Kowie and East London fanciers share top 10 spots despite wild weather

The anticipated change in the race results stemming from the swing in race direction from the east (KwaZulu-Natal) to the west continued for the second week running.

The event from Murraysburg (404km to East London) was shortened to a second Saturday’s racing from Graaff-Reinet (320km) and with another joint liberation, in view of the expected unfavourable flying conditions during the day.

Fanciers from the Kowie and East London shared the top 10 positions in both races and this was noticeable further down the race result sheets.

It was only the Komani lofts that found themselves at a disadvantage, in all likelihood as a result of the “pull” of the coastal packs, which meant the country birds had to then make their way inland again, with the resultant slower average flying speeds.

The yearling race saw Chris Jacobs’ (Abbotsford Flying Club) first bird post an average speed of 93.7km/hr and open up a “break” of almost 10 minutes over the second placed pigeon, flown by Dave Tarrant of the Kowie, at 89.3km/hr, with another Kowie flyer, Casey Julsing, taking third and fourth positions at 87.6km/hr.

As already indicated, the country lofts had to be satisfied with considerably slower average speeds and in Komani it was Andries Smit who clocked the first arrival at 74.8km/hr.

The any-age event saw the partnership of Jerome Luff and Len Engelbrecht of Northerns take the honours with an average speed of 90.2km/hr.

Tarrant capped another fine result when his first open bird took second place in 89.4km/hr, just over two minutes ahead of the third placed pigeon flown by Greg Schwagele and Daughters of Northerns (88.5km/hr).

In a repeat of the yearling result, Julsing took fourth spot at 87.6km/hr.

The Komani birds posted comparable speeds to their yearlings and it was Smit who registered the first country arrival at 74.5km/hr.

The next event sees the birds fly 500km from Beaufort West, and fanciers will be hoping the wind and weather conditions co-operate to provide more benign flying conditions over the greater distance.

East Cape & Border Homing Union: Graaff-Reinet — Yearlings (606 birds)

Jacobs Lofts (AFC); 2. DE Tarrant (KRPC); 3. & 4. C Julsing (KRPC); 5. Weimann & Sanders (AFC); 6. M Engelbrecht (NFC); 7 & 10. C & J James (NFC); 8. Koerhuis (KRPC); 9. C Benn (AFC).

EC & Border Homing Union: Graaff-Reinet — Any-Age (562)

J & L Lofts (NFC); 2. DE Tarrant (KRPC); 3. Schwagele & Daughters (NFC); 4. C Julsing (KRPC); 5. M Engelbrecht (NFC); 6. A Krug (NFC); 7. & 10. C & J James (NFC); 8. W Hiscock (CHS); 9. I Lutge & Son (CHS).

Key: AFC — Abbotsford Flying Club; CHS — EL Comrades Homing Society; KRPC- Kowie Racing Pigeon Club; NFC — EL Northern Flying Club. — DDC