NEWS FROM SCOTLAND

The Joe Murphy Column

The ‘biggest’ and ‘greatest’ race into Scotland is the SNFC Gold Cup race which every member of the club wants to win. This year the race was from Burdinne in Belgium (which is near Liege) with the convoy of 1251 birds sent by 358 members liberated at 05-30 hours into a light east to south east wind with the convoy leaving the site in one batch in a north west direction. Once again this turned out to be a ‘fantastic’ race with the winner timed into the Edinburgh area under the 10-hour mark for the 505 miles recording a velocity of 1525 and the last open position of 126th open pigeon was doing a velocity of 1253. So, the race was all over in the space of under 300 yards velocity. The furthest flying pigeon in the result was to John Thompson of Spey Bay flying a distance of 590 miles and was timed at 08-45 the next morning. So, congratulations to the race control team and to the conveyers on a wonderful race. There are some obvious facts we need to look into; for example the race was flown on one of the hottest days of the year, the national officials took this into consideration and put 18 birds into each basket (which I have advocated for years) so this helped. Then we have to look at the where the race point was i.e. Belgium were, we also race from Ypres. The latter has always been a good race and it looks like the birds cross over the English Channel and head up the east coastline for home. You will see from my article that we had a better race than the NFC did from Tarbes as their birds would have to fly through the whole of France in 40+ degrees. So, do we the Scottish national continue with these Belgium race points as we are experiencing better races and good returns? Kevin has 6 out of 6 with his last bird being picked up in the Blyth area and my thanks to David Power and Mick Brennan for getting the bird up to me. The race was a bit too quick for Kevin’s birds, but we had 3 back on the day with our yearling Maidstone winner homing at 21-50 hours, so he will be put by till next year. However, 6 out of 6 are good returns from a 500-mile race. One of the items that stuck me while studding the Burdinne open national result was the distances fanciers’ birds are credited with flying to their loft from this race point. For example our near neighbours Charlie & Glen Cameron of Arbroath were flying 519 miles to win 3rd section C 22nd open while the distance from Crossgates in Fife (not far over the Forth Road Bridge) is 516 miles a distance of 3 miles overfly (it’s crazy as it is about 20 miles or more to the Tay Road Bridge never mind the 15 miles to Arbroath from Dundee) Then you look at the D Young of Falkirk is flying the same 519 mile distance as Arbroath. It would take up to an hour to fly from Falkirk to Arbroath. It is the same with the 2nd open pigeon that was flying 466 miles into Ecclefechan and yet looking at the result the 10th open pigeon flying into Ayton has only 4 miles overfly. Believe me it is a lot longer distance wise from the Solway area to Ayton on the east coast. A Nelson of Hamilton is flying 521 miles while G Briggs of Dundee is flying 526 miles. I don’t honestly think this is a fair race point in the DISTACE respect, but this is only my observations after looking at the result and I would like to hear other fancier’s feedback on this race point and from racing from Belgium? Don’t get me wrong it was a great race on the day and well done to all the