News

RACE REPORT HOTSPOT 2

Hotspot 2 was flown on Saturday 19 June. The skies were partly cloudy with a strong tail and cross wind of approximately 35 km per hour. The 1st arriving pigeons flew straight from the liberation point and recorded high velocities. The late arriving pigeons went past or with the wind and ended up in Botswana to the West and Zambia to the North. The tracking information shows us this (see maps below). The late returning pigeons had to work their way back into a strong head wind. One of the trackers, No 49 was analysed and showed that the pigeon flew a total distance of 566 km. It started from liberation in the correct direction and after 60 km went with the wind for 290 km West, reaching speeds of 2171 m/m at an altitude of 2394 meters (7854 ft) above sea level (ground level is approximately 1000 meters above sea level). It then turned North flying for 112 km at about 100 m above ground level at an average speed of 1000 m/m. It then turned East and flew back toward the loft for 110 km. In its final leg, the pigeon flew at an average speed of 800 m/m at about 100m above ground level.

It was a difficult race for pigeons that were not able to stay on course. We basketed 4598 birds and by the time the race was stopped we had 4219 birds home, 8.2% of basketed pigeons did not return in race time. We have had some pigeons return after the clock was stopped.

We will continue to give the pigeons short training tosses with one online training flight of 103 km mid-week. Late returning birds will be rested when necessary.

The up-and-coming competition for this weekend is the first leg of the Super Ace. The additional entry fee is $250 per activated bird, and the prize pot is $600 000 (120 places). Pigeons have to be activated and entered into Super Ace by liberation of the race, which is expected to be 7 am on Saturday 26th June.

Super Ace is a test of the absolute best birds in the world. Measured over four difficult longer races in the series (Hotspot 3, 4, 5 and the Final). The most consistent birds will prove themselves in this tough but fair competition. Don’t miss out!

All the competition results are live on the website (under the Results dropdown). Here are the current standings;

Grand Averages:  https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=4

Team Competition: https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=7

Birds still in Knock Out:  https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=8

Club Competition:  https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/results.php?opt=6

Congratulations to the prize money winners for Hotspot 2!

Best Regards,

The Victoria Falls Team