Try telling Jessica Taylor -- or her grandmother -- that pigeon racing is an old man's sport and they will quickly put you straight.

Five-year-old Jessica is already a racing fanatic rearing birds alongside her grandmother Delyse Smith at their loft in Ingrow and they are among the first members of a new pigeon racing club, the first new club to be set up in they area for decades.

"It is a superb sport, and after years in to doldrums is now growing in popularity again," Selyse said.

Together with Jessica's dad, Jason, and a number of other local racers they have set up the Keighley and Worth Valley Flying Club which will hold its races over the 'Middle Route' in which birds fly up the centre of England.

The six established club in the area are members of the Pennine Valleys Federation and their birds fly up the west side of the country. They head up the country and turn right about Stockport, then have to fly over the Pennine hills to reach the local lofts.

"The trouble is that it is a tough route for the birds, it is tiring, some get caught up with racing birds heading into Wales and get lost, others are taking by hawks which live in the hills so club members loose quite a few birds," Jason Taylor said.

"Using the 'Middle Route' they fly up a level part of the country and right up the Aire Valley so fewer birds should go missing."

The new club has recently been admitted to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and starts its racing season in April. Anyone wanting to join or get more information can contact the secretary on 01535-608786.

Meanwhile Jessica has her pigeons in training ready for the start of the season when the real fascination of the sport will start.

"Everyone involved in the sport is amazed that you can send your birds all the way to the middle of France and they find their way back to hut on a hillside in Keighley," Jason said.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.