NEWS FROM SCOTLAND

The Joe Murphy Column

At the weekend I noticed my birds droppings were a little loose and as I had not changed the feeding or done anything out of the ordinary wondered what was wrong with the birds. So with this concern I decided to send off my droppings from both the cocks and hen sections to be checked out (I only have a small 12 foot loft) plus 3 swab samples. These were sent to David Coward Talbott at UK Belgica Ltd in Colchester and David phoned me the next day to say that my bird’s droppings showed NO Sign of Roundworms, Hairworms, Coccidiosis or Yeast. However the throat swabs did show a very slight canker and medium yeast but nothing to worry about. David asked if I had been treating my pigeons previously and the answer to that was ‘No’. I only give my bird’s garlic, cider vinegar, pigeon tea and at times ‘Strike’ the remainder of the time they are on fresh water. David asked why I had taken the samples and did I think there was something wrong and I explained to him about the change in the droppings. He asked me at what stage the birds were at in the moult and I remarked on their last 2 flights and he said that this was the reason for the change in the droppings. Once they are over this the full moult will return to normal. David does not know the reason why this happens to the birds but did say he found the renewal of the last 2 flights puts a burden on the birds. I thanked David for all his help and have given my birds a canker and yeast treatment for the past 2 days and they look none the worse for this treatment. We have had horrendous weather up here in Scotland these past few days with strong wind and heavy rain and you feel that the dampness never lifts. So I have reintroduced Respiro San Dry power into the loft on a daily basis. This absorbent drying power is also a disinfectant and kills any bugs that may exist within the floor of the loft. So therefore I’m a bit more settled knowing that the birds are internally in good condition and I can now start putting my pairs down on paper for the new season. However I have too many cocks and some of these will have to be moved on I’m afraid.

BHW 2015 Stud Book

I received my copy of the above book on Friday and although I have not had time to read and digest the whole book I did have a quick glance through it. My two stories on Alfie Lawrence the top Ayrshire fancier in 2015 and George & Brian Hunter of Dunfermline whose great hen ‘Kingdom Spirit’ won a Double Gold Award in 2015 this now takes her wins to 10 times a winner from France into Scotland which is a truly magnificent achievement and makes her a ‘Pigeon in a Million’. There are 2 other featured contributions from Scotland; however I was very saddened to see none of the 2015 Scottish National Flying Club winners are highlighted. This has always been one of the climaxes of winning the national to be given the honour of telling other fanciers how you won the national. The majority of fanciers who purchase weekly pigeon papers normally dispose of them either by giving them to mates or just putting them out. Whereas the annual year books are ALWAYS kept and to me are a large part of our pigeon racing history and long may they continue? If like me you wish to check up on someone years later on you just look out the year book they won the national and nine times out of ten the information you require is there. These are especially great for scribes who write about pigeons and their owners and the older you get the memory is not as good as it was. I would hate to have won the national this year and not receive the recognition for such a wonderful achievement in the principal pigeon books of the year and I cannot imagine how the present day winners feel.

Midlothian Federation Show

I received an email from Carrie Winter with an update of the federation show held on Saturday 7th November. There were a total of 463 birds exhibited on the day of the show so our supreme champion qualifies for the Supreme Champion Class at Blackpool Show of the year. This top award was won by Mrs Audrey Ferguson with a lovely chequer hen and the reserve champion was won by Eric & Nicholas Yule and best young bird was won by C & C Winter.

The Class Winners were as follows: Class 1- C & C Winter: Class 2 C & C Winter: Class 3 E & N Yule: Class 4 E & N Yule: Class 5- J Robertson:

Class 6- J Hughes: Class 7- Mackie & Knox: Class 8- Todhunter & Ismay:

Class 9 C & C Winter: Class 10 J & A Bell: Class 11 J & A Bell:

Class 12- C & C Winter: Class 13- J Robertson: Class 14- D White:

Class 15- J & A Bell: Class 16- Mrs A Ferguson: Class 17- N Yule

Class 18 - J & A Bell

Midlothian Show Winners 2015

Midlothian federation committee would like to thank everyone who attended the show and who helped make this enjoyable day a success. We would also like to thank all the judges involved especially John Forbes for judging our all winners class, Ronnie Creily for helping us with the show pens, Jim Hannah for taking photographs on the day of the show and to all the local businesses for sponsoring the show. I have included a picture of our Supreme Champion and reserve champion and also a photograph of one of our federations young fanciers "George Tytler" enjoying the show, all the best yours in sport Carrie Winter.

George Tytler

SNFC Good Birds

This week I highlight 3 pigeons who won their SNFC Silver Award at the national presentation. First up is Walter Boswell of Hamilton with his chequer cock ‘Jamie Boy’ SU11L 2618 SNFC Silver Award 2015

He won 18th section E 83rd open from Alencon a distance of 538 miles in 2014 he was then doubled back into the Clermont race a distance of 521 miles and won 1st section E 5th open. This year Walter set him up for the Gold Cup race from Alencon and he repaid him by winning 9th section E 48th open, well done Walter. Our next fancier is a man who is making a name for himself in the extreme distance races within the Scottish national none other than David Jamieson of East Calder with his blue chequer hen SU11CA 858 winning a SNFC Silver Award 2015. This hen has an exceptional record in the national’s longest distance race from Ancenis a distance of 598 miles to David’s loft. In 2013 she won 2nd section D 3rd open (he won 1st 2nd & 3rd section 2nd 3rd & 10th open SNFC great flying) In 2014 the chequer hen won 2nd section D 4th open and this year she was again up with the winners to win 1st section D 11th open I think you will agree that she is something special and a truly great 600 miler. To be in the top 2 in her section 3 times plus wining 3 open positions in the top 11 in the longest national race is without doubt a fantastic achievement well done David.  Staying in section D we now come to John Bird of Blackburn who has a chequer hen SU10AV 190 who also wins a SNFC Silver Award 2015 this hen won from the 2013 Ypres national a distance of 439 miles to John’s loft she won 21st section D 234th open the following year she was again sent to Ypres and won 13th D 220th open and then this year she won 12th section D 143rd open from Clermont a distance of 516 miles, well done to John on winning his silver award. I will have another 3 award winners included in next week’s column.

Joe’s Joke

A fleeing Taliban, desperate for water, was plodding through the Afghan Desert when he saw something far off in the distance. Hopping to find water, he hurried toward the oasis only to find a British Soldier selling regimental ties. The Taliban asked, "Do you have water?" The soldier replied, "There is no water, the well is dry. Would you like to buy a tie instead? They are only 5 pounds."  The Taliban shouted, "You idiot infidel! I do not need an over-priced tie. I need water! I should kill you, but I must find water first!" "OK," said the soldier, "It does not matter that you do not want to buy a Tie and that you hate me. I will show you that I am bigger than that, and that I am a much better Human being than you. If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will find our Sergeant's Mess. It has all the ice cold water you need “Cursing him, the Taliban staggered away over the hill. Several hours later he staggered back, collapsed with dehydration & rasped ..... "They won't let me in without a bloody tie!"

LET ME KNOW IF THIS JOKE IS OK - Joe

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© Compiled by Joe Murphy