The Joe Murphy Column 16/8/18

[THE FIFER]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

This week I had the pleasure of visiting John Wiseman of Dundee winner of 1^st open SNFC Reims and Ian Scott of Forfar winner of 1^st open SNFC Roye both in 2018. I also visited Joe Hunt of Dundee who has that wonderful pigeon ‘Cool Hand Luke’ that has won 7 times in the SNFC. Joe does not stay far from John so I took the time to spend some quality time with Joe as well. I’m intending to do an article on John and Ian for the BHW Year book as well as Squills. I have to say that I had a very enjoyable day out speaking to these 3 top quality fanciers and as a scribe it gave me a great ‘pleasure’just to spend this quality time talking to these fanciers and of course handling the 2 national winners ‘Balnuith Dreims’ and ‘Sun Princess’ as well as Joe’s blue bar cocknamed ‘Cool HandLuke’. This wonderful pigeon has now won his SNFC Silver Award for winning asection prize 3 times from the channel and requires one more inland diploma to gain a Meritorious Bronze Medal with the SNFC. His performances are as follows as a yearling he won 8th section C 29th open from Eastbourne; then in 2016 he won 105th section C 428th open Littlehampton he was then sent to Ypres and won21st section C 54th open. Last year he won 49th section C 167th open from Bedhampton and again sent to Ypres and he won 21st section 57th open. This year he has the same routine and won 68th section C 357th open from Buckingham before going to Ypres were he won 2nd section C 5th open and now wins his SNFC Silver Award. Healso wins The Cher Ami Trophy for the first nominated pigeon in the race. Joeis intending to race ‘Cool Hand Luke’ in 2019 and we wish him well in his quest to gain this Bronze Award, I have attached a photograph of him for the column,I have also included a picture of ‘Balnuith Dreims’. John informs me that his young brother gave her the name after he made a poem about her winfrom Reims. The Balnuith part is the name of the farm that John his wife Alison along with their family live. They keep rare breeds of specialist alpacas,miniature donkeys, rare Poitou donkeys and Falabella miniature horses. Lots of people bring their children or grandchildren to see all the animals and it is a good time to spend viewing all the animals it is worth giving the farm a visit. However for me it was not alpacas I had come to see it was to meet John Wiseman and to see and handle his 583 mile Scottish National Reims winner. She is a lovely quiet hen small to medium in size with a good wing and silk feathering. At the time of my visit she was mated to blue cock ‘Balnuith BuckStone’ (see photograph) winner of 7^th section C 128^th open Buckingham and 10^th section C 34^th open Maidstone bothin 2018 with the SNFC. I had a very pleasant time and it was a joy to meet John and see his set up and also to handle the national winner. After I left one of John’s young bird was posted missing and one returned with a broken leg and another was burst on the front of its chest. This all happens when just out for exercise and these accidents are caused by cables that run through the farm tothe west of the lofts and they are responsible for a lot more of John’s young birds that go missing. One of the world’s oldest Classic horse races was first run in 1776 this was the St Leger and this race formed the final part for colts and fillies who competed for the ‘Triple Crown’. This was exclusively for 3 year olds and one of the most famous names to win the St Leger was the famous Nijinsky. In 1983 the race was won by the Oak’s winner of that year ‘Sun Princess’ she was ridden by Willie Carson and they also came close to winning the Arc de Triomphe. She was one of the best fillies of that time, and Ian Scott’s brother is a ‘horsey man’ and when it came to picking a name for Ian’s national winner he said; ‘Sun Princess’because she is a widowhood hen and she beat all the other widowhood cock’s competingto win the national just like the wonderful ‘Sun Princess’ did. Ian’s winner’s breeding is mixture of the late Jim Biss with a touch of Honeysuckle Janssen crossed in.She is a lovely handling hen and has proven to be a class act as he now winsher SNFC Silver Award for 3 times a winner from the channel. She won 1^st Angus federation and 1^st Tayside Combine; 27^th section C89^th open SNFC Roye flying 533 miles in 2016, then last year she won5^th section C 19^th open Falaise flying 551 miles when only 33 pigeons made it home on the day from an entry of 802 birds. This year she won 6^th section C 23^rd open from Maidstone flying 402 miles and then she won 1^st Angus federation; 1^st TaysideCombine; 1^st section C 1^st region E; 1^st openSNFC Roye to become a household name within the sport of pigeon racing in Scotland. I would like to thank the 3 fanciers mentioned John Joe & Ian fortheir time, kindness in supplying me information on their pigeons and their kindness in showing me their winning pigeons and spending time with me. While doing the research into these Good SNFC Birds performances I also noticed that this year’s SNFC Gold Cup winner ‘White Nose Bud’ raced by Willie Borthwick of Annan has previously won 24^th section A 24^th open from Buckingham flying 226 miles prior to his 1^st section B 1^st openwin from Liege 2018 flying 474 miles. More about these good birds next week.

