sapper756

The late Alec & Molly Martin of Worplesdon. I first met the late Alec & Molly Martin in the early 1970s being drawn by their fantastic per-formances in the National Flying Club and SMT Combine which I covered in the fancy press. A 20-mile drive to Worplesdon, near Guildford in Surrey took me to the outstanding lofts of Alec & Molly Martin. Alec was nick named 'Mons' Martin and his loft 'Little Belgium' as Alec was a student of the Belgian families and the lofts housed the Belgian strains of Pol Bos-tyn, Denys Brothers, Descamps Van Hasten, Janssen of Arendonk and Fabry. I asked Alec why he preferred the Belgian pigeons and his answer was that he believed the best criterion when buying stock is pedigree with a family history of winning pigeons. Where else do we find so many crack lofts that make a habit of winning national and international races? Most of the Belgian champions are raced on after national events and prove they are not flukes, but most English national winners never see the light of day after they win. Alec maintained the main factor is birds bred from winners paired to winners. The racing records of these great Belgian champions show they are not just one-off performances, the list is endless. He said look at the racing records of ‘Benohi’ (Bostyn), ‘Bliksem’ (Denys Brothers), ‘Prins’ (Denys Brothers) and ‘Motta’ (Van Hee) to name a few, whose racing careers were long and strong, being second to none in the world for quality. Alec said there had been a marked take over with Belgian pigeons in this country in the early 1970s. Look at the Busschaert pigeons in the sprint events and the Cattrysse NFC winners in the early 1970s. Many of the top fanciers in England today owe their success to the Continental breeders. Alec always said if you can't beat them, join them, which seems to be very good advice. Everyone is trying to breed that champion and Alec took what he hoped to be a short cut with the best of the Belgian pigeons. The Martin's loft record in short and long distance race since the 1970s and 1980s was second to none and must have rated as one of the top south of England lofts, scoring premier positions in the Federation, Combine and National every season. The partners had been premier prize winners on numerous occasions in the Godalming DFC, which was the strongest club in the RPRA Southern Region, with a membership of 70 and every position was hard earned with a club radius of 10 miles. Alec and Molly had many great seasons but 1979 was a bumper year recording many firsts with the highlights being: 2nd SMT Combine Le Mans (smash), 42nd SMT Combine Angers, 5th SMT Combine Niort, 23rd SMT Combine Bergerac, 6th SMT Combine Plymouth (young birds), 1st Surrey Federation Exeter, 1st Surrey Federation Weymouth (young birds), lifting ten cups and trophies including the Surrey Federation Continental Average, SMT Combine Continental Average and the SMT Combine Old Bird and Young Bird Combine Average. One of the principal pigeons in lifting the Federation and Combine Averages was the Fabry blue cock ‘Radar’ and he recorded 2nd SMT Combine (3,011 birds) from the Le Mans smash. In the early part of the season he was on widowhood and Alec named him ‘Radar’ because he homed in thick mist from Le Mans. The Martin's 5th SMT Combine winner from Niort was The Warren x Medway blue cock ‘Rising Star’. The pigeon to tie up the averages was the Young Janssen x Fabry red cock ‘Milo’ and he was 6th SMT Combine (2,451 birds) Plymouth. This little cock was a grandson of Alec's ace Janssen stock cock ‘Chief’, which bred many good pigeons for the Martins and he was purchased from Roger Timmermans of Strombeek, Belgium, and was a grandson of ‘Oude Voss’ and the world-famous ‘Merckx’, both of Janssen Brothers of Arendonk. Another golden year for the Martins was 1975 when they won 1st club, 1st Surrey Federation, 3rd SMT Combine Ber-gerac, 1st club, 2nd Surrey Federation, 15th SMT Combine Avranches, 2nd club, 3rd Surrey Federation, 9th SMT Combine Niort, 16th section E, 55th open Pau(NFC). As well as many other firsts, they lifted the Surrey Federation Old Bird Average Cup, Surrey Federation Channel Average Cup, Surrey Federation Longest Old Bird Race Shield, 55th