PIGEON FLYING

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25996, 27 December 1949, Page 8

PIGEON FLYING

CANTERBURY CLUB The Canterbury Pigeon Flying Club conducted three long distance races recently, two from Hick’s Bay, about 75 miles north of Gisborne, and one from Auckland.

The first race, from Hick’s Bay, resulted in a win for A. Buckley’s bird, No. 679, which covered the 518 miles 1566 yards in 17 hours lOmin 36sec. D. Broad won the Woodcock Cup for the nominated bird in this race. Results were:—A. Bucklev’s No. 679 (886 yards a minute) 1, K. Hartland’s No. 239 (885) 2, D. Broad’s No. 833 (846) 3, G. Lyell’s 714 ( 820 ) 4, A. Rowe’s No. 495 (819) 5.

In the second Hick’s Bay race weather conditions were better and three birds completed the long journey in the one day. G. Lyell’s No. 4, a yearling, had an outstanding win, arriving home more than one hour ahead of the next' bird. Results were:—G. Lyell’s No. 4 (1111 yards a minute) 1, A. Buckley’s No. 836 (1062) 2, A. Stone’s No. 1191 (1049) 3, A. Duffield’s No. 1006 (997) 4, E. French’s No. 375 ( 993) 5. The winning bird covered the 518 miles 852 yards in the good time of 13 hours llmin 4sec.

The Auckland race was held on the same day, but th«e birds encountered adverse weather conditions which held them back to the second day. The winning bird was again a yearling, owned by E. French. G. Lyell filled second position, with the winner of last year’s race E French won the Kingsford Memorial Cup'. Results were:—E. French’s No. 754 ( 702 - a S’ in^ tc) ?• . G - LyeU s No. 716 <595) 2, H. Helpers No. 330 ( 566) 3 F ?5227 n 5‘ e ’ S 712 <543) 4 ' J ' Crowther '® ’ 209

E. French won the club’s old bird aggregate cup. and G. Lyell the G. Robertson Cup for the best average of the four long-distance races.