NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
Received an email from my good friend Sheldon Leonard from Arklow who wrote: ‘Hi Joe, nice to speak with you today on the phone and the best of luck to you and Kevin with your new venture (new house and new loft). As I said to you, “What's meant to be won’t pass you”. I have added a few photographs of my trip to Belgium and I’ll get you some more info on Aerens/Vandenheede & Roodhooft when I'm back over in Belgium soon. While at Daniel Aerens’ I noticed a few youngsters that looked new to me only to be told that Chris Hebberecht from Holland has just completed a breeding programme with Daniel. They coupled their national and international winners together to share the young between each other and both hope to improve each loft. This costs nothing Joe and that is what our sport is all about, trying to improve our stock and win at the highest level. As I said to you on the phone, Daniel matched your pair for you and also selected Rod’s birds accordingly and they are from his extreme distance line so I hope they do you some good. Dereck & Bill Walsh bought 12 from Daniel to race at the distance to their lofts in Waterford aptly named Dynasty Lofts. Gerry O Reilly & Sons bought 3 and Thomas Spears bought a hen to pair to a brother of your mealy. Both Tommy & Gerry are former King’s Cup winners so rest assured they know what they are looking for and were delighted with their birds. I bought 26 and Daniel gifted me a 2012 cock, his best bird this year, as a wedding present. We got drunk with Freddy Vandenheede on the Friday night and Freddy gifted me the first 2 youngsters from his 2nd National ACE extreme long distance KBDB 2014 pigeon which contain his new long distance blood from Holland blended with his own line which has hit the BIG time this year and he is only a yearling. Freddy is going to couple this good yearling cock to Daniel Aerens’ great hen I Had A Dream, winner of 1st International Hens 5th International Barcelona for the 2015 breeding season. So you can now see the interest that the top fanciers in Belgium and Holland have in Daniel Aerens pigeons. I have a brother to Freddy’s ACE pigeon over here in Ireland and your youngster from him and the sister to I Had A Dream is marked down in my order book. Marc, my good friend who is the sales director of Natural Grannen, took us on Saturday to the next up and coming loft in sprint in Belgium and I will forward you a full article in the New Year for readers of your column. We had a great time as always with who I rate is the best middle distance loft in all Belgium, Andre Roodhooft, who flew so well this year, winning King of Antwerp Union for a record 15th time and Emperor for an impressive 8th time. Andre has a pigeon this year called THE BEST OF BELGIUM, 1st Olympic pigeon Belgium which is his 2nd Olympic bird and has also won 2 x 1st Nationals!!! The 1st Olympic winner in 2005 was ‘Mustang’. Andre recently attended De Duif Golden Ten and his 9 young birds and 1 yearling fetched a staggering 30,000+ with the yearling making 18,000 alone. I will send you more detail soon on Andre & Freddy Vandenheede as well as Daniel Aerens. The photographs are as follows: Derek, Sheldon, Rod, Daniel and Bill. The team Helene, Sheldon, Daniel and loft manager Dirk. Derek Walsh looking at his purchase which big brother Bill selected from Daniel this being a son of 1st National Montelimar. Next we have the happy couple Vandenheede with Bill Walsh & Roger Lowe. Then we have Bill Walsh with Fran's van De Pol. Next is Sheldon & Leo Hermans under the weather (beer induced), next is Leo Hermans with Walsh Brothers. ‘De Caprio’ - is alive! Bill told Leo that ‘De Caprio’ was ‘finished’ and as he was Leo’s favourite pigeon he became quite upset to hear this news that his bird had died. So upset was he that he left the company and went outside to gather his thoughts. It was not until someone asked where he was and it transpired that ‘De Caprio’ was not dead but was ‘no longer filling his eggs’ that someone went outside to tell Leo there had been a misunderstanding. When Leo returned he had a big smile on his face and joined in the fun and celebrated the good news. The next picture is of Roger Lowe in the next best loft and a photo of Gary Tomlinson and Derek Walsh. Finally a happy ending and Daniel Aerens even came up to Antwerp for a beer and paid for everyones drink, which was a nice gesture. I will have more to follow later on Joe, kindest regards Sheldon.’
Derek Walsh, Sheldon Leonard, Rod Bain, Daniel Aerens & Bill Walsh
Helene, Sheldon, Daniel Aerens and Loft Manager Dirk.
