The
Wonderful Spectacle of Long Distance Pigeon
Racing
(Within The New Millenium)
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Within
the pigeon racing media almost every month
we hear of another race or a series of races
leading up to an ultimate race whereby some
one is declared the winner. What I have in
mind are the numerous one loft races which
have caught on or are catching the imaginations
of fanciers world wide. Of course the appearance
of such racing was only a matter of time for
the pigeon fancy has progressive thinkers.
A big attraction of such racing is that for
a sum a fancier could enter a bird and, in
doing so, beat a master of the sport at the
same time. Thus the chances of an equal footing
are better so it is argued by supporters of
the one loft races. In addition, other people
will save you labour by taking and preparing
your entrant/entrants and at the end of the
exercise ones bank balance could be enhanced.
Of course, I have nothing against the development
for the sport must be a democracy but, like
the apparent increase in sprint and middle
distance competition (which I acknowledge
is a quite legitimate exercise), I am apprehensive
about the possible threat to the wonderful
spectacle of long distance pigeon racing.
Such
a threat does not exist, could be the reaction
of some to my apprehension or fear. But like
many other aspects of human culture, a new development
can weaken or lead to the demise of other aspects
so much so that what is left is a mere skeleton
of the original. By many this is put down to
human taste and development but I think it's
sad that many good parts of one's culture can
just disappear all in the name of the god of
progress.
Long-
distance racing has progressed since the origins
of the sport in Europe and although there are
many who are quite content to fly the sprints
and middle- distances, nevertheless there is
something wonderful, something special about
welcoming home one's entrant or entrants in
races which sap their strength and will power.
We know that there may be no day arrivals and
we may have to wait long hours in all sorts
of weather conditions, but we cannot deny that
there is something mystical about the whole
experience. And when we do time in- what joy!
In fact position or prize is secondary and,
to many, irrelevant compared to the excitement
of seeing a return after hundreds of soul destroying
miles littered with many obstacles both alive
and inanimate. What other sport can compare
with this? None! Now inspite of this richness
which adds to our lives as human beings, statistics
shows that there are many areas throughout the
world where the sport is on the wane.
This partly arises from our failure to attract
the young, to our ranks. However, if the trend
continues and the interest in the shorter races
up to 300 miles grows we have confirmation of
my initial apprehension about the future of
distance racing. Interestingly enough, I have
heard and read comments from the famous and
the less well known that are critical of distance
racing, both within and without the fancy. Perhaps
this negativity arises from the development
of short distance strains and as you have to
use more than one form of management to compete,
although there are exceptions, an extra burden
exists which canbe lightened if one discards
the distant races. In truth there are opinions
which imply that the distant races are a form
of mass cruelty. Such thinking sooner or later
will be of interest to the lobby against cruelty
to animals. Therefore we of the fancy must not
leave ourselves open to such possible allegations
by ensuring that our birds are convoyed and
treated like royalty prior to their release
from Barcelona or wherever. In truth I would
be dismayed if I thought that reality did not
prevail at the present.
With increasing emphasis being placed upon the
shorter races, naturally the flying system being
applied is more suitable to that type of racing,
which would suggest that there exists the danger
that the long- distance type of pigeon could
be lost or demoralized prior to having a chance
to show its worth in the races of its ancestors.
Now I don't want to appear alarmist here, nor
to write for the sake of writing, for even we
scribes are prone to falling to that type of
addiction, but it is better to have a think-
in now rather than wait for the skeleton to
transform into dust.
Therefore
it is neither adversarial nor controversial
if you try to motivate the National Flying Clubs
and other regional and national bodies not to
fall into complacency. For, believe it or not,
there are danger signs out there and our sport
is not immune.
As
for the individual or general fancier, each
dog must have its day, therefore if the shorter
races or one loft races are your fancy then
so be it. But to the person who fancies the
distances (and that may become a minority compared
to what it was decades ago) all National bodies
must ensure that the right to fly the distances
is sacrosanct. As a precaution, the existence
of distance bodies are to be welcomed, for their
existence goes somewhat towards alleviating
my apprehension re the future of long distance
pigeon racing. In fact I would like to see evolving
in due course a world or european body for the
preservation and promotion of distance racing.

by: Liam O Comain