NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
I drove our daughter to Rosyth for an interview as a permanent full time Homecare Co-ordinator. There were 60 applicants for the post and it took them 3 days to give everyone an interview. So you can imagine our delight when we received word that she had gotten the post. We are so proud of her and wish her well. Needless to say this will entail more ‘babysitting’ time for Margaret and me but it is so good to see your family get on in this world, especially with so many people being unemployed in today’s society. Our two boys Mark and Kevin have worked hard over the years and are now in top high powered positions in their occupation.
Murphy Pigeons
Received some good news from friends with feedback on pigeons I bred from them. The first up was John Tyerman who wrote: ‘Hi Joe, you will see I timed a Murphy cock on a fairly difficult day again from the BICC Tours race where 3641 birds were liberated at 06-30am this morning. If you check out the provisional result you will see his number (he is a brother to Kevin’s Lucky his 5 x 1st prize winning hen that also won 31st open SNFC Maidstone last year). You will remember this same cock scored well last year and was 109th open in the BICC Le Mans National with a velocity of 1578 flying l96 miles. I have 12 out of 15 from Tours and it was a testing day for the birds flying into the North East wind. You can check out the BICC web site to see the result.' Which I did and noticed that Geoff and Catherine won the race so well done to them on another outstanding performance and if there is east in the wind they are hard to beat.
My good friend Mark Gower from Sainsbury texted me: ‘Hi Joe, I still have 4 of your birds from last year. They have had races from 60 miles, 115 miles (channel) 183 miles (channel) and all are still here. Today we had a race from Fougeres liberated into a north east wind. My 2nd bird was your dark chequer cock on 1201 velocity and he is 3rd club 220 birds, 3rd federation 666 so I’m well pleased. My first bird won 1st club 1st federation and is a son of the bird I purchased from Bernard Deweerdt from Kedirtje. I sent you up 2 from him last year so I hope they do as well for you.’ Well done to Mark on a great result and I look forward to looking out for his name on the Central Southern Classic results also to my old Scottish ‘pal’ JT who is Mr BICC. It is good to get some response from fanciers when they do well with your pigeons and I appreciate this feedback.
SNFC New Website
I noticed that new secretary Mary Pryde of the Scottish National Flying Club has been working on updating a new web site for the club. However like every other job it takes time and they are still working on updating some areas of the site and ask the members for patience during this transition period. I was quite impressed with the new look and I look forward to following the early times on the website this weekend for the first inland national from Buckingham. Looking at the weather forecast, Saturday looks like a holdover and it could even be another one on Sunday so not a good start to the national season. Let us hope the weather improves for the distance races from France. Good luck to all members of the Scottish National. I look forward to reading all about the winners.
This week’s photographs
The first picture is of Ian Gilmour of Leven who flies as Gilmour Brothers and won 1st open Falaise in 2006 with ‘Robbie’s Boy’ who has turned out to be an outstanding stock cock with many top SNFC positions won with offspring from this great pigeon. The second picture is of yours truly Joe Murphy in the revamped trenches just north of Arras when I visited the Barcelona One Loft in France. It is quite appropriate at this time the centenary of the 2nd World War to think of the soldiers who lost their lives in these battlefields and may their souls rest in peace.
Ian Gilmour
Joe Murphy in the revamped trenches
Results
Angus Federation held their 6th old bird race from Newark a distance of over 250 miles to most lofts, there were 38 members sending 602 birds liberated at 06-00am into a light south west wind. Taking 1st & 10th west section and federation is Ian Scott of Forfar club with club mate David Liddle in 2nd 3rd & 6th places in both section and federation. Race Controller Eric Galloway of the same club is 4th 8th & 9th federation and 4th 6th & 7th west section. Willie MacKnight of Montrose club is 1st & 7th east section and 5th federation with club mate R Page in 2nd east section 7th federation. Charlie Cameron is 3rd 5th 6th 8th & 9th east section with his first bird in 16th federation place. 4th east section is A & S Whyte of Montrose. 10th east section is L McKay of Inchcape.
