The Sun City Million-Dollar Pigeon race boasts one of the most picturesque venues in the world. The hundreds of foreign participants and visitors provide a major tourism boost. The weekend of the final race offers an exciting entertainment package, which can be booked from the Thursday to the Monday, covering all the events of the weekend. O n the Friday night before the race, a welcoming cocktail party is held at which one can meet pigeon fanciers from all four corners of the world. There are also tours of the loft complex where the pigeons are being trained. A short video shows the liberation of the birds at the starting point, and there are also video clips of the pigeons in full flight during the race.
Fanciers awaiting the arrival of the pigeons at the finish enjoy a delicious lunch in the Sun City Superbowl, where overhead screens show the arrival and loft entry of the winning pigeons. winners’ dinner is held in honour of the top performers on the Saturday night. Ten magnificent gold pendants are awarded to the owners of the first 10 pigeons home. n the Sunday the first 100 birds are auctioned by internationally renowned auctioneer Johan van der Nest. The first 10 winning pigeons customarily sell for the combined sum of R1 million or more. Besides Germany, the UK and the US, the big spenders at the auction are countries from the East such as China and Taiwan. Businesses can enter a pigeon under the company name by booking a punter bird – one of the reserve birds that are available two weeks before the race. Such entrants qualify for the full prize package. – Thomas Smit ([email protected] or call (011) 680 4778).
Contact Marion on (011) 680 1118 for more information.
