MASTERTON HOMING PIGEON CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3141, 19 March 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON HOMING PIGEON CLUB.

ANOTHER INTERVAL RACE. The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club got off a successful interval race, yesterday afternoon, from Ormondville, although the weather was very unsettled. Six lofts were represented by one bird each. The birds were liberated at intervals of 15 minutes, commencing at 11 o'clock. Only two birds completed the distance within the time limit, it being rather a curious circumstance that these were the last two to be liberated. The time of the clocks pointed to the fact that the two birds arrived together, although liberated at 15 minutes' interval. Of course, the time occupied on the journey by the last bird to be liberated was about 15 minutes better than the other. The stationmaster kindly liberated the bird?. Mr F. B. Ros- i son acted as judge, and the following is the result:— Mr W. Dowlmg's "Flying Dutchman," velocity 1,092 yds per minute 1 Mr J. Bradbury's "Monarch," velocity I,ollyds per minute 2 Most of the other birds struggled gamely home before the nightfall, although the weather got worse as the afternoon wore on. The winner Will take Messrs Walsh and Co. 's silver medal, which had been kindly donated for this race. Next Thursday what is known as the Produce Race, will be flown from Waipawa. This is an event for only young birds rung with special rings, which were issued between September and November last are eligible. With five more races to complete the season's programme the positions in the aggregate are very interesting. The following is the positions of the first four competitors:—Mr W. Hoar, 25 points; Mr H. W. Lett, 24 points; Mr J. Bradbury, 23 points; Mr A. Miller, 20 points. Several other lofts are close up and have a good outside chance for the President's gold medal. After the completion of the present programme the Club intend holding a monster Ladies' Bracelet race, the conditions of which will be as follows:—All birds to be nominated by a lady, and raced by the owner, the lady nominating the winning bird to be presented with a handsome gold bracelet. The nominaton will be one shilling for each bird, and members will be pleased to place their birds at the disposal of those ladies desiring to compete for the event. The exact date of the competition will be made known shortly. Second and third prizes will probably be alloted. as t?he entries are expected to be very large.