NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
I have been updating my computer loft manager with my breeding details and I have also added a photograph of the parents of each bird onto file. It is not until you look at these photographs and see the individuality of each bird that you appreciate their beauty, as just now they are a bundle of feathers and you would not give tuppence for them. I know some people who if they are going to part with birds do before they are through the main moult because once they have finished they are indeed a sign of beauty and are worth another year in the loft. I’m overstocked, especially with cocks so some of these will have to go, however not until after the moult as I know their quality in looks as well as breeding.
As I don’t have any photos to go with this article, I thought I’d add 3 yearlings from my loft that looked a ‘dream’ prior to the moult. As a matter of interest I paired the red cock (F & J Vandenheede) to the blue hen (Daniel Aerens), both bred by my good friend Sheldon Leonard from Arklow. They were paired together this year and the youngsters have been to every training toss and we will see how they progress next year.
Blue hen
Red cheq cock
Yearling Deweerdt cock
Results
Angus Federation news from Ann Carrie with the Ripon result were 24 members sent 439 birds liberated in a north west wind at 7am the winner is Willie MacKnight of Montrose who had a great race taking 1st 2nd 3rd 13th & 14th federation and 1st 2nd 3rd 5th & 6th east section in the race. Macaulay Ferguson and Curran of Forfar are 4th & 5th as well as 15th to 20th federation they win 1st 2nd 9th & 10th west section positions. Davie Glen of Forfar takes 6th to 11th in the federation and 3rd to 8th in the west section. G Scott of Montrose is 12th federation and 4th east section with 7th & 10th east section places going to B Craig of Gourdon with Eddie Mann of the same club in 8th east section Charlie Cameron of Arbroath is 9th east section.
Club Winners are as follows: Arbroath C Cameron; Forfar Macaulay Ferguson and Curran; Gourdon B Craig; Letham no entries; Montrose W MacKnight; Inchcape L McKay.
Points League 1st place Davie Gen on 253 points with David Liddle on 221 points.
Thank You received a phone call from James Lawson from Newtownards in Co Down Northern Ireland is I could possibly say a special ‘thank you’ to Davie Glen of Forfar. James and his wife were over in Dundee for the week end as their daughter is going to Dundee University she started 1st September. James had noticed Davie had an advert in the pigeon book and as he was over decided to go and visit Davie and have a look at the late breds on offer. James said that Davie could not have been more helpful with advice etc. and he felt that he had known him for years and not just for the few hours visit. James said that Davie’s hospitality was ‘second to none’ and he is a credit to the Scottish pigeon sport.
Ayrshire Federation news form Mark Findlay who writes ‘Hi Joe, sorry for the delay on these results between work and holidays I’ve just been too busy. Full credit to yourself on how you manage to keep your column going every week. Anyway better late than never I suppose, on 21st June 2014 we had 252 birds liberated with SNFC at Maidstone with 29 birds making it into Ayrshire on the day. First home and topping the federation is the partnership of Billy Cree and Ian Cuthbert with a velocity of 988 well done lads and this sees another great performance from you guys with a 1st Region F. 2nd on a velocity of 945 is Robert Reid and 3rd place to Tam Blakely. On 7th July this was Ayrshires final race of the old bird programme from Ypres with 135 birds released with SNFC convoy at 06-15 am into west to south west wind and we had 16 day birds making the result. Timing the first 4 birds in the federation is Robert Reid who had 6 birds return on the shift even timing 2 yearlings that had no racing as young birds. This was an extremely hard race for Ayrshire due to the wind which makes these performances even more creditable so well done Robert. Also well done to all the other guys who timed on the shift especially Davie Armstrong in West Kilbride who timed the last day bird shortly before 10 pm. In the first of our fundraising events for 2014 Ayrshire federation will be holding our annual late bred sale in the Crookedholm Community Centre in Kilmarnock post code KA3 6LD. All lots can be viewed and bid for at www.pigeonsonline.co.uk Birds will be on view from 11am with the sale starting at 12-00noon. Another fundraiser sees us staging our first ever pigeon moot this event will take place on Saturday 20th September 2014 at Kilwinning No Social club in Main Street Kilwinning post code KA13 6AG. On our panel we have John Duthie from Dundee. Tam Blair from Stirling, Ayrshires own Ricky Young and East Calder’s Davie Jamieson. Tickets are £10 each which includes a buffet and pigeon auction tickets can be purchased from Mark Findlay on 07967976648 or Jim Savage on 07799640711 well that's it for now Joe all the best yours Mark Findlay’.
