“SIXTH INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE”.
ON
TRAINING RACES 9 & 10.
IN
THE 21st SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE
(THE BIGGEST & GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD!)
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN THE PIGEON WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD AT
HERON BANKS GOLF & RIVER ESTATE,
SOUTH AFRICA
ON
SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2017.
ANOTHER RACE SEASON STARTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUNSHINE.
LIVESTREAM was once again up and running and I logged on bright and early at 05.45 GMT (07.45 SA) time, the weather was very overcast, quite heavy clouds and no blue sky and quite a strong head wind on route. The pigeons were liberated at 06.45 and formed into one big pack and headed for home. I did not have to wait long until I saw a gang of about 50 pigeons swing round the loft at 08.10 and hit the landing area, smartly followed by another gang of about 100 pigeons, then another 200 plus arrived. The result came up on the iPad screen and I saw that 1st OPEN went to a fancier in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Within a few minutes of the winner being clocked over 1,000 pigeons had been officially recorded. As the pigeons arrived they looked in super condition. If you have never logged on to watch the pigeons arrive, I strongly suggest you give it a try, you will just love the experience.
TRAINING RACE 9 was held on Saturday 24th December 2016 from 114km (71 miles) and for this race a total of 3,292 pigeons from 35 different countries were basketed and this included 3,037 International pigeons and 255 pigeons from South Africa and this figure also included 267 from the United Kingdom and 36 pigeons from Ireland. There were also 147 pigeons that were not basketed because they were left in the Hold Back section because they had made earlier mistakes and were not fit to be entered, this total included 2 from the United Kingdom and 1 from Ireland. So the total in the loft was 3,439 pigeons. The convoy were liberated at 06.45 with a strong head wind in fine and cool conditions on route and a temperature of 19c (66f). The convoyer reported the pigeons formed into one big gang and headed directly for home. A good race was anticipated. As the day progressed the temperature would steadily rise to around 31c (90f).
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN goes to the IRISH SYNDICATE from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with pigeon named SMUGGLERS STASH bred by STEPHEN FURLONGE, which was officially clocked at 08.10.33.40 to record a winning velocity of 1,470ypm (22.2075 m/s) (50 mph), this same pigeon also won 13th OPEN in TR2, 31st OPEN in TR8 and now 1st OPEN in TR9, however it was not clocked in TR1 or TR5. 2nd Frederik Langentaedt from Belgium, 3rd Nicole de Weerd from Belgium with the same pigeon that won 2nd OPEN in HSCR2, also not clocked in TR2 and TR3, 4th Bader Al-Sanafi from Kuwait with the same pigeon that won 1st OPEN HSCR1, 5th The Platinum Ladys from South Africa with same pigeon that has been flying very well winning 7th OPEN TR1, 15th OPEN in TR4, 2nd OPEN in HSCR1, 253rd OPEN in HSCR2, 217th OPEN in TR8 and now 5th OPEN in TR9, breeding goes back to a 1st & 2nd SAMDPR winners, 6th Alias-Alias Syndicate from United States Of America, 7th Bieche Lofts Syndicate from United States Of America, 8th Rutland Lofts from United Kingdom, 9th Abdulla Bin Mathi from Kuwait, 10th Gordon Meng from United States of America, 11th Tadlock – Rhodes from United States Of America, 12th Tomasz Wiczling from Poland, 13th Richard K Martin from United States Of America, 14th GJ Timmermans from Netherlands, 15th Rolf Berger from Germany, 16th Helmut Schulz from Germany, 17th Furia Loft from United States Of America, 18th Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America, 19th Defaulter Pigeon and 20th Team Wagner – Du Randt from Germany. The top twenty were separated by just 58.89 seconds and had 8 different countries represented in this result with 10 different countries represented in the top 50 and these were 1 minute 31.94 seconds apart. A total of 500 pigeons were officially clocked up to 08.16, then 1,000 up to 08.18. A further update showed 3,216 pigeons were officially recorded by 11.18, leaving just 76 to return to the loft. The last loft list showed that 3,232 pigeons had been officially recorded by 17.15, leaving just 60 pigeons to make it back to base camp. With the 147 pigeons that were not sent that were still in the lofts the total left was now 3,379 pigeons. The Monday loft list showed that 3,379 pigeons were still in the race loft.