A COMPETITION with a prize fund totalling £70,000 proves that there is big money in pigeon racing.

The British Masters National One Loft Race will see fast feathered flyers travel 182 miles from Fougeres in France to Pyecombe in Sussex, with the winner taking home £40,000.

This comes after a five-year-old bird called Armando, described as the “Lewis Hamilton of pigeons”, was sold to buyers from China for £1.07 million.

Hurstpierpoint resident Bob Knowelden is a keen follower of the sport having raised his own racing pigeons for many years.

The 81-year-old said: “This loft race is not just local people, these pigeons are the best of the best and are coming from all over Europe.

“These racing pigeons are purpose-built for speed.”

Bob moved to Hurstierpoint as an evacuee during the Second World War and began keeping pigeons when he was eight years old.

He said: “In my day, pigeons were bred for reliability so they could be used during the war to send messages back to England.

“The pigeons of today are very fast and, depending on the conditions, this race will probably take them between six or seven hours travelling between 40 and 50mph but up to 60mph if the wind is behind them.”

The competition will be held on September 7 with the pigeons finishing at Southdown Lobbs in Pyecombe, West Sussex.

Bob said: “It’s a wonderful feeling seeing them come back. It can be very stressful, the anticipation of it all. You learn to spot pigeons from miles away.”

Second place in the competition will win £15,000, third will win £5,000, fourth will win £4,000, fifth will win £3,000, sixth claims £2,000 and seventh £1,000.

Bob gave up raising pigeons after he retired but has continued to keep up with the sport, writing about it for several magazines.

He praised the social element of the sport, with racing group the South Coast Federation having more than 200 members.

He said: “It’s a fantastic thing to get into. I like the camaraderie of it.

“I have met so many people through the sport and now know thousands of people from all over the country.”

But Bob did question Armando’s recent million pound price tag. He said: “Pigeon racing has just become very popular in China and there is a lot of money being spent there.

“I know that Armando is a terrific winner, although I don’t know if he is worth £1 million.

“But people will pay money for the youngsters and everyone wants to get the best.”