“INTERNATIONAL PRESS REPORT”
THE 19th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD IN LINBRO PARK, SANDTON,
SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY 24th JANUARY 2015.
RESULTS FOR HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 &
TRAINING RACE 12.
HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 took place on Saturday 20th December 2014 from 221km (137 miles) and a total of 2,792 pigeons were basketed from 34 different countries, this total included 185 South African pigeons and 2,607 international pigeons and this figure included 169 from the United Kingdom and 41 from Ireland. The convoy was made up by pigeons entered from the following countries:- Australia 99, Austria 31, Bahrain 14, Belgium 160, Bulgaria 12, Canada 35, Czech Republic 59, Denmark 22, France 2, Germany 610, Hungary 4, Iraq 11, Ireland 41,
Italy 5, Kuwait 248, Malta 2, Netherlands 189, Norway 14, Poland 68, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 2, Qatar 15, Romania 62, Saudi Arabia 28, Slovakia 55, Slovenia 16, South Africa 185, Sweden 8, Switzerland 10, Turkey 2, United Arab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 169, United States Of America 576 and Zimbabwe 6. A total of 2,764 pigeons from 34 different countries and 28 Defaulter Pigeons which are still to be paid for, these pigeons are not listed on the results so that the owners that sent them out to the race can’t follow them to see how they are doing. On the results they just show as a Defaulter Pigeon (no information will be displayed or country flag will be shown on the race result).
The convoy were liberated at 05.30 in fine and cool conditions, with light tail wind and a temperature of 17c (62f) and a fairly fast race was anticipated by the loft staff. As the day progressed the weather would remain sunny and the temperature would rise to about 30c (88f) mid-afternoon with the possibility of more light rain forecast around 13.00.
LIVESTEAM was up and running and as I woke early and logged on to the SAMDPR web site at about 06.00 (GMT) or 08.00 South African time as I thought the first pigeons would arrive about 08.10. The weather was a bit overcast with lots of low clouds and a bit misty. I only had to wait one minute because as 08.01 (SA) the first gang of about 40 pigeons appeared bang on line and hit the top, most landed on loft 2 the one closest to the big warehouse on the next property and they started to trap just as another gang of about 25 came bang on line and hit the top of loft 2, followed by another slightly bigger gang of about 60 pigeons hit the top of the lofts, then another bigger gang of probably about 25 pigeons came through the skies bang on line and hit the top of the lofts. So within two minutes there was probably around 150 plus pigeons home and as usual the quicker trappers take the spoils. I would just like to say that the trapping this year has greatly improved and it was great to see them not sitting about as much as they did last year. I watched the pigeons approach the lofts for about 30 minutes and it should be mentioned that they must have a wonderful racing line by now because you could virtually draw a line through the sky as most of the gangs approached the two lofts. Well done to the loft staff for making sure the pigeons do not sit out like they have done in the past. Of course there will always be the exception and a few will always be troublesome. Over 1,850 pigeons were officially clocked by 08.33. It really is fantastic to sit nearly 6,000 miles away and watch everything happen live in South Africa. Once again modern technology at its best.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN went to COENIE HATTINGH from SOUTH AFRICA with pigeon named SCRATCH bred by COENIE HATTINGH which was officially clocked at 08.01.07.27 to record a winning velocity of 1497ypm (54mph), 2nd Team Harrys Grandchildren from Germany, 3rd Nanez Family Syndicate from United States Of America, this pigeon SOUL SURVIVOR has been flying very well and already won 178th HSCR1, 98th HSCR2, 5th HSCR3 and now 3rd HSCR4, also won 80th, 56th, 82nd, 98th and 224th OPEN in other races and has now won nearly US$13,500 in Nomination winnings plus US$2,200 Hot Spot Cash Prizes, 4th Team Brockamp-Stieneker-Wagner from Germany, 5th Jan Hooymans – Hu Zhen Yu from Netherlands, 6th Nasrat Yardam from Canada, this pigeon has won 148th, 3rd, 24th and now 6th Open in the last four races, 7th Team Molokai Maui Hawaii from United States Of America, with the same pigeon that won 1st Open in the previous race, 8th McKenna and Carney from United States Of America, this is the 6th time this pigeon has scored in the top 56 in the Open result, 9th Leon van Rooyen from South Africa, 10th Bacalu Danut + Serafim from Romania, 11th Team Hurrican from Germany, 12th Oscar Betancourt from United States Of America, 13th Gaddin Brothers and Charl Stander from South Africa, 14th Robert Marjanovic from Austria, 15th another for Bacalu Danut + Serafim from Romania, 16th Willy + Ivan Baetens from Germany, 17th Alias-Alias Team from United States Of America, 18th Warren Bloomfield from Australia, 19th Fayez 8 from Kuwait and 20th Horst Zikeli from Germany. The top 20 pigeons were separated by just 12.41 seconds and had 9 different countries represented in this result, with 5 different countries represented in the to 6 in this result. The top 50 pigeons were separated by 1 minute 12.39 seconds. A total of 2,636 pigeons were officially recorded by 19.14, leaving just 156 pigeons still to return to the lofts. The clock was left on during Sunday and a further 81 pigeons made it back to base camp. The Monday Loft Listing showed 2,736 pigeons (98%) in the lofts, leaving 56 pigeons (2%) still to make it back to the lofts.
