NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
One of the most important things about being a scribe is to give credit to fanciers who win with their pigeons and in my case I love to know how a pigeon is bred. I like to study pedigrees and follow the line of winners. It has taken me DAYS, yes days to upgrade my computer file with pedigrees of all my birds. At the present time I’m in the process of putting down the breeding of every youngster bred this year and if it went up to Kevin or has gone to other fanciers. So it annoys me when we give a bird to a sale to hear that the auctioneer sarcastically says ‘Oh hear is one with a pedigree as long as your arm’ and to make matters worse the originators of the sale do not tell you who purchased your pigeon or how much it made. The money does not matter so much as knowing who got the pigeon because in some cases they have not transferred it and if it gets lost then you have all the problems of trying to contact the organisation who held the sale and see if they have a name to help you out and 9 times out of 10 they don’t and you end up with a pigeon that is no use to you as it does not belong to you. People wonder why fanciers do not donate to these sales and this is one of the main reasons because it gives you more grief than it is worth.
SNFC Races
I have waited to see if the officials and press officer would update the members of the above club in notifying them through the medium of the press regarding changes made to the race programme for 2014 season. I have heard a rumour that the first inland national (to be flown on 7th June) will not be from Billericay as agreed at the a.g.m. but the race will be flown from Buckingham (the same race point as the young bird national) and there are also problems with the Maidstone race??? I have looked on the national web page today May 8th to see if there is any notification concerning this and there is none. The race is in 4 weeks’ time and there is no information being passed onto the membership. We have a web site that should be keeping the members up to date on everything that is happening within the club but this is not being done. I started this web site in 2005 as the press officer and it has required upgrading for the past few years but nothing has been done. Things have stayed the same for far too long and we seem to be in a ‘rut’ and at times it seems like a secret-society regarding what is going on within the club. I DO NOT include the new secretary in this as she has just started in the job and will be getting used to how the club operates etc.
Round O
Received a letter from Ray Luffman of London who wrote: ‘Dear Joe, On May 1st I was already having a down day, sorting things that belonged to my wife Ann who passed away in September last year, whhen the letter box went and I knew my Homing World had arrived. On removing the wrapper I was hoping to be bucked up but instead the first page my finger went to was the last chapter by Round O’s son. Instead of a pick me up it all went downwards. I have been a friend of Jim George (Round O) for some 40 plus years when I was convoyer and race advisor for the London North Road Combine. When we had a bad smash at Dingwall on the A9, somehow Jimbo (as I used to call him) found out and he picked up 4.000 race rubbers and waited on the A9 near Inverness for 4 hours only to have missed us by 10 minutes. A few years later at a Combine meeting I requested they invite Jimbo down to London as their main guest to hand out the cups. I can still see him now in his full Scottish outfit, kilt and all, carrying a ‘haggis’ on a silver tray with grouse feathers, the lot, and the band played ‘Scotland the Brave’. When he made his speech I was the only person who knew what he had said out of the 300 plus people present. (I had been to the school of Jimbo talk.) When I won the L.N.R.C race from Stonehaven somehow he found out at 6am on the Sunday morning and he phoned me to say how pleased he was and he would give me a write up in the 2000 Squills year book. True to his word he did. He would always ring me from time to time, even in the winter months. When my wife picked up the phone he would always chat for some time to her and he always caller her Sheila. Her name was Ann but it made no difference how many times you told him, he still called her Sheila. Ann was another person who had a job understanding Jimbo. One time when he phoned, Ann thought it was some kind of code, for me to stop on the way back from Thurso, to go for a pint. She told me he said “Fifth-Fourth-Deer”. In fact it was “The Firth of Forth is Clear”. We had a good laugh about this. On another occasion my son picked up the phone and took a message. He said, “He thinks a man from Holland working on an oil rig in the North Sea had one of my birds”. Instead it was Jimbo telling me that race birds had landed on an oil rig and would be taken to Aberdeen and let go. Joe, I could fill a book on Jimbo. To him I will always be “Ginger Luffman”. I will miss his calls and chats and Round O’s report. On behalf of all NORTH ROAD race advisors and convoyers, rest in peace old friend, you will always be remembered. Yours in sport Ray J Luffman.’
