Graham Samuel of the Grahamstown Racing Pigeon Club (GRPC) was named the Eastern Cape Pigeon Federation (ECPF) champion at the end of the 2009 pigeon racing season.
Speaking from his loft recently, Samuels said he only flies the same birds every three weeks, as the races take place every weekend.
Graham Samuel of the Grahamstown Racing Pigeon Club (GRPC) was named the Eastern Cape Pigeon Federation (ECPF) champion at the end of the 2009 pigeon racing season.
Speaking from his loft recently, Samuels said he only flies the same birds every three weeks, as the races take place every weekend.
He made a point of praising his loft manager and trainer Grace Marwanqana who trained the birds while Samuels was working during the day.
Marwanqana would clean the lofts, feed the birds and make sure they always had fresh water. She would also train them twice a day, for an hour in the mornings and one hour in the afternoon, and kept a look out to see that they kept flying.
During the racing season, which was between 6 June and 14 October, club members who took part in the races would wait around the lofts for the birds to arrive, so they could clock the birds in.
Samuels said that, depending on the weather (including head winds, side winds, tail winds or misty conditions) the birds sometimes clocked in at an average of 120km per hour.
He said the birds are be checked before sending them to a race, to make sure they were “race fit”. The check would involve making sure each bird is healthy and in good condition and would not be missing any flights.
Samuels is one of two GRPC members who have earned their South African National Pigeon Organisation (SANPO) colours.
Samuels received his colours in 2007, while Kempie Coetzee received his colours four years ago. GRPC secretary, Peter Bailie said colours are awarded for “exceptional flying”.
Samuels was also named as the GRPC club champion for 2009, while Coetzee took second spot and Bailie third.
Now that the season has come to an end, Samuels said the birds are resting and this is also the breeding season.
It is also a chance for fanciers to purchase birds. A recent pigeon sale took place at Bushman’s River where 125 birds were sold at a gross amount of R45 000. Samuels said top pigeons can sell for R2 500 each.
