Our Challenge
Red line : The line of flight from liberation point to the GPU Champions of the past years
Green line: The direct line from racing point to our loft. (Behind the Suikerbosrand-hill) White line: The line that our birds tend to fly on fast paced blow home races. Yellow line: The line we are exercising our bird to help them break early and fly direct to home (we still have a dog leg disadvantage). Blue line: The odd racing day when the birds go through the neck of the hill (when strong westerly wind are prevailing). |
Loft position is always a very controversial topic. To down-talk your Champion lofts for being on the "golden mile" (in die "leeu-se-bek"), having the advantage above the others, is mostly done by sour loosers (not willing to acknowledge that the Champion Loft has better birds and a better system). But to underestimate the truth about a disadvantaged loft-position, is just as demoralizing.
My partner and me equally know both sides of the spectrum. As GPU Champion living in the so called "golden mile" it was frustrating for him to only hear remarks about his loft position as if it was the only reason for his success. As Club Champion I faced the same remarks from the guys that I competed against. Yes, in the club I did have a good loft position, but to become champion against more then 20 lofts, were surly about good pigeons and a sound system... and not loft position alone. Saying this, I also know how frustrating it was at Union level to be in a disadvantaged position and to hear the scoffing of the big guns... not good enough, etc.
When we partnered as Team Grove and Pienaar we are now racing from my partner's new premises. Though it is a very good loft position within my old club's borders, we decided to test our birds in a strong club (with world renowned fanciers) and where we are in a disadvantaged loft position. Well, we can tell you... it is difficult. To be late in one club, knowing that we would have a good time in the other club, is challenging. But, as my partner say... "To give up, is not in our DNA!" On the long haul our family pigeons and methods surly will improve.
We honor our competitors that win in advantaged loft position and we respect those who are in a disadvantaged position.
My partner and me equally know both sides of the spectrum. As GPU Champion living in the so called "golden mile" it was frustrating for him to only hear remarks about his loft position as if it was the only reason for his success. As Club Champion I faced the same remarks from the guys that I competed against. Yes, in the club I did have a good loft position, but to become champion against more then 20 lofts, were surly about good pigeons and a sound system... and not loft position alone. Saying this, I also know how frustrating it was at Union level to be in a disadvantaged position and to hear the scoffing of the big guns... not good enough, etc.
When we partnered as Team Grove and Pienaar we are now racing from my partner's new premises. Though it is a very good loft position within my old club's borders, we decided to test our birds in a strong club (with world renowned fanciers) and where we are in a disadvantaged loft position. Well, we can tell you... it is difficult. To be late in one club, knowing that we would have a good time in the other club, is challenging. But, as my partner say... "To give up, is not in our DNA!" On the long haul our family pigeons and methods surly will improve.
We honor our competitors that win in advantaged loft position and we respect those who are in a disadvantaged position.
Our grading system
All in pigeon sells is about marketing. Everyone has winners, super pigeons, best birds... but against how many pigeons and what competition? There's as saying - "in the land of the blind, one eye is king." Each race and each club must have a winner...
We decided that in future we are not going to look at club results to grade our pigeons, but to look at Union level (1300+ pigeons) and Combine level (7000+ pigeons) to grade our pigeons.
We will use the following grading system:
We decided that in future we are not going to look at club results to grade our pigeons, but to look at Union level (1300+ pigeons) and Combine level (7000+ pigeons) to grade our pigeons.
We will use the following grading system: