BE a champion and
stay a champion
SAINT NICOLAS
Last Saturday Saint Nicolas and his entourage were caught up in many
Dutch cities and villages. In some places he arrives with his steamer
from Spain because that is where he lives. In other places he comes
sitting on his white gray horse and makes a tour through the city or
village. Thousands of children welcome him and his extensive retinue.
That is the start of an exciting period, it is the official start of the
largest children's party in the Netherlands with December 5 as the most
important date. On that day it is the saint's birthday and then all the
children receive a present. In recent years quite a bit has changed
about this age-old children's party. Despite that it remains a great
party that precedes Christmas. That is why the month of December is
called the holiday month with us. It was not a party this weekend for
the Dutch Formula 1 racer Max Verstappen. He was narrowly beaten by his
great rival Lewis Hamilton in the Sao Paulo GP in Brazil but is still in
the lead for the World Cup. There was also disappointment for the
national football team that handed over a seemingly certain victory
(0-2) in the last 10 minutes to host country Montenegro. The "orange
lions" as the Dutch are called must play at least a draw against Norway
on Tuesday evening to be allowed to go to the World Cup in Qatar. The
Dutch skaters were confronted with the facts this weekend in Poland with
an international participation. They apparently didn't get involved and
then the apologies come. The ice was too soft, it was stiff, the
training method would not be good and there was still something more to
think of. The fact is that on the way to the Winter Olympics there are
still a few things that need to be improved upon. After all, the
Netherlands has a reputation to uphold as a skating country. Italian
motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi (42) concluded his impressive career
this weekend in the Valencia GP where he was cheered by 75.000
spectators. INSANE
For the 9th time in its long existence the Belgian pigeon newspaper De
Duif organized its Golden Ten hall sale this weekend. Belgian and Dutch
fanciers with a well-known name had each made 8 youngsters available. In
total there were 151 that were sold by auction on Saturday and Sunday.
Many fanciers from abroad were present through various brokers who were
present in the hall. For the average fancier there was little to seek
because the average yield per pigeon was 8539 euros with a total of
1.289.400 euros. The most expensive went for 79.200 euros and was made
available by the Dutchman Jan Hooymans (world famous for his legendary
Harry) who races pigeons in several countries. The big highlight of the
auction was the proceeds from the pigeons of Rik Hermans (son of Jan who
owns the magazine). No fewer than 34 pigeons of the 151 brought in more
than 10.000 euros. There were 7 from Rik Hermans who raised an average
of 27.300 euros. I would like to know what will be left of it three
years from now and what the breeding results are. It is already
difficult to breed a real topper once in your entire pigeon career.
Despite the fact that the pigeon sport is declining worldwide there are
still fanciers who continue to invest and this is not the only sale this
winter. There are a few more to come so take courage.
CORONA MEASURES
Unfortunately in the Netherlands the strings had to be tightened again
because the infection rates are soaring. As a result several champion
tributes have already been postponed. Even the celebration of the
national champions that was to be held last weekend has been postponed
to February 2022. It doesn't get any nicer but we will continue we have
little or no choice. I cannot and will not say more about it. It is true
that last Friday the KBDB was able to hold its general meeting. The ring
price for 2022 has been determined, the doping file has been discussed,
the flight calendar for 2022 has been determined, there were good
financial figures and from now on basketing takes place by appointment.
I experienced the latter in my association this year. That is a very
good solution especially for the workers who otherwise sometimes had
problems with the order of basketing. Now everything happens at (fixed)
times, great! The only drawback is that many fanciers go home quickly
and that is at the expense of the fun on the basketing evening and it
saves revenue in the club greenhouse. Johan Cruyff would say; so every
disadvantage has its advantage.
TALKING ABOUT CHAMPIONS
The KBDB has now announced its national champions and they already have
quite a few of them. I counted 14 different categories and in each
category they have 15 champions and in some cases even 30. The same
counts for the ace pigeons. Quickly counted these are more than 600
championship prizes that go to many different fanciers. That is why
Belgium has many national champions and of course there are the
champions of the companies, the teams and so on. It is not for nothing
that it is said that there live only champions in Belgium.
CARE IS ON THE BACK BURNER
Cleaning up a mass of feathers every day is over, it is now time to
count every day how many flight and tail feathers there are. The big
molt is almost over. The regularity of releasing pigeons is also over. I
do release a group of pigeons almost every day. In the first place a
nice sight to see the pigeons flying again especially the youngsters.
It's also nice to clean an empty cage, no fluttering around you. Not
that they are shy, most of them remain calm in their seats. However they
are a bit more restless than during the season. Then you spend more time
on it and I can grab almost all of them with one hand which is less now.
As mentioned before our breeding pigeons are coupled between Christmas
and New Year. That whole round goes to Marco. The second to me and the
eggs go as much as possible under my racing pigeons which are then
paired for the first time. The breeders can then start their third round
and when it is ready the new season will be just around the corner. Now
first make sure that we get through the winter healthy and without
problems.
SPORT IN THE WIDEEST SENSE
The eleventh of the eleventh the children in the Netherlands celebrate
Sint Maarten. They then go door to door with a lantern that they usually
make themselves and then sing the song about Sint Maarten. As a reward
they get a biscuit, candy or an apple and come home halfway through the
evening with a large bag of all kinds of sweets. A feast to see who has
collected the most and what kind of goodies are included. The same date
is the start of the carnival season. Most likely that will be postponed
due to the rapidly increasing Covid infection. Stricter measures will be
announced on Friday evening it doesn't get any more fun. Fortunately the
barbecue organized by the joint Zaanse associations was a lot of fun.
Whoever you spoke to everyone thought it was a very pleasant evening
that is certainly worth repeating. Then last Sunday there was a viewing
afternoon at one of the Zaanse pigeon clubs. There the donated late
youngsters were lined up to be admired. The bids took place online and
the proceeds will be spent on luxury prizes that can be won in 2022
within the ZCC ensemble. Less fun are the bird flu infections. Thousands
of poultry have already been killed in various places in the country.
Fortunately our pigeons do not fall under poultry but under “birds”
because there is now a transport ban. In terms of sports there was
plenty to enjoy again last weekend. Let's start with the victory in the
Formula 1 of Mexico which was again won by the Dutchman Max Verstappen
who also leads the world championship. In that same weekend cycling fans
could enjoy the European cyclo-cross championship in their own country.
The two greats in that area Wout van Aaert (B) and Mathieu van de Poel
(NL) were not at the start so that it became an open course. The victory
went to the Dutchman Lars van der Haar and the women's title went to
Dutch Lucinda Brand (32). She dominated the battle from start to finish.
ABOUT PIGEONS
It's my age that makes it more and more difficult for me to apply the
last selection. I have waited too long with that they are all so perfect
in the hand that I cannot part with them. And yet there are still 12 to
go and that will certainly happen this week. I just have to because
otherwise I get too many and I can't take care of them enough. This is
at the expense of performance and I'm actually still far too fanatical
for that but I must confess that performance is no longer the most
important thing. I just want to enjoy the game every week. That means
with few pigeons in the loft picking up a pigeon every week in the snout
of the results. My aim is still to win 50% prize and that should be
possible with a small, strictly selected colony of 20 old racing
pigeons. That is one and two year old I don't have them any older at
least not in the racing loft. The loft that gets the most attention now
is the breeding loft. It is the intention that our breeders will meet
again between Christmas and New Year. Real winter breeding with paring
at the end of November is no longer necessary now that the young pigeon
program starts much later. My experience is that the youngsters from the
second round usually outperform those from the first round or is this
just a coincidence? Now that I haven't even finished the selection yet I
am not waiting for another loft full of pigeons. In the past, yes we go
back to the old days when everything was better, we only coupled the
third week of February. Then the winters were really quiet time which
today no longer exists. The flights are only six weeks over, the pigeons
really need three months to completely get through the molt.
NO PIGEONS FOR A WHILE
More than four months of rest for the pigeons and the boss are needed to
fully recharge the battery. A period without the pressure of having to
win is more motivating. I recently read an article by a great well-known
and very strong playing fancier. I am a fan of his and I am jealous of
his many years of strong game which means that he also earns money like
water from his pigeons. He owns hundreds of them and his whole life
consists of pigeons. The latter also applies to me I even have pigeons
from him. But when you see what he does for it and with what effort that
no normal person can muster you must really be a bit crazy. He is
already busy packing his breeding dishes with old newspapers, then a
nest mat in it and then another shot of poison against lice and other
vermin. Then that is already ready when the pigeons are paired on the
26th. And to know that he has already coupled his foster pigeons. He can
dispose of the eggs of them at any time so that the eggs of his very
best pigeons can be placed under them. We simple fanciers have long been
happy when we can breed three rounds of youngsters from our better
pigeons. More is not possible because we lack space, time and perhaps
also commitment. Very deep hats off to someone who can afford it all and
leaves nothing to chance. I can't and don't do that but wouldn't want to
miss my pigeons for a price.
PIGEON PHOTOGRAPHER
Wijdewormer, November 3, 2021.
Exactly a week ago I came by chance upon one of the many talk shows
where the word “pigeon photographer” was suddenly mentioned. You will
understand that I sat down for a moment. I'm not a fan of all those talk
shows, often the same topics with people at the table who like to sit at
the table you undoubtedly know them. This time a few young people were
sitting at the table, one of whom was European champion shoe repair, the
other was champion “freestyle footballer” or in other words a super ball
magician. There was also someone who was called the photographer of the
fatherland. He was talking about one of his colleagues who is a pigeon
photographer. Almost simultaneously, like me, all the table companions
sat up, I the others out of curiosity because they thought they had
misheard. Their reactions showed that they were thinking; a pigeon
photographer what should we do with that? Never heard of it! Of course
it sounded like music to my ears and I had to think back to the old
days. The Hilversumse Foppe Huizinga was one of the first pigeon
photographers in the Netherlands. Everything still in black and white,
the pigeons were on it as they really looked. Photographing pigeons
started as a hobby. Someone who won a first prize received a photo of
his winning pigeon and feel he was the king. All in all it was still
very amateurish, not knowing what an important role pigeons would play
in our sport. The pigeon sport was on the rise, more and more pigeon
newspapers appeared preferably filled with as many photos as possible
about our sport and my old friend Peter van Raamsdonk noticed that very
quickly. Unfortunately Peter passed away at much too young age, but what
a wonderful time I had with him. It was he who made the big breakthrough
in the field of racing pigeon photography. He became a big name in the
pigeon world so well-known that he gave up his permanent job and only
took pigeon pictures. His manner was still amateurish. However he did
make a box with a turntable where the pigeon was deployed and as soon as
he took the photo a number of lamps went on simultaneously so that the
pigeon was in full light without shadow. To put the pigeon “at
attention” he used a brush with which he pushed the pigeon into the
correct position in such a way that the last three digits of the foot
ring were also visible. It was still in the days of the traditional roll
of film. At the time he still had the development and printing done. As
soon as the pictures were ready he started cutting them out which was a
joy to see. He did that even at lunchtime, had his mouth full of bread,
the phone on his shoulder, his head tilted to hold the phone in place,
the occasional sip of tea and while he kept the conversation going, he
also snapped the pigeon out. The pigeon's owners were overjoyed with
their photos and the pigeon newspapers were full of them. He made
beautiful photo compositions and there are still a few of them hanging
in my office. An example with the two best ace pigeons in the
Netherlands 1990 is attached to this article.
