The Joe Murphy Column
I received an email from Nichola Herd informing me that her dad Jim Honeyman of Kennoway has not been well of late and wondered if I would be kind enough to put a bit in your article for me on behalf of dad. He has been diagnosed with Pancreas Cancer and will be selling on his stock birds along with his stock loft. I think he will manage to race his pigeons next year with the help from his family. Dad has been a member of Kennoway pigeon club for over 50 years and was not long discharged from hospital where he was critical due to having Sepsis, we are lucky that dad is still here. If you can add this to your article it would be gratefully appreciated. My dad’s stock pigeons are being sold on Elimar Pigeons web site. Kindest regards Nichola. Jim and his brother Jock were both members of the Kennoway club when Margaret and I flew in it, in fact my late father was also a member of this club up until his death in 1978.
SHU Trophy Winners 2019
I was approached by the president Ian Noble and secretary Linda Books if I would like to be part of the judging committee in selecting the SHU Trophy winners. The reason this invite came about was due to the fact that George Pollock who had been on the committee had decided to retire, and the officials would like to thank George for his contribution over the years in this post. So today Wednesday 6th November Margaret and I travelled through to the SHU offices at Wishaw in Lanarkshire. We were met by Linda Brooks and Ann McAleavey the very capable assistant who also works in the SHU office. We then met up with Phil Lynch and elder statesman Robert Cormack along with SHU president Ian Noble who are part of this exclusive committee. After greeting each other we got down to the task of systematic going over the nominations submitted.
Ian Noble, Phil Lynch, Robert Cormack & Joe Murphy
The first trophy up was The British Homing World Trophy for Old Birds this was for the (Lowest winning velocity in Channel races) the winner was Craig Halbert of Eastriggs with his grizzle cock who won 1st section 1st open SNFC Reims flying 502 miles 1485 yards and recorded a velocity of 906.41. He was clocked at 22-31 after flying 16 hours 16 minutes and was the ONLY pigeon timed on the day in the national race.
Craig Halbert
The SHU CELTIC Trophy presented by Taffy Bowen of Wales for Old Bird Loft performances up to 300 miles; The winners are the trio of the (late father) George, son William and grandson Paul Macaloney of Coatbridge. Their performances are as follows; ALL in Lanarkshire Federation;
Race point; Kelso flown on 20th April positons won 1st section 1865 birds 1st federation 4641 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1336ypm.
Race point; Kelso flown on 27th April positons won 3rd section 1862 birds 3rd federation 4433 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1460ypm.
Race point; Hexham flown on 4th May positons won 12th section 2379 birds 18th federation 5992 birds, flying 97 miles 1253 yards recording a velocity of 1336ypm.
Race point; Worksop flown on 8th June positons won 2th section 1095 birds 2nd federation 3210 birds, flying 213 miles 1717 yards recording a velocity of 1370ypm.
Race point; Worksop Yearling Open flown on 8th June positons won 2th section 750 birds 2nd open 2230 birds, flying 213 miles 1717 yards recording a velocity of 1370ypm.
Race point; Kelso flown on 15th June positons won 8th section 810 birds 13th federation 2115 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1539ypm.
Race point; Kettering Open flown on 22th June positons won 38th section 536 birds 88th open 1257 birds, flying 276 miles 1066 yards recording a velocity of 1284ypm.
Race point; Kelso flown on 29th June positons won 2nd section 897 birds 5th federation 2356 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1388ypm.
The Macaloney partnership also won the Mr. & Mrs Murphy Trophy for the SHU Young Bird Performance Champion. Their performances are as follows; ALL in Lanarkshire Federation;
Race point; Kelso flown on 17th August positons won 4th section 1486 birds 4th federation 3553 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1209ypm.
Race point; Catterick flown on 1st September positons won 7th section 608 birds 13th federation 1549 birds, flying 139 miles 1013 yards recording a velocity of 883ypm.
Race point; Ripon flown on 7th September positons won 7th section 362 birds 11th federation 708 birds, flying 157 miles 93 yards recording a velocity of 1064ypm.
