The Joe Murphy Column

This week I had the pleasure of visiting John Wiseman of Dundee winner of 1st open SNFC Reims and Ian Scott of Forfar winner of 1st open SNFC Roye both in 2018. I also visited Joe Hunt of Dundee who has that wonderful pigeon ‘Cool Hand Luke’ that has won 7 times in the SNFC. Joe does not stay far from John so I took the time to spend some quality time with Joe as well. I’m intending to do an article on John and Ian for the BHW Year book as well as Squills. I have to say that I had a very enjoyable day out speaking to these 3 top quality fanciers and as a scribe it gave me a great ‘pleasure’ just to spend this quality time talking to these fanciers and of course handling the 2 national winners ‘Balnuith Dreims’ and ‘Sun Princess’ as well as Joe’s blue bar cock named ‘Cool Hand Luke’. This wonderful pigeon has now won his SNFC Silver Award for winning a section prize 3 times from the channel and requires one more inland diploma to gain a Meritorious Bronze Medal with the SNFC. His performances are as follows as a yearling he won 8th section C 29th open from Eastbourne; then in 2016 he won 105th section C 428th open Littlehampton he was then sent to Ypres and won 21st section C 54th open. Last year he won 49th section C 167th open from Bedhampton and again sent to Ypres and he won 21st section 57th open. This year he has the same routine and won 68th section C 357th open from Buckingham before going to Ypres where he won 2nd section C 5th open and now wins his SNFC Silver Award. He also wins The Cher Ami Trophy for the first nominated pigeon in the race. Joe is intending to race ‘Cool Hand Luke’ in 2019 and we wish him well in his quest to gain this Bronze Award, I have attached a photograph of him for the column, I have also included a picture of ‘Balnuith Dreims’. John informs me that his young brother gave her the name after he made a poem about her win from Reims. The Balnuith part is the name of the farm that John his wife Alison along with their family live. They keep rare breeds of specialist alpacas, miniature donkeys, rare Poitou donkeys and Falabella miniature horses. Lots of people bring their children or grandchildren to see all the animals and it is a good time to spend viewing all the animals it is worth giving the farm a visit. However for me it was not alpacas I had come to see it was to meet John Wiseman and to see and handle his 583 mile Scottish National Reims winner. She is a lovely quiet hen small to medium in size with a good wing and silk feathering. At the time of my visit she was mated to blue cock ‘Balnuith Buck Stone’ (see photograph) winner of 7th section C 128th open Buckingham and 10th section C 34th open Maidstone both in 2018 with the SNFC. I had a very pleasant time and it was a joy to meet John and see his set up and also to handle the national winner. After I left one of John’s young bird was posted missing and one returned with a broken leg and another was burst on the front of its chest. This all happens when just out for exercise and these accidents are caused by cables that run through the farm to the west of the lofts and they are responsible for a lot more of John’s young birds that go missing. One of the world’s oldest Classic horse races was first run in 1776 this was the St Leger and this race formed the final part for colts and fillies who competed for the ‘Triple Crown’. This was exclusively for 3 year olds and one of the most famous names to win the St Leger was the famous Nijinsky. In 1983 the race was won by the Oak’s winner of that year ‘Sun Princess’ she was ridden by Willie Carson and they also came close to winning the Arc de Triomphe. She was one of the best fillies of that time, and Ian Scott’s brother is a ‘horsey man’ and when it came to picking a name for Ian’s national winner he said; ‘Sun Princess’ because she is a widowhood hen and she beat all the other widowhood cock’s competing to win the national just like the wonderful ‘Sun Princess’ did. Ian’s winner’s breeding is mixture of the late Jim Biss with a touch of Honeysuckle Janssen crossed in. She is a lovely handling hen and has proven to be a class act as he now wins her SNFC Silver Award for 3 times a winner from the channel. She won 1st Angus federation and 1st Tayside Combine; 27th section C 89th open SNFC Roye flying 533 miles in 2016, then last year she won 5th section C 19th open Falaise flying 551 miles when only 33 pigeons made it home on the day from an entry of 802 birds. This year she won 6th section C 23rd open from Maidstone flying 402 miles and then she won 1st Angus federation; 1st Tayside Combine; 1st section C 1st region E; 1st open SNFC Roye to become a household name within the sport of pigeon racing in Scotland. I would like to thank the 3 fanciers mentioned John Joe & Ian for their time, kindness in supplying me information on their pigeons and their kindness in showing me their winning pigeons and spending time with me. While doing the research into these Good SNFC Birds performances I also noticed that this year’s SNFC Gold Cup winner ‘White Nose Bud’ raced by Willie Borthwick of Annan has previously won 24th section A 24th open from Buckingham flying 226 miles prior to his 1st section B 1st open win from Liege 2018 flying 474 miles. More about these good birds next week.

