Not your average pigeon

Not your average pigeon

Once a major tourist destination for Britons heading to the beach, the seaside town of Blackpool now draws a different kind of visitor.

Every January, thousands of pigeon enthusiasts – known as fanciers – flock to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, a 137-year-old, once-grand entertainment complex, to attend the British Homing World Show of the Year.

This year’s gathering, held over January 17 and 18, showcased thousands of pigeons, ranging from birds prized for their endurance and speed to fancy pigeons bred for their appearance.

The pigeons compete in races held between March and September, ranging from 160 kilometres to more than 800 kilometres long.

In the Empress Ballroom, hundreds of pigeons lined up in cages were the object of much attention from visitors who came from as far away as China.

For fanciers, the show is an opportunity to admire the finest pigeons in Britain. For those with a bird in the show, it’s a chance for recognition and to boost the value of their breeding stock.

The show hands out prizes in 62 classes, with one bird named Supreme Champion. With pedigree playing an important role in the pigeon trade, a first-place finish can mean a bird worth thousands of pounds.

Hundreds of pigeons are bought and sold at the show, at auctions and stalls set up by breeding farms.

This year the champ was Wilson, owned by Roland Thresher from Minehead, Somerset, who beat about 2500 birds for top spot.

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