The Joe Murphy Column

[Ian McKay]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

The new season will soon be starting and by the time this article is in print some people will be training their pigeons for the off. Every year it is the same old story as soon as the season begins the EAST winds start to come and many a good pigeon is lost at the start of the season so take care as the birds are not fully 100% fit yet to face these ‘killer’ winds. As normal I will be delighted to put in any club of federation results forwarded to me for the column; however I require these for a WEDNESDAY as I send my column away on Thursday. I require the following information Name of your club; Amount of members and birds entered in each race; Details or the first 3 birds in the race with the more information on the birds the better. I will NOT accept just a name and velocity as this can go into the results at the back of the paper. I try to make my weekly article as interesting as possible and this is what people appreciate about the column. People want to read about the winning pigeons and how they are bred and if it has any previous winning performances. So the more information on the pigeon the better it is for readers. You will find me address and information at the bottom of the article.

 

The Late Robbie Stoddart

 

Received a phone call from a fellow fancier asking if I had a copy of the story I did on Robbie Stoddart a few years ago. I explained that I will have it somewhere but for the love of me I could not put my hand on it at this moment. He wonders if anyone who reads the column has a copy or can give me the date when this story was in print. I know many fanciers from the North West federation (were Robbie flew his pigeons kept a copy) so maybe they can help out. If so you can either leave a message on the phone or send me an email, I have asked the fancier to get back to me at the end of April.

 

Get Well Soon

 

I received a call from Dougie Bald of Almond Valley informing me that his dear friend Sand Robertson of Aberdeen is not very well at the moment and is in the High Dependency Unit in Aberdeen hospital. We wish Sandy all the very best and hope that he will not be too long till he is back home with his wife Irene and son.

Good SNFC Birds

 

Before emphasising this week’s pigeons and fanciers I would like to thank all the people who have conveyed their pleasure at this little feature within the column. As you all know I’m a pigeon man first and foremost and to highlight good Scottish National pigeons gives me a great deal of pleasure and clearly many other people as well. I just wish I had a picture of these wonderful birds to show fanciers when stressing these wonderful individuals. This week pigeons have all won 3 times in the SNFC starting with a chequer hen SU12NW 2610 raced by D McBeath of Avonbridge. This hen won 3 times in the National in 2015 starting with a good 20th section D 236th open from Billericay a distance of 345 miles. She was then sent to Portsmouth a distance of 369 miles and won 68th section D but no open prize. She was then sent to the last old bird national from Clermont a distance of 523 miles and she won 3rd section D 66th open so a very good consistent pigeon and we look forward to her improving in 2016. Staying in the centre belt of Scotland we come to P Keogh of Broxburn whose red cock SU13P 2868 has won 3 times from inland nationals starting with a 57th section D 365th open from Maidstone in 2014 flying 367 miles. This year he was entered into the Portsmouth race and won 14th section D 267th open flying 367 miles he was then entered into the Eastbourne race a distance of 391 miles and won 26th section D but no open prize position won. However he has 3 section prizes from 3 inland races and only requires a double to obtain a Meritorious Inland Bronze Award diploma and we wish him well in 2016. Next we come to the Gorebridge loft of W Pryde & son with their chequer hen SU13P 4507 this hen won 3 times in the national in the 2015 season. From the Portsmouth race point a distance of 355 miles she won 44th section B 53rd open a few weeks later she was entered into the Eastbourne race and had a flier being 2nd section B 2nd open flying 378 miles. She was then sent to the last old bird national from Clermont a distance of 503 miles and she won 13th section B 42nd open a very good pigeon who has been 3 times in the top 55 in 3 Scottish National races and I look forward to seeing how she progress in 2016. Good Luck to the 3 fanciers mentioned above with their wonderful pigeons and I hope they do well in the new season ahead.

 

This week’s photographs

 

Are from Sheldon Leonard of Arklow taken on his recent trip to Belgium prior to the atrocities that have happened within this country these last few weeks, as you will see the ‘Star’ of the evening was meeting up with Leo Heremans. Who with Charles Ceusters ruled at the short and middle distances racing: In the Antwerp Union, also known as the "University of the Pigeon Sport", the Heremans-Ceusters family of pigeons became unbeatable when it came to their capability to orientate quickly and pure speed racing. Many 1st prizes were won along with the additional championships and ace pigeons, up to and including the National level a noteworthy testament to their dominance. The first photo is of Tommy Gregory of Gregory brothers with good friends Gordon Brothers. Tommy Gregory bought the Eggs that Leo sold for a Bon on the night. The second is of J J Hurley with the ‘Master’. J J won the Girvan North Road National in 2015 with 2 birds dropping together the first in was a Leo Hermans breeding and the 2nd bird was a Daniel Aerens. It was just a matter of who went through trap first.

 

 

 

 

Joe’s Joke

 

Little Johnny was in the classroom bored to the back teeth on a Friday afternoon, and the teacher decided to have a game for the kids to get them thinking. “Okay class. Now I'm going to say a famous quote, and the first person to tell me who said that quote, can have Monday off.†said the teacher. 'Who is credited with writing the phrase, 'To be or not to be, that is the question’?†asked the teacher.

Little Pham Lam Nguyen at the front of the class called out, 'Shakespeare'. 'Well done!' said the teacher, 'You can have Monday off.†'No thank you Miss. I am of Vietnamese origin and it is in our culture to study as hard as we can, so I will be here on Monday studying hard.' said little Pham Lam Nguyen. 'Well okay,' said the teacher. The next quote is, “I had a dream!†Little Fri Sum Kat also at the front yelled out “I bereiva it was Martin Ruther King!†“Well done!†said the teacher. 'You can have Monday off†“No thanka you miss I am of Chinese origin and we also do not take time offa school. Education is evelything to us, so I will be in on Monday studying hard too.†said little Fri Sum Kat. 'Okay,' said the teacher.

Then she heard a voice from the back of the classroom, “Bloody Foreigners!â€

“Who said that?†yelled the teacher in an angry tone. “Donald Trump!†yelled little Johnny. “See ya Tuesday ………..â€

 

 

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