“FIRST INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE”

THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR

“PLATINUM EDITION”

(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)

(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)

DUE TO BE HELD IN LINBRO PARK, SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,

SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2016.

ANOTHER RACE SEASON STARTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUNSHINE.

THE FANTASTIC MONTECASINO COMPLEX, FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA WILL

BE HOSTING THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE.

ANOTHER FANTASTIC RACE ENTRY WITH AROUND 5,000 PIGEONS BEING ENTERED FROM 36 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES.

RESULTS FOR PRE-TRAINING RACES 1, 2 & 3.

 
Once again we are off and running in South Africa and this is my first official International Press Release to be published after my Initial International Press Release a couple of weeks ago. It has been a tough campaign so far with many obstacles to overcome for the race organisers because of the Avian Influenza outbreaks in many different countries but finally all the pigeons came out of quarantine and training around the race lofts got underway but it should be mentioned now that the initial training and race programme has had to be delayed slightly and the three
Pre-Training Races, Training Races and Hot Spot Car Races have now all been altered to give the pigeons in the race lofts a fair chance to catch up. The pigeons will not be rushed and the loft staff are fairly confident that within a few weeks these athletes of the skies will be back on track.  
 
Hopefully, fanciers all over the world will appreciate the massive amount of work that is put in by Michael Holt (Race Director & Systems Administrator), Pieter Saayman (Assistant Systems Administrator), Marion Branford (Administration) and Peter Furstenberg from Shine Interactive and all his staff who have all helped to redesign this state of the art web site www.samdpr.com another exciting racing season is in front of us with a fantastic new updated web site, making it far easier for all concerned to look, find and study all the information available for all entrants/competitors and pigeon fanciers
 
It should also be mentioned that Willi van Beers from Germany has been appointed again for the second year running to act as Race Manager and he will work closely with the Loft Managers & Trainers Corrie Naude, Andre van Wyk and the rest of the loft staff. Sara Blackshaw (Director of Air Sport Internationale), Joan-e Holt (Public Relations) and Deirdre Kallmeyer from African Olive Concepts (The Official Travel Company for the SAMDPR) have also all been extremely busy looking and then selecting a brand new venue to host the 20th SAMDPR “THE PLATINUM EDITION” and I can now tell you that the fantastic MONTECASINO COMPLEX, Fourways, Johannesburg has finally been selected to host the events during the race weekend in early February 2016. I have personally visited MONTECASINO many times over the past 20 years and can confirm that it will be a superb venue for the next race and hopefully many more to come. It has everything that pigeon fanciers and their guests/friends and family require so that their stay will be remembered for a long time. So once again, exciting times are in front of this prestigious international pigeon race as it once again moves forward into the future.
 
This spectacular international pigeon race is now in its twentieth year and started off with under 1,000 pigeons in its first year way back in 1997, since then entries have increased and in the 7th Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race in 2003 it attracted an entry of 2,473 pigeons, then the 8th SCMDPR in 2004 attracted 3,703 pigeons, however, the 9th SCMDPR in 2005 attracted a staggering 5,096 pigeons. In a space of two years the entries actually doubled. After the record breaking entry of 5,096 pigeons that were entered into the 9th SCMDPR in 2005, which was made up of 3,711 International pigeons and 1,385 South African entries and were entered from 30 different countries. Then in the 10th SCMDPR held in 2006 we had a total of 4,649 pigeons entered, which was made up of 3,504 International and 1,145 South African entries that were entered by 28 different countries. This was then followed by 4,936 pigeons being entered into the 11th SCMDPR in 2007, which consisted of 3,462 International and 1,474 South African entries. When you consider all the problems and restrictions that have been implemented because of outbreaks of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease around the world over the last few years, plus many other one loft races trying to compete with the SCMDPR, it really is truly amazing that entries have managed to stay so high, especially when you consider that Mainland China entered 413 pigeons into the 2006 SCMDPR and have not been allowed to compete since. By losing these entries and those from other countries with restrictions has certainly stopped the organisers from smashing records on an annual basis. However, even after all the problems around the world that had affected the entries into the 12th SCMDPR to be held in 2008, the organising committee were still proud to announce that they had managed to get a grand total of 4,902 pigeons, which consists of 3,641 International and 1,261 South African pigeons entered into the race which was held in the fabulous Sun City, South Africa on Saturday 2nd February 2008. The 2009 race attracted 29 different countries and a record breaking entry of 5,576 pigeons and was held on January 31st and this total was made up of 4,496 International and 1,080 South African pigeons, with a total of 3,082 entries actually being sent to the Final Race after nearly 7,000 km (4,350 miles) of training. The entry for the 2010 SCMDPR once again exceeded the 5,000 mark for the third time and a grand total of 5,610 pigeons were officially entered by 30 participating countries and that number is made up of 4,693 International pigeons and 917 pigeons from South Africa who are of course the host country. Once again the International entry had been smashed by a staggering 187 pigeons. When one considers that most of the world was in a massive recession it once again just goes to prove to pigeon fanciers all over the world that this is the race they would all like to win. Once again the entry for the 15th anniversary race was a staggering 6,611 pigeons entered from 36 different countries, which is a massive overall increase of 1,001 pigeons and quite a few new countries getting involved for the first time. The total number of entries is made up of 5,639 International entries and 972 from South Africa, which of course is the host country. Once again the International entries are up by a staggering 946 pigeons, which is fantastic when you think that the world is still coming out of a recession. The 16th SCMDPR once again attracted entries from 36 different countries and a staggering world record entry of 7,949 pigeons, which was made up by 6,831 International and 1,118 South African pigeons. The 17th SAMDPR was held in the new venue, which was the fabulous Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd February 2013 and close on 8,000 pigeons were originally entered from 36 different countries. The 18th SAMDPR was also held at the new venue and attracted an entry of around 7,000 pigeons from 40 different countries. Once again the international entry totalled over 6,500 pigeons. Entry figures for THE 19th SAMDPR was a total of 38 different countries participating and they entered around 6,000 pigeons and this event took place at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg. As you see by these figures listed above the race has massive support from many different countries and that is because of the professional way this international pigeon race is run and because fanciers want to be part of and try to win “THE BIGGEST AND GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD TODAY” and “THE ONE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD”. The race entry for THE 20th SAMDPR has not yet been confirmed but it is known that 36 different countries are participating and that there were around 5,000 pigeons sent out to compete in this great pigeon race.
 
THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE, will now take place in the fantastic MONTECASINO COMPLEX, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 6th February 2016 has once again attracted yet another fantastic race entry from 36 different countries and the first Initial Loft Listing on the SAMDPR Web Site issued on Friday 9th October 2015 showed that a total of 4,450 pigeons were still in the race lofts at Linbro Park.
 
