CLUB INFORMATION

From the peaceful greenery of spring to the electric colors of fall, the mountains of Western North Carolina are ever changing, and by definition, challenging for the racers that take wing each year in fulfillment of their purpose for being. The breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains that embrace the city of Asheville and its outlying communities command magnificent panoramas with their rocky landscape and mile-high peaks, and for the fledglings tests their qualities of ability and aerial proficiency.

This beautiful region, known as the “Land of the Sky”, is home to the Asheville Racing Pigeon Club, an enthusiastic and progressive organization dedicated and devoted to promoting the thoroughbred Racing Homer and the fellowship among its fanciers in a friendly, yet very competitive environment.

Any resident whose loft is situated in the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Transylvania, and Yancey is eligible for unrestricted membership and may compete in any and all club-sanctioned races. At its discretion, the club may declare eligibility to a flyer residing within one of the additional western North Carolina counties, including Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, and Swain, providing that the fancier’s loft is located in a mountainous community and within a reasonable airline distance from the closest race station used.

The mountain environment features a variety of conditions and terrain that thoroughly test the skills of both bird and handler, demanding the best as birds must learn to cope with ever-changing climatic conditions while exposed to four distinct seasons in one of America’s most dramatic and scenic locations. Our south and southwest race course spans three southern states, transpiring over the flatlands of Georgia, through the foothills of South Carolina, and finally into the mountains of western North Carolina, a constant ascension of 3000 feet or more on their return trips home. Our west and northwest race course transpires over the flatlands and foothills of Tennessee into the mountains of western North Carolina, a constant ascension of 5000 feet or more on their winding trips home.

We are members of the very competitive Piedmont Racing Pigeon Combine, but our mountainous location positions us at a significant disadvantage in garnering combine honors. We basically use our combine membership to defray operating costs, primarily shipping expense, keeping our personal monetary obligation at a minimum. All of the other combine member clubs are situated on “flat” land, with little change in elevation from the start of the race to the finish. We thus modify the combine schedule to best suit our club needs, adding races to our schedule while deleting others to formulate the best schedule possible.

Despite the array of weather, the beauty of the mountains never changes and is as constant as the friendliness of the people. Asheville Racing Pigeon Club members are responsible and competent flyers, and the racecourses we use have a history of producing close finishes with good returns.

Unsurpassed diversity of climate zones, vegetation zones, physiographic zones, and geological features combine to make Western North Carolina a great place to call home, and a challenging arena to test your birds.

We welcome anyone interested in flying with us to contact any club member. We will be more than happy to help get you started.

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