“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.

RESULTS FOR HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 & TRAINING RACE 7.

 
The pigeons in the race lofts a Linbro Park are now getting used to the daily basketing and being placed into the transporter plus the training and they are also getting used to the new trapping system that was fitted before all the pigeons arrived in South Africa. They are also getting used to the weather pattern in South Africa, very hot conditions and numerous thunderstorms during the weeks they have been flying out.
 
All 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 4 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 2nd December, Training Race 5 from 100km (62 miles) on Saturday 5th December, Training Race 6 from 100km (62 miles) on Wednesday 9th December,  HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 from 150km (93 miles) on Saturday 12th December, Training Race 7 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 16th December, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 2 from 200km (125 miles) on Saturday 19th December, Training Race 8 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 23rd December, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 from 250km (155 miles) on Monday 28th December 2015, Training Race 9 from 80km (50 miles) on Saturday 2nd January 2016, Training Race 10 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 6th January, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 from 300km (187 miles) on Saturday 9th January, Training Race 11 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 13th January, Training Race 12 from 100km (62 miles) on Saturday 16th January, Training Race 13 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 20th January, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 from 350km (218 miles) on Saturday 23rd January, Training Race 14 from 40km (25 miles) on Wednesday 27th January, Training Race 15 from 80km (50 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 and Training Race 1 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 or in fact anybody 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.
 
It should be noted the Organising Committee and Loft Managers have decided this year not to try to rush the youngsters up to the 50km (31 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 as some of these earlier races as some might have to be changed or altered because of circumstances. Of course as mentioned earlier only races of 50km (31 miles) will actually counts in the SAMDPR Ace Pigeon Overall Averages and only fully paid up pigeons can win any of these three cash prizes which have been allocated to this competition.
 
LIVESTREAM was once again available for HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 so I duly logged on at 06.00 (GMT) or 08.00 SA time and noticed it looked cool and slightly overcast with fluffy clouds at the race lofts and very little wind compared with the last few races. I did not have to wait very long before the first gang of about 30 duly arrived at 08.09 bang on line and did a lap of honour before landing on loft 2, immediately they landed the tape recording was put on and whilst another gang of about 60 arrived, followed by two more gangs of about 40 pigeons. All these pitched on the race lofts and started to trap. Within a few minutes literally hundreds of pigeons were officially recorded by the Deister Electronic Clocking System. It was also great to see that the Administration Team also put on a video of the liberation, which was fantastic and this showed the pigeons being liberated and making their way home. Also later a video showed the pigeons trapping through the trapping area, another first for the SAMDPR. WELL DONE TEAM.
 
HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 took take place from POTCHEFSTROOM on Saturday 12th December from 138km (86 miles). The convoy were liberated at 06-30 in fine, cool and clear conditions, with a moderate head wind at liberation but slightly assisting them on route and with a temperature of 17c (62f) and a fairly fast race was anticipated. The temperature was expected to rise to 32c (92f) during the afternoon but rain and thunderstorms were forecast from about 12 o’clock onwards. Of course the majority of the pigeons liberated would be home and tucked up in the race lofts by the time the rain arrived.
 
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN goes to SJ VAN UDEN – S GAWEL from NETHERLANDS with pigeon named STAN and bred by this partnership, which was officially clocked at 08.09.39.78 to record a winning velocity of 1514ypm (52mph), this pigeon has won 8th, 24th and now 1st OPEN in its last 3 races. Then 2nd Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands, 3rd Chelsey Loft from United States Of America, 4th Jochen Huenten from Germany, 5th Engelbrecht Lofts from South Africa, 6th Werner A Waldow – Silvia Theil from Germany, 7th Team Sylt 2000 from Germany, 8th Henrik Meldgaard from Denmark, 9th Jacob Poortvliet Racing Pigeons from Netherlands, 10th Saad Al Abhoul from Kuwait, 11th Sheikh Abdulla Mohammad Al Thani from Qatar, 12th Arctic Loft from Canada, 13th Anshutz-McLaughlin from United States Of America, 14th Team Oberhausen from Germany, 15th Zaben D M Al-Azmi from Kuwait, 16th Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp from Netherlands, 17th Buttner-Antoszewscy from Poland, 18th Hilamb from United Kingdom, 19th Hok Jos Vercammen from Belgium and 20th Dagmar u Edwin Voll from Germany. The top twenty in this result were separated by just 58.86 seconds and had 11 different countries represented in the top 20 and 13 different countries represented in the top 50, only 1 minute 30.37 seconds away from the actual race winner.
 
