Pigeon racing has beaten snooker and horse racing to be the first sport to return following the easing of lockdown restrictions in England.
More than 4,000 birds belonging to members of the Barnsley Federation of Racing Pigeons were released from a park in Kettering on Monday morning for a 90-mile sprint back to South Yorkshire.
The first arrivals landed out of the almost clear blue skies one hour and 52 minutes after they set off from Kettering.
Retired miner Mr Greenshield, 72, said the green light came earlier than many expected and so many of the birds are far from “match fit”.
Mr Greenshield said: “This is a very strong ex-mining area and I worked in the pits for 41 years.
“So many people have lost people in the mines or are living with illnesses.
“The racing is something for people to get out of bed for. People are really looking forward to it.
“I think it would have killed some off if there hadn’t been racing until next year.
“It’s like putting oxygen back into the area.”
He said they probably would have broken into smaller groups around the Blyth area, on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border.
Mr Greenshield said there was a headwind, which limited the times, but he was pleased with the morning’s flying.