Almond Valley Federation
News from Jimmy Young who has not been feeling too well of late and missed the column last week however he informs me that the federation were at Consett on Saturday 23rd August and what a race this turned out he writes ‘I doubt if half of the convoy made it home so your looking at over 500 birds missing and unfortunately they have not been working back which makes me think they are not up this end of the country, if they were you would surely get some working home. Onto the result C McCann of the Balerno club is 1st federation on 1172 yards per minute and the breeding of his winning pigeon as follows the sires side a Stan Biss bred bird he obtained from Scott Storrie who now lives down on the south coast of England but was a member of Balerno Club and flew with his grandfather as Halliburton & Storrie. On the dams side is a Donaldson of Peterhead pigeon Chris birds are flying on the darkness system. In 2nd fed is A McCalley & Son of the Armadale club unfortunately I don`t have any details of their pigeon but I can tell you he joined the federation from The North West federation and they were good fliers in that federation. In 3rd place are Young & Claffey with a blue pied hen which is a crossed Galaxy pigeon with a Van Loon gifted from Freddie Jamieson & son club mates. In 4th place is D McBeath who I have tried phoning but it would be easier getting the ‘Scarlett Pimpernel’ than Davie. The next 3 places of 5th 6th & 7th are all won by J Burnside of the Armadale club but I don`t know the breeding of his pigeons. Then the next seven positions are taken by Ian Jamieson of Balerno club and he is flying his father’s old breed of Bricoux crossed Kilpatrick crossed Delbar pigeons.
East Calder HS
First 3 in the club go to Young & Claffey and as you can see from above the details our winner is in the fed result our 2nd & 3rd birds are bred from the Galaxy stock.
Club Results
Armadale 393 birds; A McCalley & son 1149; D McBeath 1148; J Burnside 1147
Balerno 166 birds; C McCann 1173; I Jamieson 1142 & 1141
Carnwath 72 birds; Thomson Brothers 963; 952.8 & 952.4
East Calder 138 birds; Young & Claffey 1148; 1116 & 1163
Forth & Clyde 252 birds; J Loney 1081; V Couper 1077; J Urquhart 1071
Kinneill 14 birds; Dunsmore & Bell 1084 & 1069
West Calder 108 birds; J Bird 1065 1049.9 & 1049.6
Almond Valley were at Catterick this week with a greatly reduced convoy after the outcome of our Consett race last week where we were lucky if half the convoy made it home, I know myself I dropped 12 out of 25 birds at the race and never seen or heard of one of the them makes you wonder where they go to. This week the convoy of 635 birds were liberated at 10-30am with the Balerno club taking the first six positions in the federation and I am sorry to say Joe but not one member has got in touch to give any details of their birds. (No wonder Press Officers give up the job all Jimmy is trying to do is give the federation members some publicity Joe Murphy) in 7th & 8th is Young & Claffey with Galaxy birds this week’s winner is a chequer Koopman crossed Rietvink pigeon closely followed by a blue cock which is bred from a Soontjens crossed Vandenabeele cock when crossed with a Koopman crossed Van Loon hen. The next 3 birds are to J Burnside of Armadale club closely followed by A McCalley & son of the same club but again no details from them Joe.
East Calder HS
The first 3 in the club this week go to Young & Claffey again I have given the details of the first two in the fed report above and our 3rd placed bird is the nest mate to the second bird. The next 3 places are won by McDonald & Brandon.
Club Results
Armadale 292 birds; J Burnside 1077.6; 1077.3 & 1077.1
Balerno 104 birds; I Jamieson 1123; 1122 C McCann 1120
Carnwath 75 birds; Thomson Brothers 895; 699 & 608
East Calder 33 birds; Young & Claffey 1096; 1089; 1046
Forth & Clyde 112 birds; J Urquhart 990; 977 J Houston 956
Kinneill 0 birds;
West Calder 19 birds; J Bird 979; 970 & 951
Central Federation
News from Carol Britton who writes ‘Dear Joe thanks very much for your kind words and appreciation at receiving my club reports during Bert’s illness. Broxburn and Uphall Pigeon Club had 2 members sending 58 birds to Ripon on the 30th August with the convoy liberated into a south west wind at 08-30 hours 1st place is Gordon Mackenzie flying a chequer cock a Soontjens from Mr & Mrs Mike & Val Crooks of the UNC crossed with a Barry Kinnear & son from Gilmerton from the stock lofts of Mr & Mrs Britton. He is also 2nd with a dark chequered hen a Gabby stock pigeons. 3rd is J McNeill with a blue pied cock on darkness a gift bird from Alistair McNaughton of Northern Ireland. Hope the Murphy Clan are all well we appreciate all your help and keeping us right Joe take care and all the best Carol’
East of Scotland Federation news from Tom McEwen who informs us that the convoy were liberated on Friday 29th August at 10.00 am into a south to south west wind at Wakefield: Topping the federation and also taking 2nd & 8th places is the ever consistent Jim McNeil of Tranent with the winner doing 1498. The inform loft of Dougie Grieve of Longniddry is again will to the fore finishing in 3rd 4th 6th & 7th places. Richard and Jamie Combe of Elphinstone following a great national season are in with a good one in 5th federation position. The consistent John Bird has 2 birds in 9th & 10th federation positions.
Prestonpans HS is won by Richard and Jamie Combe of Elphinstone with a chequer hen on 1438 she was bred by club mates Tom & Scott McEwen. Sire is inbred to Midnight Son and given to Tom by Richard as a baby. Dam is from Mark Gilbert Deweerdt bloodlines via Emiel. John Bird is 2nd & 3rd with his first a blue bock on 1399 he is a Herman Ceusters bloodlines from Premier Stud his second pigeon is a mealy hen on 1399 she was bred by Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton from his distance bloodlines and was obtained in the young bird exchange. Only the federation open race next week Joe then the young bird national and the 2014 season is all over for another year yours Tom’.
