ACTIVATION RACE
ALGARVE GREAT DERBY TEAM:
Ringo Report – Activation Race: Now It Gets Serious!Hello everyone!
Ringo here, and oh boy… what a race we had today!
The Activation Race took place today, and it certainly wasn’t an easy morning. As is quite usual this time of year in the Alentejo, the day started with plenty of fog and low clouds. So the ritual was familiar: wait, stay calm, keep hydrated and wait for visibility to improve.
This week was particularly tricky because a depression was moving across Portugal, making it difficult for the trainers to find the right window. But eventually, they believed they had found it.
When the route was clear, the GO was given!
There was practically no wind along the entire route, while around 80% of the sky was covered by clouds during the first part of the journey. The second half opened up a little, giving us some more sunshine along the way.
Then it was time to find our way home.
The arrivals were steady, with medium-sized groups appearing one after another. Some of us came in very low, while others preferred to make their entrance from much higher up. Everyone seems to have their own flying style!
And here’s the really impressive part: 50% of us arrived in less than 13 minutes! That’s a fantastic result for youngsters our age, especially considering the conditions we had to deal with today.
The training phase is now officially behind us. We’ve learned about distance, heat, wind, clouds, navigation, and even a few surprises along the way. We believe the trainers have given us the right tools and experience to face what comes next.
Because next week… it’s no longer training.
The real races begin! 
Our first official race will take us around 200 km, and we’re ready for the challenge.
One important message for our human friends: the Activation Period is now running. If your team has more than 4 pigeons, you can contact the AGD team to activate your reserve pigeons.
Now the fun really begins!
Until next time, keep your eyes on the sky!
Ringo
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