“INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE”
THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR
“PLATINUM EDITION”
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD IN LINBRO PARK, SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2016.
ANOTHER RACE SEASON STARTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUNSHINE.
THE FANTASTIC MONTECASINO COMPLEX, FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA WILL BE HOSTING THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC RACE ENTRY WITH AROUND 5,000 PIGEONS BEING ENTERED FROM 36 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES.
“MY RECENT VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA”
Recently I decided to visit South Africa once again on a two week golfing holiday and whilst I was there I decided to visit the race lofts and watch one of the early training tosses.
The massive task of allocating the electronic rings to each pigeon and place this data on the secure computer database was successfully achieved by Michael Holt (Race Director & Systems Administrator), Pieter Saayman (Assistant Systems Administrator), Willi van Beers (Race Manager),
Corrie Naude and Andre van Wyk (Loft Managers & Trainers) and all the other loft staff. Now any fancier/competitor/entrant can see all this information at the press of a button on their computer.
Marion Branford (Administration), Joan-e Holt (Public Relations) have also had lots of extra work to do plus Peter Furstenberg from Shine Interactive and all his staff who have helped also to redesign the state of the art Web Site www.samdpr.com
Sara Blackshaw (Director of Air Sport Internationale) who are “The Presenters Of This Race” has also been extremely busy and has also just recently travelled to The Kassel Show in Germany with Willi van Beers (Race Manager) to promote this event and future South African Million Dollar Races.
It really has been a tough year getting pigeons into South Africa for this great international pigeon race, mainly because of the numerous outbreaks of Avian Influenza around the world but finally after many disappointments and delays in shipments, the pigeons arrived at the race lofts and were put into quarantine. Once the quarantine period finally ended it was now the task of Willi van Beers (Race Manager), Corrie Naude and Andre van Wyk (Loft Managers & Trainers) and all the loft staff started to get the pigeons flying around the lofts, gradually increasing the time on the wing as the days went by. However, after all the delays it was felt that the original training programme would have to be altered to suit these delays and that it was better to put the pigeons first rather than try to rush them through the early stages. Every day the time on the wing was slightly increased and after weeks of hard work by all concerned the staff thought the pigeons were ready to start being trained and it was agreed weather permitting, the training would start on Tuesday 3rd November.
The SAMDPR Administration Office stated on the official web site that the original race entry was close to 5,000 pigeons entered by 35 different countries, the 1st Loft Listing was published on 9th October and this showed 4,450 pigeons were still in the race lofts which included 336 from UK and 70 from Ireland, followed by a 2nd Loft Listing on 16th October which showed 4,358 pigeons were still in the race lofts which included 327 from UK and 68 from Ireland and then this was followed by a 3rd Loft Listing on 24th October which showed 4,167 pigeons were still in the race lofts which included 316 from UK and 65 from Ireland.
It was finally decided that training would start on Tuesday 3rd November from just 5km (3 miles) and over 4,000 pigeons were basketed the night before to give them experience in the race baskets, the pigeons completed this first task without any problems and were now ready for their second training toss on Wednesday 4th November again from just 5km (3 miles). Over 4,000 pigeons were basketed overnight and I duly arrived at the race lofts about 07-30am to be greeted by Willi, Corrie and Andre. There was a cold North East wind blowing and transporter and trailer was finally loaded and then departed for the liberation site. Corrie drove and Willi went with him and I stayed at the race lofts with Andre to await the arrival of the pigeons. We expected the pigeons to arrive just after 09-30 and bang on time a massive gang approached the lofts, swung round a few times and hit the top of the race lofts, other big gangs approached from all directions and all of sudden there were thousands of pigeons flying around and landing on the race lofts. They started to make a move to the new trapping area and trapped like rockets. Within a few minutes of the first gang arriving there must have been well over 3,000 home, followed by later arrivals and before I left the lofts there was over 3,800 pigeons clocked and quite a few still sitting on the race lofts or flying around in the sky. This was a great sight to see and an experience I am glad I did not miss. So all in all, another good early trainer with very few losses.
