INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
THE 17th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE
RESULTS FOR TRAINING FLIGHTS 7 & 8.
TRAINING FLIGHT 7 was supposed to take place on Wednesday 5th December 2012 from
78km (48 miles) and the basketing list on the official web site showed a total of 3,392
pigeons were basketed and this total was made up by 3,031 International, which included
317 United Kingdom and 48 Irish pigeons plus 361 from South Africa but because of heavy
rain the pigeons were not basketed.
The convoy were liberated on Thursday 6th December at 08.55 in fine and clear conditions,
light head wind, with temperature of 18c (64f) and a good race was expected.
The OPEN result was as follows and CONGRATULATIONS goes to Sam Syndicate from
Netherlands who took 1st Open with pigeon named Frysian Bulldozer which was clocked at
10.04.05.33 to record a velocity of 1225ypm (42mph), 2nd just 01.14 seconds later Konier
– Gawel – Zielinski from Poland, 3rd Helmut Heiland from Austria, 4th Frank Reidegeld from
Germany, 5th Wiefler Alois from Austria, 6th, 8th & 10th Karel Klemens from Czech
Republic, who was a past winner of this great race, 7th Koopman Racing Team from
Netherlands who has also had some great results in past years, 9th The Farriers from
United Kingdom, 11th Wilhelm Linke from Germany, 12th Team Esser – Klaas from
Germany, 13th Andre Roodhooft from Belgium, 14th Thorsten + Fin Leon Daum from
Germany, 15th PJ Verhoork from Netherlands, 16th Barry Yu from United States Of
America, 17th Avilla – Duhra from United States Of America, 18th Team Sylt 2000 – Gerrits
from Germany, 19th Ganus Family Loft from United States Of America and 20th Dubrovnik
Croatien from Hungary. The time gap between the first 20 pigeons was just 28.00 seconds
and a total of 9 different countries were represented in this result. A total of 3,307
pigeons were officially recorded on the day, leaving 85 still to make it back to the lofts.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st UK, 9th Open went to The Farriers with pigeon named
Jessies Bird, which was bred by Brian Greenley from Swinton, which was officially clocked
at 10.04.14.73 just 09.39 seconds behind the actual race winner, this fancier entered 3
pigeons and still has all 3 in the lofts at the current time, also one of his pigeons he
entered last year won the Cascade Challenge which was the first time a UK fancier had
won this competition, 2nd, 3rd & 15th UK, 34th, 46th & 212th Open Lloyd and Kelly from
Abingdon whose pigeons have been flying exceptionally well this season, 4th, 8th & 13th UK,
61st, 112th & 188th Open Diamond Are Forever Syndicate with two pigeons (61st & 112th)
bred by Jackson-Andrew-Kirby from Asselby and 112th bred by Thorsten + Finn Daum from
Germany, 5th, 14th & 17th UK, 75th, 192nd & 233rd Open three pigeon for Paul Smith
Syndicate, administer by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet and with pigeons all bred
by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 6th UK, 87th Open Syndicates Beacon UK with pigeon
bred by Mr/Mrs TA Martin from Penrith, 7th & 10th UK, 105th & 137th Open Manchester
Maestros with two pigeons bred by Crehan & O’Connor from Salford, 9th UK, 120th Open
Mark Gilbert from Windsor, 11th UK, 147th Open Myrtle Lofts – Evans + Walker with a
pigeon bred by Mark & Dickie Evans from Whitley Bridge, 12th UK, 174th Open Ian Stafford
– James Park from Tyne & Wear, 16th UK, 221st Open Harbro Hellcats, administered by Ken
Chapman from Leicester and with a pigeon bred by Adrian Duggins, 18th UK, 243rd Open
Woodhouse Lofts with pigeon bred by Nev Proctor from Brown Edge, 19th UK, 254th Open
Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe with a pigeon that has already scored a few times in this
race series and 20th UK, 260th Open Cullinane and Son from Todmorden who still have all
their 3 entries left in the race. A total of 307 UK pigeons were officially recorded on the
day, leaving 10 still to return to base camp.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st Ireland, 104th Open went to Safet Duran with pigeon
named Bosnian Arrow which was clocked at 10.06.23.95 just 2 minutes 18.62 seconds
behind the race winner, 2nd Ireland, 110th Open Hennie + Anette Kallmeyer, 3rd Ireland,
151st Open Jos Reilly – Team Ireland with pigeon bred by Jos Reilly, 4th Ireland, 220th
Open Philip + Mark Smith, 5th Ireland, 413th Open Finbarrs and 6th Ireland, 466th Open
ODonnell ABU Lofts with pigeon bred by Maurice O’Donnell. A total of 46 Irish pigeons
were recorded on the day, leaving just 2 pigeons to return to the lofts.
