The Joe Murphy Column

[Ian McKay]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

The past weekend Kevin had 2 races with the main event being the Scottish national first race of the year from Buckingham while the other race was an Angus federation race from Leicester. The weather forecast predicted that Saturday was not going to be a good racing day however the Sunday was to be much better. The federation cancelled their race marking on the Friday and basketed on Saturday afternoon so that the birds would be down at the race point in plenty of time to rest prior to having an early morning liberation the following day. The Scottish national called off their race on the Saturday mid-morning and it was hoped to have an early liberation on the Sunday morning. There was low cloud and poor visibility at both race points early on so it turned out to be a waiting game until the sun came out to burn the poor weather away. The Angus and Dundee federations reported a liberation at 10-30 am with no wind at the race point. The national reported they would update their website nearer lunch time. Margaret and I travelled up to Arbroath in the hope of watching birds come home from both races, we were 100 yards from Kevin’s house when my mobile phone rang with Kevin telling us the national had held over. I said to him ‘If you look out your window you will see us draw up at your house’. What a ‘Let-down’ regarding the national with the birds being in the baskets for 4 days. Plus the majority of fanciers would be at their work on the Monday and some people would therefore miss their bird’s arrival home. We settled down to watch for the Leicester birds and had 2 birds came together with the red cock going into the loft first to win 1st club and 1st east section with the other bird mucking about for ¾ of a minute before going over the pad to win 3rd club 3rd east section. This red cock is a full brother to our 18th open SNFC Ypres winner with 2404 birds competing, also our 19th open SNFC Clermont 1500 birds, 86th open and 134th open SNFC Alencon 573 miles. His sire is a direct son of Gilmour Brothers of Levin ‘Robbie’s Boy’ winner of 1st open SNFC Falaise, while his dam is a direct daughter of Ritchie & Whyte’s ‘Last Chance’ winner of 1st north section (only bird in race time) 42nd open SNFC Tours flying 721 miles. The second pigeon to win 3rd club is from a full bother to the sire of the winner again bred by Gilmour Brothers this cock is the sire of our 4th open SNFC Alencon 573 miles, while the dam was bred by my good friend Guy Reed of the Isle of Wight. She is bred from a direct son of ‘Wing Down’ winner of 2nd 4th & 7th National Flying Club Tarbes flying 676 miles, the dam of Guy’s hen is a direct daughter of Geoff & Catherine Cooper’s ‘George’ winner of 1st open NFC Tarbes, he is also the grandsire of ‘Farmer George’ winner of 1st International Bordeaux for the Coopers. So you will see Kevin’s pigeons are bred for the job and let’s hope they can go on to achieve better things in the future Scottish national races this year. As a matter of interest Kevin had 32 birds home dropping one hen, he was very pleased as he sent 3 late breds to this nearly 300 mile race point and had the 3 of them home. These will now be stopped for the year and allowed to develop and moult out for the 2017 season. I received a phone call from Guy Reed telling me that he had timed in the same pigeon 130 from this week’s NFC Messac race. You may remember he won 255th open from 8000 birds in the first NFC race from Alencon but Guy is not sure if he will make the result from this week’s Messac race. Still to be his first bird home from 2 nationals in only his ever 2 races of his life is quite good performances.

 

Our 4th open Hen

Eye of 4th open Alencon hen

 

Scottish National Flying Club

 