   

John Wiseman 2018 SNFC Reims winner

   

Balnuith BuckStone

   

Balnuith Dreims SNFC winner                                                                                 Cool Hand Luke

Race Results

Angus Federation

Had 886 young birds liberated at Arniston at 09-15 hours into a light south west wind. Topping the federation is Eddie Mann of Gourdon club he is also 4th & 9th Willie MacKnight of Forfar club is 2nd 3rd 5th 12th 16th 18th 19th & 20th with R Pace of Forfar in 6th & 10th with club mate J Harvey in 7th & 8th. Gourdon W Dorward is 11th 13th 14th & 15th federation. Greg and Leggate of the same club are 17th open. The east section is won by Eddie Mann who took the first 3 places with club mate W Dorward  taking the next 5 positions plus 10th with D & D Hay of Gourdon splitting the birds to win 9th section.

Club Winners are as follows; Forfar 557 birds winner W MacKnight. Arbroath sent 166 birds first Kevin J Murphy; Gourdon 94 birds winner Eddie Mann; Montrose sent 69 birds the winner was M Wallace & son

Arbroath Racing Pigeon Club

Held their first young bird race from Arniston on 4th August with 6 members sending 166 birds these were liberated at 09-15 hours into a light south west wind. Taking the 1st x 2 places plus 8th & 10th is Kevin J Murphy with his winner a red cock named ‘Mr McGinty’ this was a gift from Jimmy McGinty of Blackburn in West Lothian. The dam of the winner won 2nd section D 20th open SNFC Ypres and 3rd section D 31st open SNFC Alencon for Jimmy while the sire of ‘Mr McGinty’ was bred by double SNFC Nantes winner Jim Sanderson of Pathhead in Midlothian. Both Kevin and I would like to thank Jimmy for this gift youngster. Kevin 2nd pigeon was a cross between SNFC winners Tom & Scott McEwen of Elphinstone and fellow scribe Adrian Duggen Leo Van Rijn family. Kevin’s 3rd bird is from a Tom Williams of Orpington cock who is the same way bred as Tom’s 4th section 19th open Tarbes and his 8th section P 63rd open Tarbes winners 2018 these 3 birds are bred from ‘Seagull’ winner of 3rd open Tarbes for Tom. The dam of Kevin’s 3rd bird was a direct daughter of Rob Glover of Earl Shilton being a daughter of his ‘Murphy Hen’ who won for the 3rd time in the MNFC Bordeaux race year so therefore wins a special award. Kevin’s last pigeon was a Deweerdt crossed Daniel Aerens hen with the latter the dam of our 91st open Ypres this year. Third club is Charlie & Glen Cameron

Almond Valley Federation

News from Lynne Stewart with the result of the Stobs Camp race flown on Saturday 4th August with the convoy of 1351 birds liberated at 10-30 hours. Dougie Bald of Balerno had a good race winning 1st 2nd 7th to 11th plus 18th open with J Burnside of East Calder in 3rd 21st & 22nd open. G J Fairley of Balerno is 4th with Freddie Jamieson & son of East Calder in 5th & 6th open. Jimmy Young of the same club wins 12th to 14th plus 16th open with J Barrons of Armadale in 15th & 17th open. Vic Couper of Forth & Clyde club is 19th with S Fleming of Armadale making up the top 20 places.

Club Winners are as follows;

Armadale 414 birds; 1st & 2nd J Barrons 3rd S Fleming 4th J Burnside

Balerno 145 birds; 1st 2nd & 4th D Bald 3rd G J Fairley

Carnwath 104 birds; 1st & 2nd Thomson Bros 3rd & 4th B Campbell

East Calder 187 birds; 1st J Burnside 2nd & 3rd F Jamieson & Son 4th J M Young

Forth & Clyde 303 birds; 1st & 2nd V Couper 3rd & 4th R & L MacDuff

West Calder 198 birds; 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th J Bird

THIS WEEK THURSDAY NIGHT 9th AUGUST RACE BASKETING FOR FRIDAY10th AUGUST RACE

What a great idea as the forecast is terrible for this weekend so well done these forward thinking officials, I personally take my hat off to you Joe Murphy.