THE BRAND NEW MOTOR CAR was won by SJ VAN UDEN – S GAWEL from NETHERLANDS with his pigeon named STAN which was bred by this partnership. WELL DONE GUYS FOR WINNING THE FIRST CAR OF THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES, AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
 
THE 19 x US$1,100 (£745) CASH PRIZES for HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 were won by positions 2nd to 16th which are mentioned above. However the pigeons that won 17th (Poland), 18th (United Kingdom) and 20th (Germany) were NOT-ACTIVATED so were not eligible to win one of these top cash prizes. So the pigeons in 21st spot from Germany and 22nd spot from Kuwait walk away with a bonus US$1,100 (£745) cash prize. SO ONCE AGAIN IT PROVES THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ACTIVATE YOUR “RESERVE PIGEONS” BEFORE BASKETING FOR HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1.
 
HOT SPOT CAR RACE ACE PIGEON after one race is as follows: 1st OPEN SJ VAN UDEN from NETHERLAND with his pigeon named STAN with a flying time of 01.39.39.79.
 
TWO PIGEON TEAM AVERAGE and 1st NETHERLANDS, 1st OPEN plus US$2,000 (£1,355) was won by KOOPMAN RACING TEAM 3 from NETHERLANDS with his two pigeons named SAWA SAWA (2nd) and NO MYSTAKE (111th) with total velocity of 45.612 m/s. Taking 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 7th OPEN was ZANDYS DREAM TEAM 2 with their two pigeons named ZANDYS CHOICE (63rd) and ZANDYS MEMORY (183rd) (which are nest-mates) with a total velocity of 45.160 m/s. Taking 1st IRELAND, 36th OPEN was SAFET DURAN with his two pigeons named BOSNIAN KNIGHT (164th) and BOSNIAN FIGHTER (606th) with a total velocity of 44.378 m/s.
 
THREE PIGEON TEAM AVERAGE and 1st NETHERLANDS, 1st OPEN plus US$3,000 (£2,032) was won by HANS & EVERT-JAN EIJERKAMP (TEAM 2) with their three pigeons named MY BEST ONE(16th), INTSCHU TSCHUNA (96th) and KHADI (803rd) with a total velocity of 67.217. Taking 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 2nd OPEN was ZANDYS DREAM TEAM 2 with their three pigeons named ZANDYS CHOICE (63rd), ZANDYS MEMORY (183rd) and ZANDYS MISSION (705th) with a total velocity of 66.953 m/s. Taking 1st IRELAND, 13th OPEN was KARL DONNELLY (TEAM 2) with his three pigeons named MESSI (397th), MINNY (459th) and RILEY (675th) with a total velocity of 66.027 m/s.
 
