NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
Everything is quiet on the western front just now as the birds are going through the moult and there are feathers everywhere and it is strange how the appearance of a bird will change. Some of my yearlings just fell apart and within a week or so the difference in them is quite staggering - they look entirely different. They seem to have filled out more and some of the cocks appear to have become bolder and have a different look about them altogether. They seem to have lost that ‘boyish’ look and now look like mature pigeons. I’m a great believer in giving them oilseed rape at this time along with their main food and of course they get plenty of baths but some days with the amount of heavy rain we have experienced they have a ‘shower’ in the aviary. Needless to say all my boxes have been cleaned out and the next bowls all washed to be put away for the winter. As Kevin is not racing youngsters, his babies have also fallen apart and they are only let out on good days but soon they too will be kept in for the winter months.
I’m still hearing from fanciers about losses nearly every week and the sad thing is you can have a federation winner one week and send it the following week and never see it again. This does not mean they are ‘bad’ pigeons but the horrendous losses with youngsters are getting out of hand. You will see from my race reports that at least Pentland Hills federation are trying to alleviate the problem by holding their races on a Friday due to the amount of north and south road organisations within a short radius of each other. We have to take our hats off to this federation, at least they are trying to stop the losses. Many years ago I said that all the Scottish federations that go down the east to centre of the UK should all amalgamate and race like the Up North Combine. They can have in excess of 10,000 pigeons coming up the road and if they get to the Firth of Forth and cannot make it home then there is something wrong with them. This would also help avert ‘clashing’ because the small federations flying south would wait until the Scottish birds were over the top of them before they liberated (just as they do just now when the UNC are racing). Whereas now we have individual federations with convoys from 500 up to 2000 liberating individually and they are getting obliterated. It is time to do something about it and other organisations need to ‘think outside the box’ as Pentland Hills have done.
Results
Angus Federation news from Ann Carrie with the race result for Tow Law were 29 members sent 525 birds liberated at 08-00 hours into a west wind changing to north west wind. Taking the first 7 places plus 10th and 19th federation is Davie Glen of Forfar with his club mates Macaulay Ferguson & Curran in 8th 9th 11th to 18th and 20th federation. The east section is won by Willie MacKnight of Montrose who is also 2nd 4th 5th & 6th section he is split by Charlie Cameron of Arbroath club in 3rd & 7th section. R Page of Montrose is 8th & 9th section with another club mate G Scott in 10th place.
Club Winners are as follows; Arbroath C Cameron; Forfar D Glen; Gourdon D & D Hay; Letham no entries; Montrose W MacKnight; Inchcape L McKay.
Points League 1st place Davie Gen on 238 points with David Liddle on 221 points.
Arbroath RPC news from Charlie Cameron who informs us that as he is the only members sending to the races there will be no club result and he hopes ‘normal service’ will resume next year.
Almond Valley Federation
News from Jimmy Young who informs us that the 1623 birds were liberated at 08-00am at Otterburn and the 1st 2nd 6th 7th & 8th federation positions are all won by Ian Jamieson from Balerno club, with the early liberation it is a good job he had his mother’s help as she timed in the birds. Ian tells me his wife works on a Saturday and he has to get their wee son ready so by the time he did this he was too late for the birds. Base line of the winners from Ian’s dad’s old stock of Bricoux crossed Kirkpatrick crossed Delbar. In 3rd 4th & 5th places go to Dougie Bald also of Balerno with young birds from David Reed of Chainbridge Lofts.
Club Results
Armadale 568 birds; D McBeath 1135 & 1135 S Fleming 1131
Balerno 385 birds; I Jamieson 1203 & 1202 D Bald 1187
Carnwath 140 birds; Thomson Brothers 980 & 935 B Campbell 919
East Calder 168 birds; F Jamieson & Son 1123 & 1123 Young & Claffey 1115
Forth & Clyde 385 birds; G Harris 1130 & 1105 R Couper 1107
Kinneill 29 birds; Dunsmore & Bell 1114 I McDonald 1014
West Calder 148 birds; J Bird 1087 & 1030 A Robb 1058
East Calder Club is won by Freddy Jamieson & Son who took the first 2 places plus 4th & 5th from an entry of 168 birds the first 3 birds are from Galaxy Lofts bloodlines with the 5th club winner is bred from John Weldon’s Up North Combine winner from Lillers and is quite a nice pigeon. Third club are Jimmy Young & Claffey also with Galaxy bred birds that’s it for now Joe yours Jimmy’.
Central Federation news this week from Bernie Britton with news of the Broxburn club result from Otterburn were 2 members sent 58 birds liberated at 09-00am into a north wind. The first 4 in the club are all to G MacKenzie with the winner a blue white flight hen a Willie Jacobs from Gerald Delaney O’Roory Hill Stud in Northern Ireland. His 2nd bird is a chequer cock a Mr & Mrs Mike & Val Crooks from the UNC crossed with Willie Kinnear & son Barry from Gilmerton both from the stock loft of Mr & Mrs Britton a club member. The 3rd bird is a blue bar cock a Gabby from M & D Evans crossed Mr & Mrs Geoff Kirkland, that’s it once again and thanks for all your help Joe take care Bernie’.
East of Scotland Federation
News from Tom McEwen who tells us that the birds were liberated at Ripon at 10-00 hours into a North West wind; topping the federation on 1169 and also 3rd & 5th federation is Dougie Grieve of Longniddry. In with a great treble finishing 2nd 7th & 10th federation is John Bird of Prestonpans. Jim McNeil of Tranent is in with a good one at 4th place with Rab Waddell there again in 6th place with his brother Tom finishing up well in 9th place. Mr & Mrs Peter March of Prestonpans complete the top ten in 8th place.
