The Joe Murphy Column

Blasts from the Past

Jim Hannah the famous Scottish photographer forwarded me some old photographs he had taken over the years, as he thought they may be of interest for the column. Jim remarked that I had mentioned Major Hutton in a past article and he included a photo of the Major judging some barless blue bars exhibited by the famous fancier Matt White of Paisley. (who won Rennes in 1980) This photograph was taken at the first exhibition of this rare family of barless blues and mealies; taken at the People International Show of Racing Pigeons in London in 1964. (see photo) Jim also gave me 3 photographs of the Major’s top pigeons which I have also included in this article. ‘The Outlaw’ - Blue chequer cock; rung SHU35L & RP6234; bred by Major Hutton. 6^th Pentrith LSC & Shrewsbury 1935. Weymouth 1936; 1^st Dublin Lanark Federation; 14^th open Race 1937. 2^nd Jersey LWHS, 25^th open & pools 1937.10^th Nantes LSC 93^rd section 176^th open SNFC 1937. 3^rd Gretna LSC 3^RD Swindon LWHS 1938; 7^th Rennes; 6^th Nantes LSC 39^th section 74^th open SNFC; 12^th Swindon LS 1939. ‘TUTIMES’ – Blue chequer cock; rung SHU35L & RP6258; bred by Major Hutton from his Rennes Pair. Flown Kirkham 1935; 1^st Swindon LWHS 1936; winning the clubs 1^st Weymouth LWHS 1936 winning Old Bird Cup. 6^th Oxford LSC and Rennes (538 miles) 1937. 3^rd Rennes LSC 49^th section 77^th open SNFC. 1938 2^nd 500 miles Cock class LWHS 1937 & 1938. ‘The Laird’ - Blue chequer cock; rung SURP31 GF 392; Late bred by Major Hutton 1933.1^st Millom LWHS; 6^th Fed 1935; 1934. 3^rd Maryport; 5^th Kirkham LWHS; 35^th Weymouth 35; 9^th Dol (500 miles) LSC; 25^th open race 1936. 5^th Rugby LSC (only 9 members timed in) 1937- 12^th Rennes LSC; 125^th section 196^th open SNFC; 1938 1^ST & Best in Show Motherwell 1936; 3^rd in 1938, 1^st 300-mile cock class; 1938 3^rd 1937 LWHS Rennes 500 miles.

The Auther with Matt White see text

            

The Outlaw                               Tutimes                                      The Laird

North of the Forth

The Fife and Tayside fanciers have done very well in the national races this past season; which is not unusual for fanciers north of the river Forth, as they have obtained excellent records from long distance SNFC races for many years. However as hard as I have tried to obtain information on the present-day winning pigeons it is like drawing blood from a stone. I don’t know if they cannot be bothered getting in touch, but it is their loss and they and their pigeons who are not obtaining the publicity. My article will still appear in the BHW and I will always find something interesting to add. I was speaking to the editor and he explained to me that the paper has to match a capacity of 56 pages on a weekly basis; which will include adverts. When you see an advert that takes up 8 pages of the magazine, (remember these people are paying for the privilege of advertising in the paper). Like any other business the BHW cannot afford to turn these adverts down so therefore scribes’ articles can only take up so much of the paper. Richard has informed not just me but others that we may have to give way so that the paper makes its allocated space. I hope this clarifies this situation regarding readers of my column and I thank Richard for his explanation. Going back to fanciers from the past I came across an article on one of the most famous fanciers from this area; the late and great Robert Strachan of Invergowrie who won the Tayside Fancier of the Year in 1965. An article written by ‘Taysider’ whom I’m assuming was the late Jim George (Round O) from Arbroath; wrote.

‘After what has been regarded as the most arduous racing season for some years, the title of Fancier of the Year in this part of the country must inevitably go to Robert Strachan, the Invergowrie ACE. Robert’s birds flew consistently well all season and finished with a great flourish by taking 1^st and 3^rd positions from the Federations 550 miles Dol race under very trying conditions. This grand-slam finish gave him the bulk of silverware, including the R J Blair and Whitbread Trophies, for 1^st bird Dol, The Melrose Drover for best average Christchurch 400 miles, and Dol and the much sought after Fyfe-Jamieson Trophy for the best average in the three longest federation races. However, his proudest moment ever, came when he won his own father’s Memorial Trophy-The Strachan Memorial for best average in ALL Federation races. Since Bob started racing in the Dundee Club in 1947 (the year I was born Joe M) he has been to the fore on more than one occasion, winning club and federation averages frequently, the fact that his confined to a wheel-chair makes his triumphs all the more remarkable. Although he is a very successful club flyer it is his national performances that made the name of Strachan of Invergowrie a household word throughout the country. His finest hour was recorded by the great-hearted Blue Pied Hen ‘Tayside Princess’, who was 4^th open Rennes 580 miles in 1955 and went one better the following year taking 3^rd open, surely one of the greatest ever double triumphs at the distance in this part of the country. ‘Princesses lived to a good old age and left some excellent stock to carry on her line, then one day she just disappeared and Robert never knew the fate of his fabulous hen. (It would have more probably been a hawk attack Joe M). Another of the birds which helped make the name of Strachan famous was the courageous Red Cock ‘Starlight Special’, which was clocked at the unbelievable time of nine minutes to midnight on the day from Rennes to take 72^nd open, two great efforts in this neck of the woods where day birds are rare indeed. He owes a lot of his success to his great friend and ex-partner Willie Wilson of Larkhall, another great name in the Fancy, they exchanged birds from time to time, and this no doubt keeps each other in the forefront of the racing fraternity. A recent introduction is a son of J & P Dora’s National winner ‘The Fifer’ which was a surprise birthday present from his wife. This year’s Dol winner was a long cast racy-looking red hen SU59T4866, who was timed in at 11-06am on the second morning, recording a velocity of 769 ypm and collected a nice cheque for £62. Known as ‘Leading Lady’, this grand hen is a grand-daughter of the legendary ‘Tayside Princess’. Next bird home was his more fancied contender Blue Chequer 62T5715, one which can be considered to be a Channel veteran with several 500 -mile jaunts behind her. She was timed at 11-26am and registered a velocity of 741 ypm and took the lion’s share of the pools with a fine total of £92. So much for the joys of pigeon racing on to the hard knocks one h as to take in his stride. Bob lost the bulk of his young bird team at the Riccarton smash, however, those that were left pressed on to the bitter end, in the true tradition of the Strachan pigeons, and no doubt next season they’ll be doing their best to make their master once again the Tayside Fancier of the Year.