Central Federation

News from Bernie Britton with the Broxburn & Uphall Pigeon Club result 1st place goes to J Ferguson (Hamish) with a dark pied cock bred by P W Collins his sire was bred by Page Brothers from Pickering while the dam is from Chainbridge lofts of David Reed. 2nd is Hamish again with a dark pied hen her sire is a nest mate to Lloyd Togneri Reims 2015 Gold Medal winner with the SNRPC. The dam is a Van Loon from his good friends G W & S Macaloney. Hamish 3rd bird is a blue hen from P W Collins her sire is bred by his good friend’s Page Brothers of Pickering while the dam Vandenabeele bred by Chainbridge Lofts. Hamish won 3rd 5th 6th & 7th federation while other club members on the federation result are Gordon Mackenzie in 12th place with John McNeill in 15th spot and Pat Rafferty & son in 18th federation place. Thanks once again for including us in your column Joe it is good to be back and can I thank all the many fanciers who kept asking when my reports were going to start up again; yours Bernie’.

East of Scotland Federation

News from John Baillie who writes ‘Hi Joe, start of the crazy season, I just wish we did not need to race the youngsters to give them experience for the years ahead. Our 1st race was cancelled last week due the bad weather forecast on the Saturday and Sunday. It was decided that we fly 2 x Ridsdale races then Tow Law and then follow the initial programme that was set out at the general meeting. For our 1st Ridsdale the youngsters were liberated at 09-30 into a light west wind. Taking top spot this week was Jim McNeil of Tranent who informs me that the winner was bred by Andrew Agnew from Kelso. The sire is ‘Monty’ winner of 1st SNFC Bedhampton national in 2017 and the dam is ‘Border Bell’ winner of a SNFC Silver Award for 3 times a section prize winner from the channel. Jim also took 4th, 5th & 6th fed positions. John Bird of Prestonpans takes 2nd, 3rd, 8th & 9th open with Fowler & McIntyre of Ormiston in 7th place, and Graham Wardhaugh of Dirleton fills the 10th open position.

Prestonpans HC. The result this week sees John Bird take the first 3 positions. The winners sire was bred from a Woodside Loft Vandenabeele crossed Busschaert and the dam is a daughter of ‘Peg’ John's good hen that won 2nd open Ypres with the SNFC in 16. The 2nd position winner sire is a full brother to the sire of the winner when he was paired to Woodside Loft Vandenabeele. In 3rd position the dam is a hen purchased at Pentland Breeder Buyer sale in 17 and is from Jas Pryde when paired to another Woodside Loft Vandenabeele crossed distance blood. Joe while reading the BHW concerning the articles on the BICC and the International races, the performances that are put up are fantastic. Saying that:; We also have had some great performances from birds flying into Scotland this year; which you highlight in your Good SNFC Birds feature. For this to be happen the birds must be travelling well and are being looked after for them to compete in 2 - 4 nationals in a season. Well that’s it for another week wishing you all the best yours John B’.

Fife Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies

News from Geordie Todd with the first young bird race from Berwick where 2041 birds were liberated at 09-45am into a light west wind. The federation top 10 is as follows; 1st & 2nd with 2 birds together is Jocky Scott of Kennoway with near neighbour Honeyman & Son in 3rd place. Stewart Donaldson of Perth club is 4th with Willie Hay of Methilhaven club in 5th spot. McCord & Turpie of Perth are 6th & 8th with Turpie & McCord of Glenrothes & Leslie in 7th place. Tam Cook of Kennoway takes the last 2 open places.  The East Section is won by Kennoway’s Jocky Scott with Honeyman & son in 3rd place they are followed by Willie Hay of Methilhaven club. Tam Cook of Kennoway takes the 5th & 6th positions with Mook Honeyman taking the next 2 places the number 9th spot is won by Brian Chalmers of the same club with his club mate Jim Honeyman in 10th spot. The West Section is won by Stewart Donaldson of Perth club with McCord & Turpie of Perth club taking the 2nd to 7th positions. Jock Brockie of Lochgelly club is 8th with club mate M Henderson just behind him with the last place of 10th section going to J Hynd & son of Crossgates club.  The Centre section has 9 of the 10 places won by Glenrothes & Leslie club members. Turpie & McCord are 1st with Brian Kinnear in 2nd 3rd 4th 7th 8th & 9th with Sean Diamond of Kennoway in 5th spot. Jock Dinsdale is 6th & 10th thus filling up the fed result.

Pentland Hills Federation and New Lothian RPC

News from Andy Miller who writes ‘Hi Joe the Federation held their young bird race from Ridsdale on Saturday 4th August with 13 clubs sending 3509 birds, these were liberated at  09-30 into a west wind. Our winner of 1st federation & New Lothian is Freddie Robertson, the details of his winner he sent below. This is the 3rd time this season he has won the fed & New Lothian. His winner is an Albert Derwa of Herent in Belgium; being a grandson from Iron Man and Paulo Gal on the sire side and Zoon Brother and Zooneska on the dam side. These are stock birds bought from Premier Stud last year when he was moving location; the winner was bred in January and has been flown on widowhood.  2nd 4th & 10th federation is K Dick of Edinburgh Premier with E Willis of Castlebrae in 3rd place. McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae are in 5th open with Brown & Black of Woodburn taking the next 2 places Stewart Gilchrist of Edinburgh is 8th with J McIvor of Danderhall in 9th spot.

