SUN CITY MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE

Paul Smith

REPORT ON TRAINING RACE 5A & THE 3RD HOT SPOT RACE

UNITED KINGDOM TEAM wins 1st, 19th, 36th, 63rd, 77th, 85th, 89th, 120th, 137th, 149th, 158th & 200th Open and the IRISH TEAM wins 110th, 208th, 249th, 283rd,  335th & 396th Open in the additional Training Race 5A.

UNITED KINGDOM TEAM wins 17th, 58th, 68th, 73rd, 82nd, 95th, 122nd, 138th, 155th, 184th, 189th, 190th, 194th & 199th Open and the IRISH TEAM wins 20th, 106th & 164th Open in HOT SPOT RACE 3.

Well after a good result by both the United Kingdom and Irish Teams in last Saturday’s race, which resulted in excellent returns for both teams, it was once again training every day during the week to get them ready for the 3rd official Hot Spot Race, however the race committee decided that because of lack of road work these pigeons had undergone so far due to the inclement weather, that an additional Training Race 5A should be added to the race programme and this duly took place on Wednesday 5th December from 81 km (approx. 50 miles) and a total of 3,397 pigeons were basketed and this included 2,595 International and 802 South African, 222 UK and 66 Irish pigeons.

The convoy were liberated at 08-30 in overcast and cool weather, 23c (73f) with a little to no wind and the Race Director, Convoyer and Loft Manager thought that the winning pigeons would take about 50 minutes to cover the race distance. Everything was ready at the lofts and then all of a sudden at 09-20 a big gang was seen approaching the lofts, they swung round and immediately started to trap and first up on the computer screen was clocked at 09-20-45.15. CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st OPEN in this race went to NEV PROCTOR from BROWN EDGE with his pigeon named WOODHOUSE HIGH STAKES, which recorded a velocity of 1750ypm (approx. 59mph). The top ten pigeons were all clocked within 14 seconds of the winner and were made up with 1 x United Kingdom, 2 x South African, 1 x Romanian, 2 x Dutch, 3 x German and a Defaulter pigeon. It should be noted that the pigeon that took 7th was a defaulter pigeon, which means the owner has failed to pay for it so far. The top 50 were all clocked within 38.40 seconds, plus 400 pigeons were officially recorded within 2 minutes of the actual race winner, with over 1,130 within 5 minutes and 2,260 within 10 minutes with 3,207 being officially clocked by 10-48 and this included 205 from the UK Team and 61 from the Irish Team. A further update was issued on the web site and this showed 3,329 were back in the lofts by 15-45, this figure included 212 UK and 63 Irish pigeons. The last web site update showed 3,341 back home by 17-42 and this figure included 213 UK and 65 Irish pigeons. This left only 56 to return to base during the rest of the day. A few more returned the next day.

CONGRATULATIONS in this race for winning 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 1st OPEN goes to NEV PROCTOR from BROWN EDGE with his pigeon named WOODHOUSE HIGH STAKES, the same pigeon won 3rd UK, 5th Open last Saturday, Nev’s pigeons always seem to do well in Sun City and he won a Gold Medal in the Final Race two years ago, 2nd UK, 19th Open goes to Frozen Porridge Syndicate with a pigeon bred by John Fellows from Ferryhill who is in this syndicate with Richard Elliott from Plymouth, 3rd UK, 36th Open another for Nev Proctor, 4th UK, 63rd Open for Rugeley Rockets with a pigeon bred by Brian Leadbeater from Rugeley, 5th UK, 77th Open for Chris Gordon from Old Snydale with a pigeon that has already won 1st UK, 15th Open in Race 4B earlier and was also 2nd UK, 3rd Open last Saturday, 6th UK, 85th Open for Dave & Paul McCarthy from Wallasey who won a new car last year with one of their entries, 7th UK, 89th Open another for the Frozen Porridge Syndicate, 8th UK, 120th Open for Van Vaizeys and bred by Steven Vaizey from Portsmouth, this pigeon has also been flying well and a loftmate won 1st UK, 1st Open in Race 5 earlier this series, 9th UK, 137th Open for the Fowler Family with a pigeon bred by Paul & Anthony Fowler, yet another pigeon that has won 1st UK, 9th Open in Race 4A earlier in the series, 10th UK, 149th Open for English Glory Syndicate and with a pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 11th UK, 158th Open another for the Van Vaizeys and this was the pigeon that win 1st UK, 1st Open in Race 5, 12th UK, 200th Open another for the English Glory Syndicate. It is great to see so many UK pigeons flying well in such strong competition, plus there was also two other 1st UK pigeons clocked in the top 263, they being Premier Stud, which is leading the UK Team in the Sun City Overall Averages up to today’s race and also Her Majesty The Queen. GREAT FLYING GUYS, LET US HOPE WE CAN KEEP IT UP AS WE MOVE UPWARDS IN DISTANCE. A total of 213 UK pigeons were officially clocked, leaving a few more to make it back to base.