Club winners: Charlie Cameron wins Arbroath: I Scott wins Forfar: B Craig wins Gourdon: J Anderson & son wins Letham: W MacKnight wins Montrose and L McKay wins Inchcape. Points League: D J Liddle 110 points and D Glen 93 points.
Arbroath RPC news from Kevin who informs me 5 members sent 107 birds taking the first three places is the loft in form Charlie Cameron with his first bird a dark chequer yearling hen. She is bred from a pair of Ferdinand Malfait stock birds they have already bred a 16th & 20th open SNFC Clermont. The second bird is a blue bar white flight yearling cock that won 18th section C 106th open SNFC Leicester YB National. His sire bred by Mark Gilbert and dam bred by Len Downie of Errol from his ‘Pencil Cock’. The third bird is a black 2 year old cock bred by Charlie’s son Glen (from Aberdeen) from a pair of Dr Martin Ravelingien stock birds.
Ayrshire
News from Mark Finlay who forwarded me saying ‘On Saturday 24th May the federation were programmed to go to Appleton. Once again the weather put hold to that so rather than cancel all racing our race controller Robert Reid made the decision to stop short at Appleby so we could at least get a race. With some federations cancelling and some holding off till Monday this proved to be a good call. We are always quick to criticise when things go pear shaped but let's give credit where it's due, so well done Robert you got it spot on. (Who would be a race controller?) Going by most reports the returns were pretty good compared to previous races this season. So at Appleby 1368 birds were liberated at 10-15am into an east wind and topping the federation on 1496 with a 2 year old blue hen is Scott Simpson from Annbank & District club. Scott’s hen races natural and was sitting 14 day eggs. This cracking hens sire and dam are gift birds from friend and club mate John Mathieson. Scott's dad George and John who also flies in Annbank & District have been friends for many years. Worth mentioning Joe this is only Scott's 3rd year with the pigeons and next year is to form a partnership with his dad George so watch this space, congratulations Scott. In 2nd federation on 1482 is Charlie Hull of Whitletts HS he timed a 3 year old blue hen sitting 10 day eggs. Sire of this good hen is from a fancier in Northern Ireland and the dam from Jack White of Manchester. Charlie got to know both fanciers through reporting a stray bird and it was 5 years ago he got one of Jacks birds in and through time they have become really good friends with Jack sending Charlie birds to race each season. Charlie is very grateful for the birds but more importantly for the friendship they have formed. In 3rd federation on 1467 is the afore mentioned John Mathieson of Annbank & District he timed his good 4 year old blue pied Kenyan blood hen sitting 10 day eggs. She has had a few minor tickets at club level but more recently was 4th federation at Ypres in 2013. John really rates this hen especially knowing her dam has won 2nd section F twice with the SNFC. Well good to see 3 fanciers from the south of the federation taking all the top spots well done guys. I’m sorry this is late Joe but the results weren't coming in quick enough to send on a weekly basis as I’m finding it hard to get info at times, many thanks for adding us to your column.
Cunningham 3 bird club had 14 members sending to Uttoexter on Saturday 31st May with the birds liberated at 10-45 into a light North West wind. This week’s winners from Clyde Coast HS are the partnership of John Grant & Stevie Mc Govern. John and Stevie timing their good 2 year old chequer cock on a velocity of 1024 he is bred from their Ken Buchanan bloodlines. The lads are no stranger to success only last year winning the Ace pigeon in the Scotland's One Loft Race and this cock is bred the same way and they were Ayrshire federation young bird average winners too. On the Wednesday night before the race they had a tough training toss from Shawlands with the chequer cock arriving at 20-00 on his own after an hour and a half making it an easy decision on the pooler for this week and he won the accumulator into the bargain. This 2 year old was sitting 12 days on eggs and was still feeding a flighty youngster, well done lads. In 2nd place on 1019 is Jim Stirrat of Ardeer HS who timed in his 3 year old blue cock on roundabout he has now 2 x 1st prize cards to his name, he also won the federation yearling cup at Wollaston in 2012. This blue cock was pulled up last year through injury his sire and dam being Van Der Merre crossed George Rankin & son stock. 3rd on 981 is Jim Howie and son of Clyde Coast HS, Jim and Billy timing there blue cock that has been 3 times in the result. Well that concludes this weeks 3 bird result Joe thanks again Mark’.
