Bass Strait f light

Horsham Homing Club pigeons flew across Bass Strait from Currie, King Island, in the club’s latest race.

The birds covered an airline distance of 366 kilometres in a derby the club held over until Monday to gain the benefits of a light south-easterly wind, which varied from an unusually low six to 12kmh.

Pilot Barry Lawes and club member Bernie Poulton left Horsham airport at 7.30am, arrived at Currie and released the 97 Horsham pigeons at 10am for their race back to their Horsham lofts.

Lawes and Poluton were back in Horsham at noon, two and a half hours ahead of the first four place-getters, which had averaged 85kmh for the birds’ four and a half-hour flight.

Only seconds separated the first four place-getters, so the final result was decided on velocity, which takes into account the exact loft location and the fact that the longest loft is allowed more time.

The pigeons, in navigating their way across 130 kilometres of sea, took a route on line to Apollo Bay then Horsham. Results: 1. Dennis Smith, in a flying time of 4 hours 32 minutes and 38 seconds or at 1356.19 metres a minute; 2. John Arnott, 4.31.32, 1350.46; 3. Brian Watts, 4.31.43, 1350.25; 4. Mcphee Family 4.31.52, 1346.6.