NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
May I wish all readers of the column all the very best for 2014 and I hope you all have a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Patience is the name of the game
News from my good friend Guy Reed from the Isle of Wight who wrote: ‘Hi Joe, I had just finished reading your Scottish column and it came to mind about an old boy down here who won from Barcelona. The reason I mention it is your comments on "Patience" in your article which tied up nicely with another article on an Island fancier named "Bill Perren" who was gifted with the same quality, as he used to wait until his birds were 3 years old before going to a distance race. His methods even way back then were all about ‘patience’. It is also noticeable that for us on the Island that nothing much has changed throughout the years with our training regime, a couple of mainland tosses, flying well at home, then Rennes, Nantes and lifted into Barcelona or Palamos. For those who are interested in distance racing I can recall Bill, and others such as "John Drew" who won the UK section from Barcelona, "Frank Attrill" who won from Marseilles, and the only man to win an NFC merit award here. These good old boys were a pointer for me for things to come. My first attempt at the distance was with one pigeon and I never saw her again. Being undeterred the next time I sent two, lost one, and clocked one to win 27th open. Cyril Medway became my hero and as you know Joe he won the race, and an acquaintance with him and the late great Eric Cannon began. With each new encounter I learned, and Eric kind of fuelled me towards being an ardent Pau / Tarbes man. All these great men including George Wood and Ken Morey (both of whom could send to the moon and get them home) had that magic ingredient of ‘patience’ and the belief that ‘blood would tell’. It is also helpful to realise the importance of the background of your pigeons which is why I chose to build mine round the "Deweerdt" family. Before that, I had Medway and Cannon pigeons and I can recall only too well the amazing performances these two families put up, all those years ago, which is much like Geoff Cooper and Mark Gilbert do today, though I have to say they have raised the bar to another level. These men of days gone by though were unafraid to rise to the challenge of Barcelona proving it can be done, and with little help from medicines and products, just real honest pigeons and pigeon men. So you will see my old friend that I have the pedigree for distance racing and I’m also fortunate enough to have been in the company of these greats and I believe that one item of ‘patience’ has stayed with me. When I first met Bernard Deweerdt I saw that same component of ‘patience’ and also a fancier who was not going to buy into the drug scene! I confess to having used many bits and pieces over the years but these diversions only concluded in knowing that I was wasting my money and my time. The vet who knows pigeons is the man to ask if birds need treating, and good old fashioned stockmanship. Sorry for rambling on mate but your article got me thinking hence this note. Keep up the good work as you do a wonderful job for the sport in general and Scotland should be proud of your contribution, yours Guy.’
Outstanding Season
Received a letter from Keith and Peggy Tilbury from Choppington in Northumberland whom I met this year when they came up for some youngsters they had ordered from me. They were a lovely couple and we spent some quality time together and we enjoyed their company. We wished them a safe journey home and hoped they did well with the birds and asked them to keep me informed on their racing season. Well they have done exceptionally well and forwarded a list of their performances in the Lord Barrington Homing Society. Firstly let me say that the secretary Mr M Million has done a wonderful job in highlighting every race in the form of a diploma with all the relevant details: the colour of the bird, sex, ring number and velocity as well as the amount of birds and the distance flown. To cut this down I have highlighted only the race point, miles and positions won along with the birdage.
Selby a distance of 98 miles 1652 yards they won 1st 2nd & 6th club from 182 birds.
Tuxford a distance of 134 miles 795 yards they won 6th club from 321 birds.
Tuxford 2 they won 1st & 5th club from 158 birds.
Royston a distance of 224 miles 515 yards they won 2nd & 5th from 217 birds.
Royston 2 they won 1st 2nd 4th 5th & 6th from 182 birds.
Royston 3 they won 2nd 3rd 4th 5th & 6th from 193 birds.
Grantham 2 a distance of 160 miles 1526 yards they won 1st club from 188 birds.
Dover a distance of 303 miles 75 yards they won 2nd 3rd 4th & 5th from 120 birds.
Grantham 3 they won 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th & 6th from 154 birds.
Royston 4 they won 1st 2nd 3rd 4th & 5th from 107 birds
Arras 2 a distance of 382 miles 1512 yards they won 1st 2nd & 5th from 72 birds.
With the youngsters they won the following:
Wetherby a distance of 84 miles 1445 yards they won 5th from 93 birds
Tuxford they won 1st & 5th from 138 birds.
Wetherby 2 they won 1st & 3rd from 136 birds
Peterborough a distance of 187 miles 1539 yards they won 3rd 4th & 5th from 110 birds.
So you will see a very impressive season with the majority of these wins achieved by their Leo Van Rijn crossed with Vandenabeeles.
I have included a photo of Keith and Peggy along with another photograph of the trophies they have won in 2013 well done to you both.