Club Winners;

Danderhall sent 1023 birds; 1st F Robertson; 2nd McIvor, 3rd Brown

Edinburgh Premier sent 256 birds; 1st & 2nd Dick; 3rd Gilchrist

Castlebrae sent 171 birds; 1st Willis 2nd McCormack & Fraser 3rd L Mitchell

Woodburn sent 256 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Brown & Black

Edinburgh West sent 166 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd C Bennett

Sighthill sent 205 birds; 1st Keenan; 2nd Girdwood; 3rd Bremner

Arniston sent 417 birds; 1st Milne, 2nd J Pryde 3rd Moyes

Easthouses sent 195 birds; 1st G Thomas; 2nd D Findlay 3rd Bertram

Bonnyrigg sent 294 birds 1st Neill 2nd Watson 3rd J Dewar

Loanhead sent 94 birds; 1st 2nd & 3rd Murray

Rosewell sent 62 birds; 1st & 2nd Mackie 3rd W Tytler

Traprain sent 287 birds, 1st 2nd & 3rd Thomson

New Lothian sent 83 birds.

 

NEW LOTHIAN RPC

Held their young bird race from Ridsdale with 52 members sending 2407 birds this was flown on Saturday 4th August with the convoy liberated at 09-30 hours into a west wind. Taking first place and a lift of £160 is F Robertson of Danderhall with K Dirk of Edinburgh Premier in 2nd 4th 10th 11th & 12th E Willis of Castlebrae is 3rd with McCormack & Fraser of Castlebrae in 5th place. Brown & Black of Woodburn are 6th & 7th followed by S Gilchrist of Edinburgh Premier with J McIvor of Danderhall in 9th position.

 

North of Scotland Federation

News from George Duthie informing us that 51 members sent 1390 birds to Brechin 2 race with the East Section having 27 members sending 835 birds. G Findlay of Peterhead & District taking the first 3 places in the section and open.  Colin McRae of Fraserburgh & District takes the nest 3 places with a W Buchan of the same club taking the next 3 places. Stuart Maskame of Peterhead & District is 10th & 11th & 21st with Walter Masson of Fraserburgh & District in 12th & 13th place. George informed me that a pine martin entered into Walter’s stock loft and killed 18 stock birds and 6 youngsters, needless to say Walter is shattered and our hearts go out to him at this time. C & M Williams of Peterhead club is 14th 22nd & 23rd with Jim & Ann Donaldson of the same club in 15th & 20th with Gordon Willox in 16th 18th & 19th open.

The West Section had 24 members sending 555 birds; the Fulton & Ritchie partnership from Devern Valley are 1st 3rd & 8th section 33rd 35th & 40th open.

G Wilson of the same club is 2nd 4th & 6th section 34th 36th & 38th open. A Mair (John) of the same club is 5th & 7th west section 37th & 39th open with G Wilson again of Devern Valley in 6th section 38th open. J Abel of the same club is 9th section 41st open with his club mate D Smith in 10th section 42nd open.

Club First Birds as follows;

Peterhead & District winner G Findlay; Fraserburgh & District winner C McRae;

Fraserburgh West End winner A Higgins; Inverurie winner J S Robertson;

Devern Valley winner Fulton & Ritchie; Keith winner R Wilson; Buckie & District winner R Bain; Elgin & District winner G Geddes;

Well done to G Findlay on winning the federation and to Fulton & Ritchie on winning the west section. That’s it for this week Joe yours George.’

 

Joe’s Joke

An Arab Sheik was admitted to Bumrungard Hospital for heart surgery, but prior to the surgery, the doctors needed to store his blood in case the need arose. As the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it couldn’t be found locally so the call went out to all the states. Finally a Scotsman was located who had a similar blood type. He willingly gave his blood for the Arab. After the surgery the Arab sent the Scotsman as appreciation for giving his blood, a new BMW, a diamond watch, and 1000 US dollars. Sometime later, once again, the Arab had to go through corrective surgery. His doctor telephoned the Scotsman who was more than happy to donate his blood again. After the second surgery, the Arab sent the Scotsman a thank you card, and a jar of candles. The Scotsman was shocked that the Arab this time did not reciprocate his kind gesture as he had anticipated. He telephoned the Arab and asked him, ‘I thought you would be generous again, that you would give me another BMW, diamonds and money ?. But you only gave me a thank you card and a jar of Candles’. To this the Arab replied, ‘Aye, but now I have Scottish blood in my veins’.

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 log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk and www.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! Who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

© Compiled by Joe Murphy