Mexborough & Swinton Times, October 7th, 1932

Fast Birds

Wombwell Breeders Run of Successes

House-Proud Pigeons

Among the successes recorded in South Yorkshire home in circles this year those of Mr Herbert Clarke, of 65 Barnsley Rd, stand prominent.

Mexborough & Swinton Times, October 7th, 1932

Mr. Clarke has had a long experience in pigeon flying circles having kept birds for at least twenty years. For a considerable period he was connected with the old Wombwell Homing Society, the head-quarters being at the “Alma Inn.” at which he was licencee.

After a lapse of about five years he re-commenced flying with the Royal Oak Homing Society. He has been with this Society for the past two seasons This season Mr. Clarke has had remarkable success with young birds of his own breeding. These came of last year’s stock, which for the most part were introduced from Ireland.

Altogether he has about forty birds and these are accommodated under conditions of hygiene and cleanliness that are not excelled in many human habitations. He believes the pigeons are “cote-conscious” and like ordinary people have a certain pride in their homes. Anyway his dictum is comfort and cleanliness for success in racing.

Mr. Clarke contends that a pigeon having a good home is naturally anxious to get back to it as, quickly as possible. Perhaps his best bird —it you press him to pick and choose among them—is a red pied two years old cock, which is worth anything up to £5 or £6. One of the sons of this bird is also a very valuable flyer. His lofts are on elevated ground in the allotment gardens of Summer Lane extension.

This season, which commenced in May, Mr. Clarke has had eleven successes in twelve races. These were first and second at Banbury and Gosport, second and third at Didcot, and two thirds at Leicester and Rugby, in the old bird class: one first and two seconds at Banbury, Leicester and Gosport, in the young bird class. His average for both classes is 1061 yards per minute and only one other person throughout the Barnsley Federation has beaten it. The difference between the two averages is a matter of eight yards. Hence Mr. Clarke has only just failed to qualify for the gold medal and .65 awarded by the Federation.

This year Mr. Clarke established a record by flying several young birds across the Channel. It is quite a usual thing for the club to send old pigeons over the water but never before has any member risked sending young birds with success. The cross-Channel flight was from Jersey, slightly over 300 miles. The older birds flew from Marrones, a distance of 532 miles.

Another successful member of the Royal Oak Society is Mr. Albert Burrows, of Melville Street, Wombwell. Mr. Burrows has been keeping homers all his life and be too was a member of the old Wombwell society. He has had only one season with the present society and has never been out of the first three in the young birds class. He has had two firsts at Rugby and Basinstoke, and four thirds at Leicester, Banbury Didcot and Gosport. His average is 1110 yards per minute which, it will be seen, is only slightly below that of Mr. Clarke.

The Society to which these men belong has established a remarkable standard in the County considering that their membership does not exceed twelve. They possess a large number of pigeons and have flown 600 old birds and 591 young ones this year.