UCI pigeon shooting competition: Nowadays this ancient and fascinating discipline is practiced only in Spain and Portugal.
Di Saverio Patrizi
Once upon a time there was pigeon shooting, widespread throughout Europe, it came to be an Olympic discipline during the II Olympiad of 1900 in Paris, now, in our continent, it is practiced only in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is considered among the countries where the hunting activity is best managed and as far as it is connected, it is the country of the partridge okeo, of the monterie, of the great mountain hunts in the Pyrenees or on the mountain ranges called Sierre, rich of chamois and Hispanic goats, the famous Macho Montes. A state where, demonstrating careful management and considered as an important economic resource, hunting generates an induced amount of 3,6 billion euros (data 201/11).
Currently the country is the cradle of pigeon shooting, in the main cities there are splendid clubs where more or less important meetings are held every weekend, up to the European and world championships. Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Granada, Malaga and Alicante, just to name a few of these locations, which in addition to hosting the Pigeon races are important tourist destinations full of places of historical and cultural interest.
Precisely with the spirit of combining a nice trip with a competition, possible only in these places, the UCI, Unione Circoli Italiani, organizes every year, in a different location, the shooting competition reserved for shooters from associated clubs. This year the choice fell on Valencia, the city that in 2010 hosted the Americas Cup of Sailing and also famous for its marine aquarium among the most important in Europe. About 90 shooters were present, representing 10 Italian clubs and the Jokey Club of Paris as a guest. The event was hosted by the "Sociedad Valenciana De Caza Y Tiro", A splendid club at the gates of the city, here in addition to the welcoming Club House, overflowing with memorabilia and shooting history, there is an excellent restaurant, a well-stocked armory, and several platforms where it is possible to shoot, as well as the pigeon, also to the propeller and to the betweenp.
The competition was held over a distance of 24 targets with series of 6 pigeons, shooting two at a time on three fields, for a total of 18 on the first day and 6 on the second, as often happens in Valencia with wind and strong flying pigeons. they made the pitches very challenging. At the end of the 24 pigeons a play-off took place between the three best classified (19/24) Benedetto Barberini, Umberto Gromis and Pietro Berlingeri, classified in the order. The Ladies category was won by Ottavia Massimo Lancellotti (19/24) followed by Letizia Marelli and Marzia Palau Ruffo. While the team ranking is being won by the Circolo della Caccia of Rome, second the New Chess Club of Rome and third the Clubino of Milan. Besides you have prizes for the various categories were drawn among the participants, two binoculars Steiner Ranger Pro 8 × 42 offered by Beretta and two camera goggles offered by BS Planet, which also supplied headphones for all shooters, customized with the UCI logo and the date of the event. A “brazo” shooting competition was held around the meeting which saw many of those present involved in a discipline unknown to the most, which consists in the manual launch of pigeons with particular and very demanding trajectories.
Pigeon shooting is an ancient discipline that all enthusiasts should try at least once. A journey into a fascinating world and a country rich in history and art.
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