The Joe Murphy Column 3/5/18

[THE FIFER]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

Well it’s that time of the year again when the new racing season begins up here in Scotland. Some of the lads who race with the Up North Combine will be at the 200 miles stage by now while the remainder are starting at 50 miles. Kevin has been busy with his work plus just moved the first round of babies from thes tock birds and thought the racing did not start till the 28^th of April. So he only sent 5 birds to the first race as they had not been worked to his satisfaction and needless to say he was well behind the club and federation winners.

 

Results

 

My thanks to the people who have forwardedtheir results for the column and may I wish everyone all the very best for the2018 season. I start off with Kevin’s federation. Angus Federation sent 778 birdsto Lauder liberated at 08-00 hours into a south west wind. Topping thefederation are Macaulay Ferguson and Curran of Forfar club they are also 2^nd4^th 6^th 7^th 8^th & 13^th.Kevin was telling me that Gavin Ferguson has not been well of late and is goingfor treatment and we wish him all the best for the future, lets hope this firstfederation win gives him a little boost. Ian Scott of the same club is 3^rd5^th 16^th 17^th 18^th & 19^thopen with David J Liddle the club secretary in 9^th 10^th11^th 12^th & 20^th place. J McCafferty againfrom Forfar is 13^th & 14^th thus filling up the top 20positions.

 

The East Section winners are as follows; Chic& Ann Carrie of Arbroath is 1^st 5^th & 7^thsection with D & D Hay of Gourdon in 2^nd 3^rd & 6^thplaces. M Wallace & son of Montrose are 4^th with clubmates G Campbell is in 8^th & 10^th places with MWallace splitting these birds.

 

Club winners are as follows: Forfar 588 bird’s winner Macaulay Ferguson and Curran: Arbroath 90 bird’swinner Chic & Ann Carrie; Gourdon 56 birds winner D & D Hay; Montrose 44birds winner M Wallace & son.

 

Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club held their first race of the 2018 season from Lauder a distance of 62miles and the members sent 90 birds to the race. Both Arbroath clubs Inchcape and Arbroath have amalgamated into the above club and competition should be more competitive. Liberated at 08-00 hours into a south west wind the winners were Mr. & Mrs Chic & Ann Carrie with a 2 year old hen who was Inchcape Champion Young Bird in 2016 and in 2017she was Champion Old Bird both times scoring most points in first 10 arrivals from the races. She was a gift from Brian Main of Carnoustie. The partners arealso 3rd club with a yearling bred from a Pat and Eric Cannon pigeon crossed with a Jim Donaldson pigeon. Charlie Cameron and his son Glen are2nd as well as 4th 5th & 6th club.

 

 

Fife Federation

 

News from George Todd with the federation result from the Berwick race flown on

 

the 21st April the convoy of 2168 birds were liberated at 08-45 into a light south

 

West wind. The federation top 10 positions are won by the following fanciers. 1st

 

place goes to George Anderson of Perth club with a Welsh rung 3 year old doing

 

a velocity of 1462. Brian Chalmers of Kennoway is 2nd 3rd 4th 6th & 7th with

 

Davie Brown of Leven club in 5th 8th & 9th place and making up the top 10 is

 

Jim Honeyman of Kennoway.

 

West Section

 

The section is dominated by Perth club with the winner is George Anderson who

 

also wins 6^th, 7^th 8^th 9^th & 10^th section. McCord & Turpie are 2^nd & 3^rd with

 

R Ingram in 4^th spot followed by S Donaldson in 5^th place.

 

East Section

 

Brian Chalmers of Kennoway takes the first 3 places plus 5^th & 6^th with

 

Davie Brown of Leven in 4^th 7^th & 8^th positions. J Honeyman of Kennoway

 

making up the top 10 taking the last 2 positions.

 

 

 

Centre Section

 

The winners are Turpie & McCord of Glenrothes club on 1436 they are also

 

2^nd & 5^th section; New member Dean Bridges takes the 3^rd 4^th & 6^th positions,

 

with another new member Jock Dinsdale winning 7^th & 8^th positions. Mick

 

McMurchie is 9^th with Sean Diamond of Kennoway in 10^th place.

 

Thank you to George for his federation result so quickly.

 

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from John Baillie with his results he writes; ‘HiJoe, hope all is well. For our first race from Ridsdale it must be the warmestday waiting on the birds for the start of the season, and it did the birds andus fanciers some good. Taking pole position for our first race is Tam Hunnam ofPort Seton, also takes 4^th, 8^th & 9^th positions.In 2^nd , 3^rd & 7^th open positions isGraham Wardhaugh of Dirleton. Mr & Mrs March of Prestonpans fills in the 5^thopen position, with yours truly John Baillie of Tranent in 6^th placeand completing the top 10^th position is John Bird.

