Ian McKay Posted July 15, 2016 Report Posted July 15, 2016 The Joe Murphy Column The build-up to the beginning of July was a bit eventful for us, as many of you know I do the Space Weather every week for the BHW and it forecast a high K index for the 1st & 2nd of July. Which I warned fanciers about and you just have to look at the amount of pigeon losses over this weekend of these dates which has been horrendous. In fact Kevin trained his 66 youngsters on Thursday 30th June from 8 miles (released in 2 batches) and he only had 3 back home on the night. He texted me before going to work at 08-00 in the morning and he was up to 11 then at night his numbers were up to 20. Some of the youngsters were reported by fanciers within a 10 mile radius therefore they could have panicked due to a hawk attack or it could have been the K index factor. We had babies were coming home single right up to the following Monday and now we have 47 home which is remarkable considering the amount of flying some of them have done. When up for the Ypres race I had a look at them in the loft and their wings were down and they were very tired pigeons. That to me is the most important word ‘Pigeons’ he basketed them as babies but they have returned home as pigeons and the knowledge they have gained and their homing ability has proved to me this will stand them in good stead for the remainder of their lives. We sent 10 birds in the convoy of 2324 birds to the SNFC Ypres race a distance of 455 miles to our loft in Arbroath the birds were liberated at 06-45 am into a south west wind. We did not enter the Ancenis race as we lost our main candidate at a training flight however the 294 birds sent by 100 members were liberated at 06-30am into a west to south west wind with the Midland National with a joint convoy of 4300 birds competing. I received a few phone calls during the day with fancier’s friends informing me that birds were being timed into the midlands after 14-00 hours. Their web site gives the names of fanciers timed in but NO TIME as this is to stop further flying people from cheating and timing in before them. Which we up here have experienced in the past!! SNFC Ancenis As expected the south section had 13 day birds with others early in the morning and all their section prizes won by 08-27. Craig Halbert of Eastriggs wins 1st & 2nd open with the two birds 14 minutes apart so well done to Craig who won the Gold Globe for 1st Ancenis in 2014. He is also 7th 47th and 56th open which is good flying from his entry of 8 birds. Scaife & Garner of Brydekirk are 3rd open with my old ‘buddy’ Stevie Ferguson of Annan in 4th 33rd and 71st with his 3 entries great stuff. John Hodgson of Annan had an outstanding race with 11 birds from his entry of 17 on the open result. Davie Jamieson of East Calder is 1st 3rd & 7th section D 12th 21st & 70th open with Tom & Mary Paterson of Plean in Stirlingshire in 2nd section D 15th open. Double Nantes National winner Jim Sanderson of Pathhead is 1st section B 16th open with Davie Allison of Hamilton winning 1st section E 24th open he will win the George Rankin Memorial Trophy for the 1st bird into the West region as a matter of interest Davie won this trophy last year from the same race point when he was 5th open. He is having a good season as he also won 1st section E 1st West region 12th open from the inland Buckingham race earlier in the year so an outstanding performance to win the West region twice in the same year. I cannot miss out the winner of 2nd & 6th section E 45th & 63rd open Billy Graham of Uddingston who won 1st section E 1st west region 5th open from Reims a few weeks ago. Billy’s 2nd bird won 10th section E 36th open Ancenis last year flying 2 miles short of 600 miles well done Billy. 3rd section E 49th open is my old pal Derek Hay from Kirkintilloch who timed in his 5 year old blue chequer cock who won 11th section E 37th open Ancenis last year flying 605 miles. 1st & 4rd section C 38th & 66th open if Frank Mitchell of Comrie in Fife with his 2 entries flying 612 miles and he will win the Mr & Mrs J Murphy trophy for the best velocity in sections C & G so well done Frank. 2nd section C 42nd open with his blue hen ‘Wee Mo’ is Willie Donachie of Dundee she has previously won 7th section C 26th open from Clermont. Willie had a good weekend as he was also well up on the Ypres race winning 2nd section C 10th open with a yearling hen. Unfortunately Willie’s mother passed away prior to these channel races and she must have been looking down on the loft assisting her beloved son. Our condolences go to Willie at this sad time as the loss of a mother is more significant than pigeon racing. 