Already a traditional competition in the Romanian pigeon sport, the Gold Club has broken, this season, all records in terms of the number of rings ordered by fanciers from all over the country, over 37,000 pigeons being entered in the race for the extremely attractive prizes proposed by the Union of Columbophile Federations from Romania (UFCR). And, as is well known, more rings purchased by the associations also mean more consistent rewards for members. Moreover, for the first time for this season, prizes will be awarded including at the level of each branch club, one for every hundred rings purchased! Therefore, we are talking about the largest prize fund in the history of the Gold Club, but also about the largest number of prizes that will be awarded, as always, at next year’s Gala of Champions and at the events organized by each county association separately.

However, the awarding of prizes at club level is not the only change this season. As we announced since the end of February, fanciers had the opportunity to purchase two types of Gold rings, one for the Long distance Yearlings category and one for the Marathon Yearlings category. This decision of the organizers was strongly requested by the fanciers from all the provinces, who wanted the opportunity to win substantial prizes in money and with the pigeons engaged in perhaps the most loved and contested category in the country.

A third of the Marathon Gold rings arrived in just three counties

The most excited about the new Marathon Gold rings put up for sale by the organizers were the fanciers from three counties: Suceava, Botoşani and Bihor who together ordered almost a third of the total number of rings distributed in the country. The leader in this chapter is Suceava, where a number of 2,130 pigeons now wear Marathon Gold rings. However, it is not a surprise for anyone if we consider that the county, like the entire region, is home to some of the most appreciated “marathonists” in the country. In second place, with a number of 1,870 rings distributed, we find another county from Moldova, Botoşani. At a distance of only 12 rings, on the third position in the national ranking we find Bihor. The fanciers here, also passionate about the Marathon category, have purchased an impressive number of rings. We are talking about 1,858 rings that, beyond the chances of a national prize, worth 10,000 lei, give Transylvanian pigeon fans the opportunity to get their hands on one of the county or club prizes.
On the list of counties whose fanciers bet on Marathon Gold rings we also find Arad (1,1161 rings), Neamţ (1,000 rings), Argeş (947), Timiş (913 rings) or Buzău (837 rings). All these, but also many others, will offer, at the end of the season, substantial prizes, intended to reward the performance of pigeon fanciers and their confidence in a competition which, at this moment, represents the standard in the field of pigeon competitions in our country. In total, there were 17,831 rings that went the way of associations from almost the whole country.

Arges county bets on Long distance

As far as the Gold Long distance rings are concerned, by far the most of them took the Argeş way. The fanciers here, who have always been at the top when it comes to Gold rings, have purchased no less than 2,516 rings this season, over 1,000 more than the second place. Second position where we find Suceava, the “champion” from Marathon Gold. Thus, in addition to the more than 2,100 marathon rings, the Sucevan fanciers also requested 1,500 Long distance Gold rings. The absolutely impressive figures prove, without any possibility of denial, the fact that the pigeon sport is extremely appreciated in the “Citadel of the Chair” of Moldova, and it should not surprise anyone if, on the stage of the Gala of Champions next year, we will find more winners from Suceava. The Long distance Gold ring podium is completed by Prahova, the association here distributing a number of 1,400 rings.
Other counties that stood out in this category, where a total number of 20,219 rings were distributed, are Olt county (1,192), Arad (1,173), Bucharest (1,075), Dolj (914), Vâlcea (887) and Cluj (854). Their decision means, as I said, an extremely attractive local prize fund for any fancier.

Prizes, the watchword of this season!

For fanciers debuting in this competition, we have to remind you how the prizes will be distributed this season, especially since, as we said from the beginning, this year’s edition benefits from the largest prize budget in the history of the competition. As before, the most important prizes, in the amount of 10,000 gross lei each, will be awarded at the national level. It is about 10 National Gold awards for the first 10 pigeons with the lowest score in the Gold Yearlings Long distance and Gold Yearlings Marathon categories. And, just as it happens now, one national award will go to each province, to ensure a fair distribution of them.
Then comes the prizes for each county that purchased Gold rings, where three county prizes will be awarded, their amount to be determined according to the number of rings purchased. And, as we said at the beginning, from this season prizes will also be awarded at the level of each branch club, one for every hundred rings purchased.
We can only wish success to all the fanciers who purchased Gold rings!