SPORTS
Athletes in the sky: Local couple breeds, races world class athletes
By Jordan Neal
sports@bowienewsonline.com
When one looks at a bird flying in the sky, usually we do not see the birds as athletes. For those involved in pigeon racing clubs across the world, the pigeons they raise and breed are world-class athletes.
“They’re a thoroughbred in the sky,” Paul Daniel said. “I mean they are an athlete, it’s just amazing. It’s just like a race horse.”
Chico resident Paul has been around pigeons his whole life. His dad raised them, but did not race them. Paul was drawn to pigeon racing and has been doing it for a little more than 20 years under the Flying D name. Paul and his wife Kimberly recently opened up the Flying D Lakeside Store and RV Park in Bowie.
“We’ve got tons and tons of races we enter all over the country,” Paul said. “Every year we travel to go to these races. It’s been lots of our vacations and stuff because the ‘pigeon family’ has real down home country kind of people. A lot of them are a little older folks, but we’re like a big family. Everybody can’t wait to see each other. Certain parts of the time of year, when everybody gets together for big races, it’s just a big get together and people have a blast.”
The pigeons Paul and his wife Kimberly raise are capable of flying several hundreds of miles at a time at speeds of around 60 miles an hour. They also must have that racer’s instinct that only comes from breeding champion pigeons.
“You’ve got to have a quality pigeon,” Paul said. “Bloodlines. Genetics. It has to be a quality bird. I can’t make a mule a racehorse. I can’t win the Kentucky Derby with a mule.”
Read the full story in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death