The Joe Murphy Column

My first babies will be with me by the time you are reading this article and it is surprising how quickly they grow. I have put newspapers under the nest pans so when cleaning out each day I just lift the pan and take out the top one or two papers and put them in my bin. This is twofold as it does not take long and you are not disturbing the old birds or babies very much. Some of the youngsters are going to friends or fanciers who have ordered some birds to race and this will give me another angle on how the stock pairs are progressing as breeders.

Kingdom Spirit

Received a message left on the phone from Daren Hamilton asking if I would do a profile on George and Brian Hunter of Dunfermline’s wonderful hen ‘’ and her parents. Well Daren I have already done this and called it ‘A Pigeon in a Million’ you can check this out on the internet or by checking pigeon press back issues.

Loft measured

I had a visit from Gordon Turnbull federation secretary and Eric Reed of Dunfermline who came to measure my loft as per GPS under Scottish Homing Union rules. This only took a few minutes and I now await conformation from the SHU regarding my distances. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference between the old calculations and the new ones regarding race points.

John Tyerman

Spoke to old friend John last week after seeing his picture in the pigeon press at the BICC presentation. He was informing me that he has not been too great and is very tired due to the treatment he is receiving for his cancer. He did tell me that our mutual friend Ian Crammond (of the double NFC winning partnership of Crammond and Langstaff) had been to visit him the previous day and this was a great boost to him. I know that all his many friends within the pigeon sport will wish him all the best for the future and hopefully once the treatment is finished he can enjoy his beloved pigeons.

Good SNFC Birds

Before I start with this week’s birds I received a phone call from Jimmy Jackson of Dunbar whom I highlighted in this feature a couple of weeks ago. Jim told me that one of his hens 52777 whom I emphasized was with his hens inside the loft. He has a wire door that he can leave so the sun and air can shine in the loft while he is cleaning out. When all of a sudden all the hens in the corridor panicked and flew towards the inside of the loft, some of them hitting the walls and perches. Jimmy looked out and there was the cock sparrow hawk just outside the door. It must have seen the pigeons and tried to attack them but hit the wire instead, obviously it flew away when Jimmy moved towards it. His hens were very shaken by what had happened, however he did notice that 52777 looked a bit stunned as she must have banked her head against something in the panic to get away. Jimmy kept an eye on her but within a few days she died and needless to say he was ‘disappointed’ at loosing such a good hen. He could not believe it when he picked up his pigeon paper and read that I was featuring this hen, hence the phone call to inform me of her departure. My thanks to Jimmy for the call and I wish him well with his other birds during the 2016 season.

I stare with Tom McEwen and his son Scott’s of Elphinstone and their good blue chequer cock SU10E 1057 known as ‘TMAC’. This cock won 21st section B 85th open from Clermont a distance of 506 miles in 2012, the following year he won 3rd section B 5th open from the Gold Cup race from Alencon a distance of 533 miles. Then in 2014 he was again sent to Clermont and won 17th section B 82nd open winning a SNFC Silver Award for winning 3 section prizes from Channel racing. Last year he again competed in the Blue Riband Gold Cup race from Alencon and won 13th section B 47th open. Therefore now requires one more section prize to win a coveted Gold Award and we wish Tom and Scott all the very best in 2016. Not only in achieving this goal but health wise as Tom was very ill and had to undergo major heart surgery prior to Christmas. He is on the road to recovery however has to take it easy for the foreseeable future and winning a Gold Award would be a wonderful tonic.

Next we come to Jim Ferguson of Eastriggs in the Solway whose blue bar cock SU10S 3798 had an exceptional year in 2015 winning 3 times in the SNFC. He was 2nd section A 27th open Billericay flying 277 miles, he then went to Eastbourne and won 9th section A 253rd open flying 326 miles he was then sent to the last old bird national from Clermont and won 14th section A 94th open flying 455 miles. When you add the above to his 9th section A 69th open Maidstone win in 2013 flying 304 miles he is a quality pigeon and hopefully does well in the national races in 2016.

We now come to S Martin of Earlstone in the Scottish Borders whose Blue chequer hen SU10SB 1565 has also won 4 times in national racing. As a 2 year old in 2012 she won 162nd open from Clermont a distance of 484 miles unfortunately she never won a section prize. In 2013 she was entered into the Maidstone national and won 119th section B 297th open flying 334 miles. The following year she was sent to Ypres and won 54th section B 93rd open flying 403 miles. Then last year 2015 she was again sent to the last old bird national from Clermont and won 147th open again she did not win a section prize. However to win 4 times in the SNFC is an outstanding achievement and we congratulate Mr Martin and his wonderful hen.

This week’s Pictures

The first two are from Sheldon Leonard of Arklow and were taken on his trip to Belgium; the first is of J J Hurley buying some cocks at Daniel Aerens. Some of the birds had been injured during the racing season and in Daniel’s eyes their career is finished for long distance racing events. The second picture is of the ‘Legend’ Owen Kirwin holding one of Daniel Aerens top pigeons. My third picture is a ‘Blast from the Past’ I have to say it is not very good quality but you can still make out some famous names within the pigeon sport in Scotland. Starting with Jacky Bunch on the extreme left at the back, I also noticed Willie Wilson, George Rankin, Andrew Lockhart, Norman Orr, Andrew Deans, and at the front right hand side is David Brown who was judge at Blackpool Show of the Year in January 2016. Hope this brings back happy memories to fanciers.

J J Hurley see text  -  Owen Kirwin with Daniel Aerens

Blast from the Past see text

Joe’s Joke

A distinguished young woman on a flight from Switzerland asked the priest beside her: "Father, may I ask a favour?"  "Of course, what may I do for you?" "Well, I bought an expensive electronic hair dryer that is well over the customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?" ‘I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie." "With your honest face, Father, no one will question you." When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?" "From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare." The official thought this answer strange, so asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?" "I have a marvellous little instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused." Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father." Next!

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Everyone seems to be in such a hurry to scream 'racism' these days.

A customer asked, "In what aisle could I find the Irish sausages?"  The assistant asks, "Are you Irish?" The guy, clearly offended, says, "Yes I am, but let me ask you some-ting...
If I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian?
Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German?
Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish?
Or if I had asked for a Taco, would you ask if I was Mexican?
Or if I asked for Polish sausage, would you ask if I was Polish?"
The assistant says, "No, I probably wouldn't."
The guy says, "Well then, just because I asked for Irish sausage, why did you ask me if I'm Irish?" The assistant replied,  "Because you're in Debenhams”.

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.

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© Compiled by Joe Murphy