Hard Race

[Champbourke08]

Been looking at the Irish "Kings Cup" race recently

I think it's fair to say it's a real tough race

Typically over 400 members send each time to the race, but in the last 5 seasons only SEVEN fanciers have managed to make the result in all 5 races

These birds aren't flying 500 miles either - so you can see why the pigeons that nail the Kings Cup are held in such high esteem


In 2026 the Kings Cup is moving further into France from St Allouestre to Nort-Sur-Erdre

Very hard race for anyone sending they would probably spend most off the time flying over water if im right

[goose1]

Sensible move going further into France in my opinion give the birds a chance to be racing by the time they hit their first lot of water.

Massive admiration for the boys who have timed consistently over the years from these race points into Ireland. One of the first who spring to mind for me would be the Black Family an exceptional record over many many years.

[CHARLTON34]

So do you think that's why return's are so poor in relation to the distance covered across water, if they don't get any height off the water & are say only a few feet above any swell would probably be the end of a lot of entrant's in any race over water.
Yes got to be a tuff race not for the faint hearted.

[king]

So do you think that's why return's are so poor in relation to the distance covered across water, if they don't get any height off the water & are say only a few feet above any swell would probably be the end of a lot of entrant's in any race over water.
Yes got to be a tuff race not for the faint hearted.

Birds don't choose to fly over water if they can avoid it. I put a post on Pigeon Chat a few years ago asking why the Irish persist in racing from Western France? It is probably the worst route they can take. Water from the start and then more water over nearly the entire route home. I asked why they didn't race over the UK main land? The losses could NOT be ay worse than what they are having each year on the current route. I've admiration for the birds that are clocked in good time, but also for those that eventually make it home.
This race reminds me of a pigeon I lost at Rennes, it got reported in Ireland having arrived home with a Kings Cup bird when few birds were clocked on the day. I transfered the bird to the fancier who sent it back to the Kings Cup the following year. Only this time the bird couldn't face the fly to Ireland and came back too me

[Anthony webster]

Remember couple yrs bk lad had GPS on bird it spent over 90 mins circling 1 mile of shore at France it then flew to the corner of Cornwall along the west coast of uk then went west across Irish sea to arklow area and then up the east coast of Ireland in two Belfast I think it was definitely north Ireland.

[Anthony webster]

Even the river Thames my yb would run up and down before they crossed 2nd time over the was fine ,we found the same with the humber at hull with baby's.

[Anthony webster]

Back on subject
Fair play to the birds that get home but I do fill for all the ones that don't return how harsh alife they get after liberation and can't make it home ,,it's not a bit of me them races.