Karoo Million OLR Race 2. Mega Pigeon and 'Imagine' Win by a Wingbeat Over 304km From Tierpoort Dam

The Race

The Karoo Million One Loft Race returned for Race 2 on 16 June 2026 liberating 734 pigeons from Tierpoort Dam over 304 kilometres at 07:45 SAST. With 201 fanciers competing.

Liberation and Conditions

The birds left Tierpoort Dam at 07:45 into a crisp 6°C winter dawn with morning fog patches across the Free State interior limiting early visibility. A north-westerly breeze of 5 to 7km/h gave the birds a quartering tailwind out of the baskets for a fast start. By midway at the Gariep River system conditions shifted dramatically. Clear skies and hard winter sun were accompanied by a south-westerly cross-headwind of 8 to 10km/h. The final approach into Cradock was the most demanding leg of all — a direct southerly headwind of 8km/h forced the leading pack to work nose-first into the wind right up to the electronic clocking pads under partly cloudy and cool skies at 13°C.

'Imagine' Wins by a Wingbeat

Mega Pigeon took the victory in Race 2 with 'Imagine' arriving at 11:31:12 to claim first place. The margin of victory was 0.07 seconds over Mark Van Tonder in second — the closest finish in the Karoo Million 2026 season.

Mark Van Tonder pushed all the way with 795 KAROO MILLION 2025 arriving just 0.07 seconds behind 'Imagine'. Raymond Le Roux completed the podium arriving 0.93 seconds off the pace with 78 NJ 2025. Samuel Lofts fourth, Gys Louw fifth, Loft Einkamerer sixth with 'Maddison 69', Malan Hokke seventh with 'Blue Sky', Kruger Familie eighth with 'Gold Fever', Ninja Lofts ninth and Dr Gert Swart tenth. The entire top 10 arrived within 9.16 seconds of the race winner.

The Stats - Velocity News Fanciers of the Day.

201 fanciers competed in Karoo Million OLR Race 2. Here is how the top performers stacked up across the full top 100.

Fanciers With Multiple Pigeons in the Top 100

1st Loft Einkamerer (ZA) 9 pigeons 6th, 17th, 34th, 37th, 43rd, 50th, 61st, 80th, 85th

2nd Gys Louw (ZA) 6 pigeons 5th, 53rd, 59th, 67th, 73rd, 97th

3rd Oudeluck Wes (ZA) 5 pigeons 13th, 24th, 54th, 57th, 64th

4th Kwarra and Naido Lofts (ZA) 5 pigeons 15th, 21st, 36th, 88th, 100th

5th Ninja Lofts (ZA) 4 pigeons 9th, 16th, 23rd, 89th

6th Marnes Nel (ZA) 3 pigeons 22nd, 55th, 93rd

7th Dr Gert Swart (ZA) 3 pigeons 10th, 20th, 58th

8th Leohan Hokke (ZA) 3 pigeons 48th, 51st, 84th

9th Kruger Familie (ZA) 2 pigeons 8th, 14th

10th Hot Rod Racing (ZA) 2 pigeons 30th, 60th

11th Malan Hokke (ZA) 2 pigeons 7th, 68th

12th Mega Pigeon (ZA) 2 pigeons 1st, 44th

13th Benn and Bailie (ZA) 2 pigeons 26th, 83rd

14th DS Roodt (ZA) 2 pigeons 39th, 52nd

15th Jeggels and Sameul (ZA) 2 pigeons 49th, 75th

16th EG Buys (ZA) 2 pigeons 62nd, 77th

17th Lorenzo Doyle (ZA) 2 pigeons 56th, 76th

18th Dr Gavin Rous (ZA) 2 pigeons 19th, 27th

19th Theo and Stan (ZA) 2 pigeons 32nd, 38th

20th Gilbert Heerman Holland Klingbiel (ZA) 2 pigeons 66th, 90th

21st Moldy Oldy (ZA) 2 pigeons 78th, 87th

22nd Christo Boshoff (ZA) 2 pigeons 74th, 95th

Top 5% - Who Dominated the Sharp End

The top 5% of a 734 bird race covers the first 37 positions. Here is where the quality separated itself from the rest of the field.

Loft Einkamerer placed 4 pigeons in the top 5% — 6th, 17th, 34th and 37th — the most of any loft in the top 5% of the race. Gys Louw placed 1 pigeon in the top 5% at 5th. Kwarra and Naido Lofts placed 2 pigeons in the top 5% at 15th and 21st. Ninja Lofts placed 2 pigeons in the top 5% at 9th and 16th — the tightest double placement of any loft outside the top 10. Dr Gavin Rous placed 2 pigeons in the top 3% at 19th and 27th — the strongest double concentration outside the top 20.

The Velocity News Fanciers of the Day

Nine pigeons in the top 100. Four in the top 5%. Loft Einkamerer delivered the standout team performance of Karoo Million Race 2 by a clear margin. 'Maddison 69' at 6th led the way with 'Free Apple 78' at 17th, 'Lady Black Ball 135' at 34th, 'Zelenko Wonder 167' at 37th, 'Black Knight 168' at 43rd, 'Scarlet 60-137' at 50th, 'Dooy Lina 210-34' at 61st, 'Clapton 212-96' at 80th and 'Dominique 2-439' at 85th completing one of the most comprehensive top 100 performances of the South African OLR season.

Gys Louw ran second in the depth chart with six pigeons in the top 100. Oudeluck Wes and Kwarra and Naido Lofts both placed five pigeons in the top 100 — strong team performances that deserve recognition. But on raw depth and top 5% concentration Loft Einkamerer stood alone. Karoo Million Race 2 Velocity News Fanciers of the Day belongs to Loft Einkamerer.

Looking Ahead

Mega Pigeon and 'Imagine' lead after Race 2 with the narrowest of winning margins. Loft Einkamerer has demonstrated extraordinary depth. Gys Louw has six pigeons in the conversation. The Karoo Million 2026 season is building and the competition is fierce.