Coo ... £1m for the king of racing pigeons
Online auction of the fastest bird in the world sparks fierce bidding war between Chinese fanciers
A racing pigeon described as the “Lewis Hamilton” of its sport has sold for a record sum of over £1million as Chinese bidders went head-to-head in an online auction. The victorious pigeon fancier who bought Armando, a Belgian bird considered to be the “best long-distance pigeon of all time”, is likely to put their purchase out to stud with an expensive hen in the hope of producing more star racers. The previous record for a pigeon was £340,000, for a bird called Nadine.
THE “Lewis Hamilton” of racing pigeons has set a new world record fee after Chinese bidders went head-tohead in an online auction for the bird.
The victorious pigeon fancier, whose identity is a secret, spent more than £1million to land Armando, a Belgian bird considered to be the “best long-distance pigeon of all time”. The previous record was £340,000, for a bird called Nadine.
Pigeon racing is big business in China, with millionaire enthusiasts striving to outdo each other with extravagant coops and outlandish bets laid on the outcome of races. While the sport has been flagging in popularity in Europe, wealthy Chinese interest has revitalised it.
Joël Verschoot, Armando’s breeder, was left stunned when in the final moments of the fortnight-long auction it emerged that two Chinese bidders were directly competing. Every time the bidder “XDDPO” increased the offer by €100,000 (£85,500), another, “Champ Team”, bid an extra €2,000. After an hour-long battle, XDDPO emerged triumphant with a sky-high €1.25 million bid.
Armando, which at five years old is nearing the end of its racing life, will now take a plane flight to China, where it will be put out to stud with an expensive hen in the hope of producing more star racers.
Mr Verschoot, 63, said, “The two Chinese had told me in advance that they absolutely wanted Armando. But I didn’t see this coming. This is a crowning glory of all those years in the pigeon sport. The icing on the cake.” Pigeon Paradise, a Belgian website for fanciers, said: “No one expected that the magical cap of a million euros would be pulverised.”
Mr Verschoot, who lives in West Flanders, Belgium, has been a pigeon-fancier for 50 years after catching the bug from his father. After 40 years working in an abattoir, he rethan tired and was able to concentrate on his hobby full-time. He said he knew each of his 500 birds by name after spending more than 12 hours a day in his pigeon loft.
“I have now earned more in two weeks than in those 40 years,” he said, after the sale of another 177 pigeons netted him a total of £1.7million. Racing pigeons are taken hundreds of miles from their home lofts to be released. The first to return home wins in races that can see average speeds of more than 50 miles an hour over distances of 600 miles. Armando was highly sought-after because of exceptional strength that allowed the bird to race in all weather conditions. Its numerous offspring have been sold for more than £21,000 each.
‘The two Chinese had told me in advance that they wanted Armando. But I didn’t see this coming’
“He has never lost a race” Mr Verschoot told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.
In its final racing year, Armando – described locally as the “Lewis Hamilton” of pigeons, after the Formula One champion – triumphed in the Pigeon Olympiad, held in Poznań, Poland.
“It will hurt to see him leave. But who knows, maybe we will grow another Armando within a few years,” said Mr Verschoot.
Asked what he planned to do with his record-breaking payday, he said: “Nothing special”.
Chinese pigeon racing can see cut-throat competition. Last year, two men were sent to prison for cheating in a 466-mile race after smuggling the birds on to a bullet train to the finish line.