Pigeons turn on afterburners

A Bruce Rentsch-owned and trained pigeon led the field flying from Ouyen back to its Horsham loft in the second week of Horsham Homing Club racing.

Assisted by a strong northerly wind, Rentch’s winning entry, allowing for different loft locations and overfly, was 52 seconds ahead of the next-placed racing pigeon owned by John Muszkieta.

The winning pigeon covered the 181 kilometres at an average of 116 kilometres an hour.

The race was fast, with the pigeon finishing in 100 minutes.

Eighteen members entered 758 pigeons, with many of those pigeons averaging well in excess of 100kmh. Results: Bruce Rentsch, 1,908.79 metres a minute, first; John Muszkieta, 1,891.41, second; Terry Brauer, 1,886.76, third, Rob Nelson, 1,884.78, fourth.

The club started its 2019 race program with two races from Hopetoun to Horsham the previous week.

Both races involved southwesterly wind, which slowed the birds down from flying their average speed of 68 kilometres an hour.

Graham Elbourne collecting second placings.

Eighteen members entered 551 pigeons in the first race from Hopetoun. enjoyedsuccess, first and

Leading birds home in their lofts after a 105-minute flight were separated by seconds.

Seventeen members entered 649 pigeons in the second race.

Results are based on average speed flown by the leading pigeon to each of the members’ lofts. Results: First race, Graham Elbourne, 1063.56, first; Brian Watts, 1063.35, second; Renn and Jeanette Williamson 1057.8, third; second race, Bruce Rentsch, 1032.5, first; Graham Elbourne, 1011.99, second; Terry Brauer, 993.87, third.

Next weekend’s race will be from Ouyen to Horsham.