The Western Pigeon Federation’s 3rd Tintinara 480km was a showcase of youth and speed, with yearlings absolutely dominating the field. Out of the top 30 federation places, a remarkable 26 were yearlings (ring numbers with ‘24’), while only one 2-year-old (ring ‘23’) cracked the top 10. With 1,373 birds liberated across six sections, the race was a true test of both depth and quality, and the results show a new generation of champions is emerging.
The event was run in conjunction with the Deer Park Club Challenge and Tintinara Squeaker Squadron 5, and—just 30 minutes after the main liberation—a special Alison Portelli 10 Bird Hens Race added even more excitement. (Stay tuned for a dedicated post on that!)
🏆 Federation Top 10 – Results Table
| Fed Pos | Name | Club | Velocity | Section | Section Pos | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HUANG & ZHENG | D/PARK | 1671.551 | Metro 3 | 1 | Yearling |
| 2 | JEROME TINAO | Y/VILLE | 1667.164 | Metro 1 | 2 | Yearling |
| 3 | SAGGERS BROTHERS [John] | Y/VILLE | 1662.168 | Metro 3 | 3 | Yearling |
| 4 | D. HUNTER | D/PARK | 1659.658 | West | 4 | Yearling |
| 5 | CACHIA, HOLWELL & CINI | WILL/NEWPORT | 1657.862 | Metro 3 | 5 | Yearling |
| 6 | SMITH & ZHENG [J. Smith] | S/SHINE | 1650.940 | Metro 3 | 6 | Yearling |
| 7 | J & M PORTELLI [Michael] | A/CITY | 1648.676 | Metro 3 | 7 | Yearling |
| 8 | M & N CIANCIO | Y/VILLE | 1648.595 | Metro 1 | 8 | Yearling |
| 9 | FRANK DePASQUALE | Y/VILLE | 1648.53South West | South West | 9 | 2-Year-Old |
| 10 | ALEX DIAZ | W’BEE | 1647.714 | South West | 10 | Yearling |
Note: Section and position are based on club mapping and available data. Most top birds were yearlings, with only one 2-year-old in the top 10.
🎯 Liberation Details
- Liberation Point: Tintinara, SA
- Distance: 480 km to most metropolitan lofts
- Total Birds Liberated: 1,373
- Sections: Metro 1 (178 birds), Metro 2 (218), Metro 3 (281), Northwest (95), West (242), Southwest (359)
- Liberation Time: Main race and Deer Park Club Challenge birds released in the morning at 8.35 am, followed by the Alison Portelli 10 Bird Hens Race 30 minutes later.
🌟 Race Highlights
- HUANG & ZHENG (D/Park) stormed home to take the overall Federation win, topping Metro 3 with a velocity of 1671.55 m/min.
- JEROME TINAO (Y/Ville) was a standout in Metro 1, finishing 2nd overall and showing the depth of the Yarraville team.
- SAGGERS BROTHERS John continued their strong form, placing 3rd Federation and 2nd in Metro 1.
- D. HUNTER (D/Park) and CACHIA, HOLWELL & CINI (Will/Newport, 1657.862 m/min) rounded out the top five, both featuring in the section money.
- Yearlings dominated: 26 of the top 30, and 9 of the top 10, were yearlings—proving the new crop is ready to take over.
- Special mention: Only one 2-year-old, from FRANK DePASQUALE, made the top 10, highlighting just how tough the competition was for older birds.
🐦 Special Feature: Alison Portelli 10 Bird Hens Race
This weekend, just 30 minutes after the Deer Park Club Challenge birds were released, the Federation hosted a special event: the Alison Portelli 10 Bird Hens Race. This unique race was dedicated to hens only, with each flyer able to select their best hens (up to 10 per entry) for a shot at the title. It’s a true test of the best hens in the Federation—who will come out on top?
Don’t Miss What’s Next! Stay tuned—another post is coming soon with the full results and stories from the Alison Portelli 10 Bird Hens Race. If you’re passionate about top-class hens and want to see which lofts are leading the way, you won’t want to miss it!