PHOTOGRAPHING PIGEONS IS NO LONGER ART
It's big business. Photographers' pigeons flew out of the ground like
mushrooms. It is teeming with it and commerce is eager to use it. Not a
single pigeon is in the photo as they are in reality. They are all state
portraits, punched out so that they all look the same except for the
color. To make things more interesting the photos are often completed
with a wing spread open and an image of the eye. According to the story
the photographer told on the TV the eye was the most important thing.
This would enable the pigeon keepers to see whether or not a pigeon is a
good sport pigeon. And then I think we have arrived in fairytale land. I
have experienced great evenings with full houses when an eye viewer came
to tell about the pigeons brought by the fanciers. Each fancier sat up
as the soothsayer went to judge his or her pigeon. Statements such as
for example; can hang in the air for at least 12 hours, teletext pigeon,
ideal breeding pigeon, super hen while it is a real sprinter while it
was a good performing long distance pigeon. This is one to build a whole
loft with. What do you think of an old-fashioned farm pigeon or a real
modern sport pigeon, a typical Jansen pigeon while there was not a drop
of Jansen blood in it. Despite all the nonsense it was always very
pleasant evenings. The man was able to tell everything so convincingly
that you would think that he himself would have had enough with one
breeding couple. If you know so much about pigeons it must be easy to
put together a top breeding couple. When I asked a question in that
direction and asked how many youngsters he bred for himself the answer
was usually between 50 and 80. He indicated that he did not dare to
participate in the flights with only a few pigeons says enough . At that
time many fanciers believed everything that man said they were parties
with a high entertainment value but that's SAINT NICOLAS
Last Saturday Saint Nicolas and his entourage were caught up in many
Dutch cities and villages. In some places he arrives with his steamer
from Spain because that is where he lives. In other places he comes
sitting on his white gray horse and makes a tour through the city or
village. Thousands of children welcome him and his extensive retinue.
That is the start of an exciting period, it is the official start of the
largest children's party in the Netherlands with December 5 as the most
important date. On that day it is the saint's birthday and then all the
children receive a present. In recent years quite a bit has changed
about this age-old children's party. Despite that it remains a great
party that precedes Christmas. That is why the month of December is
called the holiday month with us. It was not a party this weekend for
the Dutch Formula 1 racer Max Verstappen. He was narrowly beaten by his
great rival Lewis Hamilton in the Sao Paulo GP in Brazil but is still in
the lead for the World Cup. There was also disappointment for the
national football team that handed over a seemingly certain victory
(0-2) in the last 10 minutes to host country Montenegro. The "orange
lions" as the Dutch are called must play at least a draw against Norway
on Tuesday evening to be allowed to go to the World Cup in Qatar. The
Dutch skaters were confronted with the facts this weekend in Poland with
an international participation. They apparently didn't get involved and
then the apologies come. The ice was too soft, it was stiff, the
training method would not be good and there was still something more to
think of. The fact is that on the way to the Winter Olympics there are
still a few things that need to be improved upon. After all, the
Netherlands has a reputation to uphold as a skating country. Italian
motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi (42) concluded his impressive career
this weekend in the Valencia GP where he was cheered by 75.000
spectators. INSANE
For the 9th time in its long existence the Belgian pigeon newspaper De
Duif organized its Golden Ten hall sale this weekend. Belgian and Dutch
fanciers with a well-known name had each made 8 youngsters available. In
total there were 151 that were sold by auction on Saturday and Sunday.
Many fanciers from abroad were present through various brokers who were
present in the hall. For the average fancier there was little to seek
because the average yield per pigeon was 8539 euros with a total of
1.289.400 euros. The most expensive went for 79.200 euros and was made
available by the Dutchman Jan Hooymans (world famous for his legendary
Harry) who races pigeons in several countries. The big highlight of the
auction was the proceeds from the pigeons of Rik Hermans (son of Jan who
owns the magazine). No fewer than 34 pigeons of the 151 brought in more
than 10.000 euros. There were 7 from Rik Hermans who raised an average
of 27.300 euros. I would like to know what will be left of it three
years from now and what the breeding results are. It is already
difficult to breed a real topper once in your entire pigeon career.
Despite the fact that the pigeon sport is declining worldwide there are
still fanciers who continue to invest and this is not the only sale this
winter. There are a few more to come so take courage.
CORONA MEASURES
Unfortunately in the Netherlands the strings had to be tightened again
because the infection rates are soaring. As a result several champion
tributes have already been postponed. Even the celebration of the
national champions that was to be held last weekend has been postponed
to February 2022. It doesn't get any nicer but we will continue we have
little or no choice. I cannot and will not say more about it. It is true
that last Friday the KBDB was able to hold its general meeting. The ring
price for 2022 has been determined, the doping file has been discussed,
the flight calendar for 2022 has been determined, there were good
financial figures and from now on basketing takes place by appointment.
I experienced the latter in my association this year. That is a very
good solution especially for the workers who otherwise sometimes had
problems with the order of basketing. Now everything happens at (fixed)
times, great! The only drawback is that many fanciers go home quickly
and that is at the expense of the fun on the basketing evening and it
saves revenue in the club greenhouse. Johan Cruyff would say; so every
disadvantage has its advantage.
TALKING ABOUT CHAMPIONS
The KBDB has now announced its national champions and they already have
quite a few of them. I counted 14 different categories and in each
category they have 15 champions and in some cases even 30. The same
counts for the ace pigeons. Quickly counted these are more than 600
championship prizes that go to many different fanciers. That is why
Belgium has many national champions and of course there are the
champions of the companies, the teams and so on. It is not for nothing
that it is said that there live only champions in Belgium.
CARE IS ON THE BACK BURNER
Cleaning up a mass of feathers every day is over, it is now time to
count every day how many flight and tail feathers there are. The big
molt is almost over. The regularity of releasing pigeons is also over. I
do release a group of pigeons almost every day. In the first place a
nice sight to see the pigeons flying again especially the youngsters.
It's also nice to clean an empty cage, no fluttering around you. Not
that they are shy, most of them remain calm in their seats. However they
are a bit more restless than during the season. Then you spend more time
on it and I can grab almost all of them with one hand which is less now.
As mentioned before our breeding pigeons are coupled between Christmas
and New Year. That whole round goes to Marco. The second to me and the
eggs go as much as possible under my racing pigeons which are then
paired for the first time. The breeders can then start their third round
and when it is ready the new season will be just around the corner. Now
first make sure that we get through the winter healthy and without
problems.
SPORT IN THE WIDEEST SENSE
The eleventh of the eleventh the children in the Netherlands celebrate
Sint Maarten. They then go door to door with a lantern that they usually
make themselves and then sing the song about Sint Maarten. As a reward
they get a biscuit, candy or an apple and come home halfway through the
evening with a large bag of all kinds of sweets. A feast to see who has
collected the most and what kind of goodies are included. The same date
is the start of the carnival season. Most likely that will be postponed
due to the rapidly increasing Covid infection. Stricter measures will be
announced on Friday evening it doesn't get any more fun. Fortunately the
barbecue organized by the joint Zaanse associations was a lot of fun.
Whoever you spoke to everyone thought it was a very pleasant evening
that is certainly worth repeating. Then last Sunday there was a viewing
afternoon at one of the Zaanse pigeon clubs. There the donated late
youngsters were lined up to be admired. The bids took place online and
the proceeds will be spent on luxury prizes that can be won in 2022
within the ZCC ensemble. Less fun are the bird flu infections. Thousands
of poultry have already been killed in various places in the country.
Fortunately our pigeons do not fall under poultry but under “birds”
because there is now a transport ban. In terms of sports there was
plenty to enjoy again last weekend. Let's start with the victory in the
Formula 1 of Mexico which was again won by the Dutchman Max Verstappen
who also leads the world championship. In that same weekend cycling fans
could enjoy the European cyclo-cross championship in their own country.
The two greats in that area Wout van Aaert (B) and Mathieu van de Poel
(NL) were not at the start so that it became an open course. The victory
went to the Dutchman Lars van der Haar and the women's title went to
Dutch Lucinda Brand (32). She dominated the battle from start to finish.
ABOUT PIGEONS
It's my age that makes it more and more difficult for me to apply the
last selection. I have waited too long with that they are all so perfect
in the hand that I cannot part with them. And yet there are still 12 to
go and that will certainly happen this week. I just have to because
otherwise I get too many and I can't take care of them enough. This is
at the expense of performance and I'm actually still far too fanatical
for that but I must confess that performance is no longer the most
important thing. I just want to enjoy the game every week. That means
with few pigeons in the loft picking up a pigeon every week in the snout
of the results. My aim is still to win 50% prize and that should be
possible with a small, strictly selected colony of 20 old racing
pigeons. That is one and two year old I don't have them any older at
least not in the racing loft. The loft that gets the most attention now
is the breeding loft. It is the intention that our breeders will meet
again between Christmas and New Year. Real winter breeding with paring
at the end of November is no longer necessary now that the young pigeon
program starts much later. My experience is that the youngsters from the
second round usually outperform those from the first round or is this
just a coincidence? Now that I haven't even finished the selection yet I
am not waiting for another loft full of pigeons. In the past, yes we go
back to the old days when everything was better, we only coupled the
third week of February. Then the winters were really quiet time which
today no longer exists. The flights are only six weeks over, the pigeons
really need three months to completely get through the molt.
NO PIGEONS FOR A WHILE
More than four months of rest for the pigeons and the boss are needed to
fully recharge the battery. A period without the pressure of having to
win is more motivating. I recently read an article by a great well-known
and very strong playing fancier. I am a fan of his and I am jealous of
his many years of strong game which means that he also earns money like
water from his pigeons. He owns hundreds of them and his whole life
consists of pigeons. The latter also applies to me I even have pigeons
from him. But when you see what he does for it and with what effort that
no normal person can muster you must really be a bit crazy. He is
already busy packing his breeding dishes with old newspapers, then a
nest mat in it and then another shot of poison against lice and other
vermin. Then that is already ready when the pigeons are paired on the
26th. And to know that he has already coupled his foster pigeons. He can
dispose of the eggs of them at any time so that the eggs of his very
best pigeons can be placed under them. We simple fanciers have long been
happy when we can breed three rounds of youngsters from our better
pigeons. More is not possible because we lack space, time and perhaps
also commitment. Very deep hats off to someone who can afford it all and
leaves nothing to chance. I can't and don't do that but wouldn't want to
miss my pigeons for a price.