Christmas Race

Received the following information from Barry Kinnear from Danderhall RPC regarding their Christmas Race; which was flown on Saturday 21^st of December 2024. 24 Lofts had pre-paid for 29 members sending 177 birds. The convoy was liberated at 10-10am into a very strong west to south west wind (Temp 7 c) There was 12 prizes paid out as follows; £500; £80; £40; £35; £30; £25; £20; £17; £15; £12; £10. Taking top spot is K Wright with a velocity of 900.63 with a flying time of 2 hours 27 minutes 19 seconds for the 75 miles 678 yards, winning £837.50p. The Black & Coupe partnership times in 2 birds to win 2^nd & 3^rd open winning £120. R Sammels also timed in 2 birds to win 4^th & 7^th open winning £107. S & S Tierney are 5^th winning £31-50. Primrose & Bell are on the same velocity just beaten into 6^th place and £25. W Kinnear & son Barry are 8^th 9^th 10^th & 11^th with the four birds winning £1030 for their efforts. J Porter wins the final 12^th place; in-fact 20 birds made it home within the first 30 minutes. A big thank you to Willie & Russel Dunsmore for transporting the birds.

                                                                                          

Willie Dunsmore with the Christmas Race Winner K Wright see text                                               The Black & Combe partership with Willie Dunsmore see text   

RACE RESULTS FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS - CLICK HERE

This is the 31^st year of the Christmas Race

Please find the following history of this Christmas Race which started in 1994.

Year    Lofts    Birds    Race Point       Race Winner       Velocity          Pigeon       Payout

1994    22        83         Morpeth          Primrose & Bell     739              94P2680    £1000

1995    33      110         Hexham          R O’Neill               594             95P147     £1809

1996    24       72         Hexham          G Fish                    860             95P60        £1726

1997    30      115       Hexham           Primrose & Bell      561             97P1775   £1639

1998    39      128        Wooler             W&B Dunsmore    ----               98F93834   ------

1999    54      226        Wooler             Primrose & Bell    1266             99P3637   £3190

2000    38      160        Wooler            G Adams              1407             99P5133   £3307

2001    33      171       Wooler             R O’Neill               668             00P6576   £3598

2002    39      182        Wooler             P Melville              -----              00P4977    £4050

2003    43      216        Wooler             W Kinnear & Son   576       GB03E46675   £5103

2004              225       Morpeth            P Melville              962             03P2753   £5755

2005    42      214      Morpeth           McCormack & Fraser     833             04P61        £6183

2006    38      191       Morpeth           W Kinnear & Son   1068     GB06J02558    £4897

2007    42      248       Morpeth            J Douglas              922       GB07Z96103   £5487

2008    45      252       Morpeth           A Young                 1027           07P6476   £6185

2009    45      255      Morpeth           G Cairns                  727          08ML4399   £5177

2010    36      230       Morpeth            C MacGregor           ----           10P4250      £5322

2011    52      258       Morpeth            D Brown                 776          10L5731      £6061

2012    49      313       Morpeth            W Kinnear &Son   1303    NWHU12 B0340     £6084

2013    40      195       Morpeth            W Kinnear &Son   ------    NWHU12 B0340     £4361

2014    35      192      Morpeth            W Kinnear &Son      937          14P1004     £3659

2015    36      199      Morpeth             T Waddell               1409          13P239       £4573

2016    47      247      Morpeth             A Young                 1383          14P1611     £5496

2017    37      218      Morpeth            F Robertson             ----- NEHU17NY277    £--

2018    30      200      Morpeth            L Mitchel                1076           18P3601    £4875

2019    33      248      Morpeth           A W Robertson       511          15P1309     £5143

2020                                 RACE CANCELLED DUE TO COVID

2021    28      177       Morpeth           S & S Tierney          923          20P2702      £4658

2022    31      251       Morpeth           R Sammels             ----           22P1533      £4072

2023    27      202       Morpeth           A S Thomson & Son ---           23TR1066   £3906

2024    29      177       Morpeth           K Wright                 900          23-5575      £3168

                                                                                              Total Payout   £127,751

Sponsored Prize Winners for 2024;

                                                          Winners                          Donated By

Annual Trophy for 1^st                         K Wright                        The Late Peter Melville

Whisky for 2^nd member;                     Black & Coupe               Harmore Construction

Malt Whisky (7^th Place)                      R Sammels                     Colin MacGregor

Bag of Feeding (13^th Place)                 A W Robertson               Rod Pringle

Bag of Feeding (Last on Result|)         A & A Baillie                  Rob Pringle

My thanks to Barry Kinnear for the above information; cheers mate.

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 - cogeco.ca -This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

© Compiled by Joe Murphy