Platinum Jubilee Celebration Pigeon Race
Organised by the Welsh North Road Federation supported by the Mission to Seafarers of Newport, Gwent
The Welsh North Road Federation are proud to confirm that, in conjunction with the Mission to Seafarers of Newport Gwent and with the support of the North West Homing Pigeon Union, is has been approved to organise a pigeon race from Balmoral Castle on the 25th June 2022 as an integral event in the program of activities planned in recognition of and to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
HM The Queen has maintained an interest in the Royal pigeon lofts and has regularly visited when in Sandringham in keeping with the tradition started when in 1886 King Leopold II of Belgium gave racing pigeons to the British Royal Family as a gift which were used to start a racing loft on the Sandringham Estate. Both King Edward VII and King George V enjoyed success with their pigeons, including winning first prizes in the national race from Lerwick on the Shetland Isles.
Pigeons from the Royal Loft were used as carrier pigeons during the First and Second World Wars, with one bird – ‘Royal Blue’ – winning the Dickin Medal for Gallantry for its role in reporting a lost aircraft in 1940. Following the war, pigeons returned to racing, notching up further wins in national and international races. It is planned that a number of the pigeons will carry messages back to their owners.
Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE - Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent
It is with humility, honour and pride that I undertake my duties as Her Majesty The Queen’s representative in Gwent with my first and foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown in Gwent through involvement in all aspects of life within the County including its civic, voluntary, business and social life.
I feel it is fitting therefore that the Newport Gwent Mission to Seafarer’s continues its association with pigeon racing which commenced with the presentation by the President of the Mission to Seafarer’s HRH The Princess Royal of the “Mission to Seafarers Tankard” to Glyn Picton for his national winning success.
I cannot praise too highly the effort, dedication and determination of Edward John Watts MBE DL, one of my Deputy Lieutenants and Chairman of the Newport Gwent Mission to Seafarers, in championing this project in association with John Humphreys MSc FInstLM Honorary Secretary of the Welsh North Road Pigeon Racing Federation in ensuring it becomes a reality.
My involvement has brought into my focus the key role that the hobby of Pigeon Racing can bring to the community through its all-inclusive approach. I now better understand the role it plays in developing a range of skills and key social inclusion.
With COP26 currently having so high a profile it may be surprising to recognise the awareness already displayed by Pigeon Fanciers in their care for the natural environment. I am pleased therefore to confirm that this event will support the Queen’s Green Canopy Project where for every pigeon entered a tree will be planted by local Scout/Guides groups in the areas from whence the pigeons originate.
All entries will be administered from Gwent, where the Welsh North Road Federation is based. The competition for the “Queen’s Jubilee Cup” will be held for fanciers residing in:
- the Principality of Wales
- the South West of England covering an area from Gloucester in the North to Southampton on the coast
- the North West Midlands to include Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire
- Additionally, individual fanciers will be welcome to participate including of course the Royal Lofts at Sandringham.
It is anticipated that 500 lofts will be in the catchment area and in the region of 1,500 pigeons competing.
Release of a random selection of message carrying pigeons will be the trigger for the liberation of the pigeons to begin their journey South to their individual homes. The race will be run under North West Homing Union Rules.
North West Homing Union’s President Terry Phiffer adds their support to the venture stating “The Platinum Jubilee Celebration Pigeon Race organised by the Welsh North Road Federation supported by The Mission to Seafarers of Newport, Gwent the race from Balmoral Castle in June 2022. It is a great honour for the NWHU to be associated with this race and will be providing a special prize for each section. I understand that there has been a considerable amount of work done in the background to make this race a reality by the officials and Her Majesty the Queen’s representatives, Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE – Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent, Edward John Watts MBE DL, one of the Deputy Lieutenants and Chair of the Newport Gwent Mission to Seafarers, in championing this project in association with John Humphreys MSc FInstLM, Honorary Secretary of the Welsh North Road Pigeon Racing Federation in ensuring it becomes a reality”.
There will be more details published over the coming months.