One loft races

In a one loft race every fancier sends young birds to the same loft, where one loft manager houses, feeds and trains them all the same way. Because every bird gets the same treatment and flies home to the same loft, the race tests the pigeon itself rather than the fancier's loft, feeding or training.

Each race has its own entry form, usually on its website. You fill in the form, pay the entry fee or deposit by EFT, and deliver or courier your young birds to the loft within the intake dates. Most races want the birds vaccinated against paramyxo before they arrive.

Entry fees in South Africa range from a few hundred rand per bird for bragging-rights entries to around R2,000 to R3,000 per bird for the big prize-money races. Team-based races such as SAIPR price per team, and international series price in US dollars. Some races add a perch fee or admin fee.

For winter races, which are flown from about June to September, most lofts take birds from the second half of the previous year until about January to March. Summer races take birds earlier in the year and fly their finals around January and February.