The happy winner of the South African Million Dollar Race 2016: Ganus Family Loft
Update 18:00 CEST
Car Winner - Lloyd and Kelly, UK - bred by Premier Stud - 100% Gaston Van de Wouwer
Lloyd & Kelly (UK) won the car with their 35th place in the final and won almost 100.000 dollar on prize money and nominations ! Click here for the pedigree of the bird.
First pigeon from Belgium - Ludovicus Van de Wouwer - Click here to see pedigree of 34. place.
Click here to see result list.
Update 15:45 CEST
First pigeon from Holland - Jan Hooymans wins 7. place in the final - Click here to see the pedigree of 7. Final
First pigeon from Iraq - Ali Obaed wins 8. place in the final - Pigeon bred by Jos Thoné - Click here to see pedigree of mother 8. place
And the winner is... Mike Ganus (USA)
The winner of SAMDPR 2016 is Mike Ganus (USA), his pigeon 'Laura is a Big Winner Today' arrived at 14:57:35 the lofts. Father is also father to 'Rubbellos' who win the SAMDPR 2012 ! Mother is a daughter to SAMDPR-winner 2013 ! Click here to see the pedigree of SAMDPR 2016 Winner.
This pigeon will not be sold in the auction tomorrow because all USA birds had to go back to USA after the final race regarding Avian Influenza regulations.
Frank McLaughlin, USA agent for the SAMDPR, on the phone with Mike Ganus, bringing him the fantastic news
News for SAMPDR 2017
For the 2017 edition lofts will move to a new location. More news later.
Liberation
This morning 6th of February the pigeons are released at 06:15 local time (5:15 CEST). Weather conditions are fine and warm (21°C) with a headwind. The distance of this final race is 541km (336 miles).
Interview before liberation
Welcome Event on Friday
Welcome speech by Sarah Blackshaw
As you may know, we have been looking to relocate our Linbro Park lofts for some time now. When Zandy first moved there he was on a farm, now it has become a built up industrialized area not suitable for pigeon lofts. I am very pleased to advise, hot off the press that I have managed to secure, this week only, a very large piece of land on the Vaal river for the construction of our lofts. In addition to ticking all the administrative boxes, this piece of land also has the added advantages of across the river from Emerald Casino and adjacent to a golf resort – Heron Banks. I have sought and received collaboration from both entities who welcomed the chance to be part of the Million Dollar dream.
What does this mean for you and your pigeons? Well for the pigeons a chance to be training in a unique environment with no possible distractions. For you as visitor to the race; we will no longer bus you to the lofts, we will “boat across” a 25m stretch. Emerald Hotel will be privatized during the race period for our exclusive use. Activities on the Vaal river are numerous, including fishing, golf, casino, to game parks, water skiing and canoeing to name but a few.
We will be upgrading our race weekend with some new idea to include a river evening cruise with live music after basketing on a Thursday night. And for those of you who are still fit for the next morning we will hosting the first edition of the Million Dollar Golf Invitational on Heron Banks course. I will try not to make the competition as complicated as the SAMDPR so we will probably not be looking to reward an “ace” golfer, why not a country challenge?
See more photos in the album below.
Race path
Birds line of flight is Kimberly to Johannesburg
Weahter Forecast
Weather forecasted on route
Weather forecast for liberation in Kimberly area
Later today we will provide you with the weather forecast for the final race. Be sure to tune in on PIPA tomorrow as we will follow this highly prestigious race throughout the day with photos, videos and information on the race progress, winners and prize presentation.