THE OVERALL GRAND AVERAGES WHICH OFFERS A US$10,000 (£6,500), US$5,000
(£3,250) and US$2,500 (£1,625) CASH PRIZES in this category results after 9 official races
currently stands as follows:- 1st Mershed Jedova Alnamlan from Kuwait with his pigeon
named M J 1 with a combined flying time of 10.31.11.13. It should be mentioned that
fanciers from Kuwait currently hold the first three positions in this category. The first UK
pigeon holds 17th Open and is owned by Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe with his pigeon
named Obi See You with a combined flying time of 10.57.09.64. There are 7 UK pigeons in
the top 78 in this category. The first Irish pigeon holds 134th Open and is owned by Moran
+ Bowden with their pigeon named Tiny Tegan with a combined flying time of
11.29.06.83.
CASCADE CHALLENGE had 140 entries for Training Flight 7 and this included 16 pigeons
from the UK and just 2 from Ireland. The “POT OF GOLD” of US$4,465 (£2,977) was not
won and this sum will be carried over to Training Flight 8, the nearest pigeon won 12th
Open for Team Esser - Klaas from Germany with their pigeon named Purdey. The best UK
pigeon took 254th Open for Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe with his pigeon named Obi See
You. The best Irish pigeon took 1079th Open for ODonnell ABU Lofts with pigeon named
Tommys Treasure 2.
GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for this race amounted to US$5,940.65c (£3,960) and had a total
of 231 pigeons entered and this included 29 UK and 7 Irish pigeons, with as total of 678
nominations. Only one UK winner and that was Lloyd and Kelly from Abingdon with
pigeon named Franklin which won US$969 (£646) for its efforts. CONGRATULATIONS.
TRAINING FLIGHT 8 was supposed to take place on Saturday 8th December 2012 from
125km (78 miles) but because of a delayed weekly training flight it was decided to have
this Training Flight 8 on Sunday 9th December and the basketing list on the official web
site showed a total of 3,379 pigeons being basketed and this total included 3,019
International, which included 312 United Kingdom and 47 Irish pigeons, plus 360 South
African pigeons. The convoy were liberated at 06.15 in fine and clear conditions with a
light head wind and temperature of 18c (64f) and a reasonable race was expected.
