British
And Irish 1,000 Milers
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When
reading recently of that great 800 miler,
'Riley's Duchess', in the British pigeon
press I was full of admiration for that
and all those other great and gallant
pigeons who fly against the odds and conquer
mile after mile into the islands of Britain
and Ireland. Pigeons like the immortal
'Per Ardua' who flew single up from Gibraltar
to Gillingham at a distance of 1,098 miles
when only a young bird. Really, I don't
think any of us has fully grasped the
outstanding achievements of our thoroughbreds
in such fabulous feats. The reality confirms
the true blue blooded nature of the pigeons
and their health. But within the heart
of all there must exist a unique love
of home by the pigeons involved whether
its a return to a palatial structure or
a back yard shed!
Here
I have in mind those who have conquered
the extreme distance from Spain into for
example central Ayrshire- 1,010 miles.
W. G. Davidson led the way in the 1,000
miles tests when his grizzle hen 'Faith'
held the Scottish record for a time after
homing in 8 days to Stevenson. Then there
was Henry Mair (who I believe was three
times successful recording an arrival)
with 3rd position into Scotland in one
of those attempts followed by outstanding
performances in 1976 when the Scottish
1,000 mile club sent 138 pigeons and two
made it in race time. A. Stewart of Carnoustie
winning on a 236y.p.m. velocity, followed
by A & A Taylor of Dundee on 155 y.p.m.velocity.
Thirty three birds were recorded after
the close of the race and the first Ayrshire
bird verified was a Red Chequer Cock bred
and raced by R & H Kennedy of Irvine
to be 5th, H Mair was next in at 23rd
with W. G. Davidson 33rd.
Of
course one must recall and never forget
'Barcelona Blue': 1000 mile record breaker
in 1958 (SURP 50 13315) and 'Barcelona
Triumph': 1000 mile record breaker 1959
(SURP 52 2345) and of course Jim Moffatt’s
'266', 1000 mile record breaker 1963 (SURP
58 ML 266) But the best of all perhaps
amongst these great racing pigeons was
the red chequer cock known as the 'The
Conqueror'. Bred and raced by Alan Raeside,
of Irvine, who covered the 1,009 miles
in just over 2 days with an amazing 687y.p.m.
velocity, which represents 24 m.p.h. and
registering as the record holder. Alan
also had a grandson of the 'Conqueror'
recorded from Palamos. Magnificient pigeons!
And
in Ireland there are the great exploits
of 'Barcelona Bluebell' bred and raced
by the Mairs Bros, of Ballyclare, and
that gallant bird of Anthony McDonald
of Coleraine,Co.Derry, who in their 1000
miles plus journeys from Barcelona crossed
two waters, that is, the English Channel
and the Irish sea to arrive safely at
their home lofts.
The
latter are outstanding specimens of the
art and science of the sport of marathon
Pigeon racing and when released with thousands
of birds from the mainland of Europe those
who reach the Western Isles must be outstanding
representatives of the thoroughbreds of
the sky because of the strong pull of
the drag and the physical configurations
that the pigeons have to conquer as well
as the enormity of the distance.
Perhaps
what is required for our thoroughbreds
of such endurance quality is a type of
Western Isles Agency to promote the development
of the marathon racer. A crazy thought
? Perhaps! But I believe that the marathon
challenge is due a reawakening amongst
the British and Irish pigeon racing fraternity.
A belief based upon the English successes
from Dax (the insularity is disappearing)
and it is in our nature to reach for the
stars, to dream dreams that never were
and say- why not?

by: Liam O Comain
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