Over the past season, I was asked an important question by a fancier: “Why do we no longer go to 600km liberations in the summer race series?” The answer is twofold. Firstly, temperatures today are significantly higher than they were 20 years ago.But more importantly, the real issue is time—and
1. Entry Options & Fees
Participants may enter pigeons under one of the following team options:
Small Team Entry
Big Team Entry
Entrants may send fewer reserve pigeons if desired.
Payment Terms
2. Eligibility & Health Requirements
3. Intake Period
4. Paid Entries, Reserves & Transfers
Paid Entry Eligibility
Only paid entry pigeons are eligible to compete for:
Reserve Pigeons
After Hot Spot 3
Replacement of Lost Paid Entries
5. Race Program (Proposed)
| Date | Location | Distance | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Nov | Kroonstad | 160 km | Training |
| 14 Nov | Ventersburg | 210 km | Race 1 / Ace |
| 21 Nov | Ventersburg | 210 km | Race 2 / Ace |
| 28 Nov | Verkeerdevlei | 300 km | Hot Spot 1 / Ace |
| 05 Dec | Verkeerdevlei | 300 km | Hot Spot 2 / Ace |
| 16 Dec | Glen | 335 km | Hot Spot 3 / Ace |
| 30 Dec | Bloemfontein | 360 km | Hot Spot 4 / Ace |
| 09 Jan | Tierpoort Dam | 390 km | Hot Spot 5 / Ace |
| 23 Jan | Gariep Dam Area | 450–550 km | Final Race / Final Ace |
All race dates and liberation points remain at management’s discretion and may be amended in the best interest of the pigeons.
6. Prize Money Structure
(Based on 500 paid entries before Hot Spot 3)
Final Race Prizes (ZAR)
Ace Pigeon – Overall
(Races 1 & 2, Hot Spots 1–5, and Final Race to count)
Hot Spot Prizes (1–5)
7. Team Competition
Team Categories
A Big Team entrant may split their 12 pigeons into two Small Teams of 6 pigeons each to also take part in the small team competition.
8. Auction & Breeder Kickback
Part 3 of the newsletter:
3
Paul looked a little flustered when he heard his name called out by the fanciers around him. They gathered to congratulate him on yet another top performance in 2026 — just as he had achieved the year before.
“Well done, Paul — once again, well deserved, my friend.”
At that stage, I truly believed the rest of the leading pigeons were close behind and that the little grizzle hen would soon be followed by others making their way home. However, the wait turned out to be much longer than anticipated. These are the moments when I wish we had a cost-effective tracking system providing real-time data from every entrant in such a gruelling flight. For now, once they are liberated, all we can do is wait, chat, and speculate.
Last year, on the night before travelling to the race point, we experienced one of those typical Highveld thunderstorms — lightning tearing across the sky and heavy thunder rolling through the night. This year, early morning in Trompsburg, they experienced a similar storm. Could that have influenced performances over the past two years? I’m not sure — but I am always searching for answers.
If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I analyse everything repeatedly, constantly trying to improve the next season’s results.
I firmly believe one can never know enough in pigeon racing. It is an ever-evolving sport, presenting new challenges every year. If you stagnate, you fall behind. Over the past two years, it has at times felt as though I might be slipping behind when it comes to the final. The hot spots run smoothly — large groups arriving in quick succession, high return percentages, strong race times. Yet in the final, the follow-up is not as rapid as I would like.
Make no mistake — finals are significantly tougher than hot spots. The primary reason is the jump in distance between the last hot spot and the final race. I continue to ask myself whether it might be time to adjust that structure. Perhaps a 390 km Tierpoort hot spot followed by a 430 km Edenburg final could provide clearer insight into return rates?
Is this what the newer generation of fanciers prefers — shorter final distances, quicker returns, higher same-day percentages? Would that result in more entries? Should we consider an “on the drop” format for the final, with a winner’s bonus for the first pigeon clocked?
This is still summer racing in South Africa — widely regarded as some of the toughest race conditions anywhere in the world, especially when the distance exceeds 500 km in the final. And I firmly believe that is the benchmark we should continue to exceed in summer finals. Over many years, I have seen the global impact those final race winners and ace pigeons have had on the pigeon fraternity.
