PIGEON FLYING.

Shannon News, 26 July 1927, Page 1

PIGEON FLYING.

fHE ROYAL LOFT. The Eoykl lofts, says the Sundaj Mail, were| founded in 1886 by the Prince of Wales (the late King Edward) with the birds from the loft of Mr. J. W. Jones, and the fliers were raced with three clubs, the Columbuan, the London Flying Club and the Midland Club; In 1888 the late King of Belgium, who was keenly interested in homers, sent as a gift two pairs of famous birds of Belgian strain. The first really great success of the loft was frim Lerwick, in 1889, when the birds were flown in the name of Mr Jacksoni Later the . Prince of Wales was approached and he granted for the birds to be entered in their Royal-owner’s name. Since then the homers have always competed as such, Mr. Jones being appointed loft manager. King George's loft was started in 3893 when Messrs A. Jiilion and F. Duchstoau (who are highly esteemed friends. of Mr. Jones) and J. Jansens forwarded mated pairs of their very best birds. It is this blood which composes the Royal strain today. Messrs Duchsteau and Jurion also sent birds which had flown with marked success in the grand coneours. The birds were not'locked in but had their wings quilled and were allowed to wander in the park surrounding the loft. Under these conditions their progeny were healthy and the parent birds were content to remain at Sandringham when their wings had again fully developed. Mr. Jones is a great believer in consanguineity and worked to that end. His theory is that all weaklings are eliminated by the training basket and chat, similar to the racehorse, the good qualities become more fixed by inbreeding so that the strain is .produced amenable to the treatment and the conditions imposed upon them by their owners. Mr. Jones has followed his theory closely for over thirty years and finds there is no deterioration in intelligence or physique. During the war the birds did much good work from the North Sea, often homing from'trawlers with messages in very heavy weather. A largo number was also sent for. the use of the Army, several of the latter being included in the list of meritorious performances. Fed strains haye done more to help improve the working-men’s lofts. One of the greatest strains in North Staffordshire is the Harrisons of Oakmoor, which were a breed also entirely from Royal loft birds. There is an affinity between the • strain and Tressiders which has done well with the blood, while Mr. F. Romer has had more than one winner from the Royal lofts.

The present King, on his return from Australia (as Duke of York), forwarded as a gift several pairs of his Royal blood to Adelaide and it is the progeny of these birds which are now achieving such good results in South Australia. The late Queen Alexandra was keenly interested in homers and had much pleasure in Avatching for the return of the favourites on race days. So interested was the late Queen that she declined at all times to extend her patronage to any pigeon-shooting matches.