HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 64

HOMING NOTES.

By Master Grooter.

The Dunedin dub held the last of their old bird pen races on the north line last Saturday from Ashburton. The weather Was not favourable for pigeon-racing (at least we will * say for the pigeons). The strong head wind and rain showers told on the weaker birds considerably. The following are the results.—Mr R. A. Umbers's Lady May had an easy win, her time being shr ll£~m.in, velocity 840syds i>er minute;

Mr H. Taylor's (Green Island) Thistledown was second, time shr 25min; Mr D. Ringrose's Miss Havcloek timed in third, time shr 21|min, velocity 826|yds per minute; Mr A. Turnbull's Leith M. was fourth, time shr velocity 8133yds per minute; Mr W. Niven's lied Cap filled fifth place, time shr 25min, velocity 808yds pel- minute. The winner, Lady May, is a fine big mealy hen. She was bred by her owner, and is by Meteor, by Chubby. I must congratulate Mr Taylor on his success. He is a beginner who has made a capital start. Next Saturday the club holds two races, one from Cape Campbell, and the other from Amberley. Birds for both races will be penned on Thursday evening.

A CRITICISM. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln "Master Grooter's" Homing Notes column of last week it is stated that Mr Clark's All Red 111, the winner of the Amberley race, is by All Red, by. Baker Osman, pen bred by Mr F. Williams, of Wellington. I take exception to his not giving credit to the breeder of the sire as well as to the breeder of the dam. Previous writers to this interesting column usually reported fuller pedigrees of winners, which arc very interesting to old and young fanciers, and more especially to novices who purpose joining the fancy, for to be successful in the keen "competition nowadays a fancier requires to start off from winning strains, and it assists him in becoming a successful racing man. By only introducing birds into the loft from the actually successful racing man, who is known to.have spent large sums in establishing his loft with the very best blood, a fancier is sure of his ground, but. to purchase birds on the score of cheapness, from totally unknown men, is wasting money, and to tho beginner is but buying feathers to keep and birds to feed. The value of pigeons as stock depends in no small measure on tho breeder. Remember always, if your birds are bred right, no matter how insignificant your loft, you are just as likely to produce a champion as the finest loft in the land.

I am. inclined to think your writer is a little prejudiced against the Mons GerardGrannie strain, for last year I wrote a par in re their progeny's success, and was assured they were not as successful in the Dunedin Club as I imagined. However, a perusal of last year's winners would show that more than 50 per cent, of them could be traced back to the old pair, both on the road and in the showpen. This year Mr Bell Niven's three winners are from All Red, son of Mons Gerard, by Grannie, ex Britannia, bv Sedgley Monarch (imp.), ex Killarney, by Gamecock, by daughter of Grannie. Mr Peter Clark s All Red 111, bv All Red 11, by Mons Evans (imp.), ex Apre l3 Moi, by Jfean Gerardy, son of Grannie, ex Lady Didcot (imp.). Mr Hunt's winner, Miss Ideal, by Idealist, ox Killarney, grand-daughter of Grannie. Mr Veitch's winner is bv Mealy Gran, a son of Grannie. Last year s Derby winner for Mr Hutchings was by Mons Gran ; a son of Grannie. . Idealist, Aprea Moi, Jean Gerardy, all splendid racers, and the first birds to fly for tho Dunedin Club from Napier, 556 miles day of tose. Those fanciers who have progeny from Mohs Gerard "and Grannie, and who use some discretion in their matings, must produce winners, as Messrs Niven, Hunt, Clark, Veitch, and others are doing. Apologising for trespassing so much on your column, but I like to see Sunwick loft get a littlo credit for tho birds that were bred there. —I am, etc., B. J. FINNEGAN.

Christchurch, October 12, In reply to the above I fail to see why Mr Finnegan should take exception to last week's notes, in re my not giving the pedigree of the sire of the winner, of last week's race. As I have not so far this season given the pedigrees of the parents of the various winners, I do not consider Mr Finnegan has any. right to expect it in this case simply becauso the bird belonged to him. All Red's breeding has been published previously in these columns, and as Mr Williams's hen is unnamed, it was the only way I had of describing her. However, the complaint is trivial, and the impression I gather from the letter is that Mr Finnegan laments the loss of the praising articles which he once enjoyed, and takes this opportunity of reminding our readers of his bygone successes. I am in no way prejudiced against the Mons Gerard —Grannie but one must _ move with the times, as there are others in the field nowadays, and we must share alike. —M.G.