Yes, we could host a shorter “Meadows Farm-type” final. It would undoubtedly reduce some pressure and make the task easier. But that is not what drives me. I strive to produce winners that can resist their natural instinct to flock together and wait in the safety of a kit flying home. I want pigeons with the courage to lift themselves from a waterhole while others are still resting and recovering — to press on alone, to break away, and to reach the loft first under extreme conditions.
That is the kind of winner that shapes pedigrees for generations.
However, as always, I will make adjustments for the coming season. I am returning to a longer-season format, with additional races and slightly more rest between the longer flights — a structure I was more accustomed to in years past. A system that included hot spots of 350 km, 400 km and 460 km, followed by a final race from 600 to 660 km.
So make sure your stock pigeons are ready for breeding — and ensure they are mated no later than 16 June 2026 if you want to stand a real chance of performing well in the later hot spots and the final race.
Let me be clear: I take nothing away from the winners of last year, this year, or even two or three years ago. I am confident they would still have stood on the podium regardless of season structure, because they were unquestionably the best on the day. That is why so many now appear in the pedigrees of current top performers — and why this Class of 2026 will also feature prominently in pedigrees for years to come. They proved themselves in one of the toughest finals in recent memory.
Some of these questions were also raised in the comments section of my social media posts following Newsletter 1 and 2. Over 30 years of experience has taught me that not every comment deserves a response — particularly when the individual is simply looking for an argument and does not even participate in one-loft races.
What I can state emphatically is this: the pigeons were in excellent condition. That was evident when 18 pigeons arrived together from 350 km at the last hot spot, and when more than 50% returned from the final. The winning pigeon still had plenty of fuel left in her tank on the day.
As the sun disappeared and night life began its routines, we waited — but no more pigeons arrived. Eventually, the fanciers left, I locked up, walked back to the house, had a shower, and settled in for the night. I knew I had an early morning and a long day ahead waiting for more arrivals.
When I reached the lofts on Saturday morning, I checked the trapping area — nothing. I walked inside to open the individual lofts so late arrivals could access fresh food and water. As I returned down the passage toward the traps, a light chequer trapped and calmly walked past me.
She turned out to be a pigeon bred and entered by Leon Viljoen from Die Ou Skuur Hok in Robertson. Leon has achieved top results at various one-loft races in recent years and is always a serious contender for the podium.
The next arrival came from another top-performing loft — Sterkfontein/Dieplaagte — who claimed 5th place. They have previously won this final and have consistently remained near the top over the past few seasons.
6th place went to local summer racing legends Triple J Lofts — always prominent in hot spots, finals and ace pigeon standings.
7th was the 2024 winter race final winner, Herman Bhom.
8th went to Andre and Juan, who had the ace pigeon in 2025 along with numerous other top achievements across one-loft races nationwide.
9th place was the second pigeon from Triple J Lofts.
10th went to Jason Brown from Zimbabwe, who has enjoyed a strong run in South African summer races.
Throughout the day, pigeons continued arriving steadily — sometimes two or three together. Once again, this reflected their condition, pedigree and preparation. Without stamina, heart and proper management, they simply would not have made it home under such demanding conditions.
A true testament to guts, determination and the quality of a small team of exceptional pigeons.
In the end, that is what Allflight Carnival Lofts Gold Cup Summer series is about. Not convenience. Not comfort. Not making it easier for organiser or entrant. It is about testing the very limits of endurance, instinct and character. Summer finals over real distance separate good pigeons from exceptional ones. They reveal the individuals that refuse to wait, refuse to follow, and refuse to give in. Those are the pigeons that leave a mark on pedigrees and on the sport itself. As long as I am involved, this race will continue to search for that kind of champion — the one that arrives alone, against the odds, and proves beyond doubt that it deserves to be called the best. ... See MoreSee Less
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The follow-up to why I wrote in Newsletter 1 that Greg must have been thinking, “I love it when a plan comes together,” will be explained in greater detail later. But at that moment, little did he know what was still to unfold that day — much later, as it turned out.
