Racing Pigeon Post
The content (content being images, text, sound and video files, programmes and scripts) of this website is copyright of Racing Pigeon Post. All rights expressly reserved.
Articles.
The Narbonne International
The Narbonne International result dropped through the letter-box this morning and surprise surprise, although only one British pigeon made it to the full International result the entire British Open result including the names of our sponsors was included as a separate entry at the back of the book. This means 2809 continental fanciers (the number of fanciers who took part) from France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will see the entire British result before their eyes for a whole year.
They will of course make their own assessment of our effort and if wise will take into account the channel crossing and the weather. I see this as a triumph on the part of the Narbonne Open organisation for no other British result has ever been published in an International result as far as I know.
Also, as far as I can see, my pigeon was the longest flying bird clocked, a bit further than my old mate who I wrote about in my book; Jelle Outhuyse of Harlingen in Friesland. Jelle was flying 1129 km while I was flying 1200 km (750 miles) so when I next visit Harlingen I will have that extra bit of ‘pigeon cred’ - still not much but when you are desperate any little helps.
I hope this inclusion in the International result will go some way to boost the numbers taking part next year for you can’t tell me British fanciers do not want the kind of worldwide publicity the continental fanciers already get as of right. I am sure they do and some top names will regret not sending this year considering their name would go world wide by virtue of clocking a pigeon out of Narbonne and being presented with their certificate at the House of Commons. Marathon pigeon racing and the sport itself needs all the publicity it can get for without it no amount of charity donations can adequately replace the nobility earned for the sport by the pigeon itself flying long painful distances just to sit on a pair of eggs.
John Clements
Also, as far as I can see, my pigeon was the longest flying bird clocked, a bit further than my old mate who I wrote about in my book; Jelle Outhuyse of Harlingen in Friesland. Jelle was flying 1129 km while I was flying 1200 km (750 miles) so when I next visit Harlingen I will have that extra bit of ‘pigeon cred’ - still not much but when you are desperate any little helps.
I hope this inclusion in the International result will go some way to boost the numbers taking part next year for you can’t tell me British fanciers do not want the kind of worldwide publicity the continental fanciers already get as of right. I am sure they do and some top names will regret not sending this year considering their name would go world wide by virtue of clocking a pigeon out of Narbonne and being presented with their certificate at the House of Commons. Marathon pigeon racing and the sport itself needs all the publicity it can get for without it no amount of charity donations can adequately replace the nobility earned for the sport by the pigeon itself flying long painful distances just to sit on a pair of eggs.
John Clements