Corrie and Willi returned to the race lofts and with Andre and me we then all enjoyed a cup of coffee/tea watching the later arrivals come home and discussing the future training programme and other aspects of this great pigeon race. They told me that the pigeons would probably have at least two more 5km (3 mile) tosses before upping the distance before Pre-Training Race 1 took place. However, they told me that if the weather was suitable the pigeons would be trained every day so the pigeons could gain as much experience as possible before the actual race programme started with Pre-Training Race 1 on Wednesday 11th November from 18km (11 miles) and I can now reveal that a total of 3,413 pigeons were basketed and 3,412 pigeons were officially clocked.
As you can see by this International Press Release, I took quite a few photographs during my stay at the lofts and I would also like to say that the pigeons looked in tip top condition and ready for what was in front of them.
Training tosses also took place on Thursday 5th November and on Friday 6th November when a 4th Loft Listing was published on the SAMDPR Web Site which showed that 3,875 pigeons were still in the lofts and which included 299 from UK and 60 from Ireland.
The week beginning the 9th November temperatures would rise during the days to around 36c or 100f but the good thing is the pigeons will be liberated early in the morning in the coolest part of the day and most should be in the race lofts before the temperature get to these extremes. Another worrying thing at this current time is the lack of water around the Johannesburg area, something that many people are getting really very worried about. The country needs the rain but the pigeons do not. However, this is something that nobody can control and the Race Committee will not be taking any chances, they will pick the best days to train these athletes of the skies.
My regular International Press Releases on all Training Race and Car Race Hot Sot Races will be published as usual in the “British Homing World” and “The Racing Pigeon” plus numerous other worldwide Pigeon Publications, plus many Pigeon Web Sites literally all over the world.
If you are thinking of travelling out to South Africa to watch and be part of the 20th SAMDPR, then please contact me ASAP for “Trip of a Lifetime” itinerary. Dierdre Kallmeyer from African Olive Travel Company (South Africa) will once again be working closely with all the international travellers, sorting out trips to all areas of South Africa. If you would like to travel somewhere else during your visit, then please just let her know, she will be only too pleased to try to help you. During my visit to Johannesburg, I decided to check out the 4 star Southern Sun Hotel, located at The Pivot, Montecasino, it will be the main hotel used for this event and I can assure fanciers travelling from all over the world, that it is first class and should suit everybody’s needs. It is situated within the Montecasino Complex where all the Official Functions take place over the weekend. Montecasino in itself is a staggering venue and offers lots for people to do either during the day or night, with some bars, numerous restaurants, gambling, cinema, theatres and even a bird garden plus many other things to do right on their doorstep. There is also the 3 star Sun Square Hotel, located in the Piazza Square right next door to the Southern Sun Hotel, which is slightly cheaper. A few fanciers are contemplating travelling down to Sun City Resort and staying at the fabulous 5 star Cascades Hotel for a few days after the race weekend, if you are interested, then please let me know ASAP and I will get Deirdre to quote a price for you. If however, you just want to travel out for the 5 nights for the actual race, I will be only too pleased to get a quote for you from Deirdre. With the current Rand/Sterling high exchange rate, all these trips really do represent fantastic value.
My next International Press Release will be on Pre-Training Races, 1, 2 and 3 and will also list the full updated race programme, prize money and all other aspects of this truly international pigeon race.
If you wish to follow any of the Pre-Training Races, Training Races and Car Race Hot Spot Races, just log onto www.samdpr.com where you be able to find all the information you require on the most comprehensive and informative One Loft Web Site in the world today. If you wish to know anything about the race, you can just phone me or email me and I will be only too pleased to assist in any way I can.
I close now by wishing every competitor/fancier/entrant all the best during the 2015/16 race series.
Paul Smith. United Kingdom Race Team Co-ordinator/Shipper & International Race Co-ordinator for The 20th South African Million Dollar, “Platinum Edition”, (The Greatest & Biggest One Loft Pigeon Race In The World Today! and also The Race with The Proven Track Record), which is due to be held at the Montecasino Complex, Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 6th February 2016. Regency Lofts Limited, 2 Highmead, off Coltsfield, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. CM24 8LJ. England. Telephone/Facsimile:- 01279-812005 (Int. Code:- +44-1279-812005). Mobile:- 07860-568216. Email Address:- reglofts@aol.com Skype Address:- talbot7944 Regency Lofts Web Site Address:- www.regencylofts.com The South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race Web Site Address:- www.samdpr.com
20th Million Dollar Race - 06/02/16
-
willie reynolds
- Posts: 6810
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm
-
willie reynolds
- Posts: 6810
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:44 pm
Re: 20th Million Dollar Race - 06/02/16
“FIRST INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE”
THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR
“PLATINUM EDITION”
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD IN LINBRO PARK, SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2016.
