Pigeon racing
After yesterday's eventing photo, here is another of Britain's less well known but ancient sports, pigeon racing.
By chance, we came across three specialised lorries parked up on high ground, just inland from the south coast. They were all loaded with racing pigeons. We chatted to the drivers who had driven overnight from the West Midlands. They were waiting for adverse weather to clear between Dorset and the West Midlands before releasing the birds.
A driver showed us a video of a release on his phone (see below). Apparently, for race purposes, they take a video to show a 'clean' and fair release. He said the birds will circle once to get their bearings and then race back home. The distance from the south coast to the West Midlands would be approximately 150 miles. With an average flight speed of over 70mph, he reckoned they would take about 2 hours to get back home.
Pigeon racing
After yesterday's eventing photo, here is another of Britain's less well known but ancient sports, pigeon racing.
By chance, we came across three specialised lorries parked up on high ground, just inland from the south coast. They were all loaded with racing pigeons. We chatted to the drivers who had driven overnight from the West Midlands. They were waiting for adverse weather to clear between Dorset and the West Midlands before releasing the birds.
A driver showed us a video of a release on his phone (see below). Apparently, for race purposes, they take a video to show a 'clean' and fair release. He said the birds will circle once to get their bearings and then race back home. The distance from the south coast to the West Midlands would be approximately 150 miles. With an average flight speed of over 70mph, he reckoned they would take about 2 hours to get back home.