The Joe Murphy Column 6/9/18

[THE FIFER]

The Joe Murphy Column

 

The subjects with the majority of fanciers I speak to nowadays are the amount of losses with the young birds and believe me it is getting many people down.Especially after the losses during the old bird season and many fanciers are on the brink of giving up the sport. You will read in John Baillie’s race report some ideas that fanciers are thinking about and this is a step in the right direction from these forward thinking people. Another idea is to race the youngsters on a Wednesday evening (the majority of races are less than 150 miles to the fancier’s lofts the youngsters could be liberated so that they home after 5pm) plus they would have the sky to themselves and avoid clashing with North Road organisations at the weekend. Away back in the 1970’s Fife federation held young bird training week (and at the weekend when the old bird national were at France, as the transporter was free that weekend). They started at Inverkeithing which is near the Forth Bridges and then increased the distance into Edinburgh and south to about 40 miles from the centre belt of Fife. The great thing about this was they collected the youngsters at night and they rested in the baskets in the transporter overnight. Then in the morning the driver would take them to the iberation site and after an hour rest they were released to fly home. We never had young bird sickness and we did not have the losses experienced today. I remember speaking to Matt McLauchlan about this young bird training and asked him ‘Why’ he sent his youngsters to the first training flight from Inverkeithing which was only a few miles from his loft. To get them used to spending the night in the transporter and baskets was his reply; Matt was a topfancier and became a household name with the sport of Scotland; who later on won 1^st open SNFC Rennes in the centenary year of the club 1994.Kevin has decided to call it a day and let the youngsters go through the process of having a good moult. My old birds have fell to pieces and every day you could fill a bucket with the amount of feathers found in the corners of the loft. I never complain about this as it is the start of your bird’s new feathers for 2019 and I add more oily grain into their feed at this time and give them a bath if not once twice a week.

 

Good SNFC Birds

 

While studying the SNFC results I noticed some exceptional pigeons and some of them I have covered in the past however I intend to give as many of these top quality pigeons a ‘pat on the back’ for their efforts in my weekly column during the winter months. Today I start with a hen that has won 3 times in the top 10 in her section and been 3 times in the top 42 open positions in 3 channel races. She is raced G Dalgliesh & son of Ecclefechan in the Solway their blue bar hen SU14S4023 who has now won her SNFC Silver Award this year, in 2016 she won 7^th section A 42^nd open Roye flying 449 miles; then last year she won 9^th section A 13^th open from Alencon flying 479 miles and this year she won 6^th section A 23^rd open from Liege flying 478 miles. With a total entry of 3679 birds in the 3 races only 75 birds beat her which is quite an achievement, welldone.

 

Another pigeon to win a SNFC Silver Award in 2018 is a blue white flight hen SU14F4593 flown by Austin Whittaker of Methil in Fife. As a 2 year old she won 13^th section C 30^th open from Ypres flying 442 miles, then this year she won 3 times in the national the irst being from Buckingham a distance of 301 miles to Fife and she won 14^th section C 170^th open, she was then set up for the Gold Cup race from Liege a distance of 519 miles and she won 3^rd section C 31^st open then a few weeks later she was sent to Roye and won 15^th section C 47^th open flying 508 miles. You will notice that from the 3 channel races she was 3 times in the top 15 in her section and was within the top 47 places in the open in these 3 races competing against a total entry of 4142 birds.

 

Another pigeon to win a SNFC Silver Award this year is a blue cock SU14AF2151 raced by MacAulay Ferguson & Curran of Forfar club in Angus federation. In 2016 he won 33^rd section C 108^th open from Roye flying 534 miles, that same year he won 29^th section C 82^nd open from Littlehampton a distance of 415 miles back to his loft. Last year 2017 he again won twice being 91^st section C 349^th open from Bedhampton a distance of 408 miles: he then went to Falaise and won14^th section C 45^th open flying 441 miles. This year heagain went to Roye and won 24^th section C (no open prize) thus gaining his 3^rd section win from over the channel to win his Silver Award. I would like to congratulate the partnership especially Gavin Ferguson who has not been keeping well of late and I hope this little reminder of their success in the SNFC gives him a boost.

