The Joe Murphy Column

[Ian McKay]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

The British pigeon world was shocked when an article appeared in the English papers confirming ‘cheating’ within the NFC Tarbes race. I have heard that this person is now ‘sine die’ from the sport and will never be allowed to race pigeons again in England. The same thing happened many years ago with an official of the INFC and Scotland also experienced the same scenario. However the SNFC officials should have carried out the same procedure as the NFC to the wrongdoer who did this to our sport a few years ago. However they were too were insubstantial and left the door open for this person to come back into racing pigeons later on in life. I was going to say sport but when things like cheating happens then it no longer holds the same magic as winning a race and to be honest makes me sick. Just look at what Lance Armstrong did to cycling and the Russian’s did at the last ‘Olympics’. People like F W Marriot; Jock Reid and John Kilpatrick would turn in their graves at what has happened to the pigeon game now with Ireland, Scotland and now England having to deal with ‘swindler’. I have it on good authority that many of the top fanciers have told this person ‘Never to speak to them again’ they are so disgusted with what has happened. I don’t blame them as now EVERYONE is now under scrutiny and you can bet your bottom dollar it will take years for this to go away. I know that there are still stories and bitterness going on within the pigeon sport in Scotland and God only knows when it will all come to an end.

Young Bird Sickness

 

Once again this is rife within our sport and it comes down to putting youngsters under ‘stress’ by depositing them in the transporter for the first time. Some people don’t even basket train their babies and just lift them into the first race and we wonder why we have all the losses and sickness that occurs. A prominent vet told us years ago to breed EARLY as possible at the beginning of the year, then when young bird racing comes along in July these youngsters will be nearly 6 months old and will not contact young bird sickness. As they are more mature and in better health hence the reason for ‘Darkness’ youngsters nowadays. Every week I hear of fanciers saying they have had to stop as the youngsters have caught this dreaded young bird sickness symptom. How many fanciers basket train their birds so that they can eat and drink in the basket I can tell you not many as they don’t have time. Therefore it is little wonder that we lose so many youngsters each year. I have added an email I received from Phil Gardner of Respiro San Dry business he writes ‘Hi Joe, I trust this finds you fit and well and that you are having a great start to the 2016 racing season. (Going to start this week 6th August) I don't know what feedback you have got from the Trident 3 you obtained from me. I am really thrilled, even over the moon with results so far. As you know I was so worried about getting it wrong and possibly upsetting my Respiro san Dry business, but no worries it works well. We have sent out just over 300 packs so far and the results coming back are amazing, one pigeon racer has had Young Bird Sickness every year for 6 years and was ready to call it a day, luckily Trident has worked for him this year and he is a very happy man and I have had lots of great comments from all over the UK. It is so good to get something right especially as it is such an evil nasty wasting problem this young bird sickness. I got a surprise yesterday, a note from Epsom Show asking if we are attending this year and then one for Blackpool next January, how time flies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is quite frightening. Hope to see you at the shows Oh I have decided to do Lanark again as I have a new helper see you there perhaps. All the best for now Phil Gardner’.

Results

 

Before highlighting this week’s results I have to say that below is all that have been sent in, I know that Charlie Cameron of Arbroath is on holiday so hence no result from him. As for the others they have not been forwarded just to let you now that I’m not holding them back JM

 

Central Federation

 

News from Bernie Britton regarding Broxburn RPC news, 5 members sent 294 birds to Otterburn liberated at 09-15 into a west wind. The red card in the club and 7th federation places goes to Gordon Mackenzie with a Gabby blue hen on darkness, her sire & dam are the original’s from M & D Evans via Mr & Mrs Forrest of Ratho. 2nd club 18th federation is John McNeill with a black cock on darkness he is Lambrecht from his good friend Jerry Rigney. John is also 3rd club with a mealie cock flying natural he is also a Lambrecht and both are out of the stock loft, this is the first year’s breeding with this family. Many thanks Joe hope the family are well yours Bernie’.

 

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from John Baillie of Tranent who reveals the following; ‘For the 2nd young bird race flown from Ridsdale the birds were liberated at 08-20 into a west wind. Taking top spot this week is that partnership of Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone they also take 3rd, 9th & 10th open good flying. In 2nd open we have Mr & Mrs Burgess of Ormiston, this young bird was 7th open last week and Andy and Seona also take 8th open. To let everybody understand Elphinstone and Ormiston is halfway to the race point! Taking 4th & 5th open we have John Bird of Prestonpans. ‘Spider’ Mr Rowley has the 6th position and Tam Waddell finishes of the top ten in 7th place, both fanciers come from the Prestonpans.

