latest island training race reports
over the past few weeks on the island of Tenerife the weather has been very unsettled over the Atlantic with high winds and heavy showers ,so the Arona team have had the daunting task of having to pick days when the training can recommence ,with no improvement forecasted the Arona team decided to continue with some short training races from distances of approx. 40 to 45 klm over the island to keep the pigeons motivated
on 22nd February the 697 pigeons remaining within the competition were basketed for a short training flight of 35 klm and with conditions clearly visible as overcast and a light 13klm south westerly wind the pigeons were away at 11.30
with the livestream experiencing many more viewers logging in to watch the race we all sat patiently for the sighting of the first arrivals
as time went on we were informed by Abel Ledesma who liberated the pigeons that they had broken into two batches the first were taking a more direct route south whilst the second appeared to take their time to clear the site and head off into a westerly direction ,this we could only put down to the conditions and were reluctant to face the head wind or maybe the presence of a bird of prey in the area halting their progress however by the time the lorry was due to depart the site no pigeons were to be seen
Hungary Team Bacskai Sandor &Kellner Andrea ist international race 20 and 21 with pigeon isti
it was some 45 minutes after liberation a little longer than expected that the first flock of approx. 250+ pigeons were visible to us watching, circling above the loft to the relief of everyone witnessing the race and upon pitching it was a race to the finish, with the clock taking its time formulate the result due to the numbers entering the loft in one go it was finally confirmed taking the top honour of 1st international was the Hungarian entry for Team Bacskai Sandor &Kellner Andrea as their entry isti a regular within the top ten over the past weeks marked its arrival at 12.15.18.65,in 2nd place also taking 1st uk and Ireland representing team England we have team guys loft elite with pigeon dark destroyer claiming its second runner up position over the past two training races with a time of 12.15.22.60,
pigeon dark destroyer for team guys loft elite England 2nd international race day 20
team Poland take 3rd today with Dariusz Skawinski and pigeon ultimate best timed in on 12.15.24.15, team klass and shon take the 4th place for team Germany with pigeon ichabond on 12.15.24.65 just ahead of the local partnership of Team Yahvé, Oliver & Fredy and pigeon Mykonos in 5th presenting team Gran Canaria on a time of 12.15.24.85 ,with pigeons still racing for the line in 6th place we go to team Russia with Team Shatalov & Shebanin pigeon nastja on 12.15.25.25, team Poland record their second arrival as pigeon named blue steffi for Team Swiecicki & Zajac recorded a time of 12.15.25.35 for 7th , team hendriksen recorded their pigeon aya for team Denmark taking the 8th position with 12.15.26.50, whilst 9th goes to regular competitors and Belgium coordinators creemers and zoon with pigeon danill on 12.15.26.70 ,finishing off the result of the leading birds from today in 10th we have Team Familia Bacalu and pigeon vaughan from romania,12.15.27.30
with the first batch within the loft we sat waiting patiently anticipating the arrival of the second batch which we were advised had obviously taken the more scenic route down through the mountain regions of the island, it was as described a few minutes later they also came over the rooftops from a northerly direction as one group and again rapidly dropped and trapped to everyone’s delight ,with the majority of the pigeons home apart from a small number and with further arrival during the afternoon recorded the Arona team were pleased to see just seven pigeons unaccounted for by nightfall,
pigeon ultimate best for team Dariusz Skawinski Poland 3rd international
as day two opened up, we were pleased to hear more good news that the pigeons missing from the previous day were starting to arrive therefore were pleased to declare a full 100% returns rate set to go into the next race
over the next few days there was still no improvement over the Atlantic over the canary islands with a brisk wind still dominating the area the team sat patiently in hope to announce the car race 2 from the eastern side of Gran Canaria ,however this again was not to be and to safe guard the pigeons the Arona race management team decided once again to send the pigeons again on yet another sprint island training race 22 from the 40klm spot near fasnia
with the full account of 698 pigeons that returned from the previous race and all accounted for and on site the team again got them away at 11am into a brisk 19klm south west wind and a moderate 20 degrees
pigeon papada 2nd race day 21 for Team Twin Brothers Gelderland Netherlands
taking the top spot once again for the second race in a row and starting to show some consistent form was the Hungarian entry isti for Team Bacskai Sandor &Kellner Andrea which covered the distance in just forty minutes on this occasion coming in at 11.40.29.20 ,just ahead of team Netherlands entry for Twin Brothers Gelderland syndicate pigeon papada in 2nd on 11.20.31.90, for 3rd we go to team turkey and entrants team Ihsan Sariyer as his pigeon sila coming in on 11.40.33.00,Team Boekelo from the Netherlands take the 4th spot as pigeon Wesley, recorded a time of 11.40.33.20 , Rolf Helge Aspen from Norway takes 5th position as pinky recorded ,11.40.37.10,just holding off the challenge from team Kuwait and pigeon Kuwait 4 for Thamer Rashed 11.40.37.15 for 6th , team Belgium takes the 7th position as Team Bruninx Roger & Co pigeon nadali recorded 11.40.38.40 ,canary 2 for Team Klein Falckenborg from the Netherlands is once again in amongst the front runners for 8th position with a time of 11.40.39.65, as Víctor Manuel Gómez Rodríguez from galicia and pigeon jigsy recorded 11.40.39.66 for 9th place team Kuwait clears up the top ten in this race with Youser H. Aldahoum and pigeon bent mathloon coming in on 11.40.40.40
Ihsan Sariyer turkey 3rd international race day 21
as for team uk & Ireland on this occasion it was team Scotland and William Donachie that took the honours just out of the front runners with pigeon basher taking 14th international
as you can clearly see by the result it was again a blanket finish for the leading positions as predicted due to the intense training the team have implemented, this year which is clearly paying dividends with the fitness levels and returns we are now experiencing as again the returns percentage rate finally revealed an outstanding 98%
William Donachie Scotland 1st uk/Ireland 14th international race 21 and 1st uk 2nd international race 22 with pigeon basher
pigeon basher
with 655 pigeons home safe by the end of day one and although there was still a small number these came through during the following two days and on turning off the clock on day three 683 pigeon were home from the liberation of 698 released
with two sprint island races completed with minimal losses the team were once again looking for the opportunity of car race 2, but being some two weeks since the last island to island training from Gran Canaria there was still no chance in the near future to announce the staging date ,so not to keep the pigeons out of the basket for too long once again we were at the distance of 40klm , which whilst we understand isn't the desired racing were looking for at this stage of the programme it at least keeps the pigeons motivated and switched on for the racing that lays ahead of them in days to come.