fanciers who made the national result. The outright winner of the race is the Pentlandhill federation and New Lothian press officer who forward me his weekly results for YEARS. None other than Andy Miller of Sighthill won the Gold Cup with a 3 year old blue hen who recorded a velocity of 1525ypm for the 505 miles home, she has had an exceptional season as she previously won 137th open from the inland national from Buckingham; 2 weeks later she then won 18th open from Maidstone flying a distance of 363 miles recording a velocity of 1681 and now wins 1st section B 1st east section 1st open Burdinne flown on Friday 28th June. Last year she won 130th open Maidstone Andy has kindly attached a photograph of the Gold Cup winner to me. His 2nd section B 2nd east region 3rd open winner doing a velocity of 1506 velocity is an Irish rung blue hen who won 323rd open from the Buckingham race prior to this Gold Cup race. Andy’s 3rd pigeon winning 4th section B 12th open is a 2-year-old chequer white flight hen doing a 1432 velocity and his 4th pigeon winning 14th section B 32nd open is a 2-year-old blue chequer hen doing 1374 velocity. Andy has also given me a photograph of his blue pied hen who won 12th open from Maidstone this year she is his main candidate for the Ypres national and is now sitting eggs, but she has been on widowhood for the early part of the season and went to Maidstone in this condition. Once again, I send my congratulations to Andy Miller on his ‘Dream come true’ and for the help and assistance he has given me over the years keeping my column going and lastly for the pigeons of his winning Gold Cup team. Believe me it could not have gone to a harder working deserving fancier. The first yearling timed in the race with a velocity of 1447 winning 3rd section B 10th open is to the loft of Billy Bilsland of Ayton who needs no introduction to the pigeon fancy. 1st section A 1st south region 2nd open doing a velocity of 1515 is J Gilmour of Ecclefechan who won the Gold Cup from Alencon in 2017 so near to pulling off the double congratulations on a fantastic achievement. 1st & 2nd section C 9th & 13th east region 14th & 18th open is Jocky Scott of Kennoway who timed in a chequer cock and chequer hen. The section winner won 3rd section C 97th open from Buckingham in 2018 while the chequer hen won 14th section C 24th open Ypres last year. 1st section E 1st west region 4th open is W Smart of Allanton with his blue bar cock doing a velocity of 1484ypm this cock won 81st section E from Buckingham in 2017 and again from the same race point in 2018 won 70th section E also proving to be an excellent pigeon so well done to Mr Smart. 1st section D 3rd east region 5th open on a velocity of 1464 is David Jamieson of East Calder with a blue bar cock who has now on 4 times in the SNFC he previously won 176th open Ypres in 2017 and last year he won 7th section D 152nd open from Buckingham before winning 1st section D 11th open from Liege proving once again what a good quality pigeon he is. 1st section F 52nd open on a velocity of 1335ypm is T Smith of West Kilbride with his blue chequer hen who won 3rd section F from Maidstone last year. 1st section G 1st north section 115th open with the only north section bird on the open result are Dave & Callum McDougal of Peterhead with their chequer hen flying 555 miles and recording a velocity of 1260. Once again congratulations to the above winners and to everyone who made the national result.   

