“FIRST INTERNATIONAL PRESS REPORT”
THE 15th SUN CITY MILLION DOLLAR
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD IN SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA ON
SATURDAY 22nd JANUARY 2011.
REPORT ON TRAINING RACES 1 & 2.
More daily training continued before the basketing list appeared on the SCMDPR web site on Tuesday 26th October for the TRAINING RACE 1, which was due to be held on Wednesday 27th October from 51km (approx. 32 miles) and this showed a total of 4,741 pigeons had been entered (a record enter for this race), which was made up by 3,993 International and 748 South African entries and included 454 from the United Kingdom Team and also 69 from our Irish counterparts. The convoy were liberated near Koster Dam at 08-00 in fine and clear conditions, 27C (81F), with light head wind and a good race was anticipated by the loft managers and Zandy Meyer (Race Director). A further weather update showed that the later pigeons would have to deal with a strong head wind with a midday temperature at Sun City of 31C (88F) and of course rising as the day went on.
CONGRATULATIONS on winning 1st OPEN went to PEETERS - HUYBREGTS from BELGIUM with his pigeon named LITTLE WONDER which was clocked at 08-44-40.65 to record 1251ypm (42mph), 2nd Open went to H Erickson, Dignon & D Kulis from Canada, 3rd Open to Team GSA – Du Randt from South Africa, 4th Open to Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands, 5th Open to Ben Potgieter from South Africa, 6th Open to Christian Steinhagen from Germany, 7th Open another for Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands, 8th Open to Porsmose - Engel from Denmark, 9th Open to Team Broekelmann from Germany, 10th Open to Khalid Saeed Al-Sulaiti from Qater, 11th Open to Ihab Ahmad from United Arab Emirates, 12th Open to Matias u Otmar Theisen from Germany, 13th Open to Westra Pigeons from Netherlands, 14th Open to Premier Stud UK Syndicate from United KIngdom, 15th Open to De Scheemaecker Gebr from Belgium, 16th Open another for Peeters - Huybregts from Belgium, 17th Open to THP Syndicate from South Africa, 18th Open to Zaben Alazmi from Kuwait, 19th Open to Heritage Lofts from Australia and then 20th Open to Cools Syndicate from Belgium. These top 20 pigeons were all clocked within 11.05 seconds of the race winner and 11 different countries were represented in the top 20. The top 100 pigeons were all clocked within 54 seconds of the race winner. A total of 3,826 pigeons were officially recorded by 10-21 and this included 375 from the UK and 62 from Ireland. A later report showed 4,022 pigeons had been recorded by 11-52 and this included 391 from the UK and 62 from Ireland. The final report of the day showed 4,229 pigeons clocked and this number included 415 from the UK and 63 from Ireland. This result showed that 512 pigeons were still missing. As there was quite a lot of pigeons still missing so the clock was left on during Thursday morning and by 11-28 a further 101 pigeons had been officially clocked and this included 423 UK and 64 Irish pigeons. This meant that actually 411 pigeons bit the dust from this race. At the Friday basketing list the web site showed 4,360 pigeons had homed and this included 428 UK pigeons and 64 Irish pigeons had returned to the lofts in Sun City.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st, 2nd, 6th, 10th & 14th UNITED KINGDOM, 14th, 40th, 70th, 92nd & 122nd OPEN went to PREMIER STUD UK SYNDICATE, which is administered by PAUL SMITH, STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET with all five pigeons bred by PREMIER STUD, PATRINGHAM HAVEN the winning pigeon was named PREMIER JAMES which was clocked at 08-44-49.15, just 0.50 seconds behind the actual race winner, 3rd UK, 50th Open goes to Trainspotters Syndicate with a pigeon that won 12th UK, 139th Open in Pre Training Race 1 and 15th UK, 156th Open in Pre Training Race 2 and was bred by K. Wagstaff & Pickering, 4th UK, 63rd Open went to UK Invitation Syndicate and was bred by Pieter Oberholster from Lask Edge, 5th UK, 64th Open went to Slim Timmis & Snooker from Newcastle, Staffs, 7th UK, 77th Open went to SJD Syndicate with a pigeon bred by John Dearden from Rochdale, 8th UK, 83rd Open went to MNFC Sponsor Falaise YB with a pigeon bred by Stuckie Leslie, 9th UK, 89th Open went to Brammer & Nasha with a pigeon bred by John Nash, Ireland, 11th UK, 103rd Open went to Mr & Mr Brian & Mavis Clayburn from Ackworth, past winners of the 2009 SCMDPR, 12th UK, 107th Open went to Fenland Lofts and bred by Darren Peters from Lincs, 13th UK, 116th Open for The Liver Birds with A pigeon bred by Lee/Lindsey & Ryan Davison from Liverpool, 15th UK, 136th Open for Dean Pallett from Leicester, 16th UK, 143rd Open for Kevin Cahill from Wigan, 17th UK, 145th Open for the Wombles Syndicate with a pigeon bred by A. Smith that had won 1st UK, 8th Open in Pre Training Race 2, 18th UK, 161st Open for Premier, Kelly, Van Boxmeer Syndicate with yet another pigeon bred by Premier Stud, Patringham Haven who had a fantastic race, 19th UK, 169th Open for Red Star Lofts and bred by Alun Jones from Rhyl and then 20th UK, 180th Open for Syndicate Lofts UK with a pigeon bred by Peter Fox from Bangor. A total of 375 UK pigeons were officially clocked by 10-19, then 391 by 11-46, then 415 by nightfall, which meant 39 were still missing. Another 8 UK pigeons were officially recorded by 11-28 on Thursday morning and then 5 more later on, making 428 home and 26 actually missing.