PIGEON PHOTOGRAPHER
Wijdewormer, November 3, 2021.
Exactly a week ago I came by chance upon one of the many talk shows
where the word “pigeon photographer” was suddenly mentioned. You will
understand that I sat down for a moment. I'm not a fan of all those talk
shows, often the same topics with people at the table who like to sit at
the table you undoubtedly know them. This time a few young people were
sitting at the table, one of whom was European champion shoe repair, the
other was champion “freestyle footballer” or in other words a super ball
magician. There was also someone who was called the photographer of the
fatherland. He was talking about one of his colleagues who is a pigeon
photographer. Almost simultaneously, like me, all the table companions
sat up, I the others out of curiosity because they thought they had
misheard. Their reactions showed that they were thinking; a pigeon
photographer what should we do with that? Never heard of it! Of course
it sounded like music to my ears and I had to think back to the old
days. The Hilversumse Foppe Huizinga was one of the first pigeon
photographers in the Netherlands. Everything still in black and white,
the pigeons were on it as they really looked. Photographing pigeons
started as a hobby. Someone who won a first prize received a photo of
his winning pigeon and feel he was the king. All in all it was still
very amateurish, not knowing what an important role pigeons would play
in our sport. The pigeon sport was on the rise, more and more pigeon
newspapers appeared preferably filled with as many photos as possible
about our sport and my old friend Peter van Raamsdonk noticed that very
quickly. Unfortunately Peter passed away at much too young age, but what
a wonderful time I had with him. It was he who made the big breakthrough
in the field of racing pigeon photography. He became a big name in the
pigeon world so well-known that he gave up his permanent job and only
took pigeon pictures. His manner was still amateurish. However he did
make a box with a turntable where the pigeon was deployed and as soon as
he took the photo a number of lamps went on simultaneously so that the
pigeon was in full light without shadow. To put the pigeon “at
attention” he used a brush with which he pushed the pigeon into the
correct position in such a way that the last three digits of the foot
ring were also visible. It was still in the days of the traditional roll
of film. At the time he still had the development and printing done. As
soon as the pictures were ready he started cutting them out which was a
joy to see. He did that even at lunchtime, had his mouth full of bread,
the phone on his shoulder, his head tilted to hold the phone in place,
the occasional sip of tea and while he kept the conversation going, he
also snapped the pigeon out. The pigeon's owners were overjoyed with
their photos and the pigeon newspapers were full of them. He made
beautiful photo compositions and there are still a few of them hanging
in my office. An example with the two best ace pigeons in the
Netherlands 1990 is attached to this article.
PHOTOGRAPHING PIGEONS IS NO LONGER ART
It's big business. Photographers' pigeons flew out of the ground like
mushrooms. It is teeming with it and commerce is eager to use it. Not a
single pigeon is in the photo as they are in reality. They are all state
portraits, punched out so that they all look the same except for the
color. To make things more interesting the photos are often completed
with a wing spread open and an image of the eye. According to the story
the photographer told on the TV the eye was the most important thing.
This would enable the pigeon keepers to see whether or not a pigeon is a
good sport pigeon. And then I think we have arrived in fairytale land. I
have experienced great evenings with full houses when an eye viewer came
to tell about the pigeons brought by the fanciers. Each fancier sat up
as the soothsayer went to judge his or her pigeon. Statements such as
for example; can hang in the air for at least 12 hours, teletext pigeon,
ideal breeding pigeon, super hen while it is a real sprinter while it
was a good performing long distance pigeon. This is one to build a whole
loft with. What do you think of an old-fashioned farm pigeon or a real
modern sport pigeon, a typical Jansen pigeon while there was not a drop
of Jansen blood in it. Despite all the nonsense it was always very
pleasant evenings. The man was able to tell everything so convincingly
that you would think that he himself would have had enough with one
breeding couple. If you know so much about pigeons it must be easy to
put together a top breeding couple. When I asked a question in that
direction and asked how many youngsters he bred for himself the answer
was usually between 50 and 80. He indicated that he did not dare to
participate in the flights with only a few pigeons says enough . At that
time many fanciers believed everything that man said they were parties
with a high entertainment value but that's about all. Or do you still
believe in fairy tales?
about all. Or do you still believe in fairy tales?
SPORT FOR BETTER AND WORSE
Saturday evening I spent a large part of the evening looking for a live
report of the titan kickboxing fight between the Dutchman Ricoh
Verhoeven and (32) the Belgian Jamal Ben Saddik (31). Actually I have
nothing at all with martial arts but when it comes to the World Cup I
would like to see especially if there is a Dutchman in the ring and what
kind. Verhoeven had to defend his world title and that was no easy task.
Immediately afterwards I received the first images of a hard fight
between two heavyweights. The titanic fight was decided in the fourth
round. A badly beaten Verhoeven managed to knock out his exhausted
opponent with one last effort after which they eventually left the ring
again as friends. I have not enjoyed. I actually think it's terrible but
yes you are Dutch and then you can be a bit chauvinistic if a compatriot
manages to extend his world title, he has my blessing. In terms of
sports there was even more to enjoy that weekend. Our Dutch top driver
Max Verstappen, who is leading the World Cup in the Royal Class of the
Formula 1 circuit, had to make it happen in the United States. It was
another blistering battle between Max and his arch-rival Tyler Hamilton
which was narrowly won by the former. Another celebration for its
thousands of fans. As far as the Dutch cyclists are concerned there was
no size at all on the track in Roubaix (Fr) during the World Cup. They
won no less than 10 medals, sprinter Harrie Lavreysen (24) even won 3
golds. Another highlight in that same weekend had to be the Autumn Fair.
An annual event in the field of pigeon sport. Always two very busy and
fun days that unfortunately couldn't go on a few times because of the
Covid-19 pandemic. At the moment I can little tell about the number of
visitors and the atmosphere. That's because I wasn't ready for it myself
and I haven't spoken to anyone yet. Although I am vaccinated twice it
was still a bit too early for me. All those people so close together
under a closed roof. I will wait until spring especially now the number
of infections is flying up again. A huge setback was the report about
the duty to stay in a cage in connection with the violent outbreak of
the bird flu variant H5. All poultry in the Netherlands must stay
indoors from today! In the area where the first outbreak took place a
farm with 36.000 animals has already been culled. Fortunately our
pigeons are no longer counted under “poultry” but under the group
“birds”. It is to be wished that the outbreak is stopped soon otherwise
it could be that our pigeons also have to stay indoors and the shows and
champion days are in danger.
TOWARDS THE BREEDING SEASON
Rest in the lofts during the major molt is of great importance for the
heavily molting pigeons. Still a large amount of large and small
feathers every day especially with the old racing pigeons. It is
completely different with the breeding pigeons they are as good as
ready. I've had most of them in my hands in the last week just an
interim inspection. I soon noticed that I have been too good for them,
they are much too heavy which is because I have too much work taking
care of my pigeons. Not that I have too many pigeons but they are in six
different sections that are cleaned every day and provided with fresh
water. Every now and then I release a group, the breeders never come
out. On paper I have been juggling the formation of the couples several
times. Marco and I have 22 together and it is already certain that eight
will remain the same for the coming breeding season. Anything is
possible with the others. Seven first prize winners or champion pigeons
are given a place in the breeding loft so that just as many have to
clear the field. Especially the speed pigeons predominate with us. This
year we even had four in the top-6 in the ZCC, where we also won the
sprint (sprint) championship with the old and young pigeons + the pigeon
championship young. In that respect we can be quite satisfied and we .
The losses were nihil most of them we lost at home. We still have too
many but that's how it will be in most lofts. During the flights the
fanciers complain about the losses and in October they find out that
they have anyway too many. Fortunately because it is not good if you are
forced to keep all youngsters and have no selection options. Still I
advise everyone to make a strict selection. Better a few empty breeding
lofts than pigeons in the loft you have no confidence in. So it is with
the breeders. Every breeding pigeon has a positive story, good or top
performance, a few first times or purchased from a proven couple and
there is still a lot to think about. But beware it's not about the story
or the pedigree but about the breeding results. It still looks a bit
like coffee grounds for all of us and without a dose of luck we are
nowhere even if the base is still of such a high quality. Based on the
performance of the youngsters it is often determined which couple may or
may not stay together. You have to be careful with that too. First look
at the performances as a youngster and as a yearling. Some yearlings
have achieved nothing as young and as yearlings they race the stars of
heaven. I myself have bred youngsters many times that ended in the best
three at the end of the ride. Every time I am amazed how often they
disappoint as a yearling. I will give a second chance as a 2 year old to
some who have proven it as young. They often play to full satisfaction.
You also have to force the luck a bit. This also applies to the game
with the youngsters. Someone who is fanatical about this will get a
higher return from his youngsters than someone who pays 100% attention
to the old pigeons. I entered this year for the 72nd year and have
achieved fantastic results in all those years and yet every time I am
faced with surprises. That is what makes the pigeon sport so beautiful.
Take it from me that anyone who write or talk so beautifully about it
knows little or nothing about how it actually works. That is why the
pigeon sport remains such a fun and incalculable hobby. Enjoy it!
STRONG STORIES
The flights are over fortunately because we are well into the fall. Lots
of rain, strong wind, heavily clouded and 11 degrees. Really good
weather to stay inside and tell strong stories with a bunch of sports
friends about everything that has to do with our pigeon sport. There are
plenty of good stories. First I want to tell you about the football game
I watched last night and how I enjoyed it! It concerned the match
between Ajax (Amsterdam) and Borussia Dortmund, result 4-0. I must
confess that like many Dutchmen I am a fan of the Amsterdam club and
then you are "partisan". In case of a serious violation by the Germans
the entire stadium will fly up and if it is the other way around it will
be ridiculed with "boo". I haven't seen such a super European cup match
in years. Both teams are in place 1 and 2 in their national competition
but this evening the difference in power was huge. The Germans were
completely outplayed. No nasty violations but many exciting moments it
was delicious. No fights outside the stadium after the game either and
that means a lot these days. Enough about it we'd be talking tall tales.
For two years now Jaap has been able to tell the most beautiful stories
about his “Black Bordeaux”tje. When I once came to visit him I naturally
asked about that pigeon and he proudly showed it to me. A jet-black
pigeon that showed nothing special. Yes she was very heavy, I got pain
in my wrists (strong story) but just like many good pigeons little to
see. When I asked about her achievements at Bordeaux he said; she's
coming along for the first time this year! Then there was Siem, he was
happy to put some money on his “08”. It must have been an absolute
wonder pigeon. Why? I'll tell you. At least 10 times a year he threw his
wallet hard on the floor when he entered the club room. He's completely
empty again, he'd scream. So nothing won and that was because the “08”
refused to come in, he said. Otherwise she would have won the first one
at least 10 times that year because she sat on the roof for minutes
before coming in. He checked that later with the score and found that
she had won minutes ahead all those times as well. Those are pigeons!
With stories like this we would have pushed the lamp above the table at
home and then everyone would know what that meant (strong story). Sjors
had made them believe that to clock an early pigeon you had to hang 5
mackerel fish heads in the loft 50 cm above the floor which he had done.
Pictures have even been taken and he is now showing the first in the
entire circle against a that Saturday a few thousand pigeons. (not a
strong story but a nice true story). In that regard I could write a book
about our hobby that is no longer a hobby. The sales sites have taken
all romance out of the sport, commerce has taken over everything. If you
read very tall tales you should check out the pedigrees of those who
sell several times a year.
6 WEEKS LEFT THEN THE WINTER BREED STARTS
Time flies the flights are only a few weeks away the molt is still in
full swing but the winter breeders are already wearing their Sunday
suit. Ours have been separated since the beginning of April. Actually I
think that's way too long. It has to do with my age. I still want to
continue to participate in the game so play the entire program except
for the 1-day and multi-day long distance races. I have my hands full
with that and then you can't even have 18 breeding couples. Our
breeders, Marco's and mine, sit with me in spacious lofts and aviary.
Since I have always been a cleaner I like clean lofts but that has
become too much work for the old boss. In clean lofts you enjoy your
breeding pigeons much more especially now that they shine against you.
We are so quietly already busy with the preparations for the breeding
season. The paratyphus cure is over and now they get a 6-day cure from
Hans van der Sluis against the yellow (canker) which he thinks is really
necessary. This may be true because the breeders have not been given any
medication throughout the year. Actually, that also applies to our
racing pigeons. If they are okay they also have (almost) nothing needed.
You all know that medicines are not there to race better, they are only
there to make pigeons that have something wrong better or healthy. You
can NOT improve the quality with medicines. You get better quality in
your loft by only breeding from the best material and preferably as much
as possible. You will play with all those pigeons, the basket gives you
more information than can be read in a book. Also dare to break up your
better breeding couples, so keep trying to get more and more useful
pigeons into your loft. You can achieve this more by breaking pairs than
by breeding from the same pairs for years. After all there is always a
possibility to put broken couples back together again especially if it
turns out that something like that is necessary. I think keeping a
breeding loft young is a good method, no problems with laying eggs or
raising young. I always remember the saying that no more children are
born in a retirement home.
LOOK AFTER! AFTER THE MOULT, THEY ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL
For the first time in their lives, the young pigeons are introduced to
the large moult, which one is better at than the other. Some are quite
moult sick. That is not alarming, but it is important that you know that
"moulting disease" exists. Those pigeons are often a bit sad on or in
their permanent seat, they don't feel like flying. It is up to you to
ensure that they continue to eat well and that they lack nothing. Make
sure that the drinking and grit box are clean during this large moulting
period because they sometimes want to be completely full with small
feathers, so they do not like to drink or eat. It is equally important
that the pigeons can bathe at least once a week, which is important for
the perfect ingrowing of the new feathers. Of course, health is also of
great importance. With pigeons that are missing something now, this will
later be reflected in the new plumes and they will have to make a lot of
use of that next year. I don't want to have pigeons that have not
moulted perfectly in my loft, they will only disappoint in 2022.
Moulting and selection are inextricably linked. My method is to get rid
of the pigeons that have not done what was expected of them immediately
after the season. Read the headline of this article again.
SELECTION
Everyone has their own method. Most of us keep pigeons to be able to
participate in the competitions. We assume that our pigeons are top
athletes. Top athletes are not always perfectly built look at the
different sports. It will soon be clear to you that the most beautiful
athletes are not automatically winners. To win more is needed than just
a good construction, there is more to it. A good build does count for
me, I like beautiful pigeons. That certainly has to do with the fact
that I was a judge. I became aware of that because I would get my hands
on many beautiful but also good pigeons from all over the country in the
winter months. In the early days of my judgeship, the fanciers were very
interested in the judge's judgment. For many, a club show was also part
of their selection, their own opinion and that of the man in the white
coat often determined whether or not the pigeon was allowed to
hibernate. The Group of Judges (GVK) was founded at the time with the
intention of maintaining or improving the racing pigeon breed in the
Netherlands. I think they certainly succeeded. Unfortunately, the
thinking pattern of today's pigeon keeper has changed a lot, they think
they have a better view of it. I can partly agree with that because they
spend a whole year in their own loft with their pigeons. Despite that,
it is usually the same fanciers who play remarkably strong for years.
The disadvantage for the judges is that although they are certified,
they know a lot about physique, diseases, etc. and yet they do not play
well. It is then soon said; does he have to judge my pigeons while he
himself is not performing anything? There are examples of very good
trainers/coaches who were not excelling in their sport themselves, but
the reverse is also true. So a good judge does not necessarily have to
be a strong player, it is a bonus.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
Every fancier has a preference for a certain type of pigeon. That will
be completely different for a speed racer than for men who prefer the
extreme long distance or marathon. The vast majority of fanciers do not
have a preference for color, but they do have a preference for the size
or size of their pigeons. The performance of youngsters does not play a
decisive role for me. Those who have performed remarkably are almost
always allowed to stay. Furthermore, I do not have to look at the
pedigree because they come from the breeders, so pedigree is definitely
good, which does not mean that they are good pigeons, they must be to my
liking as a pigeon. Whether they can stay another year longer, they
can/should prove that as a yearling. WHAT I LOOK FOR As previously
written young pigeons like me as a pigeon. I like well-built and
preferably beautiful pigeons. I prefer blue, light scratch or shale, I
don't want other colors. There are people who think I'm crazy. Sure, but
color is also part of my hobby for me. I think a strong carcass and
silky soft plumes are very important. A wing that easily “gives” itself,
in other words if you open the wing, it should happen by itself, as it
were. Very important to me are the coccyx, which must be firm and
closed. A rock hard top rump, where the tail starts (also called the
back but it is higher) is less important. It used to be said that you
have to be able to hit a crooked nail straight on it. Doesn't apply
anymore, nowadays people talk about a flexible back. A strong carcass or
bone structure is important to me. The orientation is very important.
Unfortunately I don't know where to look for that. To maintain that I
always put the fastest pigeons against each other. They are the ones
who, in my opinion, have excellent orientation skills. I do not like a
pigeon with a flat head, but it does not mean that this pigeon cannot
win an early prize and the same applies to a pigeon with a bent sternum.
They go away if I don't really need them. I do not like very large
pigeons, but I do like large breeding hens. In our joint breeding loft
are mainly first prize winners or champion pigeons plus a single
purchased pigeon. That's how I've been doing it for years and since I've
had a breeding loft together with Marco, we're even more fanatical about
it. You know the best often come from the best because if there is no
quality in it, it cannot come out. Fortunately, it is also the case in
pigeon sport that many roads lead to Rome. A booklet that explains
exactly what you need to do to become and remain a star player still
does not exist. Be good to your pigeons, have confidence in them and
demand performance. Those who do not comply can leave and that is easier
said than done for many enthusiasts.
FLIGHT OF FLIGHTS IS CANCELLED AGAIN
Once there was the “Orleans fever” in the Netherlands. This had to do
with the youngsters flight from Orleans (for me 550 km) better known as
Derby Orleans. That Derby flight grew into the most famous young pigeon
race in the whole world. I think it was in the late 1950s that a Tilburg
pigeon club organized this monster competition. Almost all participants
bought some “derby rings” with which they could win very attractive
amounts of money. It was at this time of year that that race was flown
in which huge numbers of pigeons participated once even 150.000! You can
imagine that such a race was very much alive. Was it possible to let
youngsters fly so many kilometers, was that justified? After a number of
successful years a number of smart people got involved. End of the song
was; it's too far and the race was banned. What a bad decision that was
and still has a negative influence on our national pigeon sport. It
caused many disappointed fanciers and today it is mainly the older
fanciers who eagerly look forward to another young pigeon happening. We
will never see such numbers as before, there are not enough active
fanciers. I think it's just good memories and nothing more. Would that
really be true? From early spring the flight is scheduled for September
18 and it was only last week that the message came that Orleans will not
take place. It could have been the beginning of the resurrection, but
no! The reason the flight doesn't go through is the distance. That would
be too much to ask for youngsters less than a year old. What is too far
for a pigeon? As a 2 year old they fly from Barcelona (for me 1200 km).
We must not forget that there are differences between pigeons that do
the sprint races and pigeons that fly the long distance with the
greatest of ease. They are all pigeons that are very well prepared for
these flights. When I see how many youngsters are being lost these days
it's bizarre. That used to happen sporadically. I have raced with 24
youngsters for years and usually I ended the season with about 20. We
always assume that the pigeons are getting stronger and especially
faster but that is partly true. In the past and also now most youngsters
are lost on the first training flights of 10 to 40 km. After that it was
over at least then no large numbers were lost. I think the pigeons have
gotten better but the new big problem is air pollution. The environment
is changing enormously and fortunately people worldwide are finally
seeing the seriousness of this. However, it could well be that the air
pollution heralds the end of the pigeon sport. The average age of the
fanciers is very high. It is mainly the elderly who can no longer handle
the setbacks and give up the pigeon sport. Today I read an article in a
well-known Dutch pigeon newspaper about one of their employees who has
been writing for 20 years and has played with pigeons all his life but
he takes it for granted. He misses the good times of yesteryear and can
no longer stand that he so many pigeons not see back. That says
something because he was himself almost a pigeon.
SATURDAY LAST YOUNG PIGEON FLIGHT
Fonteney is the last showdown (for me 513km). Here we see the ridiculous
situation we are dealing with. For the Noord-Holland department (my
playing area) this flight counts for the championships. The most
northerly place in our department is Den Helder 50 km away from me.
Those people will fly 560 km on Saturday while Orleans is not allowed to
be raced at national level for 550 km. I already know that there are
only a handful of participants. They say if Orleans is too far then we
will not participate at Fonteney out of protest and so we have another
problem that apparently cannot be solved. Problems apparently belong to
the pigeon sport. It's an individual hobby and everyone tries to pull
the lead. We will be meeting again soon. The first item on the agenda is
the election of a new department chairman. He held this far-fetched
position for only a year. I understand that the problem originated in
his association. I don't know the cause but I do know that the good man
has performed fantastically this year just an example for us all. Yet
individuals have managed to get the good guy to stop abruptly.
HOW ARE THE BRASSEN?
Marco's youngsters have done an excellent job and despite the fact that
he did not participate last week he is still in the top-5. I myself am
in second place with one race to go. I keep persevering and hope to
catch a few early pigeons on Saturday in the only long distance race for
youngsters. I have selected 10 of which 6 have a young of 8 days in the
dish which I think is an ideal nest position. The title is at stake so
that will be a bit of a squeeze on Saturday.
