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PIGEON RACING

 

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Index

November 2007

 

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Week ending November 23

 

John makes it three-in-a-row for Boston

 

by George Wheatman

 

For the third year in succession a Boston racing pigeon fancier has proved to be the best in his sport in the whole of East England. John Hardy (59), of Riverway, has won the combined average for the old and young bird races in the strong Peterborough and District Federation of Homing Societies.

 

He has also won the old bird average for the second successive year, plus the combined and old bird averages in the North East Section. But that's not all. The trophy for the long distance average and the Jeff Pick award for the Thurso and Lerwick races will also be going to the Hardy household. John races under the partnership name of Hardy and Troops, retaining the name of his former partner, the late Alan Troops.

 

He has also clinched the title of top prizewinner in Boston Central Racing Pigeon Club for the sixth time in the last nine years, being runner-up in the other three years, despite sometimes being hampered by ill health.

The Hardy birds seem to have been faster in 2007 compared with the previous year as this year's old bird average was won with a velocity of 1308 yards per minute compared with 1159 the previous year, and the combined average of 1357 compared with 1182.

 

Asked how he manages this consistent level of success, John says: "I don't know." But it is acknowledged that this small team man houses quality pigeons and keeps his system of racing them as simple as possible. Only the best survive because he works them hard.

 

He has been competing with Boston RPC since 1997 but was introduced to the hobby by his uncles, top-flight fanciers Charlie Woofe, of Ollerton, and Les Woofe, who lives in the North East of England, both of whom have helped him with quality stock and, to this day, supply him with a couple of young birds each every year.

John's health has forced him to quit his job at Fogarty’s, but that could give him time to be even more successful in future years.

 

Last year he also won the Federation young bird average but this year it goes to Geoff and Bridget Clare, who moved to Sloothby from Old Leake less than a year ago. Their average velocity was 1588ypm compared with the winning velocity of 1254ypm last year.

 

Lincolnshire trophy winners in Peterborough and District Federation are:

 

Hardy and Troops, Boston, old bird average, combined average, long distance average, Thurso and Lerwick average, North East Section old bird and combined averages.

Mr and Mrs PG Clare, Sloothby, young bird average, North East Section young bird average.

Richard Quibell, Horncastle, Newling young bid average, Mary Bland Cup for Dunbar young bird race, North West Section old bird, young bird and combined averages, Lerwick Trophy and Dunbar young bird trophy.

F and A Tasker, Wainfleet, Platt Cup and Whitley Bay old bird cup.

Mr and Mrs Paul Newbold, Friskney, Perth Cup.

Mr and Mrs Dave Evans, Alford, Mat Bland Cup from Dunbar, North East Section Dunbar Cup.

Mr and Mrs Bob Boulton, Skegness, Bernard Woodfield Memorial Cup.

Dave Henry, Boston, Hovenden Home Trophy.

Karl Scholz, Wainfleet, North East Section Lerwick Cup.

Upsall and Frost, Boston, North East Section Thurso Cup.