“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 TRAINING RACES 3 & 4.

 
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 now up to the 76km (47 miles) stage and have more daily training before TRAINING RACES 5 and 6 that are supposed to be from 100km (62 miles) before they go to CAR RACE HOT SPOT 1  from 150km (93 miles) on Saturday 12th December. If you have any “RESERVE PIGEONS” they will need to be “ACTIVATED” prior to this race to be eligible to compete for any of the “NEW CARS”, “SPECIAL AWARDS” or “CASH PRIZES” that are allocated to these races. Also only “ACTIVATED PIGEONS” paid for and basketed before CAR RACE HOT SPOT 1 are eligible to compete in THE KNOCKOUT COMPETITION with a US$25,000 (£17,000) FIRST PRIZE.
 
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.
 
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, 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 TRAINING RACE 3 so I duly logged on and noticed straight away that once again it was quite windy at the race lofts but the there was a nice clear blue sky. The first gang of about 50 arrived at 08.25 and whilst they were trying to land on the lofts and trapping area another gang of about 30/40 arrived. These pitched and started to trap immediately just as another massive gang arrived and within a few minutes literally hundreds of pigeons were officially recorded by the Deister Electronic Clocking System.
 
TRAINING RACE 3 was of course supposed to take place on Saturday 28th November but finally took place on Sunday 29th November 2015 from 76km (47 miles). The convoy were liberated at 07-35 in fine and mostly clear conditions, with a moderate head wind at liberation site but assisting them on route and with a temperature of 15c (58f) and a good race was anticipated. The temperature was expected to rise to 29c (86f) during the afternoon.
 
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN goes to ALDAHOUM LOFT from KUWAIT with pigeon named DE 77 MY BEST and bred by ALI BARRAK AL-AZEMI, which was officially clocked at 08.26.19.10 to record a winning velocity of 1621ypm (55mph). 2nd Team Syly 2000 from Germany, 3rd One Love from Germany, 4th Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America, 5th Hans u Daniela Koffler from Germany, 6th J Rimmelzwaan from Netherlands, 7th PJ Pigeons Team from Slovakia, 8th Team Klaas – Konstantin from Germany, 9th Johannes Berghoefer from Germany, 10th Team Luecke-Schulz-Stieneker from Germany, 11th Al-Abraq Loft from Kuwait, 12th Fayez Q8 from Kuwait, 13th Team Germany – WA Waldow – S Thiel from Germany, 14th another for Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America, 15th Zaben D M Al-Azmi from Kuwait, 16th Sheikh Mishal Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani from Qatar, 17th Bartosz Morel from Poland, 18th Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp from Netherlands, 19th Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands and 20th A Defaulter Pigeon. The top twenty in this result were separated by just 34.90 seconds and had 7 different countries represented in the top 20 and 11 different countries represented in the top 50, only 1 minute 02.67 seconds away from the actual race winner.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 22nd OPEN went to the DREAM TEAM SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named DREAM STAR, which was bred by TERRY ROBINSON from GOFFS OAK and which was officially clocked at 08.26.57.88, just 38.78 seconds after the actual race winner. This pigeon has already won 10th UK, 148th Open PTR1, 26th UK, 320th Open TR1, 2nd UK, 42nd Open TR2 and now 1st UK, 22nd Open TR3. Then 2nd UK, 32nd Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a pigeon named Zandys Glory bred by this syndicate, which has already won 13th UK, 162nd Open PTR1, 2nd UK, 13th Open PTR2, 2507th Open PTR3, 31st UK, 396th Open TR1, 7th UK, 136th Open TR2 winning US$841.50c (£570) in Nominations and now 2nd UK, 32nd Open in TR2 plus more US$252.45c (£171) in Nominations, see previous press release for breeding details, 3rd UK, 33rd Open Lloyd & Kelly from Didcot, 4th UK, 48th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate and administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 5th UK, 107th Open Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell, 6th UK, 112th Open Paul Bamford from Pembroke Dock, 7th UK, 115th Open Guys Lofts and with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 8th UK, 116th Open Bartley & Tweats, 9th UK, 140th Open another for Zandys Dream Team and bred by this syndicate, 10th UK, 154th Open Mr & Mrs Brian & Mavis Clayburn from Ackworth, 11th UK, 173rd Open another pigeon for Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell, 12th UK, 188th Open Planet Brothers and with pigeon bred by Gary & John Squibb from Noak Hill, 13th UK, 192nd Open Signalmen with pigeon bred by P Turner from the North East, 14th UK, 220th Open Hilamb entered by Ken Ambler from Keighley and Ron Hillcoat from Sowerby Bridge and with pigeon bred by Ron Hillcoat, 15th UK, 229th Open Bannister + Leech & Son with pigeon bred by Steve Bannister from Wetherby, 16th UK, 238th Open Millys Loft with a pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 17th UK, 241st Open JCT Syndicate and with pigeon bred by Julta Brothers from Upton Park, 18th UK, 251st Open a third pigeon for Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell, 19th UK, 328th Open a third pigeon for Zandys Dream Team with another pigeon bred by this syndicate and then 20th UK, 332nd Open Oberholster Race Team with a pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 25th OPEN went to JOHNSON – LEONARD & SONS with his pigeon named DELBOY and bred by PAUL JOHNSON, which was officially clocked at 08.26.58.55, just 39.45 seconds after the actual race winner. This pigeon has already won 1st Ireland, 64th Open PTR1 and 2nd Ireland, 87th Open TR1. Then 2nd Ireland, 73rd Open Dylan & Daniel Boylan, 3rd Ireland, 179th Open Safet Duran, 4th Ireland, 249th Open Maurice O’Donnell, 5th Ireland, 351st Open a second for Safet Duran and then 6th Ireland, 370th Open a third for Safet Duran.
 
