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.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]