The Joe Murphy Column

I start this week’s column by highlighting another two fanciers who have won with Murphy pigeons; this time it is the partnership of Colin Nicol and his brother John who live in Ayrshire. The brothers lost their father John (senior) in February this year, who was 85 years old (see photo) and had pigeons from 1945 when his father returned for WW2, so the brothers are 3^rd generation fanciers.

Brothers late father John on his 80th Birthday

Thankfully they decided to continue with the birds after their father’s passing. They purchased 4 birds at our son Kevin’s obituary sale and 2 of these birds are responsible for breeding them a pair of mealy cocks, with one of these as yearlings putting up outstanding results this year. The mealy cock was paired to a barren hen and was driving her hard to the nest when sent to the Melton Mowbray race and he was the brothers 3^rd pigeon home after being 10 ½ hours on the wing. Colin told me; ‘Joe he was as ‘Fresh as Paint’ when he arrived home. He was then given an open bowl, and was soon back on the drive; chasing the barren hen all over the sky. He was then sent to the Federation Billericay open race a distance of 352 miles with a convoy of 120 birds (which was convoyed by Lanarkshire federation). He came up trumps and won 1^st club 1^st north section 1^st federation doing a velocity of 1253 ypm. He was once again given the open bowl and was soon back in the drive with the barren hen. Colin revealed that his dad would have stopped the mealy cock, as he had flown to the coast, as he liked to stopping yearlings then.

The Nicol Mealy Cock winner of Ayrshire federation twice

However, the mealy cock’s brother had a couple of broken flights so Colin decided to stop him for the year and he continued to keep an eye on the Billericay winner to see if the race had taken anything out of him. As the ‘baren hen’ had been put in beside the youngsters and the cock was given a few tosses from Ardrossan; he was then repaired to the barren hen and slipped dummy eggs under them 10 days prior to going to the Guernsey Federation open race. The mealy cock was given a training toss from Livingstone on the Wednesday prior to going to the Guernsey open race which is a distance of 438 miles. The mealy cock was timed after being 9 hours 8 minutes on the wing and he won the federation by a clear 50 minutes from this Guernsey open race. So, for this cock to top the federation from their 2 open races was truly fantastic and needless to say they are over the moon with the mealy cocks’ achievements. As I have previously mentioned the partnership purchased the parents at Kevin’s obituary sale. Sire of the mealy cock was also a mealy cock bred in my stock loft from a Gareth Rankin cock; who was from the last son of Gareth’s No 1 sock cock, and the dam was a double granddaughter of ‘22299’. The Rankin cock was mated to a hen bred down from Jock King’s famous ‘Mary’ who won 10 times from National races and was a Gold Award winner.

Colin holding the mealy cock with his brother John looking on.

The dam of the mealy cock was a stock hen; her sire was bred by my good friends Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone, being a direct son of their famous ‘TMAC’ a SNFC Silver Award winner his national positions were as follows; 21^st region B 85^th open Clermont 506 miles; 3^rd region B 5^th open Alencon Gold Cup 533 miles (Kevin won 4^th open SNFC in this race with My Little Rachel) 17^th region B 82^nd open Clermont to win his Silver Award and he went on to win 13^th region B 47^th open Alencon. You may remember that I wrote about Karl Murphy from Ireland who won with these same lines in my article of 7^th of July Joe M.

 

‘TMAC’ was paired to a Mark Gilbert hen who was bred down from a son of Euro Diamond when mated to a daughter of ‘Minstral’ so you can see both parents have excellent breeding in their bloodlines. Needless to say, both Tom; Marlene & Scott are happy for the success Colin and John have accomplished, and I send my heartfelt congratulations on their excellent success and I’m happy to know that my breeding programme continues to breed good winning pigeons, and I thank them and the other fanciers who have notified me of their success with my bloodlines, and I wish Colin and John all the best for the future. I have added a few photographs of the brothers with their winning mealy cock. Dad John and a group one at the federation presentation with their dad’s brothers John & Barry (who races on his own) at Irvine with Ian Cameron and his wife presenting the prizes. I thank Colin and John for sending me the above information and the photographs to go with this report, and I wish them all the best in the future with their team of pigeon’s.

Presentation Night

Marvellous Achievement

I’m also looking forward with interest to read about the fantastic pigeon that was timed at 21-51-27 on the day from a 06-00 liberation being the ONLY BIRD ON THE DAY INTO THE UK from the Barcelona International race this past weekend. What an achievement this is and I send my congratulations to Mark, Nigel and Troy; The Gilbert Team. What a pigeon!!!!! You have to take your hat off to this wonderful fancier when you see that he won 1^st open BICC & 6^th open International Pau from an entry of 12631 birds, truly outstanding; A GREAT FANCIER, and I’m pleased to remember that I took our late son Kevin down to meet him and the Crammond & Langstaff partnership. He was over the moon to meet them and spoke about it to everyone he met, Great Memories!!!

