The SPRC is a social club based in Sydney that was formed to bring together like minded pigeon flyers to preserve the Birmingham roller pigeon in its truest possible form. We achieve this by promoting the Birmingham roller for its natural ability to summersault backwards with speed, style and depth through flying competitions.

Our club flying comps’ are held on the first Sunday of the month. Start time is early morning around 7.30 am with the judge visiting each flyers’ home to judge their kits.

At the completion of judging the scores are tallied and the place getters announced then it’s time to BBQ and discuss the rollers. Tips and tricks from fellow bird brains. The club champion will be the flyer with the highest aggregate for the season.

The Birmingham Roller is a breed of domesticated pigeon that originated Birmingham England in an area known as the “Black Country”. They were developed from common tumbler pigeons of the time via careful selective breeding for their ability to do rapid backward somersaults while flying. Now commonly known as “Rolling”.  The roller pigeon has a genetic inclination to flip backwards.

A group of competition rollers and is known as a “Kit” that can vary in number from 15 to 20 birds. In order to score competition points a minimum of five birds must roll in unison, maximum 20 birds breaking at the same time is called “A Full Turn”, a very rare sight.

The development of today’s Birmingham roller pigeon has provided us with modern birds that work in unison to such a high standard that a set of international competition rules was developed and our club follows these guidelines.

When provided with adequate training, good diet and exercise the rolling action can be so fast, that the pigeon looks like a blur of feathers falling from the sky. The birds recover from the rolling and re-group to form a tight kit. A competition kit of rollers will continue to do the same aerobatics with regular frequency in unison for the duration of the fly.

The enhancement of these factors is determined by careful selection of the stock you are breeding from. Roller pigeons are like anything else you select the right  stock out of the air if possible. Fly the young consistently, always watch the birds and select for quality, speed and depth not forgetting control in the roll. If you put the hard yards in and you will reap the rewards.

Training factors determine the fly time, kit height and even the Kits responsiveness to the owners, commands. This is controlled by strict diet and consistent daily flying routine.

Flying pigeons is a way of life. It is in the blood dedicating time to the pigeons, selecting the right roller, releasing the birds on competition day your heart is in your mouth. Getting the right results is what keeps us rolling. To all in the hobby keep your eye in the sky.

All the best. SPRC.