BUSSELTON Pigeon Club held their 2014 windup last weekend at Stilts café. After a relaxing lunch, awards were presented by club president Ant Sharman. It was a sensational year of racing with all members having success at some stage of the year but when velocities were tallied up it was a race in two between Steve Almighty King and Rotten Ron Blackwell, with The Almighty One claiming Flyer of the Year honours by 800 metres per minute.
King has three outstanding pigeons, led by Bird of the Year a three year old Grizzle hen aptly named Grizzelda.
This particular bird won Wannoo Leeman and was second at Carnarvon.
Although he lost the Flyer of the Year tag Blackwell had the standout performance of the year and probably in club history, when his Goodyer hen named Gwens Revenge was clocked on the day from Carnarvon.
This had never been achieved before in the club, and to do it when temperatures hit 34 degrees in Perth, was nothing short of mind-blowing.
This particular bird was the culmination of seven years of selective breeding from the master and has elevated him to legend status in the club.
Another performance of note was that of the Brennan clan led by Mick and Sharon when in a very hard Galena they were the only members to get birds on the day. The remarkable thing was they got six out of six, a Herculean effort from their charges and a testament to their training techniques.
Special mention must go to young Jo Trumpeter Chapple who at 12 years old started racing with a handful of young birds and by seasons end was more than holding his own and will be a danger to the seniors next season.
Steve Almighty King received the following awards: flyer of the year, single hen, open aged derby, Steve Jenkins memorial trophy, longest three race average, cock and hen race. Rotten Ron Blackwell received the Longest Race award.
Mick and Sharon Brennan took home the Busselton Cup and young birds derby was awarded to Peter Adams.