DER BOMBER Wijdewormer, August 18, 2021
In the sports newspaper last Monday I read that "Der Bomber", his real
name is Gerd Muller, died a day earlier at the age of 76. Why this extra
attention? In the first place because, as a life-threatening striker of
the German national football team, he scored the winning goal against
the Netherlands in the unforgettable final of the World Cup against the
Netherlands in 1974. He was an unparalleled player, a real top scorer
with even a higher average than the already legendary Messi. Germany
mourns the loss of one of their football showpieces. The name Der Bomber
acquired an even greater value for me. Many pigeon fanciers often give
their better pigeons the name of an outstanding athlete which I do that
too. At the end of 1974 I named my best cock NL73-587568 De Bomber. He
was already a star as a youngster and in the following years he became
better and better with remarkable performances in short a real topper!
As a youngster he won 5 prizes including 1st against 4572 pigeons. I
then played with my father because I lived in a flat where keeping
pigeons was impossible. At the beginning of 1974 my parents moved to a
retirement home so the pigeons had to be sold. Fortunately there was a
sports friend in the neighborhood who had a small pigeon loft that he
didn't use which I was allowed to use and put 6 pigeons on it including
“the 568” who had no name at the time. The pigeons got used to it and I
could just play with them in 1974. Five of those six pigeons did
wonderfully well at their new address. At the end of the year I was able
to enter all 5 for the national competition WHzB. It happened several
times that I had all 5 at home, one I did not play, while the man in
whose yard I played did not yet have a pigeon at home. Also in that loft
“de 568” won the 1st of 4439 pigeons. He got after that season the name
De Bomber. That same autumn I got a house in a completely new
residential area and no pigeons were allowed to be kept there. Again I
got help from a good friend of mine. He owned a cafe and next to the
parking space I was allowed to place a pigeon loft. Again the pigeons
and their youngsters got used to it and luckily I could play with them
again in 1975. I did lose the hen I didn't race with during that period.
It was my very best hen ever her name was “de three zeros” 182000 with
12 first prizes. That year too De Bomber won twice the first against
3486 and 4032 pigeons in yet another loft. In those three years he was
the fastest four times and his honors list included a total of 37
prizes, 29 of which were 1:10. A pigeon that wins a first prize in three
different lofts is talked about. I was approached for youngsters from
various sides. Under no circumstances did I get rid of it because I was
rebuilding my colony. A great champion approached me for a loft visit he
really wanted to see De Bomber and his youngsters which was no problem
at all. The man was on his knees so to speak to buy the pigeon. I had 5
small children and could use the money but I didn't sell him despite the
fact that he would even gave my wife a fur coat that she happily hates.
I told him with a smile that he just had to save a little longer. He
already ordered 4 summer youngsters for the following year. In 1976 I
had given De Bomber another hen and possibly because of this the
performances on the first flights were less. Still I kept playing him
which in hindsight was a big mistake. You have to be careful with
pigeons that perform well for several seasons and then suddenly less.
There is something wrong with them and that certainly does not have to
be a serious illness. He went on Tergnier (326 km) at the end of May
1976 and I never saw him again. If I regret anything it is the super
offer on De Bomber that I declined and in the end also the 4 ordered boy
could not deliver. At such a young age, I was 38 at the time, you are
very driven. You want to win and you don't want to lose a pigeon
certainly not a topper. Then I started to think differently. The drive
remained but you can do very nice things with money especially if you
are a father of 5 young children. I sometimes want to sell good pigeons
directly but real toppers remain after three years in the racing loft
for at least 3 years in the breeding loft. They leave when they are 6
years old because at that age they are still interesting for other
fanciers who can enjoy them for at least another 4 years. Because I've
never had many pigeons (but luckily a lot of good ones 😉) I couldn't
breed too many from the same couples. As a result I changed my 12
breeding pairs every year and at least two disappeared every year. Now I
have 20 breeding couples that belong to me and my son Marco. Every year
we share the youngsters, he the first and I the second round plus a few
from the third round. At the moment I am in the lead for the
championship youngsters. Last year Marco became champion and now he is
fourth. There are still 4 races for the championship so there is still a
lot if not everything possible, in any case very exciting. We will have
2 flights every Saturday for the next six weeks. One for the youngsters
and one for the late race in which old and youngsters participate. For
us speed players a nice prospect with 2 exciting sprint competitions
every week. The disadvantage is that the old pigeons begin to molt a
lot. They have been breeding for a few days now and as soon as there are
small youngsters in the nests the molting stops so that hopefully we can
finish the whole season with pigeons that are still well feathered.
Because if too many small feathers are molted the aerodynamics are gone
and it is also done with winning top prizes. The youngsters are
currently only molting the flight feathers, mine have only thrown two or
three. In the past I have won the first prize several times with pigeons
that still had three old flight feathers. So no one needs to give up if
that is the case.
YOUNG PIGEONS OFTEN HAVE TO PERFORM IN THE WARMEST PERIOD OF THE YEAR
Wijdewormer, 12 August 2021. This year we are dealing with very
changeable weather. Last weekend too we had to wait until 1 pm before
unloading could take place. Due to the predominantly southerly wind
speeds rose to well over 100 km per hour. On the short-distance flights
the wind largely determines where the fastest pigeons arrive. This time
it was clearly on the west side or on the North Sea side. Within 13
minutes the 300 prize pigeons were home and despite the easy flight
there were still a number of losses. This problem is starting to
approach the misery of the coli bacteria. As soon as the pigeons have
recovered from the coli infection they can be used again fairly quickly
on the flights. It is terrible if you suffer from this young pigeon
disease during the season because then you are eliminated from the
championships. The advantage is that you still have to select. If they
are left behind on the flights you have lost them so much that there is
little left to select. Still a selection has to be made. It is not an
art to keep pigeons so that the breeding lofts are all filled again next
year. No, they must be pigeons that have earned their place in the eyes
of the boss and can provide the necessary game fun as a yearling. I
myself try to supplement 50% of youngsters every year. The prizes won
naturally play a role in this but are not the most important. In the
first place I must like the pigeon in its entirety. I like well-built
pigeons a cock must be a real guy. No hens that are too small and I also
pay attention to the color. I absolutely do not want black, white, gray
or red pigeons. My preference is for light blue, light scratches and a
single white pen is also allowed. Others don't mind at all, neither do I
but I have my preference and that is also part of my hobby. I used to
always say; an ugly pigeon that performs well becomes a little more
beautiful every week. I got off that. The performances as a youngster
are not decisive but as a yearling they must play at least 50% prize if
not they disappear. The breeding loft often contains performance pigeons
especially those that have won one or more first prizes or pigeons with
a 70% prize in a season. This season and especially the season for the
youngsters is going very rough. We have not yet had to deal with high
temperatures this season but with a lot of rain and delayed releases. It
is a pity that many fanciers have to deal with large losses especially
the small fanciers who start with a maximum of 35 youngsters every year.
Most of them don't have the option to select very strict due to the
losses and if you want to keep competing with the very best that is a
prerequisite. For the coming period the weather forecasts look good for
the youngsters, nice clear weather and not too hot. Let's hope that we
have beautiful pigeons weather the second phase of 2021 until the end of
the season.
MARATHON FLIGHTS INCREASINGLY CHANGE IN NIGHT FLIGHTS
For example last Saturday we had a marathon flight of around 1100 km in
our playing area. The pigeons were released on Friday 6 August at 7.30
am in Perpignan on the French/Spanish border. That same day the first
pigeon arrived at 9.39 pm from a distance of 1088 km. On these types of
flights there is a neutralization time. In other words the competition
comes to a standstill during the night. It is assumed that the pigeons
do not fly but spend the night somewhere on a roof and when it gets
light again in the early morning they go home again. This measure was
taken at the time and has also been changed several times to ensure that
such a tough competition is fair. But what is fair in pigeon sport?
Nothing! We don't all fly the same number of pigeons. We don't all live
in the same place so the finish line is in different places sometimes
with a difference of 80 km. The wind also has an influence here but
fortunately much less than on the speed flights. The neutralization time
was therefore a good solution until more and more pigeons flew through
the night and arrived at night. So the flight I'm talking about also had
its own peculiarities. The first pigeon that was clocked at 9.39 pm on
the release day at a distance of 1088 km was in the result 6th, 2nd,
that same day 5 pigeons came home. However the winner was the pigeon
that arrived at 1.10 am from a distance of 1134 km. Number 2 was home at
10.08 pm, distance 1125 km and number 3 at 1120 km was there at 00.15
am. Such are the regulations in my view it remains an unsatisfactory
matter that someone who clocks a pigeon at 1088 km is beaten at 9.39 pm
by someone who clocks 2.5 hours later and lives only 44 km away. What
about the man who clocks at 1125 km at 10:08 pm and is beaten by a
sports companion who has a distance that is 9 km further and who clocked
only at 1.10 am. I wouldn't be able to handle that even though I can
handle my loss well. Now that it increasingly happens that competitions
close at night it is high time that the neutralization time expires for
those flights. The flight from Perpignan that this story is about closes
in the morning at 9.30 am. It once happened that a pigeon fell on the
loft in the middle of the night is becoming more common and that
certainly has to do with the time of year in which these flights are
held. It is then never completely dark and the entire flight line is
illuminated by artificial light. I don't know how many lamps are lit in
every city and village and then pigeons just fly on especially if they
are not tired and have a strong wind on their tail.
THE WEATHER AND THE LOSSES
Wijdewormer August 5 2021. After a start to the season with changeable
weather almost weekly it feels like we have just started but the first
half of the season is already over. The game with the old birds is over
and the end of the season is already in sight. Despite the abnormally
bad weather, especially in the weekends, the flights did not go very
badly. Between the showers it was still possible to release every week.
We played twice on Friday and quite a few times on Sunday while almost
all flights are scheduled for Saturday. Quite a bit of creativity had to
be added to be able to release responsibly. Some races had very high
speeds, others were slower but without significant losses. Unfortunately
this did not work on a few occasions so that the races took extra-long
with the necessary stragglers. If a flight on the day of release goes
very badly it is usually soon referred to as a disaster flight. A
disaster flight is accompanied by large losses and that can only be
determined on the Wednesday after the race. The first days after such a
tough race a lot of pigeons usually get through and that is not the case
with a real disaster flight. Now that we have only just started with the
youngsters the fanciers are complaining about the large number of
laggards and there must be a cause. This cannot be due to climate change
only.
CAUSE OF THE LOSSES WITH YOUNG PIGEONS
That may have to do with the quality but it is usually the same fancier
who have to deal with this problem. It is always the same fancier who
play well and always the same ones who knock the door of the vet. The
cause may be overcrowding. Nowadays everything with two wings is bred
which certainly has to do with the large losses. Everyone wants to start
with a large number of youngsters to be able to absorb setbacks which is
not the right method. Breeding only from the very best pigeons does not
guarantee that you will not lose them. Health is the most important
thing for young pigeons. If they are super healthy the quality can be a
little less in order to perform well. The climate in the loft must be
good. No drafts, no windows that are too big and certainly not too
humid. In the Netherlands we need sun because it doesn't shine as often
here as in the southern countries but we still have to be careful with
sun. Large windows are perfect especially in chilly spring and autumn
weather. Be careful at high temperatures because then that lovely sun
burns too much oxygen from the loft causing the pigeons to catch a cold,
suffer from wet eyes and stuffed ears. Many pigeons are lost due to
self-training especially from the first short distances. My experience
is that it makes absolutely no sense to release the pigeons at distances
of less than 10 km. Young pigeons that are healthy leave for half an
hour at a given moment. Then you have them as they should be to
participate in the races and the time is right to start driving them.
