News

RACE REPORT HOTSPOT 2

Hotspot 2 from 235 km was raced on Saturday June 27th. The pigeons had less of a tail wind than the previous week, but the first arrivals still put up velocities of over 1400 m/m. Within an hour of liberation the wind dropped, and the temperatures rose to 28 degrees Celcius by mid-morning. 2588 pigeons were sent to the race and 2386 returned by the time the clock was stopped with 7.8% missing at that stage. Several pigeons returned with raptor injuries. On hot calmer days the hawks use thermals to their advantage and stoop from high above the race birds. We expect this coming week’s Hotspot 3 to be cooler, with the race fast and a tail wind.

Current Team Competition standings-  https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=7   (points are calculated for each of the 5 birds using the same formula as the ACE bird and cumulated for each fancier)

Current birds remaining in the Knock Out Competition-  https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=8

Congratulations to all prize money winners for Hotspot 2!

SUPER ACE STARTING FROM HOTSPOT 3

Up to Wednesday evening there are only 286 entrants into the Super Ace which pays out a guaranteed USD 200 000 to 25 positions. With the low entry numbers so far, fanciers are not likely to have a better chance in the future to win this prestigious competition. There is still time to enter and possibly be the true champion. The entrance fee is USD 250 on top of activations. Please remember that we are paying some credits for lost Super Ace birds on a sliding scale depending on the distance. There are no more training tosses this week before Hotspot 3.

The following fanciers have entered Super ACE so far.

PLEASE URGENTLY LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS LIST AND WOULD LIKE TO ENTER SOME OF YOUR ACTIVATED BIRDS

Lost Super Ace Birds and activated “For Sale” birds will receive the following credits if lost.

Lost before Hotspot 3             100%

Lost before Hotspot 4             50%

Lost before Hotspot 5             25%

Thereafter                               Nil

Credits for lost pigeons only apply to the entry fee for the original activation and not to the additional entrance fee of USD $250.

Our trapping system was upgraded to ensure that all pigeons are timed even when large numbers pass through the trap in quick succession. We are using 2 x 12 field antennas on each trap. Each antenna is at a different level, so pigeons must enter in over the first antenna push through bob wires and then jump down to the second level with an antenna in it.  This slows the entry through the trap sufficiently to ensure there are no missed pigeons.

We wish all participants an enjoyable Hotspot 3 this weekend.

Best Regards,

The Victoria Falls Team