NEWS FROM SCOTLAND

Reports by Joe Murphy

Since our return from Blackpool we have had a hell of a week. Our daughter Beth was admitted into Victoria hospital on the Sunday (hence the reason we wanted home quicker), they kept her in and she finally gave birth (by section) to a little boy, Conner Murphy Stewart, on Wednesday 25th (Rabbie Burns day) weighing in at 9 pounds 9 ounces and 25 inches (65 centimetres) - see photograph. He is a little smasher and is now grandchild number 10 for us as Beth’s partner Craig has 2 children whom we look on as being part of the ‘Clan’. Both mum and baby are doing well and it is hoped she will be home by this weekend. Margaret and I have been staying at her house looking after the two older children as they are at school and it has been a matter of coming home, going to bed, get up the next day, fix the birds and back to Beth’s house. Still, that’s what grandparents are for and we do love every minute of it but it is so tiring and we are getting older but to see the new baby is worth everything.

Gordon McCaw and Jock Traill

Blackpool

We had a great time at Blackpool, however it was very tiring and I only made the show on the Saturday and could not attend on the Sunday, which was a first for me. The wind was part of the problem and I had difficulty breathing. I also had problems with my knee and had to use a walking stick. As I said above, I'm getting old and it does not come by itself.

We arrived on the Friday and were soon booked into our hotel. After our dinner at night, we went into the bar for a drink and who did we bump into none other than Father Eddie McGhee and his brother Jim. It is a while since we met Eddie, who is now living in Kilmarnock and has 3 parishes and the prison to look after so has very little time to himself nowadays. So much so that they were only staying the one night and going home after being to the show on the Saturday. They were telling me that they lost their mother and father in the space of Christmas Eve and the 6th January; it is bad enough to lose one parent but to lose both of them in such a short period of time is nothing less than a disaster and our heart goes out to the McGhee family at their loss. I think talking ‘pigeons’ was a comfort to them and we did have a good few laughs thrown in during the night. I also met Joe Headley and his good lady from Wales who helped out our mutual friend Dave Baldie when he had a pigeon reported injured, with Joe looking after the bird for him. Dave came into the Imperial Hotel looking for us and I introduced him to Joe. Joe also introduced me to the one and only Pat O’Sullivan, the Enfield great whom I have read about over the years and it is a pity that we did not have more time to spend with Pat and his good lady - maybe next year.

The show was very busy when we first went in and it was a matter of speaking to people and once the sales started it was much easier to get about. We visited the BHW stand and had a coffee from the ladies and met up with other scribes, then went and spoke to the ‘GIRLS’ on the stand who do a wonderful job in promoting the paper and are a credit to the sport. We stood at the stand for a while and the amount of people we met was quite incredible. Everyone was so friendly and wishing us a Happy New Year. Another thing that seems to go down well in the column is Joe’s Joke as the amount of fanciers who said how much they enjoyed them was quite staggering, which proves the article is being read. One lad came up to me and told me that he cuts my jokes out and puts them on a paperclip and his wife takes a month’s supply to the ladies guild and reads them all out and they have a good laugh; and if he met me at the show he was to tell me that the ladies enjoy the jokes.  My other two features, Blast from the Past and the Pride of Scotland, are also being well received with the amount of none Scottish fanciers commenting on the quality of pigeons raced in Scotland, especially at the distance races. Blast from the past causes at times a great sense of humour as many of the fanciers highlighted are now older (and have grey hair or none at all) and take some ‘stick’ from their club mates or family and friends.

Another point raised was that quite a few Scottish fanciers highlighted the SNFC agm with the biggest concern being the Niort race point for 2012 as many feel it is too far. It is the same old story, if you do not attend the agm then you have to go with what was passed. I know that transportation is a problem and the club has to go with another organisation but last year was one of the best distance races experienced from Tours with the Midland National. When we first went to Niort in 1989 we had 881 birds and the next year was the highest ever sent 901 birds with the last race from Niort being 1996 with an entry of 260. This was at a time when we had only ONE national and all the top distance men competed. We do not have these extreme long distance pigeon fanciers nowadays. Oh there are some outstanding fanciers and pigeons but the majority will not send to this race point as it is too far (700 miles to Fife). I was talking to a lad from Peterhead and he informed me that it is 775 miles to the town and the fanciers will not throw their pigeons away at this distance; you will be lucky to get 20 pigeons from the north, which amounts to 2 PRIZES so the incentive in going to a race when you have to be in the first 2 having your name on a result is not worth the effort of your pigeon flying all that way for nothing. The SNFC should have taken a leaf out of the NFC book and made a race programme that suited everyone and kept it for the next 10 YEARS; what will happen now next year they will go back to the agm and change it all again and we wonder how the sport is not progressing. The SNFC was evolved to promote long distance racing yet the biggest entries and (where they make money) is from the two inland races and this will not change now. I have no objection to allowing fanciers a chance of winning a national from these race points but I do feel that the channel races should be within reach of every fancier on the day flying into Scotland. I know the wind decides the outcome of every race but fanciers want to time on the day from 500/600 miles and it can be done at this distance but from 775 miles you do not have a chance in hell. The other national does not have a north section and the SNFC pride themself in being open to ALL of Scotland and yet here they are cutting off the chance for these North lads to compete in a national race. Firstly because it is too far and secondly people do not have time to take days off their work to sit and wait on pigeons coming back from a race (that is to say if you are lucky enough to get one). Again I emphasize a ballot paper on the race points should be given out to ALL the members to let them at least have a say in the matter and make it fairer to all members. Oh I know these remarks will upset some people but this is the feedback from people I spoke to at Blackpool and they were not all from the north of Scotland but from the central belt as well.