open Pau NFC and 3rd SMT Combine Bergerac was recorded on the same day. A brilliant performance! The Martin's first birds were obtained from Stan Edgington and Ron & Chris Cox of Godalming in 1959. The Belgian families in the loft were obtained at considerable trouble and expense and as the records show, bred birds to race and win Federation and Combines from 70 to 500 miles. Alec always told novices to buy stock from one of the successful one-family specialists, seek his advice and stick to that one strain. One of Alec's all-time best pigeons was the old pencil blue cock ‘77’ and he was off the Martin's old original family. This nice cock recorded 1st Hersham open Weymouth, being 60ypm in front of the next loft on the result sheet and the Martins recorded 1st, 2nd and 3rd open, 209th open Avranches Young Bird National, and flew Pau four times, three times on the winning day. His sire was Alec's ‘The Nantes Cock’, which scored four years in succession from Nantes including 6th section E, 36th open Nantes NFC. Another favourite at the Martin's loft was the Fabry blue pied cock ‘White Nose’, which won several outstanding club firsts against 500 birds. He had many top Federa-tion positions and scored in the 1979 Nantes National. The main racing loft was 18ft x 7ft with three compartments, one for young birds, two for old birds, with a corridor running the length of the loft. The birds were trapped through bob wires and there was always food before them because the Martins didn't believe in keeping the birds short of corn. All the birds in the main racing loft were raced on the natural system. His stock birds were housed in a nice 16ft x 6ft loft with a flight and half this loft housed six pairs of widowhood pigeons. Molly cleaned and dressed the loft with lime every day and also changed the water twice a day. Molly Martin was a natural with pigeons, one of the best lady fanciers I have ever met! The birds were fed on a good sound mixture with extra maize being added just before Pau and Bergerac and they were given condition seed. Alec was the director in an engineering firm and had a fair bit of freedom for training, which he gave regularly at about 15 miles. He said he has given birds long training tosses but they seem to perform better with lots of short training tosses. The stock birds were paired up on February 14th and the racers in March. About 60 youngsters were bred every year as Alec thought the more youngsters bred, the better his chance of breeding a champion. He said that two of the main factors in success with pigeons is: '100% dedication12 months a year and go for the strongest competition’. Alec wasn't eyesign minded and said if he thought it was important he would study it and only keep one pair with the breeder's eyesign and a few feeders to rear all the winners. Molly was a great work force generally, managing and cleaning the birds and lofts. She clocked the first arrivals and paired up the race team. Alec maintained his most thrilling experience in the sport was in 1964, when he sent two birds for his first crack at the Pau National and recorded 160th open with very few home locally on the winning day. The Martins won the Surrey Federation twice inland in 1979; one was an old bird and the other a young bird. The old bird was a Fabry dark cheq cock called ‘Monty’ and he recorded 1st club, 1st Surrey Federation, 2,611 birds Exeter. The youngster, ‘Well Away’, a Janssen cross blue cock, won the very strong Godalming Club by a very large margin and recorded 1st club, 1st Surrey Federation, 2,153 birds Weymouth. Alec lived in a hot-bed of great fanciers and said he had respect for a lot of them. In the 1970s he thought Cyril Medway of South-ampton was a great fancier, because of the size of the Medway team and the outstanding suc-cess he enjoyed. Alec liked the idea of the thing Louis Massarella was doing and said it's a good bet for the beginner to purchase birds from him because he offers good stock at fair prices. Alec said local small clubs should amalgamate, centralise their HQ, thus cutting expenses and providing better competition. Alec and Molly are no longer with us and were a brilliant pigeon racing team. Text & Photos by Keith Mott (April 2023)