The OPEN result was as follows and CONGRATULATIONS goes to Oliver Heckl from
Germany who took 1st Open with their pigeon named Dynamit which was officially clocked
at 07.54.42.90 to record a winning velocity of 1373ypm (47mph), this outstanding pigeon
has already won 2 x 1sts, 2 x 13ths and a 18th Open in the first 10 races and has also won
the Cascade Challenge twice, a feat never achieved before. 2nd Racing Team Illusion from
Germany, just 01.20 seconds after the race winner, 3rd Harry Gerrits from Germany, 4th
Monzon Loft from United States Of America, 5th Mohammed Marzouq Al-Alwan from
Kuwait, this great pigeon has already won 112th, 21st, 2nd, 63rd, 59th, 33rd, 48th and now 5th
Open, 6th Wolfram Coesfeld from Germany, this pigeon has won 75th, 5th and now 6th Open,
7th Castleguard Lofts from Canada, 8th KSB Syndicate from South Africa, 9th Gaddin Bros
and Charl Stander from South Africa, 10th Fondclub Antwerpen from Belgium, 11th Karel
Klemens from Czech Republic, this pigeon has won 51st, 6th and now 11th Open and Karel
is a past winner of this great race, 12th Konier – Gawel – Zielinski from Poland, this pigeon
has won 86th, 11th, 2nd and now 12th Open, 13th SG Jammer+Reinhard from Germany,
14th Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands, who has had some remarkable results over
the past few years in this race, 15th Josef Huber from Germany, 16th Klaus Stieneker from
Germany, 17th Team Eagle Eye from Germany, 18th Helmut Heiland from Austria, 19th
Golden Team from United States Of America and 20th Mershed Jedova Alnamian from
Kuwait, this pigeon has also been flying very well and already won 56th, 2nd, 172nd, 68th,
11th, 247th, 32nd, 47th and now 20th Open. The time gap between the first 20 pigeons was
18.80 seconds and a total of 10 different countries were represented in this result. A total
of 3,280 pigeons were clocked on the day up to 19.57, leaving 99 still to make it back to
the lofts. The pigeons that homed after 15.50 did exceptionally well as they were forced
out by a yet another tremendous electrical storm that hit Sandton at 15.50, however some
pigeons still managed to battle through back to the lofts. The Monday afternoon listing on
the official web site showed a total of 3,320 in the lofts which meant that just 59 pigeons
were missing from this Training Flight 8.
***SPECIAL MENTION. I was watching the golf live from Durban on Sky television on
Saturday and Sunday, they had not play at all on Thursday and Friday because of heavy
rain and electrical storms. The commentator stated that they had already had one year’s
rain in the last month. A few weeks ago in Johannesburg they had hailstones as big as golf
balls which caused a lot of damage to cars, homes and it was reported that even the planes
that were parked at OR Tambo Johannesburg Airport had hailstones go through the
fuselarge of some planes. This just goes to show what these gallant pigeons have to put up
with during their training and racing.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st UK, 31st Open went to Syndicate Lofts UK with his
winning pigeon named Don’t Pass Me By which was bred by Peter Fox from Bangor. His
winner was officially clocked at 07.55.26.10 just 45.20 seconds behind the actual race
winner. 2nd UK, 35th Open Aurea Dream Team UK, administered by Ronnie Johnson from
West Bromwich and with pigeon bred by R. Stokes & Son from Farlow, 3rd & 4th UK, 44th &
48th Open Team Thomas with two pigeons bred by Jackson, Andrew & Kirby from Asselby,
their pigeons have been flying exceptionally well, 5th UK, 64th Open Lloyd and Kelly from
Abingdon, whose pigeons have been winning numerous top positions this year, 6th UK, 67th
Open Harbro Rowdies, administered by Ken Chapman from Leicester and with pigeon bred
by Adrian Duggins, 7th UK, 84th Open Kardale Lofts with a pigeon bred by Karen Newcombe
from Macmerry, 8th UK, 85th Open Wayside Syndicate with pigeon bred by I + D. Maddison
from Hartlepool, 9th UK, 101st Open N+A Evans and Cuthbert from Wolviston, this
partnership won a Brand New Motor Car last year, 10th UK, 105th Open Diamonds Are
Forever Syndicate with a third pigeon bred by Jackson, Andrew & Kirby from Asselby,
11th UK, 130th Open Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe with a pigeon that is also flying very