Prestonpans HS has John Bird in 1st & 3rd places with his winner a blue hen on 1132 she is a Herman Ceustars from Premier Loft Stock. His 3rd club winner is a chequer hen on 1109 sire is a Maskame & Mackie of Peterhead while the dam is Jimmy Smith of Polmont both parents purchased at the SNFC late bred sale. 2nd if Rab Waddell with a chequer hen on 1110 she is a Flor Engels from Louella Stud. The season is coming to an end Joe until next week yours Tom’.
Fife Federation
Dunfermline RPC news from Walker Kennedy who writes ‘From the Sedgefield 2 race this week’s winner is Frank Mitchell with a young bird bred from former club mate Wattie Sharp its breeding is Peter Van Der Merwe and it was doing a velocity of 1030. In 2nd place is Ricky Pearce with a young bird bred from Pete Patrick crossed Jocky King doing 1016. 3rd & 4th places go to Dan McNeely on 977.8 & 977.6 their breeding is club mate Frank Mitchell from the late John Traill bloodlines, well Joe that’s it for another week yours Walker’.
Pentland Hills Federation
News from Andy Miller who informs us that ‘The Pentland Hills Federation & New Lothian RPC held their 5th young bird race of the season on Friday August 22nd from Ripon a distance of 133 to 145 miles for the members. This is a new exercise for the Pentland Hills federation as during this 2 week period we have south & north road fliers in close proximity of liberation points, and the hope of this changing DAY is to avoid clashing. The convoy of 2450 birds sent by 15 clubs were liberated in a north west wind, and the birds had to work to get home with ‘Pride of Place’ this week winning 1st New Lothian and 1st Pentland Hills Federation is the loft of Tony Young from Danderhall, who timed a Herman Ceusters crossed Andre Clemens hen flown on the sliding door system (separated). The Ceuster pigeons are from Jim McKerron from Aberdeen and the Clemens from Willie Hay from Methilhill both sire and dam has many federation honours to their credit. Returns were roughly 70% for most lofts within the first hour, they then seemed to dry up, with many homing later at night, classic signs of Falcon attacks, however overall most ended up with good returns, probably over 90%, albeit as is always the case the odd lofts suffered more. 2nd federation are Sammels & Lunn of Castlebrae with T Kelly of Whitecraigs in 3rd place. Cunningham & Cairns of Edinburgh Premier are 4th 5th & 10th with A Mitchell of Castlebrae in 6th place. J & T Young of Danderhall are 7th with Helen Aitken & sons of Whitecraigs in 8th place. The consistent loft of Brown & Black from Woodburn continues their good form in 9th place.
Club Winners
Danderhall 436 birds; A Young 1143, J & T Young 1194 Douglas 1106
Castlebrae 85 birds: Sammels & Lunn 1133, A Mitchell 1124 L Mitchell 1073
Whitecraigs 82 birds; Kelly 1133 Aitken 1118 & 1113
Edinburgh Premier 141 birds; Cunningham & Cains 1129 1124 1114
Woodburn 196 birds; Brown & Black 1115 W Pryde & Son 1097.9 1097.4
Loanhead 114 birds; Baillie 1111.2 1111.0 1085
Sighthill 116 birds; Miller 1109.98 & 1109.9 Affleck 1107
Gilmerton 197 birds; A.W. Robertson 1088
Castlebrae 171 birds; L. Mitchell 1174 Sammels & Lunn 1171 Willis 1167
Bonnyrigg 186 birds; Brown 1051 Smith 1032 & 1022
Edinburgh West 99 birds; C. Bennett 1012 I Bennett 1002 McCaig 999
Newtongrange 39 birds; Johnston 1009 Power 985 Watson & Daughter 965
Penicuik 75 birds; Stark 996 Lawrie 985 & 984
Peebles 35 birds;
New Lothian 74 birds;
Traprain 372 birds; Mark 1142 Thomson 1130 & 1125
Others 203
New Lothian RPC had 58 lofts sending 1501 birds again the New Lothian RPC held their young bird race on Friday August 22nd from Ripon. Taking top honours winning £192.30 is Tony Young of Danderhall, with Sammels & Lunn of Castlebrae in 2nd place they are followed by club mate A Mitchell in 3rd place with Danderhall J & T Young are 4th with H Aitken & Sons of Whitecraigs in 5th 7th & 8th being split by Brown & Black of 6th spot. Andy Miller of Sighthill is 9th & 10th with his second bird winning £340.
Obituary
John Hood Senior of Milton of Campsie: It was very sad to read in today’s BHW the passing of John senior. He was one of the nicest men you could ever wish to meet. He and his son John often attended my Sporting Challenge evenings and they also took part in the Challenge. They attended the yearly presentation and met up with other ‘pigeon men’ and enjoyed the ‘banter’ and I have to say that both Johns relished these nights out. This father and son partnership were a household name within the Scottish National and knew how to condition and race pigeons, obtaining some outstanding results over the years. They recently won a Silver Award in the national. On behalf of the pigeon sport in Scotland we send our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Hood, sons Andrew and John junior and their families.
John Hood Snr
Joe Jokes
The owner of a golf course in Aberdeen was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "As you graduated from University I need some help. If I was to give you £20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
I often have a go at the Irish well today it is the turn of the Scots.
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 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 say, VOTE FOR ALEC SALMOND!" 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 to my NEW EMAIL ADDRESS at;
© Compiled by Joe Murphy
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