NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Reports by Joe Murphy
Everyone in Scotland if not the world has been flabbergasted at the disaster that happened to the Glasgow pub last weekend. When you think back to the Lockerbie air disaster you begin to wonder what Scotland has done to deserve tragedies like this. One thing for sure, it has brought the community and people of Glasgow a lot closer and I know everyone’s heart will go out to the families who have lost loved ones and others who still have family in hospital.
Thank You
My thanks to all the people who phoned offering me a year book. My good friend and fellow scribe John Barlow forwarded on a copy to me and I had it on the Saturday morning. I would also like to thank all the people who phoned or wrote offering pigeons for the 2 lads from Hamilton whose loft was burnt down. I contacted my good friend Gareth Rankin and he informed me that they have been inundated with lots of offers of pigeons (too many to take) and they would like to thank the fanciers for their kindness.
Blackpool Show
Received an email from Danny Ferguson from Newbury who is running a bus to the Blackpool Show. He states: ‘As usual at this time I am trying to organise the coach to the above event for the Scottish Show Racer East Society and would appreciate your help to put a few details in your column. We are departing Newburgh at 08.00 am picking up throughout Fife, the Forth Bridge, West Lothian and Hamilton then as required down the M74 with the last pick up Gretna Services. This will be on Friday 17th January with anticipated arrival at the show about 15.00 hours. Return route in reverse. Again expect to be back for our last drop off approximately 22.00 hours on Sunday 19th January 2014. Other pick up points can be arranged if numbers justified this. For further details contact me at Broomknowe, Mount Pleasant, Newburgh, Fife KY14 6AD or phone 01337 840590. I hope to attend both major shows in Fife and Lanark and will be available for anyone interested in joining us. I appreciate your assistance Joe, many thanks, Danny’.
Aberdeen Federation Secretary Received contact from my old friend Gibby Reid of Aberdeen who has taken over the job as Federation secretary from Mary Park who sadly lost her husband a few weeks ago. Gibby is thoughtful of Mary’s privacy at this time and has asked me if I could notify everyone that he has taken over this job and not to contact Mary. Gibby can be contacted at 48 Fowler Avenue, Aberdeen, AB16 7YX. His phone number is 01224-697613 or you can email him on
Visit to Daniel Aerens
Received a phone call from my good friend Sheldon Leonard from Arklow in County Wicklow telling me that he and good mate Roger Lowe are just back after a visit to Belgium where they visited Andre Roodhooft and Daniel Aerens. Sheldon was excited as he managed to purchase the full sister to ‘I Had A Dream’, Daniel’s 1st Hens in the Barcelona International race where she won 5th open International from an entry of 25.294 birds. So needless to say the champagne was out and a deal done with a happy Sheldon now having this quality hen in his stock loft.
Andre Roodhooft, Sheldon Leonard with his new purchase, and Daniel Aerens.
Sheldon also came home with a son of a red cock (see photograph) who won 1st National Orange in 2005 beating 7600 birds and he has turned out to be one of Daniel’s top stock cocks. This son of him is going to be paired to the sister to ‘I Had A Dream’ in Arklow in 2014. Sheldon was so impressed and spoke so highly of this pair that I have ordered the purchase of one from the first nest direct from this pair for my stock loft. Sheldon is convinced these Daniel Aerens birds can do the business into Scotland so time will tell.
He and Roger took their good friend Andre Roodhooft with them to visit Daniel and Andre was very impressed with the quality of Daniel’s stock pigeons, so much so that he placed and order for 10 young birds from Daniel’s best breeders for next year. Andre told Sheldon ‘These pigeons have it all - they are my type with loads of muscle, they are a nice size and are well balanced’. Andre also said that Daniel’s was the best loft he has been to visit since he and Sheldon called on Marcel Albrecht’s in 2003. Andre also liked the St Vincent hen who won 1st International St Vincent duivin in 2007 from an entry of 6666 birds and he has arranged to purchase 2 youngsters direct from her in 2014. Sheldon says this hen ‘is a first class specimen of a racing pigeon and she is also turning out to be one of Daniel’s top breeders’.
An interesting point Sheldon told me was that some of Daniel’s best breeding cocks are 16 years old and in fact the 5th open Barcelona International winning hen was bred from a 15 year old cock. Sheldon has also forwarded a photograph of Roger Lowe with one of his new purchases, a sister to Spanish Lady who bred Rebel his super late bred winner (see photo). What a pigeon this has turned out to be. Bred in 2012, he has won 1st section (1419 birds) 28th open National Flying Club Carentan with an entry of 8448 birds. He also won 2nd club 15th federation Fougeres 1.536 birds and 3rd section (631 birds) 50th open National Flying Club Saintes from an entry of 3144 birds. Sheldon also added another photo of Roger Gregory with Kris Wynants who is a sprint racer and has one of the best sprint families they have seen in a long time; their base line is Tourneur. Roger flies in partnership with his brother Tommy as Gregory Brothers and they fly in the East Coast Federation in Southern Ireland. They bought Kris’ No 1 racer ‘Big Guns’ for a large sum of money. As Roger said, ‘We were fed up buying middle of the road pigeons and the only way forward was to buy the actual champions or brothers/sisters or direct children from these champions. You have a better chance of producing winners if your pocket allows you to buy the best, but if you can’t then wait and save up as it pays off in the long run, as we have proved by winning 3 x 1st open nationals’ (which proves they are good fanciers - Joe M).
Kris Wynants and Roger Gregory
Sheldon purchased a pair from Kris a couple of years ago for Gordon Brothers and they have bred 10 x 1st prize winners in 2 years and also combine winners for the brothers. Roger Lowe was so impressed by Kris and his pigeons that he placed an order with him for a kit of 12 youngsters to race in 2014 and knowing Roger I'm sure he will win a big race with one with them. My thanks to Sheldon for the information on his Belgium trip and for the photographs to use in the column.
Andre Roodhooft, Roger Lowe with his new purchase, and Daniel Aerens.
Roger with Helene and Daniel
Joe’s Jokes
There once was a religious young woman who went to Confession. Upon entering the confessional, she said, 'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.' The priest said, 'Confess your sins and be forgiven.' The young woman said, 'Last night my boyfriend made mad passionate love to me seven times.' The priest thought long and hard and then said, 'Squeeze seven lemons into a glass and then drink the juice.' The young woman asked, 'Will this cleanse me of my sins?' The priest said, 'No, but it will wipe that smile off of your face.'
In provincial school, students are taught that lying is a sin. However, they are also advised that using a bit of imagination is OK to express the truth differently, without lying. Here is a perfect example of those teachings:
An attractive young woman on a flight from Ireland to Edinburgh asked the Priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favour?" "Of course child. What may I do for you?" "Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it from me. Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me? Hide it under your Robes perhaps?" "I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie." "With your honest face, Father, no one will question you." When they got to Customs, she let the priest go first. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?" "From the top of my head down to my waist I have nothing to declare", he said. The official thought this answer strange, so asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?" "I have a marvellous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused." Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father.
Next please!"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