well, 12th UK, 137th Open Myrtle Lofts – Evans + Walker with pigeon bred by Mark & Dickie
Evans from Whitley Bridge, this partnership have already won numerous good positions in
this current race series and won 3rd Open in the Final Race two years ago, 13th UK, 149th
Open Team Islwyn with pigeon bred by Robert Jones from Resolven, 14th UK, 159th Open
David Hinkel from Wimbledon Common, 15th UK, 163rd Open Gribbles Choice with pigeon
bred by Phil Bond & son from Torquay, this partnership also won a Brand New Motor Car
last year, 16th UK, 175th Open Manchester Maestros with pigeon bred by Crehan &
O’Connor from Salford, 17th UK, 182nd Open Keith Warnes and Five Optimists with pigeon
bred by Keith Warnes from Norwich, 18th UK, 189th Open Denis Cullinane & Son from
Todmorden, 19th UK, 191st Open The Farriers with pigeon bred by Brian Greenley from
Swinton and 20th UK, 206th Open Finghall Lofts with pigeon bred by James Finlay from
Pudsey. A total of 303 UK pigeons were officially recorded on the day, leaving 9 still to
make it back to the lofts. The Monday afternoon loft listing showed 310 UK pigeons were
in the lofts, which left just 2 still to return.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st Ireland, 116th Open were Oliver Bond Flats, with
pigeon named Scott which was clocked at 07.58.16.80 just 3 minutes 33.90 seconds
behind the race winner, 2nd Ireland, 146th Open Universal Warrior, 3rd Ireland, 198th Open
Mousies Dream Team, 4th Ireland, 220th Open O’Donnell ABU Lofts, 5th Ireland, 279th Open
Paul Poole and Son and 6th Ireland, 306th Open Philip + Mark Smith. A total of 41 Irish
pigeons were officially recorded on the day, leaving just 6 still to return to the lofts. The
Monday afternoon loft listing showed 42 Irish pigeons were in the lofts, leaving 5 still to
make it back to base camp.
THE OVERALL GRAND AVERAGES category results after 10 official races currently stands
as follows:- 1st goes to Mershed Jedova Alnamlan from Kuwait with pigeon named M J 1
with a combined flying time of 12.11.12.83. The first UK pigeon is holding 11th Open and
belongs to Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe with his pigeon named Obi See You with a
combined flying time of 12.40.37.99 There are 3 UK pigeons in this top 41 in this
category. The first Irish pigeon holds 97th Open and belongs to Moran + Bowden with
pigeon named Tiny Tegan with a combined flying time of 13.15.53.13.
The information listed above on all these winning pigeons was gleaned from the official
SAMDPR web site and I can only apologise if this information is not correct at the time of
compiling this press release. If any competing members want more information regarding
the breeder of any winning pigeons or where they live then all they have to do is phone or
email me and I will add this information to my database for future reference.
The remaining race programme will be as follows:- Training Flight 9 (*) on Wednesday 12th
December 2012 from 80km (50 miles), HOT SPOT CAR RACE 3 (*) on Saturday 15th
December 2012 from 250km (155 miles), Training Flight 10 (*) on Wednesday 19th
December 2012 from 80km (50 miles), Training Flight 11 (*) on Saturday 22nd December
2012 from 125km (78 miles), HOT SPOT CAR RACE 4 (*) on Saturday 29th December 2012
from 300km (186 miles), Training Flight 12 (*) on Wednesday 2nd January 2013 from 80km
(50 miles), Training Flight 13 (*) on Saturday 5th January 2013 from 125km (78 miles),
Training Flight 14 (*) on Wednesday 9th January 2013 from 80km (50 miles), HOT SPOT
CAR RACE 5 (*) on Saturday 12th January from 350km (218 miles), Training Flight 15 (*)
on Saturday 19th January 2013 from 80km (50 miles), Training Flight 16 (*) on Wednesday
23rd January 2013 from 80km (50 miles), Training Flight 17 (*) on Saturday 26th January
2013 from 125km (78 miles) and then THE FINAL RACE (*) on Saturday 2nd February 2013
from 550km (342 miles). ALL THESE RACES WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE APPOINTED DAY
PROVIDING THE WEATHER IS SUITABLE FOR THE LIBERATION AND RACE TO TAKE
PLACE, IF NOT THEY COULD BE FLOWN ON ANOTHER DAY WHEN THE WEATHER
FORECAST WAS MORE FAVOURABLE. ONLY RACES OF 50KM (31 MILES) OR OVER
COUNT TOWARDS THE ACE PIGEON AWARDS. ALL THE NOMINATION RACES ARE ALL
MARKED WITH AN ASTERIX (*) NEXT TO THE FLIGHT OR RACE.