 

Balnuith BuckStone

 

 

 

Balnuith Dreims SNFC winner

 

 

 

Cool Hand Luke

 

 

 

Sun Princess 2018 SNFC Roye winner

 

 

 

Ian Scott of Forfar 1st open SNFC Roye

 

 

John Wiseman 2018 SNFC Reims winner

 

 

 

 

 

Race Results

 

Angus Federation

 

Had 886 young birds liberated at Arniston at 09-15 hours into a light south west wind. Topping the federation is Eddie Mann of Gourdon club he is also 4^th & 9^th Willie MacKnight of Forfar club is 2^nd 3^rd 5^th12^th 16^th 18^th 19^th & 20^th with R Pace of Forfar in 6^th & 10^th with club mate JHarvey in 7^th & 8^th. Gourdon W Dorward is 11^th13^th 14^th & 15^th federation. Greg andLeggate of the same club are 17^th open. The east section is won by Eddie Mann who took the first 3 places with club mate W Dorward taking the next 5 positions plus 10^thwith D & D Hay of Gourdon splitting the birds to win 9^th section.

 

Club Winners are as follows; Forfar 557 birds winner W MacKnight. Arbroath sent 166 birds first Kevin J Murphy; Gourdon 94 birdswinner Eddie Mann; Montrose sent 69 birds the winner was M Wallace & son

 

Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club

 

Held their first young bird race from Arniston on 4^th August with 6 members sending 166 birds these were liberated at 09-15 hours into a light south west wind. Taking the 1^st x 2 places plus 8^th& 10^th is Kevin J Murphy with his winner a red cock named ‘Mr McGinty’ this was a gift from Jimmy McGinty of Blackburn in West Lothian. Thedam of the winner won 2^nd section D 20^th open SNFC Ypres and 3^rd section D 31^st open SNFC Alencon for Jimmy while the sire of ‘Mr McGinty’ was bred by double SNFC Nantes winner Jim Sanderson of Pathhead in Midlothian. Both Kevin and I would like to thank Jimmy for this gift youngster. Kevin 2^nd pigeon was a cross between SNFC winnersTom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone and fellow scribe Adrian Duggen Leo Van Rijn family. Kevin’s 3rd bird is from a Tom Williams of Orpington cock who is the same way bred as Tom’s 4^th section 19^th open Tarbes and his 8^th section P 63^rd open Tarbes winners 2018 these 3 birds are bred from ‘Seagull’ winner of 3^rd open Tarbes for Tom.The dam of Kevin’s 3^rd bird was a direct daughter of Rob Glover of Earl Shilton being a daughter of his ‘Murphy Hen’ who won for the 3^rd time in the MNFC Bordeaux race year so therefore wins a special award. Kevin’s last pigeon was a Deweerdt crossed Daniel Aerens hen with the latter the dam of our91^st open Ypres this year. Third club is Charlie & Glen Cameron

 

Almond Valley Federation

 

News from Lynne Stewart with the result of the Stobs Camp race flown on Saturday 4^th August with the convoy of 1351 birds liberated at 10-30 hours. Dougie Bald of Balerno had a good race winning 1^st 2^nd 7^th to11^th plus 18^th open with J Burnside of East Calder in 3^rd21^st & 22^nd open. G J Fairley of Balerno is 4^thwith Freddie Jamieson & son of East Calder in 5^th & 6^th open. Jimmy Young of the same club wins 12^th to 14^th plus 16^th open with J Barrons of Armadale in 15^th & 17^th open. Vic Couper of Forth & Clyde club is 19^th with S Fleming of Armadale making up the top 20 places.