3rd section C 44th open is Jim Doig of Cardenden in Fife. I also noticed that George Veitch of Pencaitland who won this year’s Gold Cup timed in the father of his Reims winner from this Ancenis race to win 8th section B 48th open to add to his 27th open win last year well done George. There was no birds timed into section F which is a pity plus in all the years that I have been associated with pigeons and the national results NEVER in my time has the north section NOT sent any birds to a national race. The main reason is the birds are going with the Midland National and therefore pulled up the middle of the UK before heading into to the Solway area. Then the north birds would then have to cut across the country to head up the east coast to their home in the north section. There is NO WAY these lads are going to send their birds on a different racing line to the one they use each week. Could you imagine the UNC racing their pigeons down the east side of the country then going to race from Bordeaux? The national will never change from going with the Midland National as it is not economical to go on our own to a 600 mile event with a 294 birds. Hence the reason why this race is made for the south section fanciers and the diehard people who wish to continue racing these long distance events. More about this subject next week as I have a few interesting fact given to me by fellow fancier’s. Craig Halbert 1 & 2 national Ancenis SNFC Ypres There were 440 members sending 2324 birds to Ypres with the convoy liberated at 06-45am into a light south west wind the wind at the home end during the afternoon was more north west and at times was quite strong. We had entered 10 birds into this 455 miles event and as we sat in the garden we heard of the birds being timed in just after 5pm. We managed to time in a blue hen at 19-35 to win 25th section C 63rd open she is a ½ sister to our good hen ‘Lucky’ who won 4 times in the national. Her sire is a direct Leo Van Rijn while her dam is ‘Jenny’ bred by Adrian Duggins fellow BHW scribe and is the dam of our 7 x 1st prize winner ‘Lucky’. Our 2nd bird timed at 20-06 to win 33rd section C 108th open is a yearling chequer Deweerdt hen her sire is Andrew who has bred club winners and contains the very best of Andy Gregson bloodlines and her dam is Anne bred from 2 direct Deweerdt stock pigeons. We managed to get 6 home from our entry and once again I have heard reports that some pigeons are missing. The winner of his 6th Scottish National race is Billy Bilsland of Ayton who timed in a chequer white flight cock at 16-55 to win the race by 10 yards per minute. He was well fancied and gave Billy a good monitory lift this cock was Billy’s 2nd bird from the Littlehampton national winning 47th section B 107th open. He is bred from David Reed of Chainbridge lofts Vandenabeele ‘Olympic’ bloodlines and his sister won 31st open in the young bird national last year from Buckingham so a good winning line. He was also 11th 23rd 24th 31st 119th 161st & 199th open so well done Billy. To win one national is a great honour but to win it 6 times is ‘Unique’ and we congratulate Billy on this latest win, he is without doubt a fantastic fancier but to me is such a nice and genuine man whom I have a lot of time and respect for; well done once again on your Scottish national win. 1st section C 5th open is Jocky Scott of Kennoway with a yearling chequer cock. At this point I must highlight the wonderful pigeon of Ian Scott of Forfar who timed in his 3rd open SNFC Littlehampton winner (flown 18th June) and has now won 13th open from Ypres on 2nd of July well done Ian. A contender for the Scottish Homing Union bird of the year award and Dewar Trophy; The Winner of 1st section D 28th open is A McCalley & son of Avonbridge. 1st section A 66th open is C Beattie of Annan who also won 10th open from Ancenis with his only entry so well done Mr Beattie. 1st sections E 68th open are J Lawrie & son of Newmains with a 2 year old chequer cock. 1st section G 128th open is George Taylor of Peterhead with a 3 year old hen flying 2 miles short of 500 miles. 1st section F are the consistent Morris Brothers of Johnstone who timed in a yearling chequer pied hen into the extreme west of Scotland. Well done to all the above and to all the fanciers who make the result and I hope you have had better returns than the Littlehampton and Reims race. However I have to say we have now had our 4 bird home from Reims on the 6th July for our 5 birds entered so can’t complain. 