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 8th OPEN went to RUTLAND LOFTS, with their pigeon named SCAFF 2 which was bred by AJ WHITEHOUSE, which was officially clocked at 08.11.08.25 just 33.85 seconds away from the actual race winner. 2nd UK, 50th Open UK Elite Syndicate, administer by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Lee Fribbins from Frating, 3rd UK, 63rd Open Zandys Dream Team with pigeon bred by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet, 4th UK, 69th Open John Chipperfield from Herne Bay, 5th UK, 132nd Open Bartley & Tweats with pigeon bred by this partnership, 6th UK, 147th Open another for UK Elite Syndicate and this time with pigeon bred by Clive Baldwin from Edgware, 7th UK, 162nd Open Estuary Syndicate with pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 8th UK, 177th Open Guys Lofts Elite with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 9th UK, 191st Open Tim Atkin from Rugby, 10th UK, 205th Open another for Zandys Dream Team with a second pigeon bred by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet, 11th UK, 245th Open Carlos Dream Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jos Reilly from Dublin, 12th UK, 264th Open another for Carlos Dream Syndicate with a second pigeon bred by Jos Reilly from Dublin, 13th UK, 274th Open Millys Loft with a pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 14th UK, 292nd Open Les Green GB with pigeon bred by Les Green from Irlam, 15th UK, 293rd Open Premier Stud UK Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 16th UK, 295th Open another for Millys Loft with a second pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 17th UK, 312th Open K Consultancy with pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 18th UK, 330th Open another for Tim Atkin from Rugby, 19th UK, 343rd Open Taffy Thomas from Newmarket and 20th UK, 353rd Open Syndicate Lofts UK with pigeon bred by Peter Fox from Bangor. A total of 20 pigeons from the United Kingdom were officially recorded up to 08.15, with 50 up to 08.16. A later update loft list issued showed 257 UK pigeon had returned to the lofts by 10.52 and then 260 by 11.18 and by 17.15 a total of 262 had been officially recorded, leaving 5 UK pigeons still to return to the loft, however I am sure a few more will work back in the next few days. The Monday loft list showed that 265 UK pigeons were still in the race loft.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 168th OPEN went to MORAN & BOWDEN with their pigeon named CAPTAIN CHRIS and bred by ANDREW MORAN, which was officially clocked at 08.13.23.04, just 2 minutes 48.64 seconds behind the actual race winner. 2nd Ireland, 231st Open Philip & Mark Smith, 3rd Ireland, 236th Open Pat Maher, 4th Ireland, 419th Open Joe Kennedy & Son, 5th Ireland, 433rd Open another for Joe Kennedy & Son and 6th Ireland, 474th Open another for Pat Maher. A total of 20 Irish pigeons were officially clocked by 08.28, with a later report showing all 31 were clocked by 08.46, then 35 by 10.52. The last loft list showed 35 pigeons were in the loft, leaving just 1 Irish pigeon to make it home. The Monday loft list showed that 36 Irish pigeons were still in the race loft.
THE OVERALL AVERAGES after 11 official races now stand as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to DON HART from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with pigeon named WENDY bred by DON HART, actual flying time 16.19.01.19 with 968th TR1, 927th TR2, 1134th TR3, 103rd TR4, 321st TR5, 49th TR6, 8th HSCR1, 497th TR7, 45th HSCR2 and now 40th TR8 and now 79th TR9. 2nd Open goes to Aldahoum Loft from Kuwait with his great pigeon Bent Alfaakher and 3rd Open goes to Hussain Ali Aldahoum from Kuwait with pigeon named Bent Raheeeb. 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 17th OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS PRIDE bred by PAUL SMITH, actual flying time 16.51.33.24 with 403rd TR1, 632nd TR2, 1318th TR3, 146th TR4, 491st TR5, 379th TR6, 639th HSCR1, 324th TR7, 546th HSCR2, 2233rd TR8 and now 205th TR9. 2nd UNITED KINGDOM, 33rd Open goes to Manchester Maestros with pigeon named Lady Lois 2 bred by John Crehan from Manchester and 3rd UNITED KINGDOM, 42nd Open goes to Carlos Dream Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jos Reilly from Dublin. 1st IRELAND, 203rd OPEN goes to H+C THORPE – McMORROW, with pigeon named CABELIN bred by PROUDS TOWN LOFT with a combined flying time of 17.46.08.18 with 166th TR1, 1828th TR2, 2401st TR3, 1738th TR4, 730th TR5, 2601st TR6, 491st HSCR1, 2288th TR7, 509th HSCR2, 1280th TR8 and now 2362nd TR9. 2nd IRELAND, 227th Open goes to Safet Duran with Bosnian Predator and 3rd IRELAND, 714th Open goes to Maurice O’Donnell with pigeon named Liadin 10.
THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNTRY AVERAGES after 11 races are as follows: 1st UNITED KINGDOM ZANDY DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET, with pigeon named ZANDYS PRIDE bred by PAUL SMITH, with a combined flying time of 16.51.33.24, 2nd UNITED KINGDOM MANCHESTER MAESTROS with pigeon named LADY LOIS 2 bred by JOHN CREHAN from MANCHESTER, with a combined flying time of 17.04.45.45, 3rd UNITED KINGDOM CARLOS DREAM SYNDICATE, administered by bred by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named CARLOS MAGIC bred by JOS REILLY from DUBLIN with a combined flying time of 17.08.12.85.
THE IRISH COUNTRY CHALLENGE AVERAGES after 11 races are as follows:- 1st IRELAND PHILIP & MARK SMITH with their pigeon named ELIZ with a combined flying time of 19.23.48.65. This partnership are also 2nd and 3rd with pigeons named Jamie Hayden and Paula S.
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS on TR9 amounted to US$3,612.50c (£3,010) and there was a total of 165 pigeons actually entered which included 6 from the UK and none from Ireland and there was 521 nominations and all this money in this race was won by pigeons in the top 52 positions. There were no UK winners in this race.
UNITED KINGDOM NOMINATIONS amounted to US$144.50c (£120) and showed 16 pigeons with 41 nominations and the winners were RUTLAND LOFTS taking 8th OPEN with pigeon named SCAFF 2, bred by AJ WHITEHOUSE which won US$68 (£56) for its efforts and then GUYS LOFTS ELITE taking 177th OPEN with DA VINCHIE CODE, bred by GRAHAM GUY from WOLVERHAMPTON winning US$76.50c (£64) for its efforts.
Next race was supposed to be HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 on Wednesday 28th December 2016 but this race has now been moved to Saturday 31st December 2016 because of weather conditions. TRAINING RACE 10 will now take place on Wednesday 28th December 2016, this race was then postponed because of continuous heavy rain throughout the day and will now take place early on Thursday 29th December 2016.
LIVESTREAM was up and running at the race loft so I woke up very early and logged on at 04.15 (GMT) on Thursday morning at home to watch the pigeons arrive from TRAINING RACE 10 after a one day delay because of continuous heavy rain throughout the day. With more heavy rain forecast for later this morning a decision was taken to shorten the toss from 114km (71 miles) to 62km (39 miles) and liberate earlier at 05.35. Good to see the team are thinking of the pigeons. Once again it is fantastic to be able to sit nearly 6,000 miles away and watch the pigeons arrive back home. The weather looked very overcast and misty, with heavy clouds and a light head wind for most of the journey. I did not have to wait long for the first arrivals as the first gang of about 80 pigeons arrived at 06.25 (SA time) or 04.25 (GMT), another group of about 100 pigeons appeared swung round the loft and were joined by a few more small gangs, then all of a sudden hundreds started hit the landing platform and started to trap. I also had my iPad ready for the result and all of a sudden I showed 1st OPEN had gone to POLAND. The pigeons just fell out of the sky with literally hundreds being clocked within a few minutes of the race winner, in fact over 1,000 pigeons were officially clocked within 10 minutes of the actual race winner. If you have not logged on yet to watch the pigeons arrive from the races, you do not know what you are missing, it is fantastic and also a great experience.