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for TRAINING RACE 3 showed 304 pigeons including 18 UK and 5 IRISH pigeons were entered with 887 Nominations and were flying for US$5,223.25c (£3,530) in Nominations. There was only one UK winner and that was pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY that won 2nd UK, 32nd OPEN and won US$165.75c (£112) for its efforts.
 
REGIONAL UK NOMINATIONS for TRAINING RACE 3 showed 6 pigeons were entered with 15 Nominations and were flying for US$86.70c (£59) in Nominations. Only one winner and that was the pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY that won 2nd UK, 32nd OPEN and won US$86,70c (£59) for its efforts, see full details in UK team result above.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 2 races in the OPEN are as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to TEAM KLAAS – KONSTANTIN from GERMANY with pigeon named MAXI  bred by ALFONS KLAAS with a combined flying time of 01.30.53.59, 2nd OPEN goes to TEAM LUECKE-SCHULZ-STIENEKER from GERMANY with pigeon named SPEED GO bred by HELMUT SCHULZ with a combined flying time of 01.31.00.89, 3rd OPEN goes to J RIMMELZWAAN from NETHERLANDS with pigeon named RIMMEL ARYA bred by JOHN RIMMELZWAAN with a combined flying time of 01.31.07.62.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 2 races in the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM are as follows:- 1st UK, 7th OPEN goes to DREAM TEAM SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named DREAM STAR bred by TERRY ROBINSON from GOFFS OAK with combined flying time of 01.31.32.19, 2nd UK, 15th OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY bred by this syndicate with a combined flying time of 01.32.13.91, then 3rd UK, 19th OPEN goes to LUCKY DEVILS SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named LUCKY LASS bred by BOB FENECH from ATTLEBOROUGH with combined flying time of 01.32.23.54.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 2 races in the IRISH TEAM are as follows:- 1st IR, 33rd OPEN goes to DYLAN & DANIEL BOYLAN with pigeon named PHILO with a combined flying time of 01.33.21.37, 2nd IR, 69th OPEN goes to SAFET DURAN with pigeon named BOSNIAN PREDATOR with combined flying time of 01.34.55.04, then 3rd IR, 75th OPEN goes to PADRAIG & CAOIMHE with pigeon named ANNIE bred by PJ NANGLE with a combined flying time of 01.35.07.02.
 
