This weeks discussion of the week is…
What do you think the current state of pigeon racing is?
For example do you think pigeon racing is growing or dying and why, express your views and share with others your opinions on the current state of pigeon racing by placing your vote in the poll below then posting a comment in the comment section below this post.
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Whilst iam joining the Federated Board of Homing Unions here in Cape Town our numbers go from 700 to 450 members. The sport was not declining gents, Members moved to other unions or brake up to do their own thing with their own subscription fees or prize money to win. This made and keep them happy. Some are not willing to flew for only a congratetulations hand sake. Others wants to spent more and therefor want a change to make profit and win big. From our side in the Federated Board, youngsters are accommodated with smaller race teams,and flews for trofees. Then the elders “pensoiners” gets subsidie from the Board.
They do not have to pay the full amount. One of our well known bussinessmen sponsered an amount of R300 000 prize money over a period of 3 years. Members has still pay per bird to participate, and these money are used to develop young fanciers and help them moneytory wise. At schools in rural area’s, lofts was put in up as projects to keeps them busy and out of gangsterisme.
I think the sport of pigeon racing is on the decline,and is gong downhill fast.It has turn in to a richmans sport only,the young kids wil not and can not afford to get into the sport.there are not many people that can afford over 8k to 10k a year with the price of clocks feed training and fuel and shipping to races, just to mention a few.I have a family and now on a fixed income so i must say good by to racing and just keep my birds as a hobby.If there was a way to make the sport alittle more afordable to the young i think the sport would take off again.
Hi Chris,
Yes I do think the sport is getting bigger with everyone trying to improve their quality of birds & come out big in the races, for the sport is very very crazy in India. It is also begining to start off with one loft races which I think is good where the prizes will be a lot better which again will surely boost the sport.
Chris, with your help to find ways on how Filipino fanciers can acquire good breeders, maybe the Pigeon Racing in the Philippines will be more exciting and challenging and im very very sure the sports will grow faster.
Mr Inez I may beable to help e-mail me.
Yes, Pigeon racing in the Philippines is fast growing. Major players are in the National Capital Region (NCR) where Manila, the capital city is located and where about 70% of the clubs and fanciers are found. Cebu City is the 2nd area where most of the fanciers are located, I am from Cebu City and I thank The Pigeon Insider for providing fanciers much needed information specially for the beginners.
Major problems of Philippine fanciers is how to get good breeders from the U.S.A. or Europe to improve the breeds now in the country.
Perhaps I may beable to help a fellow countryman e-mail me and I’ll see what I can do.
HI Chris,,
Here in Cape Town, South Africa, personally i have not come across many young guys coming into the sport due to many factors, namely its become expensive and also many new fanciers become despondent when winning becomes very difficult and pack up leave the sport. I think many newcomers start off incorrectly by getting birds from all over the show.
Personally i think that new fanciers must be assisted by the more experienced old hands thats been doing well over the years with a family of consistent pigeons.
Sonny [ Fair Cape ]
Hi Mr Ryland, Iam from the FBHU. Dr Wim Peters takes inisiative by putting up lofts at schools for the Young-ones, and the feedback was great with massive results. I second on that, that fanciers does not make the right moves and that cost money. In my union u can flew only a 10 bird scheme, to cut costs. Theres alot of methods to minimize costs and still enjoy pigeon racing that is deffinetly cheaper than to play golf.
My Husband Grow up with his Father racing Pigeons.When Our children were baby’s my husband built his first loft and was into racing Pigeons. He became sick wasnt able to care for the birds so he got out of it, now he is back into racing pigeons again and our son’s are involed with it, Our boys are 20 and 19 years old we have a grandson 4 and he loves the birds.They built a new loft and attend all the club meetings with their father. they enjoy training the birds,Our Family has always enjoyed nature and out door acttives,We dont have alot of money.We are just country as you can get lol.We have never had alot of money but we have never let that stop us from enjoying what we wanna do, start out small one day you might just become big 🙂 we just keep it simple and fun.
-The Coleman’s
Really loved your post. Thats exactly my mind set. I am new to the sport. Had a very small loft as a boy. Lost interest but it never got out of my system. So I have started a very small urban loft and keep it very very simple. Cost’s are low and enjoyment is high. I love nothing more than to sit on my roof top and watch my birds fly back from a race. Incredible! Love your thinking and the best of luck in the beautiful sport of racing pigeons.
Highflyer
Toronto,Canada.
the pigeon racing scene is in serious decline, its not a cheap hobby that young people can take up these days,the costs now outweigh everything, training (fuel costs) feed, etc.i think pigeon racing as we know it will cease within the next twenty years,vast amounts of money are made by firms supplying the fancy, but not enough is being put back into it to encourage new starters
To me it is very obvious that participation in US club flying is decreasing and has been since the 70’s. The advent of one loft races has taken up the slack in the deminishing club membership numbers. In a way this is a positive thing, however it will only add to the racing club demise. A bright side in pigeon racing is the hispanic guys that are coming into the sport. It may be due in part to the outlawing of cock fighting in all if not most of our states. I am 100 % for the hispanics rapid influx into the sport! The more the better! Overall, most countries seem to be losing flyers with the exception of China and possibly Taiwan. It seems to be thriving in China and it’s a good thing.
LW
Pigeon racing in the UK will go downhill rapidly,if the bird of prey problem carries on the way it is.Far and away to many pigeon killers in the sky,hard to exercise and train our pigeons.I know of one racing pigeon club,that is now a show club,because the fanciers could not exercise their birds.