CONCERNS that Channel Islands pigeon fanciers are being discriminated against have been lodged with the UK Government. Solicitors representing the Royal Pigeon Racing Association have written to Hilary Benn, the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It wants Defra to class the Channel Islands as part of the UK when it comes to pigeon racing and to modify restrictions imposed due to bird flu.

Association members are concerned that Defra’s actions have effectively ended the participation of Channel Islands fanciers in English races.

‘The knock-on effect is it is going to wreck pigeon racing in the Channel Islands,’ said RPRA general manager Peter Bryant.

‘There are only a couple of hundred members ‘in the CI’ but they deserve the same support as our fanciers in Britain. They have been racing against other members in Britain for decades and we don’t see why that should change.’

‘It seems like discrimination for the sake of it against Channel Islands fanciers,’ he said.

Defra requires pigeons to undergo a 28-day isolation period in the UK before they are entitled to take part.

The RPRA believes this is totally wrong as fanciers cannot be expected to race pigeons which have not trained for that period.

It said there was also a welfare issue in imposing such isolation.

‘You would not expect a marathon runner to do nothing for 28 days before a race,’ said Mr Bryant.

Defra’s justification for treating the islands in this way is because of their proximity to France.

The association believes this is nonsensical as Jersey is 14 miles and Guernsey 30 from the Normandy coast, but Dover and Calais are 20 miles apart.

‘Our Channel Islanders are geographically slightly out on a limb,’ said Mr Bryant.

‘The pigeon fanciers in the Channel Islands want to gain the kudos to race in the blue riband races against the top fanciers in Britain and we believe they deserve the opportunity to do that.’

The RPRA said the risk of avian flu from racing pigeons was minimal. ‘There are no cases where they have passed avian flu to other species, particularly poultry,’ said Mr Bryant. ‘There is no greater risk from the Channel Islands than anywhere else.’

The RPRA is prepared to take the case further if it does not get its way.

‘We are trying our very best and they ‘CI fanciers’ seem to have had a raw deal up to now. We are optimistic that Defra might now listen. It will be interesting to see what Mr Benn comes up with,’ said Mr Bryant.

‘We are trying our hardest on all fanciers’ behalf and hopefully we can get a result.’