 

Willie Kinnear and sons Brian and Barry of Gilmerton in Edinburgh have a blue chequer cock SU15P5055 that has won 5 times in the national He won 3^rd section B 11th open flying 551 miles from Reims in 2018 and had previously won 40^th section B103^rd open from Maidstone flying 359 miles. Last year he won 2^nd section B 23rd open from Falaise flying 505 miles. He also won 208th open fromYpres but did not win a section prize (which he requires to win a Silver Award)however he did win 108th section B 413th open from Bedhampton inland national flying 360 miles, a good pigeon and very worthy of a mention in this feature.

 

My next pigeon this week is from the west of Scotland to the loft of J Tallis & T McDonagh of Glassford their blue pied cock GB14N43083is a 4 times national winner and also requires one more section prize from over the channel to gain a SNFC Silver Award. He won twice in 2017 being 19^th section E 50^th open from Buckingham flying 290 miles he then went to Ypres and won 6^th section E 71^st open flying 446 miles. This year he won again from Buckingham being 19^th section E 294^th open he was then sent to Liege Gold Cup race and won 16^th section E 64^th open flying 533 miles. We wish the partnership every success in 2019 and hope their pied cock can win his Silver Award.

 

Austin Whitaker and Jocky Scott of Fife see text

 

 

 

Barry Kinnear see text

 

 

 

David Liddle & Tam Henderson

 

 

 

Jim Curran & Gavin Ferguson see text.

 

 

 

SHU Judge and Top Fancier Freddy Jamieson of East Calder

 

 

 

Results

 

Angus Federation

 

Birds were at Tow Law on 25^th August with the convoy of 536 liberated at 08-00 hours into a light North West wind; this turned out to be another hard race for the youngsters with many reported missing over the weekend. The same thing happened to Pentland Hills and East of Scotland federations last week and I have spoken to a few fanciers who are saying Scottish federations should NOT race from this sight. One fancier told me that Oliver Thomson who used to be the auctioneer at Edinburgh Charity Show lived in Tow Law and he advised Scottish fanciers not to send their pigeons to this area. The birds always go east and end up in the UNC area (which has happened to Kevin from this week’s race. The fancier has told Kevin that his bird was badly injured and in all the time he has kept pigeons he has never seen an identification ring so damaged on a bird’s leg. The youngster was suffering and the fancier said the human thing to do was put the poor bird out of its suffering. Kevin thanked the lad for his help and assistance. Now getting back to the federation result David J Liddle of Forfar took the first 3 places plus 18^th & 19^th open. Club mates Macaulay Ferguson & Curran in 4^th 5^th 8th 14^th 15^th 16^th& 17^th with SNFC Roye national winner Ian Scott in 6^th7^th & 11^th positions. Eric Galloway again from Forfaris 10^th with Kenny Droog & son in 12^th spot. Willie MacKnight makes up the top 20. East Section is won by W Dorward of Gourdon he is also 3^rd&5^th Arbroath’s Les McKay is 2^nd 4^th 6^th9^th & 10^th with Chic & Glen Cameron of the same club in 7^th spot. G Campbell of Montrose is 8^th section. Club Winners are as follows; Forfar 321 birds winner David J Liddle; Montrose 40 birds winner G Campbell; Gourdon 53 birds winner W Dorward; Arbroath 122 birds winner Les McKay.

