Article by CJ Richter
Article Published: 05 February 2007

As yet another racing season draws nearer the team went on a loft visit to a stalwart of racing in the Federated Board, Y. Moerat. Yusuf Moerat is a quiet and gentle natured man, one of those rare determined men. This I might add, by his modest manner, makes it more difficult than usual to gather facts and achievements, gained over a period of time.

Born and bred in Paarl some seventy eight years ago Yusuf Moerat became one of the most well known businessmen and community leaders in this area. He is currently the chairperson of the Federated Board of Homing Unions, a position he has held for the last eighteen years of his life. Surely to be in the forefront of the largest pigeon organization in the country with all the pressure and responsibilities, speak volumes for this man in his efforts to further and enhance this beautiful pastime of ours. To reach the top in where he was racing he based his approach on the exploits of such great fanciers such as Adriaan Basjan, Attie Arendse, Koewie Damonse, Isak Meyer and Appies Dompas, contempories of his late father.

Cheque cock SA/FB 2006 71371 (Wegge/Jansen)

Yusuf started off with pigeons as a schoolboy and in those early years already he realized that to be competitive and to reach the top he’ll have to contact the top fanciers. He managed to trap a red cock into the loft of a Mr. Charles Garies, who promptly sold him the cock for one pound, a lot of money for a young child way back in 1944. Two years later this bird made him the envy of most of the older fanciers as he won races away from the packs and set him on the way in what would be the beginning of a lifelong association for the young Yusuf Moerat in the sport of pigeon racing. Other role players in his early career were Dr. Van Blerk, Mr. Liebenberg and Mr. Jan De Villiers of whom he took two pigeons which duly won him Laingsburg and was placed second in the Beaufort West Federation.

Cheque hen SA/FB 2004 65689 (4th Hanover Board)

His first love however was rugby, for which he belatedly received his Springbok colours in 2002. He also excelled in cricket and tennis and was awarded his Provincial colours in both sporting codes in his heyday. After years and years of consistently being one of the best fanciers in South Africa, he, together with many of his fellow F.B.H.U. stalwarts at last received the recognition they deserved in 2001, by being awarded Springbok colours during the International Olympiad held in South Africa for the first time.

Cheque hen SA/FB 15459 (2nd. Colesberg)

THE KIMBERLEY LOVE AFFAIR
Mr. Moerat’s affinity with the Kimberley Board races started way back in 1992 when he was placed second. Coupled to his excellent results in the previous races, he scored enough points to earn himself top position, which won him the car. Two years later in 1994, he achieved a noticeable treble by finishing sixth, eighth and twentieth. Sadly however, he took a break from pigeon racing in 1978. It was only in 1987 that he would return to torment the opposition again with his run of success that just carried on where he had left off. In less than two years the Moerat name would again come to the fore as he gained fourth and tenth in a race that became a nightmare for all other fanciers. The same birds had scored a first and second place in the Bloemfontein Federation just prior to that.

Cheque hen SA/FB 2003 131824 (10th Kroonstad Board)

The year 1991 would prove to be exceptional. One of the finest looking hens in the loft was named ‘’Pennie Coelen’’ by an uncle, who likened this beautiful pigeon to the Miss South Africa and Miss World of the sixties. This hen, a Janssens/Vermeyen, after winning the Touws River and scoring top positions in the Beaufort West board and Victoria West club, was rested and prepared for the big one. Come Saturday the weather turned for the worst and many fanciers had doubts of getting any birds through. Yusuf had faith in his hen and that evening exactly 7.18pm she was clocked, one of four birds through that night, winning the race by half an hour-truly a remarkable performance.

Cheque hen SA/FB 2004 62040 (All car points 2006)

The Kimberley King was back. In 1993 he entered a Busschaert/Putterie cock, NOHS’92 0438 which placed second in the Hanover board in 1992. The Saturday this cock clocked in 3.01pm and completed a remarkable hat trick of wins in the Kimberley race for its owner, he called this super bird “Lightning” from that day on. Mr. Moerat did not only win the race but was placed 15th and 24th as well, a rare phenomena of success in one race by a single fancier. In 1997 another resounding success came the way of this man as he secured a 4th 7th and 31st in the Kimberley, clocking two on the Saturday and then clocking the first bird overall the Sunday morning. This performance won him the Paarl Federation by a staggering forty minutes. In 2000 Yusuf Moerat had again made his presence felt by gaining an astonishing 6th and 10th place to enhance his reputation in this great classic, the Kimberley Board. The winning just would not stop.

Blue pied hen (Vermeyen/Busschaert) Top breeding hen.

CAREER
Yusuf Moerat has won countless races throughout his racing career. For the last ten years he had been 4 times Board champion, 3 times 2nd, one time 3rd and once 10th. He claims to have probably won the most Board races in the history of the F.B.H.U., with more than 6 wins over the last twelve years alone. Yet it is in the Kimberley that he has had an exceptional and phenomenal record, one that may never be bettered. Although he cannot explain why, I do believe that his amazing results and achievements in this prestigious race over the years surely give Yusuf Moerat the right to the title “King of Kimberley”.

King’s son (Busschaert) Father of double winner 13171

THE MAN
Don’t get me wrong, he race to win. He loves to win and seeing a good pigeon winning for him. He loves the best and like most other fanciers love to be around pigeons and the fancy. If he ever loses that thrill of racing then he shall give up racing and merely keep the birds for themselves. It has not happened yet and I’m pleased to say, I doubt it ever will.

Whilst Y. Moerat enjoys winning he has always tried to accept defeat without moaning, knowing that the race secretary is the judge on the day. He knows what he likes and enjoys seeing the perches occupied in his loft.

This is his basic philosophy…… It is perhaps rather simplistic, for if one sees further than one’s own trapboard, then one is bound to become involved in some of the administration and politics of the sport. Pigeons, that is the important consideration, with sportsmanship just secondary, and well out in front of the politics and the fallout. Yes the pigeon, the races and the desire to be the best.