks created by the hills of Cumberland, Westmorland and those within Scotland itself. Federations at their AGM’s settle by popular vote their programme of races and dates with little regard to what others are doing. Surely some liaison between neighbouring Feds, would prove helpful. The formation of a loose combine for the early races with separate liberations would be worth trying, while from the financial angle a tight combine could take over later on. Now that Road Transport has taken over there seems little point of transporters making a long journey half-full. One would think that the success which had attended the old established Scottish Central Combine would encourage other Federations groups to get together. Years ago, the old quarrels and rivalries kept some federations at loggerheads with each other, but surely the younger fanciers are still not being influenced by these. It is quite possible that some Federation officials are reluctant to surrender some of their power and influence to others preferring to be big fish in a small pond.

News from Australia

Received an email from Paul Sumner of Australia who wrote; …Hi Joe, Thanks for arranging to get the Dewar Trophy book to me. I have been reading it mostly a few pages at a time usually at the end of the day. Rather than watching the TV, there are names mentioned in there that I can remember hearing about in the past and that have stuck in my memory. Some that come to mind are William and David Ree from 1973 the first year I competed in the senior section in the club I was in since starting as a Junior in 1966. At that time, I was going to Melbourne for Apprenticeship training at the RMIT several times during the year, and would go to the Technical Book Shop and get copies of Pigeon Magazines and papers before heading home on the train on Friday nights. Eddie Newcombe of course was always featuring in some of the magazines on a regular basis. You mentioned Willie McAlpine as being on the original selection panel for the Dewar Trophy I had a few pigeons closely related to those famous 1000 milers of his. Imported into Australia by Major Rob Wilson a former secretary of our club, in fact I got the actual pigeon’s he imported in. After he had sold his pigeons and his stud, from the flyer that purchased his stud and pigeons I also got some from the late Richard Clingan Editor at the time of the Australian Pigeon Journal, bred from the pigeons that he had raced in Northern Ireland and imported in after he emigrated to Australia. I still have a bit of those bloodlines crossed with the Bricoux pigeons of the late Fred Roberts a local flyer from Bendigo; and then crossed again lately with pigeons from Tom Gilbertson of Carlisle. Then continuing onto page 44 (of your book) the year 1986 with the runners up to the Dewar Trophy being E. Hodgson & sons Annan with their pigeon named ‘Starview Leo’. Interestingly I purchased a son of ‘Starview Leo’ at a sale held by Louella Stud in Australia in the 1990’s. I remember going to one of their Auctions held in Melbourne just for a look and was surprised that the Busschaerts they were selling went fairly cheap. So, their next sale that they held was going to be in Adelaide some 300 miles away from my home, but I decided to go and have a go at buying one, so they had a Red Chequer cock a son of ‘Leo’ that took my eye and I was lucky enough to come home with him; which was the only pigeon I bid for at that sale. Joe, he ended up being my number one breeding cock for a few years mated to other Busschaert hens of mine. Even his sons went on to breed good winners for me and a couple of other local flyers here especially from 300 miles races onwards. I have enclosed a couple of photos of 2 hens of mine that were grandchildren of my pigeon the son of ‘Starview Leo”. ‘Coombah Girl’ (see photo) won at 305 miles and ‘Queen of the Hills’ (see photo) won at 478 miles. I have not finished reading your book yet Joe, but I’m really enjoying it; kindest regards Paul Sumner’. I wrote to Paul, thanking him for the lovely email, and wondered if I can use it in my weekly column. Plus, I know that John Hodgson would be over the moon to read your comments. John is a proper gentleman and a very good flier. He had a great race this past weekend in the SNFC Gold Cup Alencon race winning the following positions; 3^rd,4^th,5^th,9^th,11^th 14^th, 28^th, 31^st, 33^rd, 65^th, 77^th, 108^th & 126^th open timing 13 birds from an entry of 20. Paul replied; ‘Yes, by all means use whatever you like, just this week I received a copy of the Racing Pigeon sent to me by Tom Gilbertson which included your weekly column and the photo I sent you at Gordon Grant’s loft. I didn’t realize John Hodgson was racing again after selling his Busschaerts to Louella; until his name was mentioned last year while we were at Gordon Grants place. With regard to a good race his birds had put up last year I tried to send you items of interest with the Scottish theme about them; please keep in touch regards Paul’.