THE KNOCKOUT COMPETITION and its 1st Prize of US$25,000 (£17,000), all entries had to be fully paid for prior to basketing for the 1st HOT SPOT CAR RACE. This great competition offers the following conditions and one lucky winner will walk away with “THE POT OF GOLD” after the FINAL RACE. The rules are as follows:- This competition will take place over the last four Hot Spot Car Races and The Final Race. Only pigeons entered and fully paid for before basketing for the first Hot Spot Car Race will be eligible. Should any Hot Spot Car Race be cancelled one of the Training Races prior to the The Final Race will be used to calculate the next round’s pigeon. This year there was a total of 2,114 pigeons entered, with 1,984 International pigeons which included 176 from the United Kingdom and 35 from Ireland, plus there were 130 South African pigeons. KNOCKOUT ROUND 1 will take place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 2 and 1,374 (65%) of the entered pigeons returning from this race will move forward to the next round. KNOCKOUT ROUND 2 will take place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 and 756 (55%) of the entered pigeons will move forward to the next round. KNOCKOUT ROUND 3 will take place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 and 265 (35%) of the entered pigeons will move forward to the next round. KNOCKOUT ROUND 4 will take place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 and 53 (20%) of the entered pigeons will move forward to the next round. KNOCKOUT FINAL ROUND will take place on THE FINAL RACE on SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2016 and the first of the remaining KNOCKOUT PIGEONS will win the US$25,000 (£17,000) “POT OF GOLD”. THIS REALLY IS A GREAT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION THAT CREATES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXCITEMENT THROUGHOUT THE RACE SERIES.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 18th OPEN went to the HILAMB, entered by KEN AMBLER from KEIGHLEY and RON HILLCOAT from SOWERBY BRIDGE and with pigeon named HILAMB THUNDERBOLT, which was bred by RON HILLCOAT from SOWERBY BRIDGE and which was officially clocked at 08.10.36.70, just 58.86 seconds after the actual race winner. This pigeon unfortunately had not been ACTIVATED so was not eligible to win the US$1,100 (£745) prize money, it is a Heremans-Ceusters bloodlines and bred from FRESNE x OLYMPIC both full of winning bloodlines. Then 2nd UK, 63rd Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by this syndicate, 3rd UK, 69th Open Guys Lofts with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 4th UK, 83rd Open Oberholster Racing Team with pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe,
5th UK, 116th Open Premier Stud UK Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 6th UK, 121st Open Mark Gilbert UK from Southfields, 7th UK, 123rd Open Mr & Mrs Brian & Mavis Clayburn from Ackworth, 8th UK, 143rd Open Keeping Up With The Jones with pigeon bred by Robbie Jones from Southampton, 9th UK, 168th Open Alan Richardson from Whitby, 10th UK, 182nd Open Millys Loft with pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 11th UK, 183rd Open another for Zandys Dream Team and with a second pigeon bred by this syndicate, 12th UK, 189th Open Signalmen and with pigeon bred by P Turner from the North East, 13th UK, 207th Open Shot In The Dark entered by Stewart Wight from Berwick-Upon-Tweed and with pigeon bred by Chainbridge Lofts, 14th UK, 272nd Open J+J Syndicate with pigeon bred by Joe Kennedy & Son from Belfast, 15th UK, 275th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 16th UK, 309th Open Paul Smith Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 17th UK, 312th Open JCT Syndicate with pigeon bred by Julta Brothers from Upton Park, 18th UK, 326th Open Common View Lofts and with pigeon for John Cooper from Pontypridd, 19th UK, 347th Open Planet Brothers and with pigeon bred by Gary & John Squibb from Noak Hill and then 20th UK, 365th Open Bamford Top Flight and with a pigeon bred by Alan Bamford from Leyland.
 
THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNTRY CHALLENGE AVERAGE WINNERS after 6 races are as follows:- 1st UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE total flying time 06.39.54.62, then 2nd UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY total flying time 06.41.27.84, then ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS MEMORY total flying time 06.44.16.89. All these three pigeon are the same way bred from Fontwell Foxtrot Romeo x Lucky Countess which were two of the best UK pigeon in the 2014/15 races series.
 
THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNTRY CHALLENGE WINNERS for HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 were as follows:- 1st UK ZANDY DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE which won US$125 (£85), then 2nd UK GUYS LOFTS with pigeon named UPTOWN GIRL bred by GRAHAM GUY from WOLVERHAMPTON which won US$75 (£51) and then 3rd UK was PREMIER STUD UK SYNDICATE with pigeon named PREMIER PERFECTION bred by PREMIER LOFTS from PATRINGHAM HAVEN which won US$50 (£34).  
 
