up north
combine
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Up North
Combine
T
Article provided by Pam Granger
he Up North Combine was formed in 1905 and quickly established itself as the largest pigeon racing organisation in
Europe transporting birds for around 3,000 members to race points throughout the country as well as France.
While horse racing was considered the
sport of Kings, pigeon racing became
the sport of the working class and in
particular miners, after working for hours
underground they would then go to their
allotment gardens and care for their birds
while breathing in the clean fresh air.
Things have changed considerably over
the last few years with the sport unable
to attract newcomers in the same way as
other more prominent sports due to the
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advent of game stations etc. Youngsters
these days are reluctant to spend time on
a cold winter’s day tending to pigeons
when they can be snug and warm inside
playing the latest version of FIFA football
games.
As for my own involvement, it started
at a very early age as my father and
grandfather both raced pigeons and
both became Secretary of the Up North
Combine, my grandfather from 1960
until 1974 and my father from 1975 until
2002. On leaving school in 1975 I went to
work for my father as his assistant and on
his retirement I became the first female
secretary in its long history.
During my term in office there have been
some significant landmarks, not least the
celebration of our Centenary but also the
largest single liberation of birds ever in
the UK when 43,000 birds were released
from Folkestone in 2008. Another and