THE BRAND NEW MOTOR CAR WINNER in HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 and an EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT for the pigeon that actually took 2nd OPEN entered by TEAM HARRYS GRANDCHILDREN with pigeon named ROBERT B03 which was bred by OLAF GEHRKEN. Once again a pigeon that took 1st OPEN was NOT-ACTIVATED so was not eligible to win this coveted prize, nor could it win one of the US$1,100 Cash Prizes. What a great shame for the person that entered it COENIE HATTINGH from SOUTH AFRICA. This is not the first time that the 1st OPEN winner was NOT-ACTIVATED, it has happened in the past and I am sure it will happen again in the future. It just goes to show that if your pigeons are still in the race coming up to HSCR1 then it pays to ACTIVATE them.
HOT SPOT CAR RACE $ US$1,100 (£734) 19 CASH WINNERS in HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 went to 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th OPEN. Once again 3 other pigeons that took 6th OPEN from SOUTH AFRICA, 12th & 18th OPEN both from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, plus the pigeon that took 1st OPEN were NOT-ACTIVATED so could not win any of these Cash Prizes. The total that have missed out so far winning a major cash prize or car in the four HOT SPOT CAR RACES that have taken place so far in the 2014/15 race series now total 13. However, somebodies bad news is somebody else good new and four German fanciers that took 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th OPEN (see results for winners) won these four extra Cash Prizes. Once again this should show fanciers that if the pigeon is good enough to enter at the start, then surely it must be good enough to ACTIVATE to be eligible to compete for these Special Prizes. WELL DONE TO ALL CONCERNED.
TWO BIRD AVERAGE WINNER and US$2,000 (£1,334) in HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 was HARDY KRUEGER (TEAM 2) from GERMANY with pigeons named SEATTLE DANCER and LAST SAMURAI LH that took 22nd and 43rd OPEN. 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 67th OPEN went to LUCKY DEVILS SYNDICATES (TEAM 9), administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with pigeons named LUCKY REWARD and LUCKY VISION that took 375th and 597th OPEN both bred by FENECH BROTHERS from ATTLEBOROUGH. 1st IRELAND, 20th OPEN was MORAN and BOWDEN (TEAM 1) with pigeons named DANCING QUEEN and BEAUTIFUL ALANNAH that took 62nd and 371st OPEN. WELL DONE TO ALL THESE WINNERS.
THREE BIRD AVERAGE WINNER and US$3,000 (£2,000) in HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 was HARDY KREUGER (TEAM 2) from GERMANY, with pigeons named SEATTLE DANCER, LAST SAMURAI LH and BIG BROWN which took 22nd, 43rd and 269th OPEN. 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 49th OPEN went to CARLOS DREAM SYNDICATE, administered by PAUL SMITH from STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET and with pigeons named CARLOS TREASURE, CARLOS DREAM and CARLOS GLORY which took 287th, 1439th and 2149th OPEN and all 3 pigeons bred by FENECH BROTHERS from ATTLEBOROUGH. There were no IRISH teams of 3 pigeons clocked in this category. WELL DONE TO THESE WINNERS.
HOT SPOT AVERAGES after four HOT SPOT RACES stands as follows:- 1st BELGIUM, 1st OPEN is LEO HEREMANS from BELGIUM with this pigeon named NATASCHA that has won 298th HSCR1, 11th HSCR2, 3rd HSCR3 and now 68th HSCR4 and has a combined flying time of 07.53.47.80, moving up 1 place from 2nd after HSCR3. This pigeon is currently leading this category by just 1 minute 08.51 seconds. 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 8th OPEN is TEAM LINCS with pigeon named SILVER X bred by MR & MRS PAUL & TRACEY STACEY from SLEAFORD with the following performances 611th HSCR1, 76th HSCR2, 165th HSCR3 and now 66th HSCR4 and has a combined flying time of 08.02.24.79, moving up 33 places from 41st after HSCR3. 1st IRELAND, 181st OPEN is MORAN and BOWDEN with pigeon named DANCING QUEEN that has won 1375th HSCR1, 413th HSCR2, 154th HSCR3 and now 62nd HSCR4 and has a combined flying time of 08.20.31.00, moving up 463 places from 644th after HSCR3.