Stray

On Sunday the 9^th of July as we drove into our driveway, I noticed a blue bar racing pigeon walking about our neighbours across the road from our house. The bird was looking for something to drink and as I approached it; it was not frightened and my neighbour Christine came out, she thought it was one of my own birds. I explained it was a race bird and asked if she or her husband would open their garage door and I would walk the bird into the garage which was quite dark. The did son and I managed to get the bird into the garage and closed the door, then I went round the back and went into the garage there. I picked the bird up and its number was NEHU2019TN 5341. I reported it to the NEHU and the bird belonged to Derick Porter who contacted me and I have managed to get the pigeon taken down to Gretna and Mick Brennan will collect it and take it down to where Derick lives and release it, it should make it home from there,

Christine with NEHU stray

Many Thanks 

Received an email from Christopher Tweed of Ireland who wrote; ‘Hi Joe, I trust you are well. Just had a read at your column in the BHW, and we would like to thank you so much for your kind words. It was wonderful to find out about the coincidence with my dad's Rangers shirt & Jock Strang!  Dad has said to pass on the following, “Thank you very much for your hard work and kind words Joe. ‘Tommy’s Dream’ will now be kept in the loft until March time next year; just to protect her from any danger. Then we will ‘God Willing’, have her back racing next year and build her up for St Malo race hopefully going ‘GOLD’. You Joe; will be the FIRST to know if we get the Gold! Please keep in touch Joe, and we wish you the best health and strength for many years to come. Best wishes, Chris’. I also received a phone call from my dear friend Jock Strang who was over the moon that the Tweed Family had done so well with pigeons down from his stock. We also had a good laugh about Tommy in his Rangers top. Unfortunately, Jock’s wife Betty is not very well and I know that everyone will wish her all the best. Jock also told me to keep up the articles as he looks forward to my column on a weekly basis. Cheers mate.

Jock Strang 1st Region D Huntington with his pal John Lambie (old photo)

SNFC Alencon

The convoy of 801 birds entered by 177 members was liberated at 06-30 hours into a very light south west wind, with the convoy clearing the site immediately in a north west direction. Dennis Anderson of Annan sent me an email which was as follows; ‘Dear Joe, please see details of mine and junior’s timers from Alencon. My good chequer cock wins 3^rd section A 9^th open this year. He was sent to SNFC Upper Heyford on Widowerhood and was 144^th open he was then sent to SNFC Brighton and won 19^th section A 49^th open. He was then repaired and sent to Alencon sitting 11 days on eggs at basketing, with his 2^nd flight had burst well through and I’ve sent you a photo of his wing. He was never trained after Brighton and was out for exercise morning and night and all the cocks were allowed to do what they wanted around the lofts with no pressure. Me and Jnr enjoyed sitting watching them for hours cracking around the lofts, on handling my 2 entries for Alencon we both agreed the chequer cock ‘Bonnyrigg Lion Heart’ just edged the condition. Of the 9 SNFC races competing he has 8 wining positions including 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 12^th & 19^th section A and he now should win his SNFC Silver Award this year for winning his 3^rd channel prize. These are as follows; 1^st section A 21^st open Reims 2020; 12^th section A 17^th open Guernsey 2021 and now 3^rd section A 9^th open Alencon 2023. ‘Bonnyrigg Lion Heart’ has also won the following positions; 37th sect 239th open SNFC Huntington 2021; 7th sect 147th open SNFC Maidstone 2021; 5^th sect 34th open SNFC Brighton 2022. Dennis Anderson Snr of Annan bred ‘Super Ally’ blue cock who is raced by Dennis Junior and he has won the following positions; 27^th sect 44^th open SNFC Alencon 2022 and now wins 6^th section A 36^th probable open Alencon 2023.  Please find photos of Junior holding ‘Bonnyrigg Lion Heart’ just after we timed him on Sunday night and also a photograph of Juniors blue cock ‘Super Ally’ just after he timed him on Monday morning. My thanks to Dennis for the above information and I anticipate both birds going to the last SNFC from Falaise this week. I have spoken to Willie McCormack who won the Alencon race and he is going to get his son to forward me some photographs which I will add to next week’s article as Willie has also supplied me with information on the SNFC Gold Cup winner. Something to look forward too!!!!