The Vandenheedes with Bill Walsh and Roger Lowe
Leo Hermans with Sheldon Leonard
A happy ending in Antwerp
Bus to Blackpool
Bonnyrigg HS are running a bus to Blackpool Show and have a few seats left if anyone is interested in travelling down with them. They leave at 09-30am on Friday and depart from Blackpool on Sunday about 14-00 hours. If interested then contact Harry Conlin for more details on 01324-812756.
SHU Trophy Winners
This week finishes off the last of the trophy winners with the first The BHW Trophy for the lowest winning velocity in Channel races. The winner is R Stewart of Alloa in the North West federation and his 3 year old blue chequer cock won the following: From the Ypres race flown on 21st June 2014 liberated by the Up North Combine with approximately 18.000 pigeons entered, with 95 of these from the 3 Bird club. The chequer cock won 1st x 3 bird club flying a distance of 457 miles 498 yards and recorded a velocity of 633.881.
The Yearling Trophy winning the Friendship Trophy for the Outstanding Performance was won by R S R & R J Rome of Annan when their yearling blue chequer hen won 2nd section A 2nd open SNFC Clermont 1169 birds; flying 457 miles 414 yards recording a velocity of 1376.
The Duke of Edinburgh Trophy for the best performances Old birds and Young birds during the season for members or partnerships who are 25 years and under. The winner is 19 year old Martyn Brown of Bo’ness HS and his performances are as follows:
Race, Club, Date, Position, Won, Birds, Distance, Velocity
Otterburn, Bo'ness 19/04, 5-11-12th, 375, 79, 1776.946
Otterburn, Bo’ness 26/04, 4-6-10th, 383, 79, 2138.512
Consett, Bo’ness 03/05, 1-3-4th, 483, 105, 1458.337
Otterburn, Bo’ness 05/05, 6-7-8-9th, 463, 79, 1765.694
Ripon, Bo’ness 10/05, 1-4-5th, 420, 155, 1295.164
Ripon, Bo’ness 17/05, 3-4-5-7-9-10th, 420, 155, 1411.601
Wakefield, Bo’ness 24/05, 3-8th, 465, 183, 1176.583
Newark, Bo’ness 31/05, 14-19th, 314, 231, 940.854
Peterbourgh, Bo’ness 08/06, 15th, 164, 274, 1422.543
Peterbourgh, Combine 08/06, 19 sect 33rd Open, 515, 274, 1422.502
Buckingham, SNFC 08/06, 5th D, 19th Open, 2941, 297, 1748.94
Eastbourne, CS3Bird 29/06, 3rd sect 6th Open 135, 397,650.735
Young Birds Results
Stobbs Camp Bo’ness 26/07, 2-3-4th, 432, 54, 1397.498
Otterburn, Bo’ness 09/08, 4-8-9th, 551, 79, 1104.498
Consett, Bo’ness 16/08, 1-3-4th, 483, 105, 1458.337
Appleby, 3Bird 24/08, 1 sect 12th open, 68, 106, 642.091
Joe’s Joke
A Russian couple were strolling down the street in Moscow, when the husband felt a drop hit his nose. ‘I think it’s starting to rain’ he said to his wife. ‘I don’t think so, it felt more like snow to me’ she replied. ‘No I’m sure it was just rain’, he said. ‘Well as these things go, they were about to have a major argument about whether it was raining or snowing. Just then they saw a minor communist party official walking towards them. ‘Let’s not fight about it’ the man said, ‘let’s ask Comrade Rudolph whether it’s officially raining or snowing’. As the official approached, the husband stopped him and asked, ‘Tell us, Comrade Rudolph, is it officially raining or snowing?’ ‘It’s raining, of course’ he answered and walked on. But the wife insisted ‘I know that felt like snow’ to which the man quietly replied: Wait for it ‘Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!’ Lesson Number One FOR ALL MEN - LISTEN PROPERLY!!!!
and another one...
A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday. ‘I'd like to be twelve again', she replied, still looking in the mirror.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her to Adventure World theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite sweets M & M's, what a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being twelve again?’ Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. ‘I meant my dress size, you @**#**! Idiot !!!!' THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS THAT, EVEN WHEN A MAN IS LISTENING, HE IS STILL GOING TO GET IT WRONG!!!
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
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