A hobby is an important form in the life of an individual and society, as well as a motivator for inspiration and creativity. It is formed through the practice of multiple relationships, which reflects the sophistication of society and the diversity of its culture. The prosperity of the community and the development of the individual and enabling him to build a dynamic, active and effective society to achieve the vision of the Kingdom 2030. Based on this encouragement and interest, the owners of the hobby of breeding and racing pigeons in the Najran region were able to transform their hobby from a model of individual participation in a private structure into a form of organized collective practice, culminating in the creation of the region’s first pigeon beagle club and the production of internationally classified breeds. in international racing.
Nasser Al-Rubai, head of the Southern Racing Pigeon Club in Najran, told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the club’s establishment began with the idea of establishing a racing pigeon association in Najran in 2014 and 2015. .
Al-Rubaye pointed out that the Saudi Homing Pigeon Racing Committee approved the club on a pilot basis during the 2019 and 2020 racing season, and after the club presented good races and results, it was approved as an official club in 2021 d. Racing season 2022 to become a club and center for pigeon racing in the southern region as a whole and based in Najran. It has pigeon racing committees in other cities in the south of the Kingdom.
Before embarking on carrier pigeon racing, the lover of this sport goes through several stages, starting with the construction of a house dedicated to carrier pigeons, which is universally called LOFET, then the process of breeding carrier pigeons and taking care of feeding it begins, and each bird carries an electronic partridge in the right leg and the other in the left, one of which is intended for racing, and the second has a special number indicating the name and origin of the bird, in accordance with what is recorded in international records, and carrier pigeons have been trained since they reach the age of B at the age of two months, its training begins at distances close to home, such as a distance of about 1 kilometer, in four directions, after which the distance gradually increases each period until the distance reaches 60 kilometers in four directions, after which it begins to double this distance so that it is 120 kilometers and thus until it has reached there is no required distance, and the race takes place by transporting the birds in special vehicles, accompanied by a jury of two or more members, to the launch site, where the commission opens the containers in which the pigeons are located in order to set off. Returning to their place of residence, which was provided with electronic clocks and GPS devices, consisting of three electronic airstrips located at the landing site of carrier pigeons in his private “loft” residence, connected to precise computer equipment interacting with an electronic chip in a special partridge located on the leg of each bird , and precisely, in minutes and seconds, the time of arrival at the runway is recorded, and it is sent to the main computer of the arbitration committee in the arrivals area and the launch area.
Carrier pigeon races in the Kingdom start at 100 km, and in some areas reach 1200 km. For the Najran region, the distance of the race has reached 550 km, starting from the city of Al Aflaj.
Al-Rubaieh stated that the number of registered members and club racers is 20 and the Southern Pigeon Racing Club and its leaders aim to increase the number of members and care for and encourage everyone who has this hobby. promote the sport and increase its share locally and internationally, as well as increase the number of people involved in sports in the region.