Update
Received an email from my old ‘Pal’ John Tyerman who wrote: ‘Hi Joe, glad to see you and Margaret had a good holiday in Spain. We were in a cottage in Callander over the Easter week with our daughter and grandchildren, so were able to show them a bit of 'Scots Heritage'. The weather was unusually good so we got out and about a fair bit. Living down in the south you forget how lovely the scenery is all round that area and with still a fair bit of snow on the mountain tops. My daughter looked after the birds during our 10 days away but this meant no training and a late start again for me. I managed a few short tosses last week and decided to send 12 two year olds to BICC Falaise National, where we had an entry of 3229 birds. Got them away at 8am on the Saturday and with the NE wind the winners were always going to be into the west side of the country and in this race as you probably saw, it was won in Wales by Gareth and Stuart Trehanne (well done to you both - Joe M). I was fairly well behind but had sent two of your birds and the blue chequer cock SU12 2549 was my first bird. Last year he scored 109th open in the Le Mans national. Also your blue bar cock SU 12 2547 was home around 2pm and had a good fly. I dropped 4 but this was down to me as they had only a few short tosses before going to Falaise. Looking at the early times I think the bulk of the convoy would have come across between Bournemouth and Weymouth drifting with the NE wind, and it is a long dogleg back along the coast to this area. I also had 11 birds on the north road at Melton Mowbray and again a grizzle Murphy cock SU 12 2577 was the first bird back to the loft, so I thought you would like to know that your birds are coming well for me. Unfortunately the mealy cock 2581 is missing which is a shame as he is a nice pigeon, but he could turn up yet. I will keep these cocks going and hope to get them to one of the longer ones later on so will keep you informed. Ian Crammond and Nigel Langstaff have been flying well, topping both club and federation results, but they too were 'off the pace' at Falaise, which was all down mainly to the NE wind. With us going away I paired up later so now have 7 day old young birds in the nest so that means not much can be done with the main racing team for a few weeks due to rearing - however I have others to race. I spoke to John McGee on the phone the other night and all seems to be going well with the French Young Bird derby youngsters and I think he said they had over 200 old birds out racing last week - a lot of them were the Barcelona pigeons. By the way, Linda has had her shoulder operation so can't do too much just now - hope you are both well kindest, regards John.’
RESULTS
Angus Federation
From the Ridsdale race on the 3rd of May 39 members sent 855 birds, liberated at 08.00am into a south to south east wind. The winners are again in the Forfar club with last year’s Ypres winner Davie Glen in 1st and 7th place in both federation and west section positions. Macaulay/Ferguson/Curran are 2nd 8th 9th & 10th again west section and open with Bob Baldie of the same club in 3rd & 4th positions again in both section and open. Mike Leggett is 5th in both with David J Liddle in 6th place again in both section and open. Charlie Cameron of Arbroath is 1st & 2nd east section in his winner in 12 federation place. Kevin J Murphy is 3rd & 4th east section with J & J Leven of Montrose in 5th section club. Mates Willie MacKnight in 6th spot and G Scott in 7th place. D & D Hay of Gourdon are 8th with G Campbell of Montrose in 9th section and G McKenzie of Inchcape club is 10th section. Club Winners are as follows: Arbroath C Cameron: Forfar D Glen; Gourdon D & D Hay; Montrose J & J Leven; Inchcape G McKenzie and Letham M MacPherson. Federation Points: D Glen 33: Macaulay/Ferguson/Curran 33: D J Liddle 32.
Arbroath RP Society news from Kevin regarding the for the second old bird race from Ridsdale on 3rd May with 5 members sending 135 birds liberated at 08.00 into a south west wind. Taking the first two places is Charlie Cameron with the winner a 2 year old his winner is a 2 year old black cock who was first in this race last year. Sire is bred from Snowcap winner of 4th open SNFC Reims while his dam is a black hen that won 5 SNFC positions including 3 times in the first 20 open. The second bird is a blue bar late bred 2012 cock. Sire is Jos who won 1st & 2nd section C in the SNFC. 3rd and 4th places go to Kevin Murphy with his first a 3 year old blue cock. His sire is from Norman Black & Son from Northern Ireland being from a son of their 1st and 2nd open Irish National Rennes crossed with a Tom McEwen hen when paired to a daughter of Jim Cullen of Uddingston 2nd open Tours this cock won 118th open Clermont 2013. My 2nd bird was Lucky who won 1st prize last week in the first race of the season.
Almond Valley Federation
Balerno news from Colin Bain who writes ‘Hello Joe we were at Consett this week with 6 members sending 160 birds liberated in to a south west wind at 09:15 hours the red card goes to Dougie Bald with a two year old David Reed grizzel hen crossed Roland Janssen from Robert Frame of Newmains sitting ten days on eggs doing a velocity of 1291. Dougie is also 2nd & 3rd with his second bird a David Reed blue white flight yearling cock sitting on eggs doing 1282 and his 3rd bird is another David Reed blue 2 year old cock flying spare, that is it for this week Joe best wishes Colin B’.
