🏆 Michael Portelli’s Weekend Masterclass – Federation Champion & 10-Bird Runner-Up 🚀
The 3rd Kaniva (355 km) weekend on Saturday, 9 August 2025 belonged to one man – Michael Portelli. He not only won the Federation race in the main Kaniva event 🥇 but also stormed into second Federation in the prestigious C & J Morris Ten Birds Memorial Race 🥈.
This rare double confirmed him as the best flyer of the weekend, with his birds in outstanding form and his loft management on point.
It was a special occasion too – the C & J Morris Memorial sees each loft send only their 10 best pigeons, making every second count. To podium in both events shows an unmatched depth in Michael’s team.
📊 Federation Top 10 – Main Kaniva Race
| Pos | Flier | Section | Velocity (mpm) | Birds Sent | Ring & Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J & M Portelli (Michael) | 3 Metro | 1294.674 | 31 | VHA-24-2635 |
| 2 | Baba’s Loft (R. Ristevski) | 1 Metro | 1277.787 | 16 | SFD-24-1322 |
| 3 | Huang & Zheng | 3 Metro | 1276.165 | 40 | WPF-24-9533 |
| 4 | Frank DePasquale | South West | 1275.051 | 22 | WPF-24-4401 |
| 5 | M & N Ciancio | 2 Metro | 1273.081 | 40 | WPF-24-410 |
| 6 | John Goodwin | 3 Metro | 1264.633 | 17 | WPF-23-12422 |
| 7 | Cachia, Holwell & Cini | 3 Metro | 1264.205 | 26 | VRPU-24-4105 |
| 8 | Tenaglia Bros Fmly CS (Marc) | 1 Metro | 1262.317 | 30 | WPF-24-8478 |
| 9 | S & M Mifsud | West | 1261.804 | 40 | WPF-23-4545 |
| 10 | Saggers Brothers (John) | South West | 1259.419 | 21 | BCPC-24-1448 |
🏅 Section Winners & Prize Money
1 Metro – Baba’s Loft (R. Ristevski) – $125.10 – Fed 2nd, sharp trapping to lead the section
2 Metro – M & N Ciancio – $143.55 – Fed 5th, strong and consistent
3 Metro – J & M Portelli (Michael) – $159.75 – Fed 1st, commanding win and weekend highlight
North West – Justin Tenaglia – $109.20 – solid section victory
West – S & M Mifsud – $157.50 – Fed 9th, powerful section performance
South West – Frank DePasquale – $198.00 – Fed 4th, blistering pace in section
🌟 Double Federation Placings – The Weekend’s Iron Flyers
The following fliers placed in the Federation Top 30 in both the main Kaniva race and the C & J Morris Ten Birds Memorial:
- Michael Portelli – Main Race 1st, 10-Bird Special 2nd
- Frank DePasquale – Main Race 4th, 10-Bird Special 9th
- Cachia, Holwell & Cini – Main Race 7th, 10-Bird Special 4th
- Ruel Camigla – Main Race 26th, 10-Bird Special 3rd
- Alex Diaz – Main Race 26th, 10-Bird Special 7th
- The J Brothers (Jeremiah) – Main Race 39th, 10-Bird Special 5th
🌤 Race Recap & Final Word
With perfect racing conditions and a top-quality convoy, the Kaniva weekend brought out the very best. The Federation win and 10-Bird Special runner-up spot mark Michael Portelli’s weekend as one of the standout performances of the 2025 season so far. Other multiple-place achievers also showed their skill and depth, ensuring the races were fiercely contested.
The question now is — can anyone match Portelli’s pace? We’ll find out soon.
Keep them sharp, keep them hungry – and let’s fly again! 🕊💨🔥