The Young Birds Final Race took place from Hexham on Sunday 26th August, a distance of 203 miles. The birds were marked late on Saturday afternoon, and transported up to the liberation point by Martin Fitzpatrick. A full report is here, and a gallery of images taken on the day is below.
While ripping out an old fireplace at a derelict house in Surrey, David and Ann Martin found what they thought to be a discarded chicken bone, but which on closer inspection turned out to be the remains of a pigeon. Attached to the bird’s foot was a small red cylinder, and inside they found a coded message that was almost certainly dispatched […]
Comedian Tim FitzHigham and a recording crew recently spent two days at the RPRA One Loft in Tewkesbury – trying to prove an 18th Century bet! Tim is making a series of programmes for BBC Radio 4 based around historic sporting bets. Many of his exploits are available on YouTube, including crossing the channel in a bath. The […]
To coincide with the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Friday 27th July, a release of pigeons took place from Manchester City FC’s Etihad Stadium, thanks to Derek Partridge and assistance from local fanciers. A group of 80 disabled & non-disabled children from Manchester were tasked with the honour of releasing the birds. One of the […]
The Show of the Year Committee has helped young Joshua Freeman to receive much needed medical treatment in the USA. Just another example of the Show of the Year Committee helping worthy causes. Josh is getting closer to realising his dream of walking, thanks to the generous efforts of fundraisers who have rallied round to bring […]
Hot on the heels of Percy’s trip to Canada, we’ve had a report of another pigeon going a very long way astray. A 2011 blue cock, belonging to Fred Lock of Leeds, was liberated from Lillers on 26th May, and turned up in The Bahamas some weeks later! On Sunday 16th July the Locks received the following e-mail and […]
Cropthorne with Charlton CofE First School, near Pershore in Worcestershire, have a bird entered in the 2012 One Loft Race, which has been donated free of charge by John Fretwell of Twyford, near Evesham. John recently visited the school, taking along a number of pigeons and speaking to the pupils about the sport. Alison Paul sent us these […]
Members of Carrick & District Homing Society worked closely with workers from South Ayrshire’s Community Safety Team to deliver the latest ‘Doo the Right Thing’ Project. A presentation on pigeon racing was given to the school’s Primary 5 pupils, which consisted of an outline of the history of pigeon racing, names of famous people who […]
Watch this brilliant light-hearted film from Martell Animation. At the end there is also a link to some fascinating podcasts on the making of the film, including this one showing how Lucas Martell modelled the pigeon character.
Long-time RPRA member Dennis Sanders of Great Barr, Birmingham, carried the Olympic Torch through the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley when it visited his home city on Saturday 30th June. Dennis, now 75, is an army veteran, and has been releasing white pigeons at military commemorations and memorial services for many years. In fact, HM The Queen […]
January 4th, 2021
January 4th, 2021
December 10th, 2020
