Pigeon racing, despite being beloved and steeped in tradition, is a complex discipline where subtle rules and regulations play a crucial role. An intriguing facet of this sport is the involvement of "old pigeons," referring to birds not born in the current year, in this case, 2023. Many enthusiasts begin the season with these old pigeons in April and temporarily suspend their participation in races, only to reintroduce them in September, whether they are on the nest or not, for the September flights.
According to the regulations of the Royal Belgian Pigeon Racing Federation (KBDB), it is not allowed for old and young pigeons to fly together in a single result until the weekend of the last national flight of the season, scheduled for September 9, 2023. Consequently, old and young pigeons could not yet compete together in a single result this past weekend, which may seem peculiar given that most championships are nearing completion and there are few pigeons left for these flights. Enthusiasts preparing their old pigeons for the September races consider this a notable gap in the KBDB rules, and frankly, they have a valid point. Why shouldn't old and young pigeons be allowed to fly together in a single result starting from September?
It is high time that the KBDB adapts its rules to the current situation. Today's pigeon racing differs significantly from that of a decade ago, and it is imperative that regulations evolve with the sport. It is already peculiar that separate flights to Momignies and Laon are still organized in September, each with only a handful of pigeons. Isn't it time to arrange a single speed race in September?
In our local club, Vrancken Bruno has achieved remarkable results with his old pigeons, but unfortunately, these birds had to fly separately, limiting his participation to a result with a limited number of competing pigeons. Even with the involvement of four local associations (Samenspel Hageland), there were few old pigeons in the competition. It is high time to restructure the September races to make pigeon racing more appealing, even for old pigeons.
We hope that various stakeholders within the KBDB read these words and take action regarding the September races. Otherwise, the relevance of racing with old pigeons in September may diminish. The evolution of pigeon racing requires adaptability and change, and now is the moment to embrace these changes for the future of the sport.
Naam schrijver: Buelens, Geert