The Joe Murphy Column
I have received some good feedback regarding my including Walter Boswell’s thoughts and workings on how he conditioned his birds for the SNFC Gold Cup race in 2020 so now I continue with;
Part 3
I’m sure it was Friday morning 3 days till the birds went to the Gold Cup race and I was on the computer and decided to check the weather forecast for France especially the Reims area. It was showing an east wind forecast for the following Friday the day of the race, and a ‘wee chance’ for a west section pigeon to do something special in the race. I had given the birds the open bowl all week after their morning exercise they were all handling fantastic. I continued to flag them one more time that night then give them the open bowl till Tuesday (basketting day) I closed the loft up after feeding the birds at 7 o’clock with the intention of flagging them from 9 till 10pm one more time getting them used to landing in darkness just in case I got a late arrival. Then went into the house for a cup of tea and looked at the forecast again and it had changed; this time showing south east from Reims and across the English Channel. Then it was south east from the coast right up the east side of the country; however it was blowing south west down the west of the country. Oh no I thought in theory the birds should come straight up the middle of the country; the south section and the central belt now had the advantage. The birds should come direct from the south heading right over Crawford area. If the wind stays that way my last five training tosses have been from Lauder in the east. It was then I had a brain wave instead of flagging the birds tonight I would take them to Crawford. I looked at the time it was 19-45pm and I ran out to the van and got my basket. I then took the 12 birds that I had left from the 22 I started with to Crawford letting them go at 20-45 hours with the belief ‘No need to worry there will be no hawks about at this time of night’. I jumped in the van and going as fast as I could trying to beat them home. When I arrived home my pal Charlie Muir was standing in the driveway. ‘Where have you been’ he asked. ‘Training’ I said. ‘AT THIS TIME’ said he. I told him about my theory about the birds coming up the middle. While we waited on the birds I looked at the clock it was 21-30 and nothing. I was trying to stay calm but it was getting dark fast and at 21-40 two birds landed. Two cocks ‘Oh what have I done’ Then I thought ‘they did not even need the toss; it was only a wee head sharpener’. Over the 20 tosses the birds had I had not lost a bird and now just prior to the race ‘I GET HIT’. Time went on 21-45 I don’t believe it. Five minutes later and it is now dark, then a bang. A flutter of birds and hit the loft and went into the section. On checking ‘Helen’ and ‘Marion’ were at least home. I had 8 return home now with 4 missing. ‘Well that did not go to plan Charlie’ I said. ‘In fact that was bloodly stupid’ but it’s done now and if the rest are alive I will get them in the morning. Next morning crack of dawn 3 birds arrive on the loft with one missing the wee chequer pied hen a granddaughter of ‘Jenna’. Bugger me; the only pied among the team!! I then sat down and re-wrote out my pool sheets for the race; taking the few pounds off the wee pied hen and spreading the money over some of the other less pooled birds. I was lucky I had got off so lightly; this could easily have been a disaster. Then at 1 o’clock the wee chequer pied hen turned up; ‘not a mark’ on her but it was too late to change the pool sheets again without making a mess of them. So the ‘wee pied’ stayed at home and I sent the other 11 to the race on the Tuesday. I knew the birds were in good order and there were a few nice comments made from the ‘handlers’ at the marking station which is always nice…. but with a pigeon like ‘Lady Helen’ in the basket I was feeling confident. Although I do not mind saying when ‘Da’ tipped me as a favourite on ‘Pigeon Basics’ web site to ‘WIN’ the national I felt a lot of pressure. For the first time in my life I did not like this one little bit but I was looking forward to having a good race. On Friday morning word came through that the birds were up and on checking the wind again. It was still the same straight up the middle and the winning birds should come on their line. That’s if they don’t get chased all over the country by hawks. I thought it would be fast race maybe too fast for ‘Helen’ she is a 13 to 15 hour bird and I was expecting them long before that. As it came to 3 o’clock and no birds in the south section I knew there was a problem. As it came to 4 then 5pm and still no birds recorded on the national web site, I thought ‘these birds have not got across the channel’. Then word of a bird in Edinburgh prior to 5pm and I thought then what would turn out to be the winner. As there was no birds recorded in the south or west sections. If this goes on much longer its playing right into ‘Helen’ hands. The time was now showing 6 o’clock and still