Pigeon Timers in the Past

In the days before advent of clocks (the automatic pigeon timers we use to-day), and at a time when Hansenne was at the very peak of his successful career, it was Gurnay, the fleetest in the district, who performed for him the old-style "running in."  This is to say that young Gurnay "ran in" to club headquarters with the bird (latterly the rubber ring attached to its leg first arriving at Hansenne's loft from the races.  As each member was allotted so much time for running over the distance from his loft to headquarters each fancier endeavored to engage the swiftest runner in the district, hence young Gurnay being enlisted by Hansenne.  Not is it difficult for us, even at this remote period of time, to imagine Gurnay making his all-out effort to beat the clock and gain for Hansenne those vital seconds off race time.

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