The SNFC had 521 members sending 4328 birds these were liberate on Monday 6th June at 08-30 at Buckingham; I travelled up to Kevin’s alone as Margaret had the 3 grandchildren as the schools were off on the Monday. Kevin phoned to say that he has some holidays to take and would have the afternoon off work. It was a lovely sunny day as I travelled up however about 5 miles from Arbroath the weather changed with mist and thick cloud rolling in from the North Sea. I had travelled up in T shirt and by the time I reached Kevin’s I had to put a fleece on and it was quite cold. We heard of the early birds into the south section and Edinburgh area as we awaited an arrival but have to say WE were not at the races. Our first bird came with another bird that never landed and our timer was a sister to the bird I donated to the BHW Show of the Year at Blackpool in January 2016. Their sire is a chequer cock named ‘Bernard’ he was purchased direct from Bernard Deweerdt he is direct son of ‘CLOVIS’ Bernard’s most consistent racing cock. The dam of our timer was bred by my good friend Mark Gower and her sire is a direct of KEDIRTJE (father of CLOVIS mentioned above) As a matter of interest we had 12 home from our entry of 15 with ALL yearling’s home and we dropped 3 x 2 year olds which was quite disappointing. I must say that everyone that I have spoken to regarding this national race has said they also had good returns. This is testimony to the good work the conveyers have carried out looking after the national pigeons so WELL DONE to each one of you. More praise is also due to the secretary Mary Pryde and her assistants who have produced the probable result within 2 days which is FANTASTIC. It was good to see region F (extreme west of Scotland) winning the national and the partnership of Cowan & Findlay (Mark Findlay who sends me in the Ayrshire South Road results) of Ardrossan will be very proud so well done lads. They timed a yearling pied hen doing a velocity of 1477 for the 296 miles. It was interesting to note that 5 region winners were timed within the first 12 open positions in the race. These being the winner of course plus 1st region A 2nd open was Jimmy Dalgleish of Ecclefechan; 1st region C 4th open is Ronnie Stevenson of Leven; 1st region B 5th open is Jimmy Jackson of Dunbar; 1st region E 12th open is Davie Allison of Hamilton, 1st region D 66th open is P Keogh of Broxburn and finally 1st region G is Stuart Maskame of Peterhead who unfortunately did not make the open result. Well done to the above and to all the fanciers who make the result. We now look forward to this weekend’s race from Littlehampton and I wish you all the very best of luck.

 

Results

 

Angus Federation

The members sent 357 birds to Leicester with a 10-30 liberation with no wind at the race point. Once again the Forfar club take the top 20 positions with Macaulay Ferguson and Curran in 1st 5th 7th & 20th places. David Glen is 2nd 6th 14th & 16th with David J Liddle is 3rd spot Bob Baldie is in 4th 8th 15th 17th & 18th positions. Ian Scott is 9th 10th 11th 12th & 19th with Willie Peat & son in 13th place

East section winners are as follows: 1st & 3rd is Kevin J Murphy of Arbroath with Charlie Cameron of the same club in 2nd & 4th places. D & D Hay of Gourdon are 5th 7th & 9th section with Chic & Ann Carrie of Inchcape in 6th spot. Bill Dorward of Arbroath is 8th with G Campbell of Montrose in 10th place.

Club Winners are as follows: Forfar 208 birds Macaulay Ferguson and Curran; Gourdon 22 birds D & D Hay; Arbroath 53 birds Kevin J Murphy; Montrose 19 birds G Campbell; Inchcape 55 birds C & A Carrie.

 

Arbroath RPS for the 7th old bird race of the season from Leicester a distance of 280 miles 4 members sent 53 birds these were liberated at 10-30 with No wind at the race point. First and 3rd places go to Kevin J Murphy with the winner a 2 year old doing 1302 the second was a yearling doing 1299 (see above for breeding details). 2nd club was Charlie Cameron with a dark chequer cock his sire is a son of ‘Little Dorrie’ winner of 3rd open SNFC Reims when she was mated to a cock that had been 51st open SNFC Alencon while the dam is a Leon Messiaen bred pigeon.

 

Ayrshire North Road Federation

 

Ayrshire North Road Federation news from Andy Kyle who tells us that the race from Montrose was held on the 28th of May with 32 members sending 450 pigeons these were liberated at 11-00 into a light North East wind.

Valley North Club winner and 1st federation doing a velocity of 1333 is J L Dumigan with his pigeon a 2 year old blue cock that now has 2 x 1st federations wins to his credit. His sire is a son of the Golden Gaby when paired to a daughter of Eisenhower. These pigeons were purchased from R McCarrell of Glenview Lofts who purchased them from Mark & Dicky Evans as young birds.

