PIGEON FLYING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 7

PIGEON FLYING.

CANTERBURY FLYING CLUB. The Canterbury Flying- Club hold a. r»oe fiom Napier to Christchurch on November 4, the liirds being' released by Mr T. Laing, at 5 a.m., in fine weather. Shortly after liberation /.-the birds encountered heavy southerly weather, which prevailed nil the way to Christchurch, only two ownors reporting birds home, before darkneßs set in. The winning bird, the properly of A. Gerard, flew tho distance of 361 miles 1201 yards airline in llhr 24miu SSsec. a speed per minute of 929 yards, J. W. . Blanchard, 925 yards per minute, was the only other competitor whoso bird timed in on the day of liberation. F. Kibblewhite 550yds, F. Wilson 639yds, G. Anderson 638yds, and H? Browning 637yds finished .in tha order named. Tho club desires to thank Hr T. Laing, of Napier, for his valuable assistance. The club" held a race from Patch, Taranaki, on Saturday. The birds, were released by the station master at 9.40 a.m., in fine weather. Owing to the late liberation and the -birds having to fly Cook's Strait,- at its widest part, over one hundred miles 'of water, those birds that did not get awiiy quickly, did not have time ,to arrive home the same day, very few, owners timing in. The race resulted in a win for 'F. Wilson', his bird ' flying 287 miles 1505 yards in 7hr 3Smin 42see. a speed per minute of 1104 yards. A. Gerard's bird was .'second, registering a speed per minute of J 074 yards. K. . Ashworth’s bird (1060 yards! and F. Kibblewhite's bird (1049 yards) finished next in order. Tlie club desires to thank the station master and postmaster j(Mr Muller) tor the assistance rendered to. the club. .