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Pigeon racing at the 1900 Summer Olympics

At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, six pigeon racing events were contested.[1] These events have generally not been classified as official,[2][failed verification] although the IOC has never decided which events were "Olympic" and which were not.[3]

Poster for the 1900 Olympics in Paris
Poster for the 1900 Olympics in Paris

Event

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The report on the "International Contests of Physical Exercise and of Sports" in Paris in 1900 lists lâcher-concours de pigeons-voyageurs (lit. 'homing pigeon release competition', in French) occurring on 6 separate sundays: 24 June, 8 July, 29 July, 26 August, 9 September and 16 September 1900, all in the French commune of Vincennes.[1][4] The pigeons were originally planned to be released at 10:00 each day,[4] but, as a Dr. Conil reports, actual release times varied depending on the distance pigeons had to cover and the direction of the wind.[5] Due to additional restrictions, such as not having pigeons flying in opposite directions at the same time, there were "almost as many releases" as there were competing companies, which "could only be of interest to people initiated in our sport", hence the relatively low attendance.[5]

 
A French homing pigeon and its trainer

Some dates also included a lâcher-spectacle de pigeons-voyageurs (lit. 'homing pigeon release spectacle'),[1] events where pigeons were released simultaneously, in the thousands, just for an audience's viewing pleasure.[5] This was due to conflicting needs when planning the competitions: pigeon races are only successful "at an early hour", Dr. Conil writes, while the majority of the public only attends events in the afternoon.[5] Thus, the pigeon release spectacles were added to give the public something to watch that was related to the competitions, while the races themselves were done earlier in the day.[5]

A subcommittee of colombophiles was in charge of preparing "the complete project for racing pigeon competitions".[6] The Fédération Colombophile de la Seine was chosen to be responsible for the competitions.[7]

The competition was restricted to French companies established at least 80 kilometres (50 mi) away from Paris.[4] Those interested in participating had to commit to sending at least 100 pigeons, which had to arrive by the day before the competition.[4]

Results

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In total, there were 47 competing companies, totaling 7,721 pigeons.[5][a] The competitions had a total prize pool of 7,300 francs, reduced to 6,254 after operational costs.[5] This was split and awarded to every participating company, paid on a per pigeon basis at a rounded up value of 0.81 franc each.[5] As such, no "winner" was picked and rewarded separately; the event instead had an emphasis on patriotism and verifying whether pigeons from different regions of France could be used for war.[5]