Ayrshire Federation news from Mark Findlay who writes ‘For our 2nd race from Carlisle on Saturday 3rd May 2014 proved to be a real sore one for many fanciers. Our race controller Robert Reid kept a close eye on all the other federations near us liberating at different times. With a cold south wind to contend with too it was never going to be straight forward race and 2,249 birds were liberated at 10.30am into a light south wind. On a normal day in a light south wind the winners should have hit Ayrshire in about 2 hours or less but I'm afraid there was nothing normal about this race. After 1.00 pm and with no birds home I received a phone call to say that the majority of the convoy were seen flying around the Carlisle area 45 minutes after liberation. This was the last thing anyone wanted to hear with only 2 races into the season and all was not good. With many fanciers not racing young birds last season for various reasons there were many inexperienced yearlings in the convoy and this could only mean one thing, heavy losses. Reports say visibility was good enough for a liberation, it was dry and other federations liberating so why not us? Up until early evening returns were very slow with many lofts taking a real hammering and many empty perches reported. On Sunday the weather had deteriorated and very few birds returned home. Monday seemed to be the best day for returns for most and I got a steady flow of well flown out birds all day long with 8 returning. Here's hoping many more birds can make it back in the next few days. However regardless of the kind of race good or bad there's always a winner and topping the federation from this very difficult race is Hughie Russell of Beith HS he timed an experienced 4 year old cock with a velocity of 955 so congratulations Hughie. In 2nd place on 948 is J B Smith of Dalry HS with Jack timing a 2 year old? In 3rd place on 944 and winning his first race in Kilmarnock Invitation club with a yearling is Wullie Mc Andrew. Well thanks again Joe for adding us to your column and I hope my next report brings you some good news for a change, all the best Mark.
Cunningham 3 bird Championship Club had 17 members of sending birds to the Carlisle race. The winning loft this week belongs to the Ardeer HS partnership of Hutchinson and Tudhope. George and Jim timed their good 5 year old chequer cock on a velocity of 878 well done lads. In 2nd and 3rd positions are club mates and neighbours Jim Howie &. Son of Clyde Coast HS on 743 and John Donald on 733 cheers Mark.
Central Federation
Broxburn and Uphall news from Bernie Britton who writes ‘Hi Joe 7 members sent 375 birds liberated at 08:45 into a south west wind on Saturday 3rd May at Consett. First and 2nd places go to Gordon MacKenzie with the winner a yearling blue pied hen flown on the roundabout it a Gabby from M & D Evans and was doing a velocity 1481.051. Second on the same velocity is a 3 year old blue bar cock flown on the roundabout again a Gabby from M & D Evans. Third place is John McNeill with a yearling blue pied cock flown on the roundabout he is a grandson of Sanny’s Memory on a velocity of 1480 his sire is a stock cock being a direct of John’s 2 x 1st open 500 mile combine and section in the SNFC being grandchildren of Sanny's Memory. Dam is a stock hen direct daughter of Sanny's Memory and both have bred winners. Congratulations to Alec Cockburn from Newbridge Club within the Central Federation who won the Bo’ness Open on Monday 5th May with a blue hen who is a full sister to the club winner on Saturday 3rd May she is a 2 year old Cyrel Denduver from Belgium, yours in the sport Bernie’.
West Lothian
Fauldhouse RPC news from Daniel who writes ‘Hi Joe, please find result of our 2nd race from Appleby a distance of 100 /103 miles to most lofts. 22 members sent 369 birds liberated into a south east wind and taking the first 3 positions is W Francis with velocities of 1845,1844and 1844 all three are yearlings and were on natural system sitting between 7 and 10 days on eggs all three were bred from W Aires of Clackmannan and Billy thinks the strain is Van Reets.
East of Scotland Federation
News from Tom McEwen of Elphinstone on the above federation’s race from Tow Law on 3rd May with the birds liberated at 08.00 am with no wind at the liberation site. Topping the federation and also in 7th place is Tom Waddell of Prestonpans club the winner was a yearling black pied hen doing 1520 velocity. Coming in with a double in 2nd & 8th federation places are yours truly Tom McEwen and son Scott of Elphinstone. Finishing in 3rd 4th 5th & 10th federation is the consistent loft of Brain Lavery. George Veitch of East Saltoun has a nice bird in 6th federation place. John Bird is there again in 9th federation with Jim McNeil of Tranent to the fore again with a good bird in 11th place and making up the top 12th place is Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton.