It is worthy of a special mention that after 9 races of which 8 count in the Sun City Overall Averages, so far the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM has already managed to win 3 x 1sts, 2 x 2nds, 1 x 5th, 2 x 7ths, 1 x 9th, 2 x 12ths & 1 x 15th OPEN, plus many other top positions in the top 100, this is a remarkable achievement when you consider the class of pigeon they are flying against.

 CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st IRELAND, 110th OPEN went to N. O’BRIEN with pigeon named PEGGY, 2nd Ireland, 208th Open for Lucas Lofts, 3rd Ireland, 249th Open for Bernard Hempenstall,  

4th Ireland, 283rd Open went to Gerry McCourt who acts as the Irish Race Team Shipper and he had the same pigeon that won 1st Ireland last Saturday, 5th Ireland, 335th Open another for Lucas Lofts and 6th Ireland, 396th Open going to Dave Brown who carded a top ten finish a few of years ago and I bet is still wearing his Gold Medal. A total of 65 Irish pigeons were officially recorded.

This event was classed as an official race and counted towards the SUN CITY OVERALL AVERAGES so after eight races that count we have SUDHOFF & VAN BEERS from GERMANY with their pigeon named BIRDY in 1st spot, only 33 seconds in the lead. It was interesting to note that the first five positions are pigeons from five different countries, with six different countries in the top 10, with 4 x German, 2 x South African and 1 x Austrian, Belgian, Dutch and United Kingdom pigeons. 1st UNITED KINGDOM , 10th OPEN goes to PREMIER STUD with their pigeon named OPTOMIST and owned by Graham Sparkes from Patrington, 2nd UK, 53rd Open Europa Auction UK, 3rd UK, 56th Open for Van Vaizeys, 4th UK, 74th Open for Brian Long, 5th UK, 75th Open for Bernard Smyth, 6th UK, 82nd Open for Nev Proctor, 7th UK, 86th Open Boxmoor Bandits, 8th UK, 98th Open to Her Majesty The Queen, 9th UK, 147th Open for the English Glory Syndicate with 10th UK, 168th Open another pigeon for Bernard Smyth. Our IRELAND TEAM have GERRY McCOURT holding 1st IRELAND, 106th OPEN with his pigeon named IRISH LAD, 2nd Ireland, 171st Open goes to Karl Donnelly and 3rd Ireland, 218th Open for Bernard Hempenstall.  

When I logged onto my computer on Friday 7th December the basketing list was already on the SCMDPR Web Site and this showed a total of 3,372 pigeons had been officially basketed for the 3rd Hot Spot Race, which was due to take place on Saturday 24th November. This total contained 2,519 International and 853 South African entries and included 216 from the United Kingdom and 66 from Ireland. The race was supposed to have been from 250km (approx. 155 miles) but because of earlier lack of training it was decided to liberate from a slightly shorter race distance.