Almond Valley Federation
Balerno HS news from Colin Bain who informs me that the birds were at Newark this week with 6 members sending 142 birds liberated into North West wind at 08-00 hours. 1st club and topping the fed with a velocity of 1067 is Colin Ross with Staff Van Reet chequered pied hen she is from Colin Bain blood lines her grandsire is a son of Mr Tofts of Lancashire Combine winner crossed Bert Hession hen that bred over 25 x 1st federations’ winners. 2nd Dougie Bald with a grizzel hen sitting 10 days on eggs she was 1st club 6th federation from Consett and is a Van Reet crossed Janssen on 1058. 3rd and 4th is Colin Bain with a Staff Van Reet yearling blue pied cock put on the drive he was doing a velocity of 1032. He has been 3 times 3rd club this year and twice he was beaten by his loft mates and won 3rd federation Thirsk. The 4th club bird is also a Staff Van Reet this being a 2 year old dark chequer cock that was sent looking at his hen and he recorded a velocity 1008. This was a hard race this week Joe and the Hawks were at it again with many birds returning minus feathers and injuries. That’s me for this week it is good reading about the other federations in your column you certainly keep the news of Scotland flowing so a big thank you from everyone within the sport, best wishes Colin’.
Central Federation
Broxburn & Uphall Pigeon Club result from Bernie Britton who writes, ‘Hi Joe, hope the Murphy clan are well and looking forward to the first national this week end. Here is the club result of our race from Newark flown on the 31st May we had 7 members sending 244 birds liberated at 07-40am into a light west wind. The winner is G MacKenzie with a blue bar yearling hen from his M & D Evans stock flown on roundabout. 2nd & 3rd is John McNeill with a 3 year old blue bar pied hen from stock loft a grand/daughter of Sanny’s Memory (She is a half-sister to his 2nd open SNFC Reims winner. His 3rd club winner is a mealy hen from an in bred grandson of Jocky King’s Mary while the dam is a granddaughter of Sanny’s Memory both hens are flown on roundabout
East of Scotland
News from Tom McEwen who tells us that they were at Peterborough for their open race on 31st May liberated at 09-15am into a light west wind. Taking 1st & 6th open is John Bird of Prestonpans club with Jim McNeil of Tranent finishing 2nd open. Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone complete a top ten foursome finish being 3rd 8th 9th & 10th positions. Tom Waddell of Prestonpans is there again in 4th open with Andrew Bishop of East Linton a great performance in 5th open. Brian Lavery keeps up his weekly consistency by being 7th open.
Prestonpans club is won by John Bird with a 2 year old chequer cock his breeding being top national bloodlines from John’s own ‘Bit’s and Pieces’ and George Rankin bloodlines. 2nd is Tom & Scott McEwen with a 3 year old chequer cock sire a Mark Gilbert Deweerdt dam a Brian Cunningham hen. 3rd place is Tom Waddell with a 2 year old red cock that has been flying outstanding this year he was bred for Tom from John Bird. That’s it for this week Joe good luck to you and Kevin for the nationals yours Tom’.
Fife Federation
Dunfermline RPC news from Walker Kennedy who writes ‘From our Leicester race there will be a lot of empty perches after this one, leading the field this week and taking the first four places in the club is John D Robertson with velocities of 1136:1117:1114 & 1073 sorry no news on the breeding however this was good flying for a 80 year old well done John’.