At the lofts, things had calmed down. We stood waiting for the next pigeon — or pigeons — to arrive. The temperature at the loft had soared to 33 degrees, and the wind remained stubbornly north, blowing directly against the pigeons. Restlessness began to set in as we anticipated the next arrival, convinced it could not be too far off.
What we did not yet realize was that the small blue check hen, now resting quietly on her perch, was even further ahead than we thought. The blood flowing through her veins carried generations of breakaway winners in major competition. She would follow in the footsteps of her grand dam, “Sanjay 1” (DV 0849-14-141), the famous racing pigeon that won the prestigious 2015 South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SAMDPR), along with numerous other elite performers in her pedigree.
As an outsider, you might have thought that “Queen of Ace’s” was simply lucky to win the 2026 Final Gold Cup race. But once you study her full pedigree, you will be astonished by the concentration of ace pigeons behind her. Her victory was no accident — it was earned. And mark my words: within the next few years, you will see her name and pedigree appear again in major and demanding competitions.
The wait stretched to more than an hour before the next pigeon appeared — flying straight on the line of flight, barely clearing the treetops. The little blue bar hen battled bravely against the relentless headwind before dropping onto the landing board and walking into the loft.
Once again, the name appeared: Greg Anderson.
And with that, history was repeated almost 20 years later as Gaddin Brothers took 1st and 2nd place at Allflight Carnival Lofts. Well done, Greg. You came here with a plan a year ago — and it worked out almost exactly as you must have imagined, perhaps even better. To take 1st and 2nd place in such a tough Final, and to be the proud breeder of both the 1st Ace Pigeon and 2nd Ace Pigeon, is an achievement unmatched in the history of Allflight Carnival Lofts.
Not long after, we saw a grizzle approaching from the northeast of the loft, making her way determinedly to the landing board. She dropped in and entered the loft. The moment I saw her, I smiled — I knew immediately she had to be a grizzle bred by Paul Stokes of Hillcrest Stud.
Paul Stokes, a valued client and good friend, seems to strike every year — whether here or in Cape Town. His grizzle family has delivered again and again. And yes, when you study the pedigree of “Queen of Ace’s,” you will find his name and his grizzle bloodlines there too. Her mother was the grizzle hen that flew 4th last year and was crowned 2nd Ace Pigeon in 2025.
Some victories are lucky.
Others are written in the blood.
And this one was written long before race day…… part 3 to follow ... See MoreSee Less
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Season Review: 2026 Gold Cup Race
Carnival Lofts South Africa – Final Race | 6 February 2026
“Would I have done anything different? Hell no.”
As has been the case for several years now, the season started later than planned due to various factors. But, as always, it worked out.
And on Friday, 6 February 2026, we witnessed one of those proper summer one-loft race finals — the kind only the diehards truly appreciate. Anyone who understands what a South African summer final during a peak heatwave entails will know exactly what I mean.
Yes, the pedigrees of the pigeons on the podium are once again stacked with proven Carnival Lofts summer super racers. If you’re looking for easy race conditions, South Africa offers plenty of winter races — some cheaper, some more expensive — where you can pick and choose.
But if you want a real test — where pigeons still have a genuine chance to perform under gruelling summer conditions — then you’re in the right place.
It’s not for everyone. I know that.
But for pigeons with the blood, the engine, and the recovery, this is where legends are made.
The Allflight Carnival Lofts Summer Series, much like the old Million Dollar Race, has produced pigeons that still appear in the pedigrees of major one-loft winners across the globe years later. And make no mistake: the pigeons that made it back on the day — and early on day two — will feature prominently in pedigrees for years to come.
________________________________________
Heat, Headwinds, and Hard Truths
Is it stressful waiting when pigeons arrive slower and further apart than expected? Of course it is.
But I knew they were ready for the heatwave conditions. I knew they had the stamina to make it home — even after being forced down early to find water and shade, in some cases before 10am, simply because the temperatures were too high to continue flying.
Was it a gamble once pigeons went down?
Absolutely not.