Saturday dawned and saw the convoy finally liberated from a distance of 222km (approx. 137 miles) at 06-00 in fine and clear weather, a light head wind and with the temperature of 23c (73f), light scattered showers were expected during the afternoon. The Race Director, Loft Manager and Convoyer all thought it would be a steady race and that the leaders would take around the 3 hour mark to cover the journey. Everything was set up at the lofts and many South African fanciers were enjoying a morning breakfast barbecue when bang on the predicted time a small gang of 21 pigeons hit the top and proceeded to be clocked. CONGRATULATIONS this race for 1st OPEN goes to BRACK & ESSER from GERMANY with their pigeon named HABAAYIB which was finally clocked at 09-00-11.50 to record a winning velocity of 1339ypm (approx. 45mph). The German Team had a fantastic race winning 8 positions in the top 10, with 6th going to a Dutch entry and 7th going to an American pigeon, these were all clocked within 28.75 seconds of the winner, with the top 21 being clocked within 54.85 seconds and the top 50 within 3 minutes 44 seconds. The pigeons literally fell out of the sky and the first listing on the web site showed 814 pigeons being clocked by 09-17 and this included 59 UK and 12 Irish pigeons. Then by 10-17 a grand total of 2,922 had been officially recorded with 2,206 International and 716 South African and this included 189 UK and 60 Irish pigeons. The next posting went on the web site at 11-52 and 3,091 had returned to base and this included 195 UK and 61 Irish pigeons. A few more postings of returns on the web site during the day and the last one showed a total of 3,272 made it home on the day, 2,449 International and 823 South African with 207 from the UK and 64 from Ireland, leaving just 100 to make it back to base.

It should be noted that a total of 101mm of rain fell in Sun City last week but early morning conditions had been good enough to have all their daily 80km training tosses, without losing many pigeons. ALL IN ALL AND AFTER TAKING EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT RACE AND GAVE ALL THE PIGEONS A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE FOR THE REMAINING RACE PROGRAMME.

The winner of the BRAND NEW MOTOR CAR was won by BRACK & ESSER from GERMANY with their pigeon named HABAAYIB.

The $10,000 Hot Spot Race Prize Money is split into 10 x $1,000 Cash Prizes and the winners in this race were as follows:- 8 x German and 2 x Dutch pigeons, which were all in the first 13 in the result as 2 x German and 1 x American pigeons were not “ACTIVATED”.

The “TWO BIRD AVERAGE” winner in this race and $2,000 was won by VEENSTRA PIGEONS from THE NETHERLANDS with their pigeons named FINAL DIVA and WILD CHILD and they also had 3rd with another team. The top 12 positions showed 6 x German and 6 x Dutch teams of pigeons, which in itself is a remarkable result. 1st UK, 21st Open goes to PREMIER STUD with their pigeons named ARTIC & RIBOT and owned by GRAHAM SPARKES from Patrington, 2nd UK, 30th Open for Europa Auctions UK, joint owners Derek Nicholls from Barry and John Boyd from Ballyclare, 3rd UK, 32nd Open were the English Glory Syndicate with two pigeons bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon, 4th UK, 51st Open Rugeley Rockets with two pigeons bred by Brian Leadbeater from Rugeley, 5th UK, 61st Open went to Dave & Paul McCarthy from Wallasey, 6th UK, 70th Open for the Frozen Porridge Syndicate with two pigeons bred by John Fellows from Ferryhill, 7th UK, 83rd Open for Easy Company Syndicate with two bred by Damien Fleming, 8th UK, 92nd Open The Three Tom-Boggies with both bred by Eddie Thompson from Romford, 9th UK, 93rd Open for Syndicate Lofts UK and both bred by Peter Fox from Bangor with 10th UK, 100th Open for Mr & Mrs Brian Clayburn from Ackworth. The highest position held in the Irish Team was 142nd Open for DOWNSHIRE LOFTS with their pigeons named EIMEAR & POT BLACK. 