Well done folks

Good luck

Hi All, Fife Federation liberated at 8am from Alnwick on Monday 1st May into a west wind. Good luck to all. Jim Coltart, Sec., Fife Fed of HPS.

Please post your club or Federation liberation time on this topic Good luck

Please post your club/federation liberation time on this topic Good luck

Good luck folks

Please post your club/federation liberation time on this post Good luck

The Joe Murphy Column I received a lovely Thank You -So Very Much- card from Henry Mair of Irvine; who wrote; Your Article on the ‘Blue Blitz’ (Shillinglaw & Whylie) SNFC Gold Cup winners, was really excellent. It gave us ALL a ‘Real Insight’ to the SNFC in Scotland and beyond. It is one of the BEST ARTICLES I HAVE EVER READ, in the BHW. Billy Wortley and the late Bobby Kennedy (Culzean) would be proud of your article. Once again Joe, keep up the fantastic work you do for the Pigeon Sport up here in Scotland. Wishing you and Margaret all the best Henry and Etta. While on about the old articles, I came across one on Johnny Dora and his son Paul of Arbroath. Mr Dora’s father left Italy to settle in Arbroath at the beginning of the 20th Century and survived the Elliot Rail Road disaster in 1906, which killed 22 people. John Dora was born in the Angus town in 1905; the budding sports star played for the now defunct Arbroath Ardella Junior Football Club as an inside forward. He made his Parma debut in 1925 and played against Juventus and AC Milan in his first season in Italian football. His career with Parma didn’t get off to the best start after he was mocked because of his provincial origins by his own fans who were known for their ‘snobbery’. However, Johnny silenced his critics – quite literally – during a friendly against an Austrian team. He dribbled through the other side’s defence and rounded the goalkeeper before gently placing the ball on the goal-line – then walked straight off the pitch. A hush fell over the stadium before the Parma fans erupted in praise and a legend was born. After the match the Parma officials awarded him a Gold Watch and the incident is still fondly remembered to this day by the Italian club. Mr Dora, who served in the Royal Navy during the 2 nd World War, was described during his time in Italy as a footballer who had managed ‘To implant into his Latin fantasy, the solidity and the attentiveness of the British style’. He returned to Scotland despite interest from Bologna and Inter Milan and played for Arbroath – scoring a hat-trick on his ‘Lichties’ [this is their nickname] debut against Falkirk. John Dora started keeping pigeons on Armistice Day in 1918, and he was a consistent winner; pedigree was always been the yardstick of the Dora success (which I agree). And this was written in 1966; Mr Dora ran a fish and chip shop in his home town after his career ended in 1930 after breaking his leg, and he died at the age of 65 in 1971. His star pigeons can be traced back to the original stock pair purchased from Robert Stoddart. Since then, introductions from such notables as Jock Reid, (Stenhousemuir) and Duncan Ogilvie (Stirling) helped produce birds such as grizzle cock, twice winner of 1 st club Christchurch (404 miles) and 18 th open Nantes (648 miles), being the only bird timed north of the Forth. Then there was the blue hen ‘425’ who won 15 th open Nantes and was then tragically killed on wires while exercising round the loft. When son Paul joined the partnership, the Dora fortunes soared to even greater hights culminating in what is every Scottish fancier cherished ambition, the winning of the Scottish National Rennes race of 1961 with a convoy of 5273 birds competing. This result was achieved by blue chequer cock ‘802’ now famous known the world over as ‘THE FIFER’. [See photo] ‘The Fifer’ was a slow starter and didn’t show form until he won 1 st Preston and 2 nd Lancaster as a 2-year-old. Then in 1960 he showed his doggedness by taking 145 th open SNFC Rennes with the very low velocity of 514. In 1961 the year of his triumph, he previously won 1 st club Worchester, then marched on to victory in the National. A fabulous achievement that is unlikely to be repeated. ‘The Fifer’ went on to fly Rennes twice more, both very hard races and he really earned his glorious retirement where he turned out progeny that where a credit to his illustrious career and kept the name of Johnny & Paul to the forefront of national racing for many years. Not content with that, Johnny and Paul, also timed in their old war-horse ‘Rocky’ to win 1 st Tayside Federation Dol. [Great memories of our past and if I can I will continue to add little snippets into my weekly column Joe Murphy]. 2 Race Results This week begins the new season for 2023; let us hope that it is better than the previous ones we have had since 2020. Once again, I’m prepared to add race results to my weekly column but I must emphasise that I require these by Wednesday morning as I type up my article then and send it away to the pigeon papers and web sites. If you have a photograph of your federation or club winner that you wish to go with the report then just email this along with the report. Pentlandhills Federation News from Andy Miller who informs us that the convoy of 1537 birds entered by 65 lofts were liberated at Otterburn on Saturday 15 th of April at 11-15am into a south east wind. Topping the federation are S & S Tierney of Danderhall club with their winner doing a velocity of 1483, they were also 16 th open. A Baillie of Danderhall club is 2 nd 4 th 15 th 17 th 19 th 20 th 21 st 23 rd 24 th & 26th Ronnie Bremner of Sighthill club is 3 rd with club mate and federation president Andy Miller winning 5 th 6 th 8 th 11 th 12 th 13 th & 14 th positions. J Lamb of Edinburgh Premier wins 7 th place with W Pryde & son of