NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
The weather this past week or so have been very damp and I have been using Respiro San Dry in the loft to make sure it is dry. I maintain this product is a ‘must’ in the loft as it is a blend of 2 grades of calcium carbonate and Zeolite. The calcium is a quick drying agent and absorbs any dampness in the loft. While the Zeolite is able to absorb ammonia and other noxious gases which generates a better respiratory health for the birds. I’m sorry that I will not meet up with Phil Gardner the technical marketing manager at the SHU show this weekend but I know he will meet a few fanciers.
SHU Birds of the Year 2014
The top award of Dewar Trophy for SHU Bird of the Year is won by R S R & R J Rome of Annan whose 09 bred blue bar hen is an exceptionally good pigeon as she has won 2 x 1st clubs, 4 x 2nd, 3rd & 4th club from 72 miles to 475 miles. As a youngster she won 2nd club Bellerby 72 miles against 248 birds, then in 2011 she won 1st club 8th federation Ripon 92 miles with 483 birds competing, then won 4th club Melton Mowbray 181 miles against 183 birds, then 2nd club 3rd section A 96th open SNFC Eastbourne 328 miles against 4558 birds. She then went to Clermont with the SNFC and she won 1st club 9th section A 163rd open flying 457 miles against an entry of 4558 birds.
This year to win the Dewar Trophy she won 3rd club 10th section A (200 birds) 22nd open (1427 birds) flying 474 miles in the Alencon Gold Cup race recording a velocity of 731. She was sent back to the Clermont race and she won 2nd club 4th section A (166 birds) 6th open (1169 birds) flying 457 miles and recorded a velocity of 1330.46. Our congratulations to the Rome partnership on winning this top award.
Runner up to the Dewar Trophy are Richard & Jamie Combe of Elphinstone whose SU 12 blue cock won the following positions this year: He was 17th club (131 birds) 25th federation (265 birds) Peterborough 257 miles recording a velocity of 1192.13. He was then sent to the SNFC race from Maidstone and won 152nd open against 4472 birds flying 357 miles and recorded a velocity of 1117. He was then sent to Ypres with the SNFC and won 68th open against 2404 birds flying 426 miles and recorded a velocity of 1208. He was then sent to the last National race from Clermont and he won 41st open from an entry of 1169 birds flying 506 miles and recorded a velocity of 1141, he too is an exceptional pigeon and our congratulations to Richard and Jamie on their performances.
The other main old bird trophy is the Ogilvie Trophy for the best Individual Performance of an old bird in the 2014 season. This was won by the Peterhead partnership of Maskame & Mackie whose 2 year old blue hen won 1st section G 1st open SNFC Ypres flying 498 miles against an entry of 2404 birds and she recorded a velocity of 1338.99. A truly outstanding performance and a very worthy winner. This hen must have covered the majority of her journey home over the North Sea and she is only the 5th pigeon ever from the North section to win the Scottish National so well done Stuart and Craig. I will cover the remainder of the trophy winners next week as I don’t have a lot of time this week as we have to baby sit the ‘wee man’ every day this week plus we are going up to help Kevin at his new house.
SNFC Silver Award Winners
This week I highlight 3 pigeons that won a SNFC SILVER AWARD this year starting with Andrew Agnew & Son of Kelso whose Chequer Cock NEHU2010 BOR 2310 won the following positions: from the Alencon Gold Cup race in 2013 he won 15th section B 52nd open from an entry of 1355 birds; he was then sent back to Clermont and won 16th section B 75th open with 1500 birds competing. This year he won 17th section B 45th open Alencon 503 miles with 1427 birds participating.
Staying in section B the next pigeon is also a chequer cock NEHU2009 BOR 2249 raced by Andrew Lees of Eyemouth. This cock about pulled it off by winning the national from Alencon in 2012 when he won 1st section B 2nd open from an entry of 1201 birds. He won again from Alencon this year 2014 being 27th section B 70th open from an entry of 1527 birds and he was then doubled back to Clermont and he won 9th section B 52nd open from an entry of 1169.
Moving to the west section now we find a household name of John Cosgrove & son of Lesmahagow whose Grizzle Cock GB09S 56342 won twice last year and once this year his positions won are as follows: from Alencon Gold Cup race in 2013 he won 36th section E from an entry of 1355 birds he was then sent back to Clermont and won 20th section E 131st open with 1500 birds competing. This year he won 33rd section E Alencon a distance of 525 miles with 1427 birds participating.
This week’s photographs
The first picture is of Alfie Lawrence winner of the Ayrshire North Road Federation old bird average (2013) trophy with the famous Mark Gilbert. The second picture is of yours truly with Phil Gardner of Respiro San Dry and his assistant (sorry forgot his name), also taken at the Epsom show.
Alfie Lawrence with Mark Gilbert
Joe Murphy with the Resprio San Dry team
Joe’s Jokes
It all began with an iPhone... March was when our son celebrated his 17th birthday, and we got him an iPhone and he just loved it - who wouldn't? I celebrated my birthday in July, and my wife made me very happy when she bought me an iPad. Our daughter's birthday was in August so we got her an iPod Touch. My wife celebrated her birthday in September so I got her an iRon. It was around then that the fight started. What my wife failed to recognize is that the iRon can be integrated into the home network with the iWash, iCook and iClean. This inevitably activates the iNag reminder service. I should be out of the hospital next week-iHurt!!!
And another one
Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. 'In honour of this holy season' Saint Peter said, 'You must each possess something that symbolises Christmas to get into heaven.' The Englishman fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. 'It's a candle', he said. 'You may pass through the pearly gates' Saint Peter said. The Scotsman reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, 'They're bells.' Saint Peter said 'You may pass through the pearly gates'. The Irishman started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties. St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, 'and just what do those symbolise?' The Irishman replied, 'These are Carols.' And So The Christmas Season Begins.
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 to my NEW EMAIL ADDRESS at:
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