He’s been reminding people this week: “They don’t call me the Comeback Kid for nothing.” George Watts was out of pigeon racing for 10 years. But he is now back with a vengeance. And on Sunday he won the competitive Boston Central RPC race from Whitley Bay for his second win of this old bird season.

He took first and fourth places and the irony of it all is that his winning pigeon was bred for him by John Hardy who was also ousted from the club’s knockout competition by . . . George Watts!

The birds had been scheduled to race from Dunbar on Saturday, but the atrocious weather meant that no liberation could be sanctioned on Saturday and the birds were brought nearer home for the Sunday release. Showers hampered the race but, overall, returns were good.

Results from Whitley Bay were:

Boston Central (15 members sent 156 birds): G Watts 1288 yards per min, D Henry 1264, Hardy and Troops 1259, G Watts 1249.797, Upsall and Frost 1249.573, 1242 and 1231.799, Hardy and Troops 1231.373 and 1229, Appleby and Daughter 1227, K Ward 1211, W Hall and Son 1210.

Boston and District FC (11-100): Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1237, A Bell 1218, D Brackenbury 1212, Mr and Mrs Attwater 1185, LR Manning 1172, Gough and Reed 1171, H Bell 1167, C Collins and Son 1159, A Bell 1148, D Judd 1134, Gough and Reed 1118, H Bell 1110.

Swineshead and District RPC (5-92): Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1194, D Iles 1193, 1189 and 1172, M Huddlestone 1169, D Iles 1161, Mr and Mrs Poulter 1154, Mr and Mrs T Welby 1138, M Huddlestone 1119, 1082, 1064 and 1021.

Alford: Mr and Mrs M Dennis 1198, Mr and Mrs D Evans 1188 and 1179, B Sears 1175, Mr and Mrs Evans 1161.77, Mr and Mrs Dennis 1161.65, B Sears 1157, Mr and Mrs Evans 1154, A Willerton 1145, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 1142.

Skegness and District (7-72): Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1295, Bartle and French 1288, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1282, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1245, Bartle and French 1208 and 1200.

Skegness and Wainfleet (3-46): F and A Tasker 1283, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1269 and 1267, F and A Tasker 1265 and 1263, A and J Pinner 1234.

Candlesby (7-62): T Spence 1272, Jessica Newbold 1267, D Page 1255, Jessica Newbold 1246(2), Mr and Mrs Newbold 1224, K Scholz 1207, Mr and Mrs Akid 1183, W Simpson 1111.

Spalding Homing Society (13-147): J Bellerby 1252, MJ Lewis 1215, RJ Rout 1209, T Enderby 1207 and 1205, RJ Rout 1203, T Upex 1193.7941, A Burton 1193.3543, D Croft 1193.0245, A Burton 1191, A Compton 1190.7050, J Bellerby 1190.3591.

Results from Fraserburgh:

Spalding Services FC (10-72): Skillington 1084, LLewellyn 1065.72 and 1065.68, Holmes 1056, Moore 1055, Llewellyn 1043, Moore 1035, Skillington 970, Rout 963, Woolsey 664.471 and 664.411, Duffy 633.

Alford: Barber and Kingswood 1017, 995 and 978, Mr and Mrs D Evans 970, A Willerton 957, Barker and Kingswood 928, Mr and Mrs Evans 925, Mr and Mrs PG Clare 914, Barker and Kingston 909, F and A Tasker 902.

Bishop Auckland result:

Boston Central (15-156): Hardy and Troops 1360, Upsall and Frost 1355, G Watts 1353, Hardy and Troops 1350, Upsall and Frost 1287, G and C Edwards 1281, D Henry 1273, Appleby and Dtr 1266, J Burt and Son 1263, Upsall and Frost 1261 and 1253, K Milne and Son 1253.

Boston Area South Road RPC result from St Nazairre (11-132): LR Manning 1337, JL Batterham 1228, LR Manning 1200, JL Batterham 1197, T Upex 1160, JL Batterham 1139, T Upex 1049, G Pugsley 1038, LR Manning 1921.

Boston Area South Road RPC race from Newbury II (11-132): Mr and Mrs J Dixon 1408 and 1402, A Neison 1341 and 1340, Mr and Mrs T Homewood 1326 and 1322, R Lancaster 1311, G Pugsley 1308, Mr and Mrs T Homewood 1295, T Upex 1287.

Week ending June 17

Testing time for county fanciers

Lincolnshire fanciers had a lean time when they competed with the North Road Championship Club from Fraserburgh. A total of 352 members sent 3,325 birds and a hard race was won by Hubert Walker, Balderton, on a velocity of 1,223 yards per minute.

Highest placed Lincolnshire fancier was Richard Mamwell, Louth, who was fourth on 1191ypm. John Hardy, of the Hardy and Troops partnership, Boston, was sixth on 1180, ME Dales, Louth, 11th on 1165.8630, Darren Peters, East Heckington, 12th on 1165.0179, PJ and M Dayton, Louth, 14th on 1163, and Mr and Mrs Brian Garnham, Boston, 19th on 1149.