6 times SNFC Winner Billy Bilsland of Ayton Barcelona Race This year’s race has turned out to be a very hard contest with many pigeons missing and some people not getting a bird home. News from fanciers that I have spoken to both in the UK and the continent is this must rank as one of the hardest races in the history of this famous event. On checking the John & Lou McGee Barcelona One Loft Race entry of 17 birds from the Catalan capital I noticed that I had 3 birds in this entry. My good friend Guy Reed texted me to say that one of my bird was timed 3rd home to the Hernicourt Loft. The first bird was to Racing Pigeon editor Lee Fribbins at 13-12 with Clive Carpenter timed at 13-38 and Joe Murphy at 15-31 followed by John & Linda Tyerman at 16-55 with John & Lou timing at 17-29. All these pigeons should make the International result for their efforts. I will keep you posted on their positions. My pigeon timed is a 6 year old blue cock his sire was a direct son of Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone 1st open SNFC Tours winner ‘Petite Rose’. The dam of the blue cock was a direct daughter of Stevie Ferguson of Annan’s 1st open SNFC Tours winner ‘Watchill Princess’. As a matter of interest the 2nd placed pigeon in the BBC Barcelona race for Paul Baker of New Haven also contains some of my national winner Mystical Rose blood. My good friend John Barnett of Telford phoned me today to inform me that Paul had been on the phone to him regarding the dam of his winner (that John bred) on checking his records he discovered he mated one of his cocks to a hen I sent down to him this being a granddaughter of my 1st open SNFC winner Mystical Rose. Who won 4 times from France being twice 1st region C north of the river Forth? You never think that after all these years that some of your bird’s bloodlines would still be winning. Now for the results: The BICC result is as follows: The 1st east section 1st open in the BICC is R Dove of Kingsnorth with a 5 year old doing a velocity of 541.021. In 2nd place winning 1st west section 2nd open is Bill Stribling of Weston-Super -Mare. 2nd east section 3rd open are SR & WH Knox of Tyler Hill and 3rd east section 4th open is R Pearmain & Son of Wickford 4th east section 5th open are G M Preece & Son of Dover and 5th east section 6th open is Mr F J Cornwell of Southend-on- Sea. The British Barcelona Club winner is my dear friends Ian Crammond and Nigel Langstaff of Fontwell with a 5 year old hen containing the distance bloodlines of Wim Muller; she was doing a velocity of 524.175. The partnership also had a good result from the NFC Saints race winning 1st and 2nd section 8th & 9th open with 2 of the absolute best middle distance bloodlines in the Netherlands namely Kees Bosua from Dordrecht and the Peter Van Osch of Zutphen pigeons are winning well for Ian and Nigel well done.!!! In 2nd place is P Baker of New Haven 3rd place is W Stribling of Weston-Super- with 4th place going to SR & WH Knox Canterbury with 4th spot won by R J Goddard & Son of Reading. Well done to each and every one of the above fanciers and their birds Watchill Princess Results Angus Federation Kevin and his club members did not sent to the above federation race from Ridsdale on the 2nd of July however there was an entry of 233 birds liberated at 08-00 into south west wind. The Macaulay Ferguson & Curran partnership are 1st 2nd 3rd 9th & 20th with David J Liddle winning 4th 12th & 13th with Ian Scott winning 6th 7th 8th 10th 11th 14th 18th & 19th federation with Davie Glen winning 5th & 16th fed and Bob Baldie makes up the top 20 winning 17th place. East section winners are as follows: 1st 6th & 8th are the D & D Hay of Gourdon partnership with J & J Leven of Montrose in 2nd place. M Craig of Gourdon is 3rd with G Campbell of Montrose in 4th & 10th places. Chic & Ann Carrie of Inchcape are in 5th & 9th positions with club mate Les McKay in 7th spot. Club Winners are as follows: Forfar 184 birds Macaulay Ferguson & Curran; Gourdon 18 birds D & D Hay; Montrose 12 birds J & J Leven; Inchcape 19 birds Chic & Ann Carrie East of Scotland Federation News from John Baillie the press officer of the above federation who writes; ‘Hi Joe, another fantastic weekend for Prestonpans Homing Club and the East of Scotland Federation with the SNFC channel races. Starting with the longest national race of the season from Ancenis the ever consistent 600 mile loft in the East of Scotland is Richard & Jamie Combe Elphinstone they won 1st section B 15th open followed by another to win 8th section and 45th open. Yours Truly John Baillie of Tranent won 3rd section B 22nd open with a 2 year old first timer across the channel containing Jan Aarden bloodlines from I Cousins & sons of Wales. My 2nd bird won 8th section B 45th open and has previously won 3rd section B 11th open Ancenis in 2013. He was an hour out of race time in 2014 returning totally dehydrated when he homed that year. Broken to new loft in May 2015 and allowed to settle he has come up trumps this year. Both birds came back in fantastic condition from this race so well done to the Midland National conveyers who looked after the Scottish birds. Within the federation the other member to record good results are George Veitch last week’s Gold Cup winner from Reims. This