A swift run

‘Can’t keep up’ was the catch phrase for Horsham Racing Pigeon Club in the latest pigeon race, this time from Mildura.

Club members released 560 birds for a 276-kilometre race. John Muszkieta’s winning pigeon averaged 90 kilometres an hour to win the race by one minute. Paul and Jayden Mcphee’s leading entry was next home.

A leading group of pigeons beat the driver back to Horsham, given their average speed and flying a more direct route to their home lofts than by road.

This was the first of two races from Mildura on a club north line for 2021.

The first 12 of 18 members had their leading birds in their lofts within 2.47 minutes of the winner, a reflection of the easy 10km to 20km northwestern conditions.

Racing pigeons tend to average closer to 72kms an hour over an extended flight without the impact of wind.

The fast speed also indicated the pigeons outflew any peregrine falcons along the flight. It was noted that three peregrines had followed the leading pigeons to two Haven lofts. The peregrines were ahead of the next batch. Those pigeons circled about 500 metres away until the peregrines moved on, only then completing their flight to their home lofts.

The next two races will be from Mildura and a third from Hamilton, the latter first race to start a south-southeast line into Gippsland. Results – Section one for small race teams: P. and J. Mcphee in 3.05.10 hours at 1487.24 metres a minute 1; Mcphee family 1484.41mm 2; Karen Munday 1480.01mm 3. Section two for large race teams: John Muszkieta 1495.29mm 1; Bill Hartigan at 1485.56mm 2; Rob Nelson 1480.4mm 3.