National Federation of Pigeon Fanciers in Romania (FNCPR) launched a new project in 2017, with the sole purpose of raising the level of internal competition. „Gold Club”, as the new competition included in the national championship was called, intended from the very beginning to support the romanian fanciers. It was for the first time when romanian fanciers had the opportunity to “duel” for prize money, rewards that were from the beginning sufficiently consistent. For example, the Gold Club will offer 10 national awards in the 2020 season, in the amount of 10,000 lei (2200 €) each, for the first ten pigeons with the best score in the Yearlings Long distance category (3 races over 500 km, summing a minimum of 1800 km) and 5 county awards whose value will depend on accumulated funds.

The new competition of FNCPR came with its own regulation. With some further additions needed for clarity and transparency, at the moment „Gold Club” runs based on a very stable, clear and fair regulation, also included in the National Regulation. From the beginning it was established that only young pigeons (yearlings) can participate in the Gold competition, wearing a specific ring that are specially registered for this competition. Fanciers who want to join the Gold Club must request to the county association where they belong the rings specially created for the Gold competition. In exchange, the fanciers must pay the sum of 20 lei (4 €) for each ring. The amount obtained from the distribution of the special rings is intended only for the prize funds and conditions the value of the county awards. Pigeons designated for the Gold Club by each fancier can win one of the prizes only if they participate for the three mandatory races included in the regulation, races that must have a minimal distance of 500 aerial km. and to sum a minimum of 1800 km. Each association has the obligation to specifically designate in the flight plan the stages for the Gold Club, and the pigeons that will participate in these races are passed through a special control procedure. Even in the transport trucks they will occupy already established boxes, where only the pigeons for the Gold Club will be put. The fancier is required to announce the arrival of the first two pigeons wearing a Gold Club ring, even if they are not the first two birds arriving from the race in that loft. After the nominated races are done, the Gold Club ranking can be done. In descending order of the score obtained by the pigeons that achieved the norm for Long distance Yarlings category (achieved by scoring 3 races over 500 km, and for that, that pigeon must arrive in the first 30% of the total number of pigeons engaged in that competition), the first 10 pigeons nationwide will be rewarded with the sum of 10,000 lei (2200 €). Moreover, the owners of the top three pigeons from the ranking will also receive a special badge of solid gold. The amount of money remaining after the national awards will be assigned for county prizes, prizes that will go to the pigeons who have met the norm for Long distance Yearlings at the county association level. Only the first 5 pigeons will be rewarded here, and the value of the prizes will be determined by the fund accumulated by each association by selling the special rings.
At the moment, the Gold Club is growing rapidly. For example, for the 2020 season, approximately 15,000 special rings were purchased. It’s the highest demand for Gold rings since the establishment of the championship, which can only be beneficial to pigeons fanciers. Proportional to the accumulated amount, more awards will be distributed at the level of local associations, so more and more fanciers have the chance to win a consistent prize.