By that stage, the pigeons with the right blood were already ahead. Their recovery is faster, and once rested, they strike up first to carry on racing home.
You can see this clearly when studying the pedigrees of the front birds — none more so than the little blue-chequer hen I’ve fondly named “Queen of Aces.”
I’ll write more about her in a later newsletter, but for now this much is certain: she has firmly placed herself in my top five greatest pigeons of all time — and the other four are already legendary producers.
________________________________________
Race Day Conditions
It was good to catch up with old friends and meet new faces as we waited near the lofts. Every weather update from Nic started the same way:
“It’s hot out here — with a strong headwind.”
In my 25+ years as a trainer, I’ve learned that wind doesn’t worry me much — and it doesn’t worry pigeons much either. Yes, it slows them down, but generally it won’t stop them racing.
Heat, however, is a different story.
And they had plenty of it.
Temperatures hovered around 32°C for most of the day, with a heatwave stretching along much of the route.
At 05h00, Nic called to say there had been a thunderstorm overnight at Trompsburg. Liberation was delayed until 06h15 to allow better sunlight through the cloud cover. Once liberated, the pigeons took immediate direction for home.
Nic and Alfred saw the kit about 30km from liberation, then again 5km further on — flying low into the north-easterly wind. At Bloemfontein (100km into the route), temperatures were climbing fast and humidity was already noticeable. That report followed them almost all the way home.
Around 100km from the lofts, the wind shifted northerly and temperatures soared even higher.
We knew then: this was going to be another proper summer final.
________________________________________
Waiting at the Lofts
Back at the lofts, fanciers began guessing arrival times. My estimate — worked out the day before — was 14h45. That assumed a pigeon could fly straight at around 1050 mpm.
But I knew they would go down for water at least twice, possibly three times.
Most people don’t factor this in:
At temperatures above 28°C, a pigeon will rarely fly more than two hours without needing water. The first stop might be quick. The second and third require actual cooling and recovery before the bird can orient properly and continue.
What do I base this on?
Twenty-nine years of training pigeons in winter and summer.
I’ve seen half a summer kit go down for water within 40km of liberation back in the late ’90s. I’ve watched pigeons arrive 30 minutes apart — the later ones with muddy, dripping feet from sitting too long at water, even within 10km of the loft.
That’s not theory.
That’s experience.
________________________________________
The Winner Arrives
We had snacks, then fired up the braai — wors and chicken prego’s with rolls and salad.
I didn’t eat. I never do on final day. The tension gets me every time.
The pile of empty water and cold-drink bottles under my chair told the real story of just how hot and humid it was.
While chatting, something caught my eye on the line of flight above the blue loft roof.
I called it immediately.
The crowd looked up as a small pigeon made a turn over the yellow loft, then another wide turn — half-shaking her tail as if announcing her destiny.
She dropped, looked at us all, and calmly walked into the loft as if she could do another four hours if needed — stepping over the Benzing ETS to record a winning time of 14:26:13.55.
Earlier than I expected. But welcome all the same.
Seconds later, the name lit up the system — and phones around the world:
Greg Anderson — Winner of the 2026 Carnival Lofts Gold Cup Race.
Congratulations, Greg. Well deserved.
I’m sure you said something like Hannibal from the A-Team once did:
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
________________________________________
More news to follow tomorrow… ... See MoreSee Less
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Carnival Lofts Summer Gold Cup 🏆 liberated at 06h15 from 462km for their final challenge ... See MoreSee Less
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Final training flight #carnivallofts summer Gold Cup team 2026 ... See MoreSee Less
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Good luck brother 👍🏻💓
Bly maar mooi as hulle so in kom
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Gold Cup summer race team ready for the final race ... See MoreSee Less
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Carnival Loft One Loft Race liberation of hot spot 4 from 350km. Best of luck to everyone. Headwind conditions with some scattered showers along the way. ... See MoreSee Less
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The final test for the team before the final race planned for 6 February 2026 ... See MoreSee Less
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HI Carnival Lofts i was asking the same as Jaime .. Thank you
How much for 1 bird entry, I don't have a bird, can you supply me 1.
I am from the Philippines!