bird last year was 27th open from the same race point and is also the FATHER of the GOLD CUP winner, how many fanciers would have sent this to 600 miles race after breeding the national winner the previous week? Now on to the Ypres race with the SNFC: taking 2nd section B 2nd open must be one of the best hens in the country just now ‘PEG’ bred and raced by John Bird of Prestonpans. This hen this year alone has now scored 2nd open Leicester, 62nd open SNFC Buckingham, 40th open Littlehampton and now 2nd open in this Ypres race. I hope he retires her soon Joe to give us a wee chance. Brian Laverty of Prestonpans takes 7th section and 8th open with John Baillie of Tranent winning 12th section 21st open, 28th section 50th open and 39th section and 77th open as a matter of interest Joe these are all yearlings, the first was a hen that has just flown steady, the 2nd is a Grandson of Village Lad bred by F Jamieson and purchased at Traprain breeder/buyer sale. This cock also won 10th open Pentland Midweek Yearling race from Peterborough and my 3rd bird scored in the Littlehampton national race. Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone come next in the club with 24th section and 43rd open and Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone are 49th section and 113th open followed by another bird in 129th open. Other members to time from within the EOS Federation are the consistent loft of Jim McNeil of Tranent winning 10th section 17th open followed with 192nd & 229th open prizes. That man again George Veitch takes 18th section 34th open and Graham Wardhaugh wins 48th section 110th open. Another mixed bag regarding birds returning from this race Joe with many birds once again missing. We must also congratulate Billy Bilsland of Ayton on another fantastic race. Billy comes up from Ayton for every national race and helps for hours on end. In fact at the Buckingham national race Billy stayed until the transporter was loaded at 22-30 and then had to travelled home after that and he deserves all the credit he gets. Must not forget John Bird who sets up all the ETS systems for every race, goes home to collect his birds and is also still there at the end of the day loading the transporter. It's fanciers like these and the small select band that help to keep us ALL racing and if we were all like the majority who disappear once their birds are race marked, then I think pigeon racing would be in the sh.. Yours John’ Joe’s Joke A first-grade teacher, Ms Brooks, was having trouble with one of her more precocious students. The teacher asked, 'Harry, what exactly is your problem?' Harry answered, 'I'm too smart for the 1st grade. My sister is in the 3rd grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 3rd grade too!' Ms Brooks finally had enough. She took Harry to the principal's office. While Harry waited in the outer office, the teacher explained the situation to the principal. The principal told Ms. Brooks he would give the boy a test. If he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the 1st grade and behave, she agreed and Harry was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he happily agreed to take the test. Principal: 'What is 3 x 3?' Harry: '9... .’ Principal: 'What is 6 x 6?' Harry: '36.' And so it went with every question the principal thought a bright 3rd grader should know. The principal looks at Ms. Brooks and tells her, 'Do you know I reckon Harry can go to the 3rd grade' But Ms. Brooks is still sceptical of the little bugger and says to the principal, 'Not so fast, let me ask him a few questions....’ The principal and Harry both agree. Ms. Brooks asks, 'what does a cow have four of that I have only two of?' Harry, after a moment: 'Legs.' Ms Brooks: 'What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?' The principal wondered why she would ask such a question! Harry replied: 'Pockets....’ to the Principal’s great relief…..Ms. Brooks: 'What does a dog do that a man steps into?' Harry: 'Pants.' By now, the principal is sitting forward with his mouth hanging open...Ms. Brooks: 'What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?' Now the principal's eyes open really wide and before he could intervene, Harry replied, 'Bubble gum.' Ms. Brooks: 'What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?' Harry: 'Shake hands.' The principal is now trembling with apprehension as Ms. Brooks asks the last question…… Ms. Brooks: 'What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' and indicates a great deal of heat and excitement?'Harry: 'Firetruck.' The principal breaths a huge sigh of relief and tells the teacher, "Put the little b in 5th Grade, I got the last seven questions wrong myself." 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
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