The Joe Murphy Column

May I wish all readers of my column a Very Merry Christmas and thanks for all the positive feedback I have received over the years on the column, especially all the jokes that are sent in. This feature is a great hit and some fanciers wives open the paper first just to read the ‘Joe’s Joke’ which is very nice and humbling. 

Gourdon Open Show Result

Received an email from Margaret Hay who wrote; ‘Hi Joe many thanks for giving our annual show a mention in your column within the British Homing World. We had a very successful show last Sunday and many thanks to all who attended and to those who entered birds also a special Thank You to those who sponsored classes in the show. These were Peterkin Homes: Market Bar of Montrose: JNS Joinery: MTC of Stonehaven: D Hay (senior): Fotheringham Developments: Harbour Bar of Gourdon: Gourdon Shop: GF Bissett and Crown Hotel: Crown Hotel: Bannerman Butchers and The Brae Café from Auchinblae who also contributed raffles for the show.? Results of the classes are as follows; Class 1; Any Age Cock Through the Wires winner Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore. Class 2; Any Age Hen Through the Wires winner Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore. Class 3; Likeliest Old Cock winner McCord & Turpie; Class 4 Likeliest Old Hen winner Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore; Class 5 Likeliest young cock winner Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore; Class 6 Likeliest young hen winner Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore; Class 7 Eyesign winner McCord & Turpie; Best in Show was won by Eric & Nicky Yule of Kintore they also won the Best Opposite Sex title. Gourdon Show Cup was won by W Dorward with the Best Gourdon Young Bird award won by D & D Hay.  Margaret Hay would like to thank Susan and Karen for catering on the day and also to others who helped make such a successful show. Thanking you once again for your assistance Joe kindest regards Margaret’.

Good SNFC Birds

We now come to another very special pigeon a chequer cock SU16F3020 named ‘Mr Man’ and bred and raced by Jim Doig of Cardenden in Fife. He is bred direct from an original grizzle cock from Dennis Ford of Blaenavon in Wales and is in-fact the sire of Jim’s 1st open SNFC Ypres 2019 winner ‘U Dun It’. As a yearling ‘Mr Man’ won 8th section C 22nd open from Ypres flying 446 miles competing against 2320 birds entered by 409 members. Then in 2018 he was sent to Buckingham a distance of 301 miles and won 47th section C 273rd open competing against 2941 birds sent by 441 members. He was then sent to the Liege race and won 2nd section C 29th open flying 525 miles from a convoy of 1072 birds sent by 327 members. This year 2019 he was set up for the Gold Cup race from Burdinne a distance of 516 miles and he won 24th section C but no open prize however ‘Mr Man’ now has won a SNFC Silver Award and is sire to an SNFC Winner; you cannot get any better than this.

Mr Man raced by Jim Doig

Jim Doig with his SNFC Ypres winner

Moving to the west region my next pigeon is a blue bar hen SU12L4582 raced by A Nelson also of Hamilton. In 2014 she won 13th section E 152nd open from Ypres 2404 birds. Then in 2017 she again won from Ypres this time a section E prize of 61st flying 445 miles competing in an entry of 2320 birds entered by 409 members. In 2018 she was sent to the Maidstone national a distance of 368 miles and she won 18th section E then this year she was back over the channel to the Gold Cup race from Burdinne a distance of 521 miles and she won 5th section E 31st open from a convoy of 1251 birds entered by 358 members thus winning her Silver Award and we congratulate Mr Nelson on achieving this goal.  My third bird is raced by J & C Smith of Polmont and is a blue chequer cock SU17CA2737. As a yearling he was sent to Ypres with a convoy of 2541 birds entered by 433 members and he won 5th section D 104th open flying 447 miles. Then this year he was entered into the Burdinne Gold Cup race on the 28th June with a convoy of 1251 birds entered by 358 members and he won 10th section D 61st open flying 520 miles.

Two weeks later on the 12th July he was sent to the Reims race with an entry of 334 birds sent by 127 members and he won 5th section D 26th open flying 569 miles to gain his SNFC Silver Award and our congratulations to the Smith partnership on achieving this goal.

Joe’s Joke

Paddy and Murphy are having' a pint in the pub, when some scuba divers come on the TV. Paddy says, "Murphy, why is it them deep sea divers always sit on the side of the boat with them air tanks on their backs, and fall backwards out of the boat?" Murphy thinks for a minute then says, "That's easy. It's 'cos if they fell forwards, they'd still be in the bloodly boat!"

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

https://sites.google.com/site/internationalracingpigeon/

Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

© Compiled by Joe Murphy