HOT SPOT CAR RACE AVERAGES after one race are as follows:- 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 50th OPEN ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE which was bred by this syndicate.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 164th OPEN went to SAFET DURAN with his pigeon named BOSNIAN KNIGHT and bred by SAFET DURAN, which was officially clocked at 08.12.15.78, just 2 minutes 38.00 seconds after the actual race winner. Then 2nd Ireland, 186th Open Dylan & Daniel Boylan, 3rd Ireland, 240th Open Corn Direct,
4th Ireland, 283rd Open Maurice O’Donnell, 5th Ireland, 294th Open Robbie Daly and then 6th Ireland, 397th Open Karl Donnelly. A great race for the IRISH TEAM with 100% returns.
 
HOT SPOT CAR RACE AVERAGES after one race are as follows:- 1st IRELAND, 136th OPEN SAFET DURAN with pigeon named BOSNIAN KNIGHT which was bred by SAFET DURAN.
 
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 showed 376 pigeons including 37 UK and 3 IRISH pigeons were entered with 1,283 Nominations and were flying for US$12,989.70c (£8,800) in Nominations. There was only one UK winner and that was GUYS LOFTS taking 69th OPEN with pigeon named UPTOWN GIRL bred by GRAHAM GUY from WOLVERHAMPTON who won US$3.40 (£2.30p) for its efforts.
 
REGIONAL UNITED KINGDOM NOMINATIONS for HOT SPOT CAR RACE 1 showed 8 pigeons were entered with 16 Nominations and were flying for US$18.70c (£13.00p) in Nominations. Only one winner and that was the pigeon that took 1st UK, 116th OPEN for PREMIER STUD UK SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named PREMIER PERFECTION bred by PREMIER STUD from PATRINGHAM HAVEN and won US$18.70c (£13.00p) for its efforts.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 6 races are as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to BARTOSZ MOREL from POLAND with pigeon named ZOSIA bred by BARTOSZ MOREL with a combined flying time of 06.34.35.54. Then 2nd OPEN goes to BADER AL-SANAFI from KUWAIT with his pigeon named ALSANAFI 10 bred by BADER AL-SANAFI with a combined flying time of 06.34.46.94 and then 3rd OPEN goes to ANSHUTZ-McLAUGHLIN from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with pigeon named ATTICUS bred by McLAUGHLIN LOFTS with a combined flying time of 06.35.49.07.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 6 races in the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM are as follows:- 1st UK, 22nd OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE bred by this syndicate with a combined flying time of 06.39.54.62, then 2nd UK, 31st OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY bred by this syndicate and with combined flying time of 06.41.27.84, then 3rd UK, 48th OPEN goes to MILLYS LOFT with pigeon named MR DUNDEE bred by MICHAEL MELLOR from CREWE with a combined flying time of 06.44.00.53, then 4th UK, 50th OPEN goes to a third pigeon from ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS MEMORY bred by this syndicate. This pigeon is the nestmate to ZANDYS CHOICE and the same way bred as ZANDYS GLORY, all 3 pigeons being bred from FONTWELL FOXTROT ROMEO x LUCKY COUNTESS two of the best performing pigeons in the UK Team in the 2014/15 race series.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 6 races in the IRISH TEAM are as follows:- 1st IR, 7th OPEN goes to DYLAN & DANIEL BOYLAN with pigeon named PHILO and bred by this partnership with a combined flying time of 06.37.34.59, then 2nd IR, 103rd OPEN goes to PADRAIG & CAOIMHE with pigeon named ANNIE bred by PJ NANGLE with a combined flying time of 03.48.42.88, then 3rd IR, 182nd OPEN goes to SAFET DURAN with his pigeon named BOSNIAN PREDATOR with a combined flying time of 06.55.38.36.
 
More short training took place on Monday and Tuesday giving these pigeons more confidence and experience to cope with what was in front of them.
 
LIVESTREAM was once again available for TRAINING RACE 7 but just after I logged on at 07.00 (GMT) or 09.00 South African time. The transmission showed very overcast conditions with no sun and quite windy conditions. I was just wondering if these conditions would hinder the pigeons in anyway when to my amazement one big gang of about 100 pigeons bang on line arrived at 09.11 and as they landed another massive gang arrived bang on line, flew round the lofts and landed and they started to move towards the traps literally hundreds more came bang on line and hit the top of the lofts. Within a few minutes there were literally well over 1,000 pigeons waiting to be clocked by the Deister Electronic Clocking System.
 