Joe Murphy with Andy Miller

SNFC Gold Cup winner

3rd Open Gold Cup winner for Andy Miller

12th Open Maidstone for Andy miller

           Jock Scott of Kennoway 1st & 2nd Section  

Guy Reed Update

Received an email from my dear friend Guy who wrote ‘Hi Joe, thanks for your recent call checking up on my health again this week, and I have to say this recent heart attack has slowed me down considerably, but I’m relatively sure that it will all repair in due course. I would like to express my gratitude to all the well-wishers who know me and have contact me, I’m overwhelmed and humbled by all the love and kindness shown to me. My thanks and love goes out to you all. I had a good chat with our friend Bernard DeWeerdt this week, and he informed me that the season so far out there, has been experiencing difficult racing similar to our own. With the ongoing changing weather conditions and of course the ongoing predation which he felt was on the increase! On the bright side the birds were responding well now and his returns from the Pau International were good, getting 11 out of 13 sent, Filip once again getting the 1st arrival and scoring 17th national Pau. As you know there are many fanciers that do not put their arrivals on PIPA, but you can go on to https://www.kbdb-online.be  this link is in Dutch but from the front page you can see the word archief (archive) which will send you to the results available. Guy continues ‘What a Joy it is to be able to write about a friend and fellow competitor, who has had a great track record in distance racing. This dedicated Isle of Wight fancier, has this year 2019 in the Tarbes Grand National, achieved an all-time personal best, and done it with classic style. Graham Rann & Daughters timed 3 of their 8 entries on the winning day. Grahams old school approach to the distance has paid off, when he looked up to discover his 1st arrival had landed, after 15 hours 21 minutes 14 seconds of flying time to take (provisionally) 1st section B 2nd Open NFC.  This dark hen had been lightly raced north as a young bird, and again as a yearling.  As a 2-year-old she was tried at Sigogne a distance of 342 miles with the NFC. Finally, in 2019 to prepare for Tarbes, she had Carentan with the Solent federation, Fougeres and Cholet with the NFC. Her sire is a stock bird from Brockamp ‘George’ x Daughter of ‘Armstrong’. Her dam is from Grahams ‘Faithful’ a dark Shuman x DeWeerdt cock who scored 7th International Agen when paired to T J Hazel's ‘Jackie’s Pride’ winner of 6th open NFC Tarbes and a daughter of TJ Hazel's ‘Olivia Rose’ winner of 1st open NFC Tarbes. ‘Faithful’ and the 2 TJ Hazel hens feature in all three of Grahams arrivals from this Tarbes race. Graham’s 2nd arrival taking 4th section B 32nd open is a dark white flight hen, her sire is a son of ‘Faithful’ when paired to ‘Jackie's Pride’ winner of 6th NFC Tarbes, and the dam is an Andy Gregson bred DeWeerdt. The 3rd arrival is a dark cock who achieved 7th section B 43rd open: his sire is Graham’s multiple prize winners and good breeder, ‘Faithful’ who was 7th International Agen when paired to ‘Olivia Rose’ 1st National Tarbes. These 2nd & 3rd arrivals also had only been raced north as young birds and as yearlings. This year Graham gave them their first races across the channel, each were sent to Carentan, Fougeres and Cholet. 

Only having my loft a few hundred yards from Graham, I excitedly went over to congratulate Graham, and look at the arrivals. They were in superb condition, and typical of the type that Graham has bred to achieve this much deserved and creditable performance. Graham’s achievements should be uplifting to any distance enthusiasts, who aspire to achieve results from over 500 miles, as he only has a small loft set up, with no fancy methods, just very good birds that are of a medium to small size and mostly dark chequers. The birds are fed 3 well known Versele Laga mixes blended together, without adding fats mixes. Joe it would please me no end to attempt a more in-depth article on Graham Rann for you as he has had many good positions from National, Classic and International events. (No problem Guy just send it up when you have time JM) Guy continues ‘Once again this race has been fraught with difficult weather conditions, and with a holdover, the race was inevitably going to be very tough indeed’. (Yet on looking at the result Guy some people have had good races and just like up here it is the same old name that appear year after year, good pigeons and good fanciers Joe Murphy)

Graham Rann with his 2nd Open NFC Tarbes

Thank You

Received another email from Pat O’Sullivan whom I highlighted in my report on the Macaulay Ferguson & Curran partnership who won 2nd open SNFC Maidstone Pat wrote ‘Hi Joe, I hope this email finds you and Margaret in good health. I’ve just received my BHW and saw your article. The lads did really well to win 2nd open and after being unwell recently it gave me a tonic to read that my birds are doing well with other fanciers. The photo in the article (taken in Blackpool) is also in my scrapbook! Keep up the good work Joe kindest regards Pat O’Sullivan. I also passed on Pat’s good wishes to Gavin Ferguson who could not thank me enough and Jimmy Curran had spoken to Pat. Gavin also thanked me for the write up on his 2nd open SNFC Maidstone winner.

Bereavement Sale

A reminder that all the birds of the late Joe Hunt of Dundee will go under the hammer this Sunday 14th July with all the proceeds going to his widow and family.

