HOMING PIGEONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1940, Page 3

HOMING PIGEONS

MASTERTON CLUB. LAST RACES OF SEASON. The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club brought a very successful season to a close with three races, one from Wellsford, a distance of 335 miles airline, one from Timaru, 315 miles, and one from Auckland, 285 miles. The Wellsford race was flown in good weather, 20 birds being liberated at 7.5 a.m. The winning bird arriving at 4.35 p.m., taking 9hrs. 30mins. 33 secs, to do the journey. The results are as follows:—I. Mayes’s "Sherwood." 9hrs, 30mins. 33secs., 1; E. Hirst’s “Hunting Song,” 9hrs. 31mins. 6 secs., 2; W. J. Miller’s "Flying Spark.” 9hrs. Simins. Bsecs„ 3; I. Mayes’s "Rely,” 9hrs. 31mins. 14secs., 4; F. Harding’s "Antiseptic," 9hrs. 31mins. 52secs., 5; E. Hirst’s "Master Brix." 9hrs. 32 mins. 36secs„ 6. In the Timaru race there were 5 birds liberated at 5 a.m. cn Saturday, and struck very rough weather which slowed them up. The first bird home was E. Hirst’s "Star Stranger." which arrived at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, taking 17hrs. 30mins„ to gain an easy win from I. Mayes’s "Elack Majic.” which took 25hrs. 46mins. These were the only birds home in race time. The last race of the 1940 old bird season was flown from Auckland in windy weather, for the challenge cup presented by Mr F. Yale. The birds were liberated at 7 a.m., the winning bird arriving at 3.30 p.m., taking 8f hrs. to do the journey. The results are as follow:—I- Mayes’s “Sherwood's Gift.” Bhrs. 30mins. 20secs., 1; JMayes's “Gay Lass,” Bhrs. SOmins. 35 secs., 2; W. Steer's "Telescope," Bhrs. 30mins. 45secs., 3: W. Steer's “White Wings,” Bhrs. 30mins. 59secs., 4; F. Harding’s “Antiseptic,” Bhrs. 31mins. 29 secs., 5; F. Harding’s “The General,’ 8 hrs. 58mins. 12sees„ 6. The winner of the points cup for the season just ended was I. Mayes, the runner-up being C. J. Douglas. The Sleer Rose Bowl for the most points over the three longest distance races resulted in a tie between W- JMiller and A. Pinkney. Each will hold the rose bowl for six months. The young bird season will commence on February 1.