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Love of racing pigeons binds and the RoyalFamily Gooroetown Acton Wednesday March by earn What do Acton mitosis have In common with the Royal Family Answer They race pigeons What do a handful of racing pigeons have in common with Billy Bilbao They were decora led for braver for flying during the war In fact one racing pigeon named Gibraltar wounded by shrapnel near the front flew miles over water to deliver an important message which saved the lives of thousands of soldiers during arid War If you want to know a few more littleluiown facta about pigeons Harry Foley former president of Acton Racing Pigeon Club or any of the club 30 members raise and race the specially bred birds all over the province Foley began racing the birds in Greet Britain in My had pigeons in 1K1 Foley ex plained Then I got some of my own a few years later and kept them until the war broke Britain racing pigeons were commandeered by the armed forces during the war for carrying messages across enemy lines Foley explained After the war he returned to his racing but sold most of his to pay his fare to Canada in 1977 He Joined up with Acton Racing Pigeon Club started in 1950s by Colin MeColl and began raising more birds over here The club went dormant in the 1960s but in 1974 it was brought back to life by another Acton am resident George Kolozsvan Now there are about members in the area racing pigeons annually throughout Ontario and the United States As a hobby the cost is minimal Foley keeps birds in his back yard coop and pays about a year to feed them corn and mixed seed Membership in the club is S3 annually Membership to the Canadian Union of Racing Pigeons are banded with an I number cost a dime apiece Race entry is cents per bird with a dollar lucked toward the trophy The pigeons he Mid are easy to keep They re let out every couple of days and they fly around the coop But they don go off and land on the streets he added The pigeons you see hanging around streets and buildings racing pigeons The birds take several training flights each month during racing season up to miles from the home roost as the crow flies Training flights get the young birds used to travelling long distances in a basket then flying long distances home again Some pigeons go astray on the long flight but if they doo t arrive home it is usually because they have fallen afoul of hawks or hydro wires They fly fast Race winnen are judged by velocity not by who gets home first On a 60mile flight my pigeon may arrive home an hour earlier than someone else but the other bird may be declared the winner because he had farther lo fly Foley explained The birds are Issued special race bands before a race When they arrive at the coop they are cap tured and the band is removed and dropped inside a special clock winch prints the time of arrival to the second In a short race the birds can fly more than a mile a minute In longer races of up to 800 miles the birds fly only during daylight hours and rest up during the night A racing day from to pm and a bird who arrives at the coop at JO a half hour after the official dosing time not clocked In until JO the following morning Foley said But a bud that will fly after sundown is a good racer Good racing those who behave themselves and avoid the oven can lead productive lives for eight or nine years Foley said A winning racer worth about about years ago might now sell for S3 They re pretty pricey these pigeons Some breeders ask for a young bird The average price he said is for two young bulls Foley how ever doesn sell his birds often If I find a young person interested in racing I give some of mine to start with Pigeon racing won t get you rich but some of the prizes are nothing to squawk about The Hamilton Racing Pigeon Associations an International longdistance race offers up to prizes and cash The race attracts entries from all over North America Europe and even Japan It takes more than a good pigeon to win a race Foley maintains It about per cent bird 40 per cent owner The owner has to see that the bird is healthy well rained and in good racing A person who sends five birds In good condition to a race Is more likely to win than someone who sends too birds who in Two men injured in crash Two men were taken to Milton District Hospital early last Wednesday morning after a single car crash near Rock wood William of Greenore Acton was southbound on Wellington Cou Road SO the Harris St enslon about 3am when he failed to negotiate a curve went into a ditch and struck a tree according to OPP Police estimate in dam age to the car A passing mot oris took Watklns and a passenger Karry Thompson of MillsldeDr Milton to hospital Barry TlMLECK SUITE 16M0UNTAMV EW GEORGETOWN 12t Main St N Acton LATE YOUVE MADE YOUR VACATION PLANS NOW YOU NEEDTHE CASH TO GETAWAY A vacation loan that makes sense to you will probably make sense to us So come in and talk it today We know you need more than a vacation You need the best possible vacation financing At the Commerce we can help make it happen CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE Harry Foley and his grandson Darren admire one of the 40odd racing pigeons kept in the coop behind their Acton home Harry Is oar of 30 members of Racing Pigeon Hub Legion happenings by Harry Norton Comrade EG CD Service Bureau Officer of the Royal Canadian Legion will be visiting the Branch on April Anyone wanting information advice or assistance regarding disability pensions Treatment for entitled veterans Hon for benevolent funds or Appeals against adverse original applications for War Veterans and Widows allowances should contact our Branch Service Officer Vic Patrick by March to make an appoint ment Branch 114 is hosting the Zone Billiards tournament on April 9 The dead line for registration is March If you are interested In playing get your name on the list on the bulletin board or get in touch with Comrade Jim Hughes the Zone Sports Officer Saturday March should be a real fun evening at the Branch Come on out and try and win some Easter goodies at the turkey roll In the auditorium Chances to win Turkeys hams steaks or pork chops will be going on from 8 to 10 m Tickets will also Easter meat basket for The draw wilt be made at the same evening Kent Tocher will be providing the entertainment In the games room during the evening so once you have madeyour lucky roll come on out and Roll with Kent The regular monthly meeting of the Branch executive will be held on Monday March If you have anything of general Interest for the Branch or a personal pro blem you would like discussed by your executive get in touch with President Jim or any other member of the live before the meeting Advance money to library board The Library Board received an advance payment on their IMS levy township council approved the advance of because u councillor John GWa explained the board is dnperattty short of funds