THE KNOCKOUT COMPETITION offers a 1st PRIZE of US$25,000 (£16,667) in the FINAL RACE. This competition started off with 2,465 pigeons from 37 different countries and now after ROUND 3 took place in HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4, I can tell you that 35% (309) of the remaining 882 pigeons will go through to ROUND 4 which will take place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 when 20% (62) pigeons will then go through to compete in the FINAL RACE for “THE POT OF GOLD” on Saturday 24th January 2015. The remaining 309 pigeons that went through to ROUND 4 which takes place on HOT SPOT CAR RACE 5 are made up as follows:- 293 INTERNATIONAL, which includes 21 from UNITED KINGDOM and 3 from IRELAND, plus 16 pigeons from SOUTH AFRICA. GOOD LUCK TO ANY FANCIERS THAT HAVE PIGEONS STILL LEFT IN THIS GREAT COMPETITION.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 51st OPEN went to GUYS LOFTS ELITE with pigeon named LEXIES STAR, bred by GRAHAM GUY from WOLVERHAMPTON which was officially clocked at 08.02.20.10, just 1 minute 12.83 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd UK, 66th Open Team Lincs with pigeon bred by Mr & Mrs Paul Tracey Stacey from Sleaford, this partnership won 1st UK, 25th OPEN with the same pigeon in TR10, 3rd UK, 67th Open Dream Team Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, 4th UK, 105th Open Premier Stud UK Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon that was bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 5th UK, 129th Open Lucky Devils Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, 6th UK, 132nd Open another for the Lucky Devils Syndicate with a third pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, this pigeon has also been flying well in this race series, 7th UK, 150th Open Buckles Bandits entered by Steve Buckle from Northwood and with pigeon bred by Terry Haley from Watford, 8th UK, 167th Open another for Lucky Devils Syndicate and with a fourth pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, 9th UK, 171st Open Mark Gilbert GB from Windsor, 10th UK, 195th Open Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe, 11th UK, 196th Open Jurgen & Caroline Josch from Hailsham, 12th UK, 239th Open another for Lucky Devils Syndicate with a fifth pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, 13th UK, 251st Open Durkan Brothers from Ripon, 14th UK, 287th Open Carlos Dream Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with a sixth pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough, with a pigeon that has already scored a few times in this race series, 15th UK, 305th Open Roger & Pat Sutton from Congleton, 16th UK, 315th Open Paul Smith Syndicate, administered by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 17th UK, 326th Open Ian Crammond and Nigel Langstaff from Fontwell, with pigeon that is currently holding 1st UK, 7th Open in the Overall Averages, 18th UK, 354th Open Mr & Mrs Brian & Mavis Clayburn from Ackworth, 19th UK, 375th Open another for Lucky Devils Syndicate with a seventh pigeon bred by Fenech Brothers from Attleborough and 20th UK, 376th Open Pigeon Corporation with pigeon bred by Leon Viljoen. A total of 163 UK pigeons were officially recorded by 19.14, leaving just 6 pigeons still to make it back to the lofts. No more UK pigeons returned to the lofts on Sunday. The Monday Loft Listings still showed 163 (96.45%) UK pigeons in the lofts, which meant that 6 pigeons (3.55%) were still to return.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st IRELAND, 62nd OPEN went to MORAN and BOWDEN with pigeon named DANCING QUEEN bred by ANDY MORAN, which was official clocked at 08.02.26.73, 1 minute 19.36 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd Ireland, 200th Open RS Homan, 3rd Ireland, 217th Open Padraig and Caoimhe, 4th Ireland, 298th Open Dylan and Daniel Boylan, 5th Ireland, 302nd Open Peter Lucas and 6th Ireland, 350th Open Boylan and Nasher. A total of 39 Irish pigeons were officially recorded by 19.14, leaving just 2 pigeons still to make it back to the lofts. The Monday Loft Listings showed 43 Irish pigeons in the lofts, meaning that 2 lost ones had also returned over the weekend to the lofts, thus making a 100% return rate.