The remaining 4,450 pigeons still in the lofts and the following countries are still currently represented:- AUSTRALIA (114), AUSTRIA (45), BAHRAIN (14), BELGIUM (221), BULGARIA (5), CANADA (103), CHINA (3), CROATIA (8), CZECH REPUBLIC (90), DENMARK (70), GERMANY (1015), HUNGARY (6), IRAQ (11), IRELAND (70), ITALY (22), KUWAIT (433), MALTA (19), NETHERLANDS (274), NORWAY (32), POLAND (98), PORTUGAL (3), PUERTO RICO (3), QATAR (31), ROMANIA (62), SAUDI ARABIA (42), SLOVAKIA (41), SLOVENIA (15), SOUTH AFRICA (236), SPAIN (3), SWEDEN (19), SWITZERLAND (14), TRINIDAD (5), UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (15), UNITED KINGDOM (336), UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (769) and ZIMBABWE (5).
 
The total number of pigeons listed above represents 4,252 pigeons, which means that there are a total of 198 pigeons (66 teams) that have still not been officially paid for. Quite a lot of these payments are still being processed and as soon as these are received by the Race Organisers these paid pigeons will be added to the Loft Listings. These figures above equate to 4,016 International and unfortunately only 236 South African pigeons. This international pigeon race has proved once again that it really is the OLYMPICS GAMES in the pigeon world and has continually improved on a yearly basis.
 
During the colder months and whilst the two pigeon lofts were empty, they were all completely cleaned, disinfected, painted and sprayed and part of the top of the lofts and between the new lofts netting was placed so that the pigeons arriving from literally all over the world could see all around them before getting airborne. Also a brand new “TRAPPING AREA” has now been constructed and this is also between the two lofts which hopefully will improve the trapping of the pigeons when they return from training tosses and the mid-week and weekend races. This in my opinion is a great improvement and hopefully will improve the trapping of the pigeons on their return to the lofts. You can log onto www.samdpr.com and see the photographs of the alterations that have been implemented during the time when the race lofts were empty.
 
Of course, one of the main reasons for the success of this race is the extremely professional way it has been run from the start and that they have always paid out all of their projected prize money every year since the race first started way back in 1997 and that is why it is now known the world over “AS THE BIGGEST AND GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD” and has been now been tagged as “THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD” and ”THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN THE PIGEON WORLD”.
 
For the second time ever during the quarantine period the loft floors were covered with shredded paper, which helps to soak and dry up the droppings from thousands of pigeons in the two lofts, yet another first for the SAMDPR. Once the quarantine period is over this is all removed and the perches and floors are cleaned every day. Both the lofts have been recently fitted with grilled floors raised above the concrete base, which should help with the cleaning of the lofts and the general hygiene.
 
I think it should be mentioned that we are without Zandy Meyer (Race Director) at the helm anymore, who unfortunately passed away on 30th June 2013, however the “ADMINISTRATION & LOFT TEAM” below have worked extremely hard to firstly get all the pigeons settled to the lofts and then logged on to the database system, so that all the entrants around the world can following the progress of their pigeons right through the race series. This in itself is a massive task and as usual they have come up trumps. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS AND GALS. If you wish to look at some superb photographs of pigeon lofts and the pigeons in the lofts or flying around the lofts, then please log on to www.samdpr.com
 
The Organising Committee, which now consists of Michael Holt, Race Director, Willi van Beers, Race Manager, Joan-e Holt, Public Relations, Marion Branford, Administration, Michael Holt, Systems Administrator, Pieter Saayman, Assistant Systems Administrator, Andre van Wyk & Corrie Naude Head Trainers & Loft Managers, plus of course Patrick Ngowangusha and all the seven other loft staff, plus Paul Smith, United Kingdom Shipper/Co-ordinator & International Race Co-ordinator, Dr. Marthinus Hartman, Chief Veterinary Officer from the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort Veterinary Services, plus of course all the Country Shippers/Co-Ordinators were once again looking to try to increase the entry for the twentieth race. Once again they knew that this would be a massive task but they felt that even with all the other one-loft races that were now up and running all over the world, beating the entry of last year ago could be achieved, providing we did not lose to many countries that had entered in past races. *****SPECIAL THANKS must of course also go to Sara Blackshaw who is a Director of Air Sport Internationale, who are The Presenters Of This Great Race for their continued support, Sara has worked very hard to keep the race going after the untimely death of Zandy Meyer (Race Director), plus of course we must also mention the fantastic MONTECASINO COMPLEX, Fourways, Johannesburg for allowing us to use their fabulous facilities at this truly outstanding venue for this very prestigious international pigeon race weekend.
 
Of course, as mentioned earlier, we all knew that this would be a hard task and the first thing that was to be done was for the current web site to be upgraded once again so that even more information was available to the entrants/competitors and pigeon fanciers. After months and months off hard work by Peter Furstenberg of Shine Interactive and his staff, plus Michael Holt and Pieter Saayman, Systems Administrators for Air Sport Internationale this has now been achieved as anybody logging onto the brand new state of the art revamped web site www.scmdpr.co.za will be able to see even more information is available. The “HITS” on this web site had increased from 3 million for the 2003 race to 5 million for the 2004 race and over 8 million for the 2005 race and over 14 million for the 2006 race series. Records seem to be broken each year and the 2006/7 race series attracted over 16 million “HITS” during the race series and during the 2007/8 race series the web site attracted over 20 million “HITS”. Once again another record was broken for the “HITS” during the 2008/9 race series with well over 25 million. Just to show fanciers/competitors and entrants how successful this new web site has been, during the 2009/10 race series the web site had a remarkable 48 million “HITS” over the 12 month period. These figures increased dramatically because of a brand new Information Portal and Twitter facilities that were added as extras during the 14th SCMDPR. During the full 2010/11 race series the “HITS” figures increased once again to a staggering 50 million. Once again during the 2011/12 racing series the “HITS” increased, with figures in the region of 60 million. During the 2012/13 race series the amount of “HITS” rose to around 70 million. Also during the 2013/14 race season the amount of “HITS” exceeded those of the previous year by a considerably number. This just goes to show the amount of interest that is shown in this great international pigeon race from pigeon fanciers literally all over the world. Information is on line for all to see, so why not join in the fun throughout the next few months and add this web site to your favourites list. If it is information you require, then this race certainly gives it to you or anybody that cares to log onto their fantastic state of the art web site. Official figure for “HITS” during the 2014/15 race series are not yet to hand but should easily exceed the 70 million “HITS” of the previous year.
 
