THE RACING PIGEON 27 OCTOBER 2023
29
The Joe Murphy Column
holdover the convoy of 66 birds were liber- ated into a west to south west wind with the Midland National. Jock timed ‘Mumpy’ to win 2nd Region C 2nd East Section 4th Open flying 617 miles at 17-00 hours recording a velocity of 617. In 2015 he was entered into the Troyes race with 83 birds liberated at 5.15am. Only one pigeon made it home into Scotland on the day and that was Ken Buchanan of Hamilton with his winner ‘Helen
Margaret and I were over the moon when we received a phone call from our grandson Keiran (Kevin’s son) to inform us that mum Kaitlan had gifted us with a new great grandson, named
‘Mumpy’.
& 7th Open with his first bird timed in at 1.17pm and 25 minutes later he timed in ‘Mumpy’ to win 6th Region C 7th East Section 7th Open for the 562 mile race point recording a velocity of 625. So, this will give you an idea of the quality of pigeons Jock raced. Unfortunately, Jock’s wife Elizabeth died in 2017 after being in a nursing home for the previous eight years and he visited her every day, gave her dinner and spend time with her. Obviously, he has taken this hard and I know like myself many fanciers will wish him well for the future. It was indeed a great pleasure to speak to Jock about his wonderful pigeons and to obtain some extra information on ‘Kelly’ for my book on the Dewar Trophy winners, I thank Jock once again. P lease 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 joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE .
Jock McKenzie.
informed me that he still does this to the present day. He always takes his late bred’s no matter where he is going, for a training toss regardless of the weather. He is a great believer that this is the making of them and it stands them in good stead for later in life. Jock is a member of both Scottish Nationals and in 2017 he sent seven to the Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club young bird race and he had seven home. He also entered three birds into the SNFC young bird race and also had three out of three in the clock. Which is quite staggering when you see the amount of young bird losses we hear about nowadays. Maybe fanciers should take some notice of the above and try this system out. Here is another ‘food for thought’ that readers of my column might reflect upon. He only trains his youngsters once from Crail which is a distance of three miles to his home. He would then let them out every day at 15-00 hours for their daily exercise and they returned at 18-00 hours always in a batch. They were never split up and always returned together he also informed me that, ‘When they landed Joe, you knew they had been flying all that time, where they had been too I do not know but it was obvious they had seen a lot of the country and they were also super fit. So, I just left them alone and out of the 33 young birds bred I still have nine birds left as two year olds.’ He also informed me that he was the first person to have a bird home from Barcelona into Scotland away back in 1957, this was a pure white hen with a blue tail. He was invited down to the British Barcelona Club presentation but could not attend due to work commitments. After the split within the SNFC he joined the SNRPC and he won a Gold Award with a pigeon bred down from Jimmy Hamilton’s ‘Iron Lady’ winner from five times from Rennes when paired to a bird from ‘Traill’s Spark’ of Jock Traill. Jock McKenzie also spoke about his good pigeon ‘Mumpy’ whom I have to say that I knew nothing about. He sent me a photograph of this dark chequer cock, who in 2014 he was sent to Ancenis with the SNRPC. After a two day
6th Open Troyes hen.
Grayson Kevin Joseph Murphy. Who was born on 27th September at 6.26am and weighing in at 8lbs 4oz. We trav- elled up to Ladybank to see him at the weekend and he is a ‘wee smasher’. Kevin’s other son Matthew was there to see the ‘wee lad’ and it was a very happy gathering. I have attached a photograph of yours truly holding our latest addition to the family. Jock MacKenzie I spoke to Jock Mackenzie of Anstruther to obtain information on his wonderful pigeon named ‘Kelly’. This 82 year old admits to me that ‘Kelly’ was the best pigeon he every owned and believe me he has owned some outstanding pigeons during his time within the sport. I have a few memories of Jock over the years and remember visiting him in Pittenweem to verify his winner of 1st Fife Federation 1st Region C 15th Open SNFC Redditch Young Bird National race. This youngster was racing to Jock’s ‘coal shed’ which was a brick building at the bottom of his back garden. The door was always left open for the coalman to put in a couple of bags of coal for the family’s weekly supply. Lo and behold a pair of youngsters took advantage of this quiet dark building and built a nest on the top shelf in it. Jock just left them alone and this was his time in from the Young Bird National. I asked Jock if he remembered this and he said he did, and laughingly said to me, ‘They were on the Darkness system then Joe, this system didn’t even exist at that time’. I also remember away back then that the Fife Federation held an open show in Glenrothes in November. I used to have a stand at the show and sold the Stud Books at this time. I also remember noticing Jock Mackenzie liberating birds in the car park, and when I spoke to him about this, he Joe Murphy with his newest great grandson Grayson
of Troyes’ flying 620 miles and recorded a velocity of 1083 (this was an excellent performance). Jock timed in ‘Mumpy’ at 17.19 the following day to win 1st Region C 2nd East Section 3rd Open flying 620 miles. Then in 2017 he was once again entered into the Troyes race, with 56 birds liberated at 5.50am into a light west wind. Jock won 6th
WITHOUT LIMITS TEN YEARS OF TARBES
The epitome of distance racing in the United Kingdom for many is the Tarbes/Pau Grand National event. As editor of the Racing Pigeon Weekly and Racing Pigeon Pictorial International, I have been able to get a real insight in to the dedication and commitment of the fanciers that year after year strive to succeed from this race and win the ‘Holy Grail’. It is certainly not for the faint hearted and for those few each year that reach the pinnacle of success awaits a treasure trove of being presented with the biggest haul of silverware that can be won from any race in the country. The National Flying Club is steeped in over 100 years of history and proudly holds this most prestigious of premier events at the centre of its racing core.
As you will see from this book, the Grand National is not just a race; it’s a way of life. The trials, the tribulations the relentless pursuit of achieving the ultimate success combined with dedication, commitment and some of the finest performances by our pigeon racing athletes in the world makes this the race of all races. – Lee Fribbins
www.racingpigeon.co.uk Phone 01206 250880 UK £22.95 INCLUDING P&P For Europe and the Rest of the World applicable postage charges apply
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