HOMING PIGEONS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 16

HOMING PIGEONS

Wellington Society Closes Young-bird Season The Wellington Homing Pigeon Society concluded its young bird eeasonA racing with a relay race. Each member raced one bird from HunterviUe, Waiouru and Ohakune, and the average velocity from the three pointe decided the winners. The weather at each, point was dull, and a. southerly wind made conditions very trying for young birds. These conditions have been prevalent all the season, and the birds will now enjoy a well-earned rest until the beginning of the new season in September. Following is the result of the relay race: — F. Couper and Sons’ birds, average velocity 886yds. a miu., 1; D. 'McDougall’s birds, 882yds. a min., 2; Perkins and O’Dea’s birds, 875yds. a min., 3; Heyward and Hoare’s birds, 870yds. a min., 4; F. Flipp aud Son’s birds, 869 yds. a min., 5; Thomas and Bruce’s birds, 853yds. a min., 6. J. Iremonger and Son were the only other members to time in their three birds in race time. Section prize-winners were: — East section: F. Couper and Son, 1; Heyward and Hoare, 2; Thomas and Bruce, 3. West section: D. McDougall, 1; Perkins and O’Dea, 2; F. Flipp and Son, 3. Cups and trophic# donated for young bird races were won as follows:— Young Bird Cup. donated by Mr. G. Wilson for most pointe in all young bird races: F. Couper and Son, 49 points, 1; F. Flipp, 38pts., 2. Mrs. Perkins’ Rose Bowl, for most points in No. 1 hamper: F. Couper and Son, A. Clements, Perkins and O'Dea, and B. Clements, equal, 16 pointe each. Weatherburn Cup, donated by Mr. T. Weatherburn, for most points in No. 2 hamper (interval race not to count) : F. Couper aud Son, 27 points, 1; F. Flipp and Son, 20pts., 2. McArdle trophy, for winner of the onebird flock race championship' for young birds: F. Couper and Son. Mr. G. Geary’s special, for most points in all young bird races (winners not to count) : B. Clements, 20 points, 1; F. Flipp and Son, 19pts., 2. T. Sherwood's special trophy, for winner of Hunterville interval race: F. Couper and Son, 1; B. Clements, 2. Young Bird Interval Cup, for Manunui interval race: C. Haines, 1; F. Couper and Son, 2. During the off-season the interest of members' will be maintained by a series of weekly shows, for which many valuable trophies and cash specials have been donated. An attractive schedule of classes has been drawn up by the society. The first show will be for yearling cocks. Wellington Central Club The Wellington Central Pigeon Club flew its first race from National Park, an airline distance of 150 miles, on Saturday. The ■weather was tine at 10.10 а. when the birds were liberated, but they encountered a very strong head wind, against which some of them battled for more than 74 hours, the birds being scattered. The winner was Mr. A. A. Wilton’s Red Admiral. Following are the first six places: Mr. A. A. Wilton’s Red Admiral, shrs. 28min. 55sec„ 1; Messrs. Murphy and Sherwood’s Clipper Plane, 5.29.39, 2; Mr. M G. Smith’s Winning Star, 5.46.14, 3; 'Messrs. AV ebb Bros.’ Queen б. 4; Mr. F. C. Ferris’s Dandy, 7.30.42, 5; Messrs. Dickey Bros.’ Coleen, 7.31.19, 6. Next Saturday the club will hold the two-bird teams’ race from National Park.