NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
January 14th 2014
The weather since before Christmas has been horrendous with gales and rain and our hearts go out to the poor people who have been flooded with their homes destroyed in the floods. We in Scotland are normally quite lucky except this year Ayrshire and Dumfries have been hit very hard with these floods. Parra Mckie of Kirkconnel was on the phone to me and he has sent me some photographs of his pigeon loft and house. He said: ‘Dear Joe, I have attached photos to this email of my pigeon loft due to the flooding at Kirkconnel on Monday 30th of December. In the photos the water is still rising, my partner Michelle and daughter Abby had to help me rescue the pigeons. I have been in my loft since Tuesday 31st December trying to dry it out so I can get them moved back in. Not much else to say, than I hope this gets better, yours in sport Parra Mckie.’ I know that all fanciers will sympathise with Parra on this recent disaster.
In continuing in this same theme I received a letter from my good friend John Tyerman president of the BICC who wrote: ‘Hi Joe, all the very best to you and the family for the New Year and I hope Kevin continues clocking a few good pigeons in all the big National races. We had all the family here over Xmas and New Year so a bit hectic all round coping with Xmas and the storm damage. On the night before Xmas we had gale force winds and driving rain which resulted in damage to the house roof, garden flooded and a tree down on top of my big loft. Luckily no birds were injured but I have lost the use of two sections and of course you can imagine the water damage inside to the nest boxes and floors. My grandson Callum helped me put a tarpaulin on the roof but further storms and high winds mean it is little or no use. The fallen tree is being removed tomorrow but the whole loft has shifted on the concrete blocks so with the roof damage it may mean a new one or costly repairs. Anyway many other people suffered a lot worse but in truth it is the worst storms we had had here in 14 years - we are only 100 yards off the sea so maybe time to consider a move!
On Friday the 3rd of January we went off to Northern Ireland for 4 days - to attend the INFC Merit Awards Presentation and with some sightseeing and loft visits being added to the trip. Our good friend Ian Crammond came with us and he had arranged the loft visits for the Sunday to see Owen Mackie and Ron McElvy in Newry. The award ceremony was also attended by Derek Partridge and was held on the Friday evening at the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim with well over 100 fanciers in attendance. Ronnie Johnson, David Black and Sid Collins all took their turns on the 'mike' and the first part of the evening was the presentation of some very sizeable cheques to the local branch of the McMillan Nurses and also a Children’s Cancer Charity. Over the years the INFC fanciers have donated thousands of pounds to these and other charities and the ladies who received the cheques on the night were overwhelmed and extremely grateful to all concerned. The actual awards ceremony was the major event of the evening and both I and Derek Partridge were honoured to present these prestigious certificates to some of the INFC’s top fanciers. (The full awards and details of recipients will I am sure be covered by the NI Scribes) Also during the evening Derek gave an interesting talk on his career in football culminating with his current role at Manchester FC. There was also an auction of pigeons and some items of Manchester FC memorabilia which Derek had brought with him. The later part of the evening was taken up by the moot and I enjoyed talking about the BICC, long distance racing and various matters connected to the sport - again I am sure this will be covered by the local scribes in more detail. Following the moot we retired to the bar where both Ian and I had the opportunity to talk to some very interesting fanciers, including Cyril and Hillary Beattie who themselves are top class flyers and also run a successful pigeon shop and corn business. They very kindly invited us to visit but time did not permit on this occasion as on the Sunday the weather was atrocious and the two planned loft visits took much longer than expected. I also had a very interesting chat with Eugene Fitzgerald the INFC and IHU President and the main topic was the subject of the Performance Enhancing Substances. Eugene was able to provide me with a list of banned substances which I found to be unbelievably detailed and lengthy, but apparently this list is used by the South Africa Pigeon Association. As you know, the BICC and other large clubs are currently discussing this topic so my conversation with Eugene was very helpful. On Sunday we went to see Owen Mackie’s immaculate loft in Newry where we handled his champion 'Rockview Wonderboy’ and many more top quality pigeons including his National winners from over 20,000 birds. He favours hens and I must say all his birds were in superb order and a great credit to him. Needless to say Ian could not resist arranging for a few to come back to his Fontwell lofts. Our next port of call was to see Ron McKelvy who moved back to his native Ireland some years ago after a very successful career as an accountant with a large International Company based in London. Ron has a superb set-up with his bungalow and lofts sitting high up above Newry with stunning views for many miles. Here again we handled many top quality pigeons including his recent National winner. Ron has been a top fancier at all distances and when living in London regularly flew north road wining out of Thurso and Lerwick. We enjoyed our visit to these two very talented and successful fanciers despite the atrocious weather. Earlier we had dropped Linda off at the local shopping mall in Newry and needless to say she enjoyed having a few hours on her own spending a few bob on clothes and a new charm bracelet. That evening Ron and Owen took us to the local Golf Inn where we had a superb meal and continued chatting about the birds and racing into Ireland. All weekend we had tremendous hospitality and our host Sid Collins had taken us on the Saturday for a tour round the Antrim coast to the Giant's Causeway and shown us many wonderful sights. Sid, whom I have known for over 30 years, has a passion for good food and we visited and had a superb carvery lunch in the Royal Court Hotel, Port Rush, and again on the Monday he insisted on taking us to the highly prestigious Merchant Hotel in Belfast where thankfully, we had a lighter lunch! This was a very special and thoroughly enjoyable weekend, spent in great company and with Irish hospitality which Linda, Ian and I will remember with great affection. We would like to convey our sincere thanks to the Members and Committee of the Irish National Flying Club and in particular to Sid Collins, Eugene Fitzgerald, David Black and Ronnie Johnson and all the others who made this a weekend to remember. Hope you are all keeping well Kind regards, John’.
