HIS racing career has already seen him win the Hampshire Two Bird race from Saintes in France and come fifth in the Open Poitiers National.

So far he has won his owner, Southampton pigeon fancier Robert Jones around £1,000.

And this year Mr Jones has high hopes for one of his best birds, which he has named Echo the Pigeon. We will be following his progress throughout the racing season – which hopefully will include some more big wins. Mr Jones has won numerous races, even netting enough money to buy his house with the proceeds.

Echo, also known as GB0776409, is a Soojen- Hartog cross from good stock. The blue cock has been recently rearing his two chicks, which are set to be sent to Sun City in South Africa to take part in the ‘Million Dollar Race’. The birds will be trained in South Africa. It takes place next January.

Echo is currently resting and building up his strength ready to start race training at the end of next month.

Once the pigeons begin training they are at risk of falling prey to hawks – Robert has around 100 adult birds and 150 chicks. He loses some 20 pigeons a year to predators.

Fingers crossed that Echo isn’t one of them.