Points System:

The Gold Country Challenge will award Prizes to the Top Overall Ace Pigeons of the Four Races.  The Ace Pigeon Standings will be determined by the total number of points each individual pigeon accumulates over the four races.  I have developed a unique Points Structure that I feel will truly determine the best and most consistent pigeons of the four races.  This structure is based on rewarding single birds, the first drop, and differentiating between drops of birds.  I realize it's probably not the easiest system to follow, but it definitely works and this system is a much better judge of the best performers than traditional points or average speed systems.  If you have any questions let me know.  Thanks - Matt

Points Formula:  (2009 Only Small Revisions)

• 1st Place Points in Each Race equal to Distance of Race (Example 241 Miles = 241 Points for 1st Place)

• All Birds "on a Drop" receive 1 Point Less per position based on trapping order (240, 239, 238, 237, etc.)

• If more 10 birds or more arrive on a drop each position will receive 0.5 points less instead of 1.0

• There are different point intervals for 2nd drop and so on for each race (See Chart Below)

• A "Drop" is defined as a single bird or group of birds arriving and trapping before next arrivals land

• "Arrivals" is also a key word.  Arrivals are defined as a bird or group of birds clearly arriving in the air before another bird or birds appear

• Trapping Order and times to be recorded with Tipes Electronic System and Tipes One-Loft Software

• Pigeons that Clock at the Exact Same Time (to the second) will receive equal points and be scored as a tie

• Points will continue until last arriving pigeon is clocked in "race time" (2 days) or points are exhausted

• All races will be considered 2 Day-Races for "Race Time".  Birds arriving after 2 days will receive 0 points

• Once the points reach the level of 40 points, each bird after the initial 40 will receive 1 point less (40, 39, 38, etc)

• The above helps ensure that the points don't run out too early and late returnees get a few points.

See Formula Below for the 4 Races:

 

Drop #	Race 1 - 165 Miles	Race 2 - 241 Miles	Race 3 - 246 Miles	Race 4 - 305 Miles
1st Drop	1st Place = 165 Points Bird on drop are awarded 1 Point Less per position based on trapping order. If 10 birds or more on drop, each position drops by 0.5 points.	1st Place = 241 Points Bird on drop are awarded 1 Point Less per position based on trapping order. If 10 birds or more on drop, each position drops by 0.5 points.	1st Place = 246 Points Bird on drop are awarded 1 Point Less per position based on trapping order. If 10 birds or more on drop, each position drops by 0.5 points.	1st Place = 305 Points Bird on drop are awarded 1 Point Less per position based on trapping order. If 10 birds or more on drop, each position drops by 0.5 points.
2nd Drop	-20 Points From End of Drop 1 Trapping Order Points Apply	-25 Points From End of Drop 1 Trapping Order Points Apply	-25 Points From End of Drop 1 Trapping Order Points Apply	-30 Points From End of Drop 1 Trapping Order Points Apply
3rd Drop	-10 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-15 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-15 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-15 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply
4th Drop 5th Drop 6th Drop and On	-5 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-5 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-5 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply	-10 Points From End of Previous Drop Trapping Order Points Apply
40 Point Mark	Once the points reach 40, all drops/positions decrease by only 1 point.	Once the points reach 40, all drops/positions decrease by only 1 point.	Once the points reach 40, all drops/positions decrease by only 1 point.	Once the points reach 40, all drops/positions decrease by only 1 point.

Below is an Example/Sample Race Report of How the Points Will Be Awarded:

Sample/Example Race # 1            Lovelock, NV  -  165 Miles

Usually points systems lower by 1 point for each position regardless of where the bird clocked in relation to the winner or a drop.  The problem with a traditional system is if you say get 5 birds on a drop, the last bird to trap on that drop only gets 1 more point than the next bird/drop, even if that bird was clocked significantly later.  Another scenario would be if a single bird comes all alone to win the race, normally it would only receive 1 point more than the 2nd place bird.  In most other forms of racing there are added bonus points for taking 1st and winning the race and I feel the same should apply to the winning pigeon/1st drop.  Some races also use average speed to determine Ace Pigeon.  The problem with average speed is that one bad race can completely take out birds that did great in all of the other races or likewise elevate a bird that was late in every other race.  One isolated race should never determine the outcome of what is the best pigeon over a series of races. 

The Points Structure of the Gold Country Challenge was designed to reward the winning birds/first drop and reward single birds.  It is also a benefit in that even if your comes on a drop and traps last within that drop, it will still receive a significant amount more points than the next bird or drop to arrive. 

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the points structure please email me at:  hansfamilyloft@hughes.net