In the GLOBAL NOMINATIONS for TRAINING FLIGHT 8 there was 268 pigeons entered and
this included 33 from the UK and 3 from Ireland and there was a total of 795 Nominations.
Lloyd and Kelly from Abingdon with pigeon named Franklin took 64th Open won
US$263.50c (£176), Harbro Rowdies, administered by Ken Chapman from Leicester and
with pigeon named Abbykins which was bred by Adrian Duggins and won US$51 (£34).
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE UNITED KINGDOM WINNERS.
UK COUNTRY NOMINATIONS only had a 4 pigeons entered and 16 Nominations and Lloyd
and Kelly from Abingdon won 64th Open with pigeon named Franklin which won
US$27.20c (£18) for its effort.
CASCADE CHALLENGE is basically a “Single Pigeon Nomination” at a cost of US$10 (£650) per pigeon. Only one pigeon in each syndicate can be entered and to win this “Pot Of
Gold” a nominated pigeon has to win 1st Open. If not then whatever is in the pot carries
forward to the next Nomination Flight. In Training Flight 8 there was a total of 132
pigeons entered and that contained 12 UK and 2 Irish pigeons and “THE POT OF GOLD”
and US$5,938.95c (£3,959) was won by Oliver Heckl from Germany with his pigeon named
Dynamit, this outstanding pigeon has now won this competition twice and I think I am
right in saying that this is the first time in the history of this competition that this has
ever happened. HOPE THIS PIGEON KEEPS FLYING WELL. The first UK pigeon took 130th
Open for Pieter Oberholster from Keysoe and with pigeon named Obi See You which has
been flying exceptionally well over the past few races. The first IRISH pigeon took 198th
Open for Mousies Dream Team with pigeon named The Deise Rocket . GOOD LUCK IN THE
NEXT ROUND TO ALL ENTRANTS.
Of course before you can actually NOMINATION a pigeon or pigeons or put a pigeon in the
CASCADE CHALLENGE you must have the appropriate funds in your AS account. So if you
wish to have a bit of extra fun during the 2012/13 race series please contact your Country
Shipper as soon as possible who will then pass your funds over to the race organisers so
that you have enough funds in your AS account to have a little gamble.
I would just like to notify fanciers that my weekly International Press Releases and
Newsletters will all be published in our two weekly pigeon magazines, namely “The British
Homing World” and “The Racing Pigeon”. Information will also be sent out to numerous
other Web Sites:- www.regencylofts.com www.iprr.co.uk www.elimarpigeons.com
www.pigeonportal.com www.cyberpigeon.co.uk www.pigeonbasics.com www.pigeoncare.nl
www.starpigeons.com www.fancierchat@btinternet.com and www.pigeonpixels.co.uk
If you have any questions or queries about any aspect of THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION
DOLLAR PIGEON RACE, then please contact me on my home telephone number, mobile
number or by text SMS or by emailing me and I will do my best to answer any of your
questions or queries.
If any fancier in the United Kingdom or Ireland would like to receive my weekly
International Press Releases and Newsletters by email, then all you have to do is email
your request and I will add your email address to my database, then all information will be
forwarded to you on a regular basis.
Paul Smith. United Kingdom Race Team Shipper & International Race Co-ordinator for
The 17th South African Million Dollar (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 in Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 2nd February 2013.
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 or www.scmdpr.com