Pentland Hills Federation
News from Andy Millar who forwarded the Peterborough old bird race were 16 clubs send 1695 birds the race was flown on Saturday 31st May liberated at 09-15 into a light west wind. Topping the federation and New Lothian is Steve Girdwood of Sighthill with a 09 pigeon on 1280 Steve is 2nd one yard behind with Willie Hume of Gilmerton in 3rd place. McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae are 4th with W Andress & Son of New Lothian in 5th place. W Pryde & Son of Woodburn is 6th followed by A Young of Danderhall club in 7th spot. J Napier of Castlebrae is 8th 2 yards ahead of Ronnie Bremner of Sighthill in 9th spot. Past national winner Steve Lapinski of Woodburn is 10th.
Club Winners:
Sighthill 146 birds: Girdwood 1280 Girdwood 1279 Bremner 1261
Gilmerton 111 birds: Hume (Snr) 1267 Bennett 1258 Linton 1248
Castlebrae 99 birds: McCormack & Fraser 1267 Napier 1263 A. Mitchell 1256
Woodburn 122 birds: W. Pryde & Son 1264 Lapinski 1261 W. Pryde & Son 1239
Danderhall 256 birds: A Young 1264 Nolan & Farwell 1258 Douglas 1256
Edinburgh Premier 65 birds: Gilchrist 1249 Gilchrist 1244 Dick 1225
Whitecraigs 89 birds: Aitken 1234 Simpson 1231 Aitken 1230
Newtongrange 44 birds: Power 1228 Watson & Daughter 1206 Lawson 1198
Bonnyrigg 86 birds: J. Dewar 1223 J. Dewar 1215 J. Dewar 1213
Loanhead 115 birds: Baillie 1222 Baillie 1206 Baillie 1201
Edinburgh West 43 birds: I. Bennett 1199 Lamb 1184 C. Bennett 1153
Penicuik 96 birds: Watt 1192 Watt 1180 Watt 1165
Peebles 37 birds: Hannah 1167 Hannah 1124 Blake 1069
Edinburgh Central 32 birds: No Result
New Lothian 37 birds: No Result
Traprain 317 birds: Thomson 1273 Thomson 1266 Hunter 1258
New Lothian RPC
Had 60 lofts sending 961 birds to their 6th race on May 31st from Peterborough a distance of 252-265 miles, liberated in a light west wind and winning 1st New Lothian and 1st Federation is Steven Girdwood from Sighthill H.S. The winning pigeon is a 5 year old cock raced on widowhood, a previous prize winner over the years on many occasions. Breeding is from Soontjens origin from stock obtained from Mick Betts from Doncaster. Returns were excellent with only the odd pigeon missing. Steven was also 2nd with W Hume of Gilmerton in 3rd place with McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae in 4th spot. W Andress & son of New Lothian are 5th followed by W Pryde & son of Woodburn club. 7th spot goes to A Young of Danderhall with J Napier of Castlebrae in 8th place R S Bremner of Sighthill is 9th with S Lapinski of Woodburn in 10th spot.
Traprain
News from Tom McLeod who writes ‘Hi Joe hope all's well with you and Margaret. The following is update on Traprain club racing over the past few weeks. The Wakefield race was won by the son of the late Edmond Johnston of Black Magic fame. Brian’s pigeon was out on its own covering the 166 miles in 3 hours 13 min with a velocity of 1511.75. Second was John Bosworth on 1463.32 and third was James Mark 1460.08 with 446 birds competing. Brian’s winner was bred by A Thomson and Son and was purchased at our club sale well done Brian. Newark race was a 123 for the top partnership of A Thompson and Son who made to look easy on a difficult day with velocities of 994.3 992.6 and 984 the entry was 361 birds. This race following their great win in the Pentland federation’s yearling midweek derby and I would assume a report on this race will be forthcoming from their P.R.O (Already covered JM) Our next race from Peterborough on 31st May with 317 birds liberated at 09-15am in a light north west wind. Race controller Bobby Graham got it just right as I hear other federations in the area had it a bit sticky having liberated earlier in the morning. Give credit when due because we give them it tight when they don't get it right LOL. Our club 1st and 2nd places again go to the loft in form of A Thompson and Son with a velocity of 1273 & 1266.9. Sinclair told me that the second pigeon is the mother of his winner. In 3rd place is ‘Wee’ Dod Hunter who has flown consistently this season. With the first national race of the season looming I would just like to wish the fanciers all the best coming events yours Tam McLeod’.