 

Club Winners are as follows;

 

Armadale 414 birds;1^st & 2^nd J Barrons 3^rd S Fleming 4^thJ Burnside

 

Balerno 145birds; 1^st 2^nd & 4^th D Bald 3^rdG J Fairley

 

Carnwath 104birds; 1^st & 2^nd Thomson Bros 3^rd & 4^thB Campbell

 

East Calder 187birds; 1^st J Burnside 2^nd & 3^rd F Jamieson& Son 4^th J M Young

 

Forth &Clyde 303 birds; 1^st & 2^nd V Couper 3^rd& 4^th R & L MacDuff

 

West Calder 198birds; 1^st 2^nd 3^rd & 4^th J Bird

 

THIS WEEKTHURSDAY NIGHT 9^th AUGUST RACE BASKETING FOR FRIDAY10th AUGUST RACE

 

What a great idea as theforecast is terrible for this weekend so well done these forward thinkingofficials, I personally take my hat off to you Joe Murphy.

 

Central Federation

 

News from Bernie Britton with the Broxburn & Uphall Pigeon Club result 1^st place goes to J Ferguson (Hamish) with a dark pied cock bred by P W Collinshis sire was bred by Page Brothers from Pickering while the dam is from Chainbridge lofts of David Reed. 2^nd is Hamish again with a dark pied hen her sireis a nest mate to Lloyd Togneri Reims 2015 Gold Medal winner with the SNRPC.The dam is a Van Loon from his good friends G W & S Macaloney. Hamish 3^rdbird is a blue hen from P W Collins her sire is bred by his good friend’s Page Brothers of Pickering while the dam Vandenabeele bred by Chainbridge Lofts.Hamish won 3^rd 5^th 6th & 7^th federation while other club members on the federation result are Gordon Mackenzie in 12^th place with John McNeill in 15^th spot and Pat Rafferty & son in18^th federation place. Thanks once again for including us in yourcolumn Joe it is good to be back and can I thank all the many fanciers who kept asking when my reports were going to start up again; yours Bernie’.

 

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from John Baillie who writes ‘Hi Joe, start of the crazy season, I just wish we did not need to race the youngsters to give them experience for the years ahead. Our 1^st race was cancelled last week due the bad weather forecast on the Saturday and Sunday. It was decided that we fly 2 x Ridsdale races then Tow Law and then follow the initial programme that was set out at the general meeting. For our 1^st Ridsdalethe youngsters were liberated at 09-30 into a light west wind. Taking top spot this week was Jim McNeil of Tranent who informs me that the winner was bred by Andrew Agnew from Kelso. The sire is ‘Monty’ winner of 1^st SNFC Bedhampton national in 2017 and the dam is ‘Border Bell’ winner of a SNFC Silver Award for3 times a section prize winner from the channel. Jim also took 4^th,5th & 6^th fed positions. John Bird of Prestonpans takes 2^nd,3rd, 8^th & 9^th open with Fowler &McIntyre of Ormiston in 7^th place, and Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton fills the 10^thopen position.