ANOTHER RACE SEASON STARTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUNSHINE.
THE FANTASTIC MONTECASINO COMPLEX, FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA WILL
BE HOSTING THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC RACE ENTRY WITH AROUND 5,000 PIGEONS BEING ENTERED FROM 36 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES.
RESULTS FOR PRE-TRAINING RACES 1, 2 & 3.
Once again we are off and running in South Africa and this is my first official International Press Release to be published after my Initial International Press Release a couple of weeks ago. It has been a tough campaign so far with many obstacles to overcome for the race organisers because of the Avian Influenza outbreaks in many different countries but finally all the pigeons came out of quarantine and training around the race lofts got underway but it should be mentioned now that the initial training and race programme has had to be delayed slightly and the three
Pre-Training Races, Training Races and Hot Spot Car Races have now all been altered to give the pigeons in the race lofts a fair chance to catch up. The pigeons will not be rushed and the loft staff are fairly confident that within a few weeks these athletes of the skies will be back on track.
Hopefully, fanciers all over the world will appreciate the massive amount of work that is put in by Michael Holt (Race Director & Systems Administrator), Pieter Saayman (Assistant Systems Administrator), Marion Branford (Administration) and Peter Furstenberg from Shine Interactive and all his staff who have all helped to redesign this state of the art web site www.samdpr.com another exciting racing season is in front of us with a fantastic new updated web site, making it far easier for all concerned to look, find and study all the information available for all entrants/competitors and pigeon fanciers
It should also be mentioned that Willi van Beers from Germany has been appointed again for the second year running to act as Race Manager and he will work closely with the Loft Managers & Trainers Corrie Naude, Andre van Wyk and the rest of the loft staff. Sara Blackshaw (Director of Air Sport Internationale), Joan-e Holt (Public Relations) and Deirdre Kallmeyer from African Olive Concepts (The Official Travel Company for the SAMDPR) have also all been extremely busy looking and then selecting a brand new venue to host the 20th SAMDPR “THE PLATINUM EDITION” and I can now tell you that the fantastic MONTECASINO COMPLEX, Fourways, Johannesburg has finally been selected to host the events during the race weekend in early February 2016. I have personally visited MONTECASINO many times over the past 20 years and can confirm that it will be a superb venue for the next race and hopefully many more to come. It has everything that pigeon fanciers and their guests/friends and family require so that their stay will be remembered for a long time. So once again, exciting times are in front of this prestigious international pigeon race as it once again moves forward into the future.
This spectacular international pigeon race is now in its twentieth year and started off with under 1,000 pigeons in its first year way back in 1997, since then entries have increased and in the 7th Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race in 2003 it attracted an entry of 2,473 pigeons, then the 8th SCMDPR in 2004 attracted 3,703 pigeons, however, the 9th SCMDPR in 2005 attracted a staggering 5,096 pigeons. In a space of two years the entries actually doubled. After the record breaking entry of 5,096 pigeons that were entered into the 9th SCMDPR in 2005, which was made up of 3,711 International pigeons and 1,385 South African entries and were entered from 30 different countries. Then in the 10th SCMDPR held in 2006 we had a total of 4,649 pigeons entered, which was made up of 3,504 International and 1,145 South African entries that were entered by 28 different countries. This was then followed by 4,936 pigeons being entered into the 11th SCMDPR in 2007, which consisted of 3,462 International and 1,474 South African entries. When you consider all the problems and restrictions that have been implemented because of outbreaks of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease around the world over the last few years, plus many other one loft races trying to compete with the SCMDPR, it really is truly amazing that entries have managed to stay so high, especially when you consider that Mainland China entered 413 pigeons into the 2006 SCMDPR and have not been allowed to compete since. By losing these entries and those from other countries with restrictions has certainly stopped the organisers from smashing records on an annual basis. However, even after all the problems around the world that had affected the entries into the 12th SCMDPR to be held in 2008, the organising committee were still proud to announce that they had managed to get a grand total of 4,902 pigeons, which consists of 3,641 International and 1,261 South African pigeons entered into the race which was held in the fabulous Sun City, South Africa on Saturday 2nd February 2008. The 2009 race attracted 29 different countries and a record breaking entry of 5,576 pigeons and was held on January 31st and this total was made up of 4,496 International and 1,080 South African pigeons, with a total of 3,082 entries actually being sent to the Final Race after nearly 7,000 km (4,350 miles) of training. The entry for the 2010 SCMDPR once again exceeded the 5,000 mark for the third time and a grand total of 5,610 pigeons were officially entered by 30 participating countries and that number is made up of 4,693 International pigeons and 917 pigeons