Race Results

Almond Valleys Federation

News from Lynne Stewart who wrote ‘Hi Joe from our race from Billericay on 22nd of June the convoy of 188 birds were liberated at 06-15 hrs 1st 8th 9th 14th & 19th is Colin Ross of Balerno with J Fairley of the same club in 2nd place with another club member Dougie Bald in 3rd 13th & 16th open. Jimmy McGinty of West Calder is 4th open with Freddie Jamieson & son of East Calder in 5th 11th & 17th open. Brother John Jamieson is 6th & 20th with John Bird of West Calder in 7th open. Mr & Mrs Fleming of East Calder are 10th & 12th with G Young of West Calder club in 15th open and Robert Anderson of East Calder makes up the top 20 by winning 18th open.   Summary list of money winners; John Bird of West Calder wins £68.80. Freddie Jamieson & Son of East Calder wins £58.00: Jimmy McGinty of West Calder wins £27.70; Colin Ross of Balerno wins £25.00; J Fairley of Balerno wins £15.00; Douglas Bald of Balerno wins £10.00; G Young of West Calder wins £10.00 Mr & Mrs Fleming of East Calder wins £7.60; A Robb of West Calder wins £3.90 and John Jamieson of East Calder wins £1.50.

Bo’ness RPC

News from Bernie Britton who writes ‘Hi Joe, hope your all well in Bonny Fife; Can I give you the 3bird club result for our club members from the Billericay race flown on 22nd June. 1st club 1st open is John McNeill with a mealy cock flying roundabout he is a Lambert. His sire was bred by John’s good mate Terry Rigney. The dam was bred by his good mate Gary Gibson from Northern Ireland this bird has previously won,1st club 19th federation Leicester; 11th section 18th open SCC yearling derby. 1st club 6th federation Ripon then 8th federation open Maidstone SNFC winning 8th section D 43rd open; Other members on the national result are as follows; Pat Rafferty & sons 8th; J Ferguson 6th 11th & 20th. John McNeill was also 12th, 13th as you can see Joe not a bad pigeon. Thanks once again Joe for all your help. The club members are grateful for your help and the publicity they receive in the pigeon press. PS can you also say well done to Andy & Liz Miller on a great performance from the Gold Cup race yours Bernie’.

Traprain

The members keep on marching on with some fantastic results in the national races this season. The week after the Scottish National Flying Club Maidstone race, some members sent their birds with the SNRPC to Billericay. Sinclair Thomson & Son ended up winning 4th open with their good cock who had previously won SNFC Maidstone 2018. Sinclair was also 9th open with Newcombe & Black winning 7th open. The club had another 23 positions in the top 10% of the result. Next we had Newcombe & Black sending 1 bird to finish 3rd open from Reims Gold Medal Race with the SNRPC. Now onto the Gold Cup race with the SNFC from Burdinne in Belgium. The best position in the club was for John Bosworth, who was 15th Open, followed by Willie McCormack and Son in 16th open, with John B again in 17th open position. The club had 19 open positions from the available 126 open positions for the whole of Scotland. Winning 21st section B and 51st open is that great pigeon of the Sinclair's, ‘Mr Consistent’ he will now win his Gold Award, to go along with his Silver and Bronze Awards. Another bird worth a mention is Jimmy Marks hen called ‘Princess Cara’, who now wins her silver award she is a winner of 8th section B 19th open Burdinne, 4th section 16th open Liege 2018 and she won 8th section B 14th open Ypres in 2017. I must congratulate big Freddie Robertson with his 1st open Billericay with the SNRPC and Andy Miller with his fantastic performances from Burdinne. All these fantastic performances have all come from the majority of national races using the wicker baskets with plenty of shavings to let the birds relax. I have to say Joe the birds that arrived home from Burdinne race were in great condition. (There were only 18 birds in a basket makes a lot of difference Joe M).