Race point; Kelso flown on 14th September positons won 2nd section 378 birds 2nd federation 890 birds, flying 63 miles 1627 yards recording a velocity of 1324ypm.
The next trophy was The Friendship Cup for the Yearling with ONE Outstanding Performances in 2019 (Robert Cormack vacated from the selection of this award as he knew the fancier who applied). This was won by Peter Keogh of Broxburn. This chequer pied cock won 2nd section D 11th open SNFC Ypres flying 440 miles and recorded a velocity of 1063. (This pigeon also won the Cher Ami Trophy for the 1st nominated pigeon in the race, this trophy was presented by Mr Stefaan Ven Moerbeke to the SNFC Joe Murphy)
Peter Keogh
SHU Unikon Trophy awarded to the outstanding ONE Performance by a young bird; was won by Freddie Robertson of Edinburgh with his blue bar hen ‘Golden Mile Ashley’ winner of 1st section 1st open SNFC Buckingham young bird national competing against 1548 birds and recording a velocity of 1670.33 for the 286 miles. (As a matter of interest this hen won 1st club 6th Pentlandhill federation 694 birds from Newark flying 218 miles 400 yards and recording a velocity of 1186.83 the week before the national Joe Murphy)
Freddie Robertson
The Ogilvie Trophy for the best Individual Performance by Old Birds in 2019; (President Ian Noble vacated from the selection of this award as he knew the fancier who had applied. Joe Murphy also vacated as he had previously written about the individual birds nominated) The trophy was won by Robert Reid of Beith in Ayrshire; who won 1st section 5th open Reims flying 580 miles and recorded a velocity of 698.06.
Robert Reid
The McCrae Battalion Trophy for best combined LOFT performances with old and young birds.
The winners are the late father George, son William and grandson Paul Macaloney of Coatbridge.
William, Paul & George Macaloney
Date Race Point Distance Birdage Positions Won
20.04.2019 Kelso 63-1627 1865 section 1,2,3,4,5,14,15 Section
4641 open 1,2,3,4,5,15,16 Open
27.04.2019 Kelso 63-1627 1862 section 1,2,3,4,5 Section
4433 open 1,2,3,4,5 Open
04.05.2019 Hexham 97-1253 2379 section 1,2,3,4,7,11,12 Section
5992 open 1,2,3,4,9,17,18 Open
12.05.2019 Catterick 139-1013 2411 section 9,12 Section
6170 open 9,16 Open
17.05.2019 Ripon 157-93 1759 section 2.3.7.9 Section
5076 open 2,3,19,31 Open
25.05.2019 Wetherby 170 -1623 1738 section 2nd Section
4525 open 3rd Open
1.06.2019 Kelso 63-1627 1019 section 4,5,8,9,11 Section
2437 open 4,5,8,11,13 Open
08.06.2019 Worksop 213-1717 1095 section 1,2,5,8,11,12,15 Section
3210 open 1,2,6,13,17,19,22 Open
08.06.2019 Worksop 213-1717 750 section 1,2,4,6,8,9,16 Section
Yearling 2230 open 1,2,5,11,14,15,32 Open
15.06.2019 Maidstone 374-185 190 section 1,3,4,6,7 Section
567 Fed 2,4,6,10,11, Fed 813 West Sect 1,3,6,11,12,SNFC 2957 Open 27,49,94,218,220 SNFC
15.06.2019 Kelso 63-1627 800 section 4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,13,14 Section
2001 open w 7,10,11,12,13,14,16,17,18,19 Open
22.06.2019 Kettering 276-1066. 536 section 3,4,5, Section
1257 open 7,8,9,Open
28.06.2019 Burdinne 524-1354. 353 section 3, West Section
SNFC 1257 open 9 Open SNFC
29.06.2019 Kelso 63-1627 897section 1,2,3,4,5 Section
2356 open 1,5,6,7,9 Open
06.07.2019 Ypres 450-4 258 section 13 Section
726 open 29 Fed
17.08.2019 Kelso 63-1627 1486section
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13Section
3553 open
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 Open
01.09.2019 Hexham 97-1253 607 section 2,7,8 Section
5992 open 4,13,17 Open
07.09.2019 Catterick 139-1013 362 section 7, 8 Section
708 open 11,14 Open
14.09.2019 Kelso 63-1627 378 section 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Section
890 open 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Open
The Partnership won 10 x 1st in Airdrie & District Flying Club; 8 x 1st in Lanarkshire Social Circle Flying Club; 9 x 1st in Centre Section of Lanarkshire Federation; 8 x 1st opens in Lanarkshire Federation; 1 x 1st West Section in the Scottish National Flying Club. A total of 36 x 1st prizes achieved in 2019 at a distance ranging from 63 miles to 524 miles:
The SHU Dewar Scotch Whisky Trophy for the best channel performances by an old bird. The winner is a chequer cock raced by Jock Scott of Kennoway; his positions are as follows from the SNFC Burdinne Gold Cup race flown on 28th June he won 1st Fife Federation 1st section C 14th open 1251 birds flying 513 miles 706 yards and recorded a velocity of 1416.78. He then competed from SNFC Roye race flown on 22nd July and won 3rd east section 4th open Fife Federation, 10th section C 21st open recoding a velocity of 1107.39 for the 510 miles 1229 yards against an entry of 935 birds entered by 215 members.