 

Arbroath RPC

 

News from Charlie Cameron informing me that 5 members sent 122 birds to Tow Law on 25^th August with the convoy liberated at 08-00 hours into a light North West wind. Taking the 9 out of the 10 places is Les McKay with his winner his pick of the youngsters. Fourth place is won by Charlie &Glen Cameron

 

Almond Valley Federation

 

News from Lynne Stewart with the Catterick result flown on 25^th August the convoy of 668 birds where liberated at 08-15 hours. T Gavin of Armadale club wins 1^st place with a chequer GB rung cock doing a velocity of 1019; he is also 12^th& 15^th federation. Freddie Jamieson & son from East Calderare 2^nd 3^rd & 7^th with club mate Jimmy MYoung in 4^th 5^th 16^th & 20^th places. President John Bird from East Calder club is 6^th 10^th& 11^th. H Hadfield from Armadale is 8^th with R &L MacDuff of Forth & Clyde club are 9^th. Robert Anderson of East Calder is 13^th with J Burnside of Armadale wins 14^th& 17^th federation with S Fleming of Armadale is 18^th& 19^th open.

 

Clubs Winners

 

Armadale 171 birds; T Gavin 1019.387, J Hadfield 992.550, T Gavin 985.076, J Burnside 956.383

 

Balerno 46 birds; G JFairley 895.393, C Bain 874.388, 812.820

 

Carnwath 110 birds; JStokes 788.295, J Warwick & Son 783.277, 698.703, R Robertson 529.280

 

East Calder 91birds; FJamieson & Son 1016.596, 1016.364, J M Young 1005.696, 1005.393

 

Forth & Clyde 153birds; R & L MacDuff 990.952, G Harris 920.080, R & L MacDuff 913.025,V Couper 908.287

 

West Calder 97 birds; JBird 997.082, 989.436, 989.293, 919.579

 

Central Federation

 

News from Bernie Britton who informs us that the Broxburn & Uphall club race from Ripon had 4 members sending 93 birds with Central federation. The convoy were released at 07-45 hours. Taking 1^st x 3 in the club and federation is Gordon Mackenzie with his winner a chequer hen bred in the stockloft from a son of his top Gabby hen and a mealy cock from Davie Blain at Coxydene. Gordon’s 2^nd placed winner is from his original M & DEvans. The 3^rd bird is also a Gabby from the race team the damtopped the federation 3 times as a row. Gordon was also 9^th & 10^th federation. Other members to make the federation result are John McNeill in 8^th& 12^th places; Hamish Ferguson is 20^th federation;well that’s if for another week Joe coming to the end of another season Oh how time flies when you are enjoying yourselves ha ha.

 

East of Scotland Federation

 

News from John Baillie who informs us that the federation raced from Ripon, the youngsters were meant to be racing on Friday but it was put back to the Saturday. The birds were liberated at 07-45 along with the Central federation. Another strange erratic race developed with some fanciers having good returns while others lost half their teams. Joe something must be tried to make changes for young bird racing as every year things are becoming worse. My thoughts and many others are now thinking it should be in June and July, before the Peregrines finish off rearing their youngsters and before their youngsters are learning to kill for themselves. Some will laugh at this suggestion but unless we make changes more and more fanciers will become disillusioned and give the birds up. Now on with the result and we have John Bird of Prestonpans taking pole position with Jim McNeil of Tranent having a fantastic race taking 2^nd ,5^th ,6^th ,7^th ,9^th& 10^th open positions.John Baillie of Tranent is in 3^rd & 4^th positions with Spider Rowley of Prestonpans in 8^th place.

 

Prestonpans HC: winning this week is John Bird with the same bird that was 2^nd club, 5^th federation the previous week. Sire is bred from Premier Lofts Herman Ceusters and its dam is a Vandenabeele from Woodside Lofts. In 2^nd & 3^rd place is yours truly John Baillie, my bird in 2^nd place is bred from a direct son off ‘Padfield Invincible’ from the House Of Aarden and the chequercock taking 3^rd place was bred by JPS Racing loft. I cannot see many birds for the young bird national this year Joe after the losses I’ve heard and read about throughout Scottish federations. That is it for this week Joe many thanks once again yours John B’.

 

Fife Federation

 

News from Geordie Todd with the result of the Sedgefield Race flown on the 25^th August with 1263 birds liberated at 07-50 into a light variable wind. The top 10 in the federation are as follows; 1^st x 4 places to D Baldie of St Andrews with Brian Chalmers of Kennoway in 5^th & 6^th places his father in law Tam Laing is 7^th with S Donaldson of Perth in the west section in 8^th 9^th & 10^th places.