 

Prestonpans HC. The result this week sees John Bird take the first 3 positions. The winners sire was bred from a Woodside Loft Vandenabeele crossed Busschaert and the dam is a daughter of‘Peg’ John's good hen that won 2^nd open Ypres with the SNFC in 16. The2^nd position winner sire is a full brother to the sire of the winner when he was paired to Woodside Loft Vandenabeele. In 3^rd position the dam is a hen purchased at Pentland Breeder Buyer sale in 17 and is from JasPryde when paired to another Woodside Loft Vandenabeele crossed distance blood.Joe while reading the BHW concerning the articles on the BICC and the International races, the performances that are put up are fantastic. Saying that:–; We also have had some great performances from birds flying into Scotland this year; which you highlight in your Good SNFC Birds feature. For this to be happen the birds must be travelling well and are being looked after for them to compete in 2 - 4 nationals in a season. Well that’s it for another week wishing you all the best yours John B’.

 

Fife Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies

 

News from Geordie Todd with the first young bird race from Berwick where 2041 birds were liberated at 09-45 am into a light westwind. The federation top 10 is as follows; 1^st & 2^nd with 2 birds together is Jocky Scott of Kennoway with near neighbour Honeyman & Son in 3^rd place. Stewart Donaldson of Perth club is 4^th with Willie Hay of Methilhaven club in 5^th spot. McCord & Turpieof Perth are 6^th & 8^th with Turpie & McCord of Glenrothes & Leslie in 7^th place. Tam Cook of Kennoway takes the last 2 open places. The East Section is won by Kennoway’s Jocky Scott with Honeyman & son in 3^rd place they are followed by Willie Hay of Methilhaven club. Tam Cook of Kennoway takes the 5^th & 6^th positions with Mook Honeyman taking the next 2 places the number 9^th spot is won by Brian Chalmers of the same club with his club mate Jim Honeyman in 10^th spot. The WestSection is won by Stewart Donaldson of Perth club with McCord & Turpie of Perth club taking the 2^nd to 7^th positions. Jock Brockieof Lochgelly club is 8^th with club mate M Henderson just behind him with the last place of 10^th section going to J Hynd & son of Crossgates club. The Centre section has9 of the 10 places won by Glenrothes & Leslie club members. Turpie & McCord are 1^st with Brian Kinnear in 2^nd 3^rd 4^th7^th 8^th & 9^th with Sean Diamond of Kennoway in 5^th spot. Jock Dinsdale is 6^th & 10^th thus filling up the fed result.

 

Pentland Hills Federation and New Lothian RPC

 

News from Andy Miller who writes ‘Hi Joe the Federation held their young bird race from Ridsdale on Saturday 4^th August with 13 clubs sending 3509 birds, these were liberated at 09-30 into a west wind. Our winner of 1^st federation & New Lothian is Freddie Robertson, the details of his winner he sent below. This is the 3^rd time this season he has won the fed & New Lothian. His winner is an Albert Derwa of Herent in Belgium; being a grandson from Iron Man and Paulo Gal on the sire side and Zoon Brother and Zooneska on the dam side. These are stock birds bought from Premier Stud last year when he was moving location; the winner was bred in January and has been flown on widowhood. 2^nd 4^th & 10^th federation is K Dick of Edinburgh Premier with E Willis of Castlebrae in 3^rd place. McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae are in 5^th open with Brown & Black of Woodburn taking the next 2 places Stewart Gilchrist of Edinburgh is 8^th with J McIvor of Danderhall in 9^th spot.

 

Club Winners;

 

Danderhall sent 1023 birds; 1^st F Robertson; 2^nd McIvor, 3^rd Brown

 

Edinburgh Premier sent 256 birds; 1^st & 2^{nd Dick}; 3^rd Gilchrist

 

Castlebrae sent 171 birds; 1^st Willis 2^nd McCormack & Fraser 3^rd L Mitchell

 

Woodburn sent 256 birds; 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd Brown & Black

 

Edinburgh West sent 166 birds; 1st 2^nd & 3^rd C Bennett

 

Sighthill sent 205 birds; 1^st Keenan; 2^nd Girdwood; 3^rd Bremner

 

Arniston sent 417 birds; 1^st Milne, 2^nd J Pryde 3^rd Moyes

 

Easthouses sent 195 birds; 1^st G Thomas; 2^nd D Findlay 3^rd Bertram

 