HOT SPOT AVERAGES which offers a $5,000 prize to the leading pigeon after 5 Hot Spot Races is currently looking like this after three races shows GUENTER GOETZ from GERMANY leading by 122 seconds and the top 10 shows 6 x German, 1 x Dutch, 1 x Danish, 1 x United Kingdom and 1 x Belgian pigeons. Holding onto 1st UK, 5th Open is the HORSESHOE SYNDICATE with HORSESHOE SUPREME and bred by STEVE RADCLIFFE from Skelmersdale, 2nd UK, 16th Open for Brian Long from Gipping with Gipping Mistress, 3rd & 4th  UK, 22nd & 26th Open for Premier Stud and both owned by Graham Sparkes from Patrington, 5th UK, 44th Open for Skyleader Lofts and bred by Albert Tarleton from Ormskirk, 6th UK, 64th Open for Rugeley Rockets and bred by Brian Leadbeater from Rugeley, with 7th UK, 98th Open going to the English Glory Syndicate with a pigeon bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon. The best pigeon in the IRISH TEAM is COOLEY BROTHERS with their pigeon named DADDY COOL which is currently holding 15th Open.

The leader after nine races in the “SUN CITY OVERALL AVERAGES” was still SUDHOFF & VAN BEERS from GERMANY with their great pigeon named BIRDY that was currently leading the field by 159 seconds, with the top ten pigeons consisting of 5 x German, 1 x Dutch, 1 x Belgian, 2 x American and 1 x United Kingdom entries. Holding onto 6th spot was PREMIER STUD with pigeon named OPTOMIST and owned by Graham Sparkes from Patrington, 32nd Van Vaizeys with Bramble, 38th Europa Auctions UK, 41st Brian Long, 47th Bernard Smyth, 64th Nev Proctor and 99th Her Majesty The Queen. The top Irish pigeon is currently holding 127th for COLLEY BROTHERS with their pigeon named DADDY COOL.

The POOLS/NOMINATIONS payout in this 3rd Hot Spot Race showed that a total of 494 pigeons were actually entered and resulted in $17,260-95c payouts with PIETER OBERHOLSTER from LASK EDGE winning $170 with his pigeon named OBI-TINKER that took 68th spot, with FROZEN PORRIDGE SYNDICATE and administered by Richard Elliott from Plymouth with pigeon named AUFEDERSEIN PET being bred by John Fellows from Ferryhill winning $119 in 73rd position. The last lot of pools was won by the pigeon that took 83rd Open.

*****ANOTHER RIGHT ROYAL WEEKEND and CONGRATULATIONS this week for 1st UNITED KINGDOM, 17th OPEN go to HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN with her very consistent pigeon named ROYAL FLUSH that has already won 1st UK, 12th OPEN & $1,000 in Hot Spot 1, then 53rd Open in Race 5. When I telephoned Carlo Napolitano early on Saturday morning with the news he was delighted to say the least and he said he would let Her Majesty know that her pigeons were flying well in South Africa and once again “FLYING THE FLAG FOR UNITED KINGDOM”. Then 2nd UK, 58th Open was the Horseshoe Syndicate with Horseshoe Supreme and bred by Steve Radcliffe from Skelmersdale, this pigeon has also been very consistent and has already won 290th Open in Hot Spot 1, 1st UK, 43rd Open in Hot Spot 2 and 7th Open in Race 5, 3rd UK, 68th Open went to Pieter Oberholster from Lask Edge with his pigeon named Obi-Tinker, this pigeon had already won 88th Open in Hot Spot 1 and Pieter acts as a UK Race Team shipper, 4th UK, 73rd Open goes to the Frozen Porridge Syndicate with pigeon named Aufedersein Pet that had previously won in the last four races 128th in Race 4c, 62nd Race 5, 19th in Race 5a and now 73rd in Hot Spot 3, being bred by John Fellows from Ferryhill, 5th UK, 82nd Open goes to Rugeley Rockets with pigeon named Bertie and bred by Brian Leadbeater from Rugeley, 6th UK, 95th Open for the Europa Auction UK,  with Europa Class jointly owned by Derek Nicholls from Barry and bred by John Boyd from Ballyclare, 7th & 11th UK, 122nd & 189th Open went to Premier Stud with two pigeons named Artic and Ribot owned by Graham Sparkes from Patrington, 8th UK, 138th Open for Dave & Paul McCarthy from Wallasey with Wallasey Pearl, 9th & 10th UK, 155th & 184th Open for the English Glory Syndicate with English Queen and English Rose both bred by Jimmy Richards from Laindon and then 12th UK, 190th Open for MNFC Sun Dream 15 and bred by Paul & Anthony Fowler from Leek.

