Steeple Lofts off to a flying start
THE first pigeon race of the 2010 season got under way on Saturday 10 April from Tullamore in Co Offaly. A distance of approx 105 miles to most Cookstown lofts.
What a contrast in the weather, 10 days previously people were stuck in blizzards and snow drifts meanwhile on Saturday it was wall top wall sunshine and light south east winds.
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Hide AdFanciers and pigeons alike were pleased to have the sun on their backs for a change and this was reflected in the pigeon’s velocities especially when you consider there was very little suitable weather to train pigeons before the first event.
Stephen Marshall’s Steeple Lofts produced a great card taking first position and a further six of the top ten positions. In second place was the partnership of Glenn and Stanley Smith with Gerald Marshall’s Mill Lane Lofts in fifth and tenth positions.
Six members of Cookstown HPS sent 155 pigeons to the race, the birds were liberated at 12 noon in a light south east wind and the winning pigeon covered the course doing almost a mile a minute.
1st S Marshall 1739ypm
2nd G & S Smith 1715ypm
3rd S Marshall 1692ypm
4th S Marshall 1691ypm
5th G Marshall 1673ypm
6th S Marshall 1664ypm
7th S Marshall 1663ypm
8th S Marshall 1657ypm
9th S Marshall 1657ypm
10th G Marshall 1657ypm
Next week will see the pigeons return to Tullamore and no doubt more fanciers will have their teams ready by then.