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NEWS FROM SCOTLAND Reports by Joe Murphy Last Friday Margaret and I travelled up to Arbroath to assist Kevin by basketing his pigeons for the Ripon race. He had a presentation at Stirling University on his final day at Further Education in Leadership Qualities and would not be home until at least 9pm. Kevin has also been attending Aberdeen University for his Degree in Management and has finished his first year with another 2 to go. This is hard work when you consider that he has a full time job and 3 young children to bring up plus a team of pigeons. Oh I know there are others in the same boat and if his dad cannot help him then who can. I finished work at 3pm and arrived after 4.20 due to the volume of traffic on the roads. The birds had to be at the club hut for 6pm so I was in plenty of time and young Kieran showed me the way to go. On arrival I received a warm welcome from the lads who were in the process of striking off the clocks prior to basketing. Kieran and I assisted with the basketing and the patter was good. The 7 members sent 129 birds which was the most they have sent for a quite a while. Once the transporter had been loaded and was on its way I bid the lads farewell and asked them to one of these weeks give Kevin a chance and let him win a race. He is desperate to have his name in the Joe Murphy Column and the only way this happens is if I take him on holiday with me and don’t let it happen tomorrow as he will want me up here every week to put his birds away. We all had a good laugh and I departed wishing them all the best for the next day’s race and for the future classic races. I then drove down to visit my brother scribe Jim George (Round O) and he was looking a lot better what a difference in him and we chatted for a while before I left about 8pm to go back to Kevin’s home as I was working the next day as it was my week end on call. Saturday evening the phone rang and here was Kevin and I asked how he got on, terrible I’m 12 missing from my 28 however there were some lads who did not have a bird at clock checking which was at 6pm. I asked who won the race and he said ‘I did by 8 minutes’, this was good and his winner was a yearling cock just on the roundabout. His sire was a Bob Whyte (Ritchie & Whyte fame) of Fraserburgh crossed with a Tom McEwen hen while his dam was a pure bred Bob Whyte dark chequer hen. As you will see he is full of top long distance blood and when you consider this was this young cock’s first race of his life from 172 miles he did very well. Kevin ended up with another 2 birds on the day and another 5 the next day so is 5 down from this race which going by all reports he has done well. This week will be another testing race as the wind is from the North East and as they are at the 200 mile mark it will be a testing race. Received an email from a lad called Michael who wrote: ‘Hello Joe, I'll bet you know something about the better longer distance pigeons in Scotland. I have one very nice Kirkpatrick cock. This letter comes to you from Washington, USA. Not many Long Distance fliers here. I've read about Krauths as being good across the water in the northern islands. That is the sort I'm interested in. Here's a link if your interested http://www.pigeonstud.com/page110.htm Yours Michael’. I wrote back to Michael who replied, 'True long distance' is what it's about and is my main interests for pigeons. I have heard about the quality of Scottish pigeons. I'm not a rich man, and it can cost a small fortune to get good birds and ship them across the ocean. But you never know what can happen; I'm interested to know about those Northern birds from your part of the world. I have heard about the conditions they fly in Scotland. When they say 700 miles or more, it isn't Kansas, or Belgium. The climate is equally challenging, and similar to our own here in the Northwest, if not more severe. The isolation also has served to help develop tough performers, at least in the past. I have heard the phrase 'The King of the Faroes' from two sources, one in the link for the Australian loft I sent previously, and the other from Linda Jonelli, a flier from England now residing in the Northwest USA http://www.redroselofts.com/long-distance.htm She told me to look in that direction to find the best extreme LD racers. She has a Barker's which impressed me, having exceptional dense feathering and excellent strong buoyant supple form. I suppose Barkers and Krauths are old names now, like Kirkpatricks, and MacAlpines. I had a group of MacAlpines some years back that were disappointing, and I think thisKirkpatrick is a good bird. The label is not the thing. Names of old families may not mean much, and one hopes the qualities have been preserved and improved by a good breeder. Thank you for offering to look for such a fancier. I would like to find someone like that, who is known by his fruits. Best of luck in your racing and breeding, and thanks for your correspondence. Kind Regards, Michael’ I have spoken to Ian Gill from Northern Ireland who has the www.Pigeonportial.co.uk site as Ian had the Krauth and he is going to write to Michael if anyone would like to corresponded with him then drop me a line and I will give you his email address. While on about web sites you will see that I have now added my article to a new web page which is highlighted at the bottom of this article.
