THE RACING PIGEON 19 APRIL 2024
6
WEBB, SOUTHWOOD & LEVINSTON, WALES 1ST INTERNATIONAL DERBY ARONA SEMI FINAL
Well, this is it. After months of testing, training, and racing over the Atlantic, the team is now preparing the pigeons for our next adventure, the semi-final. This is the make or break race, as fanciers worldwide are hopeful to see their pigeons return home to take on the final race from Fuerteventura, a double island flight, in the coming days over two stretches of open water.
Race day arrived with high cloud cover at first light, which gradually broke, allowing patches of blue sky to come through. As planned, the team prepared and liberated the convoy at 09:00. Upon liberating, the batch instantly got their line and cleared the site. At the home end, the weather was showing clear skies out over the Atlantic with very little wind. As the team prepared the loft to welcome the pigeons, they were joined by the Belgian agents Jackey & Jelle Creemers family, along with Roger Mertens, who were in Tenerife in preparation for the final. With the birds doing a similar distance in Hotspot 2
off well, with a few top positions, including 4th and 13th in the pre-selection training flights. While holding mid-table positions throughout recent weeks, today saw them back at the top flight. For 3rd International, we see the team of Emperors of Sussex. As first-time participants, they have started to shine as they improve on their position in Hotspot 2, where they moved from 5th to 3rd with another of their entries, ‘Rosario’, timing in at 10:20:57.30, Webb, Southwood & Levingston, Wales, 1st International Derby Arona semi final race with pigeon ‘Gorgojo’.
With the loft management making a last-minute decision to delay this race by 24 hours as the weather was more suitable on Thursday compared to the orig- inally planned Wednesday, the 351 pigeons were again basketed. Following an uneventful journey to the lib-site on the east coast of Gran Canaria, Abel Ledesma made his nightly update video, ensuring all was well with the birds as he and Goyo watered the entrants and left them to settle. Early morning clouds starting to break, prior to liberation.
Finishing line in sight.
receiving the 3rd place trophy and a sum of €500. Team England also takes 4th and 6th positions as Team D & S Field, who, sending just a small team, have gradually been moving up. They saw their pigeon ‘Phoenix’ record a time of 10:20:57.31 for 4th International, followed by pigeon named ‘Flash’ in 6th at 10:20:57.46. Both these arrivals will each get a prize of €220 for the syndicate in prize money. In 5th, separating the two, we see the nation of Cuba take 5th International with pigeon ‘Amini’ for Team Cuba Pigeon ‘Velia’ 2nd International semi final race for team Van Parys & Debusschere, Belgium.
last week, all thoughts were on a repeat or a little longer. However, some ten minutes or so prior to expectation, a small batch of pigeons were seen on the southern coast of Tenerife, not far from the old loft location of Guassa. As the team watched patiently, they took a turn and were seen head-on racing for the loft. As everyone watched, the birds hit the landing board and entered the loft. As what proved to be a batch of 26 pigeons trapped, it soon appeared as taking 1st Wales 1st International Derby Arona semi-final race, the Welsh syndicate of Webb, Southwood & Levingston, with pigeon ‘Gorgojo’, running through to record its arrival at 10:20:56.75, therefore claiming the semi-final winners trophy along with the €2,000 prize. With this pigeon pooled, the amount will surely rise. In 2nd place, winning the runner-up trophy and €750 prize with pigeon ‘Velia’, we have the Belgian team of Van Parys & Debusschere. Their entry in the early stages started
Here comes the first arrivals.
Emperors of Sussex 3rd International Derby Arona semi final with pigeon ‘Rosario’.
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