| The
Woods Strain of Australia
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 In
this series of brief insights into the
world of long and marathon distance pigeon
racers and their birds we have covered
some countries and continents but this
is the first insight into a fancier from
the land of the kangaroo. The person under
scrutiny is known throughout the southern
hemisphere as Toby Woods. Now before I
introduce this strain I must state that
I have received communications from Australia
and New Zealand from fanciers requesting
that I look at the sport in their continent,
in fact, a few have claimed that they
fly the toughest routes on the planet
and that the Barcelona International is
child's play compared to their terrain
and weather factors. However perhaps this
contention can be faced some other time
while I present our first Aussie fancier
and strain.
Our
subject is known as Toby Woods and he
has won from all distances as a member
of the Blacktown Pigeon Club involving
the south, west, north and north west
routes. Including 600 mile races from
the above directions in tough races in
which the velocities are normally well
below 1,000yds per minute. As an example
of his achievements, amongst many: 1st
Carrathool 317 miles 730 yards Vel 462;
1st Byrock 339 miles 277 yards Vel 739;
1st Balramald 418 miles 1540 yards Vel
813; 1st Gympie 529 miles 1470 yards Vel
805; 1st Mildura 503 miles 800 yards Vel
748; 1st Broken Hill 562 miles 1301 yards
Vel 1090; 1st Cunnamulla 501 miles 667
yards Vel 848, also 2nd Cunnamulla (2312
birds); 1st Bundaberg 619 miles 1249 yards
Vel 924; 1st Murry Bridge 670 miles 826
yards Vel 779.
In
fact Toby Woods won a very tough race
in apparently atrocious conditions at
a distance of 39 mls and 1223 yds with
a velocity of 948yds per minute. Yes,
quite true! The liberation took place
at 6.15am on a Saturday and Woods pigeon
was clocked at 2.28pm on Sunday. The bird
which recorded 2nd place was timed the
following morning (Monday). A fitting
item for the TV show 'Would You Believe?'
On another occasion Woods won four races
which took place on one day, an achievement
never repeated according to my sources.
The
woods strain were formed over a period
of 40 plus years from a number of old
strain crosses and it has been very successful
in the southern hemisphere for other fanciers
at all distances but especially at 600
miles and over. His brother W.Woods was
1st in a 500 mile race and a 600 mile
race with the same bloodlines as well
as being 2nd in 500 and 600 mile races.
Also the moulder of the strain had one
hen which flew five times 600 miles on
four different routes including being
the only bird in race time at a distance
of 670 miles from Murray Bridge. Another
good Australian flyer Jack Hubble won
three times from 500 miles with the Woods
strain. There are many more.
Apparently
Toby Woods semi- retired from pigeon racing
after transferring his family of pigeons
to the Donalson Brothers partnership.
To the delight perhaps of other competitors
for in Australia's biggest Federation
Woods won the $10 pool four times in five
years, another record. A yearly pool averaging
approximately 1,000 Australian dollars.
Yes our first admittedly brief look at
the planet's southern pigeon fancy presents
an example of the achievements of a man
who was a natural when it came
to the sport of pigeon racing and whose
knowledge of the managerial aspects of
the sport was beyond question.
by: Liam O Comain
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