Race: Race 4 (324.89 km)

The AviRings Derby Race 4 on August 28, 2024, proved to be an intense and challenging competition for the pigeons and their owners. The race, spanning 325 kilometers from a release point near Pely, Hungary, to the lofts, began under favorable weather conditions, though the results defied expectations. Despite a north-eastern wind forecast, the actual wind at the release point was negligible. The temperature at release was 22°C, and while a normal flight was anticipated, the race unfolded unpredictably. At 6:45 a.m., 1,656 pigeons were released.

The first three pigeons arrived at the lofts at 10:40 a.m., with a substantial seven-minute lead over the fourth pigeon. The winner, Team PV de Valk 1, clocked an impressive speed of 1380m/min. Gert Rotman’s pigeon, NL-2024-4633277, closely followed just 4 seconds later, securing second place. Rotman has had a remarkable season, having already placed 6th in Race 3. Andre Hombeck had a third pigeon DV-2024-03324-303, Andre won with his team 4 prizes at race 4.

Here's a summary of the top 10:

NL-2024-8073202 - Team PV de Valk 1 - 1380.01 m/min - 10:40:25.570

NL-2024-4633277 - Gert Rotman - 1379.60 m/min - 10:40:29.770

DV-2024-03324-303 - Andre Hombeck - 1379.36 m/min - 10:40:32.256

DV-2024-06357-102 Speedy - Spessart Racing Team - 1339.95 m/min - 10:47:27.913

AUT-2024-612-416 - Team Pigeon Keeper - 1339.78 m/min - 10:47:29.756

DV-2024-07936-5 - Klaus & Dagmar Geraldy - 1339.76 m/min - 10:47:29.960

DV-2024-08469-528 - Team Zeppelin HBR - 1339.66 m/min - 10:47:30.986

BIH-2024-200-109 - Zdravko Nikolić - 1339.58 m/min - 10:47:31.836

DV-2024-4581-1858 - Team Kamella/Morelli - 1339.58 m/min - 10:47:31.836

SLO-2024-108-1401 - Boris Baloh - 1339.58 m/min - 10:47:31.836

However, the race was marked by a low return rate by the end of the day, with only 769 back at the lofts—a little less than half. This raised concerns among fanciers, especially since the pigeons seemed to return slowly and in small groups rather than the expected larger batches. But in an unexpected turn, a significant number of pigeons returned the following morning, mostly in good or normal condition. By 1:00 p.m. the next day, 1,291 pigeons had made it home, reducing the missing rate to 22%, with more pigeons still trickling in.

The AviRings Derby program is renowned for its tough conditions, with challenging winds, mountain ranges to the north and west, rivers, lakes, and high humidity along the route. The fourth race of 325km, highlighted these difficulties. The exact reason for the low return rate on race day remains unclear, though it demonstrates the pigeons' ability to adapt and survive in adverse conditions, as many successfully completed the race the next morning.

Notable mentions include Team Penzija (Boris Sovič), whose six pigeons all returned on the first day, with five winning prizes, Wifler Alois with also 5/5 on the first day with 2 prizes; Jelle Jellema, who saw seven out of seven pigeons return, four of which won prizes and Miha Sovič with 10/12 on the first day (2 pigeons came next day) and 8 prizes!  Once again congratulation to the fanciers with pigeons for hard conditions!

Overall, the race showcased the resilience of the pigeons, and the experience gained will likely benefit them in the races to come, especially  in the final race of the series, which will cover 520 kilometers.