Prestonpans HC result is as follows; taking the first two positions we have Tom & Scott McEwen with the 1st bird is a blue cock. The sire was bred by Paul Stobbs from the Gypsy bloodlines and the dam was bred from the Brian Cunningham stock birds they purchased when Brian had to pack in the birds due to his wife having pigeon lung. Their 2nd bird a chequer hen whose sire again was bred by Paul Stobbs and this time was a full brother to Bobs Choice. These 2 birds are similar bred to Tom & Scott’s winners in the old bird racing. Taking 3rd spot we have John Bird with a hen bred from his No1 Pair of Vandenabeele’s from D & H Hawkins, this pair have also bred many multiple winners for John. That's it for another week Joe yours John Baillie’

 

Fife Federation

 

Dunfermline LRPC news from David Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe we had 8 members sending 203 young birds to Berwick and taking a clean sweep this week is Frank Mitchell. 1st over the pad was a darkness hen bred from a pair of birds that were 1st and 4th section C from Ancenis this year with the SNFC. These birds were bred down from the late Jock Traill’s 1st open Nantes when paired to his 1st open Niort winner. Frank’s 2nd bird was a darkness cock bred by ex-club mate Wattie Sharp from his Frank Sheader bloodlines. Third was another darkness cock bred down from Jocky Kings bloodlines? A big well done to Frank as he has had a terrific season this week’s nomination was won by the Flying Sparky A McInnes and the two bird was won by Andy Ritchie. Just as a footnote Joe when the clocks were opened 4 hours after liberation from this Berwick race, the club distances being between 54 - 59 miles there were only 73 birds clocked from a 203 bird entered. Hopefully more will have worked back the following day onwards. It must be happening all over as a few of the members also commented about stray birds arriving with their birds, yours in sport David’.

 

North of Scotland Federation

Buckie RPC news from Gavin Russell who sends news of his 1st young bird race from Brechin (1) a distance of 65 to 66 miles for the club with 4 members sending 89 birds; Taking the 1st x 3 positions is Mr Steven Cowan his 1st bird is a grizzle cock doing a velocity of 1002 he is from club member Ian Coull and Paul Woolliss of Grimsby. 2nd bird is a blue chequer white flight doing 942 this is a Jan Aarden from Tumley Lofts and the 3rd bird is a red chequer cock on 891 from Eric Galloway, this was a slow hard race and returns were ‘gappy’. From the 2nd race from Brechin (2) we had 5 members sending 90 birds with the 1st club going to John Cumming with a dark chequer cock doing 1100 his sire is from Stuart Maskame of Peterhead with the dam from Ronnie Wilson of Keith. 2nd & 3rd club is Mr Neil Christy with a dark chequer cock on 1054 and a blue cock on the same yardage. Both these birds were bred by Macaulay Ferguson & Curran of Forfar returns were good 80 to 95% home. That’s all for now Joe once again many thanks yours Gavin’.

 

Pentland Hill’s Federation

 

News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation were at Ridsdale (2) young bird race flown Saturday 30th July liberated at 08-20 into a west wind with 15 clubs sending 3420 birds. The result is as follows, 1st 2nd & 9th federation are Brown & Black of Woodburn club with first 2 birds doing 1217.6 and 1217.4. G Stewart of Danderhall is 3rd 5th & 7th federation with Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall in 4th & 6th places Mr. & Mrs. Black of Edinburgh Premier are 8th with McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae in 10th spot.

Club Winners are as follows;

 

Woodburn 212 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Brown & Black

Danderhall 621 birds; 1st & 3rd Stewart 2nd Aitken

Edinburgh Premier 213 birds; 1st & 3rd Black 2nd Dick

Castlebrae 202 birds; 1st & 3rd McCormack & Fraser 2nd L. Mitchell

Easthouses 455 birds; 1st Ferguson 2nd Milne 3rd W. Pryde & Son

Bonnyrigg 226 birds; 1st Neill 2nd Lannan

Gilmerton 153 birds; 1st Linton 2nd & 3rd Robertson

Edinburgh West 181 birds; 1st & 2nd Lamb 3rd McLaughlin

Sighthill 217 birds; 1st Bremner 2nd & 3rd Keenan

Loanhead 106 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Murray

Arniston 49 birds; 1st Ray 2nd Mercer 3rd

Rosewell 38 birds;

Peebles 33 birds;

 

New Lothian 200 birds;

Traprain 447 birds; 1st & 2nd Newcombe 3rd Mark

Others 67 birds;

New Lothian RPC from the Ridsdale race 61 lofts sent 2065 birds with Brown & Black of Woodburn winning nearly £140 with their winner they were also 2nd & 9th N/L G Stewart of Danderhall is 3rd 5th & 7th with Helen Aitken & sons of Danderhall in 4th & 6th places Mr. & Mrs. Black of Edinburgh Premier are 8th with McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae in 10th spot.

 

 

Darren McFadden with JM

 

 

Mark Sparey with JM

 

 

Joe’s Joke

 

A recent article in the West Australian newspaper reported that a woman, Mrs Maynard has sued a Perth Hospital saying that after her husband had surgery there he lost all interest in SEX... A hospital spokesman replied: "Mr. Maynard was admitted for cataract surgery. All we did was correct his eyesight."

 

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The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: 'Take only ONE - God is watching.'

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, 'Take all you want - God is watching the apples.'

 

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