Regular readers of my column will remember that I wrote about young Kieran Jamieson in my column a few weeks ago and how the Border Telegraph was doing an article on him. Lo and behold there is a feature in today’s Sunday Post newspaper and Eggy his dad has told me that Cinalex Film Company are coming to do a report on Kieran for B.B.C. children’s television and they are also going to do a story on him for the Animals at work with Children programme. There is also the possibility that a story will appear on The Animal Plant on Sky TV. This is truly fantastic and when you think it all started with me giving this young schoolboy a mention in the column. Flights of Fancy I spoke with SHU secretary Linda Books during the week and she was telling me that the Centenary book is still going out to fanciers on a weekly basis. This is superb and when you consider that fanciers don’t have much time for reading books during the racing season. It could be that they have ordered it to take away on holiday if they are like me that’s about the only time I have to relax and read a book and believe me they will not find a better book to read especially about pigeons. Linda has books out at outlets throughout Scotland mostly pigeon feeding establishments who have done a good job for us by selling quite a few copies. The money from the book sales has been forward to Linda on a regular basis and other books taken to these outlets. She has asked me to thank everyone who has supported the SHU by selling the Flights of Fancy book and to the fanciers who have purchased the same. Remember the SHU is now on line and you can report your strays to strays@online.co.uk or if you have any enquires then contact the SHU at enquiries@online.co.uk Results Let me start of by saying that I have had a disaster with this article. I had spent 8 hours during the past week compiling it and after proof reading it I went to save it and it asked me if I wanted to save it on disc; (as I had been making a copy the night before) I said No and lost the whole lot. Well as hard as I tried I could not retrieve this article and as I had already deleted the mail sent to me by the press officers I sent out a plea to them via email asking them to send it to me again. As many would be racing their pigeons this week end they have not had time or like me have deleted it from their memory bank, so to all the clubs that I usually report on plus I had the West Lothian federation results which was a new addition to the column I apologise for missing out your results, here are the ones who have replied. Dunfermline L.R.P.C news from David Kennedy who is a new addition to the column and we look forward to hearing from David on a weekly basis. From the Kelso race 6 members entered 90 birds taking first prize is John Robertson who timed a two year old blue cock of Venner of Street bloodlines he was sent sitting 4 day old eggs. This pigeon was actually second Fife federation in the race. Second & 3rd is David Kennedy with a 2 year old widowhood cock. The breeding of this cock is from birds purchased at Blackpool from Donnelly Brothers of Northern Ireland. David’s 2nd bird is another widowhood cock, this time a yearling from George Atkinson of Market Weighton in Yorkshire from the old Pol Bostyn bloodlines. From Otterburn 7 members sent 105 birds first this week was David Kennedy with a 2 year old widowhood cock bred from George Atkinson of Market Weighton in Yorkshire from Pol Bostyn crossed Jan Aarden bloodlines. The sire of this cock has now bred four winners for David. Second and 3rd places goes to Giles Mournian with his first bird a yearling Busschaert cock flying on the roundabout method. His 2nd bird was a yearling Van Reet hen flying to 3 day eggs both birds were bred by his good friends Hall & Forster from Prudoe in the North East of England as a matter of interest these same 2 pigeons were Giles 2nd and 3rd pigeons to his loft the previous week. From Witton Castle 7 members sent 90 birds with the red card going to David Kennedy with a 4 year old Van Loon cock bred by his dad Walker Kennedy from Crossgates club. This pigeon is no stranger to the prize tickets having been 68th Open SNFC Newbury 2006 and 16th Open Fife Fed Leicester Open race 2006 as well as winning various club tickets. 