        

Jnr holding 3rd Region A 9th open Alencon          Wing of 9th open Alencon on arrival home        Jnr blue cock winner of 6th Region 36th open Alencon

SNFC Huntingdon

There was a delay in the official SNFC result coming out as there are 2 liberations sites at Huntington with some fanciers having different measurements, so the Secretary Donna Thomson had to have these checked out and make sure that everyone was flying the correct distances. Hence the reason the result was not out until Monday after she had checked with the SHU offices. Once again, she has done a wonderful job and the open result was out be teatime. There was an entry of 1679 birds sent by 256 members to the race; these were broken down into the following sections; Section A had 255 birds, Section B 355 birds; Section C 436 birds; Section D 230 birds, Section E 205 birds, Section F 75 birds and Section G 123 birds.  The birds were liberated at 08-30 am into a very light south west wind and the convoy cleared the site heading directly north. Winner of 1^st & 4^th region B probable 1^st & 4^th open is Gordon Turnbull of Duns flying a distance of 253 miles and his winner recording a velocity of 1680.9 and his 2^nd pigeon doing 1659 timed 3 ½ minutes later. Michael Robert Gilles of the same Duns is 2^nd region and open with Robert Walker of Eyemouth winning 3^rd region B and open. 1^st region C 5^th open is Ian Scott of Forfar who was flying 317 miles and recorded a velocity of 1653, his club mate David Liddle wins 2^nd region D and 7^th open with another Angus federation loft to the fore in my good friends Charlie & Glen Cameron of Arbroath who had a fantastic race winning 8^th 9^th 10^th 11^th 15^th 16^th 17^th 18^th 20^th 33^rd 34^th open plus more birds on the open result. Great flying lads and well done, I will be looking out for your name in this week’s race from Falaise.

Ian Scott 1st Region C 5th open SNFC Huntingdon

David J Armour of Leven in Fife has the first bird winning 13^th open he is also 19^th open. J Pedder of Aberdeen wins 1^st region G 25^th open flying 343 miles, with N Holt of Peterhead club winning 2^nd region G 26^th open flying 359 miles; John Hodgson of Annan flying 221 miles wins 1^st region A 31^st open. With my old pal Jock Strang of California winning 1^st region D 96^th open flying 294 miles. J Wilkinson of Glen Mavis wins 1^st & 2^nd region E and wins 161^st & 164^th open flying 289 miles. The winner of 1^st region F but no open position is J Shepherd of Beith in Ayrshire who was flying 296 miles. All the open positions were won by ¼ past 2 in the afternoon, so a great race and a pity about the problem with the measurements and ALL the fanciers having to be remeasured. Which obviously was quite time consuming, and yet the result was still out on the day after this problem was solved, well done to Donna and everyone else who helped out with this problem. You will see from the results below that the Fife Federation winner was doing a faster velocity but I’m led to believe the fancier is not in the national. As I write this column the birds will be race marked tomorrow for the last SNFC old bird race from Falaise, and the 2023 old bird season will be all over; by the time this article comes out, however I wish everyone all the best. The feedback I have received this year from fanciers I have spoken too is that the ‘Buzz’ is now back into the SNFC so let us hope this continues. As I also notice more and more fanciers who broke away and joined the SNRPC are now racing in the SNFC for channel racing. I suppose with having 2 nationals fanciers now have more chances to compete in the inland events hence the upsurge in birdage for these races. Let’s hope this continues as it is good for our sport of pigeon racing up here in Scotland.

John Hodgson winner of 1st region A 31st open Huntington

Results

Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club

News from Charlie Cameron with the Huntington race flown on Friday 7^th July in conjunction with the SNFC race with 3 members sending 46 birds, these were liberated at 08-30 am into a south west wind.

Charlie & son Cameron took the first 2 places with the pigeons split by decimals, Les McKay is 3^rd & 4^th with A & A Shepherd in 5^th place.

Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association

Were also at the Huntingdon race with 8 members sending 60 birds, liberated at 08-30 am into a south west wind. Rosyth’s Lou Mitchell takes the first 3 places, plus 9^th 10^th & 11^th with E & E Young of Leuchars club winning 4^th open, with Chic Dinsdale in 5^th sport and Gary Hall in 6^th spot.

North of Scotland Federation

News from George Duthie with the result of the Maidstone race, with 38 members sending 241 birds these were liberated into a light south east wind. Fraserburgh & District’s Colin McRae tops the federation and east section (21 members sending 153 birds) on 1833 velocity; he is also 6^th & 9^th section and open. J S Robertson of Inverurie club is 2^nd east section and open with Peterhead’s G Findlay winning 3^rd section and open position. A Higgins of Fraserburgh West End club wins 4^th section and open with club mate Robbie Higgins next in 5^th place. R Barclay of the same West End club is 7^th with A W Buchan of Fraserburgh West End club winning 8^th spot and R Bain of Fraserburgh & District winning 10^th place.  The West Section of the federation had 17 members sending 88 birds; P Thomson of Elgin & District wins 1^st & 2^nd west section 11^th & 12^th open. A Wilson of Devern Valley club wins 3^rd 4^th & 6^th west section 16^th 17^th & 20^th open.  A Hay from Devern Valley club wins 5^th 7^th & 10^th section 18^th 21^st & 35^th open. Keith’s A J Reid wins 8^th west section 30^th open with A Milne of Devern Valley club wins 9^th west section 34^th open.