Cumnock Club winner and 2nd federation doing 1332 velocity is Alfie Lawrence with a yearling blue cock bred from Gerry Clements ‘Tracker’ lines crossed Mark Gilbert of Southfield from his ‘Ted’ lines. This pigeon has previously won as a young bird and is the same pigeon that won 1st club 3rd federation from Perth 2 weeks ago.

Mauchline Club winner and 12th federation on a velocity of 1248 is ‘Sanny’ Mathieson, his pigeon is a 3 year old blue hen direct out of a 1st federation Fraserburgh and is a Centenary Medal winner.

Carrick Club winner and 14th federation on a velocity of 1248 are Jamieson & Cameron they timed a 2 year old blue hen. Her sire was a gift pigeon from club secretary John Cannon, while the dam was from Jeff Greenway from his ‘Leo Hermans’ bloodlines.

Stranraer North Road winner was bred and raced by Robertson & McCurdy and was doing a velocity of 648. They timed a yearling chequer cock sired by a 4 year old Staff Van Reet who had 16 races on the South road. He was paired to a 2 year old late-bred hen that was raced 3 times on the South.

 

 

Central Federation

 

Broxburn Club news from Bernie Britton who writes, ‘Hi Joe please find the club and federation result from our Newark race were 5 member’s sent 180 bird’s these were liberated at 09-45 into an east wind. Taking the 1st x 3 places in the club and 1st x 3 in the federation is Gordon MacKenzie with the winner a hen flying roundabout. Her sire is a mealie cock bred from Davie Blain’s Combine winner when paired to Gordon’s number 1 stock hen (Spavin crossed Gabby) and is a winner of 2 x 1st federations for Gordon. The 2nd and federation winner is from Gordon’s race team of Gabby’s. His 3rd club and 3rd federation is a pigeon bought at John Smith of Duz Wurk sale when mated to Gordon’s No 1 stock hen. John McNeill was 4th 6th 13th 17th & 18th federation with Hamish Ferguson wining 5th & 16th federation. As you can see Joe our club put up a great performance in the federation from this race, yours Bernie’.

 

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from press officer John Baillie of Tranent who reveals that the East of Scotland federation were racing from Wetherby on Saturday 4th June which was another good decision made by race controller Bobby Graham. With basketting on the Friday for a Saturday race and I think this was the only liberation held on the Saturday. Bobby waited until the weather was right and had John Parry releasing the birds at 12-30 into North to North East wind turning East on route. Topping the Federation this week is the partnership of Mr & Mrs Burgess of Ormiston. This loft also takes 5th & 7th open positions in the federation. The consistent loft of J McNeil of Tranent takes the 2nd and 3rd positions with 4th and 10th places going to last week’s federation winner T Waddell. We then move up to Elphinstone for 6th open to the loft of Tom & Scott McEwen then we are back down to Tranent for 8th position to D Gillan with yours truly John Baillie winning 9th open.

Prestonpans HC. This week from Wetherby we had last week’s federation winner winning the club again for the 2nd week running namely Tom Waddell with his winner a yearling cock, from his Soontjens family of birds. Filling 2nd spot is Tom & Scott McEwen they timed a 2 year old hen bred from the best of Mark Gilberts bloodlines, the sire is a grandson of ‘Emiel’ while the dam is bred from a sister of the ‘Gypsy’ from Paul Stobbs. The 3rd place is taken by a yearling to the loft of John Baillie, this is a Van Lint cock bred from stock purchased from Dean Pallet. From last week’s race from Leicester, the bird taking 3rd position for John Bird is from his Louella Jan Aarden family, many thanks yours John’

 

Fife Federation

 

Dunfermline LRPC news from David Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe, bit of a rush this week with a 2 day holdover but here goes. From the Buckingham old bird national and taking the red card this week is Eddie McWilliams with a velocity of 1323 ypm. Eddie timed a 2 year old hen sitting overdue eggs and her breeding is Bob Blyth crossed with Eddie’s own bloodlines. 2nd place this week is Neil Jarvie with a velocity of 1308 ypm he timed a 2 year old hen sitting on 10 day eggs and her bloodlines are a cross of Dougie Barnes crossed John Halstead. In 3rd spot is Eddie McWilliams with a 2 year old hen doing a velocity of 1302 ypm her bloodlines are a mixture of his own old blood. This week’s nomination winner is Eddie McWilliams and the 2 bird is won by John Robertson, all the best for the nationals to you and Kevin yours David’.

