National Federation of Pigeon Fanciers in Romania (FNCPR) organizes eight National Competitions every year, so called because they gather, in different protocols, fanciers from all counties of Romania. National stages are exclusively from Extreme long distance category, with distances between 760 and 1200 km.

Out of the eight national stages, five of them take place in the middle of the season: National Stendal (+900 km), National Prague (+760 km), National Madona (+1000 km), Zaruve (+760 km) and National Tokmak (+800 km). If the five mentioned above competitions take place one in each region of the country, the next three are of a larger scale, covering the whole country: National Berlin (+900 km, for the North, West and Transylvania area), National Izium (+800 km, for the whole South area of Romania) and National Birzai (+900 km, for the Moldova area).
With no doubt, the National stages are the most important Extreme long distance competitions of the championship in Romania. For this reason, FNCPR, their promoter, attaches great importance to them, which is reflected in the perfect organization of each race, and due to this, every fancier who participates has a real chance of winning. But, more than that, the leadership of the Federation comes with an absolute novelty in the opening of this year’s National Exhibition from Brasov on Friday, when the National Gala will take place, where winners from the National Stages of 2019 competition will be awarded. The 2019 season is perhaps the best example to explain what the National Stages started to mean for the Romanian fanciers. We have all witnessed incredible number of participants in these competitions, for most of them, in 2019 new records were set for the pigeons involved and also for fanciers. Thus, in order to reward the winners’ efforts properly, FNCPR decided that Friday night, on the first day of the National Exhibition, to be awarded in a Gala of the Nationals the occupants of the first three places (pigeons and fanciers) in the general rankings, inter-county and county from each national competition.

The National Gala will open the National Exhibition
As we know, each province has its own National Stage, whose winners are awarded by the organizers. It is certainly that every single national stage has consistent prizes given to the best pigeons and fanciers, either we refer to the cups, badges or diplomas, or money and supplements for pigeons. If until now this premiere was done in a discreet mode, starting this year, inside the complex where the exhibition will be held, a festive gala will be organized, entitled The National Gala, precisely to highlight once again the importance to win a place on the podium of the National extreme long distance competitions. Because in each province, the national stages already have their own trophies, as is the case of the National Berlin and National Stendal, the winners will be awarded with prizes set by each organizer. The National Gala is, surely, one of the most pleasing initiatives in the Romanian columbophilia. More than that, it was the missing part of the National Stages chart, competitions that for most of Romanian fanciers are the most important ones of the competition year. The National Gala is not just a nice gesture towards the winners or a simple recognition of the results of the best participants. It is the reward for the best of the best ones, and through this new initiative of FNCPR, they will have the opportunity to relive the unmistakable feelings and experiences of the competitions, and to receive, in a dedicated event, the well-deserved prizes and congratulations.