TRAINING RACE 10 took place on Thursday 29th December 2016 from 62km (39 miles) and a total of 3,316 pigeons were basketed from 35 different countries and this total included 3,062 International and 254 South African pigeons and this total also included 267 from the United Kingdom and 36 from Ireland. About 100 pigeons were held back and not basketed, these included 2 from the United Kingdom and just none from Ireland, these were all left in the lofts because they had made mistakes earlier in the week. Total still in the loft was 3,416 pigeons. The convoy were liberated at 05.35 in fine and cool conditions, with a light head wind on route, 16c (60f) and a good steady race was anticipated. The temperature was expected to rise to during the day but once again heavy rain was forecast to start about 10 am, because of the persistent heavy rain over the last few days the pigeons have only had one 30km (18 miles) trainer since Saturday.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN goes to TOMASZ WICZLING from POLAND with pigeon named BLACK SENSITIVITY bred by TOMASZ WICZLING, which was officially clocked at 06.24.02.29 to record a winning velocity of 1400ypm (21.072 m/s) (48mph). 2nd Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America, 3rd Hannelore Jaekel from Germany, 4th Robert Darr – Donald Bicknell from United States Of America, 5th Alois Wiefler from Austria, 6th Horst+Frank Sander from Germany, 7th Bader M F Al-Jwesr from Kuwait, 8th Abdullah Bohaimed from Kuwait, 9th Team Bergen from Norway, 10th Doyle M Gibson from United States Of America, 11th Stanley Meyler from United States Of America, 12th Defaulter Pigeon, 13th Internet-taubenschlag from Germany, 14th Anthony Family Loft from United States Of America, 15th Didden-Ledder from Belgium, 16th Syndicate Loft UK from United Kingdom, 17th Holts Loft from United States Of America, 18th Jack 13 from Belgium, 19th Team Maisenteam from Germany and 20th Gebr Vieberink from Netherlands. The top twenty in this result were separated by 1 minute 15.05 seconds and had 10 different countries represented in the top 20 and 12 different countries in the top 50, only 1 minute 48.11 seconds away from the actual race winner. This race resulted as another with fantastic returns with 500 recorded by 06.31, then 1,000 by 06.35, then 1,500 by 06.45, then 3,011 by 08.27, then 3,136 by 09.39 leaving 180 to make it back to the lofts. A total of 3,211 pigeons were officially clocked by 16.29, leaving just 105 pigeons to make it back to the loft. I am sure a few more will work over the next few days.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 16th OPEN went to SYNDICATE LOFTS UK and with pigeon named PEACE & LOVE which was bred by PETER FOX from BANGOR, which was officially clocked at 06.25.09.25, just 1 minute 06.96 seconds away from the race winner. 2nd UK, 49th Open Alan Richardson from Whitby, 3rd UK, 58th Open R Bartley & W Gardner from Lancaster with pigeon bred by SL Booth, 4th UK, 71st Open Paul Bamford from Pembroke Dock, 5th UK, 85th Open Zandys Dream Team with pigeon bred by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet, this pigeon Zandys Pride is currently holding 1st UK Overall Averages, 7th OPEN and 1st UK Country Challenge Averages after 12 races, 6th UK, 96th Open Tim Atkin from Rugby, 7th UK, 97th Open Mr & Mrs. Clayburn from Ackworth, 8th UK, 171st Open Crossley & Truszkowski from Melton Mowbray, 9th UK, 177th Open Sue Bennett from Darlington with pigeon bred by Woodroffe Brothers, 10th UK, 178th Open Millys Loft with pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 11th UK, 181st Open Guys Lofts with pigeon bred by Graham Guy from Wolverhampton, 12th UK, 203rd Open Taffy Thomas from Newmarket, 13th UK, 205th Open another for Zandys Dream Team with second pigeon bred by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet, 14th UK, 258th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Bob Fenech from Attleborough, 15th UK, 275th Open Paul Smith Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 16th UK, 307th Open another for Millys Loft with a second pigeon bred by Michael Mellor from Crewe, 17th UK, 318th Open UK Elite Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Clive Baldwin from Edgware, 18th UK, 335th Open Paul Smith – Regency Lofts from Stansted Mountfitchet with pigeon bred by David Coward-Talbott from Galleywood, 19th UK, 343rd Open Gran Canaria One Loft with pigeon bred by Mark Williams from Prestatyn and then 20th UK, 352nd Open Lloyd & Kelly from Didcot. Another great race with 50 UK pigeons being officially clocked by 06.34, then 100 up to 06.45 and then 200 by 06.54, then 244 by 08.27, 254 by 09.39 in the loft, leaving 13 UK pigeons to return to base camp. The last loft list of the day showed 258 UK pigeons had been clocked, leaving 9 still to make it back to base camp.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 185th OPEN went to JOHNSON – LEONARD & SONS with pigeon named LEONARD LAD, bred by PAUL JOHNSON which was officially clocked at 06.27.53.25, 3 minutes 50.96 seconds after the actual race winner. 2nd Ireland, 554th Open Moran & Bowden, 3rd Ireland, 594th Open another for Moran & Bowden, 4th Ireland, 606th Open Donnelly & Kirkwood, 5th Ireland, 831st Open another for Donnelly & Kirkwood and then 6th Ireland, 837th Open G+J Douglas. A good race with 6 pigeons being officially clocked by 06.31, then 13 by 06.45 and 18 by 06.54, then 33 by 08.11 then the final list showed all 36 Irish pigeons had been officially recorded by 09.27.