Numerous “Loft Reports”, “Updates”, “Photographs” and “Videos” have been placed on the informative SAMDPR Web Site after the 19th SAMDPR was completed and as the organisation was moving towards taking in race entries for the 20th SAMDPR “THE PLATINUM EDITION”. These are all available now on the dedicated Web Site www.samdpr.com for all to see.
 
CONGRATULATIONS once again go to all the Country Race Shippers/Co-ordinators for again getting so many pigeons for this fantastic International Pigeon Race, you are truly worth your weight in gold to the race organisers as without all your hard work and effort the race would never get off the ground. It is always interesting to study the entry figures after the last race, those countries that do well usually increase in entries and others that have not faired so well reduce in numbers but as usual there are others countries that continue to increase whatever happens. However, the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM after their outstanding success in winning 1st and 2nd OPEN in the 13th SCMDPR 2009 when we actually sent a record 602 pigeons. In fact the following year 14th SCMDPR we only entered 399 pigeons and one can only think that this massive reduction in entries was due mainly to the world credit crunch and recession that seemed to have hit this country ever since the last race. However, I was very positive that the UK entries would return once we finally started to come out of this current economic climate. It was great to see that the UK entries increased by 210 pigeons to a total of 609 pigeons for the 15th SCMDPR, which once again just shows how many fanciers would like to win this prestigious international pigeon race. Once again the United Kingdom Team increased its entries into the 16th SCMDPR with a record entry of 657 pigeons which is the highest amount we have ever sent out for this great race. The entry for the United Kingdom Team for the 17th SAMDPR was yet another record entry and this year we managed to get over 700 pigeons for the first time ever, breaking our past record entry by over 60 pigeons. For the 18th SAMDPR the United Kingdom Race Team consisted of about 590 pigeons. The race entry for the United Kingdom Race Team for the 19th SAMDPR was just under 500 pigeons. The race entry for the United Kingdom Race Team for the 20th SAMDPR was just over 400 pigeons. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL AND THANKS AGAIN TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, I CAN ASSURE YOU IT REALLY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE RACE ORGANISERS.
 
Once again the marketing for this top class pigeon race never really stops and as one race finishes the next one starts but that is really what makes this superb event such an exciting international race. This as most of you all know will be the fourth year at the new race lofts in Linbro Park, Sandton, Johannesburg and the new lofts have now received pigeons for the 17th, 18th, 19th and now the 20th SAMDPR. Of course, if a certain country does not do well in the past race or races, it actually becomes much tougher for the Country Race Shippers/Co-ordinators to get fanciers to enter because fanciers feel they have no chance to win any of the major prizes. So it has always been the policy of this race to create more and more competitions that offer extra cash rewards or specials prizes and once again this year is no exception, with five brand new cars being up for grabs which is one in each of the HOT SPOT CAR RACES, plus numerous other new competitions where fanciers could win something in the five newly named HOT SPOT CAR RACES in the run-up to THE FINAL RACE.
 
Although the race is now named THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR, the total to be paid out in cash and prizes in the 2015/16 race series exceeds US$1.7 million American Dollars or approximately £1.2 million pounds sterling. No other one-loft race in the world today can boast of such massive payouts and this race is now in its twentieth year and has for the last nineteen years paid out all of its projected prize money, that is why its reputation of this great race has increased, plus it has already paid out in the last nineteen  races, prize money in excess of US$31 million American Dollars (£21 million pounds), which is a remarkable achievement in itself in one loft racing and one that the race organisers are very proud of. It should also be mentioned that the Prize Money and Awards in THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE has actually slightly increased its overall payout compared with the 19th SAMDPR. The FINAL RACE PRIZE MONEY in the 20th SAMDPR now exceeds US$1 million dollars or around £607,000 sterling.
 
The Pre-Training Races, Training Races, Mid-Week Races and Saturday Races during 2015 and 2016 are listed as follows:- Pre-Training Race 1 from 18km (11 miles) to be held on Wednesday 11th November, then Pre-Training Race 2 from 26km (16 miles) on Saturday 14th November, Pre-Training Race 3 from 35km (22 miles) on Wednesday 18th November. Then Training Race 1 from 40km (25 miles) on Saturday 21st November, Training Race 2 from 50km (31 miles) on Wednesday 25th November, Training Race 3 from 80km (50 miles) on Saturday 28th November, Training Race 5 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 2nd December, Training Race 6 from 100km (62 miles) on Saturday 5th December, Training Race 7 from 100km (62 miles) on Wednesday 9th December,  HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 from 150km (93 miles) on Saturday 12th December, Training Race 8 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 16th December, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 2 from 200km (125 miles) on Saturday 19th December, Training Race 9 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 23rd December, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 from 250km (155 miles) on Monday 28th December, Training Race 10 from 80km (50 miles) on Saturday 2nd January 2016, Training Race 11 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 6th January, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 from 300km (187 miles) on Saturday 9th January, Training Race 12 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 13th January, Training Race 13 from 100km (62 miles) on Saturday 16th January, Training Race 14 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 20th January, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 from 350km (218 miles) on Saturday 23rd January, Training Race 15 from 40km (25 miles) on Wednesday 27th January, Training Race 16 from 80km (49 miles) on Saturday 30th January, then THE FINAL RACE from 550km (342 miles) on Saturday 6th February 2016. The dates are not be set in stone and if the proposed date for any of these races is not suitable for liberation, then these will take place on the next best day in that week. Daily training will also take place during the week providing the weather is suitable. No training will take place on Sundays unless of course a holdover takes place on the Saturday race. The Overall Averages and the allocated Prize Money will only count in races of 50km (31 miles) and over. The three Pre-Training Races 1, 2 & 3 will not count in The Overall Averages.
 
All the United Kingdom Team fanciers/entrants and syndicate shareholders will be kept up to date with weekly “NEWSLETTERS” plus any of them can log on to the state of the art The South African Million Dollar Race web site:- www.samdpr.com and get all the information they might require over the next few months. All official past competitors/entrants will still be able to use their old username and password and new competitors/entrants that have entered this race for the first time should now have received their own confidential username and password and then they will be able to log into their own account and see everything on their own computer screen. If you have not received yours yet, please contact your Official Shipper. You can change your pigeon’s name if you do not like the one allocated to it providing of course the name you chose has not been used already by somebody else and you can even put all your pedigrees on live if you wish to, which certainly helps with the final selling price at the auction after the race. Remember the 2008 SCMDPR ACE PIGEON named BIRDY sold for a staggering world record £53,730 and the breeder receives 50% of this figure after expenses. This really is a state of the art race that continues to improve its overall image on an annual basis and give fanciers and entrants all the information they need to know about all the pigeons in the lofts.
 
