THE PALAMOS/BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ROARS ON
by Jim Emerton
Both points are immersed in tradition, history and prejudice. Palamos as a domestic race by the BBC liberates a relatively small contingent from the Spanish point and is difficult for the birds into the UK, yet an 800 mile plus bird was recorded on the 2nd day by Mr Wales of Malton, Yorkshire. The Barcelona International race is a global spectacle in pigeon racing, with glamour, prestige and lots of kudos and money involved. UK studs are clamouring for the bloodlines of the key birds in the race and their sales and marketing is a modern craze. From my own perspective I feel the Barcelona performance of Marco Wilson was the highlight of English racing in 2014 - you can read his interview on Elimar. As a matter of belief/desire and choice we enter the Barcelona International, and look forward in this race to a UK fancier making history by recording an International bird at 800 miles on the second day. It should be noted that 800 plus mile birds out of the Barcelona International have been clocked on the second day into Holland and an analysis of this would be interesting. I feel that an expansion of this debate on Elimar would be a revealing stimulus to the fancy - please forward your ideas to Elimar.
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Elimar - October 2014