2nd and 3rd is John Robertson with his first a yearling cock sitting on a 10 day old young bird and is bred down through Johns own family of pigeons that are tested yearly at the SNFC races. His 2nd bird was a yearling hen sitting on 7 day eggs and was bred by Ian Ross of Kirkintilloch my thanks to David for his contribution and I look forward to receiving it each week. Kennoway HS news from Alex White with the result from Witton Castle race, in first place it was Tam Cooksturn for a first this season. He was flying an 07 cock that was set up on the widowhood. He was a cross between Massarelli and staff van reet, and had flown the full young bird programme, picking a few club results on the way. In second place was Jock Scott, with a 3 year old hen that was sitting 7 day eggs. She was a pure buschaert, and has pick up positions in club and federation racing. And taking third place was Norrie Smith who was flying a 2 yearold cock that was on the widowhood. This cock is a pure Mick McMurchie and had scored a first position as a young bird whilst flying the whole y/b programme. Glenrothes & Leslie news from Jimmy Maxwell who resent the Witton Castle result 12 members sent 315 birds with Ian McMurchie taking the first 2 places. His winner is a 2 year old hen on widowhood bred by Andrew Shepherd from Sunderland from his Money Box stock this has been a very consistent hen winning quite a number of prize cards. The 2nd bird is a yearling hen bred by Ian himself from Chris Little being a Gaby Vandabeelie flying widowhood. Third spot goes to Spittal & Bell No2 their winner is cock sent feeding a 12 day old youngster he wasbred by Jimmy himself from Vanherlees crossed Van De Poel stock. That’s all the news for this week Joe I would just like to congratulate Ian on his win he had an excellent race with 4 in the first 10 in the club, yours Maxi, my thanks once again to Maxi for his support in sending me the result again. Pentland Hills federation I found the Thrisk result on my computer saved as a jpeg file as this is how Andy Miller sends it to me however I have lost the details of the winning pigeon. First federation is Gilmerton club’s Fraser Perring who timed in a 2y-old Busschaert cock flying roundabout. The cock is a previous prize winner having scored from Tow Law in the strong Gilmerton club. The sire and dam were bred by Fraser's good friend Ray Forbes. This cock was full pooled in the New Lothian winning over £400 for its efforts. 2nd is Willie Kinnear & son from Danderhall with D Noble from the same club in 3rd place. Club mate A Young had a good race being 4th, 6th & 10th with names sake J & T Young in 5th place. S Benson from Craigmiller is 6th with Sighthill’s Bremer and Hindle in 8th place followed by Gordon Verth from Gilmerton my thanks to Andy for sending me in the result on Sunday cheers mate. Sighthill winners are Bremner & Hindle who timed the same pigeon which won the From the Pentland Hills yearling open race which was held midweek from Newark on Wednesday 14th May. This race allows a maximum of 5 yearlings per loft which have to be nominated prior to the first race of the season, at a cost of £20 per pigeon. The original entry was 51 lofts entered 194 pigeons. The actual total which made the race was 41 lofts and 155 birds. Prize and pool money for this race totalled some £10,520. The birds were liberated at 0900 into a North East wind for the 212-221 mile journey. Winning 1st Open was Alan Robertson from Gilmerton (1158) who timed his Beverdam Janssen cock sent feeding 10 day old youngsters. This cock has already been in the club prizes 2 weeks prior to this race. Last season as a youngster it won 1st club 6th Federation Thirsk 137 miles. Well done to Alan on winning the £1000 first prize. 2nd open was Steve Lipinski who won £905, with A Thomson & son from Traprain in 3rd & 4th places winning £1770 with these 2 birds, 5th are J & G Whitson who won £1125 and Brian Johnstone won £305 in 6th place. White and Blackhurst are 7th and won £1905 with E Johnstone winning £145 in 8th place Andy Miller is right up there with them and won £1505 in 9th spot wand Mr & Mrs Ainslie are 10th winning £295. As you will see not a bad lift for a yearling midweek race and this will set some of these fanciers up for the nationals where they can have a good pool on their candidates as they have the money to send and it is not coming out of their pocket so to speak well done to all the above and to the officials who are forward thinking and give the Pentland members what they want. Lawhill Racing Pigeon Club result of the Ripon race were 8 members sent 84 birds the convoy were liberated at 09.00am with no wind at the liberation site. This weeks race was sponsored by Jake Brown The winner was Bruce McKenziewith a 2 year old red chequer widowhood cock, this cock is bred from Bruce's (as most of the loft is) 3rd SNFC Newbury and his 4th SNFC Clermont winner. This cock is also the sire of Bruce's best young bird in 2007 which is the red chequer hen '2776' that won over £1000 as a youngster Bruce had a good race being 4th 5th 6th & 7th in the race. 2nd & 3rd is Jake Brown with 2 widowhood cocks the winner is a 3 year old blue pied cock and is a Busschaert x Vandevelde bred from John Crowder stock. Jake’s second pigeon isyearling blue cock which is Janssen also bred from John Crowder stock, being direct from Jake's No.1 stock cock responsible for many winners right through to Combine and Amalgamation level Dundee Federation from the Ripon (1) race 54 members sent 905 birds with the top spot going to Bruce McKenzie with a velocity of 1470. 