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st IRELAND, 36th OPEN goes to UP THE IRISH SYNDICATE with pigeon named IRISH MAGIC which was clocked at 08-44-57.15, just 16.50 seconds behind the race winner, 2nd Ireland, 100th Open went to Mousies Syndicate with the same pigeon that won 1st Ireland, 152nd Open in the previous race, 3rd Ireland, 212th Open another for the Mousies Syndicate, 0th Ireland, 000th Open for a Defaulter Pigeon, 4th Ireland, 273rd Open for Liam O’Griogtin, 5th Ireland, 286th Open to David Brown with 6th Ireland, 363rd Open going to a third pigeon from the Mousies Syndicate. The Irish Team had a total of 62 pigeons clocked by 10-15, no more by 11-52, then 63 by nightfall, which meant 6 were still missing. Another pigeon was officially recorded by 09-25 on Thursday taking their total to 64 which meant that 5 Irish pigeons also bit the dust in this race.
No training tosses on Thursday and Friday and then the basketing list appeared on the web site later on Friday 29th October for TRAINING RACE 2 which was due to take place on Saturday 30th October from 81km (50 miles). A total of 4,360 pigeons, which included 3,695 International and 665 South African entries were liberated at
07-20 in clear, fine and warm conditions, light head wind and with a temperature of 24C (75F) and a steady race was anticipated by the loft managers and Zandy Meyer (Race Director). This total also included 428 UK and 64 Irish pigeons. By mid day the temperature had risen to 32C (90F) in Sun City.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN goes to RICK & ROSE QUARRELL from AUSTRALIA with pigeon named SHIRLEY 1 which was clocked at 08-18-22.45 to record 1517ypm (51mph), 2nd Open went to Schlaggemeinschaft Primes from Germany, 3rd Open went to Paul Smith Syndicate from United Kingdom, 4th Open went to Team Airfighter from Germany, 5th Open went to Premier Kelly Van Boxmeer from United Kingdom, 6th Open went to Matthias Sprang from Germany, 7th Open went to Team Miele from Germany, 8th Open went to the Ian Ketchell from Australia, 9th Open went to Norbert De Keyzer from Belgium, 10th Open went to Werner Morf from China, 11th Open went to Team Stieneker – Rosenbusch from Germany, 12th Open went to Brough – Dr Meyer from South Africa, 13th Open went to Premier Australia Van Boxmeer from United Kingdom, 14th Open went to Hawaii IRS from United States Of America, 15th Open went to Hinrich Schnackenberg from Germany, 16th Open went to Kodl – Chytil from Czech Republic, 17th Open went to Premier Stud UK Syndicate from United Kingdom, 18th Open went to De Scheemaecker Gebr from Belgium, 19th Open went to Kitchenbrand Lofts from South Africa and then 20th Open went to Koopman Racing Team from Netherlands. These top 20 pigeons were all officially clocked within 19.75 seconds of the race winner with 10 different countries being represented in this top 20 and the top 100 were all clocked within 97.10 seconds of the winning pigeon. A total of 3,027 pigeons were officially clocked by 08-51, which was 32 minutes after the race winner, then 3,629 by 10-20 which was two hors after the race winner and then 3,852 by 13-07 and 3,922 by 18-31, leaving 438 pigeons still to make it back to base camp by nightfall. Once again as there was quite a few pigeons still missing the clock was left on and by 08-49 a further 143 had been officially clocked, making 4,065 in the lofts. Another 23 pigeons returned during the day making a total of 4,088 officially recorded, leaving 272 still to return to the lofts. At the Monday morning Loft check this showed 4,138 pigeons had returned to the lofts, leaving 222 still to return to the lofts. This total included 3,518 International and 620 South African pigeons with 413 UK and 60 Irish included in what had made it back to the lofts.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 3rd OPEN went to the PAUL SMITH SYNDICATE administer by Paul Smith from Stansted Mountfitchet with BLUE PEARL bred by JIMMY RICHARDS from LAINDON and clocked at 08-18-25.45, just 03.00 seconds behind the actual race winner, 2nd UK, 5th Open went to Premier Kelly Van Boxmeer with a pigeon bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 3rd UK, 13th Open went to Premier Australia Van Boxmeer with another pigeon bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven 4th, 8th & 19th UK, 17th, 44th & 138th Open went to Premier Stud UK Syndicate administered by Paul Smith, Stansted Mountfitchet with three more pigeons bred by Premier Stud from Patringham Haven, 5th UK, 21st Open went to Knowles & Reed, 6th UK, 22nd Open went to UK Invitation with a pigeon bred by Pieter Oberholster from Lask Edge, 7th & 12th UK, 38th & 90th Open went to Slim Timmis & Snooker from Newcastle, Staffs, 9th UK, 46th Open went to Peter Reeves from Winchester, 10th & 20th UK, 65th & 140th Open went to MNFC Sponsor Nom Bergerac and both bred by D. Gruzelier, 11th UK, 80th Open went to the Paul Smith Syndicate with another pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 13th UK, 108th Open went to Manchester Maestros, 14th UK, 114th Open went to Johnney Burns from Ormskirk, 15th UK, 119th Open went to Brammer & Nasha with a pigeon bred by Steve Hanman, 16th UK, 120th Open went to NRCC Syndicate with a pigeon bred by Steve Spinks from Peterborough, 17th UK, 121st Open went to the Dream Team administer by Colin Bartholomew from Richmond with a pigeon bred by Deitmar Milewski, 18th UK, 127th Open went to Fenland Lofts and bred by Darren Peters from Lincolnshire. A really fantastic result for the UK Team. A total of 321 UK pigeons were clocked by 08-51, then 363 by 10-18, then 384 by 12-24 and finally 389 by 18-31, leaving 39 pigeons still to return to base camp on the day. Another 17 UK pigeons were officially clocked by 08-49 on Sunday morning and a further 2 later in the day making 408 officially recorded, leaving 20 missing from this race. The Monday morning loft check showed 413 UK pigeons home, leaving 15 still to return.
CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st IRELAND, 96th OPEN went to DAVID BROWN a past Gold Medal winner in the Final Race a few years ago with pigeon named IRISH MARIA which was clocked at 08-19-56.75, just 94.30 seconds after the race winner, 2nd Ireland, 111th Open went to Cannon Lillis Lofts with a pigeon bred by Jos Reilly, 3rd Ireland, 272nd Open went to Philip & Mark Smith, 4th Ireland, 329th Open went to Karl Donnelly, 5th Ireland, 362nd Open went to Paul Poole & Son and then 6th Ireland, 431st Open went to K. Kallmeyer. A total of 48 Irish pigeons were clocked before 08-45, then 53 before 10-00, 57 by 12-53 and still only 57 by 18-31, leaving just 7 to return to the lofts by darkness. Another 2 Irish pigeons were officially clocked before 08-49 on Sunday morning. No more recorded, leaving 5 Irish pigeons missing from this race. At the Monday loft check a total of 60 Irish pigeons had returned, leaving 4 still to make their way back to the lofts.
*****THE FOLLOWING RACE PROGRAMME***** On Wednesday 3rd November we have Training Race 3 from 80km (approx. 50 miles), then CAR RACE 1 from near Coligny 140km (approx. 87 miles) on Saturday 6th November, then Training Race 4 will take place from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 10th November, followed by CAR RACE 2 from near Sannieshof 185km (approx. 115 miles) on Saturday 13th November, Training Race 5 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 17th November. On to Training Race 6 from 135km (approx. 84 miles) on Saturday 20th November followed by Training Race 7 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 24th November. We then have CAR RACE 3 from near Ottosdal 200km (approx. 125 miles) on Saturday 27th November, followed by Training Race 8 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 1st December. Then we have Training Race 9 from 135km (approx. 84 miles) on Saturday 4th December with Training Race 10 from 300km (approx. 187 miles) on Wednesday 8th December, followed by Training Race 11 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Saturday 11th December, followed by Training Race 12 from 80km (approx 50 miles) on Wednesday 15th December. We then have CAR RACE 4 from near Bloemhof 310km (approx. 193 miles) on Saturday 18th December, then Training Race 13 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Monday 20th December, then Training Race 14 from 135km (approx. 84 miles). No training on Christmas Day (Saturday 25th December) and Boxing Day (Sunday 26th December), then on to CAR RACE 5 from near Warrenton 390km (approx. 243 miles) on Wednesday 29th December. Then we move into 2011 and have Training Race 15 from 135km (approx. 84 miles) on Wednesday 5th January followed by Training Race 16 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Saturday 8th January, with Training Race 17 from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 12th January and then Training Race 18 from 135km (approx. 84 miles) on Saturday 15th January. Training Race 19 will then take place from 80km (approx. 50 miles) on Wednesday 19th January and then of course “THE FINAL RACE” will take place on Saturday 22nd January 2011 from 560km (348 miles). Of course the weather conditions will have to be right for all of these races to take place, if not they will be basketed and liberated on another day when the weather forecast is better and the Race Director’s decision will be final. The object of this great race from day one has always been to get as many pigeons to the “FINAL RACE” on 22nd January as possible and give all fanciers/competitors/entrants a fair chance in the “FINAL RACE”. Only races of 50km (approx. 31 miles) will count towards the Sun City Overall ACE PIGEON Averages, which has a total of three 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.