from South Africa who are of course the host country. Once again the International entry had been smashed by a staggering 187 pigeons. When one considers that most of the world was in a massive recession it once again just goes to prove to pigeon fanciers all over the world that this is the race they would all like to win. Once again the entry for the 15th anniversary race was a staggering 6,611 pigeons entered from 36 different countries, which is a massive overall increase of 1,001 pigeons and quite a few new countries getting involved for the first time. The total number of entries is made up of 5,639 International entries and 972 from South Africa, which of course is the host country. Once again the International entries are up by a staggering 946 pigeons, which is fantastic when you think that the world is still coming out of a recession. The 16th SCMDPR once again attracted entries from 36 different countries and a staggering world record entry of 7,949 pigeons, which was made up by 6,831 International and 1,118 South African pigeons. The 17th SAMDPR was held in the new venue, which was the fabulous Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd February 2013 and close on 8,000 pigeons were originally entered from 36 different countries. The 18th SAMDPR was also held at the new venue and attracted an entry of around 7,000 pigeons from 40 different countries. Once again the international entry totalled over 6,500 pigeons. Entry figures for THE 19th SAMDPR was a total of 38 different countries participating and they entered around 6,000 pigeons and this event took place at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg. As you see by these figures listed above the race has massive support from many different countries and that is because of the professional way this international pigeon race is run and because fanciers want to be part of and try to win “THE BIGGEST AND GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD TODAY” and “THE ONE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD”. The race entry for THE 20th SAMDPR has not yet been confirmed but it is known that 36 different countries are participating and that there were around 5,000 pigeons sent out to compete in this great pigeon race.
THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR
“PLATINUM EDITION”
(THE RACE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD)
(THE GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD)
DUE TO BE HELD IN LINBRO PARK, SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA ON SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2016.
ANOTHER RACE SEASON STARTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUNSHINE.
THE FANTASTIC MONTECASINO COMPLEX, FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA WILL
BE HOSTING THE 20th SOUTH AFRICAN MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC RACE ENTRY WITH AROUND 5,000 PIGEONS BEING ENTERED FROM 36 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN THE 2015/16 RACE SERIES.
RESULTS FOR PRE-TRAINING RACES 1, 2 & 3.
Once again we are off and running in South Africa and this is my first official International Press Release to be published after my Initial International Press Release a couple of weeks ago. It has been a tough campaign so far with many obstacles to overcome for the race organisers because of the Avian Influenza outbreaks in many different countries but finally all the pigeons came out of quarantine and training around the race lofts got underway but it should be mentioned now that the initial training and race programme has had to be delayed slightly and the three
Pre-Training Races, Training Races and Hot Spot Car Races have now all been altered to give the pigeons in the race lofts a fair chance to catch up. The pigeons will not be rushed and the loft staff are fairly confident that within a few weeks these athletes of the skies will be back on track.
Hopefully, fanciers all over the world will appreciate the massive amount of work that is put in by Michael Holt (Race Director & Systems Administrator), Pieter Saayman (Assistant Systems Administrator), Marion Branford (Administration) and Peter Furstenberg from Shine Interactive and all his staff who have all helped to redesign this state of the art web site www.samdpr.com another exciting racing season is in front of us with a fantastic new updated web site, making it far easier for all concerned to look, find and study all the information available for all entrants/competitors and pigeon fanciers
It should also be mentioned that Willi van Beers from Germany has been appointed again for the second year running to act as Race Manager and he will work closely with the Loft Managers & Trainers Corrie Naude, Andre van Wyk and the rest of the loft staff. Sara Blackshaw (Director of Air Sport Internationale), Joan-e Holt (Public Relations) and Deirdre Kallmeyer from African Olive Concepts (The Official Travel Company for the SAMDPR) have also all been extremely busy looking and then selecting a brand new venue to host the 20th SAMDPR “THE PLATINUM EDITION” and I can now tell you that the fantastic MONTECASINO COMPLEX, Fourways, Johannesburg has finally been selected to host the events during the race weekend in early February 2016. I have personally visited MONTECASINO many times over the past 20 years and can confirm that it will be a superb venue for the next race and hopefully many more to come. It has everything that pigeon fanciers and their guests/friends and family require so that their stay will be remembered for a long time. So once again, exciting times are in front of this prestigious international pigeon race as it once again moves forward into the future.