Irish Testimonial

I also received a letter from a fancier from Northern Ireland who wrote; As an Irish Fancier who purchased your book on the Dewar Trophy Winners; I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your book Joe. It is a great read and would be a wonderful birthday present or a stocking filler for Christmas time for any fancier who has or is interested is long distance pigeons. It was quite interesting to read how these top Scottish fanciers prepared their birds to compete in these long-distance races; trying to win the Dewar Trophy. I must say congratulations to these wonderful fanciers and their excellent birds; and more power to your pen Joe, as you have done a wonderful job highlighting these truly top long-distance pigeons. However, ‘Fortune Lady’ and ‘Kingdom Spirt’ were truly exceptional pigeons; for both to win 10 times in the SNFC is breathtaking and I bet everyone who reads your book would love to have pigeons like them. Your book is a great read Joe and I must congratulate you on all your hard work and research; but believe me it has been worth it, as your book is a great testament to true long distance racing pigeons. Name withheld.

Results

Angus Federation

News from David Liddle who writes; Hi Joe, Please find results attached for Forfar RPC and Angus Federation for our race from Blaydon on Sunday 7^th July. This was an ideal race to give birds some time on the wing before the national races from Grevillers and Billericay. The Forfar club filled the top twenty places on the federation result with the winner once again Davie Glen notching up his fifth win of the season with his mealy cock, ‘Number 9’ winning for the 2^nd time this year and in the top 3 for the sixth race out of eleven. I am sorry this report is brief but I have had other commitments including SNFC marking today; regards David.’

Angus Federation

Old bird race from Blaydon a distance of 125 miles to the home end; flown on 7^th July with the 20 members sending 300 birds; these were liberated at 06-45am into a light west wind. Davie Glen took the following positions; 1^st 2^nd 5^th 9^th & 10^th with Kenny Droog & son winning 3^rd & 4^th places. Ian Scott wins 6^th 11^th to 14^th plus 16^th & 17^th open places. David J Liddle wins 7^th 8^th 18^th 19^th & 20^th positions. Eric Galloway wins 15^th open position.

East Section Winners;

Arbroath 5 members; 69 birds; winners C & G Cameron velocity 1223.02; Forfar 12 members; 192 birds; winner D Glen velocity 1328.23. Gourdon 2 members 28 birds winner W Dorward velocity 1205.41; Montrose 1 members 11 birds winners A & S Whyte velocity 1172.65.

Arbroath Club

News from Charlie Cameron with the 11^th race of the old bird season with 5 members sending 69 birds to Blaydon on the 7^th July with the birds being liberated at 06-45am into a west wind. Charlie & son Glen take the first 3 places with namesake Paul Cameron winning 4^th & 7^th positions. Les McKay wins 5^th & 6^th places with Chic & Anne Carrie winning 8^th place.

27 Day Space Weather Outlook Table.

Issued 2024-07-08

UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest

Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index

2024 Jul 08 165 12 4

2024 Jul 09 165 10 3

2024 Jul 10 165 5 2

2024 Jul 11 160 12 4

2024 Jul 12 160 8 3

2024 Jul 13 175 5 2

2024 Jul 14 180 12 4

2024 Jul 15 180 10 3

2024 Jul 16 180 8 3

2024 Jul 17 180 5 2

2024 Jul 18 195 5 2

2024 Jul 19 195 5 2

2024 Jul 20 195 10 3

2024 Jul 21 200 8 3

2024 Jul 22 200 5 2

2024 Jul 23 200 5 2

2024 Jul 24 200 5 2

2024 Jul 25 200 5 2

2024 Jul 26 190 5 2

2024 Jul 27 180 5 2

2024 Jul 28 180 5 2

2024 Jul 29 180 5 2

2024 Jul 30 175 5 2

2024 Jul 31 170 5 2

2024 Aug 01 170 5 2

2024 Aug 02 170 5 2

2024 Aug 03 165 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 www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

Coombah Girl see text.jpg Queen of the Hills see text.jpg