Club results from Fraserburgh:

Boston and District FC (7 sent 79): Mr and Mrs Garnham 1150, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1101, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1096, C Collins and Son 1070, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1039, D Brackenbury 993 and 934, C Collins and Son 930, A Bell 929, D Brackenbury 907, Mr and Mrs Attwater 874, C Collins and Son 859.

Swineshead and District RPC (5-46): Mr and Mrs T Welby 1070, Mark Huddlestone 1067, Mr and Mrs Welby 1049, Mr and Mrs A Neison 1021, G Wheatman 936, Mr and Mrs Neison 933, M Huddlestone 839.

Skegness and District (4-62): Bartle and French 1056 and 1009, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 988, Bartle and French 929, 916 and 882.

Skegness and Wainfleet (4-89): Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1142, F and A Tasker 1079 and 1043, Jessica Newbold 1008, Mr and Mrs Newbold 976 and 972, A and J Pinner 622.

Candlesby (7-53): K Scholz 1094 and 1066, M Sharpe 1035, Jessica Newbold 1008, Mr and Mrs Newbold 976 and 945, D Page 652.

Boston Central RPC (16-155): Hardy and Troops 1179, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1150, D Henry 1137, K Ward 1123, Upsall and Frost 1112 and 1099, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1096, Hardy and Troops 1028, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1039, Hardy and Troops 1028, Mr and Mrs Garnham 1022, K Milne and Son 1018.

Bishop Auckland results:

Skegness and District (6-62): Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1339, Mr and Mrs J Boswell 1307, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1275, Harrison, Johnson and Webster 1272 and 1256, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1255.

Skegness and Wainfleet (3-48): F and A Tasker 1345, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1286 and 1282, A and J Pinner 1268, F and A Tasker 1244 and 1240.

Candlesby (9-85): Jessica Newbold 1314 and 1280, D Page 1278, Mr and Mrs P Newbold 1251, Jessica Newbold 1251, M Sharpe 1243, P Whiting 1222, K Scholz 1179, T Spence 1171, Mr and Mrs Akid 1135, W Simpson 849.

Boston Area South Road RPC racing from Newbury (11-132): T Upex 1833 and 1824, Mr and Mrs T Homewood 1816, 1809 and 1805, Will and Jobson 1749, G Pugsley 1710, A Neison 1696, JL Batterham 1686, A Neison 1646.

Swineshead and District (5-108): Mr and Mrs T Welby 1293, D Iles 1271, G Wheatman 1266, D Iles 1246.585, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1246.442, D Iles 1236 and 1207, Mark Huddlestone 1197 and 1196.

Week ending June 10

Weather woes hit race hopes

It was a frustrating time for local pigeon fanciers when weather woes put paid to hopes of liberation of the North Road Championship Club birds from Fraserburgh. Fog, drizzle and thick cloud prevented the birds’ release on both Saturday and Sunday.

Week ending June 3

Dave puts experience to good use

Experienced former national winner, Dave Brackenbury was the top fancier in Boston and District Flying Club's race from Bishop Auckland on Saturday when the birds had to work hard against a south-east wind.

Results round-up:

Boston and District FC (12 members sent 269 birds): 1 D Brackenbury 12771, D Peters and Son 1264, Mr and Mrs B Garnham 1258, D Peters and Son 1245, D Judd 1234, LR Manning 1225, B Parker 1220, D Peters and Son 1219, Mr and Mrs E Attwater 1215 and 1210, Gough and Reed 1205.467, A Bell 1205.303.

Swineshead and District (5-109): Mark Huddlestone 1201, Mr and Mrs S Poulter 1200, D Iles 1193 and 1182, Mr and Mrs T F Welby 1179 and 1175, Mr and Mrs Poulter 1170, D Iles 1165 and 1154, Mark Huddlestone 1153, G Wheatman 1077.

In the race from Perth, Paul and Jane Newbold, who run the pigeon stud and supplies business, PJ Lofts, in Friskney, continued their fine form by taking the first three places in Peterborough and District Federation with the birds that occupied the first three positions in Skegness and Wainfleet club.

Skegness and Wainfleet (5-150): P and J Newbold 1603, 1601 and 1599, F and A Tasker 1598, 1597 and 1588, A and J Pinner 1580, Bartle and French 1574, Jessica Newbold 1517.

Candlesby (7-62): Mr and Mrs Newbold 1603 and 1601, D Page 1575, M Sharpe 1573, D Page 1571, K Scholz 1538, T Spence 1519, J Newbold 1517, Mr and Mrs Akid 1481.

Skegness and District (6-79): Bartle and French 1574 and 1565, Mr and Mrs R Boulton 1547, Bartle and French 1547, Mr and Mrs Boulton 1546, K and B Smith 1545.