Watching Wimbledon,in particular,the Kevin Anderson games especially against Federer and then again Isner,has once again highlighted a few qualities and attributes of a good sportsman.
Self belief and confidence,the desire and passion to win,the stamina and perseverance,the intelligence and then to be able to read a game and present the correct game plan.These are all the qualities of a winner.
All this is most definitely required of a pigeon to win a race.Intelligence, desire, passion, motivation, determination, etc, etc.The only difference is that it cannot be expressed in words when communicating with a bird.How do you measure a bird’s desire or will to win? You can teach them a few things or condition them to a few, using Pavlov’s technique, etc, but the desire and passion still remains within the bird.
Then the unknown of what happens between race liberation point and home. It is like running a marathon through the desert or a time trial when you compete against your own mind and body.In human competitions and endurance competitions,you normally have a support team and coaches shouting the odds and motivating you. The pigeons are on their own.
If only there was a yardstick or apparatus to measure the intelligence or desire of a bird.There are some tricks of the trade of motivating birds and getting the health at a peak to be able to compete,but the intelligence and desire remains the trick.
It once again highlights the unpredictability and the unknown in our sport.Experience, genetics and health is what we rely on. Bloodlines. Another bit of research or statistics we would like to share, is the following:We took some extreme endurance competitions in the world, the Dakar rally, the Tour de France, the Comrades, the Rugby World Cup, etc.In all sports, you have your casualties and injuries. In all sports, your have sportsmen not finishing the competition.
In the Dakar rally, it is noted that on average, over a period between all the vehicles, cars, bikes, quads and trucks, only 55% of the field finish.The Tour de France has varied, with one year only 10 of the 68 participants finishing lowest ever.Googling, on average, the endurance competitions have a 50 – 55% completion rate.Thus pigeon racing is not to far off in their endurance races.
Getting back to our own race day, the 6th race from Ixopo, 15th July 2018 – 525km.
Once again, mixed emotions and decisions prior to the race.The weather predictions were fairly harsh,with rain and snow predicted.Fortunately, on the race day, it turned favourable.It was coldish,but no rain and it turned into,as one fancier said,a honest,fair and tough race.
The first three birds came in together at 14:55 at a velocity of 1177.785 with Gaddin Bros and Charl Stander 2975 SLIM taking the honours.Second was Hillside Lofts 247 OP/CEB followed by M + U Racing 017 EC DIAS who was also third from Kokstad,but with bird 019 EC DIAZ.Well done Mybs.
The rest of the birds followed constantly in regular, smaller packs.We had 163 birds through on the day.We must admit the race has caused a stir and a reshuffle of our leader boards.A few constant competitors have come to the fore so far, especially Jacques de Coning 130 BRMK, needs a mention having been in the top 50, 6 out of 7 races.It has built a bit of cushion on the ace and team leader boards.Well done to you Jacques.
Our day’s winners and results :
Pools
1st Magda Vertue bird 130 BRMK of Jacques de Coning
2nd Jacques de Coning bird 129 BRMK
3rd Pieter Joubert bird 475 Cradock
Time Pools
Jacques de Coning
ETA 14:59:31
Virtual 14:55:45
Race Day Results
1st Gaddin Bros & Charl Stander 2975 SLIM
2nd Hillside Lofts 247 OP/CEB
3rd M + U Racing 017 EC DIAS
Ace Leader Board
1st Jacque de Coning 130 BRMK 211 points
2nd Boertjie Nel 2390 OP/DPK 132 points
3rd Free Masons 4099 OP 125 points
4th Camelot Hokke 0758 UPPK/D 124 points
5th Dees 095 EC DIAS 123 points
Winners Competition Leader Board
1st K.J. Stirk and Webster Lofts 248 points
2nd Webster Lofts 166 points
3rd Gaddin Bros + Charl Stander 113 points
Long Distance Leader Board
1st Dees 095 EC DIAS 82 points
2nd Jacques de Coning 130 BRMK 73 points
3rd Bullcat 4405 BHU 68 points
Team Leader Board
1st Jacques de Coning T1 325 points
2nd Henry Quirk T3 188 points
3rd Boertjie Nel T1 182 points
Average Velocity Leader Board
1st Jacques de Coning 130 BRMK 1246.02
2nd Glenn McEwan 0711 BHU 1234.78
3rd Boertjie Nel 2390 OP/DPK 1231.62
Knockout
19 birds still in contention.
It honestly turned out to be a lovely race.The race day was great and well supported.We enjoyed the visit and company of Stiaan of Camelot Hokke, all the way from Upington.Thanks for the visit, it was great having you here.Good luck for the rest of the season.
Our next race, the 7th from Butterworth, 205km is this coming Sunday, 22nd July 2018.
A reminder of the Hospice fund raiser the week after from Ixopo, the 8th race.Tickets are available @ R100.00.This fund raiser will be raced on the same principle.The basketted bird and ticket number is your allocated bird for the race.All this is in aid of Hospice, a very good cause as they do a sterling job in our area.
I hope that you enjoyed the last race with us as tense as it was.We had a few overnighters, but they came in steadily this morning.
Good luck to all.Enjoy the rest of the races.
Pigeon Regards
Diaz One Loft Management