20 July 2011
By Ithriam Leukes
July 2011 Klapmuts National Loft Report:
The beginning of July, saw the first snow falls, cover the Matroosberg
mountain range. The icy cold weather, however was not followed
by the anticipated rainfalls. The lack of rainfall this year comparative
to last year, is of a real concern, not only to the pigeon racing
community but also to farmers throughout the country. July has
brought along with it, unseasonal weather, with the “Cape
Doctor”, prevailing for almost three weeks now without fail
and to top it all off, we’ve just had a week of mid 20 degree
temperatures in the heart of winter!!!
Well, i’m no climatologist but i’m sure most of us
would agree, that rain in the next week or two would be most welcome....
and long overdue.
The good weather however has had it’s benefits as well,
allowing the loft management team at Klapmuts National Lofts,
to start as planned with the basket and road training of the birds.
To date, the birds have had seven 20km training flights, and by
the time this newsletter reaches publication, the birds would
have been trained up to 80km’s. Most of the training flights
thus far have been fairly uneventful, with the birds returning
in good time and in big packs at the Klapmuts Loft. Last week
Monday (4/07/2011), however, the birds returned scattered from
another 20km training, this was probably caused by a hawk of some
sort and subsequently the loft management team decided to give
the birds a rest day on the Tuesday. The general health of the
birds remain extremely good as can be observed by all the birds
chalky white wattles and their vibrant demeanour in and around
the lofts.
Good News.....No Great News, at last the new Benzing One Loft
system has been installed and commissioned on Sunday the 17th
of July 2011. The loft management team and SANPO would like to
thank Mr. Eric Brown, for his efforts and support in this regard.
The birds will all be coupled with their new e-rings once they
have reached the 80km training mark. The loft management team
do however want to ask for patience as they learn and get to know
the new Benzing One Loft system. A complete stock list will be
published shortly after the e-rings have been coupled. All official
training flights and hot spots will be published instantly on
the following website address www.one-loftrace.net and all participating
fanciers can follow the live progress of each hotspot on the above
mentioned website address. Consolidated hotspot and main race
results will still be published on www.westerncapepigeonracing.co.za
.
The loft management have again requested all fanciers whom have
not yet paid their main entries to do so immediately and reserve
birds can be activated at the end of July. The loft management
team will also contact fanciers not responding at all to any requests,
to inform them of their overdue accounts.
The first Hot Spot of the Klapmuts National Loft is scheduled
for the 14th August 2011 from Matjiesfontein, weather permitting.
Updates regarding training and start dates of the race programme
will also be communicated closer to the time.
To our two MAIN sponsors, Agricol and Medpet, a heartfelt thanks
for your continued support and promotion of the Klapmuts National
Loft. It is good to know that the Klapmuts can be associated with
two market leaders as yourselves in your respective industries.
We must also again make mention of Dr. De Beer’s efficient
service, to the Klapmuts National Loft, in assisting the loft
management team with keeping all our birds in good health and
top nick.
To all our other loyal supporters, sponsors and partners THANK
YOU, for entrusting us with your birds once more for the 2011
season. Let’s continue to hope for some much needed rain
so we can enjoy and be part a true Cape Town Winter again.
Oom Hendrik Cooper and Yazeed Moerat can be contacted for any
general queries you might have regarding your birds at the Klapmuts
Loft. Thank you once again for the privilege of entrusting us
to be caretakers of such wonderful creatures.
Until Next Month
Contact Numbers:
Yazeed Moerat: 084 2994447
Ithriam Leukes: 083 4628931
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