SIR – Shame on you, rats of the sky indeed! Racing pigeons are the supreme athlete, cultivated over the last 200years. Dependent on weather conditions they can attain speeds from 30 to 100 mph for distances of 1,000 plus miles. No jockey, no track to run

SIR - Shame on you, rats of the sky indeed!

Racing pigeons are the supreme athlete, cultivated over the last 200years.

Dependent on weather conditions they can attain speeds from 30 to 100 mph for distances of 1,000 plus miles.

No jockey, no track to run around, just a love of home.

It's one of the few hobbies(sports) that has a level playing field; young, old, wealthy, not so wealthy and disabled, of any gender, can participate.

And yes we are accountable to governing bodies; DEFRA for instance can and does stop us racing and showing on a whim.

So my friend whoever you are. Rats of the sky never! Pocket rockets maybe. Sixteen ounces of pure guts, just another marvel of nature and man's ingenuity.

So please don't condemn out of hand. Get to know your foe before you commit yourself to war.

On a lighter note, unlike you and I they cannot be taught use the loo, hence manna from heaven.

J Pilsworth, Hitchin.