Clubs First Bird

Fraserburgh & District winner is Colin McRae with a velocity of 1833. J S Robertson of Inverurie club wins with a velocity of 1831.807. Peterhead & District’s G Findlay wins with a velocity of 1831.554. A Higgins wins Fraserburgh West End with a velocity of 1816. P Thomson wins Elgin & District with a velocity of 1747. A Wilson wins Devern Valley on 1624, and A J Reid of Keith club wins with a velocity of 1545. Well Done to Colin McRae on Topping the Federation and also well done to P Thomson on winning the West Section.

Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association

News from Pete Penman who writes; ‘Hi Joe, the KRPA held our latest race in conjunction with the SNFC from Huntingdon. The original race was to be from Brighton, but with the adverse weather forecast for the weekend the officials decided to go to Huntingdon for a Friday race. The convoy was liberated at 8-30 am in a light south west wind, with the leaders again making light work of the 280-300 miles. Rosyth's Lou Mitchell had a field day taking the first 3 places, with two birds drop together. First in the clock was a 3-year-old red Jan Teeling hen on roundabout. The dam being a Frank Tasker bred by Dyke Armour of Levin. She was jumped straight into Kettering for her first race of the season. Next was a 2-year-old grizzle bred by club mate Alan Dow from his Welsh grizzle family. In third place was a yearling chequer cock whose sire is a DeWeerdt bred by John Skelton and the dam was another Frank Tasker, also bred by Dyke Armour which has notched up 4 x first prizes in the club. Lou was also 9^th ,10^th ,11^th & 14^th which was tremendous flying. Fourth place went to Eric & Liz Young of Leuchars with a 3-year-old hen bought from Bob Colvin of the North East of England. She lost her mate earlier in the season and was flying spare, but took up with a cock last weekend. So, to avoid her from becoming eggy Eric put her in beside the youngsters before putting her back with the cock the night before basketing and she came up trumps. Next, we saw Coaltown's Chic Dinsdale with a 3-year-old chequer hen sitting 16-day eggs. Her sire is the Coaltown club legend ‘Black Bob’ who won from 50 miles to 600 miles. Gary Hall took 6^th place with a yearling Vandenabeele chequer cock sitting 8-day eggs. Dave Whyte took the red card at St. Serfs; whilst at Coaltown club saw Pete Penman take 3^rd place with the same red hen that was also 3^rd club from Ramsgate. Once again thank you Joe, for including us in your weekly column yours Pete.’

Fife Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies;

News from Geordie Todd with the result of the Huntingdon race flown in conjunction with the SNFC; we had an entry of 227 birds and these were liberated at 08-30am into a light south west wind. Topping the federation is John Harcus of St Andrews with a pigeon doing 1701 ypm; John is also 5^th & 6^th open. J D Armour of Methilhaven club had a good race winning 2^nd 3^rd 8^th 9^th & 10^th open; with Kennoway B Chalmers winning 4^th & 7^th positions.   The east section had John Harcus winning 1^st 4^th & 5^th places with J D Armour of Methilhaven winning 2^nd 3^rd & 6^th places. Centre Section winner is B Chalmers who also wins 2^nd 3^rd 5^th & 6^th places. The West Section was won by Crossgates R Cook who also won 3^rd place. J Beveridge of Lochgelly club wins 2^nd spot with Eddie McWilliams of Dunfermline club winning 4^th position.

Space Weather

  The 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table Issued 10 July 2023

 

   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2023 Jul 10     175           8          3

2023 Jul 11     175           8          3

2023 Jul 12     170           5          2

2023 Jul 13     165          15          4

2023 Jul 14     165          10          3

2023 Jul 15     165           5          2

2023 Jul 16     170           5          2

2023 Jul 17     175           5          2

2023 Jul 18     175           5          2

2023 Jul 19     170           5          2

2023 Jul 20     170           5          2

2023 Jul 21     170           5          2

2023 Jul 22     160           5          2

2023 Jul 23     160           5          2

2023 Jul 24     155           5          2

2023 Jul 25     155           5          2

2023 Jul 26     160           5          2

2023 Jul 27     160           5          2

2023 Jul 28     165           5          2

2023 Jul 29     165           5          2

2023 Jul 30     170           5          2

2023 Jul 31     170           5          2

2023 Aug 01     165           5          2

2023 Aug 02     165           5          2

2023 Aug 03     165          10          3

2023 Aug 04     165           8          3

2023 Aug 05     170           5          2

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 log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

© Compiled by Joe Murphy