On 10 December, we came together to celebrate a season of resilience, camaraderie, and top-class racing. The room was buzzing, loft partners, juniors, families, and friends, all united to applaud results, relive the big miles, and recognise the people who make our sport what it is.
🏆 2025 Award Winners
Overall Racing Series Cachia, Holwell & Cini rose to the top with 455 points, delivering across sprint, middle and marathon tests. Week after week their birds set the standard with pace and reliability. A superb all-round campaign and worthy champions.
Short Distance Racing Series The sprint line belonged to Cachia, Holwell & Cini on 202 points. Lightning releases, crisp routing, and sharp trapping defined their short-range performances. Speed and preparation executed to perfection.
Middle Distance Racing Series Huang & Zheng mastered the mid line with 156 points. Consistency under changing winds made their birds dependable across the programme. A model of mid-distance resilience and planning.
Long Distance Racing Series A shared summit, J & M Portelli and Cachia, Holwell & Cini each finished on 123 points. Across the big miles, both lofts showed standout endurance and race craft. Co-champions on the most demanding line, bravo.
Long Distance, 2nd Bird Recognition Series Depth wins titles, Cachia, Holwell & Cini led the 2nd bird tally with 120 points. Reliable second arrivals turned tough miles into steady scoring. Exemplary team strength and loft management.
Consistency J & M Portelli topped the table on 199 (lowest total), posting week in, week out reliability. When conditions tested nerves, they delivered again and again. A masterclass in steadiness across the season.
North West Section Series Justin Tenaglia claimed North West honours with 583 points. Tenacious flying and a thread of strong placements carried the season. Section pride well earned, congratulations.
West Section Series D. Hunter led the West with 601 points, anchoring big performances across the calendar. Strong trapping and race day discipline kept momentum. An emphatic, well deserved section title.
South West Section Series Frank Briffa captured South West on 550 points through persistence and savvy race selection. Results stacked up from early to late season. A consistent, high quality campaign.
Metro Section 1 Series R Ziaja & G Lup topped Metro 1 with 531 points. Their birds arrived when it counted across a tightly contested section. Sharp execution and confident routing delivered the crown.
Metro Section 2 Series Pierre Anastasi dominated Metro 2 on 596 points. A season of standout placements underlines deep preparation. Exceptional flying, applause from all of us.
Metro Section 3 Series J & M Portelli secured Metro 3 with 595 points. Superior placement across the calendar sealed the win. A proud capstone to an already superb year.
Squeaker Squadron Series Natalie Mifsud led the Squeaker pack (youth series), inspiring the next generation. Junior fanciers like Natalie are the heartbeat of tomorrow’s sport. We’re excited to see this talent soar in seasons ahead.
Bird of the Year 🥇🕊️ M & N Ciancio, consistent high-end performances across the long line delivered the points that matter and the year’s most coveted bird accolade. Congratulations to M & N Ciancio on an exceptional campaign.
1st Federation Photos Thank you to every Federation first place winner who made the photo call a celebration in itself. Official group and champion bird photos will headline the WPF Year Book 2025.
🔥 Blinman 600 Mile Finale, Collaboration & Portelli’s Triple Crown
Portelli’s Triple Crown, J & M Portelli completed the WPF treble, first WPF home in the ANRPB Victorian National (Morgan), PRV Joint Transport (Carrieton), and the Blinman 600 mile finale, with national placings across the board (12th Morgan, 3rd Carrieton, 4th overall in the 600 Combine). A benchmark in endurance, velocity, and race day craft.https://wpf.org.au/%F0%9F%8F%81-blinman-600-mile-final-race-of-the-2025-season
🏆 WPF Cup, Won in Style by Cachia, Holwell & Cini
We celebrated a classic WPF Cup performance, Cachia, Holwell & Cini won with a yearling late bred mealy cock (WPFC 24 316), clocking 14:31:30 over 586.715 km at 1498.633 mpm, edging President John Saggers by 15 seconds. Their second bird also placed 6th, making them the only loft to put two pigeons in the prize money, depth and speed in one race.
