Distance
And The Racing Pigeon
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One
thousand, seven hundred and sixty yards
is a distance, and this distance is
traditionally referred too as a mile.
So distance can be defined as a measured
length
between two points. Or within the sport
of pigeon racing the measurement in miles
or
metres between the pigeons point of release
and their home lofts.
Distance
traditionally within the sport has been
broken down into three strands
namely short (sprint), middle and long
distance. Of course as the distance was
extended the word 'marathon' became more
and more a part of pigeon racing parlance.
There
is no universal agreement what miles or
metres constitutes the three or indeed
the additional fourth strand. But it could
be in the miles category as follows:
Short
Distance: 0 to 200 miles.
Middle Distance: 201- 400 miles.
Long Distance : 401 - 600 miles.
Marathon Distance: 601 plus.
In
normal flying conditions the latter definitions
are acceptable as long as we acknowledge
that weather for example can intervene
and turn a middle distance race into something
akin to a marathon. We need however a
workable definition and I believe the
above are fair as long as we consider
the many factors that can effect the velocity
of the racing birds. So the present definition
refers to long distance as between
401 and 601 miles plus.

by: Liam O Comain
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