Road To The Marlbank Main Auction September 27th: Top Performers In Hotspot 2 - Current Lots On Auction From These Fanciers
Fourie Forte battled it out against Gavin Rous and Harry Wilson for the win in Hotspot 2. Sakkie Wessels tops the Fancier of the race with SAIPR leading the pigeon of the week rankings. All info on each pigeon and fancier included.
Fourie Forte (JHB,ZA) Takes 1-41-55-77 vs 1.375p Hotspot 2 Marlbank OLR 2026
1st Hotspot 2 Bloemfontein 315km
Kempton Park father-and-son team Fanie and Jaco Fourie (Fourie Forte) compete in the Gauteng Pigeon Union (GPU), earning top results including 1st Long Distance Ace Pigeon GPU 2025 and 3rd All-Round Ace Pigeon GPU 2025. Their foundation relies on an inbred Tomlock cock—bred to 'HAWK'—acquired from the late Alan Rooney.
They also hold a notable record on the One Loft circuit, including key performances:
- 1st Ace Pigeon Cape Town International One Loft Race Summer 2025
- 2nd Place Final National Loft Kroonstad
- 2nd Place Final Central Provincial One Loft Old Bird Series 2021
- 3rd Ace Pigeon Marlbank OLR 2023
- 4th Place National Loft South
- 5th Place Final Cape Town International One Loft Summer
- 6th Place Marlbank OLR Final
- 8th Open Ace Pigeon CPL 2021
ENTERED BY FOURIE FORTE
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
19th HS 4 - SPRINGFONTEIN 444KM (1328 PIGEONS)
41st HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)
77th HS 2 - BLOEMFONTEIN 315KM (1375 PIGEONS)
ENTERED BY FOURIE FORTE
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
1st HS 2 - BLOEMFONTEIN 315KM (1375 PIGEONS)
8th HS 1 - WINBURG 215KM (1395 PIGEONS)
35th HS 5 - COLESBURG 515KM (1261 PIGEONS)
2nd Hotspot 2 Bloemfontein 315km
Gavin Rous (Colesberg, South Africa) is one of the country's prominent veterinarians and accomplished pigeon fanciers. He stands out as arguably one of the most successful competitors at Marlbank One Loft today.
Recent One Loft Accomplishments:
- 1st Ace Pigeon Marlbank OLR 2024
- 1st Place Marlbank OLR Final 2025
- 1st Place Diaz One Loft Race (Race 8, 2026)
- 1st Place Karoo Million Bakkie Race 855km'26
- 2nd Ace Pigeon Marlbank OLR 2025
- 6th Ace Pigeon Marlbank OLR 2025
- 14th Place Final Marlbank OLR 2026
The foundation of these impressive results spans years of dedicated work. Legendary breeders such as ZA07-7316 'KING TOM' and ZA05-1841 'GOLDEN LOCK'—both direct sons of Tom Lock's renowned 'CAR HEN'—paved the way for remarkable achievements across multiple lofts. That winning tradition carries on today through the standout blue hen 'ZA17-NOK-4645', whose lineage continues to excel.
ZA17-NOK-4645 Mother & Grandmother to:
- 1. Ace Pigeon Marlbank '24
- 1st Marlbank Final 647km '25
- 1st Place Hotspot 7 580km 2026
- 1st Place THU Derby Winner
- 2nd Marlbank Colesberg 520km '25
- 3rd Marlbank Noupoort 565km '24
- 3rd Marlbank Reddersburg 357km '24
- 4th Marlbank Colesberg 520km '24
- 4th Ace Pigeon Genetic OLR
- 5th Marlbank Bloemfontein '24
- 6th Ace Pigeon Marlbank OLR '25
- 8th Ace Pigeon Dinokeng 2023
- 11th Place Marlbank Colesberg 520km
- 14th Place Final Marlbank 2026
- 19th Ace Pigeon Marlbank 2026
- 21st Place Final Marlbank 2026
- 24th Ace Afrikapro OLR 2023
- 34th Marlbank Final 655km '26
**DIRECT DAUGHTER '4645' **
Lot 047 - ZA-25-NOKCAS-802 "ISOLDE
ENTERED BY ROUS & GROBELAAR
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
21st FINAL - RICHMOND 655KM (905 PIGEONS)
Lot 060 - ZA-25-NOKCAS-779 "MUNGO JERRY"
ENTERED BY GAVIN ROUS
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
14th FINAL - RICHMOND 655KM (905 PIGEONS)
Lot 092 - ZA-25-NOKCAS-759 "MIDNIGHT VELVET"
Direct daughter '9316' 6 x winner and Nr1 daughter of '4645' !
ENTERED BY GAVIN ROUS
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
19th ACE
10th HS 2 - BLOEMFONTEIN 315KM (1375 PIGEONS)
34th FINAL - RICHMOND 655KM (905 PIGEONS)
3rd Hotspot 2 Bloemfontein 315km
Harry Wilson (JHB, ZA) is a prominent figure in South African pigeon racing, having built a high-quality colony through selective breeding and top genetics.
Central to his success is 'The Magician', a SAIPR One Loft final race winner and exceptional breeder. He helped secure Harry's four-year streak in the Afrikapro Final top 20, with three of his five offspring placing in the Top 50 against 1,635 pigeons.
Harry also bred the 2026 Dinokeng OLR Final race winner, and placed 3rd in last year's Afrikapro Black Jacket team competition.