Prestonpans HS
Taking first place is Tom Waddell with a yearling black pied hen on 1520 her breeding is as follows; sire is a Louella bred pigeon while the dam is a Huysken Van Riel from Tom’s brother Rab. Second are Tom & Scott McEwen with a yearling late bred hen having her first race she was doing a velocity of 1491. Sire is a direct son of the ‘Bib’ 4 times a winner in the SNFC, while the dam is Brian Cunningham bloodlines. 3rd place on 1488 is Brian Lavery with a 2 year old chequer cock bred by Tom McLeod of Elphinstone.
Fife Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies
Second race was from Alnwick flown on 03rd May with 2220 birds liberated at 10.00 hours into a south west wind.
East Section: Kennoway 266 birds; Leven 165 birds; Methilhaven 155 birds; St Andrews 153 birds and Tayport 46 birds; The 1st 2nd 6th & 7th section places go to D Brown of Leven with 3rd place going to J Harcus of St Andrews his club mate D Baldie is 4th. B Chalmers of Kennoway is 5th 8th & 9th with B Cochrane of St Andrews in 10th place. Tayport club won by J Lumsden with Methilhaven won by J & G Peggie.
West Section: Crossgates 299 birds; Dunfermline 171 birds and Lochgelly 215 birds1st four places go to G Anderson of Perth club with R Wilson of Glenrothes & Leslie in 5th place S Donaldson in 6th & 9th places with Erskine & son in 7th 8th & 10th places. K Cochrane win Crossgates; Dunfermline won by W & D Kennedy and Lochgelly won by J Doig.
Centre Section: Glenrothes & Leslie 286 birds; Novar 186 birds; Perth 190 birds. 1st & 9th section M McMurchie 2nd to 7th Brian Kinnear with club mate Turpie & McCord in 8th & 10th places. Novar winners J King.
Downfield Friendly Racing Pigeon Club sent 88 birds the winners are as follows; 1st 2nd 4th & 5th Ness & Kempton with Donachie & Stewart in 3rd & 6th places, A Donaldson is 7th & 10th with G Briggs in 8th & 9th places.
Dunfermline news from Walker Kennedy who writes ‘Hi Joe, before I start my report this week I would like to congratulate some of our members as they had the top 4 pigeons in the federation from Kelso last week, so well done lads. From our race this week 10 members sent 171 birds to Alnwick which is roughly about 85 miles to most lofts. First over the ETS pad is yours truly Walker & David Kennedy with a blue pied cock named Francis (you know how that one got his name Joe). His breeding is Syndicate Lofts crossed George Atkinson of Market Weighton this pigeon top the Fife federation last year from Kelso he is raced on widowhood and was doing a velocity of 1295. The partnership were also 2nd club with a 2 year old widowhood hen doing a velocity of 1290 she is a Kees Bosua crossed G Atkinson of Market Weighton bloodlines. Next is the (Flying Sparkie) with 2 birds on 1264 and1231 their breeding is Pauw Janssen and they have just been repaired well done Alistair that’s it for this week yours in sport Walker’.
New Lothian & Pentland Hills Federation
News from Andy Millar who writes ‘We had our New Lothian RP Club result with 71 lofts sending 2145 birds to Tow Law flown on Saturday 3rd May with the convoy being liberated at 08.00 with No wind at the liberation site. 1st is Tony Young of Danderhall with a velocity of 1546 and he wins £184.90 for his efforts. The winning pigeon, a 4 y/old widowhood cock is a multiple prize winner and previous Federation winner also. Bred from Willie Hay of Methil, Fife, stock from original Andre’ Clements pigeons. Returns were mixed with the pigeons tumbling in at over 1500 ypm, then stopping and some struggling in all day. As usual there were many with all their entries home. Second & 3rd are Sammels & Lunn of Castlebrae with their winner on 1545.2 winning £253.00 and their 2nd bird was doing 1545.0. S Gilchrist of Edinburgh Premier is 4th followed by A Mitchell of Castlebrae. J Robertson of New Lothian is 6th & 7th with D Noble of Danderhall in 8th spot. McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae are 9th with W Pryde & Son of Woodburn making up the top ten positions.