 

The Pentland Hills Federation

 

News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation comeback race from Wetherby on Saturday 4th June were 15 clubs sent 2023 birds, I think we were the only federation in Scotland to race that day so race controller Bobby Graham must have a different forecast to the rest of the organisations. The birds were liberated at 12-30 into a North East wind and the birds tumbled in, which is good to see, as it doesn’t always happen these days with raptors etc. Winning 1st New Lothian and 1st federation is my club mate the ‘Laird of Corstorphine’ Ronnie Bremner who timed his yearling Rene Nauwelaerts hen sent sitting 14 day eggs. This hen is a bred around Ronnie’s 2 great cocks ‘Willie Bauld’ winner of 10 times a federation prize winner and ‘The One and Only’ winner of 3rd & 4th open SNFC Ypres. Ronnie is also 7th open with his club mate Stevie Girdwood in 2nd 3rd & 4th places. S Gilchrist of Edinburgh Premier is 5th with Andy Miller also from Sighthill in 6th spot. Willie Pryde & son of Easthouses is 8th with Owenson Brothers of Danderhall are 9th with A Young of Danderhall making up the top 10.

 

Club Winners are as follows;

 

Sighthill 104 birds; 1st Bremner 2nd & 3rd Girdwood

Edinburgh Premier 226 birds; 1st & 3rd Gilchrist 2nd Affleck

Easthouses 236 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd W Pryde & Son

Danderhall 338 birds; 1st Owenson 2nd Young 3rd Rogers

Castlebrae 89 birds; 1st & 2nd Sammels & Lunn 3rd A Mitchell

Woodburn 88 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Allen

Bonnyrigg 124 birds; 1st & 2nd Smith 3rd J Dewar

Gilmerton 133 birds; 1st Bennet 2nd McCue 3rd Robertson

Arniston 35 birds; 1st Ray 2nd & 3rd Mercer

Edinburgh West 147 birds; 1st Ramage 2nd Lamb 3rd Verth

Rosewell 71 birds; 1st Winter 2nd G Tytler 3rd Cunningham & Ness

Loanhead 111 birds; 1st Anderson 2nd & 3rd Murray

Peebles 52 birds: 1st & 2nd Blake 3rd Raeburn

New Lothian 35 birds;

Traprain 234 birds; 1st & 3rd Thomson 2nd Mark

Others 0 birds

 

New Lothian RPC from the comeback race from Wetherby 60 members sent 1156 birds 1st & 7th is Ronnie S Bremner of Sighthill club with his club mate Stevie Girdwood taking the next 3 places to win 2nd 3rd & 4th positions. Stuart Gilchrist of Edinburgh Premier is 5th with Andy Miller from the Sighthill club is in 6th spot. The form loft of Willie Pryde & son of Easthouses is 8th with Owenson Brothers of Danderhall are 9th with A Young of Danderhall making up the Lothian top 10.

 

Joe’s Joke

 

I found myself in a pub in Cork in Erie when a group of American tourists came in. One of the Americans said, in a loud voice, "I hear you Irish think you're great drinkers, well I bet $5,000 that no one here can drink 20 pints of Guinness in 30 minutes." The bar was silent, but the American noticed one Irishman leaving. No one took the bet and 40 minutes later, the Irishman who left returned and said, "Hey Yank, is yer bet still on?" "Sure" said the American, "20 pints in 30 minutes for a bet of $5,000." Grand, "replied the Irishman, "so pour the pints and start the clock." It was very close but the last drop was consumed with 2 seconds to spare.

"OK Yank, pay up" said the Irishman. "I'm happy to pay, here's your money" said the American. "But tell me, when I first offered the wager, I saw you leave. Where did you go?' "Well sir", replied the Irishman, "$5,000 is a lot of money to a man like me, so I went to the pub across the road to see if I could do it.

 

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