Bonnyrigg sent 294 birds 1^st Neill 2^nd Watson 3^rd J Dewar

 

Loanhead sent 94 birds; 1^st 2^nd & 3^rd Murray

Rosewell sent 62 birds; 1st & 2nd Mackie 3rd W Tytler

 

Traprain sent 287 birds, 1st 2nd & 3rd Thomson

 

New Lothian sent 83 birds NEW LOTHIAN RPC

Held their young bird race from Ridsdale with 52 members sending 2407 birds this was flown on Saturday 4^th August with the convoy liberated at 09-30 hours into a west wind. Taking first place and a lift of £160 is F Robertson of Danderhall with K Dirk of Edinburgh Premier in 2^nd 4^th 10^th 11^th & 12^th E Willis of Castlebrae is 3^rd with McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae in 5^th place. Brown & Black of Woodburn are 6^th & 7^th followed by S Gilchrist of Edinburgh Premier with J McIvor of Danderhall in 9^th position.

 

 

North of Scotland Federation

 

News from George Duthie informing us that 51 members sent 1390 birds to Brechin 2 race with the East Section having 27 members sending 835 birds. G Findlay of Peterhead & District taking the first 3 places in the section and open. Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District takes the nest 3 places with a W Buchan of the same club taking the next 3 places. Stuart Maskame of Peterhead & District is 10^th & 11^th & 21^st with Walter Masson of Fraserburgh & District in 12^th & 13^th place. George informed me that a pine martin entered into Walter’s stock loft and killed 18 stock birds and 6 youngsters, needless to say Walter is shattered and our hearts go out to him at this time. C & M Williams of Peterhead club is 14^th 22^nd & 23^rd with Jim & Ann Donaldson of the same club in 15^th & 20^th with Gordon Willox in 16^th 18^th & 19^th open.

 

 

 

The West Section had 24 members sending 555 birds; the Fulton &Ritchie partnership from Devern Valley are 1^st 3^rd &8^th section 33^rd 35^th & 40^thopen.

 

G Wilson of the same club is 2^nd 4^th & 6^th section 34^th 36^th & 38^th open. A Mair (John) of the same club is 5^th& 7^th west section 37^th & 39^th open with G Wilson again of Devern Valley in 6^th section 38^th open. J Abel of the same club is 9^th section 41^st open with his club mate D Smith in 10^th section 42^nd open.

 

Club First Birds as follows;

 

Peterhead &District winner G Findlay; Fraserburgh & District winner C McRae;

 

FraserburghWest End winner A Higgins; Inverurie winner J S Robertson;

 

Devern Valley winner Fulton & Ritchie; Keith winner R Wilson; Buckie & District winner R Bain; Elgin & District winner G Geddes;

 

Well done to GFindlay on winning the federation and to Fulton & Ritchie on winning thewest section. That’s it for this week Joe yours George.’

 

 

Joe’s Joke

 

An Arab Sheik was admitted to Bumrungard Hospital for heart surgery, but prior to the surgery, the doctors needed to store his blood in case the need arose. As the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it couldn’t be found locally so the call went out to all the states. Finally a Scotsman was located who had a similar blood type. He willingly gave his blood for the Arab. After the surgery the Arab sent the Scotsman as appreciation forgiving his blood, a new BMW, a diamond watch, and 1000 US dollars. Sometime later, once again, the Arab had to go through corrective surgery. His doctortelephoned the Scotsman who was more than happy to donate his blood again.After the second surgery, the Arab sent the Scotsman a thank you card, and ajar of candles. The Scotsman was shocked that the Arab this time did not reciprocate his kind gesture as he had anticipated. He telephoned the Arab and asked him, ‘I thought you would be generous again, that you would give me another BMW, diamonds and money …. But you only gave me a thank you card and ajar of Candles’. To this the Arab replied, ‘Aye, but now I have Scottish blood in my veins’.

 

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 theBasics! Whowish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

 

© Compiled by Joe Murphy

[THE FIFER]