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 4 but just after I logged on at 06.00 (GMT) or 08.00 South African time there was a technical fault and the transmission could not be watched live. However, I was just able to see that it was a bit windy and was still cloudy after some early morning rain at the lofts. The Administration Team will put a copy of the arrival on the pigeons as a recorded version once the system has been sorted out. The recording of the pigeons arriving duly went on the SAMDPR Web Site and I watched the pigeons arrive. Two gangs arrived virtually together at 08.19 with around 40 in each gang but were slow to trap but once 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 was hundreds waiting to be clocked by the Deister Electronic Clocking System.
 
TRAINING RACE 4 was held on Wednesday 2nd December 2015 from 76km (47 miles) and the convoy were liberated at 07.30 after early morning rain in the Johannesburg area with little to no wind and a temperature of 21c (70f) at liberation. A fairly fast race was anticipated. As the day progressed the temperature would rise to around 32c (92f) later in the day, with light rain showers around 10 o’clock and 1 o’clock.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN goes to KARL-HEINZ KOCH from GERMANY with pigeon named MARITA bred by KARL HEINZ-KOCH, which was officially clocked at 08.20.58.13 to record a winning velocity of 1662ypm (55mph), 2nd Team Club Muensterland from Germany, 3rd Club Zwartkop Wedvlug Duiwe Klub from South Africa, 4th Helmut + Alfons Klaas from Germany, 5th Anshutz-McLaughlin from United States Of America, 6th Mesopotamia Loft from United States Of America, 7th Cradock Homing Society from South Africa, 8th Lutz-Christian u Ingrid Geissler from Germany, 9th Team Germany – M Irlacher + R Greiner from Germany, 10th Kings Loft from Germany, 11th Duane Gragg from United States Of America, 12th Sheikh Abdulla Mohammad Al Thani from Qatar, 13th Urban Kaufmann from Germany, 14th South Light Syndicate from Iraq, 15th Tomasz Jopek from Poland, 16th Andreas Moeller from Germany,
17th Gaddin Brothers & Charl Stander from South Africa, 18th Saad Al Abhoul from Kuwait, 19th Lucky Devils Syndicate from United Kingdom and 20th Team Sylt 2000 from Germany. The top twenty were separated by just 16.39 seconds and had 9 different countries represented in this result with 13 different countries represented in the top 50 and these were just 35.55 seconds apart.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 19th OPEN went to LUCKY DEVILS SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with their pigeon named LUCKY LASS, which was bred by BOB FENECH from ATTLEBOROUGH, which was officially clocked at 08.21.13.48 just 14.35 seconds away from the actual race winner. Then 2nd UK, 21st Open another pigeon for Lucky Devils Syndicate with a pigeon once again bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 3rd UK, 26th Open Premier Stud UK Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a pigeon bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 4th UK, 39th Open Hilamb entered by Ken Ambler and Ron Hillcoat and with pigeon bred by Ken Ambler from Keighley, 5th UK, 41st Open Planet Brothers and with pigeon bred by Gary & John Squibb from Noak Hill, 6th UK, 58th Open Zandys Dream Team, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by this syndicate, 7th UK, 124th Open Mr & Mrs Andy Gregson from Preston and with a pigeon bred by this partnership, 8th UK, 142nd Open Dream Team Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Terry Robinson from Goffs Oak, 9th UK, 146th Open Paul Smith Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 10th UK, 162nd Open Bannister + Leech & Son and with pigeon bred by Steve Bannister from Wetherby, 11th UK, 164th Open a third pigeon for Lucky Devils Syndicate and once again bred by Bob Fenech from Attlebotough, 12th UK, 169th Open Costel Lungu – Vasja Belkevich and with pigeon bred by Costel Lungu from Borehamwood, 13th UK, 170th Open Aylesbury Speed-Birds entered by Peter Entwistle with pigeon bred by Ronnie Reece & Redworth, 14th UK, 179th Open Signalmen with pigeon bred by P Turner from the North East, 15th UK, 187th Open Guys Lofts Elite with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 16th UK, 189th Open Ian Crammond & Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell with pigeon bred by this partnership, 17th UK, 195th Open another pigeon for Mr & Mrs Andy Gregson from Preston, 18th UK, 216th Open Lanoak Live Wires with pigeon bred by Kevin Foster from Longfield Hill, 19th UK, 231st Open a second pigeon for Zandys Dream Team with another pigeon bred by this syndicate and 20th UK, 238th Open a second pigeon for Paul Smith Syndicate with another pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon.
 