no birds reported in the south or west sections. Then my wife shouts out ‘Walter; what about your dinner’, my reply was ‘I will get it later when ‘Helen’ comes home. Then between 7 and 8’o clock bang on her time I moved my chair to the bottom of the garden so I could look south. Then just before 6-55 I saw a dot in the sky right direct south straight down the middle. I knew it was her the way she was boxing, her wings shut tight dropping like a stone and she hits the board- pauses to let me have a look at her as she goes in. I let out a shout of joy frightening my next door neighbour who was just about to take a mouthful of his coffee and it spilled half down his shirt. ‘What’s wrong Walter’ he asks ‘I think I’ve just won 1500 quid Eddie’. ‘OK I will let you off’ he said. I was in heaven what a doo (pigeon) I kept saying to myself ‘what a doo’. I then went into the loft and took off her rubber and put it into the STB; she was clocked by the ETS but it is better to be safe than sorry. I than gave her some seed but she was looking for her peanuts so she got as many as she wanted. I did not get any more birds on the night and it looked like she was the only bird into the west section. A few of my pals from Clarkston came over to congratulate me and some old friends phoned. It also looked as if I had won the west section with the only bird on the day. I then checked the SNFC web site before going to bed and ‘Helen’ was the only west pigeon reported on the day. Up at dawn looking for more birds but nothing - this race had turned out to be a stinker for some reason or another, but I did not know why. I was just glad that I had timed in. Then birds started to turn up just after 06-00am but were very scarce and then word started to get through that the national birds were liberated 15 minutes after a Dutch liberation with 1000’s of birds released. These Dutch birds came back over the liberation site and dragged the Scottish national convoy away along the coast towards Holland. This would make sense with the ‘old heads’ who have been over the course before turning back and crossing the channel in 2’s and 3’s instead of hundreds that should have, but this has not been confirmed so might not be true. However something happened that is for sure. I checked the SNFC web site again at 4 o’clock and it still showed ‘Helen’ as the only day bird in the west of Scotland and it was looking good as I headed to the clock station. My thoughts went back had I emulated my old pal John Feenie and won that ‘Massive cup’. Alas it was not to be as there was another day bird in the west section beating me but that’s pigeon racing and you take it on the chin. I was delighted with my 2nd west section 11th open position plus winning £1700. This super ‘wee hen’ has now won 2nd west section Reims; 2nd west section Roye; 3rd west section Liege; 47th west section Ypres and £100 in pools from the Burdinne Gold Cup race. She is also an SNFC Silver Award winner and a record holder of the Scottish Homing Union, ‘Bird of the Year’ and has won over £3000 in pool and prize money. So what can I be disappointed about? NOTHING!!! I also had 8 birds from my entry of 11 home by the 3rd day; so they will all be able to fight again next year including my wee ‘Lady Helen’ who is now going for SNFC ‘Gold Award’ God willing. I hope you have enjoyed my recollection of my conditioning my birds for the Scottish national Gold Cup race; it has been good in bringing back the memories. I would also like to thank Joe Murphy for adding these 3 parts into his weekly column. I must also thank the Massarella family at Louella Lofts for the quality of Jan Aarden pigeons they have supplied me with over the years, they have been top class. Walter Boswell.
Louella Jamie Boy see text Louella Wee Jenna
SHU Trophy Winners
Linda Brooks of the SHU has informed me of the 2020 trophy winners; I knew these as I’m part of the selection committee but awaited Linda’s conformation as she spoke to the president Gordon Turnbull. The Annie Ross Bowes trophy is won by Davie Gullane. There is NO winner of the Dewar Trophy as the SNFC only had one channel race and the stipulations for this award is a pigeon has to win twice from over the channel. The McCrae’s Battalion Trophy for (multi performances old bird & young bird from a single loft) won by G W & P Macaloney. The Celtic Trophy presented by Taffy Bowen from Wales, for performances up to 300 miles is won by Brian Chalmers; The Unikon Trophy for outstanding performances by young bird is won by Billy Bilsland; Brian also win the Yearling Friendship cup for outstanding performance. The Old Bird Ogilvie Trophy for Individual Performance is won by W Kinnear & son; The Mr & Mrs Murphy Trophy for young bird Performance Champion won by John McNeill of Broxburn. Whom I’m informed is not very well and is in hospital I hope this news gives John a little lift. He is in our thoughts at this time. Congratulations to ALL the winners I will give a more comprehensive report on the birds performances next week.