West Lothian
Fauldhouse news from Neil who writes ‘Hi Joe, for our 6th race the birds were scheduled to race from Stafford, however owing to bad forecasts it was decided to race from Appleby this being our third race from here did not go down to well with national minded fanciers who were looking for some distance prior to the forthcoming inland national. However 24 members sent a healthy 416 birds that were liberated on Saturday 24th May at 09-45 into an east to north east wind. Taking the red card this week is the Fauldhouse loft C & M Smith with a yearling cock doing a velocity of 1290 he was sent flying spare as his hen was lost at Charnock Richards he had no races as a young bird and was bred by J Hercus of Allanton. In 2nd club is R Fell with a 4 year old Van de Poel flying to 10 day eggs he was doing 1288. The next 4 positions are won by L & N Redmond of Harthill with velocities of 1287.8: 1287.7: 1287.5 and 1287.4 all 4 birds flying roundabout. The first was a great granddaughter of Eddie Callaghan’s ‘Fallowhill Superstar’ 1st open SNFC Rennes. A few birds were missing at clock checking but overall a good steady race was had by most lofts all the best yours Neil.
Dalzell FC news from Joe Boyle who tells us ‘20 members sent 273 birds with 1st place going to J Owen on 1090 his sire is from David Young dam from John Morrison. 2nd place goes to King & Selfridge on 996 with a Walter Boswell crossed John Crosgrove. Third are O & J McFadden on 990 with a Ray Lander Busschaert. Congratulations to Stevie Selfridge on winning yearling average closely followed by Jim Cassidy, with Brown & McKeown, Charlie Murphy and Quinn Brothers the only 5 lofts to finish yearling programme’.
Joe’s Jokes
One morning three women are golfing on the fourth green when suddenly a bloke runs by wearing nothing but a bag over his head. As he passes by the first woman, she looks down and says, “Well, he’s certainly not my husband.” As he passes by the second woman, she also glances downward and says, “He’s not my husband either.” He then passes by the third woman Audrey, who also looks down as he runs by her. “Wait a minute,” Audrey says. “He’s not even a member of this golf club!”
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A Yorkshire rugby player was in a bar, when he gets a call on his mobile phone. He hangs up, grinning from ear to ear he orders a round of drinks for everybody in the bar, announcing his wife has just given birth to a typical Yorkshire baby boy weighing 25 pounds. Nobody can believe that any new baby can weigh 25 pounds, but the rugby player just shrugs and replies, 'that’s about average in Yorkshire ... like I said; my boy's a typical Yorkshire baby boy, Going to be a rugby player.' Congratulations showered him from all around, amid many exclamations of 'WOW!' One woman actually fainted due to sympathy pains. Two weeks later, he returns to the bar. The bartender says, 'Say, aren't you the father of that typical Yorkshire baby that weighed 25 pounds at birth? Everybody's been making bets about how big he'd be in two weeks. So, how much does he weigh now?' The proud father answers, 'Twenty pounds.' The bartender is puzzled, concerned and a little suspicious. 'What happened? He already weighed 25 pounds the day he was born!' The Yorkshire man takes a slow swig of his John Smiths Bitter Beer, wipes his lips on his shirt sleeve, leans into the bartender and proudly says, 'Had him circumcised...
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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