HOMING PIGEON RACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 30

HOMING PIGEON RACE.

On Saturday an important homing pigeon race was flown from St. Andrew's to Dunedin, a distance of 101 miles. The race is knewn as the Show Race, and the first, second and third birds in it will be shown on Saturday next afc the annual poultry show. Five members of the Dunedin Homing Pigeon Club were represented by 11 birds of all ages. The stationmaster at St. Andrew's telegraphed in the morning, " Weather very squally," and desired to know whether ha should liberate the birds. Being answered in the affirmative, he despatched the little feathered messengers on their arduous journey. The winner, Mr Haynes's Snowflake, gained the verdict by smin from Mr J. Moore's Thunderbolt, with Mr Janeon's Avon Pear] third, lOmin behind the second. The race was voted a certainly for the winner under the circumstances, on account of his age — nearly two yeaiv. rlher lhe birds placed second and third are only 10 months old, and their performance in cuch weather is really surprising for such young birds. The following are velocities of the placed birds : — Mr Haynes's Snowflake, 3hr 18min, 903 yds; Mr Moore 1 Thunderbolt, 3hr 23min, 877 yd s; Mr Janeon'a Avon Pearl. 3hr 34min. 836 yds. The committee of the Dunedin Horning Pigeon Club are grateful to Mr Veal, the stationmaster at St. Andrew's, for the great care displayed by him in carrying out the directions in a contest of the kind and tor the interest taken by him in the matter.