Roller Pigeon Club spreads its wings
The club is swooping toward its goals of representing KZN as either judges or competitors at World Cup events.
Birds of a feather hope to take Newcastle’s Roller Pigeon Club to new heights.
Intent on preening a younger generation of high flyers, the four current members of the club, which originally took flight in February 1983, are on the lookout for fellow enthusiasts to swell their ranks and boost Newcastle to international fame.
Chairman, Lieb Swiegers said one of the club’s goals is to spread its wings at a World Cup event in the near future.
Membership is many eggs short of the 25 required to establish the area as a World Cup eligible region, yet Mr Swiegers is confident the opportunity to represent KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa holds significant appeal.
South Africa, he added, soars at World Cup events, despite having the fewest competitors.
“We get three on average in the top 10, although we have the least number of regions participating.”
Explaining the basic concept of roller pigeon contests, Mr Swiegers said each competitor releases a trained flock of pigeons and is awarded points for each time a bird rolls (tumbles).
Additional points are awarded if the flock remains in formation, and if the pigeons land on the ground or not.
Each of the three judges of the competition marks both the flock and individual birds on a few criteria, after which an average score is calculated out of a possible 96 points.
Mr Swiegers said the relaxed format of the competition meant members could roost while the flock did its thing.
“This sport would appeal to most people. Once you buy a pigeon the bug has bit and you’ll be stuck for life.”
Mr Swiegers purchased his first bird as a juvenile of six years, and spent the next 44 years as an avid ‘flight attendant’.
One of the founding members of the original Roller Pigeon Club, Mr Swiegers was joined by Piet Bothma (secretary/treasurer), Quintus Oosthuizen (ring master) and Helgaardt Nel (cooperative committee member).
Mr Oosthuizen is the unanimous voice behind the take-off of the new club in January this year.
“Piet and I are qualified judges for World Cup contests, although we are yet to judge one. Our two-year goal is to have at least one of us at a World Cup event.”
Speaking on the requirements to become a member of the club, Mr Swiegers explained any beginner would need both an aviary and the ability to breed and fly birds.
However, newcomers need not be daunted by the cost implications.
“It’s not expensive if you know the right people – you can get a decent bird for as little as R50.”
Mr Swiegers said members of the Roller Pigeon Club were a group of social men who were always willing to help each other in terms of advice, medicine and even birds.”
For additional information, Mr Swiegers can be reached on 083 293 5268.
