As promised, 50% of the net proceeds receivable from the entry fee from the number of qualified birds beyond 1,600 will be added to the number of the last prize in final race. There are 1704 qualified birds and therefore 50% of 104 more prizes of Euro 250 each totalling Euro 7,800 will be available. This is equal to 31 more prizes in the last race provided that the past due payment of some 30 pigeons can be collected in full. If not, the number of prizes will be adjusted down accordingly. The unpaid pigeons will become property of the organizers and the owners’ names posted if deemed the last measure. This will be finalized one week before the first training from 210 km.
In view of the strong supports from our participants this year, we have created a new category of ACE pigeon to recognize consistent birds that score a prize within the first 300 of arrivals in each of the five races including the 210 km and 260 km in addition to the regular two hotspots and the final 530 km races. Winner will be the one that has the lowest summation of positions in five races without taking into consideration the weight for number of birds and distance involved. In other words, it is the ACE with best simple average result of five races. It will get a trophy with Euro 500 prize money.
It is note worthy that among the 1704 qualified birds, 850 are from international teams and 854 from local birds. This means imported birds have better survival rate when measured against the original registered entries.
It should be known also that during the past two weeks we faced a situation, technical and human error, that necessitated reinstalling of all race programs and database. We had to work with Benzing team in Australia via phone and remote control in different time zones. Their working time is 6 hours behind meaning we could not send on-line three in-completed training flights. Training program had to be adjusted all the time due to the a-fore said situation and the off season rain falls. The most up-dated time table will be posted soon. We expect smooth operation going forward.