It should also be mentioned that the all the new entrants/competitors have now been sent their “OFFICIAL INTAKE” status report on all the pigeons they originally entered, which was followed by a full Loft Listing on the official SAMDPR Web Site which was published on Friday 9th October 2015, which will show everybody what fully paid pigeons are still left in the lofts at that current time. Fanciers that have entered this race before will be able to use the password they used last time to access their personal account. New entrants/competitors will have to log onto www.samdpr.com and create their own new password so that they can access their personal account.
 
Numerous short training tosses have already taken place, prior to the actual Pre-Training Race 1 and that will take place on Wednesday 11th November 2015 from 18km (11 miles).
 
It should be noted the Organising Committee and Loft Managers have decided this year not to try to rush the youngsters up to the 80km (50 miles) mark. So with the pigeon’s best interest in mind there will now be a total of three Pre-Training Races 1 to 3 up to distances of 35km (22 miles). Please watch the Race Programme listed on the dedicated web site:- www.samdpr.com for more information on the distances for some of these earlier races as some of these might have to be changed because of circumstances. Of course as mention earlier only races of 50km (31 miles) actually counts in the SAMDPR Ace Pigeon Overall Averages and only fully paid up pigeons can win any of these cash prizes allocated to this competition.
 
PRE-TRAINING RACE 1 then took place on Wednesday 11th November 2015 from 18km (11 miles) and a total of 3,413 pigeons were basketed from 36 different countries and this total included 3,220 International and 193 South African pigeons and this total also included 265 from the United Kingdom and 51 from Ireland. The convoy were liberated at 06-05 in fine and clear conditions, with little to no wind, 21c (70f) and a good race was anticipated. The temperature was expected to rise to 35c (98f) during the afternoon.
 
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN goes to GUENTER GOETZ from the GERMANY with pigeon named READY FOR ACTION bred by GUENTER GOETZ, which was officially clocked at 06.20.36.70 to record a velocity of 1230ypm (42mph), 2nd Pinguin Syndicate from Belgium, 3rd Com Van Den Berg from Netherlands, 4th Rune Olsson from Sweden, 5th Team Hooymans from Netherlands, 6th Willi+Marlies Feerchan from Germany, 7th Christoph Spieker – Avantgarde from Germany, 8th Willi Holstiege from Germany, 9th Al-Watri Lofts from Kuwait, 10th Lei Zhang from China, 11th A Defaulter Pigeon, 12th Combinatie Tjitte and Lesley from Netherlands, 13th Bundy Rock from Australia, 14th Gerhard Schulze from Germany, 15th Club Sonskyn Duiweklub from South Africa, 16th Karl-Heinz Koch from Germany, 17th Team Germany – Girls United from Germany, 18th A Defaulter Pigeon, 19th Hermann Wienekamp from Germany and 20th Team Payk from Germany. The top twenty in this result were separated by just 22.50 seconds and had 8 different countries represented in the top 20 and 14 different countries in the top 50, only 33.24 seconds away from the actual race winner. This race resulted in a fantastic start to the 2015/16 race series with 3,238 pigeons being officially recorded by 07.00, leaving just 175 to make it back to the lofts. A further update showed 3,412 pigeons clocked by 12.29, leaving just 1 pigeon to return to the race lofts.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 22nd OPEN went to the RIXSHAW, and with pigeon named AMAZING GRACIE which was bred by LEN RIX from MILDENHALL, which was officially clocked at 06.21.01.40, just 24.70 seconds after the actual race winner. 2nd UK, 25th Open Common View Lofts with pigeon bred by John Cooper from Pontypridd, 3rd UK, 27th Open Aylesbury Speed-Birds with pigeon entered by Peter Entwistle of Aylesbury and bred by Ronnie Reece + Redworth, 4th UK, 54th Open Bartley & Tweats with pigeon bred by J+R Tweats, 5th UK, 68th Open Emilia Lofts with pigeon bred by Sebastian Suski from Southampton, 6th UK, 81st Open Oberholster Race Team with pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 7th UK, 106th Open Mr & Mrs Andy Gregson from Preston, 8th UK, 114th Open Oberholster Race Team with a second pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 9th UK, 132nd Open Smith – McAllister Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet with pigeon bred by Bruce McAllister from Furneaux Pelham, 10th UK, 148th Open Dream Team Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Terry Robinson from Goffs Oak, 11th UK, 159th Open Tadt with pigeon bred by Tadt Truszkowski from Melton Mowbray, 12th UK, 161st Open Aylesbury Speed-Birds with pigeon bred by Peter Entwistle from Aylesbury, 13th UK, 162nd Open Zandys Dream Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by this syndicate, 14th UK, 194th Open Dock FC with pigeon bred by Gary Jarvis from West Midlands, 15th UK, 233rd Open JCT Syndicate with pigeon bred by Julta Brothers from Upton Park, 16th UK, 270th Open Millys Loft with pigeon bred by Mike Mellor from Crewe, 17th UK, 280th Open Keeping Up With The Jones with pigeon bred by Robbie Jones from Southampton, 18th UK, 290th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 19th UK, 306th Open Tadt with another pigeon bred by Tadt Truszkowski from Melton Mowbray and then 20th UK, 347th Open Mr & Mrs Andy Gregson from Preston a second pigeon for this partnership. A great start to the campaign with all 265 pigeons being officially clocked by 06.58.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 64th OPEN went to JOHNSON – LEONARD & SONS with their pigeon named DELBOY, which was officially clocked at 06.21.16.45, just 39.75 seconds after the actual race winner. 2nd Ireland, 95th Open Maurice O’Donnell, 3rd Ireland, 164th Open Philip + Mark Smith, 4th Ireland, 273rd Open Karl Donnelly, 5th Ireland, 324th Open Padraig & Caoimhe and then 6th Ireland, 328th Open Moran & Bowden. A great start with all 51 pigeons being officially clocked by 08.34.
 
More short training took place on Thursday and Friday giving these pigeons more confidence and experience to cope with what was in front of them.
 