This spectacular international pigeon race is now in its twentieth year and started off with under 1,000 pigeons in its first year way back in 1997, since then entries have increased and in the 7th Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race in 2003 it attracted an entry of 2,473 pigeons, then the 8th SCMDPR in 2004 attracted 3,703 pigeons, however, the 9th SCMDPR in 2005 attracted a staggering 5,096 pigeons. In a space of two years the entries actually doubled. After the record breaking entry of 5,096 pigeons that were entered into the 9th SCMDPR in 2005, which was made up of 3,711 International pigeons and 1,385 South African entries and were entered from 30 different countries. Then in the 10th SCMDPR held in 2006 we had a total of 4,649 pigeons entered, which was made up of 3,504 International and 1,145 South African entries that were entered by 28 different countries. This was then followed by 4,936 pigeons being entered into the 11th SCMDPR in 2007, which consisted of 3,462 International and 1,474 South African entries. When you consider all the problems and restrictions that have been implemented because of outbreaks of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease around the world over the last few years, plus many other one loft races trying to compete with the SCMDPR, it really is truly amazing that entries have managed to stay so high, especially when you consider that Mainland China entered 413 pigeons into the 2006 SCMDPR and have not been allowed to compete since. By losing these entries and those from other countries with restrictions has certainly stopped the organisers from smashing records on an annual basis. However, even after all the problems around the world that had affected the entries into the 12th SCMDPR to be held in 2008, the organising committee were still proud to announce that they had managed to get a grand total of 4,902 pigeons, which consists of 3,641 International and 1,261 South African pigeons entered into the race which was held in the fabulous Sun City, South Africa on Saturday 2nd February 2008. The 2009 race attracted 29 different countries and a record breaking entry of 5,576 pigeons and was held on January 31st and this total was made up of 4,496 International and 1,080 South African pigeons, with a total of 3,082 entries actually being sent to the Final Race after nearly 7,000 km (4,350 miles) of training. The entry for the 2010 SCMDPR once again exceeded the 5,000 mark for the third time and a grand total of 5,610 pigeons were officially entered by 30 participating countries and that number is made up of 4,693 International pigeons and 917 pigeons from South Africa who are of course the host country. Once again the International entry had been smashed by a staggering 187 pigeons. When one considers that most of the world was in a massive recession it once again just goes to prove to pigeon fanciers all over the world that this is the race they would all like to win. Once again the entry for the 15th anniversary race was a staggering 6,611 pigeons entered from 36 different countries, which is a massive overall increase of 1,001 pigeons and quite a few new countries getting involved for the first time. The total number of entries is made up of 5,639 International entries and 972 from South Africa, which of course is the host country. Once again the International entries are up by a staggering 946 pigeons, which is fantastic when you think that the world is still coming out of a recession. The 16th SCMDPR once again attracted entries from 36 different countries and a staggering world record entry of 7,949 pigeons, which was made up by 6,831 International and 1,118 South African pigeons. The 17th SAMDPR was held in the new venue, which was the fabulous Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd February 2013 and close on 8,000 pigeons were originally entered from 36 different countries. The 18th SAMDPR was also held at the new venue and attracted an entry of around 7,000 pigeons from 40 different countries. Once again the international entry totalled over 6,500 pigeons. Entry figures for THE 19th SAMDPR was a total of 38 different countries participating and they entered around 6,000 pigeons and this event took place at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg. As you see by these figures listed above the race has massive support from many different countries and that is because of the professional way this international pigeon race is run and because fanciers want to be part of and try to win “THE BIGGEST AND GREATEST PIGEON RACE IN THE WORLD TODAY” and “THE ONE WITH THE PROVEN TRACK RECORD”. The race entry for THE 20th SAMDPR has not yet been confirmed but it is known that 36 different countries are participating and that there were around 5,000 pigeons sent out to compete in this great pigeon race.