Monday, 10 May 2010 12:12
In spite of the rain and cool weather, the first ever Woodinville Lions Flight for Sight was a success.
The sponsored birds numbered 298 and were from 27 different lofts in the Seattle-Everett area.
The birds were released Saturday, May 1, at 8 a.m. from Wilsonville, Ore., and the winning bird, a blue hen sponsored by The Twisted Cafe in Woodinville, was clocked in at 10:54:26 a.m. at the loft of Tim Wogoman in Des Moines, Wash.
The pigeon, flew the 145.5- mile distance in just under three hours, at a speed of 1476.635 YPM (just over 50 MPH).
The second-place bird, sponsored by Chris Lewis of Minuteman Press in Woodinville, arrived at Mike Strevel’s loft on Whidbey Island at 11:43:07 flying a distance of 185.94 miles at a speed of 1466.730 YPM.
Even though in real time the second-place bird flew the last 40 miles across the rain-swept sound in only 48 minutes, it only lost the race by 33 seconds speed-wise.
Three local racing pigeon clubs, Sno-King, Greater Seattle and Everett supplied birds for the race.
Flight for Sight raised $1,490 with proceeds going to the Woodinville Lions Sight and Hearing program.
The money will be used locally to provide glasses, eye exams and hearing aids to those who otherwise would not be able to afford them.
The Lions also accept old glasses and hearing aids at recycling locations at the Woodinville Library, the Kingsgate Library, Woodinville Pharmacy, Low Vision Clinic, Redwood Eye Clinic and the Woodinville Lions Club, located across from Leota Junior High at 19008 168th Ave. NE. For more information regarding the Woodinville Lions Club or the Flight for Sight race, contact Herb Cartmell at (425) 486-4725.