PRE-TRAINING RACE 2 was held on Saturday 14th November 2015 from 26km (16 miles) and for this race a total of 3,441 pigeons from 36 different countries were basketed and this included 3,242 International and 199 South Africa pigeons and this figure also included 268 from the United Kingdom and 52 from Ireland. The convoy were liberated at 06.00 with little to no wind and a temperature of 20c (68f). A fairly steady race was anticipated. As the day progressed the temperature would rise to around 32c (92f) and the forecast was for thunderstorms in the middle to late afternoon.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN goes to TEAM KNUDSEN & SOLBERG from DENMARK with pigeon named SCHWEINHUND bred by SVEIN SOLBERG, which was officially clocked at 06.22.02.25 to record a velocity of 1280ypm (44mph), 2nd A Defaulter Pigeon, 3rd Jan Hooymans – Hu Zhen Yu from Netherlands, 4th Erich Mueller from Germany, 5th Haji Hamdan Al-Hady from Kuwait, 6th Americas Dream Loft from United States Of America, 7th Keanu L+Lio M Syndicate from Germany, 8th Mary & Jerrys Loft from United States Of America, 9th Jassim Al-Kulaib from Kuwait, 10th JCT Syndicate from United Kingdom, 11th Xaver Heinloth from Germany, 12th Naje Ead from Kuwait, 13th Zandys Dream Team from United Kingdom, 14th Mohammed Marzouq Al-Alwan from Kuwait, 15th Leo Heremans from Belgium, 16th Reinhard Gebhardt from Germany, 17th Frank & August Daelemans from Belgium, 18th Satam Al-Zufairi from Kuwait, 19th Team Joachim from Germany and 20th Team Klaas – Konstantin from Germany. The top twenty were separated by just 53.75 seconds and had 7 different countries represented in this result with 15 different countries represented in the top 50 and these were 1 minute 13 seconds apart. A total of 2,981 pigeons were officially clocked up to 18.16. This figure meant that just 460 pigeons had failed to make it back to the lofts and I am fairly sure that a few more will work back early on Sunday morning. The Sunday Loft List was published early and it showed a total of 3,097 pigeons were in the lofts which meant that 344 pigeons were still missing. I am sure a few more will work back in the next few days.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UKITED KINGDOM, 10th OPEN went to JCT SYNDICATE with their pigeon named UP THE HAMMERS which was bred by JULTA BROTHERS from UPTON PARK, which was officially clocked at 06.22.37.57 just 35.32 seconds away from the actual race winner. 2nd UK, 13th Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a pigeon bred by this syndicate, 3rd UK, 43rd Open The Royal Lofts (Her Majesty The Queen), with pigeon bred by Peter Farrow (The Royal Loft Manager) from Wolverton, Sandringham Estate, 4th UK, 53rd Open Magnificent Seven with pigeon bred by PM Simpson from the North East, 5th UK, 55th Open Pet Shop Boys & Girls with pigeon bred by John Alderslade from Bridlington, 6th UK, 60th Open Costel Lungu – Vasja Belkevich with pigeon bred by from Costel Lungu from Borehamwood, 7th UK, 110th Open Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell, 8th UK, 128th Open Dock FC with pigeon bred by Gary Jarvis from Dudley,
9th UK, 132nd Open Mr & Mrs Andy Gregson from Preston, 10th UK, 153rd Open Team Lincs with pigeon bred by Mr & Mrs Paul & Tracey Stacey from Sleaford, 11th UK, 160th Open Leech & Son + S. Bannister with pigeon bred by Joe Leech & Son from Featherstone, 12th UK, 182nd Open Andrew Thompson from Warrington, 13th UK, 200th Open Lucky Devils, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 14th UK, 205th Open J+J Syndicate with pigeon bred by Joe Kennedy & Son from Belfast, 15th UK, 213th Open Alistair Hogg from Winchburgh, 16th UK, 224th Open Millys Loft with pigeon bred by Mike Mellor from Crewe, 17th UK, 267th Open another for Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 18th UK, 304th Open Oberholster Race Team with pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 19th UK, 331st Open another for Zandy Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and bred by this syndicate and 20th UK, 332nd Open another for Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell. A total of 238 pigeons from the United Kingdom were officially recorded up to 18.16, leaving 32 still to make it back to base camp. Another Loft List issued early on Sunday morning showed 242 UK pigeon had returned to the lofts, leaving 26 still to return to the lofts. I am sure a few more will work back in the next few days.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 75th OPEN went to CORN DIRECT with pigeon named YOUNG GLADIATOR bred by Conor Whelan, which was officially clocked at 06.23.27.50, just 1 minute 25.25 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd Ireland, 133rd Open Padraig & Caoimhe, 3rd Ireland, 157th Open Joe Kennedy & Son, 4th Ireland, 255th Open Safet Duran, 5th Ireland, 279th Open Philip + Mark Smith and 6th Ireland, 282nd Open Pat Maher. A total of 46 Irish pigeons were officially clocked by 18.16, leaving just 6 to make it back to the lofts. The Sunday morning Loft List showed 48 Irish pigeons in the lofts, leaving just 4 to return.
 
PRE-TRAINING RACE 3 took take place on Wednesday 18th November 2015 from 28km (17 miles) and for this race a total of 3,128 pigeons from 36 different countries were basketed and this included 2,938 International and 190 pigeons from South Africa and this figure also included 246 from the UK and 48 from Ireland.
 