THE OVERALL AVERAGES after 12 official races now stand as follows:- 1st OPEN goes to DON HART from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with his pigeon named WENDY and bred by DON HART, actual flying time 17.13.42.09, with 968th TR1, 927th TR2, 1134th TR3, 103rd TR4, 321st TR5, 49th TR6, 8th HSCR1, 497th TR7, 45th HSCR2, 40th TR8, 79th TR9 and now 359th TR10. 2nd Open goes to DMM from Belgium and 3rd Open goes to Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America.
1st UNITED KINGDOM, 7th OPEN goes to ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS PRIDE bred by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET, actual flying time of 17.43.02.79, with 403rd TR1, 632nd TR2, 1318th TR3, 146th TR4, 491st TR5, 379th TR6, 639th HSCR1, 324th TR7, 546th HSCR2, 2233rd TR8, 205th TR9 and now 85th TR10. 2nd UNITED KINGDOM, 24th Open is Carlos Dream Syndicate with pigeon named Carlos Magic bred by Jos Reilly from Dublin and 3rd UNITED KINGDOM, 47th Open is a second pigeon for Zandys Dream Team with pigeon named Zandys Venture bred by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet. 1st IRELAND, 300th OPEN goes to H+C THORPE – McMORROW with their pigeon named CABELIN bred by PROUDS TOWN LOFTS, actual flying time 19.22.44.78, with 166th TR1, 1828th TR2, 2401st TR3, 1738th TR4, 730th TR5, 2601st TR6, 491st HSCR1, 2288th TR7, 509th HSCR2, 1280th TR8, 2362nd TR9 and now 2533rd TR10. 2nd IRELAND, 316th Open is Safet Duran with pigeon named Bosnian Predator and 3rd IRELAND, 581st Open Robbie Daly with pigeon named Big Bird.
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS on TRAINING RACE 10 amounted to US$5,311.65c (£4,427) and there was a total of 190 pigeons actually entered which included 2 from the UK and just none from IRELAND and there was 567 nominations and all this money in this race was won by pigeons in the top 76 positions. UNITED KINGDOM NOMINATIONS amounted to $51.85c (£43) and there was a total of 6 pigeons entered and there was 17 nominations. There was two winners as follows:- 44th OPEN for MANCHESTER MAESTROS with pigeon named LADY LOIS 3 bred by JOHN CREHAN from MANCHESTER winning US$13.60c (£11) for its efforts, then 1076th OPEN for RUTLAND LOFTS with pigeon named SCAFF 2 bred by AJ WHITEHOUSE winning US$38.25c (£32) for its efforts. WELL DONE GUYS.
THE COUNTRY CHALLENGE is a separate country competition which costs US$120 (approx. £100) per pigeon to enter and offers 3 cash prizes in each of the 5 Hot Spot Car Races and currently there is 143 UNITED KINGDOM pigeons entered and the Prize Money will be as follows:- There will be cash prizes of 1st Prize US$125 (approx. £104), 2nd Prize US$75 (approx. £62) and 3rd Prize US$50 (approx. £42) on Hot Spot Car Races 1, 2, 3 & 4. Then on Hot Spot Car Race 5 the prizes will increase to 1st Prize US$5,130 (approx. £4,275), 2nd Prize US$3,078 (approx. £2,565) and 3rd Prize US$2,052 (approx. £1,710). In The Final Race there will be just a 1st Prize winner takes all and that will go to the entered pigeon with the best average over the 5 x Hot Spot Car Races and The Final Race. The winning pigeon will be crowned THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNTRY CHALLENGE ACE WINNER and the Prize is now standing at US$5,920 (approx. £4,934). Of course only pigeons that were fully paid for and entered into this competition prior to basketing for Hot Spot Car Race 1 are eligible to fly for this ACE PIGEON AWARD. The UNITED KINGDOM TEAM have always supported this extra competition and the winners in this HSCR1 were as follows:-
THE COUNTRY CHALLENGE AVERAGES after 12 races are as follows:- 1st UNITED KINGDOM is ZANDYS DREAM TEAM, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeon named ZANDYS PRIDE which was bred by PAUL SMITH and has a combined flying time of 17.43.02.79. 2nd UNITED KINGDOM is CARLOS DREAM SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeon named CARLOS MAGIC bred by JOS REILLY from DUBLIN and has a combined flying time of 18.03.36.85, 3rd UNITED KINGDOM is another for ZANDYS DREAM TEAM with pigeon named ZANDYS VENTIRE bred by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED and has a combined flying time of 18.20.25.24.
