APPLE CUP

RULES
2024 APPLE CUP

Accepting birds and replacements 4 March through May 3rd, 2024, all birds must have 2024 seamless bands and we advise that all breeders vaccinate their birds at or around 21 days old before sending and please use a new box when shipping. We will return your birds in brand new boxes at the conclusion of the race series

All birds vaccinated for PMV upon arrival, but please do it yourself at least 2 weeks before sending. Shortly after arrival all birds will also be treated for internal/external parasites and canker. All birds will have their 9th and 10th flights pulled and regrown before training begins.

It is not necessary to contact us before shipping your birds and always try to ship on a Monday, Tuesday at the latest and as previously mentioned above, use a new box. Make sure that you have your phone number, loft name, and your first and last name on the box and that it is legible and make sure you register for our race before sending. Some of you print your own shipping labels however do not have your phone number in the address block, make sure you hand write it in if you do not have it printed on the shipping label. We try to call breeders when their birds arrive if there is a problem, if there is no number on the box do not expect a call. Again, do not forget to put your LOFT NAME on the box and remember that there are no perch fees due with the birds for 2024.

No perch fees due with the birds for 2024. If you have a bird that needs to be replaced during our acceptance period then please make every effort in doing so.

Entry Fees are $350 per bird due immediately after the 115 mile activation race. All birds sent by the breeder must be activated after the activation race and before the first race counting toward AVG speed, no picking and choosing birds. Total refund of your Entry Fee if your bird does not go to the first race in the series

Payout posted under the PAYOUT TAB is based upon 3,000 birds activated, it will be adjusted if more or less birds are entered.

On the final 375 mile race we will pay out the top 100 positions, or the top 10% of the birds shipped to that race, whichever number is smaller. Example, 1,500 pigeons go to the final race, we will pay out 100 positions on the final, if 900 pigeons go to the final race we will pay out the top 90 positions. This is done so that if there is a large number of birds going to the final race the prizes do not get spread out too thin.

Any birds not paid for 1 day prior to basketing the first race can be activated on a first come basis and are eligible for all prize money. The bird then becomes the property of the person who activates it and that person becomes responsible for paying return shipping costs. Loft capacity is 3,500 birds, if it looks like we are going to surpass that then we will extend the loft and have plenty of room on our 5 acres to do so. Any breeder who fails to pay their entry fees after the activation race and before the first average speed race will have their birds blocked from the results of the first race, thus completely throwing themselves out of contention for average speed prizes and their birds become the property of the Apple Cup if no other breeder wishes to activate them.

Birds activated by their owners remain property of the owners, there is no auction at the end, Shipping rates have changed by the USPS and may change again in 2024 therefore shipping costs will be announced as we get closer to the final race. Since 2020 we have shipped all breeder's birds back in brand new boxes, we feel this is the most professional method in returning birds and it helps stop the spread of disease by using old boxes which often times have been around for years and passed around the country. Shipping will be deducted from winnings so do not send a check for shipping if you won any amount of prize money because it confuses our shipping procedures, the remainder will be sent in the form of a check. If you do not win any prize money then return of the birds will only be done once we have received the appropriate shipping fees in hand via check or through our Payments Tab on our home page. Birds will only be mailed back to the breeder's address registered under their Loft Name, no exceptions.

Birds will not be combined in the same box from different breeders, it complicates our shipping process and we have no way of being 100% sure that the person calling us has good intentions. In 2022 we shipped two breeders birds together, we later found that one guy owed the other other guy money and this was his way of collecting, by having his ex partner's bird shipped to him. When we ship birds the boxes are lined up alphabetically, we have shipped as many as 85 boxes in a single day and trying to combine breeder's birds in the same box complicates and confuses our shipping process. Please understand that shipping birds back is probably the hardest part of running a One Loft Race, especially a big one like the Apple Cup, please understand this policy from our perspective.

Any birds not claimed within 14 days after the conclusion of the race series become the property of the Apple Cup.

September 4th 115 M, this is the tentative date of the Activation Race and does not count in to average speed.

Tentative Race dates
September 11th 165 M
September 18th 200 M
September 25th 250 M
October 2nd 300 M
October 9th 375 M Final Race

All entered birds MUST compete in the entire race series. The ONLY birds removed from the race series will be those who the staff at the Apple Cup deem are no longer capable of continuing due ONLY to illness or injury and for no other reason.

In the event of a exact tie, prizes affected will be added together and split equally among the birds who tied..

In the event that no birds clock within 48 hours from release of any race all money will be divided equally among actual birds sent to that particular race. If all prizes are not claimed within the 48 hour window of the final 375 mile race, the remaining monies will be divided equally among all of the returning birds who returned within 48 hours of release. If there are no remaining birds in the series before the final race, average speed will be computed based upon the races completed.

All races end 48 hrs after release.

Any loft who won prizes will have their return shipping expenses deducted from their winnings, do not send shipping fees if you won any amount of money because it messes up our shipping process. A completed W-9 is required if you win $600 or more and a check will not be issued until we receive same. Prize money will be issued to one individual, not split in partnerships.

If a bird does not scan by the clocking system then they will be hand entered using the time of the last bird on that drop.

All training tosses will be published. All races will have a video done of the actual race releases and posted online.

In the event of a natural disaster before races begin, theft, or disease outbreak, the race will be cancelled and all birds will be shipped back at breeder's expense. In the event of a natural disaster, theft, or disease outbreak once races have started, remaining prize money will be divided equally amongst the top 10% of the pigeons which clocked on the last completed race. Average Speed will also be awarded based upon races completed in the event of a natural disaster, theft, or disease outbreak.

Loft visits are welcome but must be made by appointment only at least 24 hrs in advance Monday through Friday.

Once you have registered a Loft Name and we have begun inventories, NEVER change your loft name until your birds have been returned. If you do so our clock will not recognize your new loft name and your birds will be missed in the results, this is especially a issue when we are scanning birds to be returned to breeders.

Race dates are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions or smoke in the air.

The Apple Cup retains the right to approve or refuse any participant into the race!

Most of your questions can be answered by reading the updates on Wincompanion and under our UPDATES TAB which we do almost daily once we start training, please refer to the updates before contacting us. The best way to contact us is via text at 254-247-9504. When doing so state your Loft Name in the text so we know instantly who you are. We only use email to collect W-9 forms and when we are racing/training we have very little time for phone calls. If your questions can not be answered by reading our Wincompanion updates, then please text us in the way stated above. If your question can not be answered through our Wincompanion updates or via text, then we will call you as soon as we can

The Apple Cup reserves the right to make any and all decisions.


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