The convoy were liberated at 08.00 with little to no wind and a temperature of 14c (56f) and a fairly fast race was anticipated. Later in the day the temperature would rise to around 23c (74f) and some rain would come in to the area.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN goes to TEAM DIE STRAUSBERGER from GERMANY with pigeon named ARAGON bred by KD DUMMER, which was officially clocked at 08.19.26.05 to record a velocity of 1500ypm (51mph), 2nd Team Macken from United States Of America, 3rd Connett – Meeks from United States Of America, 4th Franssens – Verhaeghe from Belgium, 5th Team Sylt 2000 from Germany, 6th Gerhard Schulze from Germany, 7th Milan + David + Erik Blahovsky from Slovakia, 8th Leon Jansz from Canada, 9th Team Schnellin from Germany, 10th Jan Hooymans – Hu Zhen Yu from Netherlands, 11th Tomasz Wiczling from Poland, 12th another for Jan Hooymans – Hu Zhen Yu from Netherlands, 13th Crammond & Langstaff from United Kingdom, 14th Leon van Rooyen – Ton de Kovel from South Africa, 15th Triple J Lofts from South Africa, 16th Padraig & Caoimhe from Ireland, 17th Team Soepboer from Netherlands, 18th Stanescu – Dobre from Romania, 19th JW Le Roux from South Africa and 20th Storm Syndicate from South Africa. The top twenty were separated by just 23.77 seconds and had 10 different countries represented in this result with 16 different countries represented in the top 50. A total of 2,836 pigeons were officially clocked up to 16.43 and this meant that 382 pigeons were still missing by nightfall. The Thursday morning Loft List showed a total of 3,052 pigeons in the race lofts, leaving 166 still to return to base camp.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 13th OPEN went to IAN CRAMMOND & NIGEL LANGSTAFF from FONTWELL with their pigeon named FONTWELL FIGARO which was officially clocked at 08.19.38.05 just 12 seconds behind the actual race winner. This was a great 80th birthday present for Ian Crammond who celebrated his birthday just a couple of days before this race. 2nd UK, 45th Open Guys Lofts Elite with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 3rd UK, 61st Open Keeping Up With The Jones with pigeon bred by Robbie Jones from Southampton,
4th UK, 66th Open Millys Lofts with pigeon bred by Mike Mellor from Crewe, 5th UK, 71st Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attlebotough, 6th UK, 75th Open J+J Syndicate with pigeon bred by Joe Kennedy & Son from Belfast, 7th UK, 79th Open Smith – McAllister Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bruce McAllister from Furneaux Pelham, 8th UK, 80th Open Planet Brothers with pigeon bred by Gary & John Squibb from Noak Hill, 9th UK, 100th Open Mark Gilbert GB from Southfield, 10th UK, 107th Open Syndicate Lofts with pigeon bred by Peter Fox from Bangor, 11th UK, 143rd Open Mabin Syndicate with pigeon bred by Mr & Mrs Andy Mabin from Buckfastleigh, 12th UK, 158th Open Manchester Maestros with pigeon bred by John Crehan from Manchester, 13th UK, 162nd Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a pigeon bred by this syndicate, 14th UK, 178th Open Alistair Hogg from Winchburgh, 15th UK, 191st Open Lloyd & Kelly from Didcot, 16th UK, 195th Open another for Lloyd & Kelly from Didcot, Eamon Kelly had a fantastic Old Bird season winning 2 x 1sts and 4th OPEN National Flying Club, a record that I am sure will stand for a long time, 17th UK, 203rd Open Paul Smith Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 18th UK, 212th Open Aylesbury Speed-Birds entered by Peter Entwistle from Aylesbury and with pigeon bred by Ronnie Reece + Redworth, 19th UK, 243rd Open Andrew Thompson from Warrington and 20th UK,  257th Open another for Zandys Dream Team with another pigeon bred by this syndicate. A total of 228 from the United Kingdom were officially recorded up to 16.43, leaving 18 still to make it back to the race lofts by nightfall. The Thursday morning Loft List showed 241 UK in the lofts, leaving just 5 to make it back to base camp.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 16th OPEN went to PADRAIG & CAOIMHE with their pigeon named ANNIE bred by PJ NANGLE, which was officially clocked at 08.19.41.41 just 15.36 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd Ireland, 54th Open Maurice O’Donnell, 3rd Ireland, 109th Open Philip + Mark Smith, 4th Ireland, 285th Open Moran & Bowden, 5th Ireland, 306th Open Safet Duran and 6th Ireland, 320th Open Corn Direct. A total of 44 Irish pigeons were officially recorded by 16.43, leaving just 4 pigeons to make it back to the race lofts. The Thursday morning Loft List showed all 48 Irish pigeons in the lofts which meant a 100% return from this race.
 
A couple more short training tosses will take place on Thursday and Friday and then the next race will be TRAINING RACE 1 from 40km (25 miles) on Saturday 21st November 2015.
 
***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT*** I am sorry that I can’t add all the information about who bred all the pigeons or where they live as I can only publish details which I am in possession of. If there are no details besides your winning pigeon/s then please contact me on reglofts@aol.com with your details and I will include these in my later International Press Reports. I personally do my best to give all the fanciers, entrants and breeders all the credit they and their pigeons deserve when they manage to get in the results so your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
 
For the first few races numerous pigeons will not trap, so do not worry if yours is clocked late. The main thing to consider over the first few races is that it or they have made it back to the lofts in Linbro Park to fight another day. With each race the pigeons will learn a bit more, giving them more experience to tackle all the tasks that they are going to have in front of them during the testing 2015/16 training and race series.
 
Firstly, getting the pigeons used to the new lofts and then getting the pigeons flying around the lofts took place, which of course got them used to their new surroundings and then basket training took place and then as usual numerous short training tosses took place and over the next few weeks the distance will be increasing and the race organisers will be notifying competitors/entrants of the progress of all their entries through their dedicated informative state of the art web site.
 
As mentioned earlier only races of 80km (approx. 50 miles) will count towards The 20th South African Million Dollar Overall ACE PIGEON Averages, which has a total of three superb cash prizes of US$10,000 (approx. £6,666), US$5,000 (approx. £3,333) and US$2,500 (approx. £1,666) for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in this category after the Final Race has been completed.
 
NOMINATION RACES will be held on numerous TRAINING RACES, plus the HOT SPOT CAR RACES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and of course the FINAL RACE. See SAMDPR Web Site for full details. All these races will have US$1, US$2, US£5, US$10, US$20, US$50 & US$100 REGIONAL and US$1, US$2, US$5, US$10, US$20, US$50 & US$100 GLOBAL NOMINATIONS which can be placed on THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR Web Site. If you wish to enter any of these NOMINATIONS, you will have to have credit in your ASI Master Account. If you do not have credit then please forward funds to your Race Shipper so that this can be transferred to your Master Account in time to get your NOMINATIONS placed. Please do not leave it to the last minute to transfer funds as the transfer may not go through in time and this could result in your pigeon or pigeons not winning what they should be rewarded with.
 
GOOD LUCK TO ALL CONCERNED AND REGULAR “INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASES”, “NEWSLETTERS” AND “UPDATES” WILL BE SENT OUT TO ALL COMPETITORS/ENTRANTS AND SYNDICATE SHAREHOLDERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS BY EMAIL OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. ALSO WEEKLY “PRESS RELEASES” WILL BE SENT OUT TO BOTH OUR TWO PIGEON PUBLICATIONS NAMELY THE “BRITISH HOMING WORLD” AND “”THE RACING PIGEON” PLUS IT WILL ALSO BE ON MY REGENCY LOFTS WEB SITE www.regencylofts.com FOR ALL TO VIEW.
 
This is the “TWENTIETH YEAR” since this great International One Loft Race started and every year since day one the Organising Committee have created new competitions and I assume that this year will be no exception, more on this subject will be published as details come through from the race organisers.
 