After two or three times you can no longer drive against it. When they
come home they are already flying around the loft or are all already
inside. What I personally find very important is observation. You
achieve more with that than scratching shit. If there are a few
individual pigeons in your loft that clearly show that they are not
feeling well get rid of them or place them in an open aviary for a few
days. An oxygen cure in the open run sometimes works wonders usually you
see them improve after three days. If not say goodbye to them and
certainly don't let them sit between your other pigeons. Pigeons that
with updo nose feathers or not tight or produce bad manure ruin your
mood. Every day when you enter your loft the first thing you do is look
at the pigeons that are wrong. Get rid of them, don't waste your time
and money on them. Enjoy your healthy pigeons and only give them
medicine when the whole family needs it. You cannot lose the pigeons
that you dispose of yourself from the flights and that prevents the
necessary disappointments. Many fanciers breed too many pigeons for the
space they have available and do not forget that the selection already
starts in the nest. Make sure your breeding pigeons lack nothing give
them good versatile food plus the necessary oilseeds. Fresh vegetables
and minerals at least once a week and fresh grit plus red stone every
day which is sometimes lacking. Feed breeders three times a day means
that their youngsters also get food three times a day and that promotes
growth because they are always with a full crop. Youngsters who
frequently squeak or lag behind in growth compared to their nest mate,
say goodbye to them. You have to take very good care of your pigeons
then you can also set high standards for their performance.
IN THE POLDER ON THE FARM
It is a wonderful place to be for people and animals. I am talking about
the place where my wife Cora and I have been living for 28 years now.
From the city to the countryside what an Eldorado. Too bad time flies so
fast. When I came to live in the polder I was 56 years old and a loft
was built just the way I wanted it. Big plans were made there to enjoy
the game with the pigeons and that worked from the first year there was
really no size. I still hear my father, who was also a fanatic pigeon
fancier, say “boy enjoys here as much as possible because life moves
even faster here than in the city”. You are only a guest on this planet
for a short time and before you know it everything is over. Now I'm 84
and I still make plans but no big ones anymore. Still I have ordered 40
rings again for 2022 so there are plans to sign up for another year.
This year they are performing to full satisfaction. With my 12 couples I
finished 5th in the ZCC combination in the sprint races, 4th in the
middle distance and I am currently in the lead with the youngsters. It
turns out that they are super healthy because I only lost two of them.
Don't let me cheer too early because all flights are not over until
mid-September. A very nice side effect is that my son Marco was the very
best in the sprint races and takes 2nd place behind Dad with the
youngsters. All with pigeons that are bred in our joint breeding loft
with the pure clean air from the polder.
NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE
Wijdewormer, July 21, 2021. No pigeon sport at all this weekend at least
not for the program players. For the marathon players Marseille is on
the program. It will not work this year with the weather conditions.
Every weekend there is something going on that makes our sport almost
impossible. The young pigeon season has so far completely rained out and
as a result far too many pigeons have been left behind and that has
absolutely nothing to do with quality. So a rest day for pigeon and
fancier something that most of us do not enjoy. Whether the decision to
cancel the flights is a good decision will become clear on Saturday.
High temperatures and a chance of thunderstorms are expected which is
disastrous for the young guard. We must also be careful not to be too
careful. I have kept my pigeons at home many times because the weather
forecast was abominably bad. To my horror I saw on the early Saturday
morning that the sun was high in the sky and the weather was fine to
release pigeons over the entire flight line. Now we have the most modern
equipment and yet we cannot predict what type of weather we will have in
5 hours. I assume that it is a well-considered decision because we have
to trust our release officers. The racing program for the youngsters has
now been adjusted. Next week we will start again more or less and let's
hope that we get a lot of nice flights until mid-September.
THE E-COLI BACTERIAL INFECTION STRIKES
It is pigeon disease number 1 and many people have to deal with it every
year. Usually an outbreak occurs about fourteen days after the darkening
has stopped. Some say it comes after the pigeons are vaccinated against
paramixo. Still others claim that youngsters get stressed if they have
to spend some time in the basket the first time or because a strange
pigeon enters your loft after a few days of wandering and infects the
whole team. You can quickly see that the pigeons will suffer from coli.
The appetite is reduced, drink a lot, throw up, green ollie-like manure
and stay outside after training. It is highly contagious but the
infection is also controlled fairly quickly. Make sure you have a coli
cure at all times so that immediate action can be taken. Recently I
reported that my youngsters had coli. I was deeply disappointed but
after 3 days of treatment I saw I them recuperate. They became more
mobile, started to lose weight again and the appetite returned. The days
before that I gave them less than a third of the normal amount of food.
They did have some weight loss but the most important thing is that
their intestines had rest and the weight should be back to normal by the
end of this week. Lucky for me that the flights of this weekend have
been canceled so that my pigeons can recover for another week. Because I
didn't know this morning that the flight this weekend will not take
place my wife took the youngsters one more time to 35 km. Of the 30 3
came a few minutes before the group the others followed very quickly so
that I am again in good spirits for the coming matches. My experience is
that the pigeons recover quickly after they have had a cure for three
days and that it has no negative consequences on the performance of the
coming flights.
INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA AND NATIONAL CHATEAUROUX
The start of the classic among the classics caused the necessary
problems internationally. After the pigeons had been in the basket for a
week they were released on Sunday morning at 6.45 am and not everyone
was in agreement. It would be much too early and Barcelona was basically
split in two. Due to the early release time the French pigeons (which
have the shortest distance) would have an advantage and it showed. On
the day of release 36 French pigeons reached their home port and only 1
Belgian pigeon achieved that. The rest of a total of 16.595
participating pigeons came on Monday and it must be said that pigeons
arrived everywhere with regular clocks that day. So this year no heavy
flight but a flight with a blemish. In North Holland there were 3005
pigeons from Chateauroux. Also here the release was postponed by a day.
The fastest Chateauroux pigeon arrived at a distance of 650 km at 6.26
pm and made a winning speed of 1058 meters per minute a sign that it was
not an easy flight. The last pigeon on the day of release arrived at
10:43 pm and then it starts to get quite dark. The next morning at 8.54
am the competition could be closed. The season is over for my old
pigeons and I only focus on the young pigeon races because they are
doing very well with both me and Marco. It is a pity that the season
ends with a lot of obstacles. Many fanciers get discouraged by every
week rain, fog or strong wind. It is striking that the weather is fine
during the week and the weather is particularly bad at the weekend. The
fanciers in Limburg in the extreme southeast of our country have an even
bigger problem. Due to the enormous amount of rain that fell there in a
very short time last week large parts of villages have simply been swept
away. Irreparable damage and hundreds of deaths and missing people of
course also the necessary duped fanciers. The same happened in
neighboring parts of countries such as Germany and Belgium. It is not
yet known how big the disaster is and how many pigeon fanciers have been
affected. You only realize all the misery when you see all those
horrific images of flooding and human suffering. Then a few postponed
releases are the least you will worry about.
MANY LAGGARDS ON FIRST YOUNG PIGEONS FLIGHT
Even after 4 months of play the weather gods are still not in our favor.
Due to the bad weather conditions the last middle distance flight was
already played on Friday from a shortened flight. International
Barcelona also had to postpone. The youngsters were released at a later
date and that turned out to be a real debacle. Many disappointed
fanciers but even if the circumstances are not good there are always
winners but many more losers. Setbacks are part of every sport and the
real winners will never give up and that's the way it should be. Look at
the European football championship tournament. England and Italy came to
the final at Wembley in London. The English played for their own
audience and it had been more than 50 years since they played a final in
an important tournament. The final had to be decided by penalty kicks.
Unfortunately the favorite England missed three out of five. A turn off
full of sadness and tears but the Italians celebrated and they have
become the deserved winner of the tournament. The Netherlands was
eliminated early. The Tour de France is entering the last tough week
with a few difficult mountain stages everything is still possible. The
Dutch ladies show their skills in the Giro d'Italia and all four still
have a chance at the final victory. The Olympics are also getting closer
which is a pity that there is no public welcome. Argentina won the Copa
America with Messi beating the Brazilians 1-0. With his 6th win at
Wimbledon tennis player Djocovic (34) has come alongside his major
competitors Nadal and Federer. All three have won 20 grand slam
tournaments. In the field of pigeon sport there was also plenty to do
over the past weekend.
FOR THE SECOND TIME ON FRIDAY
Once the pigeon sport was only on Sundays. This day almost everyone was
free and that is why the sport had many fans. When the free Saturday was
introduced more and more fanciers prefer that day so Sunday was for the
family. The transition from Sunday to Saturday was certainly not easy
but it has come to the point that in the Netherlands almost only games
are played on Saturday. This year the decision was already taken twice
to release the pigeons on Friday due to the bad weather forecast which
happened again last weekend. I had only fed my pigeons when the message
came that they had to make a shorter flight that they would released on
Friday. My pigeons went on a journey with a full crop of food. Perhaps a
good decision to release the pigeons on Friday but with me there were
many more fanciers who had prepared their pigeons for a stay of two
nights instead of one a night in the basket. The news about the change
was passed on to the fanciers much too late plus that there are also
fanciers who have to go to work every day and they must therefore
arrange at the very last minute that someone is there to wait for the
pigeons. Fortunately the pigeons clock themselves even when no one is
there but it is still the case that every fancier likes to see his
pigeons come home because for that they do their best all week. We see
that every measure, no matter how well-intentioned, also has its
negative sides.
INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA
After having spent a week in the basket the pigeons from international
Barcelona were allowed to go to their home port on Sunday 11 July at
6.45 am. The winner Ben Robert from Calais arrived the same day at 10.18
pm at a distance of 1043 km France and made a winning speed of 1183
meters per minute. In Belgium the victory went to Lambert Jean Charles.
His pigeon arrived at 9.54 pm at a distance of 958 km speed 1057 meters.
In the Netherlands the fastest pigeon fell to Johan Boonen in Buggenum
on Monday morning at 7.14 am. It was a smooth competition about which
more information will be provided next time.
FIRST YOUNG PIGEONS FLIGHT WAS A DEBACLE.
