I started racing pigeons in 1993 in Vryheid, Northern Natal Federation. I got my first pigeons from Vic Furstenburg from Potchefstroom. The Oscar De Vriendt, Janssens and Putteries I got from him were super pigeons. My first race as a novice, I won the race from Paul Roux.
In the years to come, I became chairman of the Vryheid Racing Pigeon Club and served as the vice-chairman of the Natal Racing Pigeon Union under the Chairman De Wet Frylinck.
In 2004 we moved to Pretoria. In 2005 I was one of the founders of the very strong Crusaders Racing Club, with Charl Stander as our first chairman. The first two years racing was a huge problem for me. Working hours were from 06:00 in the morning till late at night, which forced me to stop racing.
I then went to the SCMDPR in 2011 with my brother Jan, and then started to build a new loft straight after that. In 2012 I joined the Sinoville Club, and raced here because it was the closest club to my house. In 2013 I went back to join Crusaders and is still with them today.
I was very fortunate to enter at Dinokeng One Loft Race in 2013. In the main race we were placed 7th, 32nd and 45th. The first loft to have 3 birds back, and we only entered 6 pigeons.
In the Barzalona race we entered two pigeons and were placed 2nd and 5th from 6 birds on the drop.
In 2015 we bred and raced, ZA 08672/14, the yearling points winner in Pretoria Combine and ZA 9981/13 “Concorde”who won the SANPO Silver Medal Middle Distance as well as the SANPO Gold Medal Overall. A great achievement for us.
In 2016 we bred the 2nd Best Grand Average pigeon at Dinokeng.
In 2017 we entered the 1st, 3rd and 4th best SA Pigeons at the Derby Arona One Loft. We also finished 6th Best Grand Averages from 3037 paid entries.
We also bred “DART” the Ace Pigeon at the Victoria Falls World Challenge Race.
We relocated our own loft at the end of 2016 and raced only babies in 2017, and finished 8th Yearling points in Pretoria Combine and had the third best yearling pigeon.
I bought “Mugabe” at the auction of Johan and Mark King in 2013 for R110 000. Suddenly all black pigeons became Mugabe’s, and everybody jumped the bandwagon. I then decided to start investigating into the DNA of pigeons. A year later I signed a contract with the University of Pretoria to do DNA on pigeons. Ferdie Lubbe, John Du Preez and Louis Botha joined in on the venture. Since then I have DNA tested all my stock birds and breed DNA certified birds. This is the only way to be able to proof to my customers that, what they are buying is true to the pedigree they receive.
Three words can describe our 2024 racing pigeon season
PHENOMENAL – PHENOMENAL – PHENOMENAL
Here are some of our results for the season:
* 1st Gauteng Provincial Combine Averages
* 1st Pretoria Union Averages (PWDU)
* 1st Two-year Old Championship Union points
* 1st Open birds Union points
* 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Best Young birds in the Pretoria Union
* 1st, 2nd and 4th Best Old birds in Pretoria Union
* 13 x Birds in the Top 30 Ace Birds in the Pretoria Union
* 2nd Young Bird points in the Pretoria Union
* 2nd Short Distance point in the Pretoria Union (beaten by 2 points)
* 2nd Long Distance points in the Pretoria Union (beaten by 1 point)
* 2nd Ultra Long-Distance points in the Pretoria Union
One of numerous highlights of the season was the privilege to have bred and raced “Amira” (643-2022 ABL BB Hen). During the 2023-season, as a yearling, Amira has shown potential by winning the Pretoria Union in the Classic Derby Race from Colesberg (632km) at a staggering velocity of 1963mpm. She also achieved numerous top union positions and club wins. This seems to have been only the foundation for what was to come in 2024.
In the 2024-season, Amira won the Pretoria Union on no less than three (3) occasions. This she accomplished from Winburg (326km @ 1189mpm), Bloemfontein (430km @ 1397mpm) and Jamestown (610km @ 1084mpm). She also achieved numerous other Top Union positions over fourteen (14) races she competed in. Amongst these achievements was in the last race of the 2024-season from Hanover wherein Amira was placed 2nd Union (699km @ 1202mpm). During Amira’s two-year racing career, she won no less than nine (9) races at club level.
Amira’s performance is maybe best described by Peter Smith:
“Amira has cemented her position as one of the most exceptional racing pigeons in history of the Pretoria Union. Amira’s impressive lineage and outstanding performance have earned her widespread acclaim. Respected pigeon experts Ferdie Lubbe and Johan King have hailed Amira as “The Best racer ever in the Pretoria union”. Amira’s remarkable achievements and illustrious pedigree solidify her status as a true champion, reflecting Alwyn Bester’s exceptional breeding and racing expertise”
By no means was the 2024-season a ‘one-bird show’. Following a disasters training toss shortly prior the commencement of the 2024-season, we only had seventy-four (74) birds in the loft. This did not deter us, and we still managed to finish 4th All Birds Gauteng Provincial Combine Championship points, and 4th All Birds Pretoria Union Championship Points. This surely a reflection of the depth of quality pigeons in our loft.
I also wish to recognize our competition and support of the South African pigeon racing community, my fellow fanciers in the Gauteng Provincial Combine, and more specific those in the Pretoria Union. Special recognition and congratulations to the fanciers Du Preez & Deetlefs and Huysers that also had a great season.
The season was not only about our results, but also all those who contributed. I wish to recognize my team consisting of IP Du Preez (race loft manager) and Elias Puche (loft assistant) for their unequivocal efforts, support and hard work 365 days a year.
I wish all fanciers a peaceful and blessed off-season.