23-D92860 BLUE HEN Equinox × Willems Gold — a stock hen "breeding winners for fun", with Murphy's x 2

23-D92860 BLUE HEN Equinox × Willems Gold — a stock hen "breeding winners for fun", with Murphy's Law behind both parents

A 2023 stock hen bred from "Equinox" × "Willems Gold", two of the most productive birds on the Willow Lofts cards. Howard Jackson describes her as a special stock hen, breeding winners for fun — sorry to see her go, good luck to the buyer.

The Sire — 22-V51607 "Equinox" Blue Spider × Murphy's Diamond · behind 2nd Open, 300 miles Bought from Syndicate Lofts for, in the card's words, a large sum; he bred top young at Willow Lofts and was then sold on to Southampton. Through his son 23-D92847 he is behind a 2nd Open in a hard 300-mile 2-bird race. He is a son of "Blue Spider" (BELG-19-3007763), Syndicate's No. 1 breeder, and "Murphy's Diamond" (NL-19- 1788881), a daughter of "Murphy's Law" × "Dochter Hurricane".

The Dam — 22-V51476 "Willems Gold" Yuri × Maggy Murphy · Willem de Bruijne via Syndicate Lofts A top breeder who, the cards record, has bred multiple winners with different cocks. Two of her full sisters are also breeding up to national level, and a sister owned by Steve Price is breeding Federation winners. Her parents "Yuri" (NL-20-1775679) × "Maggy Murphy" (NL-20-1775681) are a pair the card says bred numerous wins. Yuri is a son of "Uranus", 2nd Dutch National, and "Olga", 1st Dutch National; Maggy Murphy is a daughter of "Murphy's Law".

Foot note from Howard himself

In 2024 I was told I had stage 4 prostrate cancer which had gone to my bones, so I sold nearly all my race bird’s including stock. My last sale was due for Dec 2024 with 20 late breds and 4 stock birds. On my visit too Hull Hospital in Nov 2024 to see my consultant Doctor Patu, he informed me that he though my treatment was working because my P.S.I. was dropping from 940, and it is now undetectable, so I decided too give it another try racing, racing only 5 race bird in 2025 old birds on rubbers. They won or were first 4 in every old bird race, ending with 2nd GYA, 1200 odd bird’s.

I was invited to join a very strong club for young birds, and they flew really well winning a few races, in many arriving in bunches.

In 2026 old bird I was 2nd Fed ECT despite me going on a cruise for 2 wks. In young bird season: first Grantham 88ml 1st 2nd 3rd 4th, 1st Ebor Fed; Grantham (2) 1st club 1st Fed; Huntingdon 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th, first 4 in Fed; and in last race of season 1st club 1st Fed, Decoy Lakes.

Winning 3rd breeder buyer in GYA £400,
In the club 1st and 2nd breeder buyer and £1,000.

So thats all bragging done, now onto birds.

Mostly ‘William De Bruije’ from syndicate loft, with a few Luc Vavort’s, all very nr the tree: Lawman, Blue Spider, Erin, Little China Girl, All the Aces, Yurri, Murphys Diamond, Red Rum, Sweet Caroline, Maggy Murphy, and many more. I still have ‘Golden Jade’ – her young this yr alone have won me £1400 in B and B. These will be my last ever sales as I am 86 now.