2nd & 3rd is Jake Brown with John Duthie 4th followed by J McBride in 5th place Andy Thomson is 6th 8th & 9th federation with Beattie & Telfer in 7th and 10th positions my thanks to Willie Donachie who managed to get back to me with this result. Fife Federation quite a number of people have asked how I have not been reporting on the federation result and the answer was easy the members appointed a new Press Officer at the A.G.M however Mel Jarvis has asked if I would put them in the column he has spoken to Archie who has no objections so here they are. Kelso 1875 birds were liberated at 07.30am with race controller Mike Donachie tops the federation and west section he is also 11th section. John Robertson of Dunfermline is 2nd with Crossgates K Cochrane & son in 3rd & 6th places. Willie Stark from Lochgelly is 4th & 7th with Crossgates press officer Walker Kennedy in 5th spot. His son David who races in Dunfermline club is 8th with Wattie Forman from Novar is 9th with J & C Doig from Cardenden in 10th place and Stewart Donaldson from Perth is 12th. The east section is dominated by Kennoway’s Brian Chalmers who is 1st, 2nd 3rd 5th 8th 9th & 11th places with David Brown of Leven in 4th place. Willie Hay is 6th, 7th and 12th positions and Angus Neilson of Tayport is 10th place. Centre section is won by Alistair McCudden of Glenrothes & Leslie with club mates Spittal & Bell No 2 in 2nd place; Stewart Redpath is 3rd with Brian Kinnear in 4th & 5th Places. Novar’s member Willie Frew is 6th & 9th with Ian McMurchie of Glenrothes & Leslie is 7th with Novar’s J King is 8th & 12th with Glenrothes & Leslie Turpie & McCord is 10th with club mate Stewart Redpath in 12th place. Otterburn race had 2592 birds liberated at 7am with the federation winner again the west section winner is John Brockie from Glencraig & Lochore, 2nd 3rd & 4th is Jock Hynd & son from Crossgates. Novar Wattie Forman is 5th with Cardenden Willie Henderson & daughter is 6th place with Crossgates K Cochrane & son in 7th & 10th places. D Gallagher of Lochgelly is 8th & 11th place with Stewart Donaldson from Perth in 9th place with Walker Kennedy of Crossgates in 12th place. Centre section is won by Len Downie who is also 6th section. Glenrothes & Leslie Maxwell Bethune & Lowe are 2nd followed by club mate Ian McMurchie in 3rd and 10th places. Stewart Redpath is 4th & 7th, with Alistair McCudden in 5th & 12th places, David Brown of Novar is 8th & 11th with Glenrothes & Leslie Brian Kinnear in 9th place. The east section is won by Brian Chalmers from Kennoway with B & A Suttie from St Andrews in 2nd place. Angus Nelson from Tayport is 3rd with Kennoway’s Jim Honeyman in 4th place, R Nicol from St Andrews is 5th with club mate R Anderson just behind. Kennoway’s Jock Scott is 7th with club mates Tam Laing in 8th & 11th places and Norrie Smith in 9th & 10th spot, Leven’s Brian Herd is 12th. Whitton Castle had 2554 birds with the west section again the winners of the federation this time Dom Gallagher of Lochgelly is 1st and 2nd with club mate Willie Stark in 3rd spot. Crossgates Jock Hynd & son Ian are 4th with Crossgates K Cochrane & son in 5th 8th & 9th places, club mate Mike Donnachie is 6th 11th & 12th with Walker Kennedy in 10th place just ahead of McAndrew & Dow of the same club. Centre section is won by Ian McMurchie of Glenrothes & Leslie he is also 2nd & 8th section. David Frew is 3rd just ahead of his dad and grand dad Willie Frew & son who are 4th 6th & 12th section. Glenrothes & Leslie Spittal & Bell No 2 are 5th just ahead of club mates Stewart Redpath in 7th place and Brian Kinnear in 9th spot. Len Downie of Perth is 10th with David Brown of Novar in 12th place. The east section is won by Tam Cook of Kennoway who is also 7th with club mate Jock Scott in 2nd place just ahead of Austin Whittaker of Methilhaven. Kennoway’s Norrie Smith is 4th & 8th with big Jock Davidson from Methilhaven in 6th place. Shaun Diamond of Kennoway is 9th with Methilhaven Willie Hay in 12th place; my thanks to Catherine Jarvis for forwarding the above results again after my mishap with the last article. Obituary Received a phone call from Mike Binnie from Banff to tell me that one of the clubs outstanding fanciers had passed away last week namely Jocky Wallace who was a household name in the North East of Scotland. Jocky was one of the best fanciers that Mike has ever met; he was a dye in the wool long distance man and tried hard in the SNFC events over the years. It is a hard to race pigeon up into Banff from France and many good pigeons are lost trying to conquer this extreme distance. Jocky was not one to be disheartened and he tried every year. Jocky will be sadly missed by all the members of the club but none more so than his family whom we all send out heartfelt condolences at the passing of one of the top distance men from the North. Subject: Eating Oranges Lulu was a prostitute, but she didn't want her grandma to know. One day, the police raided the brothel and took all the girls outside and made them line up. Suddenly, Lulu's grandma came by! Grandma asked, 'Why are you standing in line here, dear?' 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 after 7pm week days or my email address is joejmurphy@tiscali.co.uk Or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com or www.Pigeonportal.com and www.pigeonglobe.co.uk for my up to date portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland.
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