Catch the rich pigeon!
Friday, 24 October 2008
Mr C. Richmond, local agent for Verse-Laga and H. Beattie & Son Food Supplies with race organisers Sean Diamond and Trevor Steele. Richmond Feed Suppliers are feed and supplement sponsors of the 2009 "North Coast Classic" One Loft Race.
COLERAINE is to host one of the richest ever pigeon races ever seen in Ireland next year - with £35,000 in prize money up for grabs to both pigeon fanciers and non-enthusiasts alike.
The North Coast Classic One Loft Race is based on a successful template enjoyed in other countries, not least South Africa where the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race boasts a first prize of £850,000 and attracts almost 5,000 birds.
The north coast event promises to be a smaller affair but nonetheless will still offer £10,000 to the winner, with the top 30 finishers all sharing in the overall prizemoney. In addition, the top 100 birds will be auctioned off at the climax of the race with the respective owners pocketing half the profits.
And the good news is that anyone can enter and have a chance of winning the prizemoney: according to one of the organisers Trevor Streele, the attraction of 'one loft racing' is that once you have entered your bird you don't actually have to do anything. "The whole idea of one loft racing is that anyone can enter a bird," confirmed fellow organiser Sean Diamond, a well-known figure in the world of pigeon-racing. "You can either pay your entry fee and supply your own bird or pay the entry fee and we will supply a bird for you.
“All the young birds will be of a similar age and housed in the one loft so that no-one has an advantage. The birds will theoretically start from the same point, meaning that everyone should have a chance of winning, whether you are a pigeon fancier or not."
Around 1,200 birds are expected to feature in the race, as well as a series of five 'hot-spot' races from various locations throughout Ireland in the lead-up to the main event which will set off from Cork in September.
Pigeon-fanciers from across Ireland are already registering their interest while the mayor of Coleraine, Cllr David Barbour, was given a bird on Saturday when he helped to launch the race: any prizemoney won by this bird will go to a charity of the mayor's choosing.
But perhaps the most exciting development is the one which lets local businesses enter the race series with the bird carrying the name of the business.
“It's a really exciting development," said Trevor. "In return for buying a bird, the business or company will be able to advertise on our website and have links to other websites, including their own.
“In return, we are proposing a number of VIP corporate days when bird owners can come along with their guests and watch the race unfold. There will be food and drink laid on and lots of entertainment and businesses will have plenty of photo opportunities to advertise their business. They will also be there to watch their own bird arrive home - maybe even in the top 30 finishers.
“We hope to make pigeon racing fun for all and show that there's more to it than the traditional image. Pigeon racing is a huge sport - it's the national sport in Belgium - and there are more than 200 clubs throughout Ireland with around 20,000 members so we're expecting a huge demand for this race."
Entries are currently being taken and will be accepted up until the end of January. They are being accepted on a first come, first served basis with organisers expecting to close the entries at 1,200 birds.
“If we get more than that then we will probably increase the prize money," continued Trevor. "We have been very fortunate in that we have received the backing of a number of companies and Coleraine Borough Council and interest is already strong.
“Once we have our entries complete and the birds housed in the loft, owners can keep an eye on them via the very latest technology - 'Motion Touch' - which lets you have a look at the birds from the comfort of your own home and that'll be the same for the races.
“It's an exciting development for the sport here and we're really looking forward to the New Year."
