The British Homing World Show of the Year will return to the history venue on January 15 and 16, one year after it was forced to go virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary, attracts more than 15,000 visitors every year, making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
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The Royal Pigeon Racing Association itself was born in 1896 in Leeds, and was first known as the National Homing Union. It became the Royal National Homing Union, and later the RPRA, after the Second World War due to increasing patronage and interest from the Royal Family.
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The association reached its peak in 1989, when its total membership was 60,000. Since 2013, the group's numbers have fallen by approximately 7.5 per cent - however, it maintains a thriving business with a £1.2m turnover each year.
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Tickets for the Winter Gardens show are available on the Royal Pigeon Racing Association’s website now. Saturday tickets are £7.50 and Sunday tickets cost £6.50. Tickets for the gala award event after the show are available for £18.
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"Whether you are a new member, curious about pigeons or a veteran pigeon fancier, all are welcome," a RPRA spokesman said.