👉 Read the feature: https://wpf.org.au/%F0%9F%8F%86-cachia-holwell-cini-claim-the-2025-wpf-cup-in-style-%F0%9F%95%8A%EF%B8%8F/
🏆 Camilleri Pattaya 350M One Loft Race, Series Winner John Forti
We recognised John Forti as the Camilleri Pattaya 350M One Loft Race series winner, highlighting a season that blended sprint sharpness with long mile resilience. Forti’s card included 1st Fortitude Insurance Challenge (Morgan 640 km), 2nd Morgan, and prize money form at PRV Blinman, evidence of a loft that can win fast and hold strong when the miles stretch out.
👉 Series wrap up: https://wpf.org.au/%F0%9F%8F%86-murray-bridge-350m-series-wrap-up-a-sprint-showdown-with-spirit
🌟 Message from VRPU
“On behalf of the Victorian Racing Pigeon Union, I’m thoroughly grateful for the collaboration shown by the 2025 Western Pigeon Federation Board in making our joint transport initiative seamless and enjoyable. WPF members went out of their way to pick up VRPU birds, and the ongoing efforts of your Liberation Committee helped make the 2025 racing series a true success.” — Tony Price, President, VRPU
🕊️ Hall of Fame, Pauline Pulis
We proudly honour Pauline Pulis as our 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, recognising more than four decades of dedication, leadership, and outstanding service to the sport and our community.
- Induction criteria, significant and sustained high-quality service to the Federation and the sport,
- ten years or more of voluntary service across roles and functions,
- continuous financial membership for at least ten years,
- clear commitment to good sportsmanship.
Pauline’s contribution goes beyond administration, she has been a mentor, a problem-solver, and a welcoming face for newcomers. Her efforts in coordinating ring issues, resolving lost bird cases, and supporting race-day logistics have shaped the Federation’s reputation for care and professionalism.
📸 Pauline Pulis, 2025 WPF Hall of Fame Inductee. Recognised for decades of dedicated service to our Federation and the sport of pigeon racing.https://wpf.org.au/pauline-pulis-2025-hall-of-fame-inductee/
🌈 Squeaker Squadron
We’re thrilled to have 18 kids racing this season, 10 boys and 8 girls, and proud to say this year has been dominated by our young ladies, whose talent and enthusiasm lit up every basketing night. Huge thanks to Yarraville for sponsorship and to our juniors who brought energy to every race. Junior shout-outs, Natalie Mifsud, Savannah Mifsud, Jackson Hunter, Sienna Ion, Charlie Ciancio.
⭐ Winner Highlights
Matt & Charlie Ciancio (Bird of the Year), While the WPF portal records 2025 Bird of the Year for M & N Ciancio loft, the Ciancio family still posted strong results, finishing inside Metro standings and shining mid-season. Junior flyer Charlie Ciancio continued to inspire across the Squeaker Squadron series.
David Hunter & Jackson Hunter, A pillar of the West, D. Hunter secured the West Section Series title with 601 points, anchoring big mile performances throughout 2025. Jackson Hunter featured in the Squeaker Squadron, contributing to an inspiring junior season.
The Frost Family, The Frosts claimed 1st Federation, Rupanyup (Squeaker Squadron) on 5 July 2025, a standout youth line win that lifted the season’s energy. Their bird WPF 2024, 10863 BCH is listed in the presentation group photo notes for 2025 achievements.
Mark & Liam Gusman, M. Gusman & Son took 1st Federation, Kaniva (C & J Morris 10 Bird) on 9 August 2025 and also posted a 4th Federation, Rupanyup on 5 July 2025. The pair’s consistent trapping and preparation stood out among large, competitive entries.
Joe & John Pulis, “Joe & John Pulis celebrated for 1st Federation, Hilary Ashley Sires Produce (Murray Bridge), 20 Sep 2025, presentation with President John Saggers at The Meadows.”
Trevor Webb, “Trevor Webb, 1st Federation, Morgan (640 km), 4 Oct 2025, recognised on stage by President John Saggers at The Meadows.”
✅ Final Thanks
To our Board, Liberation Committee, Transport team, partner federations, sponsors, volunteers, juniors, families, and every flyer, thank you for a season we’ll remember for its unity and quality. Here’s to building on it in 2026! 🎯💙