TRAINING RACE 7 was held on Wednesday16th December 2015 from 76km (49 miles) and the convoy were liberated at 08.25 with a light head wind at liberation and a temperature of 16c (60f) at liberation. The pigeons were held at the liberation site so the weather could improve before liberation was actioned. A fairly fast race was anticipated. As the day progressed the temperature would rise to around 32c (92f) later in the day.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN goes to J+J SYNDICATE from UNITED KINGDOM with pigeon named CUBA JOE bred by JOE KENNEDY & SON, which was officially clocked at 09.11.58.34 to record a winning velocity of 1760ypm (60mph). Then 2nd Rune Olsson from Sweden, 3rd Henning, Keller & Kornelius from Germany, 4th Pro Pigeon Racing Loft from United States Of America, 5th Dominique Velghe from Belgium, 6th Al-Watri Lofts from Kuwait, 7th Gray Fox Harms from United States Of America, 8th Arnold Swain from United States Of America, 9th Sheikh Mishal Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani from Qatar, 10th Abdulla Bin Mathi from Kuwait, 11th Karel Klemens from Czech Republic, 12th Abdullah Bohaimed from Kuwait, 13th another for Henning, Keller & Kornelius from Germany, 14th Wegrestaurant Napoleon from Netherlands, 15th Osbornes Loft from United States Of America, 16th Team Doppeladler from Germany, 17th Nabeel Albaker from Kuwait, 18th Kader,  Nadia, Moerat & Bouwer Syndicate from South Africa, 19th Ruediger Schoenau from Germany and 20th Jochen Huenten from Germany. The top twenty were separated by just 12.66 seconds and had 10 different countries represented in this result with 14 different countries represented in the top 50 and these were just 26.56 seconds apart.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 1st OPEN went to J+J SYNDICATE from BELFAST with their pigeon named CUBA JOE, bred by JOE KENNEDY & SON which was officially clocked at 09.11.58.34. Then 2nd UK, 38th Open Common View Lofts with pigeon bred by John Cooper from Pontypridd, 3rd UK, 61st Open Mr & Mrs Brian & Mavis Clayburn from Ackworth, 4th UK, 63rd Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by this syndicate, 5th UK, 68th Open Fairways Lofts with pigeon bred by Steve Burton from Pinxton, 6th UK, 98th Open Lloyd & Kelly from Didcot, 7th UK, 112th Open another for Common View Lofts with a second pigeon bred by John Cooper from Pontypridd, 8th UK, 132nd Open Guys Lofts with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 9th UK, 147th Open another for Zandys Dream Team and with pigeon bred by this syndicate, 10th UK, 148th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 11th UK, 186th Open Lanoak Live Wires with pigeon bred by Kevin Foster from Longfield Hill, 12th UK, 190th Open another for Lucky Devils Syndicate with a second pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 13th UK, 193rd Open Grumpy Old Men with pigeon bred by Tony Kent from Wareside, 14th UK, 203rd Open Manchester Maestros with pigeon bred by John Crehan from Manchester, 15th UK, 219th Open Costel Lungu – Vasja Belkevich with pigeon bred by Costel Lungu from Borehamwood, 16th UK, 237th Open Bartley & Tweats with pigeon bred by J+R Tweats from North East, 17th UK, 245th Open another for Zandys Dream Team and bred by this syndicate, 18th UK, 247th Open Team Lincs with pigeon bred by Mr & Mrs Paul & Tracey Stacey from Sleaford, 19th UK, 251st Open Keeping Up With The Jones with pigeon bred by Robbie Jones from Southampton and 20th UK, 259th Open a third pigeon for Lucky Devils Syndicate and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough.  
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 49th OPEN went to MAURICE O’DONNELL with pigeon named MANIE bred by MAURICE O’DONNELL, which was officially clocked at 09.12.24.40 just 1 minute 34.06 seconds behind the actual race winner, then 2nd Ireland, 135th Open Safet Duran, 3rd Ireland, 173rd Open James King, 4th Ireland, 187th Open Karl Donnelly, 5th Ireland, 580th Open Johnson – Leonard & Sons and 6th Ireland, 671st Open Padraig & Caoimhe.
 
