Just one hour makes all the difference in Uniondale pigeon race

As indicated in the previous pigeon race report, the liberation point reverted to Uniondale at 450km, a considerably shorter distance than the 750km to Touws River in the Western Cape.

In view of this shorter distance and weather forecast with predominantly SSE winds en route, it was expected the Kowie fliers would dominate the race.

This indeed was the case with the yearling birds, released at 7am.

However, just a single hours’ difference in release time can have a substantial influence in a race, as proved to be the case when, in the any-age race, it was the East London lofts that dominated.

Brendon Samuel of the Kowie had a significant victory in the yearling event by taking the first three positions with average flying speeds of 84.3km/h for his first two arrivals and 82.6km/h for the third.

What was even more exceptional, in light of the relatively short race distance, in pigeon racing parlance, was that his first two birds, arriving simultaneously, registered a break of just on 28 minutes over the chasing packs.

Fourth position was taken by another Kowie flier when Dave Tarrant clocked his first bird at 75.8km/h.

The first East London arrival was at Mark Gendall’s loft (Northerns), with an average speed of 75.5km/h.

In the any-age event, only 13 seconds separated the first three positions on the result sheet.

Coming out on top was a bird flown by Brian Richter of the Abbotsford Club at 76.26km/h, with fellow clubmates Ian Ristow and Les Jamieson just nine seconds later at 76.22km/h and with the third spot going to the Weimann and Sanders Loft (Northerns), a further four seconds adrift.

The rest of the top-10 positions went to East London lofts, with Michael Engelbrecht (Northerns) cementing his top championship standings by taking four of these.

The first Kowie pigeon landed at Dave Tarrant’s loft in 11th position, with a speed of 74.13km/h.

The final event on the 2022 race programme sees a return to the 750km distance from Touws River and fanciers are hoping the inclement weather forecast for the coming weekend will hold off until Sunday.

RESULTS

1-3 East Yearlings Schenk (KRPC); & Cape 9 10 B (KRPC); (440 Samuel and I Lutge birds) Border 6 Tubby’s (KRPC); & Son Homing (CHS). 4 Loft D Tarrant (NFC); Union/Uniondale: 7 (KRPC); & 8 P Webber 5 R East (411 Cape birds) and Border Homing Union/Uniondale: Anyage 1 B Richter (AFC); 2. Ristow & Jamieson (AFC); 3 Weimann & Sanders (NFC); 4 & -7 Bullcat Lofts (NFC); 8 Journey’s End (AFC); 9 AB Lofts (AFC); 10 RC Smith & Daughters (NFC). Key: AFC Abbotsford Flying Club; CHS — EL Comrades Homing Society; KRPC Kowie Racing Pigeon Club; — EL NFC — Northern Flying — Club.