Pentland Hills Federation 16 clubs sent 3501 birds the result is as follows: 1st A Young of Danderhall; 2nd Sammels & Lunn of Castlebrae; 3rd Sammels & Lunn of Castlebrae; 4th S Gilchrist of Edinburgh/Premier’ 5th A Mitchell of Castlebrae; 6th J Robertson of New Lothian; 7th J Robertson of New Lothian; 8th Mr & Mrs Black of Edinburgh/Premier; 9th D Noble of Danderhall and 10th are McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae.
Club Winners
Danderhall 470birds; 1st A Young 1546 2nd Noble 1516 3rd J & T Young 1498
Castlebrae 178birds; 1st Sammels & Lunn 1545.2 2nd Sammels & Lunn 1545.0 3rd A Mitchell 1525
Edinburgh Premier 270birds; 1st Gilchrist 1533 2nd Black 1517 3rd Gilchrist 1504
Sighthill 278birds; 1st McLaughlin 1508.7 2nd Bremner 1506 3rd Miller 1500
Woodburn 275birds; 1st W Pryde & Son 1514 2nd W Pryde & Son 1483 3rd W Pryde & Son 1482
Edinburgh West 206birds; 1st Lamb 1502 2nd Lamb 1473 3rd I Bennett 1405
Gilmerton 288birds; 1st Bennett 1499 2nd Baillie & Judd 3rd 1493 Verth 1455
Whitecraigs 168birds; 1st Aitken 1494 2nd Simpson 1441 3rd Simpson 1427
Loanhead 281birds; 1st Baillie 1482 2nd Murray 1456 3rd Morrison 1414
Newtongrange 59birds; 1st Lawson 1469 2nd Watson & Daughter 1412 3rd Lawson 1409
Bonnyrigg 177birds; 1st Smith 1466 2nd Smith 1464 3rd Smith 1464
Penicuik 174birds; 1st Watt 1319 2nd Watt 1305 3rd Lawrie 1304
Peebles 75birds
Edinburgh Central 38birds
New Lothian 89birds
Traprain 475birds; 1st Flockhart 1540 2nd Newcombe 1513 3rd Mark 1499
Dalzell Flying Club
News from Joe Boyle who writes ‘25 members sent 307 birds with the red card going to King & Selfridge on 1347 with a Hartog; 2nd place goes to J Latimer on 1345 with a Busschaert from Mr Devonport of Wales. 3rd place is W McDonald on 1339 with a Jardine from Marshall. Congratulations to winner and all taking part in this race yours Joe Boyle’.
This week’s photos
These are from Sheldon Leonard's shop in Arklow in County Wicklow. He tells me that he supplies a number of clubs and fanciers from all over the country and the load in picture 5 only lasted about a week so much was the demand for pigeon food. He has everything under the sun in his shop and if he runs out then he will make every effort to get it for you as soon as possible. We all need suppliers to obtain our pigeon food as it is more convenient for every one of us so well done to Sheldon on offering a service to the pigeon fancy. Sheldon was also telling me that the stock pigeons he brought over from Daniel Aerens have taken time to settle and it is more than obvious they miss their old loft. It will take time and I have to say that I like this stubbornness in a pigeon as it shows how much they loved their old loft. I remember selling a 2 year old hen to a fancier and he came back to me the next year and said she was ‘barren’. I assured him that she wasn’t as I had youngsters from her in the loft and she would be missing her old loft and mate. The next year he showed her a cock throughout the winter months and when it came to pairing up he had no problem with her and she bred him some good pigeons. So it goes to show that pigeons are individuals and you have to cater for their needs and the most important of these is ‘happiness’.
Load of feeding for Irish fanciers
Everything you require
Inside the shop
Joe’s Joke
Ken and Edna went to the country fair each year, and every year Ken would say ‘Edna, I’d love to ride in that helicopter’. Edna always replied ‘I know, Ken, but fifty quid is fifty quid.’ One year Ken and Edna went to the fair and Ken said ‘Edna, I’m 75 years old. If I don’t ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance’. To this Edna replied ‘Ken that helicopter ride is fifty quid and fifty quid is fifty quid.’ The pilot overheard the couple and said ‘Folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take both of you for a ride. If you stay quiet for the entire ride and don’t say a word, I won’t charge you a penny. But if you say one word it's fifty quid’. Ken and Edna agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word When they landed, the pilot turned to Ken and said ‘By golly, I did everything I could to make you shout, but you didn’t, I’m impressed’. Ken replied, ‘Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out, but you know, Fifty quid is Fifty quid.’
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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