renatu cantu 1st international race 22 for team Italy with pigeon prince
pigeon prince 1st place race day 22
on fri 2nd march abel once again made the familiar journey to the liberation site and after a short while to settle again released his convoy at a slightly later time of 11.45 into a 21 klm south westerly head wind with grey overcast skies over the loft
once again the livestream provided everyone with a clear view of the conditions over the island via the livestream camera directed northwards in the direction the pigeons were expecting to arrive from ,indicating it was again going to be a case of the pigeons getting their heads down and face the winds head on ,with the entrants watching around the world they agreed with the Arona decision to go and were clearly 100% behind the team for doing so as at this stage of racing whilst the winds were against them they have experienced many training flights so this, race whilst it could prove awkward for the birds to tackle it shouldn't be a problem to them
taking pole position on a time of 12.17.56.30 was the Italian entry ,prince for team Renato cantu, that takes the glory of 1st international ,just seconds ahead of the first uk & Ireland pigeon for team Scotland and William Donachie again present within the first bunch with pigeon basher timing in at 11.17.59.15,for 3rd we go to team Belgium as roger mertens a regular competitor in the derby Arona timed in one of his team petoetje which in previous outings has been flying consistent for him on 12.17.59.80 ,its pigeon black wonder for team class 888 from Romania that arrives to take the 4th place on a time of 12.17.59.90 just ahead of Team IFJ Ferge Miklos Jr. from Hungary again in the mix in 5th with zsanci on a time of 12.18.00.45,Caspar Lurvink from the Netherlands takes the 6th position with his entry libero on 12.18.01.10, for 7th pigeon alpha 3 timed in for Alois Wiefler of Austria on a time of 12.18.01.50 ,just decimals in front of another of Team Bacskai Sandor &Kellner Andrea with pigeon andi in 9th recording the 2nd Hungarian pigeon in the clock at 12.18.04.50 ,john Murray of the Murray and mills syndicate representing team England timed in on 12.18.06.45 with just the job for the 9th place whilst today's top ten was rounded off with Team Bacskai Sandor &Kellner Andrea and isti from Hungary recording their 2nd pigeon home on 12.18.06.5
roger mertens belgium 3rd international race 22 with pigeon potoetje
as you can understand normally the pigeons would be racing from the neighbouring islands at this stage of the racing but unfortunately ,this year at this present time this isn't the case due to the poor conditions out at sea ,but credit to the Arona team in making the right decisions to keep the pigeons motivated fit and healthy during this awkward period with some regular short training ,and were hopeful that participants will appreciate, the dedication during such times to ensure that once the skies open and the winds drops they will be ready to go
with hopes of an improvement in the weather forecasted over the forthcoming days we are awaiting confirmation from team Arona when the hotspot/car race 2 will be staged, in the meantime as we sit it out we have received photos of the car race 1 winner team schellin from Germany receiving their rewards for winning the race so congratulations to them
hotspot/car race 1 winners
finally ,before we know it most will be jetting off to the island for the final race week ,with open basketing planned for Wednesday 21st march ,the welcome evening on the Thursday evening and hopefully a liberation taking place from Fuerteventura on the Friday ,it’s an action packed week , so whilst all the excitement of the final race is on many minds don't forget to get your pedigrees over to the Arona team prior to basketing as per the ruling
as for the 2019 race ,entries this year will open from 1st April and after the unfortunate event of the USA and Canadian pigeons not being able to make the closing deadline, this year we have pleasure in welcoming such countries for the next event as over 350 pigeons have already been pledged for shipment one followed by a possible second shipment in June these will be on route once the doors open for entry into next year's race
Tom Harris