Championship Show 2003 Basie de Lange & Pierre le Roux Pierre exhibited the National All Breed Grand Champion, a Chinese Owl, while Basie was awarded Reserve National All Breed Grand Champion for his Gros Mondain. The Grand Champion always receives the Willie Roos Memorial Trophy and the Aloma Roos Trophy goes to the Reserve Grand Champion. Willie Roos was one of the Best all round breeders and judges of fancy pigeons in South Africa during the 1940's up until his death in 1956. At the time of his death Willie had more than 1200 pigeons of 70 different breeds in his lofts. Willie died in a motor vehicle accident in Pietersburg in the Northern Province.

2002 - Northern Free State Committee Members, just after receiving the BANKOVS Shield for the most hardworking Region of the year in 2001. Northern Free State came to the forefront as a Region in 1989 when Joop Engelbrecht, Peet van Zijl and Manie Fourie asked Free State to recommend to SAFPA that the northern part of Free State was strong enough to become a Region on its own. All three of these stalwarts were Regional Presidents of Northern Free State in the same order as their names appear above. It is sad to note that all three of them died while they were in the chair. Northern Free State stages the biggest regional Show in South Africa year after year, with between 1400 and 1800 entries of more than 80 different breeds of fancy pigeons.

The National President, Mr. Wynand Wessels, presents the Bertie Wessels Shield to Col. Christo van den Berg, Regional President of the Free State, for procuring the most sponsors during the year 2001. Free State won both the Bertie Wessels and BANKOVS Shield for the year 2002. The Free State Region, with Bloemfontein as the Capital, has staged the most National Championship Shows of all regions since 1948. The Fancy Pigeon Hall of Fame is also situated in Bloemfontein.

The 2002 SAFPA Nationals were hosted by the Eastern Free State Region. Front: Mesdames Rientjie du Plessis, Mrs. Badenhorst and Annatjie Loubser; Standing: Danie Badenhorst (Regional President), Jan du Plessis (Show Manager), Corrie van Reenen, Blackie Swart, Connie Venter & Bert Loubser (Regional Representative of the E.C.) Eastern Free State is one of the smallest Regions in SAFPA and the 2002 Championship Show was their first effort at hosting the Nationals. Although small in numbers, the 2002 Championship Show was very well organised and the display of show pens in the various halls was of the best.