CONGRATULATIONS for winning 1st IRELAND, 20th OPEN went to the Irish Race Team Shipper GERRY McCOURT with his very consistent pigeon named ADAM, 2nd Ireland, 106th Open went to The Green Team with This Is It Lad, 3rd Ireland, 164th Open went to Cooley Brothers with Daddy Cool, another pigeon that has already carded a few times, 4th Ireland, 242nd Open went to Lucas Lofts with African Queen, 5th Ireland, 319th Open for Bernard Hempenstall with his very consistent pigeon Hempo and 6th Ireland, 395th Open for Josh & Kevin with Cab 3.

This weekend saw the 2nd round of the “KNOCKOUT COMPETITION” and which offers a $25,000 (approx. £12,500) prize to the final winner, which will be the first of the 61 that remain in the competition and are left to compete in the “FINAL RACE” with the fist one clocked taking the “POT OF GOLD”. Knockout Round 2 – 3rd Hot Spot Race when 1,589 will be entered and 874 (55%) of those clocked move into Knockout Round 3 – 4th Hot Spot Race when 874 will be competing and 306 (35%) of those clocked move into Knockout Round 4 – 5th Hot Spot Race when the 306 will compete and then only 61 (20%) of those clocked move into the Knockout Final Round, which will be held on the “FINAL RACE” on Saturday 2nd February 2008 and the first one of these officially clocked is the winner. ONLY “ACTIVATED” PIGEONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO WIN THIS $25,000 CASH PRIZE.  I can now confirm that a total of 1,589 pigeons went through into Round 2 and that figure included 1,280 International and 309 South African entries, with the UNITED KINGDOM TEAM having 137 and the IRELAND TEAM 32 in the total. I can now reveal that of the 874 pigeons that got through in this competition, 710 were International and 164 South African and this included 71 from the United Kingdom and 15 from Ireland. A full list of these can be seen on www.scmdpr.com

Once again the web site was officially updated on Monday 10th December and this showed a total of 3,292 pigeons in the lofts and this included 2,462 International and 830 South African entries and these figures included 208 from the UK and 64 from Ireland. This last race resulted in 80 pigeons not making it back to the lofts.

More daily training will take place right through the week providing the weather is good enough to train these athletes of the skies building them up to next Saturday’s Race from 110km (approx. 68 miles).

***POLITE REMINDER:- Any competitors/entrants that have not yet “ACTIVATED” their “Reserve Pigeons” can still do so at any time. It should also be noted that only “ACTIVATED PIGEONS” can win any of the PRIZE MONEY and SPECIAL AWARDS including the BRAND NEW CARS which are allocated and are on offer in the forthcoming Hot Spot Races. Do not leave it until the last minute to “ACTIVATE” as it could cost you or your syndicate winning a major prize. Please call me today on 01279-812005 and give me your instructions.

Now we are up and rolling for the 2007/8 race series, weekly race reports and updates will be sent out to all UK competitors and of course published in both our weekly pigeon magazines. They are also available to view on three web sites, namely:- www.iprr.co.uk www.elimarpigeons.com and www.pigeonportal.com

If anybody wants to follow what is happening an a daily basis over the next three months all the have to do is log onto www.scmdpr.com it is without doubt the most up to date, comprehensive and informative one loft web site in the world today and last year had in excess of 16 million “HITS” during the whole race series.

If there is anything anybody would like to know about this race, then please contact me as soon as possible on 01279-812005 or email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will be only too pleased to answer their questions or queries.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL COMPETITORS/ENTRANTS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

 Paul Smith. United Kingdom Race Team Shipper for The 12th Sun City Million Dollar (The Greatest Pigeon Race In The World Today), which is due to be held in Sun City Resort, South Africa on Saturday 2nd February 2008.

Regency Lofts Limited, “Five Pennies”, High Lane, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. CM24 8LQ. Telephone/Facsimile:- 01279-812005. (Int. Code:- +44-1279-812005).

Mobile:- 07860-568216. Email:- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SCMDPR Web Site:- www.scmdpr.com

11/12/07