Alan the pigeon in a racing first for Spalding Homing Society
A racing pigeon called Alan notched up a first for Spalding Homing Society by winning a prestigious 280-mile race.
Alan was among 4,100 birds liberated in France at 7am on Sunday ... and was back home in Pinchbeck in a speedy six hours and 46 minutes, averaging 48mph.
Owner John Bellerby (71) knew the first birds were expected to reach their home lofts at 1pm but speedy Alan flew in 14 minutes early.
The event was the Midlands National Flying Club Race from Vire, which sits in the Calvados region of Lower Normandy.
John, chairman of Spalding Homing Society, said: “It’s never been won here before.”
Alan will net his owner a £1,000 first prize and John expects to win £200-£300 after confidently placing a bet on the feathered star.
Another of John's pigeons, Maureen, was 6th in the race.
The two-year-old winner was named after the man who gifted him to John.
John said: “He was given to me by a man called Alan, from Hull, who bought him from Belgium.”
One of John’s pigeons, Chappie, landed a national title in 2012, winning the 280-mile North Road from Perth.
John took up pigeon racing aged seven and would like more people to give it a go locally.
Next year Spalding Homing Society has its 100th anniversary but currently the club has only a dozen members.
The society meets at the Tulips Social Club, in Winfrey Avenue, Spalding, and anyone interested can pop along at 6.30pm-7.30pm on a Friday or call John on 01775 725040.
* According to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, our Queen Elizabeth II - and forebears King Edward VII and George V - have achieved notable pigeon race successes with a loft at Sandringham.
The sport was taken up by the masses in the early 1900s and Spalding Homing Society was formed in 1919.
Pigeons were used during the world wars to carry messages, some winning medals for gallantry.
Descended from the rock dove, the first recorded use of pigeons as messengers was in c1200BC.
In the 1800s France had a pigeon postal service, and in 1870 a service between Paris and London was advertised.