Pentland Hills Federation
News from Andy Miller who informs us that the federation held their sixth young bird race of the season on Friday August 29th from Wakefield, a distance of 163 to 175 miles for the 13 club members who sent 1570 birds to this race point. This is a new exercise for the Pentland Hills Federation as during this 2 week period when south & north road flyers are in close proximity of liberation points. It is hoped to avoid clashing and seems to be working as returns were good for most lofts. Liberated in a south west wind at 10.00 hours pride of place this week winning 1st Pentland Hills Federation and New Lothian RPC is the loft of Helen Aitken & Sons from Whitecraigs, who took the first 5 places in the federation their winner was a darkness youngster in to win, sire is a grandson of Kannibaal when paired to a granddaughter of Drum. Brown & Black of Woodburn are 6th 9th & 10th with J & T Young of Danderhall in 7th & 8th places.
Club winners
Whitecraigs 59 birds: Aitken 1460 1459.9 & 1459.4
Woodburn 182 birds: Brown & Black 1438 1431.4 & 1431.2
Danderhall 280 birds: J. & T. Young 1435.4 1435.2 & 1424
Gilmerton 127 birds: A.W. Robertson 1406
Sighthill 86 birds: Miller 1404 Girdwood 1395.7 & 1395.5
Castlebrae 71 birds: A Mitchell 1386 Sammels & Lunn 1379 L. Mitchell 1365
Edinburgh Premier 97 birds: Gilchrist 1380.3 1380.1 & 1378
Edinburgh West 39 birds: C. Bennett 1353 McCaig 1335 C. Bennett 1323
Loanhead 56 birds: Baillie 1347 & 1335 Cherrie 1320
Bonnyrigg 114 birds: Russell 1319 & 1316 J. Dewar 1284
Newtongrange 37 birds: Lawson 1291 Watson & Daughter 1249 & 1228
New Lothian 34
Traprain 294 birds: Mark 1466 Thomson 1455 & 1439
Others 94
New Lothian RPC had 46 lofts sending 1059 birds the result is the same as the above Pentland federation result. From the Peterborough Young bird Open Race flown on Wednesday the 03rd of September 2014; 26 lofts prepaid 112 birds with 23 actual lofts sending 68 birds. Liberated at 10-45 hours into light south east wind the prize money of £2.000 with first place winning £1,230.00 is John Bird of East of Scotland federation. 2nd and 3rd are Brown & Black of Woodburn winning £1160.00. Press Officer Andy Miller of Sighthill takes the next 3 places winning £1715.00 for their efforts. Willie Kinnear & son Barry of Danderhall are 7th winning £73.50 with A Thomson & son of Traprain in 8th place lifting £175.00 they are followed by D G Fish of Danderhall in 9th who wins £75 with D Linton of Gilmerton making up the top ten and lifts £20 for his efforts. My thanks to Andy Miller for the above news!!!
Joe’s Joke
A middleaged lady named Ida was somewhat lonely since her husband and her cat died and decided she needed another pet to keep her company. So, off to the pet shop she went. She searched and searched. None of the pets seemed to catch her interest, except for this ugly frog. As she walked by the jar he was in, she looked and he winked at her. He whispered, 'I’m lonely, too. Please buy me and take me home. You won't ever be sorry.'
Ida figured what the heck! She hadn't found anything else. So she bought the frog. She placed him in the car, on the front seat beside her. As she was slowly driving down the road, the frog whispered to her 'Kiss me and you won’t be sorry... .’! So, Ida figured, ‘what the heck, and kissed the frog. IMMEDIATELY the frog turned into an absolutely gorgeous, sexy, young, handsome prince. The prince then returned Ida’s kiss and suddenly Ida felt herself transforming from his KISS.
Now can you guess what Ida turned into ?
COME ON GUESS!
She turned into the first Holiday Inn she could find!!! S he's middleaged... Not Dead!!!!
A little bit of trivia
On July 20, 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 lunar module, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. His first words after stepping on the moon were, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," and were
televised to earth and heard by millions. But just before he re-entered the lander, he made this enigmatic remark - "good luck, Mr Gorsky". Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival soviet cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programmes. Over the years, many people questioned Armstrong as to what the - 'Good luck, Mr. Gorsky' statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled.
On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26-year-old question about Mr Gorsky to Armstrong. This time he finally responded because Mr Gorsky had died. So Neil Armstrong felt he could now answer the question and here is the answer to "who was Mr Gorsky". In 1938, when he was a kid in a small mid-western town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit the ball, which landed in his neighbour’s yard by their bedroom window. His neighbours were Mr & Mrs Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs Gorsky shouting at Mr Gorsky, "sex!...You want sex?! ... You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!" This had the place in laughter. Neil Armstrong's family confirmed this is a true story so I thought I would pass it on. It's too nice not to be shared.
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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