Saturday July 7th saw the final old bird races for both the Burton & South Derbyshire Federation and the Derby Burton & District South Road Federation from Messac.

The Burton & South Derbyshire Federation got theirs away at 09-15 in a light north east wind. This turned out to be a very hard race with few pigeons back on the day.

In Ilkeston Bulls Head Flying Club Roger & Mark Duffield took three of the first four positions and taking the red card was a four year old hen doing 1100 which was of the late Neil Inger pigeons. This was followed by a three year old Herman Ceuster cock doing 1088 which had already won Carentan this year taking second then a three year old hen doing 999 to take fourth. In third was Dave Smith doing 1043.

Roger & Mark Duffield Ilkeston Bulls Head winners from Messac.

In Etwall & District Flying Club Peter & Shirley Harrison took the red card with a two year old cheq cock doing 1068 followed by a two year old cheq hen doing 877 to take third. In second was Mick Leszczyszak with a three year old blue cock doing 1037.(The only three pigeons on the day).

Peter & Shirley Harrison Etwall & District Flying Club winners from Messac.

In Osmaston Park Homing Society S & H W Hall of Little Eaton took three of the first four positions with his first two pigeons being the only two on the day. Getting the red card was a two year old blue hen doing 1017 followed by a four year old blue cock doing 841 to take second.

Stan Hall Osmaston Park Homing Society winner from Messac.

This was followed by a two year old cheq hen doing 664 to take third. With Mick Willis & Family in fourth with a three year old blue cock doing 450.

The Derby Burton & District South Road Federation got theirs away at 09-00 in a light north wind.
In Kilburn Welfare Keith Foulkes got the winner with a two year old blue hen doing 1127 ( only pigeon on the day ) with his next pigeon doing 830 to take second. In third & Fourth positions was Stuart Wainwright doing 740 & 675.

The Burton & South Derbyshire Federation also held an inland race from Honiton and they got them away at 07-30 in a light north wind.

In Ilkeston Bulls Head Flying Club John & Pamela Dowd made it a clean sweep with a yearling cheq cock getting the red card doing 1387 this was followed by a two year old blue Sootjen cock doing 1386.Next was a four year old cheq cock and yearling cheq cock both doing 1385.These four pigeons having 12x1sts between them.

John & Pamela Dowd Ilkeston Bulls Head winners from Honiton.

In Osmaston Park Homing Society Paul & Lynda Todd took the first three positions with their winner a yearling Lambrecht cheq hen getting its second first prize doing 1381.6 followed by a four year old blue cock doing 1381.4 which was bred by Monty Buxton then a yearling dk/cheq cock doing 1381.0.In fourth was John & Steve Hicks doing 1380 with a two year old blue pied cock.

Paul & Lynda Todd Osmaston Park Homing Society winners from Honiton.

In Etwall & District Flying Club Alan & Liz Houldsworth took the first two positions with their winner being a two year old b/pied hen doing 1361 this was its third first prize this year. Their second pigeon was a yearling b/pied cock doing 1351.In third was A.Peach & Son with a yearling blue cock doing 1335 followed by Mr & Mrs A.J Whitehurst in fourth with a yearling mealy cock doing 1333.

Alan & Liz Houldsworth Etwall & District Flying Club winners from Honiton.

From memory lane. John Dowd with George Mason.

T.3.