Arniston winning 9 th & 10 th open. Mr & Mrs Lindsay of Danderhall are 18 th 22 nd & 28 th with their first bird an all pooler winning over |£300 for them. G Bennett & son also from Edinburgh premier are 25 th with A Baillie in 26 th place K Wright of Danderhall is 27 th with A Winter of the same club in 29 th spot and Stevie Girdwood of Sighthill makes up the 30 th open places. The total pay-out in pools was £947.70. The officials would like to thank the members who participated in the Breeder/Buyer: particularly to Scott Girdwood for his sterling commitment to this venture. All ring numbers MUST be submitted to Scott no later than the 1 st May 2023. Prize Money will be announced when all outstanding money has been paid to Scott. My thanks to Andy for the photograph to go with his report. East of Scotland Federation News from Tom McEwen who writes; The birds were transported with Pentlandhills Federation and were liberated at Otterburn on Saturday 15 th of April at 11-15am into a south east wind. Topping the federation and also taking 5 th open is Gus Jackson of Macmerry, starting where he left off last season is Keith Howie of Prestonpans having a foursome; finishing in 2 nd 3 rd 4 th & 6 th places, making it a great race for Keith. Davy Blair also from the ‘Pans’ is in with 2 good ones in 7 th & 9 th open places. Tom and his son Scott McEwen of Elphinstone have a nice double finishing in 8 th & 10 th positions. Prestonpans HS Taking first 3 places in the club is Keith Howie with a yearling blur cock from his number one stock pair; making it a full brother to his famous ‘Blue Arrow’ his great pigeon. His 2 nd pigeon is a 2-year- old blue cock bred by Spider Rowley from his Van Den Bulk x Cooreman bloodlines. As a youngster it won 1 st club 2 nd federation Otterburn and then as a yearling he topped the federation from Billericay open. Keith’s 3 rd bird was a yearling blue cock the same way bred as Keith great pigeon ‘Blue Arrow’ making it a full brother to the club winner this week. Tom finishes off by saying; ‘That is started a new season once again Joe, wishing you and Margaret all the best; cheers Tom’. Fife Federation Hi Joe, hope all is well. I was wondering if it was OK to send you the FED results this year again? 3 For inclusion in your column in the Homing World. There are some changes to the FED sections this year. According to the rule book Kennoway club should have been flying in the Centre section for years, and some individual members have now been put into their correct sections. The East section winners are as follows; St Andrews club take the first 7 places these are R Anderson; Dave Baldie; R Cochrane; I Downie; J Harcus; D Jack and A Suttie. Methilhaven club members take the last 3 places in the east section, these are D Armour; G Baxter & G Caffrey. The Centre section is won by Kennoway club members; J Benvie; B Chalmers; T Cook; S Diamond; S Fyffe; S Fleming; Honeyman & son; K & N Honeyman; M Honeyman; B Kinnear. West Section is won by R Cunningham of Tayport; With Crossgates members taking the following positions; D Barnes; G Bell 1; G Bell 2; C Buchanan; K Cochrane; R Cook, P Cuthbert; P Drummond A Fleming. Space Weather Chart The 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table; Issued on the 17 th April 2023 is as follows; # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2023 Apr 17 178 5 2 2023 Apr 18 170 5 2 2023 Apr 19 168 5 2 2023 Apr 20 168 5 2 2023 Apr 21 175 8 3 2023 Apr 22 172 12 4 2023 Apr 23 172 10 3 2023 Apr 24 172 5 2 2023 Apr 25 168 5 2 2023 Apr 26 162 15 5 2023 Apr 27 160 18 5 2023 Apr 28 160 15 5 2023 Apr 29 160 15 4 2023 Apr 30 165 15 5 2023 May 01 172 12 4 2023 May 02 172 10 3 2023 May 03 172 8 3 2023 May 04 170 8 3 2023 May 05 172 5 2 2023 May 06 172 5 2 2023 May 07 172 12 4 2023 May 08 178 5 2 2023 May 09 182 5 2 2023 May 10 182 5 2 2023 May 11 182 8 3 2023 May 12 182 8 3 2023 May 13 175 5 2 Once again you will see the reading for this weekend 29 th -30 th April is very high, so take care. Joe’s Joke The seven dwarfs always left early each morning to go to work in the mine. As always, Snow White stayed home doing her domestic chores. As lunchtime approached, she would prepare their lunches and take them to the mine. One day as she arrived at the mine with the lunches, she saw that there had been a terrible cave-in. tearfully, and fearing the worst, Snow White began calling out, hoping 4 against hope that the dwarfs had somehow survived. 'Hello. Hello!' she shouted. 'Can anyone hear me? Hello!' For a long while, there was no answer. Losing hope, Snow White again shouted, 'Hello! Is anyone down there?' Just as she was about to give up all hope, she heard a faint voice from deep within the mine says, ‘VOTE SNP!’ Snow White fell to her knees and prayed, Oh, thank you, God! At least Dopey is still alive! 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 www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland Preview attachment Johnny Dora see text.jpg Johnny Dora see text.jpg 46 KB Preview attachment S & S Tierney Otterburn Fed Winner see text.jpg S & S Tierney Otterburn Fed Winner see text.jpg 17 KB Preview attachment The Fifer see text.jpg The Fifer see text.jpg 36 KB

Please post up here where your club or Federation are racing from this weekend. Good luck in advance

Ok thanks will pass this on

I have had a pm starting the sales list can not be printed off. Can you advise please? Thank you

Bo’ness Homing Society Annual Open Race 2023 Otterburn Basketing Sunday 7th May 4pm sharp Race date Monday 8th May 50p a bird. Open to all Scottish Central Combine Members to Compete. Fanciers outside the Combine Boundary are welcome to send as Trainers. Please contact me if you intend on sending. Martyn Broon 07413405163

Good luck with your sale