Pigeon racing cheat scandal after fancier admits ‘winning’ bird never left loft

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A leading pigeon fancier is facing a lifetime ban from the sport after he admitted cheating in one of its most esteemed races, which offers up to £11,500 in prizes.

Eamon Kelly, from Didcot in Oxfordshire, was crowned the winner of the Tarbes National last weekend – considered the equivalent of the Grand National in fowl racing – after one of his birds registered in the race recorded the fastest average speed flying home from Tarbes in southern France. Mr Kelly was the reigning champion of the event and was competing to retain his title.

It has now emerged that the winning pigeon never left its Oxfordshire loft, with Mr Kelly allegedly registering 14 birds for the race but keeping them at home, while sending another set of pigeons to France, The Sun reports. Mr Kelly is said to have calculated a winning time by recording the false arrival of one of the birds kept in his loft using a microchip on its body.

Suspicions were reportedly raised after Mr Kelly’s recorded time suggested his pigeon had flown the 580 mile race at 40mph, yet other rival birds making the journey at 39mph were still completing the race.

The 52-year-old won £1,500 prize money and a £10,000 Ford Fiesta, but later admitted to cheating. A source close to the sport said: “It’s the biggest scandal ever to hit pigeon racing.”

Mr Kelly apologised to the National Flying Club on Thursday and resigned as a race controller. In a statement: "I, Eamon Kelly, sincerely apologise to all my friends and fanciers over my stupid actions relating to the recent Tarbes race.

"I was tempted and fell, a decision I will regret for the rest of my life. A sport that I love so much, that has given me untold pleasure and above all friendship, I have thrown all away."

The National Flying Club has launched an investigation into the incident. Phil Curtis, chairman of club, described Mr Kelly’s actions as “a very disappointing episode for the sport”.

Mr Kelly is understood to own around 350 pigeons including some bred at the Queen’s Royal Loft. He is expected to attend a disciplinary hearing next week where it will be decided if he will face a lifetime ban from pigeon racing.