PIGEON FLYING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20126, 20 April 1928, Page 4

PIGEON FLYING

ANNUAL DERBY RESULTS BUSH FIRES AFFECT FLYING TIMES. The Wanganui Pigeon. Flying Club flew their annual Derby from Ward (144 miles) on Saturday last. The nominations for this season's race closed with 42 birds representing 15 owners, of vhom 14 made the final payment for 38 birds. On hampering night 11 owners hampered 16 birds, which were liberated by the stationmaster at Ward at 9 a.m. They were evidently held back by the smoke from the prevailing bush fires, as the winning bird did not reach home till about 5 p.m. on the day of toss- Three other owners also timed in birds on the day. The club also held a race from Otaki (58 miles) on the same day, in which 53 birds from 14 lofts, competed. In connection with this race a side match between Jas. Patterson’s rod chequer cock No. 312 and E. A. Hylton’s blue chequer hen, No. 162, w-is won by the former, the respective velocities being 921.21 and 912.26 yards per minute. Two members also competed on the same day in the National Derby, a race of 110 miles or over, and flew from Otorohanga (121 miles). These birds put up a remarkable performance, as they had to cross the stretch of country covered by the raging Ractihi fires. The detailed results are as follows: — Ward Derby, 144 Miles. B. 8. Kench, 538,4 yards per minute, 1; W. R. Sundborn, 537.4, 2; J. Edmonds, 536.4, 3; E. A- Hylton, 461.1, 4. Also started: Messrs Bellringer, Cleland. Dow, Douglas, Mailman, Storey, and Willacy. Otaki, 58 Miles. E. A. Hylton, 954.4 yards per minute, 1; Jas. Patterson, 950.4, 2; Jas. Patterson (a), 946.98, 3; Jas. Jatterson (b), 945-1, 4. Also started: E. J. Douglas, E. A- Hylton, E. A. Hyhuu W. Fenton, T. Liddell, Jas. Patterson (3), E. A. Hylton (b), J. Edmonds. H. it.

Bellringer, J- Dow, IT. R. Caldwell, C. Wllacy, B. S .Kench, A. IT. Burnett, JA. Cleland, and P. J. Mailman. Otorohanga, 121 Miles. E. J. Douglas. 1187-25 yards per minute, 1; A. H. Burnett. 1150.05, 2.