Alex Hlebnikoff

What a marvellous success story for Alex Hlebnikoff in 2003. Almost an unknown, the Central Districts flyer took the points at only third season in South Australia.

Competitors will be suprised to learn that Alex comes originally from China where he had pet pigeons as a child. He can't remember any serious racing in China back then. Of course pigeon racing is now a very serious sport in the major cities.

Alex came to Australia in 1980 and Settled at Orange, just west of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

He raced pigeons there and some of those came to South Australia in 1999.

His first purchases here were a pair of Ron Eitzen and Son Pigeons. He bred from these, including father to daughter for stock. He waited untill 2001 to race and defied the experts by finishing 19th in the SAHPA points.

A year later he finished 14th and in 2003 he won the jacket.

There's nothing special about his birds or methods. He crosses his Eitzens with Goodgers and they do the job.

One special hen in 2003 finished twice in the top ten to bolster his pointys tally.

His only secret is his wife Valentina who also helps with the birds.

Michael Sheperdson tosses his birds for him twice a week. They go 120 or 140 kilometres at the longest. Feed is peas, wheat, corn, mlo, sunflower etc.

Alex's Morundah winner is a red pied of Eitzen blood.