Prestonpans HC the result from Ridsdale race and startingthe season well is Tam Hunnan with 2 yearlings taking 1^st & 2^ndclub. Both are his Braspenning which have scored well for Tam over the last few years. In 3^rd place we have Mr & Mrs March with another yearling,this cock is spare and is closed up in his box throughout the day and only let out to exercise. He is bred from Peters Kilpatrick stock cock crossed with a Foxwood hen. This pair has bred many prize winners over the years. Most fanciers had good returns by the time the ETS was struck off. That's it Joe,back to the strong winds and heavy showers for the rest of this week, yours John B’. My thanks to John for his contribution:

ANDY MILLER see tex

young andy miller

Brown and Black pigeon see tex

Pentland HillsFederation

 

News from AndyMiller who writes; The New Lothian RPC with the Pentland Hills Federation hadtheir first race of the 2018 season from Ridsdale, a distance of 60-72 milesfor the members with 13 clubs sending 2695 birds the convoy liberated at 08-45hours into a south wind. Winning 1^st New Lothian and 1^st Federationis yours truly Andy Miller timing 2 yearlings together. The winner is a W VanHerk bred by Willie & John Pryde from Gorebridge, and he was flown ondouble widowhood. A darkness youngster last year he flew the programme toNewark 220 miles. The first 10 in N/L is the first 10 in the Fed too. Willie Pryde & sonJohn from Arniston are 3^rd with F Robertson of Danderhall club in 4^th& 5^th positions his club mate G Verth is 6^th withSighthill’s Stephen Girdwood taking the next 3 positions. Making up the top 10is L Mitchell of Castlebrae.

 

 

 

 

 

Club Winners are as follows;

 

Sighthill 136 birds; 1^st& 2^nd Miller 1639 & 1637 3^rd Girdwood 1595

 

Arniston 267 birds; 1^st 2^nd & 3^rdW Pryde & son 1629 1574 & 1570.

 

Danderhall 709 birds; 1^st& 2^nd F Robertson 1607 & 1605; Verth 1596

 

Castlebrae 162 birds; 1^stL Mitchell 1592 2^nd McCormack & Fraser 1549; Wills 1543

 

Bonnyrigg 246 birds; 1^stMassey 1567 2^nd Neill 1550 3^rd Watson & Daut 1544

 

Edinburgh West 111 birds; 1^st2^nd & 3^rd Lamb 1564 1558 & 1555

 

Edinburgh Premier 255 birds; 1^stGilchrist 1558 2^nd * 3^rd Dick 1551 & 1550

 

Easthouses 66 birds; 1^stBertram 1518 2^nd & 3^rd Reilly 1472 & 1439

 

Woodburn 214 birds; 1^st& 2^nd Allen 1518.3 & 1518 Brown & Black 1514

 

Loanhead 93 birds; 1^st2^nd & 3^rd Anderson 1485 1483 & 1480

 

Rosewell 81 birds; 1^stW Tytler 1398 2^nd Cunningham & Ness 1362 3^rd GTytler & son 1336

 

Traprain 292 birds; 1^st& 2^nd Newcombe & Black 1573 & 1570 3^rdThomson 1519

 

New Lothian 63 birds;

 

 

New Lothian RacingPigeon Club;

 

Had 62 loftssending 1774 birds with the convoy liberated at 08-45 hours into a south wind.Taking the top 2 spots and winning £130 for his efforts is Andy Miller ofSighthill with a velocity of 1639. 3^rd positon goes to W Pryde &son John of Arniston, with F Robertson of Danderhall in the next 2 positionswinning £139. G Verth of Danderhall is in 6^th place. I have attached a picture of a ‘Young’ Andy Miller butthe question to Lothian readers is ‘Can you tell me the name of the man at theback of Andy with the tinted glasses on?’ I have also added a more recentphotograph of Andy. The dark chequer pied hen was raced by the Brown andBlack partnership and she won 5^th open SNFC Sartilly when my nationalwinner ‘Mystical Rose’ won the race. Davie Brown found some nostalgic picturesall Midlothian federation winners against 5,000 plus birds from yesteryear andall these birds were Busschaerts. Davie joking said ‘I wish I had these birdstoday Joe’. I will cover some more of these winners over the followingweeks.

 

 

North of ScotlandFederation

 

 

News fromGeorge Duthie who forwarded the federation result which informs us that 69 memberssent 1787 birds to Brechin with the convoy were liberated 9-20 into a light southwest wind. Topping the federation and west section is Ian Coull of Buckie &District with a yearling hen doing a velocity of 1785. R Barclay of FraserburghWest End club is 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd eastsection (34 members sending 959 birds) and 2^nd 3^rd &4^th open. G Findlay of Peterhead & District is 4^th& 5^th east section 5^th & 6^th open. A WBuchan of Fraserburgh & District takes the next 3 places in the eastsection and is 7^th 8^th & 9^th open. Stewart Maskame of Peterhead & Districtis 9^th & 19^th east section and 10^th &20^th open federation. C McRae of Fraserburgh & District is 10^th11^th & 12^th east section 11^th 12^th& 13^th open. G Findlay of the Peterhead & District club is13^th section 14^th open with club mates R H Whyte in 14^th& 17^th east 15^th & 17 open; G Willox is 15^theast and 16^th open with Jim & Ann Donaldson in 17^thsection 18^th open and making up the final place is D Ward ofFraserburgh West End club in 18^th section 19^th open. The WestSection had 35 members sending 828 birds. Ian Coull is 1^st 9^th& 10^th section and 1^st 39^th & 40^thopen. Fulton & Ritchie of Devern Valley club are 2^nd & 3^rdsection 32^nd & 33^rd open club mate A Milne is 4^th5^th 6^th section 34^th 35^th & 36^thopen with another Devern member A Wilson in 7^th & 8^thsection 37^th & 38^th open. Well done to R Barclay on winning the East Section