 

East Section had Kennoway sending 193 birds; St Andrews 110 birds; Methilhaven 110 birds; Tayport 11 birds and Leven club sending 66 birds. D Baldie of St Andrews takes the first 4 places with Brian Chalmers of Kennoway in 5^th 6^th 8^th section. Tam Laing of Kennoway is 7^th with Clark Clark & Page of Leven club in 9^th spot followed by Dougie Cunningham of Methilhaven club in 10^th spot.

 

West Section had Lochgelly club sending 127 birds; Dunfermline had 174 birds; Crossgates 242 birds and Perth with 79 birds. S Donaldson of Perth takes the 1^st to 8^th and is also 10^th section he is slit by J Hynd & son of Crossgates club.

 

Centre Section had Glenrothes & Leslie club sending 69 birds; Novar 103 birds; Sean Diamond of Kennoway club is 1^st 2^nd 3^rd 5^th 6^th 8^th 9^th & 10^th section with Brian Kinnear of Glenrothes & Leslie club in 4^th & 7^th spots.

 

Glenrothes & Leslie

 

News from Rosie Armit who writes ‘Hi Joe, we had 5 members sending 75 birds to Sedgefield but because of adverse weather conditions the race was brought back to Berwick. 1^st to the club was Turpie & McCord with a velocity of 1087 with a chequerwhite flight cock. His sire is a Vandenabeele x Busschaert and his dam a stockhen bred by Jock Scott and he was sent looking at an old hen, he is not on darkness.

 

2nd is Brian Kinnear with a velocity of 1050 with a dark chequer hen; her sire and dam are both grand children of Brian’s dark hen 1^st section 4^th open Ancenis in 2013,and 1^st section 22^nd open SNFC Ancenis 2014. 3^rd was Brian Kinnear with a blue hen doing a velocity of 1049, her sire won 9^th section 67^th open Buckingham YB National 2017, 12^th section 158th open Buckingham SNFC 2018, 23^rd section 56^th open Maidstone SNFC 2018.

 

For the 4^th young bird race of the season was from Sedgefield, with 5 members sending 69 birds and Brian Kinnear had the first 5 in the club. His first bird doing avelocity of 986 was a clue hen a double great grand daughter of ‘Stitchy’; his 2^nd bird velocity of 973 was a blue pied hen bred from a pair of late breds from Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone. Brian’s 3^rd bird on a velocity of 953 was a chequer hen whose sire is a 10 year old stockcock from Ronnie Evans & Partners from Sunderland being a son of Champion ‘Blue Flash’.

 

Pentland Hills Federation

 

News from Andy Miller who writes ‘We had their 5^th young bird race of the 2018 season from Ripon, a distance of 135-147 miles for themembers. Race controller Bobby Graham gave the go ahead to liberate at 07-45 into a North West wind. Winning 1^st & 2^nd New Lothian and Federation for the second week running is the inform loft of Brown & Black andloft laddie Peter from Woodburn club timed in their darkness youngster of Vandenabeele origin. This family they have had for many years and have been raced hard sorting out the “wheat from the chaff.” The originals originated from Mark& Dickie Evans stock. Joe the 1^st x 10 in the federation are the same as the New Lothian.