The old birds were basketed on Thursday for the last middle distance
race with a distance of over 450 km. You know the reason for shortening
the flight. It was strange then that the youngsters had to be basketed
on Friday for their first race on Saturday. Fortunately things looked
good on that Saturday but……. it was a very difficult flight. The circuit
competition was open for one and a half hours and that is very bad for a
race of just over 100 km. That indicates that the weather conditions
were not good and the rest can be guessed at. Might be interesting to
find out the cause. Many fanciers have been duped and many pigeons are
still not at home. It is a pity that such a thing happened because many
fanciers who are disappointed with the results with the old pigeons now
participated in the first young pigeons flight in good spirits. With
such great losses many people lose their courage.
FOR ME IT'S OVER AGAIN
On the first flight I was supposedly “a bacon buyer”. I made a good
result and lost only 2 pigeons. Son Marco was also not allowed to
grumble. After the first flight I take the lead for the championship and
Marco is fourth. However it looks very bleak to me. Yesterday I could
already see from the pigeons that something was not right. The
fierceness had disappeared and the diving into the loft over each other
did not happen. The weeks before that it was a joy to watch. This
morning it was all over. When the pigeons had trained for an hour it was
feeding time at 10 o'clock. I could yell and whistle all I wanted there
were 7 sitting outside and they were still there three hours later. Then
every fancier knows what time it is; COLI! Direct medicine in the water,
given little food and now we just have to wait and see how the
contamination spreads. With the coli cure from Hans van der Sluis you
usually see them recover after three days. Some pigeons are sick to
death of it and some will even die. You will understand that the fun is
now completely over it is now important to remain calm. The pigeons stay
indoors for the next few days and receive very little food. This is not
easy for an old man who had evil plans and now sees everything go up in
smoke but nevertheless I try to keep my spirits up.
THIS WEEKEND BARCELONA AND DAX
The pigeon sport is running at full speed. Some weekends an overcrowded
program and that while the number of active fanciers is decreasing
visibly which is a shame. The organizations are of good will but also
maybe not. Look at the small number of participants and participating
pigeons then it is actually irresponsible to organize so many
long-distance flights in a short period. There is only a small select
group that owns so many pigeons that can participate in all marathons.
Added to this is the abnormally large amount of attention that these
types of flights receive in the press. Long distance pigeons are not
special pigeons at all. They can cover long distances while being flown
on all sides on flights of up to 500 km. Long distance flights are tours
in my opinion. It is impressive that they can bridge great distances and
that particularly appeals to the layman. It is spectacular that there
are pigeons that successfully complete those distances with the greatest
of ease. But whether a long distance pigeon represents more than a speed
pigeon must be determined by each individual. If a competition were to
be held in athletics over 200 meters in which only the specialists and
marathon runners were allowed to participate the sprinters would have
already finished while the marathon runners had just left the starting
blocks. In the pigeon sport most pigeons are still on the short flights.
The winners deliver a real power explosion which I like. I enjoy races
where the pigeons are all home within a few minutes. I can imagine that
others think very differently about this and that is why it is great
that everyone can make their own choice which flights are preferred. Why
much more attention is paid to marathons worldwide is a mystery to me
whether it has to be the commercial value. In my view it is absurd that
such crazy amounts are paid for such pigeons sometimes even more than a
million. Whether this makes the buyers any wiser is unknown to me but
the sellers certainly do. Last Sunday the pigeons were basketed for the
international monster race from Barcelona where they will be released on
Friday. The same goes for the race from Dax.
THE YOUNG PIGEONS ALSO FINALLY OFFICIALLY STARTED
I have no pigeons with on both marathon flights, I am looking forward to
the first young pigeons flight. Ten days ago my wife once again took the
youngsters away for a training flight of 30 km. It turned out to be one
with a disastrous course that I have written before. I regretted that
they had been released although with my approval. I could have punched
myself in the head I was so sorry. In retrospect I have no regrets at
all. I'm sure they learned a lot. They had to do their best to get home
and luckily they all succeeded. Last Saturday we were supposed to have
the first race but bad weather conditions prevented the midweek training
for the umpteenth time and as a result Saturday's flight became a
training flight. My pigeons came formidable, within 4 minutes I had 25
of the 34. Now let's see if it is indeed true that they have learned a
lot from the difficult training. The condition is great and yet I was
terrified that morning. Two of them stayed outside after the morning
training and then I get the nerves. When the training time is over I
show myself by standing next to the sputnik. The pigeons know that it is
dinner time and storm in but not this morning. Two stayed outside so
they had no food. Why am I so scared? When pigeons train so formidably
and come home so great from a training flight it means they are in super
shape. If two stay outside it's a sign to me that coli is coming. That
doesn't have to be the case and I'll be happy if they behave again
tomorrow as they have behave for months. The last middle distance race
is on the program for the old birds. In the preliminary championship
standings I am in 5th place and with a good result I can move up to
three. I would be very satisfied with that because I only race with 24
pigeons and they don't participate every week. Saturday I'll put 18 that
I hope they won't let the boss down.
ORACULAR
Sunday 27 June our pigeons were released in Roosendaal (110 km).
Originally they were ready in France on Saturday 26 June for a 400 km
race. Unfortunately the weather was such that they could not be released
that day. It was decided to drive back to Quievrain (234 km) but they
couldn't get out there on Sunday morning either. The site said they
would come even closer and be unloaded 110 km away. First they would be
cared and at 9.45am they were on their way home. Fine weather and
because of the south wind the fastest would be home within 5 quarters of
an hour. All but one were there within an hour and forty-five minutes.
When I came to the loft 2 hours later to pick up the clock a hen was
dead in her breeding loft. She was in a puddle of water/urine but she
was home on time and is even in the results. Of course I was
disappointed at the death of the pigeon. A day later I rolled her in a
newspaper and put it in the trash. During the week the conversations
started because several fanciers had a pigeon that died shortly after
returning home. After hearing all those lamentations you start thinking
about the care. My reasoning is that the pigeons were not taken care of
before the release. If that were the case the pigeons would not go down
to drink after half an hour or three quarters. A fancier told that he
got a pigeon at home that immediately went to the drinking trough to
drink. She stood with her head in the drinking trough and when the
fancier grabbed her to put her in the breeding loft she fell over and
died instantly. It is a pity that the fanciers who had a dead pigeon did
not send it in for research which I did not do either. I once had a dead
pigeon a day after returning home. But now in the week after the flight
in question we heard several stories about pigeons that died in the
loft. It was also striking that renowned pigeons were left behind. They
were not even able to bridge the short distance and died on the field of
honor. I called Hans van der Sluis but he also had to guess the cause of
death. He needs a dead pigeon for examination and unfortunately there
was not one available in the week after the flight. It is and remains a
strange situation. A little more control wouldn't hurt.
UPS AND DOWNS
It was an exciting sports weekend. Drama, joy, sadness and tension it
couldn't be better. Drama started with the postponement of the race from
France. Bad weather for the umpteenth time. The pigeons were brought
closer but there too the weather was of that nature that they were
brought even closer and could be released on Sunday at a distance of
just over 100 km. Two days and three nights in the basket for such a
crappy flight. The annoying thing was that a striking number of pigeons
were home late or not on the same day. I myself experienced the
necessary misery on Friday when my wife released the youngsters at a
distance of more than 30 km. The weather was not ideal and during the
day it started to rain. The pigeons were released at half past nine and
at 13:00 pm I had 1. At 15:00 pm12 and in the evening 24 of the 37. The
next day came spread over the whole day 9 more so 4 more to go. Today I
picked up one so in the end the damage is not too bad. When I got home
my best cock of this year was walking in front of the loft. He had
stayed behind from that short flight and I was able to pick him up so
deadly tired he was. He had lost a lot of weight but I am overjoyed that
he is back. For the time being he has enough time to recuperate because
the last middle distance race on July 10th he can stay at home. The
Dutch weather also has an influence on the flights for our youngsters.
Next Saturday we would start with the official competitions for the
youngsters but due to the bad weather these have been postponed for a
week. Never before had the flights been postponed so many times after 10
weeks of play. After all this disappointment there was a sporting
highlight for the Dutch cycling fans. In the 2nd stage of the 109th Tour
de France all-rounder Matthieu van de Poel took the yellow jersey. An
absolute low point was the lost football match during the European
Championship against the Czech Republic which eliminated the Dutch. The
national coach Frank de Boer announced that he will stop immediately.
Not so strange in the football world. One moment they put the crown on
your head and a little later they saw the chair legs from under you. An
absolute highlight was the victory of Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen
at the Red Bull Ring in Austria extending his lead in the world
championship standings. The final phase of the European Football
Championship has now been reached. England continues and Germany is
home. Belgium continues and the ex-champion France is home. Another low
point was the massive crash in stage 2 of the Tour. A lady stood on the
course with a large cardboard sign to greet her grandparents. A little
later through her fault about thirty riders were on the street. The
woman has since been arrested. You will have it on your conscience.
INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA ON JULY 10
This grueling marathon race has grown into the world's most appealing
competition in which pigeons from different countries participate. If my
pigeons have to stay in the basket for two days and three nights because
the race has been postponed due to bad weather I am in all states. I
know nobody can do anything about that, that's force majeure. I often
think of the pigeons that participate in Barcelona. They go into the
basket on Sunday and are (in good weather) still released on Friday and
then have to cover at least 1100 km. I don’t like those kinds of races
but have a lot of respect for all those pigeons that successfully finish
this race and of course a deep hat off to the winner.
SATISFIED WITH THE YOUNG PIGEONS
Just like last year I am now very satisfied with the behavior of my
youngsters. Last year I enthusiastically told anyone who would listen
how well my youngsters doing and how high my expectations were. That was
immediately apparent on the first race. Marco and I almost had the first
25 pigeons in the results. But upon returning homeI had already noticed
that something was not right. The result was great but the next day
there was one pigeon dead in the loft. The other pigeons no longer had a
real appetite and that same week the coli infection broke out. Drinking
a lot, little appetite and vomiting. Thanks to a coli cure from dr. van
der Sluijs and by feeding little they recovered quickly. I had to skip a
flight and then the pigeons behaved again in such a way that I thought
they were good enough to participate again. The spectacle had
disappeared with me but Marco continued to perform top. Two weeks later,
some of my youngsters started to suffer from smallpox and then the
performance was over. Too bad because I was convinced that no one would
beat me. Fortunately the same kind of pigeons continued to do great with
Marco and this year they did it again as a yearling so that he became
champion sprint by a margin. After last week's bad training flight my
pigeons train considerably less. Tuesday morning I released them for the
first time, they did not fly for more than 20 minutes. In the evening it
was slightly better. This morning it was old-fashioned again and they
continued to train continuously for over an hour so confidence is back.
On Friday 34 are going and Marco has 45 who also meet all expectations.
Now let's see if we got it right. I'll keep you posted and hopefully you
all share our enthusiasm. Good luck!
