when we send a team of 5 pigeons, one pigeon is automatically activated... the other 4 are reserves. after the 2nd off shore training race the activation period begins, this is where the owners of the reserve pigeons have the first opportunity to activate there own pigeons and pay the additional entry fee. however should an owner not activate his pigeons they then become available to a 3rd party, which could be anyone in the world! you pay the entry fee and the pigeon becomes yours to compete in the remaining training , hotspots and hopefully the final, any prizes won by these pigeons is yours mate... worth a punt!