Superstar brings home trophies
Joe Gomes, a member of the Benoni Homing Society, is wracking up not only his achievements, but his pigeon's too.
The Benoni Homing Society has really picked up the pace.
The pigeon known as Superstar is a big part of Gomes’ life.
“Our pigeons are our children, we look after them like this. We like to celebrate their achievements too, like you would with your children,” said Gomes.
With a big thanks to Gomes, his little superstar has been stacking up achievements that would make any “parent” proud.
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Superstar and Gomes have won best short-distance pigeon in South Africa, best bird overall, and a massive shield trophy at the Gauteng Pigeon Union (GPU). He was second in the single bird averages in the GPU, as well as the overall bird champion and the club champion.
Gomes is also a three-time union winner and a second time, second and third place union winner.
“It’s absolutely astonishing. I have never seen a bird with these kind of records in my career,” said Tyrone Barnard, a member of the Benoni Homing Society.
But it hasn’t been an easy road. There have been quite a few complaints with regards to pigeon racing.
NSPCA Special Projects Unit manager senior inspector Arno de Klerk said: “The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) is again concerned by the low number of pigeons that have returned to their loft of the South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race (SAMDPR), which took place on February 1, 2020.
“On February 1, 1 548 pigeons were liberated in the early morning in the Northern Cape and were expected to make their way back to their loft in Sasolburg, some 600kms away. But to date, only 675 pigeons have returned, which means that 60 per cent are still missing.
“The pigeons used for pigeon racing are bred in captivity and spend their lives in the care of humans, making them completely dependent on humans to survive. They are easy prey to predators and do not know how to protect themselves from the elements or even how to forage for themselves.
“The NSPCA remains opposed to animal racing in all forms.”
The Benoni Homing Society commented: “These birds are our children. Yes, they are bred in captivity, but they are treated like normal birds. They are let out to walk around and stretch their legs. They decide whether they want to come back or not, they are never forced. They are fed three times a day and always have water.
“Before they go out for their race, usually on a Saturday, they are provided with plenty of food and water to sustain them if they are not able to find any during the race,” said Barnard.
“Why would we want to hurt them and abuse them and make their lives terrible? They live the life with us and it is always up to the pigeons. They decide if they want to come back or not when they leave for the race. They are our children.
“I will be sitting at the finishing line, hoping and praying my child has come back, and whenever I see him I cry my eyes out.
“People don’t realise how clever pigeon’s actually are. I have sat outside with them before when they are doing a leg stretch, and they will all be outside the one minute and the next they will all run inside. After waiting about 10 minutes, an eagle will come by and drop real low. They knew before I even did that their was danger in the sky. They are very clever birds, regardless of how they were brought up.”
There are many stories on how pigeons were used during disasters and how their knowledge and their flight saved lives.
“A pigeon named Cher Ami helped to save 194 survivors who were trapped in a small depression on the side of a hill behind enemy lines. Through the war and bullets, this little champion made her way through to deliver her letters. One hundred and ninety-four people were saved thanks to this little pigeon,” said Andries Small, chairperson of Benoni Homing Society and pigeon middle-distance union champion.
Cher Ami became the mascot of the Department of Service and was awarded the Croix de Guerre medal with a palm Oak Leaf Cluster for her heroic service in delivering 12 important messages in Verdun.
“She was later inducted into the racing pigeon hall of fame in 1931 and also received a gold medal from Organised Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Franciers in recognition of her extraordinary service during World War I.
“Pigeons are very smart birds and they deserve to be given the credit where its due.”
For more information on the Benoni Homing Society visit their Facebook page (Benoni Homing Society).
