Marlbank Auction Day 2026: Hotspot 7 Hanovers Top Fanciers & Their Best Lots Currently On Auction Included

1st Hotspot 7 Hanover 580km

Rob Poley of Shamwari Lofts, based on Walkers Fruit Farms near Meyerton, brings decades of pigeon-breeding pedigree to Marlbank, despite a feather-dust allergy that forced him to stop flying his own loft years ago. His foundation bird, "Mutambi Mukuru" (ZA 15 NB 315), was crowned Champion Middle Distance Bird in 2016 and went on to sire a string of federation-winning offspring, including club-winning hens that sold for as much as R119,900 in ring races. That same bloodline produced 4938 CYRILS 23, who led the Marlbank Ace Pigeon competition until the final race in 2024 and sold for R155,000. This season's headline result carries the family forward: FLO JO (64 SHAMWARI 25), son of Poley's stock cock 014 SHAMWARI 24 — himself a cross of the Hooymans/Ric Cools family with Gavin Rous's proven 4645 NOK 17 line — won Hotspot 7 at Marlbank OLR 2026 from Hanover at 1373.47 m/min.

Ending On: September 27, 2026 6:25 pm

Lot 066 - ZA-25-SHAMWARI-064 "FLO -JO"

ENTERED BY SHAMWARI LOFTS

MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026

1st HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)

43rd HS 3 - EDENBURG 390KM (1350 PIGEONS)

52nd HS 5 - COLESBURG 515KM (1261 PIGEONS)

67th HS 6 - NOUPOORT 566KM (1230 PIGEONS)

88th HS 1 - WINBURG 215KM (1395 PIGEONS)

View Lot 66

2nd Hotspot 7 Hanover 580km

The Pretoria based team Burger & Muller won Pigeon of the week with ZA-25-TPA-10014, the best pigeon in the loft across Hotspot 2 & Hotspot 3 being 18.65 seconds behind the winning pigeon across both hotspots!

3rd Hotspot 7 Hanover 580km

Attie Du Plessis is a top fancier based in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, who competes in the Vaal Posduif Unie (VPU). No stranger to success, he has been awarded SANPO Merit colours for racing and currently holds 2nd place in the VPU Averages. The foundation of his highly successful pigeon family stems from a Janssen cock obtained from James Moore paired with a Slimme Putterie hen, a combination responsible for years of outstanding performance.

Ending On: September 27, 2026 7:20 pm

Lot 077 - ZA-25-VPU-646

ENTERED BY ATTIE DU PLESSIS

MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026

3rd HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)

View Lot 77

Fancier of the Race

Amper Irish (Kemptonpark, South Africa) Dennis has raced together at the Kosmos Pigeon Club for more than 30 years, competing in the Gauteng Pigeon Union. Their standout achievement is a hen clocked at 9 o'clock at night from Victoria West, earning 2nd place in both the Union and combine — a rare result given the hour.

Long-distance racing is where this loft has built its reputation, specializing in the longer races on the calendar with consistent success. The turning point came in 2016, when a Twilight Turbo Tom/Hebberecht cock named "Cheepo," acquired from Mark King, was crossed with their existing Brinkmans line — a pairing that became the foundation of their modern success. Looking ahead, the pair are pushing further into one-loft race lines, exploring De Rauw Sablon 810 bloodlines alongside Tomlock and Kittel influence.

Ending On: September 27, 2026 2:50 pm

Lot 023 - ZA-25-GPU-3682 "82 TT"

ENTERED BY  AMPER IRISH

MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026

33rd ACE

11th HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)

18th HS 6 - NOUPOORT 566KM (1230 PIGEONS)

View Lot 23

Ending On: September 27, 2026 3:40 pm

Lot 033 - ZA-25-GPU-3675 "MOOGA"

ENTERED BY AMPER IRISH

MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026

12th HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)

View Lot 33

Pigeon of the Week

The foundation of Niekie Pieters pigeon family began in 1997, when his father, Joggie Pieters, visited Johan Jonker and was shown a cock with an injured wing bearing ring number '150' and ended up with this cock. To this day, '150' remains the cornerstone foundation cock of the colony. In 2002, Niekie and his late father Joggie visited the legendary Andre Carelsen and acquired 25 youngsters. After three seasons of racing, they selected the top performers for the breeding loft. Crossing the '150' line with these Andre Carelsen pigeons produced the renowned family of pigeons that Niekie races today.

Star Racer: 'IMMACULATE'

'IMMACULATE' won 2nd-7th-9th-14th-31st-50th-91st Marlbank positions during the 7 hotspot races! The standout superstar of the 2026 Marlbank season, though unfortunately lost during the final race. This outstanding racer was produced through a co-breeding venture between Fred van Heerden and Niekie Pieters. The sire was supplied by Fred, while the dam was a 1st & 2nd VPU Union winner descended directly from the cross between'150' and Andre Carelsen lines.

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