High fliers

Awards for a successful 2006 were handed out at Wisbech Town Pigeon Flying Club s annual prize presentation at the club s HQ, the Locomotive. Prizes were presented by Mick Godfrey, a former secretary and successful flier in the club. A successful season w

Awards for a successful 2006 were handed out at Wisbech Town Pigeon Flying Club's annual prize presentation at the club's HQ, the Locomotive.

Prizes were presented by Mick Godfrey, a former secretary and successful flier in the club.

A successful season was reviewed, with members taking many good positions in the Peterborough Federation, the North Road Championship Club and Cambridgeshire Championship Club.

The Gedney Hill Partnership of John Housden and Nigel Grummitt had another good season, taking seven trophies and 49 prize cards, nine of which were firsts.

Runner-up was Stewart McCurry, flying as S and T McCurry, taking four trophies and 25 prize cards, five of them firsts. In third place was Terry Roughton, taking two trophies and 15 prize cards, two of them firsts. Fourth was David Palmer, taking three trophies and 12 prize cards, two of them firsts.

The Blue Ribband event from Lerwick in the Shetlands was once again won by 81-year-old Joe Sawyckyj, taking first and second at a distance of 520 miles. Unfortunately, he could not make it to the presentation because his wife Rene was ill.

Members are looking forward to the new season, with the introduction of a few new stock birds and a further increase in membership for increased competition.

Unlike many racing pigeon clubs, the Wisbech club is seeing a resurgence, with new members joining this year and applications coming in for next year.

This is partly due to the opening of the club's radius to 10 miles and fanciers moving into the area from the Home Counties.