The Joe Murphy Column

[Ian McKay]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

I have struggled to find the time to do this week’s article as I paired the birds up today and this mission seamed to last all day. For all the time I have spent studying pedigrees and writing down my preferred pairings over the winter months. As I have said before I have introduced them to each other 2 to 3 times but when it came to the actual day of mating them together some would just not look at each other, with the hens causing most of the bother. Two hens in particular had always been paired to chequers since yearlings and they would not look at the blue cocks that I had picked out for them. In the end I had to change some pairings about to accommodate these 2 hens and they sat down to them when introduced into the nest box, talk about being stubborn.

 

Superstar Fancier

 

Most of us who are pigeon fanciers and in many instances this our foremost passion in life, but as we all know there is more to life than pigeons, like our family and friends, politics, music, rugby or football. One of my dearest friends is Guy Reed whom I have known for the past few years as he was the main person to help me with my quest in purchasing the DeWeerdt family of pigeons. However Guy is also a country singer-songwriter under the name of "Luke Guy Reed" and has appeared at many country music venues throughout the UK. He has just released his latest album on Gotham Records called ‘Strait Home’ which I think relates to his parting words to his pigeons when he puts them in the race basket. He also has another song named ‘Flying High’ so it is virtually impossible for this man to completely forget about his racing pigeons, even when singing. Guy has just forwarded me a ‘signed copy’ of his new album and this is now available on ITUNES ,uTube ,Amazon, also a web site will be on the Internet in a couple of weeks, however if you wish to purchase a CD direct you can contact him direct on email; lgr00844@hotmail.co.uk

Fife Federation News

 

News from Gordon Turnbull B.E.M who is the Secretary/Treasurer of Fife Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies, Gordon informs me there will be a young bird sale held in Hill of Beath Club on Saturday 16th of April 2016 with viewing from 13.00 pm and the sale starting at 14.00 hours. This sale will have pigeons from the top fanciers in Fife and there will also be a raffle for a top quality pigeon. Bar facilities with food and refreshments available and Gordon has asked me to remind all club secretaries to remind their club members (and anyone else) who may be interested in the above. Hopefully this will generate as much support for the sale as possible. Further details will be circulated and published in the fancy press when all the details are confirmed. Many thanks Joe yours Gordon’.

 

Good SNFC Birds

 

The first 2 pigeons this week are from Angus Federation with Ypres SNFC winner Dave Glen and his blue cock SU12AF 746. As a yearling he won 4th section C 25th open Maidstone flying 401 miles against 4855 birds, he was then sent to Ypres a distance of 465 miles and won 114th open from an entry of 2356 birds unfortunately he did not win a section prize. He was entered into the same 2 race points in 2014 and won 5th section C 25th open Maidstone from an entry of 4484 birds (not bad going being twice 25th open in 2 races with excess of 4000 birds) Then from the Ypres race against 2404 birds he won 3rd section C 14th open. In 2015 he won 17th section C 83rd open from an entry of 4767 birds then a few weeks later won 14th section C 47th open from Eastbourne with 2494 birds competing. You must agree he is an exceptional pigeon and requires ONE more diploma from an inland race to achieve his Meritorious Inland Bronze Award and we wish Dave all the very best in the new season.

We now come to Dave’s club mate Ian Scott of Forfar with his blue bar cock SU12A 2071. As a 2 year old he won 17th section C 106th open Buckingham flying 330 miles, he was then entered into the last old bird race from Clermont a distance of 550 miles and he won 34th section C but no open position. In 2015 he was times from Portsmouth a distance of 408 miles but did not win a section or open prize. He was then entered into the Clermont race point and won 2nd section C 8th open against 1547 birds. We wish Ian good luck and hope his pigeon achieves his 3rd section prize from over the channel in 2016 to achieve his Silver Award.

We now come to Jock Brockie of Lochgelly in Fife with his blue bar hen SU12F 2677 who as a yearling won 97th section C 286th open Maidstone flying 378 miles in 2013. Then in 2014 she was entered into the longest old bird race from Ancenis a distance of 615 miles and she won 3rd section C 27th open then in 2015 she was again entered into Ancenis and won 3rd section C 46th open. Again a quality hen who has 2 x 3rd section C positions from over 600 miles and we wish Jock all the best for a Silver Award in 2016.

 

This week’s Photographs

 

Billy Bilsland daughter Greer wrote to me saying, ‘Hi Joe please find attached a photo of my dad William Bilsland and his grandson, Roman. Billy named his Dewar Trophy Winner (Scotland Pigeon of the Year 2015) after his grandson and as a matter of interest he named his 1st open SNFC Portsmouth winner 2015 ‘Welltower Greer’ after his daughter. What a lovely gesture and glad to see that Billy is keeping it in the family.

 

 

I have also attached 3 photographs from Billy Holland who wrote to me saying ‘Hi Joe, hope things are well with you Margaret and the family. I read in your notes that you had a few people enquiring about the ‘Lemon’s’ that assisted me. I have found the lemons much more palatable done in a Nutra Blaster with a bit of water added. I also include some photographs of some of the meals I make up, one is with bananas, lemon and milk thistle powder the other is with blue berries and breakfast cereal (corn flakes) definitely no sugar added. Hope some of your readers find this of interest yours Billy’.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe’s Joke

 

Received an email from Malcolm Todd of Solution Partner Manager (UK) who contacted me a few weeks ago to ask about a joke that I wanted to use at a big business conference my company (Siemens) was holding in Coventry. Malcolm was talking to an audience of 150 plus business people about great collaborations and given them some successful examples then went on to tell them the joke and it went down a treat. He said ‘Thanks for your help and keep the jokes coming and good luck for the new season, yours in sport Malcolm Todd’. No problem Malcolm I’m glad your conference went well.

Also received a letter from Rosemary Smith from Sheffield Yorkshire, who retells my jokes to the MS Exercise class members she said ‘The news of the death of Terry Wogan had my memory in overdrive. Whilst a Magistrate in Sheffield, I would listen to Terry on the radio in my car as I was going to court. Whilst waiting in the retiring rooms for solicitors, witnesses etc. I would regale my 2 colleagues with the latest ‘Terry Joke’ (sorry not Joe’s Joke) I thought you might like to hear one of the best that I can remember.

Three friends were sitting on the loch fishing, An Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman. One of the men caught a bottle on his hook and when they opened it – out popped a Genie. The Genie said that he would reward for rescuing it, if the y jumped into the loch, shouting the name of their favourite drink, the loch would become that drink.

The Englishman went first, shouting COFFEE as he jumped into the water. The loch became coffee which was enjoyed by them all. The Scotsman jumped in next, shouting ‘WHISKEY’ and all 3 had a wonderful few hours. When it was time for the IRISHMAN to jump in, he was so excited (and no doubt worse the wear for drink) that as he jumped in he screamed ‘WHEEEE’.

‘I hope you enjoyed this Joe if you have not heard it before and I repeat it in found memory of Terry’s Jokes which often relieved the boredom of some Court sittings. Keep the jokes coming, my friends are always waiting for one on a Friday morning after the class, and best wishes Rosemary’.

 

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 and www.pigeon-chat.co.uk also www.pigeonbasics.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland.

 

© Compiled by Joe Murphy