Pigeons have traveled 700 kms in 11 hours – faster than the Indian ‘express’ trains!

For organisers, the time between January to March is suitable for these adventures. The preparations get underway in December itself, when training for the birds includes flight drills of up to 13 hours, and repeated practice to re-enter the loft at the master’s place. Only those pigeons that are able to meet these challenges get to contest in the races. Pigeons aged above between 6 months and 10 years are eligible entrants, though average racing career rarely exceeds three years. They are essentially vegetarians: nuts, wheat, soft flowers, green gram, corn etc keep them flapping fit for the long flights. Members spend Rs 500 per month on the diet of the birds.

Over the last few years KRPC has organised the race in many locations at Karnataka, the starting points being as far afield as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra. Last year, more than a 1000 pigeons proved their pluck in races conducted at Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh); Guntkal, Raichur, Gulbarga (Karnataka) and Wardha, Nanded (Maharashtra). This year, the races at Anantpur, Karnool, Shahad Nagar and Nanded have been accomplished. While the Wardha race will take place this month, the much awaited Bhopal race is scheduled for March. The one over the longest distance, the latter is to be conducted under the aegis of South Indian Federation of Racing Pigeon Club, so that both the constituent Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Club pigeons would jointly contest from Bhopal.


“The air distance between Bhopal to Bangalore and Chennai is almost similar, i.e. 1020 kms. So, we pit our pigeons against those of the Tamil Nadu Club. It is the first time our pigeons will commute such a great distance,” says Chellaiah, Secretary, KRPC. Lest the enthusiasm of the members brimmeth over, only 25 pigeons belonging to KRPC have been allowed to participate in the Bhopal race. The race categories are ‘Young Derby’, ‘Open Bird’, and ‘Derby Bird’. While Young Derby provides stage for debut entrants, the veterans and previous year winners are allowed to participate in Open Bird. In Derby Bird, only one pigeon per member can participate.....Continue