A MINEHEAD pigeon fancier has scooped an im-peck-able award being named the Supreme Show Champion of Great Britain.

Roland and Julie Thresher took their pigeon, Wilson, to the British Homing World Show of the Year in Blackpool where he won the prestigious award.

“I’m really pleased we won the award,” said Roland.

“It’s a big award and I’m really proud because it’s an award that my dad won before.”

Pigeon rearing and showing has been in Roland’s family for four generations, with Roland’s grandfather starting the tradition and Roland’s son continuing to keep pigeons.

“I’ve been keeping pigeons since I was nine years old,” Roland told the County Gazette.

The show features around 1,000 show pigeons and 2,000 racing pigeons from all over the country competing for the best in each of the 32 classes.

Stewart Wardrop, general manager at the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, compared Wilson to being the Lionel Messi of the pigeon world. “I don’t see him as great as that,” said Roland.

“He’s a good pigeon with a lot of luck.”