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