Jock Scott
Runner up to the Dewar Scotch Whisky Trophy; for the best channel performances by an old bird; this was won by Frank Mitchell of Comrie in Fife; whose blue bar yearling cock won the following; From the SNFC Burdinne Gold Cup race flown on 28th June he won 5th Fife Federation 7th section C 37th open 1251 birds flying 522 miles 1204 yards and recorded a velocity of 1362017. He then competed from SNFC Roye race flown on 22nd July and won 3rd east section 4th open Fife Federation, 14th section C 34th open recoding a velocity of 1056.23 for the 515 miles 170 yards against an entry of 935 birds entered by 215 members.
Frank Mitchell
(I’m hoping to obtain details of both these birds to go along with the article I’m doing on The Dewar Trophy which has been in existence since 1973 and highlights all these truly wonderful pigeons Joe M.)
The 3rd pigeon selected in this category belonged to William Borthwick of Annan whose chequer cock SU16S6056 won the following positions in 2019. From the Carnforth race with the Solway federation he won 1st Annan club from an entry of 113 birds flying 62 miles and recorded a velocity of 1000ypm. He was then set up for the SNFC Gold Cup race from Burdinne a distance of 462 miles and he won 5th section A 73rd open doing a velocity of 1315. He was then sent to the last old bird national race from Roye a distance of 444 miles to his loft and he won 5th section A 54th open doing a velocity of 1002ypm.
There was one more trophy to be selected and Linda Brooks is going to report on this winner. Margaret and I had a pleasant day with the above-mentioned people, and it were indeed a great pleasure for me personally to participate in selecting these ‘Exclusive’ pigeons raced under the banner of the Scottish Homing Union. I have gone into my archives to obtain a photograph of the above trophy winners to go with this report, and once again would like to congratulate them and their wonderful pigeons and look forward to meeting them at the SHU Show on the 14th of December.
Joe’s Joke
On their way to get married, a young Catholic couple is involved in a fatal car accident. The couple found themselves sitting outside the Pearly Gates waiting for St. Peter to process them into Heaven. While waiting, they began to wonder: Could they possibly get married in Heaven? When St. Peter showed up, they asked him. St. Peter said, "I don't know. This is the first time anyone has asked. Let me go find out,'" and he left. The couple sat and waited and waited. Two months passed and the couple were still waiting. While waiting, they began to wonder what would happen if it didn't work out; could you get a divorce in heaven? After yet another month, St. Peter finally returned, looking somewhat bedraggled. "Yes," he informed the couple, "You can get married in Heaven." "Great!" said the couple, "But we were just wondering, what if things don't work out? Could we also get a divorce in Heaven?" St. Peter, red-faced with anger, slammed his clipboard onto the ground. "What's wrong?" asked the frightened couple. "OH, COME ON!" St. Peter shouted, "It took me three months to find a priest up here! Do you have any idea how long it'll take me to find a lawyer?"
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