Keith & Peggy Tilbury
Douglas and District (Dundee) Show
Margaret and I travelled through to Dundee for the Douglas show that was being held in the Black Watch Club in the city. We met up with Kevin and his son Matthew prior to going to the show venue and once inside we met up with the other judges Sean Diamond of Kennoway and John Smith of (Duz Wurk) who supplies herbal remedies to the pigeon fancy. ‘Duz Wurk’ sponsored the prize money for the show so a special THANK you to them. The winners are as follows: Young Cock Handling Judge Joe Murphy; 1st & 4th Bruce McKenzie Dundee, 2nd Jake Brown Dundee, and 3rd D Adam’s Perth.
Young Hen Handling Judge Kevin Murphy; 1st Brian Leven Montrose, 2nd & 4th Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran Forfar, 3rd Dave Glen Forfar.
Young Cock Through Wires Judge John Smith; 1st D Adam Perth, 2nd W McEwan Dundee, 3rd Murray & Ramsay Dundee, 4th G Brown Dundee.
Young Hen Through Wires Judge Sean Diamond; 1st Driver & Dawson & Dawson of Newcastle, 2nd & 3rd Murray & Ramsay of Dundee, 4th Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran of Forfar.
Old Cock Handling Judge Sean Diamond; 1st George Brown Dundee, 2nd & 3rd Paul Cameron Dundee, 4th Dave Glen Forfar.
Old Hen Handling Judge John Smith; 1st Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran of Forfar, 2nd Brian Leven from Montrose, 3rd Dave Glen Forfar 4th Bruce McKenzie of Dundee
Old Cock Through Wires Judge Kevin Murphy; 1st & 4th Dave Glen 2nd Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran of Forfar, 3rd Bruce McKenzie of Dundee.
Old Hen Through Wires Judge Joe Murphy; 1st Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran of Forfar, 2nd & 3rd Dave Glen of Forfar, 4th Paul Cameron of Dundee.
Best in show judged by Colin McEwan from Aberdeen was won by Macaulay & Ferguson & Curran with the same blue hen that won through the wires old hen and handling winning £50 and £25 special. Best opposite sex and Best young bird was Bruce McKenzie winning £30. A good day out and it was nice to see all the pens full with some very nice pigeons on show.
Best in Show at Dundee
John Smith of Duz Wurk presenting Gavin Ferguson with the BIS trophy
Mrs Brown presents Bruce MacKenzie with the Best Young Bird trophy
It was also good to speak to fanciers from north of the River Tay who are going through a bit of a ‘turmoil’ within their federation at the present time. I was also glad to hear that both Dundee and Angus federations are having JOINT convoying during the racing season to help each other with the costs of carriage. All it needs is Fife to get on board and the 3 federations can go down the road in one lorry (they go in the same transporter to the SNFC races so I don’t see what the problem is). Still it is up to the members of these federations to sort it out. My thanks to Frank Murray for the invite to judge at the Douglas show and I wish all the members all the very best for the new season.
Bereavement Sale
Received a letter from John Barlow past president of the SHU who wrote to inform me that his club mate Harry Sloan from Airdrie is giving up the sport. He and his good lady Ina were going to do so due to ill health but unfortunately Ina passed away prior to Christmas which was a terrible blow to Harry. The entire clearance sale will take place in Glenmavis Social Club on Sunday 12th January with viewing from 12.30 and the sale starts at 13.30. There are only 36 birds on offer (20 hens and 16 cocks) and the main bloodlines are Mr & Mrs Gregson of Preston with several direct birds in the sale. Also for sale are 6 baskets, T3 clock, perches, nest boxes, feeding trays, nest bowls, even dummy eggs. For many years Harry & Ina have put up some top performances in Glenmavis Flying Club in Lanarkshire Federation and the SNFC where Harry was a committee member for many years. It is so sad to lose people of this calibre but Harry’s health and the loss of Ina has been too much. There will be a half page advert in the BHW so look out for it and if you require any more information contact John Barlow on 07786366276.
Sick Call
Prior to Christmas I visited my brother scribe Jim George (Round O) in his home at Arbroath. His good lady Edna was with him but she has been through a rough time of it lately being in and out of hospital for tests etc. She has also lost a lot of weight and Jim and the family are quite worried about her. She is such a lovely lady as well and always makes you welcome to their home. Let us hope 2014 will be a better year health wise for both of them as they are a credit to their family and everyone who knows them.
Joe’s Joke
Beer contains female hormones! Yes, that's right, FEMALE hormones! Last month, Montreal University and scientists released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption. The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain Phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women. To test the theory, 100 men each drank 7 pints of beer within a one (1) hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects, yes, 100% of all these men:
Argued over nothing
Refused to apologize when obviously wrong
Gained weight
Talked excessively without making sense
Became overly emotional
Couldn't drive
Failed to think rationally, and
Had to sit down while urinating
No further testing was considered necessary!! So please tell men you know and warn them about drinking too much beer!
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
