That’s more like it as flyers reach new heights

As expected, the swing in race direction from east (KwaZuluNatal) to the west (GraaffReinet) resulted in markedly increased bird numbers for both races.

It also produced more equitable flying results for fanciers in all areas. In the previous seven races, lofts further down the coast from East London (Kowie area) and inland (Queenstown) have found themselves at a distinct disadvantage because of the effects, either of extended distances (in the case of the Kowie fliers) or of the difficult wind conditions (Stutterheim and Queenstown).

On the new route, Kowie fanciers were successful in both races. In the Yearling event Peter Webster had his first bird establish a ‘break’ of over 10 minutes, with a flying speed of 83.6km/h, over the secondplaced pigeon, which was clocked by Bossie Boshoff in King William’s Town at 79km/h. Third position went to Michael Engelbrecht of Abbotsford, at 78.89km/h.

The Any-age race, in which the pigeons were released an hour later, saw Boeta Pieterse’s SkyTurtle loft take the top spot with an average speed of 82km/h. Second was the Boshoff loft (KWT) at 80.6km/h, with Pieterse’s second arrival picking up third position. The first EL pigeon dropped at the Ristow/Jamieson loft (Northerns) at 80.5km/h. On down the sheet, as was the case with the yearlings, positions were shared between Eastern Cape and Border lofts, although, here again the Stutterheim and Queenstown fanciers found their arrivals somewhat slower, possibly because of the ‘pull’ of the main packs of pigeons towards the coast.

The next race will be from Noupoort, a distance of 340km to EL, and as with all race points on this route, the difference in distances between the destinations to which the birds will head is not that great.