HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 65

HOMING NOTES.

B? Madsta Mealt. TSSr William Niven's trophy, for the Orepuki race was won by Mr Umbers's Eileen. Mr Umbers states that 14 pigeons came with his winner. They divided in all directions. How do l the supporters of interval racing account feu- this? Mr Umbers's birds were in the last pen to be liberated. The question is: Did the others fly around Winton after they were liberated, or were they overtaken in the line of flight? In the majority of interval races this season ifa& last pens liberated have won the prizes. I believe in interval races provided the interval is long enough, but" our weather is so changeable that all the pigeons have not the same chance. I offer a suggestion: that no races be held under a distance of 150 miles (Ashburton). The members can train their birds privately up to -that distance. Include Christchurch and Wellington, but cut out Kaitoke, for one cannot depend on reliable liberation, and stationmastexs cannot be> bothered looking after and holding over liberations. By inserting Christchurch and Wellington tho local secretary of either club, or members, would' be only too pleasod to officiate either in interval or flock racing. Include Culveiden, and jump from there to Wellington, cutting out. the sea tosses, which are always so disastrous. I am positive if birds are in good condition, and are liberated in fair weather, . the owners won't be disappointed, and. if one's bird fails to make good his return don't mourn over him, but look well after his stable mate that records a good performance. That is the only way to' become a successful fancier. Put every bird you breed on the road; give them a good test; breed from your winners, and you will be rewarded. It's distance in pigeon racing that kills. Thousands of- birds will fly 450 miles that cannot do '550; and birds will do 500 that cannot do 600. It is all very well to speak of performances such as a 400-mile race that can bo flown on the day as all that we want to give satisfaction. I can sa.y without fear of obntiradiction that, as a breeder, one can breed 50 400-mile bird's to One that will fly 550 or 600 miles. " Squills," in the Racing Pigeon, says: "If you want to breed racers breed from the running rnare■..". —an axiom' of an old hand, .which literally means if you want to produce, workers breed from the actual birds .that are., doing the work. Ninetynine but actually ..fly ,the._ 10ng... journeys MUST be, backed by .constitution. .a'B. you can, have strain and pedigree minus backbone, and'., therefore, I say give me the children or the ._actual workers. I won't breed from a _ bird uiiless.it comes from a 500-mile winning strain. I purposely say "winning," because it is useless to breed from birds that only "home"; we must hav.-> racers that, will raaa all the way. and

come at a jjood pace, whether it be 200 300, 500, of 600 miles.