Blast from the Past

This week’s two pictures are of the late Peter Scott of Coalburn who won 1st SNFC Cheltenham in 1986 as Scott Brothers and Nephew; Peter was a great SHU man I think he was a SHU delegate and past SNFC committee member as well as being a great speaker and kept many a meeting under order by knowing the rules and constitution. In the photo Peter is presenting Willie White with his trophy for best in show at Larkhall show, which no longer takes place and is a great pity as it was always the first show to be held in Scotland every year. The second picture is of two of Fife’s great fanciers, Gordon McCaw and Jock Traill (the last man to win Niort - see above). Both are no longer with us but they left their mark with their pigeons and their personality.

Peter Scott and & W. White with his BIS Larkhall Show.

Pride of Scotland

The first pigeon this week belongs to the partnership of J & R Lawrence of Carnoustie. Their blue chequer hen SU 07 DF 2908 has won twice from the channel - see below.  

The second pigeon belongs to G Veitch of Pencaitland and this chequer cock SU 07 E 973 has won 3 times from inland nationals.

Garry Cairns of Wallyford in East Lothian has two pigeons that come into the 3 times category, these being a blue bar cock SU 09 E 1617 who has won twice inland and once from Ypres. His other bird has won flying the same programme see below.  

SU 10 ML 1014 also a blue bar cock that won 3 times in 2011

Show Results

News from Rosie Armit with the result of the Glenrothes & Leslie Pigeon Club held a show on 29th December. The judges were Walker Kennedy and Eric Reid from Dunfermline club and Mel Jarvis from Lochgelly club the winners were as follows.

LTWOC – 1st McCord & Turpie, 2 S Donaldson, 3 S Donaldson, 4 McCord & Turpie

LTWOH 1st Turpie & McCord, 2 McCord & Turpie, 3 McCord & Turpie, 4 Turpie & McCord

LOC, 1st Maxwell & Bethune, 2 S Donaldson, 3 D Ferguson, 4 Maxwell & Bethune

LOH, 1st McCord & Turpie, 2 McCord & Turpie, 3 S Donaldson, 4 McCord & Turpie

LOC flown250mls, 1st McCord & Turpie, 2 Maxwell & Bethune, 3 S Donaldson, 4 McCord & Turpie

LOH flown 250mls, 1 B Kinnear, 2 S Donaldson, 3 Turpie & McCord, 4 R Wilson

LTWYC, 1st Maxwell & Bethune, 2 Turpie & McCord, 3 Maxwell & Bethune, 4 Maxwell & Bethune

LTWYH, 1st S Donaldson, 2 S Donaldson, 3 D Ferguson, 4 Turpie & McCord

LYC, 1st I Chalmers, 2 S Donaldson, 3 Maxwell & Bethune, 4 Turpie & McCord

LYH 1st S Donaldson, 2 Maxwell & Bethune, 3 McCord & Turpie, 4 S Donaldson

Eyesign, 1st McCord & Turpie, 2 McCord & Turpie, 3 Turpie & McCord, 4 McCord & Turpie

Best in Show which was also Best YB and Best opposite sex went to McCord & Turpie so well done John and Terry.

Everyone present had a really enjoyable day and special thanks go to Maxie for his wonderful stovies, Pat for her sandwiches, Johns mum and me for the cakes and to Jimmy who makes a great cup of tea! I hope you and Margaret are keeping well, kindest regards Rosie.

Montrose & District HPS annual show

News from Graeme Scott with the Montrose & District held their annual show and trophy presentation on Sunday 15th January 2012 the show result winners details below:

YCTW 34 birds : Judge G Reid, Aberdeen; 1st G Campbell; 2. J & J Leven; 3. J & J Leven

YHTW 27 birds: Judge S Robertson, Aberdeen; 1st B Leven 2 G Campbell 3 G Scott

LYC 33 birds: Judge G Reid 1st J & J Leven winner of Best opposite sex young Bird. (Specials Judge A Robertson, Aberdeen) 2 B Leven 3 A & S Whyte

LYH 27 birds: Judge S Robertson 1st B Leven Best young bird (Specials Judge A Robertson). 2. B Leven 3 J & J Leven

OCTW 40 birds: Judge S Robertson 1st B Leven 2 A & S Whyte 3 A & S Whyte

OHTW 33 birds: Judge G Reid 1st J & J Leven 2 G Campbell 3 B Leven

LOC 39 birds: Judge G Reid 1st G Campbell winner of Best in Show (Specials Judge A Robertson) 2 G Scott 3 B Craig

LOH 33 birds: Judge S Robertson 1st A & S Whyte winner of Best Opposite Sex (Specials Judge A Robertson) 2 G Campbell 3 B Leven

With B Leven winning most Points in Show we would like to thanks to the class judges Scott Robertson and Gibby Reid and special thanks to Sandy Robertson for judging the specials and presenting the club trophies for season 2011all the best Joe yours Graeme.

Joe’s Joke 

A bloke walks into a Glasgow library and says to the prim librarian, 'Excuse me Miss, do ye have ony books on suicide?'  To which she stops doing her tasks, looks at him over the top of her glasses and says, 'Bugger off, ye'll no bring it back!’

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 email address joejmurphy1947@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com  www.Pigeonportal.com or www.racingpigeonsuk.com who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland.