Is this the true state of play.

[Devo1956]

i dont think it is just the racing pigeon sport in decline, every sport as its price. Most sport can be watched on TV, which helps in the pocket. The sad thing about the racing pigeon sport. Like King says this as been going on for a good number of years. It is a case of clinging on to what we have. Enjoy what you have, and make the most of it.

[Diamond Dave]

Hello King, hope all is well.
The point I was making about the fishing thing was not as a comparison but to show what can be done with a bit of initiative.
I was not necessarily referring to kids coming into the sport but other targets - maybe newly retired ppl.?
I agree, we will never get back to the glory days but to see the governing body sit back and just do nothing but rape what we do have just winds me up.
It doesn't need the rpra to spend money - there are loads of things that can be done by the members, maybe even the ppl making money out of it like the studs and auctioneers etc - it is after all in their best intrrest but it does need someone with a bit of forward thinking to initiate these things and sadly the ppl charged with running the RPRA couldn't give a toss.

Just for Bowbroom (hope you are well too) in anticipation of your suggesting that I join the hierarchy so that I can make a difference - I wouldn't give them the drippings from my nose!!

[king]

Hello King, hope all is well.
The point I was making about the fishing thing was not as a comparison but to show what can be done with a bit of initiative.
I was not necessarily referring to kids coming into the sport but other targets - maybe newly retired ppl.?
I agree, we will never get back to the glory days but to see the governing body sit back and just do nothing but rape what we do have just winds me up.
It doesn't need the rpra to spend money - there are loads of things that can be done by the members, maybe even the ppl making money out of it like the studs and auctioneers etc - it is after all in their best intrrest but it does need someone with a bit of forward thinking to initiate these things and sadly the ppl charged with running the RPRA couldn't give a toss.

Just for Bowbroom (hope you are well too) in anticipation of your suggesting that I join the hierarchy so that I can make a difference - I wouldn't give them the drippings from my nose!!

The trouble is Dave the sport is out of the hands of the working man. Many thought that a modern approach and the use of technology would save the sport. MONEY runs the sport and the costs just keep raising. Whilst those making the money out of the sport need it to continue, they will always put their OWN interests first.

[Murray]

There is no initiative from the RPRA to even attempt a recruitment drive and there never has been.
I have aslked this question before -What happened to the 'future of the sport' committee? What did it achieve, where are the results of the monies spent? It didn't and there aren't any - just another 'jolly' to gets freebie abroad to see how other countries addressed it!!

I went to an open day at a fishery last w.end it was specifically set up to give youngsters a go at fishing.
It was brilliant. Loads of fisherman gave up their kit for the day, free bait and a free bbq. The grandkids loved it and didn't want to come away. It was busy all day and I hope the fishery benefit from it in years to come.

There is no interest whatsoever from our governing body in addressing the situation and they seem happy to just sit and watch the sport spiral downwards into oblivion.
These ppl are clueless and obviously don't give a toss about the future while their own gravy train trundles along nicely!!!

I think trying to attract young people to pigeon racing is a waste of time. It is an expensive sport. It's not like fishing or cricket or football or even model trains or planes. You don't just buy a pair of boots or a cricket bat.
There is the price of a loft, equipment, ETS, then you have to get some pigeons and budget to feed and train them. Unless the kids have parents who can afford it and are willing to, it isn't going to happen.
And when the old and infirm like me shuffle off, where does that leave it?
I believe the only way for the sport to go forward is to aim squarely at the working man (or woman) with a bit of income left to put into a hobby or sport. Promote pigeon racing as the sport the whole family can be involved in.
Pigeon racing is going great guns in some other parts of the world, it is growing, not shrinking. A better way of promoting and organising it is needed in the UK.



Dave I think Pigeon racing is VERY different to ANY other sport or interest. Fishing is something that you can do or not do at a whim. Pigeon racing is 24/7 and that is not an ATTRACTION to the young of today. I'm no fan of the way the RPRA is run but what do you want them to do? Spending huge amounts on recruitment, is a WASTE of money, they would be spending £1000s on getting a few 'new' members, and that money has to come from the members.

The sport is in a spiral downwards into oblivion, and fanciers HAVE to accept it. The YOUTH of today have other interests. Fanciers should forget about the sport going forward, that ship sailed 30 years ago. They should just enjoy what they have left. No amount of time and money and effort is going to bring back the glory days of pigeon racing.

[Murray]

There is no initiative from the RPRA to even attempt a recruitment drive and there never has been.
I have aslked this question before -What happened to the 'future of the sport' committee? What did it achieve, where are the results of the monies spent? It didn't and there aren't any - just another 'jolly' to gets freebie abroad to see how other countries addressed it!!

I went to an open day at a fishery last w.end it was specifically set up to give youngsters a go at fishing.
It was brilliant. Loads of fisherman gave up their kit for the day, free bait and a free bbq. The grandkids loved it and didn't want to come away. It was busy all day and I hope the fishery benefit from it in years to come.

There is no interest whatsoever from our governing body in addressing the situation and they seem happy to just sit and watch the sport spiral downwards into oblivion.
These ppl are clueless and obviously don't give a toss about the future while their own gravy train trundles along nicely!!!

I think trying to attract young people to pigeon racing is a waste of time. It is an expensive sport. It's not like fishing or cricket or football or even model trains or planes. You don't just buy a pair of boots or a cricket bat.
There is the price of a loft, equipment, ETS, then you have to get some pigeons and budget to feed and train them. Unless the kids have parents who can afford it and are willing to, it isn't going to happen.
And when the old and infirm like me shuffle off, where does that leave it?
I believe the only way for the sport to go forward is to aim squarely at the working man (or woman) with a bit of income left to put into a hobby or sport. Promote pigeon racing as the sport the whole family can be involved in.
Pigeon racing is going great guns in some other parts of the world, it is growing, not shrinking. A better way of promoting and organising it is needed in the UK.



Dave I think Pigeon racing is VERY different to ANY other sport or interest. Fishing is something that you can do or not do at a whim. Pigeon racing is 24/7 and that is not an ATTRACTION to the young of today. I'm no fan of the way the RPRA is run but what do you want them to do? Spending huge amounts on recruitment, is a WASTE of money, they would be spending £1000s on getting a few 'new' members, and that money has to come from the members.

The sport is in a spiral downwards into oblivion, and fanciers HAVE to accept it. The YOUTH of today have other interests. Fanciers should forget about the sport going forward, that ship sailed 30 years ago. They should just enjoy what they have left. No amount of time and money and effort is going to bring back the glory days of pigeon racing.

[Devo1956]

I feel over the years, the sport was let down by the way it was being run. Some may say oh what great years we had going to the shows, a trip to Blackpool or a trip to Doncaster. But did we really have to make that trip, to buy some loft tack. You can get the same things online and save a packet, instead of having a jolly out for the day. I would have to say it never was a day I would look forward too. I would rather spend time at home looking after my birds.
I would say young people coming into the sport, is not happening in the UK. The odd one or two may have joined over the last couple of years. But I would say in the likes of Holland and Belgium, there are young people entering the sport. With the promotion of the sport, helping to get the word out there. Its cool to get involved in racing pigeons.
Over the years around Europe, it was more of a family sport. This is was the starting of some great family lines being made, and are still good in today's racing. It was all about self promoting, and some good flyers knew how to do this. This is why we have different feeds, named after some of the top flyers around the world. They started their own websites again, self-promoting and boosting the sales of their birds Then along come PIPA, known around the world. For the auctions of the top quality Nat winners, with big prices being exchanged global..

https://youtu.be/t-VCQcrAOrw?si=NGnNo2Nr2CktFUfz

https://youtube.com/shorts/R362SpS5VI4? ... Ub4kd7SKSl