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for TRAINING RACE 7 showed 207 pigeons were entered which included 18 UK and no IRISH pigeons and with a total 609 Nominations and US$4,080.85c (£2,758) up for grabs and a United Kingdom fancier won the following:- 147th OPEN for ZANDYS DREAM TEAM from UNITED KINGDOM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with his pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE and winning US$850 (£575) for its efforts.
 
UNITED KINGDOM REGIONAL NOMINATIONS for this race showed 12 pigeons were entered with a total of 37 nominations and the only winner was as follows:- 147th OPEN for ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with his pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE and winning US$178.50c (£121) for its efforts.
 
UNITED KINGDOM COUNTRY CHALLENGE AVERAGES WINNERS after 7 races are as follows:- 1st UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE with combined flying time of 07.27.52.11, then 2nd UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY with combined flying time of 07.29.38.59 and then 3rd UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS MEMORY with combined flying time of 07.33.02.58 and then 4th UK ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS VISION with combined flying time of 07.40.30.02. The first 3 pigeons in this average are all the same way bred from Fontwell Foxtrot Romeo x Lucky Countess which were two of the best UK pigeons in the 2014/15 race series.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 7 races in the OPEN are as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to BARTOSZ MOREL from POLAND with his pigeon named ZOSIA and bred by BARTOSZ MOREL with a combined flying time of 07.21.49.89. Then 2nd OPEN goes to ANSHUTZ-McLAUGHLIN from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with pigeon named ATTICUS bred by FRANK McLAUGHLIN with a combined flying time of 07.24.31.36 and then 3rd OPEN goes to TEAM ANKE 2x SILVIA from GERMANY with pigeon named COMET and bred by UWE HEINECKE with a combined flying time of 07.24.59.19.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 7 races in the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM are as follows:- 1st UK, 13th OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS CHOICE bred by this syndicate with a combined flying time of 07.27.52.11. Then 2nd UK, 21st OPEN another for ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY and with a combined flying time of 07.29.38.59 and 3rd UK, 43rd OPEN another for ZANDYS DREAM TEAM and with pigeon named ZANDYS MEMORY which was bred by this syndicate with a combined flying time of 07.33.02.58. All these pigeons are the same way bred from Fontwell Foxtrot Romeo x Lucky Countess which were two of the best UK pigeons that competed in the 2014/15 race series.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 7 races in the IRISH TEAM are as follows:- 1st IRELAND,17th OPEN goes to DYLAN & DANIEL BOYLAN with pigeon named PHILO bred by this partnership with a combined flying time of 07.28.53.39. Then 2nd IRELAND, 135th OPEN goes to SAFET DURAN with his pigeon named BOSNIAN PREDATOR and bred by SAFET DURAN with a combined flying time of 07.43.32.35 and then 3rd IRELAND, 162nd OPEN goes to PADRAID & CAOIMHE with pigeon named ANNIE bred by PJ NANGLE with a combined flying time of 07.45.43.79.
 
The next race will be HOT SPOT CAR RACE 2 from 200km (124 miles) and should take place on Saturday 19th December 2015. ONCE AGAIN THERE WILL BE A BRAND NEW MOTOR CAR FOR THE FIRST ACTIVATED PIGEON CLOCKED IN THIS RACE, PLUS 19 x US$1,100 (£745) CASH PRIZES. GOOD LUCK TO ALL ENTRANTS.
 
***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 at the time of going to press. If there are no details besides your winning pigeon/s then please contact me on 01279-812005 or 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 race results so your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
 
As mentioned earlier only races of 50km (approx. 31 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, started on TRAINING RACE 2 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.
 
***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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