🏆 Weekend Wrap-Up – Portelli’s Double, Gusman’s Glory & Sprint Series Down to the Wire 💰🚀
Saturday, 9 August 2025 was a weekend to remember for the Western Pigeon Federation. Two Kaniva (355 km) races – the Federation main race and the C & J Morris Ten Birds Memorial – were flown alongside the penultimate round of the Sprint Series, setting up a thrilling finish for the final showdown. 🕊💨
🥇 Michael Portelli’s Weekend Masterclass
Michael Portelli proved why he’s one of the sport’s elite – winning 1st Federation in the main race AND taking 2nd Federation in the C & J Morris Ten Birds Memorial. To podium in both events on the same weekend is a rare achievement and highlights the incredible depth in his team. 📈🔥
💥 M. Gusman & Son’s Ten-Bird Supremacy
Mark & Liam Gusman dominated the Ten-Bird Memorial with their 2024 Blue Bar Pied Hen smashing home at 1369.214 mpm from the South West section to claim Federation victory. It was a textbook display of speed, stamina, and precision timing. 🏅🚀
📊 Sprint Series – Still One Race to Go
The Sprint Series (Friday night basketing, eight races total) is now on a knife’s edge with just one race remaining – the prestigious Comeback Race from Kaniva on Saturday, 25 October 2025.
So far: 🏆 Michael Portelli has claimed 2 Federation wins 🏆 M. Gusman & Son have claimed 2 Federation wins – but with one last sprint left, the leaderboard could still flip.
Section Champions so far:
Metro 3 – Michael Portelli
South West – Frank Briffa
Metro 2 – Pierre Anastasi
Metro 1 – Baba’s Loft (R. Ristevski)
North West – J. T. Watkins
West – David Hunter
Overall – Cachia, Holwell & Cini (current leader)
Consistency Wins Titles – Cachia, Holwell & Cini still lead the overall Sprint Series points without a Federation win, but their margin could vanish if the big names hit form in the finale.
🏅 Short Series Winners – West Line Pointscore 2025 (One Race Remaining)
| Rank | Flier | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cachia, Holwell & Cini | 202 |
| 2 | J & M Portelli (Michael) | 195 |
| 3 | Pierre Anastasi | 141 |
| 4 | Frank Briffa | 135 |
| 5 | Baba’s Loft (R. Ristevski) | 128 |
| 6 | R. Saggers | 116 |
| 7 | D & G Vatzakis | 114 |
| 8 | Huang & Zheng | 113 |
| 9 | Frank DePasquale | 111 |
| 9 | David Mallia | 111 |
| 11 | M. Gusman & Son (Mark) | 109 |
| 12 | Saggers Brothers (John) | 103 |
| 13 | Ruel Camigla | 101 |
| 14 | Frost Family | 93 |
| 15 | D. Hunter | 91 |
| 16 | Smith & Zheng (J. Smith) | 89 |
| 17 | S & M Mifsud | 85 |
| 18 | The J Brothers (Jeremiah) | 84 |
| 19 | Alex Diaz | 81 |
| 20 | Farrugia & Bogdan (Joe) | 71 |
💰 Sprint Series Prize Money – Top 30 Earners to Date
All winners — totals (highest → lowest)
| # | Winner | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | J & M PORTELLI [MICHAEL] | \$ 1,149.05 |