Best Performance Champion Young Bird
I received a letter from Dougie Bald of Currie who wrote: ‘Dear Joe, I was fortunate enough to win the beautiful trophy donated by yourself and Margaret to the Scottish Homing Union this year. I have enclosed a photograph of the young chequer pied hen, which was a gift from my friend David Reed of Chainbridge Lofts. The young hen was flown naturally not on darkness or any other system. She only had 4 raced before going into a heavy moult and was unable to race. In the 4 races she topped the federation twice, was 2nd federation beaten by a fraction of a yard and she also won 3rd federation in a north east wind being timed in 5 minutes before the federation winner and 18 minutes before the 2nd placed bird. Another of David’s pigeons a blue pied cock won 1st federation open young bird race and had previously won 2nd, 5th & 13th federation another Reed checker cock also topped the federation. I have been fortunate in the respect that my good friends Willie Hay and David Reed have given me youngsters from their best pigeons which have resulted in the past 2 years having won 18 times 1st federation, 13 x 2nd; 14 x 3rds and 12 x 4th federations. This year alone they had 57 federation tickets in the top 20 in the federation results. I don’t profess to be a great pigeon flier but would like to thank the 2 above mentioned fanciers for the quality of the pigeons they have supplied to me. I would also like to say it is a pity the Sporting Challenge is no more. Although I am hopeless at Channel racing I looked forward to the presentation night every year and meeting up with some of the best fanciers in Scotland. In closing may I wish you and Kevin all the best for the 2014 season and I hope that 1st national win is not far away, yours in sport Dougie Bald’. My thanks to Dougie for the above letter and photo of his champion young bird and look forward to hearing how she progresses in the new season ahead.
Derby Arona International
Received an email from Willie Donachie of Dundee regarding photographs of his 2 pigeons. He wrote: ‘I thought this would be of interest for your column. The blue hen ring number (RO-2011-122589) is called DIAZEPAN and was the pigeon I activated in the Derby Arona Internacional Tenerife One Loft Race in 2012 and she won 1st UK, 1st Semi Final Car Race Fuertaventura 220km winning the car. 2nd UK, 3rd Final Race Fuertaventura 300km (two different liberation sites). The red chequer cock is rung GB 07 J 32720 and he is called DADDY BRO and is sire of the young pigeon called BIG BRO which is entered in the Derby Arona Internacional Tenerife One Loft Race in 2013, when he won 1st UK, 6th Final Car Race Fuertaventura 300km. Daddy Bro and Diazepan were paired together in 2013 and five of their offspring will be competing in the series of races for the Derby Arona Internacional Tenerife One Loft Race 2014. We wish Willie all the very best with his pigeons during 2014.
Scottish Show Racer Society (East Region)
Unfortunately due to Doug McClary and myself obtaining the same result from Struan Ferguson the show secretary for the above society the BHW are going to put these in Doug’s column which is fine as it is crazy to have the result in twice. May I wish the members of the society all the best for Blackpool Show.
Obituary
Dougie Valentine, a member of Prestonpans Homing Society. His good friend and club mate Corker Thomson informed me of Dougie’s passing. Dougie lost his wife in 2008 and his only son in 2010 and as you can imagine he was never the same. Unfortunately he has been in and out of hospital these past few years and ended up on oxygen and he passed away peacefully in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on the 18th of December. He was a good ‘Doo Man’ and a great ‘Pal’ to Corker and his club and federation members and he will be sadly missed by all who knew this great little man.
Joe’s Joke
A gynaecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and HMO paperwork, and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skilful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He joined the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could. When the time of the practical exam approached, the gynaecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the Instructor, saying, "I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade?" The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark.”... After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the exhaust pipe, which I've never seen done in my entire career".
I love old people when they do stuff like this...
The Arrogance of Authority - A DEFRA officer stopped at a farm in Scotland, and talked with an old farmer. He told him, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The farmer said, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there.....", as he pointed out a distant location. The DEFRA officer verbally exploded, saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the British Government with me!" Reaching into his pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the farmer. "See this badge?! This badge means I am allowed to go
wherever I wish.... on ANY land!! No questions asked or answers given!! Have I made myself clear...... do you understand???" The old farmer nodded politely, apologised and went about his chores. A short time later, the old farmer heard loud screams, looked up and saw the DEFRA officer running for his life, being chased by the farmer’s enormous Highland bull. With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he would be gruesomely gored before he reached safety. The man was clearly terrified. The old farmer threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs..... (I just love this part....) "Your badge........ Show him you’re BADGE!!"
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
---
