Pattaya International Pigeon Race: a great experience!
Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 5:15 p.m. we departed on flight KL0875 from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with destination Bangkok, Thailand. Final destination: Pattaya, Thailand to watch the finals of the Pattaya International Pigeon Race. After a prosperous flight, we arrived at the Bangkok airport around 10 a.m. on Friday. As you stepped out, the warm, humid air immediately met you. It was sunny and about 30 degrees. After passport control, we sought out our traveling companions. Lex and Ingrid de Jongh (Team GPS/GPS-auctions.com) had arranged transportation to the hotel. Together with Lex, Ingrid, Ype, Anita, Janus and Eveline, we were taken to our hotel in Pattaya. Still, with the heavy traffic in Pattaya, it’s about a 2-hour drive. After resting for a few hours with a brief visit to the beach and the “infinity pool,” a van was waiting to take us to the welcome party. On the grounds where the big loft of the race is located, numerous tables and chairs were ready to welcome the guests. No expense was spared to entertain the guests. Unlimited Thai food, a fireworks show, singers and singers from Thailand got Talent and all kinds of other dance and song shows were performed. Other Dutch pigeon friends joined us and so suddenly you are sitting next to Jan Hooymans talking about pigeons and Gerard Koopman comes to say hello. In short, a great start to the journey.
The next day, Saturday, we wake up to find that the 1,941 pigeons were released at 7:15 a.m. With a distance of 530 km. is my estimate given the wind and the course of another one-horse race in Thailand, that the pigeons could arrive around 3 p.m. Around noon we leave by bus to go to the race. Arriving there, there are already many participants who want to attend the arrival of the race. Now again unlimited food and drink while waiting. There is busy speculation about the odds beforehand. All agree that some times are better than others. In one-horse racing, it is certainly true that past results say nothing about the future. But because in previous years Dutch pigeons have done very well in Pattaya, we are still cautiously hoping for a good ranking for the Dutch pigeons. The initially excellent weather gradually turned into dark clouds over the lofts. Then suddenly at 15:08 the murmur rises and we see two pigeons arriving over the lofts. After a few laps the pigeons landed and with a difference of a few seconds they run in. Would it? Unfortunately, on the screens we see that the first pigeon is a German and the2nd pigeon is from Thailand.
Images arrival 1st and 2nd pigeon PIPR 2020
Well not to worry, top 10 is still possible. Then it gets dark and begins to rain hard. It then takes another 37 minutes for the next pigeons to arrive. Pigeon numbers 4 and 5 are fine with being there and then sit outside for hours. Unfortunately, we will never know who lost their big prize as a result, because the other pigeons just go in. But all that comes, no Dutch pigeon. Only at pigeon 47 do we see a Dutch name appear on the screen. Team Koopman clocked the first Dutch pigeon. Bakker & Zn. in place 57. Team Van Oss in spot 90 and Comb. van Wanrooij at No. 97. Surely five pigeons in the first 100 is a meager result.
After the race, we headed into Pattaya with our traveling party for a bite to eat and ended up on the busy Walking Street. There we see what Pattaya is famous (and infamous) for: everywhere you look (young) prostitutes and the so-called “ladyboys. The tasty food and drink somewhat mitigates the disappointment, and at the hotel we take another drink after and talk about why the Dutch have so ostentatiously missed out. The only thing we can think of is that Dutch pigeons may be less able to cope with bad weather conditions because of the release policy in the Netherlands. After all, we unload only under the best possible conditions, while in other countries a shower of rain is less of a problem. It cannot be down to quality because previous races were won by Dutchmen.
The next day – Sunday – the pigeons came well after and at 8:49 am and place 213 (13th NL pigeon) we clocked our first pigeon of the 4 in the final. It is a son of Black Mamba. Then in spots 358 and 952 two more and so 3 out of 4 back. Then again, that is something to be pleased about.
At 6 p.m. we were expected at the closing gala and awards ceremony. Dress code: formal. So wearing a suit and tie and Marit in a beautiful dress, we were directed to our reserved table. The hall also housed the first 10 prize winners of the race and the 5 ace pigeons in cages. These pigeons were auctioned off during the dinner. You were also allowed to hold and view the pigeons yourself. The 1st prize winner by German father and son Haggenmüller was auctioned for 3.5 mln. Baht, which is about 107,000 euros. The pigeon was bought by – how could it be otherwise – a Chinese pigeon fancier. With much ceremony, cups and checks were presented to the winners. Many, including the winners, were not present, but there is always a compatriot who takes home the mega big cups. After the last cup and dessert, the room emptied and we went for a drink in the hotel lobby with the Dutch who were still present. Some went to another destination the next day.
Images live auction winner PIPR 2020 – Final 530 km
We stayed another two days enjoying sun, sea, beach and delicious Thai food. On Tuesday, we went to the famous “Floating Market” in Pattaya. A village on stilts in the water, where you can buy all kinds of stuff. A huge tourist attraction, comparable to the Zaanse Schans in terms of visitor numbers. Then packing things to leave for Holland again Wednesday morning. No we didn’t win anything, but we are an experience richer. Lex and Ingrid de Jongh, thank you for arranging transportation and your hospitality. We’ll meet again at the Pearls of the Sky!
