R.A.M Annandale's 'COPPER SUN' Wins Marlbank OLR 1261p 515km In Stylish 9min Break-Away

Team R.A.M Annandale's recent One Loft racing success with a small team. Following the incredible Afrikapro victory of ‘SALVO ROSE,’ their mealy cock ‘COPPER SUN’ victorious at the Marlbank One Loft, proving a small team can deliver big results.

Hotspot 5 Colesberg 515km

On Friday, 24th July 2026, 1,261 pigeons were liberated at 07:45 for the Marlbank One Loft season's 5th Hotspot, a 515km race from Colesberg.

After starting under clear, icy skies with a light SSE breeze, the birds met a steady southerly tailwind over the Free State. Leading by 9 minutes and 21 seconds, a two-pigeon break-away reached Heronbanks at 12:47. They finished in 5 hours, 2 minutes, and 26 seconds, averaging 102.17 km/h under near-cloudless skies in Sasolburg.

'COPPER SUN' Victory Colesberg 515km 1.261p

The Winner 'COPPER SUN'

The family trio of Ryno, Armand & Marius Annandale (Bfn, ZA) secured the victory with their mealy cock, ‘COPPER SUN’. They are currently enjoying a highly successful 2026 racing season, having topped the Bloemfontein Combine Yearling Averages for the past 8 weeks with a small team of just 25 pigeons. Furthermore, they achieved the impressive feat of placing 7 of their birds within the Bloemfontein Combine's Top 12 Ace Yearlings on the Short Distance, competing against 59 members and over 1,000 pigeons.

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1e-7e-19e-21e-26e-34e Marlbank OLR positions achieved in two seasons by 4 out of 6 pigeons entered - R.A.M Annandale

'RED BULL' : Father to 'COPPER SUN'

Fantastic racer himself, won 3e. 2100p 570km 1050mpm. Bred from a full brother to the dam of 'MARIUS' father to 'SALVO ROSE' 1e-6e-10e-13e Afrikapro 2025. The dam to 'RED BULL' is 'GOLDEN GEM', a direct daughter 'MR.GOLD' 1. National Ace South Africa 2017 for Hendrik Huyser.

Father & Mother '**RED BULL**' - Grandparents '**COPPER SUN**'

'MILA' : Mother to 'COPPER SUN'

Bred for the stock loft. Double g/daughter to 'TURF QUEEN' 2. National Ace South Africa 2021, one in a million racing hen for JJJ van der Linde. She flew 1e-1e-2e-2e-2e BPF Federation positions.

Father & Mother '**MILA**' - Grandparents to '**COPPER SUN**'. Both direct children to '**TURF QUEEN**' 2. National Ace South Africa 2021.

Big Victories For A Small Team

Although relatively new to the One Loft racing circuit, Team R.A.M Annandale has achieved another major victory while competing with a small team. The Marlbank One Loft Race victory by ‘COPPER SUN’ - one of only 5 pigeons the team entered into the series - occurred 10 months after the success of ‘SALVO ROSE’ in the 480km Race 8 at Afrikapro. There, ‘SALVO ROSE’- part of an 8-pigeon entry, won against 1,964 pigeons, and also went on to win 2nd Ace Brown Jacket and sold for R550 000 to Team Van Der Pasch from the Netherlands.

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Maiden Afrikapro 2025 season debut positions achieved: 1e-6e-8e-10e-13e-36e-51e-54e-59e-109e-121e-131e-181e against 2.721p by 6 of team R.A.M Annandale's 8 entries, including 2nd Brown Jacket Ace, 29th Blue Jacket Ace, 57th Brown Jacket Ace, 59th Brown Jacket Ace (4 different pigeons of 8 entered).

'**SALVO ROSE**' 4 x Top 13 Afrikapro 2025 against 2000+ pigeons

'**MARIUS**' Fantastic Racer, 4th Leeu Gamka 570km 2.100p 1050mpm (left) X '**URSULA**' 2 x 1st Prize Winner, also 10th Ace BPF Long Distance. Sire & dam to '**SALVO ROSE**'

Selection & Breeding

Two seasons ago, the team shifted their focus toward One Loft Racing without losing sight of Federation racing. They decided to stop racing old birds and focus exclusively on young birds. For 12 consecutive weeks, from 285km to 600km, they race all their young birds every week, which acts as a One Loft Race simulation and a highly effective selection tool. Pigeons are selected based on their ability to perform week after week; those that finish in Top Ace positions are moved to the breeding loft. Their youngsters are then sent to major one-loft races, primarily Afrikapro and Marlbank One Loft.

The team’s breeding approach is completely performance-driven. By maintaining a core foundation family characterised by versatile ability and strong consistency, they are able to remain highly competitive with only a small number of birds. To enhance this foundation line, they selectively introduce offspring of the best performing pigeons from across South Africa. This strategy has proven highly successful, with the team integrating no fewer than seven direct descendants of National Ace Pigeons into their breeding program since 2019.

Looking Ahead

Team R.A.M Annandale continues to prove that quality can outperform volume in One Loft racing. With the success of ‘COPPER SUN’ at Marlbank and ‘SALVO ROSE’ at Afrikapro. Moving forward, the team remains committed to their selective, quality-focused strategy, carrying this momentum into future races.