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Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 08:30
Long Eaton Homing Society will use the cash from Derbyshire County Council to organise races.
Birds will have computer chips attached to their legs enabling equipment to calculate their average speed, which decides the winner.
Society secretary Brian Guilford, 64, said: "The new technology will bring us right up to date and can be used for races up to 500 miles long.
"The computer will immediately calculate the days, hours, minutes, seconds – and even parts of seconds – it has taken the birds.
"Then it will work out the average speed, given the distance between lofts."
Under the current system, pigeon fanciers rely on rubber rings being placed on birds' legs at the start point which are removed when they get back to their owner's loft.
The ring is then put inside a special tamper proof clock which punches the time on a card.
This card is then taken to a meeting place so an official can decide on the winner.
Now, on arriving home, the birds will cross a pad similar to those used to read bar codes in supermarkets and the information recorded using a little black box which is then taken to the official timekeeper.
Mr Guilford, of Longmoor Lane, Sandiacre, said the changes would make life easier for elderly club members.
He said: "The birds can be difficult to catch as they flutter around the loft, especially if you are a bloke of 80 or are disabled."
Cash for the new equipment came from the community funds of two county councillors.
Roland Hosker, who represents Long Eaton, awarded £3,000, and Gail Newman, who represents Petersham, gave £5,000.
Mr Hosker said: "The society has survived for 100 years and this will help safeguard it for the future.
"The old system has been going on since before the First World War and this funding will be a big help."
Mrs Newman added: "It is a sport which attracts young people and that is something to encourage."
The society is talking to two firms which can supply the equipment, which is widely used in Belgium and Germany.
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