North of Scotland Federation

News from George Duthie who writes ‘Hi Joe we were at Sedgefield 2 old birds on the 29th June with 56 members sending convoy of 497 birds these were liberated into a light east wind. With the east section having 30 members sending 214 birds and the West section had 26 members sending 283 birds. Topping the federation and west section is Keith member R Wilson with a yearling doing a velocity of 1434. J S Robertson of Inverurie wins 1st 7th & 8th east section 2nd 14th & 16th open His club mates Eric & Nicky Yule are 2nd east section 3rd open. Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District is 3rd & 4th east section 4th & 10th open. A Mair (John) of Devern Valley is 2nd west section 5th open, G R Duncan of Keith club is 3rd west section 6th open with J Thomson of Elgin & District winning 4th 5th & 7th west section 7th 8th & 13th open.  A J Reid of Keith club is 6th 8th & 9th west section 9th 15th & 30th open. S Glew of Peterhead & District club is 5th & 12th east section 11th & 20th open club mates Jim & Ann Donaldson are 6th east section 12th open with another Peterhead partnership in 9th east section 17th open Walter Masson of Fraserburgh & District is 10th east section 18th open with A Foster of Inverurie winning 11th east section 19th open A Milne of Devern Valley is 10th west section 34th open.

Clubs First Bird

Keith winner R Wilson; Inverurie J S Robertson; Fraserburgh & District C McRae Devern Valley A Mair (John); Elgin & District winner J Thomson; Peterhead & District S Glew; Fraserburgh West End won by R Higgins; Buckie & District winner R Bain. Well done to R Wilson on topping the fed also well-done to J Robertson on winning the east section, cheers Joe yours George Duthie.

Northern Classic

Allan Curran the secretary of the above classic forwarded me news of their Poitiers race from France flown on the 29th June with 35 members sending 231 pigeons; these were liberated at 06-00 into a light east wind. We had phenomenal flying by our member Steve Allen from Ashfield in Derbyshire. His 1st open winner a widowhood hen was bred from a Jeff Kirkland crossed Geoff and Catherin Cooper birds. This pigeon has won 10 prizes from over the water and was flying 469 miles. Steve’s 2nd bird is bred from the same people mentioned above and is a cock flown on widowhood once again he has had several positions from over water. Steve won £816-20p in prize and pool money. 3rd position is S Gill from Castleford West Yorkshire; this pigeon is bred off birds from Tom Gilbertson from Cumbria and was flown on the roundabout. This pigeon has scored a few times over 500 miles and from Poitiers he was flying 510 miles to his loft picking up prize money and pool of £201-20 pence. 4th place went to T Dale of Castleford and his pigeon is bred from Mike Parkin from Goole and was flown on the roundabout system, his nest mate from the same race last year won 2nd federation and picked up a prize of £80. In 5th place is S Allen his bird is bred from Geoff and Cath Coopers and is a widowhood cock, another bird which has excelled a number of times from over the English Channel. The 6th place is won by H Jackson of Selby, who flies on the natural system and has had much success flying this system. We paid out £100 in prize money with the total pay-out with pool money was £1696.12p. The conditions that these pigeons had to fly in extreme temperatures and an easterly wind, made for a trying race, so well done to all the brave birds who did well, thanks once again for adding us into your column Joe yours sincerely Allan.’  For Scottish fanciers reading the above result it is interesting to note that the Northern Classic, 8 eight clocking stations, They are as follows, Kinsley, then Goldthorpe, Leeds, Selby, Snaith, Worksop in Nottinghamshire and Paisley in Derbyshire. The south boundary goes from Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Chesterfield, and Worksop and onto Sutton in Ashfield in Derbyshire. The North boundary runs from, south Kirkby, Pontefract, Wakefield, Leeds, Selby, Goole, Snaith, York and Ripon. My thanks to Allan and Diane for the news and good luck to all the members of the Classic:

Joe’s Joke

In the morning Tom calls to his boss: - Good morning, boss, unfortunately I'm not coming to work today. I'm really sick. I got a headache, stomach-ache, and my both hands and legs hurt, so I'm not coming into work."
The boss replies: - You know Tom, I really need you today. When I feel like this I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That makes me feel better, and I can go to work. You should try that.
2 hours later Bob calls: - Boss, I followed your advice, and I feel great! I'll be at work soon. By the way, you’ve got a nice house’.

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

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