 

Club Winners

 

Ian COULL Buckie &District; R BARCLAY Fr. West End; G FINDLAY Peterhead & District; AW BUCHAN Fraserburgh & District; W & A ROSS Inverurie; FULTON & RITCHIE Devern Valley; G GEDDES Elgin &District; G R DUNCAN Keith;.

 

Sorry for the delay Joe had some problemswith the computer, still better late than never. All the best to you and Kevinfor a good season yours George Duthie.

 

BanffHS news from Gavin Russell who writes ‘Hi Joe for the firstrace of the new season result from Brechin am approximate distance of 66 milesthe birds were away at 9-20 into a light south wind. Taking the 1^stx 3 positions in the club is Ian Coull with his 1^st bird a yearlingmealy cock doing a velocity of 1785 he is a Paul Woolliss x Venner. This birdwon the club by 12 minutes and topped the North of Scotland Federation. Ian’s 2^ndbird is a blue bar yearling cock doing a velocity of 1504 he is another Paul Woollissx Venner and the 3^rd bird is a mealy yearling cock on 1503 heis the same way bred as the other 2. Ian’s birds were racing on thecelibate system. It sure works for him many thanks Joe yours Gavin Russellto whom we welcome on board our results feature.

 

Good SNFC Birds

 

This week I start with a mealy cock SU14DF751 raced by the loft of J& L Alexander of Monifieth by Dundee in 2016 he won 70^thsection C 257^th open from Littlehampton a distance of 403 miles.Then in 2017 he was sent to Ypres a distance of 454 miles and won 25^thsection C 84^th open. Going over the River Tay we now come to ournext bird which is a pied hen SU15F 5179 raced by R Anderson of St Andrews in Fife in 2016 shewon 75^th section C 294^th open from Littlehampton adistance of 393 miles. Then last year she was sent to Buckingham and won 95^thsection C 305^th open flying 308 miles. Staying in Fife we have ablue bar cock SU14F 2444 raced by Turpie & McCord of Pitlessie in 2017 hewon twice being 90^th section C 281^st open from Buckinghama distance of 307 miles. He was then sent over the channel to Ypres and won 26^thsection C 86^th open flying 448 miles. We now move over the Firth of Forth toPentlandhill press officer Andy Miller of Edinburgh hischequer hen SU15P3516 won twice in 2017 from the inland national racefrom Bedhampton a distance of 363 miles she won 46^th section B 147^thopen. She was then sent to the Belgium race point of Ypres and she won 9^thsection B 15^th open flying 434 miles. Staying in the Lothians we come to the loft P McCue of Gilmerton in Edinburgh whose blue bar cock SU15P1038 in 2017 he won 23^rd section B 77^th open fromBedhampton a distance of 360 miles. He was then sent to the Ypres national andwon 200^th open but did not win a section prize but 2 good resultsfor the season.

 

Joe’s Joke

 

We Must StopThis Immediately

 

Have your noticed that stairs are gettingsteeper. Groceries are heavier. And everything is farther away. Yesterday Iwalked to the corner and was dumbfounded to discover how long our street hasbecome!

 

And, you know, people are lessconsiderate now, especially the young ones, they whisper all the time! If youask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthingsilent messages until they’re red in the face! What do they think I am a lipreader?

 

I also think they are much younger that Iwas at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age look older than I am.I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn’teven recognize me. I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing myhair this morning and in doing so I glanced at my own reflection Well, REALLYNOW, even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!

 

Another thing, everyone drives so fastthese days! You’re risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto themotorway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfullyfast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear mirror.

 

Clothing manufacturers are less civilizedthese days, why else would they suddenly start labelling a size 10 or 12 dressas 18 or 20? Do they think no onenotices? And the people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Dothey think I actually ‘Believe’ the number I see on that dial? Ha I would neverlet myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they are fooling?

 

I’d like to call up someone in authorityto report what’s going on --- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracytoo, they’ve printed the phone books in such small type that no one could everfind a number in there!

 

All I can do is move this along with thewarning WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!

 

Please continue to keep the news flowing;to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY14BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLEor log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.ukand www.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! Whowish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

 

© Compiled by Joe Murphy

[THE FIFER]