“TRIP OF A LIFETIME” it will also be my twentieth year of organising such a trip and I am also fairly positive that once again The South African pigeon fanciers and all the staff at the 4 STAR SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL, THE PIVOT, MONTECASINO, FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG will be going out of their way to make sure everybody has a fantastic time in the fabulous hotel and as in past years I will as usual be organising an 11 day (9 nights) stay in South Africa. We will depart on Economy South African Airways from London Heathrow Airport on Tuesday 2nd February 2016 and then depart on Economy South African Airways from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg on Friday 12th February 2016 finally arriving back at London Heathrow Airport on Saturday 13th February 2016 at around 06-30. We will spend 5 nights in the fantastic 4 star Southern Sun Hotel, The Pivot, Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa to watch and be part of this fantastic race and meet lots of top fanciers from literally all over the world, whilst the same time enjoying the outstanding South African scenery, weather, food, beer and of course the superb South African hospitality. This top class hotel is situated in the modern suburb of and offers 244 luxury rooms plus 15 luxury suites and is 25km (16 miles) from O.R. Tambo Airport. I personally visited this hotel on my recent trip to South Africa and it is sure to please, it is within walking distance to all the major functions over the race weekend. Right next door is the 3 star Sun Square Hotel which is located in the Piazza Square, which is slightly cheaper than the main hotel. MONTECASINO COMPLEX is a staggering venue and offers lots for people to do either during the day or night, with some bars, numerous restaurants, gambling, cinema, theatres and even a bird garden plus many other things to do right on your doorstep. Then on Monday 8th February 2016 we will depart from the Southern Sun Hotel mid-morning and travel down to Sun City Resort for a 4 night stay in the fabulous 5 star Cascades Hotel. These few days will be for you to do whatever you want in the outstanding resort. Included in this part of the trip will be all the three Official Functions and meals, transfers to and from the race lofts and also the race marking and auction in Linbro Park, plus
B & B basis for the duration of our stay.
 
The estimated cost at the current time is about £1,625 per person in a twin room sharing, Economy South African Airways return flights from London Heathrow Airport and O. R. Tambo Airport Johannesburg, plus transfers to and from the Southern Sun Hotel. If paid in full by the end of November this price will be honoured, after that there will probably be a supplement charged. With the current Rand/Sterling exchange rate, all these trips represent outstanding value for money.
 
This price may fluctuate depending on the current exchange rates at the time of you confirming and paying for your booking. This will certainly be a trip for all to remember so if you are genuinely interested in travelling with this group then please get in touch with me ASAP on 01279-812005 or my mobile 07860-568216 or by email on reglofts@aol.com because flights and accommodation will be as usual be at a premium. All accommodation packages are based on a twin or double sharing basis and breakfast is included every morning in my special package deal. A single room supplement is also available for those that require it. This trip represents great value for money and will be sold on a first come, first served basis, just give me a call on 01279-812005 or 07860-568216 or email me on reglofts@aol.com to get full details. A full itinerary will be published in my International Press Release and in both the “BHW” and the “RP” once full costings are known. Of course if you would just like to go out for the 5 nights stay in the 4 star Southern Sun Hotel, Montecasino then please let me know and I will get an all in price for you. If any fanciers/friends would like to add any extra pre or post trips in South Africa, then please let me know what you would like to do and where you would like to go to and I will then get a quote for you from Deirdre Kallmeyer, African Olive Travel Concepts which are the official travel representative for the race and also the company that I personally deal with.
 
***SPECIAL NOTICE*** One point that should be pointed out to all competitors and entrants is that only your NUMBER 1 pigeons is “ACTIVATED” (FULLY PAID UP ENTRY) with the other TWO (2) pigeons in each of your “TEAM OF 3” being your RESERVES or BACK-UP PIGEONS. Another point worth mentioning is if you happened to lose your NUMBER 1 PIGEON, your NUMBER 2 PIGEON would replace it FREE OF CHARGE and likewise if you then lost your NUMBER 2 PIGEON, your NUMBER 3 PIGEON would then replace that one FREE OF CHARGE. If you were unlucky enough to lose all your entries of 3 pigeons in any of your “TEAMS” and they had won no “Special Prize Money” in the new HOT SPOT CAR RACES 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 then you are entitled to a FREE ENTRY into the 20th SAMDPR and all you have to pay is the official shipping/export costs to your Country Shipper.
 
This of course represents great value for your money. All pigeons go to every training toss and Saturday and Wednesday races providing they are fit enough but can only compete for any of the allocated PRIZE MONEY or SPECIAL AWARDS in the 5 x HOT SPOT CAR RACES if they are “ACTIVATED” and that means that these must be paid for prior to the HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1, which is due to take place on SATURDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2014 from 130km (approx. 81 miles). The cost to “ACTIVATE” these “RESERVES or BACK-UP PIGEONS” is US$1,100 (approx. £667)(THIS MAY CHANGE SLIGHTLY DEPENDING ON CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE AT THE TIME OF ACTIVATION) but that will then entitle all these fully paid up pigeons to compete and be eligible to fly for all the extra cash prizes and special awards that amounts to close to US$300,000 (approx. £200,000). The one thing to remember is that once your reserve pigeon or pigeons are fully paid for, if then they get lost and have won no prize money or special awards in the Special Money Races, then you get this money refunded (less about US$15 (£10) for bank charges) or you can have it added to your ASI account, which can then be used to purchase another pigeon at a later date and be entered into the Final Race under your name or syndicate or even under another name of your choice.  So as you can see it is “BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY” and pay for them early, after all you have nothing to lose. The race entry fee for The 19th SAMDPR was actually increased by US$100, up to US$1,100. However, all cash refunds will be at US$1,000 per paid pigeon, which will give the race organiser US$100 per pigeon towards the feeding, training and quarantine costs.
HOW MANY OTHER RACES IN THE WORLD OFFER THIS SORT OF OPTION TO COMPETITORS AND ENTRANTS?
 
***WHAT CAN BE WON DURING THIS 2015/16 RACE SERIES*** Prizes and awards now add up to a staggering US$1.8 Million American Dollars £1.2 Million Pounds) and these include 5 x Brand New Motor Cars, 1 for each of the 5 x Car Races, 95 x US$1,100 Hot Spot Cash Prizes (it should be noted that the Motor Car Winner does not receive a US$1,100 Cash Prize), split into 19 x US$1,100 Cash Prizes for each of the 5 x Car Race Hot Spots, a US$5,000 Car Race Hot Spot Ace Pigeon Award for the best pigeon in these 5 races, 5 x US$5,000 Country Cash Prizes on the Car Race Hot Spot 5, plus numerous other US$1,000 Cash Prizes, these prizes are for the first pigeon from each country in the result, the first five different countries take the US$5,000 prizes, then after that US$1,000 prizes. A Two Bird Average Competition and a US$2,000 Cash Prize in each of the 5 x Car Race Hot Spots, A Three Bird Average Competition and a US$3,000 Cash Prize in each of the 5 x Car Race Hot Spots, The South African Million Dollar Ace Pigeon Award carries US$17,500 in Prize Money, split into three cash prizes with 1st US$10,000, 2nd US$5,000 and 3rd US$2,500 Cash Prizes for the 3 pigeons with the best overall average in all the Official Training Races over 50km (31 miles) and 5 x Car Race Hot Spots and the Final Race. There will also be a Knockout Winner Competition and US$25,000 Prize Money, which starts on the Car Race Hot Spot 2 and the winner is the first one to be clocked in the “FINAL RACE” (over the past few years there has been around 40/60 pigeons still left in this competition). Then in the “FINAL RACE” on the 6th February 2016 there are also 10 magnificent platinum pendants to be won worth well over US$1,000 each and now over US$1 Million American Dollars in Prize Money and 300 cash prizes being on offer.
 