Good Birds
While looking at the SNFC results published in 16th October issue of the BHW I noticed a few pigeons that have continued with their winning progress again this year 2020. The first one I noticed was from double SNFC Nantes winner Jim Sanderson of Pathhead in Midlothian. His pied hen SU15P2826 has now achieved 5 national diplomas 3 from inland nationals and 2 from Reims. In 2016 she won 130th section B 322nd open from Littlehampton flying a distance of 364 miles. The following year she was sent to Bedhampton a distance of 356 miles and won 32nd section B 106th open. In 2018 she was entered into the Reims race and won 8th section B 22nd open flying a distance of 545 miles. The following year 2019 she was entered into the Buckingham race a distance of 279 miles and she won 373rd open but no section prize card. Then this year 2020 she was again sent to Reims and she won 24th section B 101st open so requires one more channel certificate to gain her Silver Award and I hope she achieves this, good luck Jim.
I now move onto another SNFC winner Jim Doig of Cardenden who won the Ypres national last year. Jim has a fine chequer cock ‘Mr Man’ see photograph. SU16F3020 who has won 5 national diplomas however his achievement this year wins him a Silver Award. His record of success are as follows; As a yearling he won 8th section C 22nd open from Ypres a distance of 446 miles, then as a 2 year old he won twice the first time from Buckingham a distance of 301 miles winning 47th section C 273rd open then a few weeks later he was sent to Liege a distance of 525 miles and he was to the fore winning 2nd section C 29th open. Last year he was entered into the Burdinne Gold Cup race and he won 24th section C but no open prize. He was again selected for the Gold Cup race in 2020 this time from Reims and he won 24th section C 75th open thus gaining him his Silver Award well done Jim (you can read my report on my loft visit to Jim in the 2020 Stud Book.
Mr Man raced by Jim Doig see text
I now move onto Jack & Lynette Alexander of Monifieth just outside Dundee, they have blue pencil cock SU14DF763 who should now win a Meritorious inland Bronze Award for winning 5 times from inland national races. His record is a follows; in 2016 he won 106th section C 429th open from Littlehampton flying a distance of 403 miles. In 2018 he won 3 times the first time was from Buckingham a distance of 319 miles winning 5th section C 117th open he then went to the Maidstone race a distance of 390 miles winning 48th section C 120th open; he continued his fine show of form when he won from Ypres a distance of 454 miles and won 179th open but no section prize card. Last year he was entered into the Buckingham race and he won 47th section C 142nd open flying the 319 miles. This year he was entered into the Maidstone race and he was again to the fore winning 12th section C 28th open to now achieve his 5 inland diplomas, well done to Jack and L .
Another fancier to win a SNFC Silver Award is my dear old friend Wilf Flockhart of Tranent. Wilf has a chequer hen SU16A1346 bred by his good friends J & T Davidson of Killwilling in Ayrshire; she is from a bird from Wilf and a direct bird from Kerr Stainthorpe section winner. As a yearling she won 114th section B 434th open from Bedhampton a distance of 361 miles she then went to Ypres and won 43rd section B 125th open flying a distance of 426 miles. In 2018 she was sent to the Liege race point a distance of 506 miles and she won 6th section B 24th open and she was entered into the last old bird national race from Roye a distance of 492 miles just missing out on the section and open result but lifted some pool money for Wilf. This year 2020 she was entered into the Gold Cup race from Reims a distance of 549 miles and she was to the fore winning 5th section B 31st open, thus now winning her Silver Award for winning 3 times from over the English Channel.
Joe’s Joke
I know the wives and ladies in the office like to read my joke; however this is tribute to ALL THE LADIES to remember and to men to understand; lest we forget:
When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day.......
An angel came by and asked." Why spend so much time on her?"
The lord answered. "Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?"
She must function on all kinds of situations,
She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time,
Have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart,
She must do all this with only two hands, "She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day"
THE ANGEL was impressed "Just two hands.....impossible!
And this is the standard model?"
The Angel came closer and touched the woman
"But you have made her so soft, Lord".
"She is soft", said the Lord,
"But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome."
"Can she think?" The Angel asked...
The Lord answered. "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."
The Angel touched her cheeks....
"Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her"
"She is not leaking...it is a tear" The Lord corrected the Angel…
"What's it for?" Asked the Angel..... .
The Lord said. "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."...
This made a big impression on the Angel,
"Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.
A woman is indeed marvellous"
Lord said. "Indeed she is.
She has strength that amazes a man.
She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions.
She smiles when she feels like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.
She fights for what she believes in.
Her love is unconditional.
Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life"
The Angel asked: "So she is a perfect being?"
The lord replied: "No. She has just one drawback
She often forgets what she is worth."
-author unknown
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 Email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or you can also view online editions on: www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk - www.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! - thecanadianpigeoninternational.com www.internationalracingpigeon.com or
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© Compiled by Joe Murphy