 

Club Winners as follows;

 

Woodburn 115 birds; 1^st 2^nd& 3^rd Brown & Black

 

Danderhall 523 birds; 1^st & 2^ndAitken 3^rd Brown

 

Edinburgh Premier 87 birds; 1^st & 3^rdDick 3^rd Gilchrist

 

Sighthill 50 birds; 1^st 2^nd& 3^rd Miller

 

Castlebrae 75 birds; 1^st McCormack &Fraser 2^nd Willis 3^rd L Mitchell

 

Arniston 164 birds; 1^st & 3^rd WPryde & son 2^nd J Pryde

 

Bonnyrigg 69 birds; 1^st Neill, 2^ndWatson 3^rd A Dewar

 

Easthouses 37 birds; 1^st Sanderson 2^ndThomas

 

Edinburgh West 30 birds; 1^st Cassidy 2^nd& 3^rd Lamb

 

Loanhead 68 birds;

 

Rosewell - birds;

 

Pebbles - birds;

 

New Lothian 12 birds; 1^st 2^nd& 3^rd Brown & Black

 

Traprain 229 birds; 1^st 2^nd &3^rd Thomson & son

 

Others 30 birds;

 

First prize in the federation breeder/buyer prize with a velocity of1082 is SU18P6231 bred and raced by A Young and will receive the sum of£443.00. The second prize with a velocity of 1055 was SU18P4025 bred by J Moyesand raced by F Robertson they will each receive the sum of £221.50 each.

 

New Lothian RPC had 46 lofts sending 1010 birds with the Woodburnloft of Brown & Black recording velocities of 1144 & 1143 for 1^st& 2^nd they are also 7^th on 1140. Helen Aitken &sons of Danderhall club are 3^rd & 4^th with club mateD Brown in 5^th 6^th & 8^th places. 9^thspot goes to K Dick of Edinburgh Premier with S Gilchrist of the same club in10^th position.

 

North of Scotland Federation

 

News from George Duthie who writes ‘We had 54 members sending 1174 birdsto Arniston these were liberated into a light north west wind strengthen on theway home. The East section had 23 members sent 572 birds and they took the 1^stx 20 places in the federation. Jim & Ann Donaldson of Peterhead &District won 1^st 4^th & 5^th open. C & MWilliams from the same club are 2^nd 3^rd & 9^thopen, club mate Stewart Maskame is 6^th 7^th & 8^thopen with J (Ian) Gibb of Fraserburgh & District won 10^th 11^th& 21^st places. G Findlay of Peterhead club is 12^th& 13^th with A W Buchan of Fraserburgh & District winning 14^th 15^th &16^th with H McAllister of Peterhead in 17^th open GFindlay of the same club takes the next 2 places with Colin McRae of Fraserburgh& District is 20^th open.

 

West section had 31 members sending 602 birds with J Abel ofDevern Valley in 1^st 2^nd & 7^th sectionplace he is also 22^nd 23^rd & 33^rdfederation. Fulton & Ritchie of the same club are 3^rd 5^th& 6^th section 31^st & 32^nd open. AWilson of the same club is 4^th & 8^th section 29^th& 36^th open. G R Duncan of Keith is 9^th section 35^thopen. R Wilson also from Keith club is10^th section 36^th open.

 

Club First Birds; Peterhead & District winners Jim & AnnDonaldson; Fraserburgh & District winner J (Ian) Gibb; Fraserburgh West Endwinner A Higgins; Inverurie winner R McKenzie; Devern Valley winner J Abel;Keith winner G R Duncan; Buckie & District winner R Bain; Elgin &District winners Jack & Reid.

 

Well done to Jim & Ann Donaldson on topping thefederation and to J Abel on topping the west section. Cheers once again Joeyours George’.

 

Joe’s Joke

 

A boy is selling fish on a corner. To get hiscustomers' attention, he is yelling, "Dam fish for sale! Get your dam fishhere!" A pastor hears this and asks, "Why are you calling them 'damfish.'" The boy responds, "Because I caught these fish at the localdam." The pastor buys a couple fish, takes them home to his wife, and asksher to cook the dam fish for T. The wife responds surprised, "I didn'tknow it was acceptable for a preacher to speak that way." He explains toher why they are called dam fish. Later at the dinner table, he asks his son topass the dam fish. He responds, ‘That's the spirit, Dad! Now pass the bloodly potatoes!"

 

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Please continue to keep the news flowing; to JoeMurphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD orphone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or logonto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk and www.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeontopics from Scotland

 

©Compiled by Joe Murphy

[THE FIFER]