Article Published 15 August 2008

The Somerset West club is embarking on an ambitious feature race for next year to be known as the Somerset West International Pigeon CLASSIC.

The planning for this event is well under way and we wish to express our thanks and appreciation to Ulrich Richter for his part in supporting this message on the Western Cape Pigeon Racing website. The essence of the project is described in the introductory letter which follows.

A selection of fanciers from a cross section of geographical locations was invited to participate in the inaugural discussions and to serve an ambassadorial role in supporting the initiative. On 8 June 2008, twelve invitees attended a meeting followed by a luncheon which was kindly sponsored by Oliver Radford. The outcome of that meeting was most encouraging and all attending pledged their full support in representing the event in their respective communities.

The current state of play is as follows:

1.The auction day set for 12 October 2008, is planned to be an enjoyable social event with spit-roast lamb, beef and a cash bar, in addition to being a meeting place for the top pigeon flyers in the Cape, South Africa and adjacent countries. Offspring of some of the very best pigeon families in the country will be presented. There are many reasons why you should attend the sale to purchase a baby of the best SA can offer;

2.The sale will take place at the NRHU Hall near De Grendel Station.

3.The number of birds/rings sold will be limited to 300 and the race will be flown from Victoria West on 11 August 2009.

4.Selected top fanciers from around SA have already pledged their support by donating 4 babies to the sale. ----- A list of these donors will be published in a future newsletter.

5.The birds will be racing to lofts within a designated boundary in the
Cape area and selected top fanciers in and around Cape Town have agreed to serve as trainers for buyers from outside the designated area. --- A list of these names will also be published in a future newsletter.

Although further updates will be published anyone wishing to know more about this event is welcome to contact any of the following :

Dr Wim Peters 021 852 4852
Oliver Radford 079 040 2728 or 021 852 6262
Andy Kruger 083 272 9464
Saville Penkin 083 375 6096
Mike Scott 076 877 8562 or 021 789 0744

Introductory Letter and Terms of Participation

Dear Fancier

You have been invited to be a part of the Racing Pigeon International Classic hosted by the Somerset West Pigeon Club (SWPC). The purpose of the event is to stimulate interest in pigeon racing locally and countrywide with a secondary objective to raise funds for club amenities and other projects in the Somerset West/Strand area.

1.Said Club is to organize a YB race with donated birds which are to be sold at auction on 12 October 2008.

2.Buyers will be from within the demarcated area (in-area buyers), from the rest of SA and from across our borders (out-of-area buyers.)

3.The Breeders of these birds will be a chosen group of highly successful fanciers from the whole of South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe.

4.All breeders will be asked to donate 4 babies which, at the time of auction, must not have dropped any primary flights.

5.All the young pigeons from a breeder will be put up for auction together. The successful bidder has the right to choose any or all of the pigeons from the group at the bid price. If any birds from the group remain, bidding for the others will re-open on the same conditions.

6.The auction day is planned to be a not-to-be-missed, spectacular, social fun event and is earmarked to become a highlight on the pigeon racing calendar.

7.200 pigeons and 100 special rings will be auctioned. All members of the SWPC shall, by virtue of their membership, be eligible to buy one ring at the minimum price (R500,00) such purchase to be made before the commencement of the auction. All and only the 200 pigeons sold and birds rung with one the 100 rings, may participate in the race.

8.The Trainers will all reside in the Western Cape area within the designated area, the boundary of which, shall run as follows; Starting above the mountain ridge behind Gordon’s Bay it runs along the HH and Stellenbosch mountains to the northernmost point of Simonsberg. From here in a straight line to the summit of Paarl Mountain and northward to the village of Windmeul. From here along the R44 to the Malmesbury/Paarl intersection and along the R45 to the Malmesbury/Riebeeck Kasteel intersection and from this point in a straight line, due East to the coast. From here the line follows the coast in a southerly direction, continuing around the Cape Peninsula and False Bay to the most southerly point of the municipal boundary of Gordon’s Bay and up to the mountain ridge behind Gordon’s Bay.

9.Out-of-area Buyers can place bought birds with in-area trainers of their choice failing which the buyer may select a trainer or trainers from a presented list of specially selected, willing and first class trainers.

10.The race is to take place on the 11th August 2009 (Monday - public holiday) from Victoria West (circa 500km), with liberation scheduled to be 30 minutes after sunrise or as soon as possible thereafter.

11.The auction birds will be released on their own and no other pigeons will be allowed on the transport vehicle from Cape Town to the liberation site.

It is felt that because lofts hosting auction birds will be spread around the whole Western Cape area, a drag will not be created and that all competing lofts within the designated area will stand an equal chance of achieving top honours.

12.R105 000,00 guaranteed prize money (30 prizes), split between breeder, buyer and trainer in the ratio of 50/30/20, will be available. It is expected that the eventual prize money will greatly exceed the guaranteed R105 000,00 stake as 70% of the total income from the auction will go towards prize money. The rest will be used to defray expenses and boost the building fund of SWPC.

13.In the unlikely event that any auction bird does not fetch the minimum price, all breeders undertake to buy back their unsold birds at R500,00 each.

14.Purchases shall be paid for in full on the day of sale except where special provision has been made and no birds may be removed until paid for except where such credit provision has been made. Credit will only be available for total purchases in excess of R1000,00. Credit buyers shall sign an acknowledgement of debt for unpaid purchases and shall settle their accounts in full by 31st October 2008.

15.In the event that out-of-area buyers place birds with in-area trainers the split in prize money shall be 30/20 between them, with the understanding that a private agreement may be made between the two parties, in which case the SWPC shall have no jurisdiction should a dispute arise. In all and any event the breeder’s share of any money won shall be 50% of the prize or prizes.

16.The ownership of any bird shall vest with the buyer. Should the buyer and trainer not be the same person, ownership remains with the buyer subject to any private arrangement made between buyer and trainer. Unless otherwise agreed between them, the trainer shall have full jurisdiction over the bird insofar as training and racing is concerned from acceptance of the bird up to the auction race. After the Classic race the owner shall have full control over the future of such a pigeon.

17.In the event that unforeseen circumstances should prevent any of the standing rules regarding the race be implemented, the SWPC will have full authority to deal with any situation in order to achieve the best alternative. No recourse shall be had by any competitor and the decision of the SWPC shall be final and binding on all.