The IRELAND TEAM only entered 6 pigeons and will fly for 1st Prize US$125 (approx. £104), 2nd US$75 (approx. £62) and 3rd Prize US$50 (approx. £42) on Hot Spot Car Races 1, 2, 3 & 4. Then on Hot Spot Car Race 5 the prizes will increase to 1st Prize US$335 (approx. £279), 2nd Prize US$201 (approx. £167) and 3rd Prize US$134 (approx. £112). In The Final Race there will just be a 1st Prize winner takes all and that will go to the pigeon with the best average over the 5 x Hot Spot Car Races and The Final Race. The winning pigeon will be crowned THE IRISH COUNTRY CHALLENGE ACE WINNER and the Prize is now standing at US$440 (approx. £367). Of course only pigeons that were fully paid for and entered into this competition prior to basketing for Hot Spot Car Race 1 are eligible to fly for this ACE PIGEON AWARD.
THE IRISH COUNTRY CHALLENGE AVERAGES after 12 races are as follows:- 1st IRELAND is PHILIP & MARK SMITH with pigeon named ELIZ bred by these fanciers and with a combined flying time of 21.11.03.70. 2nd IRELAND is another for PHILIP & MARK SMITH with pigeon named JAMIE HAYDEN bred by these fanciers with a combined flying time of 24.09.14.15.
Pigeons nominated and paid for into THE COUNTRY CHALLENGE competition from other countries were as follows:- AUSTRALIA 18, BELGIUM 10, CANADA 2, DENMARK 9, GERMANY 35, IRELAND 6, NETHERLANDS 5, POLALD 9, SOUTH AFRICA 72, UNITED KINGDOM 143 and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 17. These figures are quoted just shows what great support the UNITED KINGDOM gives this special competition.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL FANCIERS AND ENTRANTS IN HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 ON SATURDAY 31st DECEMBER 2016.
PROPOSED RACE PROGRAMME:- The remaining Training Races, Mid-Week Races and Saturday Races during 2016/17 race series are now listed as follows:- HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 on Saturday 31st December 2016, Training Race 11 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 4th January 2017, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 from 300km (187 miles) on Saturday 7th January 2017, Training Race 12 from 62km (39 miles) on Wednesday 11th January 2017, Training Race 13 from 100km (62 miles) on Saturday 14th January 2017, Training Race 14 from 80km (50 miles) on Wednesday 18th January 2017, HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 from 350km (218 miles) on Saturday 21st January 2017, Training Race 15 from 62km (39 miles) on Wednesday 25th January 2017, Training Race 16 from 80km (50 miles) on Saturday 28th January 2017, then THE FINAL RACE from 550km (342 miles) on Saturday 4th February 2017.
These 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 US$17,500 (£14,000) Prize Money will only count in races of 50km (31 miles) and over.
***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 shorter races is that all the pigeons will not trap quickly but if they have made it back to the race loft on Heron Banks Golf & River Estate they are there 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 2016/17 training and race series.
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.
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 22nd SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE has already been agreed and confirmed by the race organisers as SATURDAY 3th FEBRUARY 2018.
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 reglogfts@aol.com and I will give you all the information you require. My two proposed shipping dates for THE 22nd SAMDPR will take about the middle of MAY 2017 and then the second one should be around the middle of JUNE 2017. 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 & ENTRANTS WORLDWIDE DURING THE 2016/17 RACE SERIES.
Paul Smith, United Kingdom Race Team Co-ordinator/Shipper and International Race Co-ordinator for The 21st South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race, which is due to be held at Heron Banks Golf & River Estate and Emerald Resort, Casino & Hotel, South Africa on Saturday 4th February 2017. Regency Lofts Limited, 2, Highmead, off Coltsfield, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. CM24 8LJ. England. Tel/Fax:- 01279-812005. (Int. Code:- +44-1279-812005), Mobile:- 07860-568216. Email Address:- reglofts@aol.com Regency Lofts Website:- www.regencylofts.com Skype Address:- talbot7944 Twitter Address:- PaulSmith@SmithReglofts The South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race Website:- www.samdpr.com
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