THE PIGEON "DERBY."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 9

THE PIGEON "DERBY."

7500 "HOMERS" TAKE PART IN 450MILE RACE. Tlio pigeon "Derby" began at fivo o'clock on Wednesday morning (July 8), when a flight of 75C0 birds took place from the goods station of the State railway terminus at Nantes (Franco). The birds were taken from fourteen railway vans in 657 baskets and. under the supervision .of Special Police Commissioner Domiuiei, wero placed in an open spaco in front of the goods station. At the command of the Commissioner the railway officials cut the fastenings of tho baskets and threw open tho lids. Immediately the pigeons rose in their thousands. Tho_numbcr of birds liberated at 5 a.m. was 7513, and some of them arrived home as early as three o'clock in the afternoon. One bird, owned by Mr. J?. Proctor, of Openshaw, a member of tho East ..Manchester Flying Club, reached its loft at 2.34, having Down 433 miles 9(37 yards in nine hours thirty-four minutes. This represents a velocity of 1329 yards a minute. A bird owned by Mr. Lord, of Bacup, however, attained a velocity of 1-120 yards a minute. These figures may, of course (says tho "Daily Mail") bo beaten when the results are chocked by tho Lancashire Homing Federation. Tho system of checking is most elaborate. Tho owner of the loft has a special clock, tho cost of which runs into pounds. This clock, which has a slot in it, is locked by tho officials of the Federation. On orery bird a number is stamped, but this number is not known to tho owner until tho bird arrives home. Tho owner of tho pigeon then writes tho number on a slip, which ho puts in the clock, and tho time of arrival is thus automatically registered.

The race, which is an annual event, is organise! by a number of Lancashire homing federations, and prizes amounting to over £1000 are offered.