Results of the Pigeon Races of 24 June 1900[b]
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
Fédération Agen 100 8:00 18:23 10h 23min
Fédération Bordeaux 103 8:03 17:29 9h 26min
Pigeons messagers Rive-de-Gier 125 8:05 15:00 6h 55min
La Courageuse La Grand-Croix 135 9:00 16:03 7h 3min
Cercle colombophile Saint-Étienne 245 9:00 15:53 6h 53min
La Colombe La Talaudière 100 9:00 15:32 6h 32min
Messager rochefortais Rochefort-sur-Mer 125 9:03 17:19 8h 16min
La Rochefortaise Rochefort-sur-Mer 100 9:03 17:20 8h 17min
Messager de la patrie Niort 100 9:03 15:58 6h 55min
Colombe vannelaise Vannes 138 9:05 18:58 9h 53min
Espérance des courriers limousins Limoges 222 9:07 15:27 6h 20min
Abeille Rennes 250 10:00 16:02 6h 2min
Messager angevin Angers 208 10:02 16:23 6h 21min
Messager coutançais Coutances 116 10:04 15:31 5h 27min
La Domfrontaise Domfront, Orne 142 10:04 14:35 4h 31min
L'Avenir Rosendaël 118 10:06 13:30 3h 24min
Total: 16 companies, 2,327 pigeons
Results of the Pigeon Races of 8 July 1900[c]
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
Le Rapide Saint-Chamond 120 8:03 12:39 4h 36min
Estafette lyonnaise Lyon 101 9:00 13:29 4h 29min
Hirondelle Lyon 140 9:00 13:29 4h 29min
Messagère Calais 183 10:00 14:58 4h 58min
Colombophile Saint-Venant 120 10:00 14:00 4h
Orléanaise Orléans 100 10:05 11:25 1h 20min
Espérance de Landelle Charleval 100 10:10 12:20 2h 10min
Fédération Anzin 386 10:15 13:46 3h 31min
Total: 8 companies, 1,250 pigeons
Results of the Pigeon Races of 29 July 1900[b]
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
Éclair Talmont 125 9:45 18:21 8h 36min
Messager de l'Océan Les Sables-d'Olonne 112 9:45 19:46 10h 1min
Union colombophile La Roche-sur-Yon 152 9:45 18:17 8h 32min
Union colombophile Roanne 103 10:00 16:55 6h 55min
Messager roannais Roanne 125 10:00 19:01 9h 1min
Union Loudun 100 13:20 18:20 5h
Voltigeurs de L'Aâ Saint-Omer 100 13:25 18:46 5h 21min
Colombophile Le Mans 130 13:35 17:05 3h 30min
Courriers nogentais Nogent-le-Rotrou 135 13:35 15:42 2h 7min
Fédération Reims 515 13:50 16:51 3h 1min
Colombe ébroïcienne Évreux 150 13:55 15:42 1h 47min
Total: 11 companies, 1,747 pigeons
Results of the Pigeon Races of 26 August 1900[d]
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
Ramier dauphinois Rives 100 7:30 17:15 9h 45min
Messager niortais Niort 100 9:00 14:30 5h 30min
Éclaireurs Nancy 100 9:50 15:10 5h 20min
Expresse Calais 54 10:00 14:44 4h 44min
Fraternelle Boulogne-sur-Mer 166 10:00 13:45 3h 45min
Colombe patriote Le Havre 100 10:05 12:31 2h 26min
Ramier Amiens 174 10:10 12:29 2h 19min
Pigeon messager Épernay 170 10:20 12:40 2h 20min
Vedette Mourmelon 120 10:20 13:37 3h 17min
Total: 9 companies, 1,084 pigeons
Results of the Pigeon Races of 9 September 1900
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
La Messagère Mouzon 126 10:00 13:43 3h 43min
Total: 1 company, 126 pigeons
Results of the Pigeon Races of 16 September 1900[e]
Company Origin Number
of pigeons 		Times Duration
Release Return
Union Roubaix 252 10:00 12:44 2h 44min
Fédération Rouen 935 10:10 11:39 1h 29min
Total: 2 companies, 1,187 pigeons

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Though the source originally states there were 48 companies, the later table only lists 47 companies with pigeon counts adding up to 7,721, indicating 48 was likely a miscount.
  2. ^ a b Reportedly under strong westward wind.
  3. ^ Reportedly under north-westward wind.
  4. ^ Reportedly under south-westward wind.
  5. ^ Reportedly under light eastward wind.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mérillon 1901, vol.1, pp.44–47, sec. "Calendrier Général": "Dimanche, [...] Lâcher-concours de pigeons-voyageurs (concours national), à Vincennes."
  2. ^ Mallon, Bill (1998). The 1900 Olympic Games, Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0-7864-4064-1.
  3. ^ Lennartz, Karl; Teutenberg, Walter (1995). Olympische Spiele 1900 in Paris. Kassel, Germany: Agon-Sportverlag. p. 147. ISBN 3-928562-20-7. In many works, it is read that the IOC later met to decide which events were Olympic and which were not. This is not correct and no decision has ever been made. No discussion of this item can be found in the account of any Session.
  4. ^ a b c d Mérillon 1901, vol.2, p.312, sec. II – "Lâchers-Pigeons".
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mérillon 1901, vol.2, p.313–315, sec. "Rapport Présenté par M. Le Docteur Conil".
  6. ^ Mérillon 1901, vol.1, p.35, sec. "X – Aérostation": "Un cinquième sous-comité, composé de colombophiles, était chargé de la mission globale de préparer le projet complet des concours de Pigeons voyageurs."
  7. ^ Mérillon 1901, vol.1, p.51, sec. "Troisième Partie: Exécution – Observations Générales": "Ce système a consisté à confier autant que possible aux grandes associations ou aux sociétés déjà prêtes pour cette œvre, l'exécution des différents concours ressortant de leur compétence. Il a été procédé ainsi [...] pour les concours de pigeons voyageurs, à la Fédération Colombophile de la Seine."

Bibliography

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