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 62nd OPEN went to DYLAN & DANIEL BOYLAN with pigeon named PHILO bred by this partnership, which was officially clocked at 08.21.37.66 just 39.53 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd Ireland, 121st Open Pat Maher, 3rd Ireland, 165th Open Padraig & Caoimhe, 4th Ireland, 228th Open James King,
5th Ireland, 254th Open another for Dylan & Daniel Boylan and 6th Ireland, 327th Open Joe Kennedy & Son.
 
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for TRAINING RACE 4 showed 237 pigeons were entered which included 15 UK and 2 IRISH pigeons and with a total 740 Nominations and US$4,865.40c (£3,288) up for grabs and United Kingdom and Irish fanciers won the following:- 41st OPEN for PLANET BROTHERS from UNITED KINGDOM with pigeon named BLUE OPAL bred by GARY & JOHN SQUIBB from NOAK HILL and winning US$136 (£92) for its efforts. There were no UK REGIONAL NOMINATIONS for this race.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 3 races in the OPEN are as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to TEAM LUECKE-SCHULZ-STEINEKER from GERMANY with their pigeon named SPEED GO and bred by HELMUT SCHULZ with a combined flying time of 02.22.35.67. 2nd OPEN goes to TEAM KLAAS – KONSTANTIN from GERMANY with pigeon named MAXI bred by ALFONS KLAAS with a combined flying time of 02.22.44.22. 3rd OPEN goes to ANDRE LAZARUS from SOUTH AFRICA with pigeon named LADY LINDA and bred by ANDRE LAZARUS with a combined flying time of 02.23.24.37. Then 4th OPEN goes to LUCKY DEVILS SYNDICATE from UNITED KINGDOM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named LUCKY LASS with a combined flying time of 02.23.37.02.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 3 races in the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM are as follows:- 1st UK, 4th OPEN goes to LUCKY DEVILS SYNDICATE with pigeon named LUCKY LASS bred by BOB FENECH from ATTLEBOROUGH with a combined flying time of 02.23.37.02. 2nd UK, 13th OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS GLORY which was bred by this syndicate and with a combined flying time of 02.25.08.34. 3rd UK, 15th OPEN goes to DREAM TEAM SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named DREAM STAR which was bred by TERRY ROBINSON from GOFFS OAK with a combined flying time of 02.25.31.51.
 
GRAND OVERALL AVERAGES after 3 races in the IRISH TEAM are as follows:- 1st IR, 9th OPEN goes to DYLAN & DANIEL BOYLAN with pigeon named PHILO bred by this partnership with a combined flying time of 02.24.59.03. 2nd IR, 26th OPEN goes to PADRAIG & CAOIMHE with pigeon named ANNIE bred by PJ NANGLE with a combined flying time of 02.27.20.40. 3rd IR, 58th OPEN goes to SAFET DURAN with his pigeon named BOSNIAN PREDATOR and bred by SAFET DURAN with a combined flying time of 02.29.13.11.
 
The next race will be TRAINING RACE 5 from 100km (62 miles) and should take place on Saturday 5th December 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 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 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, 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.
 
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, all transfers to and from the race lofts and also the race marking and auction in Linbro Park, plus transfers to and from Sun City plus B & B basis for the duration of our stay.
 
The estimated cost at the current time is about £1,800 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. Extra costs will be incurred the later the bookings are received. 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. 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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