The
first flyers association was born in 1849 at Roubaix. It was
called "The Union Circle". The birds's transportation was realised
on one's back or by handcart.The rapid expansion of the railway transportation permits the races developpement, and by the way, the developpement of associations too. Until 1880's, the ranking was done on a plank fitted with nails. As soon as it was back, the bird was set in a clothe-case which was brought back to the shipping place. The first flyer hung his clothe-case on the first nail, the second to the second nail, and so on... This was the race ranking.
At
the Clubhouse, a contermarked rubber band is rested around the
bird's ankle. The crates are filled with no more than 30 birds
(usually much less) and placed on the trailer. The liberation day, the convoyer (the man which takes care to the birds) studies the forecast along the line of flight.
If the weather looks favorable, the pigeons are released. Otherwise, he's waiting better forecast conditions. As soon as the decision to release is taken, all the crates are opened, and the birds rushed.
After circling a while in the sky, they flown directly home to their lofts.
When
a bird comes in from a race, the countermark (rubber band placed
on the bird's leg) is removed from the bird, placed into a cylinder
hole in the clock and the cylinder is turned with a key on top
of the clock. The clock stamps the arrival time onto the paper
tape. After the birds arrival, the fancier brings back his clock to the Clubhouse, the registered times and the rubber rings countermarks are written on summary sheets. They will be used to establish the ranking.
With the flying duration, and the distance flown, the ranking may be established according to the speed realized by each bird.
Reading clocks operations are done at the Clubhouse.
A clock allows registering the real arrival time of the bird.
- 22000 flyers registered in 900 clubs.
- 700000 young pigeons banded each year.
- 500000 racing pigeons crossing France in all the directions each week-end.
- Races speed averages from 50 to 120 km/h according to the wind direction and strenght.