DEVIZES youngster Bethany Davies is following in her father's footsteps by spreading her wings in the world of pigeon racing.

The 13-year-old Devizes School pupil, a member of the Bromham-based Wiltshire Continental Flying Club, shone at a race beginning Fougeres, France, in May, clinching first and second place within her club and fifth-place in the Wiltshire and District South Road Federation.

The teenager's dad, Don, was a member of the same club when he raced pigeons.

“One day, a stray landed in the garden and we called up the owner, but they said they didn’t want it – we decided to keep it for a bit and I decided I wanted to try racing pigeons,” she said.

“My dad had told me a few stories about when he did and I've been doing it for about three years now.

“We’ve got three garden sheds that we’ve turned into pigeon lofts and I’ve got lots of pets.

“I’ve got about 50 birds – dad feeds them and I make sure they've got water and that they sit on dummy eggs so that they don't have lots of babies.

“It’s just really interesting and people are always asking what it’s like and what you have to do.”

Dad Don added: “I raced about 30 years ago but gave it up – it’s really nice to see her doing it.

“Back when I joined, it was called Devizes Flying Club. The name changed but it’s the same club.

“She’s always off to places like Truro and Plymouth, and as far as France, and she’s been doing well.

“There aren’t many girls that do, especially young ones. She’s out there competing with a lot of old boys.”

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