Lot 057 - ZA-25-GPU-3205
**DIRECT FROM 'THE MAGICIAN'**
ENTERED BY HARRY WILSON
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
5th ACE
8th HS 2 - BLOEMFONTEIN 315KM (1375 PIGEONS)
17th FINAL - RICHMOND 655KM (905 PIGEONS)
22nd HS 7 - HANOVER 580KM (984 PIGEONS)
59th HS 1 - WINBURG 215KM (1395 PIGEONS)
93rd HS 6 - NOUPOORT 566KM (1230 PIGEONS)
Fancier of the Race
Sakkie Wessels, based in Bothaville, Free State, and competing in the NWPF and WPU unions, enjoyed an outstanding 2026 Marlbank season. His consistent performance earned him the second-most appearances in the Velocity News Fancier of the Race and Follow-Up rankings, highlighted by securing 11th Ace Pigeon in the Sprint Series.
The foundation of his success traces back to the 1990s, built on a select group of strains including the old De Wet Putteries and Slimme Putteries crossed with Houben and Tomlock / De Rauw Sablon lines. Leading his loft is the flagship Putterie foundation cock '1522', who has produced winners for Sakkie across pairings with six different hens.
Sakkie Wessels and his racing lofts
Pigeon of the Week
The SAIPR partnership of Gerhard Van Aswegen and Billy Kitchenbrand is renowned in the South African pigeon community for their 'Kaasboer' line and key foundation birds like 'Kiran' and the '24804' De Rauw-Sablon hen.
Bred from Gerhard and Billy's top '1009 x Smuts' sire and Billy's Gaby Vandenabeele dam, an outstanding breeding pair has produced top performers, including:
- 2nd Hotspot 1 Winburg / Marlbank
- Overall Ace Pigeon in the PSWU Combine
2nd Ace Money Race winner, competing across 12 consecutive weeks (275–600 km)
Lot 069 - ZA-25-KPU-2988 "TIPICAL GJT"
ENTERED BY SAIPR
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
6th HS 4 - SPRINGFONTEIN 444KM (1328 PIGEONS)
ENTERED BY SAIPR
MARLBANK OLR WINTER - SEASON 2026
2nd HS 1 - WINBURG 215KM (1395 PIGEONS)
11th HS 2 - BLOEMFONTEIN 315KM (1375 PIGEONS)
40th HS 4 - SPRINGFONTEIN 444KM (1328 PIGEONS)
Next up the Hotspot 3 Recap, we take a deeper look at the fanciers and the bloodlines that achieved the results on the day, giving you more insight into what to look for on the Marlbank Main Auction that is currently live! Visit www.pigeonauctionhouse.com for more details on this exciting auction!
Marlbank OLR 2026 Auction is live! Ends Sunday 27 September 2026.
Get race day results, Fancier of the Race announcements, and breaking pigeon racing news sent straight to your phone, no need to check the site.
Written by
What's Next?
Road To The Marlbank Main Auction September 27th: Top Performers In Hotspot 3 - Current Lots On Auction From These Fanciers
Die Vrystaters came out on top In Hotspot 3 with Luiz Almeida and André Fivaz closing out the podium. Burger & Muller with the best pigeon across hotspot 2 & 3 while Robert & Boesman takes Velocity News fancier of the race.
Marlbank Auction Day: The Final Race Richmond's Top Fanciers & Their Best Performing Lots Included
Jordaan & Bornman's 'RAPTOR' Clinches Final Race Victory, Marking Her 3rd Top-5 Finish! Bertus Nel Secures 2nd in the Final and 13th in the Semi-Final with the Same Hen. Team Wilnic Caps Off the Marlbank Season with a Strong 3rd-Place Finish.
Marlbank Auction Day 2026: Hotspot 6 Noupoort 566km Top Performers & Their Best Lots On Auction Included
2 x 1st Marlbank Hotspot Victories In One Season For Mountain Loft/Murray&Mills/C Oxley. Niekie Pieters and his wonder pigeon 'IMMACULATE' in 2nd with De Kruik Sindikaat in 3rd! Jaco Fourie Takes Fancier of the Race from Noupoort
Marlbank Auction Day 2026: Hotspot 5 Colesberg 515km Top Performers - 6 Lots From The Best Fanciers
Thriller of Race From Colesberg! A Two Pigeon Break Away By 9minutes Saw R.A.M Annandale & BJ Jansen Van Rensburg Go Toe To Toe For The Win. Sam & Judels Takes Fancier of The Race, Mountain Lofts Wins Pigeon of the Week!
Marlbank Auction Day: The Final Race Richmond's Top Fanciers & Their Best Performing Lots Included
Jordaan & Bornman's 'RAPTOR' Clinches Final Race Victory, Marking Her 3rd Top-5 Finish! Bertus Nel Secures 2nd in the Final and 13th in the Semi-Final with the Same Hen. Team Wilnic Caps Off the Marlbank Season with a Strong 3rd-Place Finish.
Marlbank Auction Day 2026: Hotspot 6 Noupoort 566km Top Performers & Their Best Lots On Auction Included
2 x 1st Marlbank Hotspot Victories In One Season For Mountain Loft/Murray&Mills/C Oxley. Niekie Pieters and his wonder pigeon 'IMMACULATE' in 2nd with De Kruik Sindikaat in 3rd! Jaco Fourie Takes Fancier of the Race from Noupoort
Marlbank Auction Day 2026: Hotspot 5 Colesberg 515km Top Performers - 6 Lots From The Best Fanciers
Thriller of Race From Colesberg! A Two Pigeon Break Away By 9minutes Saw R.A.M Annandale & BJ Jansen Van Rensburg Go Toe To Toe For The Win. Sam & Judels Takes Fancier of The Race, Mountain Lofts Wins Pigeon of the Week!