THE ZANDY MEYER MEMORIAL RACE & US$1,000 (approx. £645) NOMINATION will also take place on the “FINAL RACE” and the winning will be A BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ SLK 555 MOTOR CAR, worth a staggering US$85,000 (approx. £55,000). (ONLY “ACTIVATED” PIGEONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR ANY OF THESE SPECIAL CASH PRIZES OR AWARDS). This new competition was very well supported in its first year and had over 160 entries and was so successful that it also paid out a staggering 2nd prize of US$54,000 cash. Do not miss this fantastic opportunity to win a fabulous new car. The 19th SAMDPR attracted about 140 entries and two staggering prizes were once again won by two worthy winners.
 
PRIZE MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR FINAL RACE, “PLATINUM EDITION” IS NOW AS FOLLOWS:- 1st US$150,000 (approx. £93,750), 2nd US$100,000 (approx. £62,500), 3rd US$75,000 (approx. £46,875), 4th US$50,000 (approx. £31,250), 5th US$40,000 (approx. £25,000), 6th US$25,000 (£15,625), 7th US$17,500 (£10,938), 8th US$15,000 (£9,375, 9th US$12,500 (£7,813), 10th US$15,000 (approx. £10,000), 11th/15th US$7,500 each (approx. £4,688), 16th/20th US$5,000 each (approx. £3,125), 21st/30th US$4,000 each (approx. £2,500), 31st/40th US$3,500 each (approx. £2,188), 41st/50th US$3,000 each (approx. £1,875), 51st/70th US$2,000 each (£1,250), 71st/100th US$1,750 each (£1,094), 101st/150th US$1,500 each (£938), 151st/200th US$1,250 each (£782) and then 201st/300th US$1,100 each (£688). (Subject to terms and conditions of entry). The actual cash prizes stated above represent exchange rates at the current time and may of course change at the time of each race depending what the currency exchange rate is on the actual race day.
 
It is worth mentioning that six brand new cars have been won by fanciers representing the United Kingdom Team in the last seven years, Richard Elliott and Chris Gordon both won new cars during the 2005/6 race series and Paul & Dave McCarthy won one a new car during the 2006/7 series. During the 2011/12 race series fanciers from the UK won a staggering 3 x brand new cars and these were Nev & Angi Evans & Steve Cuthbert, Robert & Peter Montila and then Phil Bond. This in itself was an outstanding team performance. No other country has ever won three cars on the trot. The Irish fancier named John Nash also won a brand new car in the 2008/9 race series. I am hopeful that somebody from the United Kingdom or Ireland will also win one or maybe more brand new cars during the 2015/16 race series. GOOD LUCK TO ALL COMPETITORS.
 
I would also just like to notify fanciers that my weekly “INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE”, “NEWSLETTERS” and “UPDATES” can now also be seen on the following pigeon web sites:- www.regencylofts.com    www.iprr.co.uk    www.elimarpigeons.com   www.pigeonportal.com   www.pigeonglobe.co.uk   www.cyberpigeon.co.uk   www.pigeonbasics.com     www.starpigeons.com    www.pigeonpixels.co.uk   www.theloftreport.com  www.oneloftracing.com plus of course they will also be published in the “”BRITISH HOMING WORLD” and “THE RACING PIGEON” weeklies and other world pigeon publications for all to see, read and enjoy.
 
The race date for THE 21st SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE has already been agreed and confirmed by the race organisers as SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2017.
 
If you are interested in participating or acting a Country Race Team Shipper/Co-ordinator, then please contact me as soon as possible on 01279-812005 or my mobile 07860-568216 or SMS or email on reglofts@aol.com and I will give you all the information you require. My two proposed shipping dates for THE 21st SAMDPR will take about the middle of MAY 2016 and then the second one should be around the middle of JUNE 2016. Of course these two dates will be confirmed nearer the time. I strongly recommend that you try to ship your race entries on the 1st shipping date as this then gives these pigeons much more time to settle into the race lofts.
 
If you have any questions about any aspect of THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE, then please contact me as soon as possible on 01279-812005 or my mobile 07860-568216 or by SMS or email at reglofts@aol.com and I will do my best to answer any of your questions or queries about this great race.
 
These “INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASES” do take a lot of my time to prepare and I try to get as much into them as possible as I know fanciers and entrants like to know what is happening, unfortunately some time, some information will not be to hand when the print deadline is reached so can’t be included in that report. I can only apologise if I leave something out but I can assure everybody that I do my best to get as much information as possible to put into each of these international reports.
 
IF ANY PIGEON FANCIER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR IN FACT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE MY WEEKLY “INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASES”, “NEWSLETTERS” AND “UPDATES” BY EMAIL, THEN ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS EMAIL ME THEIR ACTUAL EMAIL ADDRESS I WILL PUT THEM ON MY EMAIL DATABASE AND I WILL THEN FORWARD THEM ALL THE INFORMATION BY EMAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS.
 
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL PIGEON FANCIERS, SYNDICATES AND ENTRANTS DURING THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES.
 
Paul Smith.
United Kingdom Race Team Co-ordinator/Shipper & International Race Co-ordinator for The 20th South African Million Dollar, “Platinum Edition” (The Greatest & Biggest One Loft Pigeon Race In The World Today! and also The Race With The Proven Track Record), which is due to be held at the Montecasino Complex, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 6th February 2016. Regency Lofts Limited, 2, Highmead, off Coltsfield, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. CM24 8LJ. England. Telephone/Facsimile:- 01279-812005 (Int. Code:- +44-1279-812005). Mobile:- 07860-568216. Email Address:- reglofts@aol.com  Skype Address:- talbot7944  Regency Lofts Web Site Address:- www.regencylofts.com The South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race Web Site Address:- www.samdpr.com
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