Racing Pigeons in Malta
Way back after the second world war, late in 1945 a group of british ex servicemen who were residing in Malta and who were pigeon enthusiasts met together with a group of Maltese pigeon fanciers to set up a statute for the opening of a pigeon club in Malta. The committee was made up of Capt Reginald Cassar Torreggiani as first
President, Robert Apap secretary, Joseph Pace as treasurer, other members of the committee were : myself ,Emanuel Anastasi, as assistant secretary, J.Cooper as assistant treasurer, J.Brown, A. Thomas, C. Mifsud, J. Borg , Cecil Harding and
Th. Gaffiero. The statute was drawn up and approved. The club was named
Malta Racing Pigeon Club. At the time the membership strood at approximately
45 members. The club had no premises at the time and Capt Cassar Torreggiani’s garage in Qui Si Sana, Sliema used to serve as a club where meetings ,basketting, setting and checking of clocks was done. The club was declared open in 1946.
After some time, basketing, setting and checking of clocks was done at the garage of
Cecil Harding in Dingli Circus , Sliema. Later all activities were again transferred to Capt . R. Torreggiani’s garage in Qui Si Sana, Sliema.
The garage owned by Colonel G. Curmi in Milner street , Sliema was also used as a
place for basketting, setting and checking of clocks. All meetings were always held in Capt Cassar Torreggiani’s garage in Qui Si Sana.
Now the membership continued to increase and a number of Maltese and other British residents enrolled as members , so it was felt that it was about time to rent a
Premises to be used as a club. The committee decided to rent a garage opposite to the one of Capt Cassar Torreggiani’s in Qui Si Sana. This premises was shared by the club and a piano teacher.
From this first premises the committee decided to rent a larger one as the members were always on the increase. The club moved to the basement of number 48.Mrabat Street, Sliema, where it remained for a number of years. Later the club moved to the same address but in the first floor, where it is up to date.
Pigeon fanciers in Malta continue to increase and the number of members now exceeded 150. some fanciers from Marsa decided to leave the Malta Racing Pigeon Club to form their club which they named National Racing Pigeon Society. The club opened in Butterfly Street , Marsa, where it still stands.
Some of the Birkirkara fanciers in the M.R.P.C decided to open a club in Birkirkara
and so a third split followed . This club was named B’kara Homing Union. The Hamrun fanciers followed suit and they decided to open a club in Hamrun . This was called Hamrun Pigeon Club. Each of these four clubs had over 60 members on there books. Each of these four clubs organized separate programs ,releases and results. The first years were very hard times . Pigeons were basketted in wicker baskets and after sealing were carried by hand on a boat and taken to the ship in the middle of the harbour. From the boat the panniers were carried shoulder high up the steps of the ship down to the ship’s hold. It was really strenuous work and at times it was even dangerous when the sea was choppy. The panniers on the boat rolled from side to side, however the members enthusiasm was such, that there were always volunteers to accompany the pigeons on to the ship. The panniers were carried by the ship to Syracuse in sicily and were received by our agent Signor Giuseppe Caminiti, who was the man responsible for the pigeons up to their release.
The first toss organized by the M.R.P.C in 1945 was from a point known l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha. The Times of Malta and IL-Berqa were present with there photographers for the occasion . At first races were organized from Marfa and from San Lawrenz in Gozo.
First race from Marfa on the 2nd March 1947
First race from San Lawrenz on the 23rd March 1947
First race from 30 miles at sea on the 8th August 1947
First race from 35 miles at sea on the 16th August 1947
First race from 45 miles at sea on the 23rd August 1947
First Syracuse race on the 27th January 1951
First race from Catania on the 17th Febuary 1951
First race from Messina on the 7th April 1951
First race from Catanzaro on the 22nd April 1951
First race from Metaponto on the 2nd June 1951
First race from Brindisi on the 6th June 1952
The first race results were worked by the velocity system to the late fifties when the race results system was changed. Now first punched in clock is first in race.
The first clocks used at the start of the first races were different from those used today. Those clocks had no stoppers ,so it was very difficult to have them synchronized. They all had an hour dial and a minute dial. The first types were
Le Continental and Toulettes, when the clocks without dials were introduced the federation banned the ones with dials . The Malta Racing Pigeon Club and the National Racing Pigeon Society met to discuss the formation of a federation .
It was in 1966 that the federation was formed , the first presidents were Capt R.Cassar Torreggiani and Chev. Notary J. Gatt.
With the formation of the federation more clubs were opened . Each club catered for members from its own area, so the clubs were affiliated to the federation.
Now the federation drew up a common race program, with same dates for basketing, setting and clocking of clocks . Each club drew up its own result which was sent to the federation.
The procedure of carrying the panniers to the harbour to be carried by boat to the ship was changed because now the federation had its own transporter. The first transporter was used in 1973. Now the clubs brought their panniers to a determined point where the transporter would be waiting for loading. Now there’s less fatigue
in loading panniers to the transporter. The transporter is shipped to Syracuse accompanied by convoyers who are responsible for their safety till they are released.
The panniers return to Malta and are loaded to club trucks who bring them to their respective clubs to be prepared for next basketing.
Since all clocks are synchronized by the federation master timer , the results sent to the federation by the clubs serve to draw up the federation results which are divided
In North and South results.