| 2 | CACHIA, HOLWELL & CINI | \$ 1,113.80 |
| 3 | DAVID MALLIA | \$ 898.20 |
| 4 | D. HUNTER | \$ 898.20 |
| 5 | PIERRE ANASTASI | \$ 895.60 |
| 6 | M. GUSMAN & SON [MARK] | \$ 810.30 |
| 7 | TREVOR WEBB | \$ 782.70 |
| 8 | D & G VATZAKIS | \$ 725.05 |
| 9 | FRANK BRIFFA | \$ 684.90 |
| 10 | BABA’S LOFT [R. RISTEVSKI] | \$ 673.30 |
| 11 | FROST FAMILY | \$ 542.15 |
| 12 | REN INOCENCIO | \$ 488.55 |
| 13 | THE J BROTHERS [JEREMIAH] | \$ 477.90 |
| 14 | M & N CIANCIO | \$ 474.15 |
| 15 | JOHN&NEV CAMILLERI &PRADA | \$ 443.75 |
| 16 | S & M MIFSUD | \$ 404.95 |
| 17 | FRANK DEPASQUALE | \$ 404.10 |
| 18 | RUSSELL & WEST | \$ 388.25 |
| 19 | ALEX DIAZ | \$ 377.05 |
| 20 | RUEL CAMIGLA | \$ 368.60 |
| 21 | L PALIGORA | \$ 363.15 |
| 22 | R. SAGGERS | \$ 340.45 |
| 23 | HUANG & ZHENG | \$ 329.75 |
| 24 | FARRUGIA & BOGDAN [JOE] | \$ 306.90 |
| 25 | SAGGERS LOFTS [MARK] | \$ 300.15 |
| 26 | CHOLO LOFTS [A. SAMBAT] | \$ 297.40 |
| 27 | FRANK DUGDALE | \$ 267.60 |
| 28 | R ZIAJA & G LUP | \$ 253.55 |
| 29 | M BENNETT | \$ 252.90 |
| 30 | CACHIA LOFTS [RENO] | \$ 251.20 |
| 31 | ERWIN BAUMGARDT | \$ 238.05 |
| 32 | NO.5 LOFT [N. SANTOSO] | \$ 229.35 |
| 33 | VELLA FAMILY [RENNI} | \$ 226.35 |
| 34 | BRIFFA, F | \$ 198.00 |
| 35 | PAUL & RYS CAMILLERI | \$ 187.20 |
| 36 | J & R JUDDE | \$ 182.50 |
| 37 | PULIS, J & J | \$ 178.50 |
| 38 | SAGGERS BROTHERS [JOHN] | \$ 174.00 |
| 39 | JUSTIN TENAGLIA | \$ 173.20 |
| 40 | J & T WATKINS | \$ 168.80 |
| 41 | BEN MIZZI & SON | \$ 168.30 |
| 42 | TENAGLIA BROS FMLY CS [MARC] | \$ 152.55 |
| 43 | RAYMOND MIFSUD | \$ 148.50 |
| 44 | KEN SPILLARD | \$ 141.40 |
| 45 | C. BONNICI | \$ 108.60 |
| 46 | CHARLEY ABELA | \$ 86.20 |
| 47 | BABAT LOFT [RAYMOND] | \$ 79.20 |
| 48 | J & J PULIS | \$ 78.60 |
| 49 | MANILA LOFT [H. DEL ROSARIO] | \$ 74.40 |
| 50 | F & E DALLI | \$ 67.35 |
| 51 | ARNOLD BAUTISTA | \$ 66.00 |
| 52 | SMITH & ZHENG [J. SMITH] | \$ 63.15 |
| 53 | RICK MORRISON | \$ 60.60 |
| 54 | TENAGLIA BROS FMLY DR [DANIEL] | \$ 58.80 |
| 55 | JOHN ATTARD FAMILY | \$ 58.00 |
| 56 | B BORG | \$ 57.15 |
| 57 | JOHN GOODWIN | \$ 53.25 |
| 58 | JAMES MCPHERSON | \$ 50.00 |
| 59 | ILIE & SIENNA ION | \$ 49.50 |
| 60 | NO. 1 LOFTS [N. ADIKLI] | \$ 46.10 |
| 61 | TAI TRAN | \$ 41.70 |
| 62 | IANNAZZONE & WARNECKE [NICK] | \$ 30.30 |
| 63 | JEROME TINAO | \$ 27.80 |
🔮 The Big Question – Who Will Take the Crown?
With one race left, the Sprint Series crown is still up for grabs. Will Cachia, Holwell & Cini hold on through sheer consistency or will Portelli pull off a last-round strike to steal it?
The Comeback Race on 25 October 2025 will decide it all – the glory, the bragging rights, and the coveted win. 📢 Every second will count.