THE DISCHARGE RESPONSIBILITIES GET GRAY HAIR
Wijdewormer June 23 There were several flights on the program so it is
high season. First of all Bordeaux near the French Pyrenees (900 km for
me). I had no pigeons with on this monster race. Friday afternoon at 3
o'clock the 11.492 pigeons of the 1382 participants went home. The
weather was beautiful and this time of year it is not completely dark in
the middle of the night. Because the pigeons were only released halfway
through the afternoon they were not really tired in the evening so the
expectation was that they would continue flying which was right! The
winning pigeon arrived at a distance of 874 km at 00.12 am and made a
speed of 2762 meters. This is because there is a neutralization time on
such flights. The competition is stopped at night because it is assumed
that the pigeons usually spend the night somewhere. Not this time and
then you get those incredibly high speeds. Pigeons arrived all night and
at 9.20 am the competition could be closed when the 2057 prize pigeons
(1:4) were home. In addition to this marathon flight there was also a
one-day flight from Montlucon. Here 539 participants collected 4506
pigeons that were released at 9.45 am. The winner arrived at a distance
of 600 km at 18.11 and made a winning speed of 1176 meters. In the
department I play in a one-day long distance flight from Vierzon was
also on the program. My son Marco and I did not participate in this
either. Fortunately because it became an agony. The pigeons were
released on Saturday at 10 am and they still had to be clocked on Sunday
because there were not enough pigeons at home. The race was won by
father and son Verkerk who had 124. They had to wait 1 hour and 5
minutes for their second pigeon and then you know what a flight this has
become. There were 632 fanciers who entered 7956 pigeons. There was also
a middle distance race, for me 282 km, but again due to the bad weather
the race had to be postponed one day so that they came home on Sunday
and a lot of people weren't happy about that. It was "Father's Day" in
the Netherlands last Sunday. A real family day and then the pigeons are
a disturbing factor. Anyway, released on Sunday at 9.45 am it turned out
to be an easy and fast race. The winning speed was 1683 meters and in
our club where 376 pigeons participated it was over within 11 minutes.
Father Bert and son Marco clocked like this:1-2-5-6-7-9-11-12-14.
MANY PIGEONS ARE STILL ON THE WAY
How to proceed is a question that cannot be easily answered. Many lofts
are in disorder. Couples that are broken, nest positions are lost. The
latecomers often come home completely devastated and need at least 2
weeks to regain their strength. Some look as if nothing is wrong but
beware of the content and not the packaging which means that there is
nothing to see on the outside but inside they may have had a hefty
smack. Next weekend another 400 km middle distance flight is scheduled
and the youngsters are basketed for the first time for a training
flight. The week after things get serious and the youngsters also go
into battle. It is a pity that it is too cold and rainy in our country
for the time of year. They call it Dutch weather, so it's not surprising
that they flock to the sunny south during the holiday period.
DISAPPOINTMENT
That is part of every sport and a good sportsman knows how to overcome
most disappointments. It remains very difficult and those who want to
win have no choice they have to keep their eyes on the future. This week
it happened again! I have heard nothing but lamentations. It makes
fanciers doubt whether or not to continue if such a blow comes over it
especially if good pigeons have not returned. I know some who have
thrown in the towel and continue only with their youngsters. I wouldn't
do that I would pick up the thread again and continue racing with those
pigeons that were home on time. In two weeks we think different because
we still have pigeons to participate in the competitions. No, never give
up, show character this is what a real sportsman looks like. Consider
going to work, not just give all pigeons back immediately. View
everything calmly every day. Take enough time to observe the pigeons. Do
what is strictly necessary and if you do not know what is wrong consult
the vet. My opinion is that the fancier himself can see from his pigeons
that something is not right, we see the behavior every day. The pigeon
doctor is offered a few pigeons in a basket to examine them. He always
discovers something and that is usually cancer. My experience is that
every pigeon is a little bit infected with the cancer but that it has no
consequences for good performance. Many fanciers reach for a medicine
too quickly or try to prevent certain infections or diseases. In my view
they are poisoners who do not belong to the group of better players. The
best players are those who don't make the vet rich. Many fanciers search
too much behind it. They know everything about pedigrees but cannot
judge a pigeon themselves. Most think too quickly that they have a loft
with good pigeons. Pick out the 5 best and see what's left then dare to
select. First remove the pigeon and only then look at the pedigree. Sure
there will be perform better.
THE SAME NAMES ARE RAISING AGAIN
Wijdewormer June 9. I've just come out of the garden. Today I spent a
large part of the day on the stretcher in the sun and that is clearly
visible. It was a real summer day and the hens showed that too because
they didn't feel like training for an hour in a row in the hot sun. Not
bad we are only at the beginning of the week and they only came home on
Sunday because the weather was too bad on Saturday to unload. In that
regard the weather gods have not been kind to us so far. Fortunately
things look a lot better for the coming period. Despite the bad weather
the flights are going well. Everyone can now play the game they like
according to the flight program. The international competitions have
also started and the sprint races are already over in our country. In
the ZCC, the area where my son Marco and I play, Marco is the big
champion. The first place designated was also for him and as a father I
am very proud of that. I have also stood on the highest step of the
podium several times and then it is great that now my son keeps the name
Braspenning high in the pigeon sport. I did the same years ago when my
father was still playing which has been 42 years since he passed away.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Most of us do our very best every year to finish with the champions
because then you belong. Don't forget that finishing with the champions
is only possible for few fanciers. Fortunately there is more to enjoy
the games are the most important. In our country there are 30 to 35 of
these annually in which the program players participate. This all takes
place from April to September. Everything we do for our pigeons is
dedicated to the competitions and that is not only the period from April
to September but the entire calendar year. When the games are over the
care will continue. Many fanciers go wrong there. That we let the reins
loose a little is not wrong, I know plenty who only come back to life
when the competitions start that’s what I call winter champions. They
have the upper hand all winter, know exactly what to do to play well.
The bad thing is that they are never in the results or I might have to
start from scratch. Let's stick to the ones that do play well on a
regular basis and there are quite a lot. They have it in their fingers
they are the professionals. For them the saying “if you play well you
don't know how it is and if you don't play well you don't know how it
is” doesn’t count they know. That is not to say that they never have to
deal with setbacks. There are usually some flights that are
underperformed but in many cases this has to do with atmospheric
disturbances. Those are flights when we say “now it's real pigeon
weather”. Yes, for us, sitting back in the lazy garden chair in the sun
with a cold drink. But often the pigeons stay away longer with a slow
race course and many wrong pigeons in front. To become a champion you
don't have to do anything but take care of your pigeons perfectly so
that they make good results.
THE GAME WITH THE YOUNG PIGEONS ALSO BEGINS
For years everyone was able to keep up with the youngsters one better
than the other. Overall it was a fun game for everyone. But specialists
have also come to the young pigeon game. What used to be a nice touch is
now just as important as the game with the old pigeons. Everything is
tried to get the youngsters in top shape but the most important part is
regularity. Those who can do that have a big advantage over the
competition. I am still darkening my pigeons, in the evening at seven
thirty the curtains close and the next morning at eight thirty they open
again. At 9 o'clock they can go outside and at 10 o'clock it is dinner
time. Until then they fly continuously for an hour and are sometimes
away for half an hour. It's great to see them rush in when they see me.
As long as my pigeons are outside they don't see me only when it's
dinner time do I stand next to the sputnik. I hardly have to whistle or
shout they know that they get food and that is the most important thing
for every animal they do everything for it and that includes performing
well. I spend quite a lot of time on feeding which I can do because I
have very few pigeons. Few pigeons means less work and that is very
attractive for men my age. As I have written before I don't release my
old pigeons in the morning. For years that was my regular habit and if I
couldn't because of bad weather conditions I didn't feel good about it.
I often spoke to fanciers who said that they never release their pigeons
in the morning, I did not dare that because I assumed that it would
affect the flight performance. Now it turns out I'm wrong. I've never
been a late sleeper but as I get older I find it more difficult to get
up early. I always did that with pleasure because I wanted to play well
with the pigeons. Now I don't get up early anymore I only go to the
pigeons at half past eight I feel good about it and the pigeons too. So
what more could you want? Play well! Let me have no complaints about
that either. BEAUTIFUL CLOSING
Last weekend we had the last sprint race. Marco had to keep his leading
position and I had to do everything I could to finish in the top five in
the general classification, it was a great finish. The victory for me to
start with 1-5-7, Marco started with 3 and 4. In the final score for the
sprint championship Marco 1 and Bert 5 and that's what we do it all for.
The great thing about this flight was that Marco's second pigeon and my
first arriving pigeon are brother and sister. Their parents are in our
breeding loft and are allowed to stay together next year.
WE NEED PUBLICITY
Wijdewormer 2 June 2021. Pigeon fanciers never stop talking about their
hobby. That shows how much fun the more than 800.000 fanciers worldwide
enjoy their hobby, most of whom live in China. I was there once and I
couldn't believe my eyes. You do not think it possible in what simple
way pigeons are kept there. It was striking that it is a real family
sport there. No matter how simple the people live they still know to
find a place to place a pigeon loft or something that looks like it. It
is well known that the Chinese like to take a gamble and in their
country the pigeon sport is extremely suitable for that. Don't think
that all Chinese fanciers gamble capital on their pigeons. That is only
for the very greatest of them and in the land of the rising sun there
are quite a few, I assume that this is the case in all countries. In my
view it is a great pity that the difference between the professional
players and, let's call it the amateurs, becomes so big with all the
consequences that entails. If we look at the sales sites most pigeons go
to China. I recently learned that there are even more than 400.000
fanciers. If half of them buy a pigeon every year and we see what is
being paid for it that is big business. Unfortunately there is a lot of
fuss about it in the press and that is precisely the publicity that we
as a pigeon sport are not waiting for because it deters starters. We
will therefore have to approach the publicity to win souls in a
different way. There are plenty of fun and even spectacular events
within our sport that can be turned into an interesting story for
various hobby magazines and other widely read magazines that are
published weekly. Just look in the supermarkets to see what a variety of
magazines are for sale. Perhaps it is a good thing that the NPO consults
with publishers of daily newspapers. Hopefully our board will convince
the newspaper magnates that articles about our sport are often read by
family members, neighbors, colleagues, friends and acquaintances. They
regularly ask why there are no reports about pigeon sport in the
newspapers. Nice job for the press officer of the NPO!
PIGEON SPORT IS NO MORE GRAY MEN'S SPORT
Since the advent of electronics the pigeon sport has been one of the
most talked-about sports that can be practiced at home. Because it is a
sports experience that cannot be played outside on the computer this
animal-friendly hobby is extremely suitable for young people. We pigeon
people know how the pigeon sport works and think we know everything
about it, we enjoy it 365 days a year. Unfortunately it has failed to
bring this to the attention of the layman. More pigeon magazines came
and most of them have already disappeared cause of member decline. The
aging population has played an important role for years. Just like the
pigeon magazines we regularly lost board members. Usually board members
who did not see the importance of the pigeon sport but more the
importance of themselves. Fortunately the board positions could be
filled every time unfortunately not always with the expected success.
The best plans were put on the table. Far too many working groups were
formulated. For each part of the game a group of wise people was
appointed but it came from little to nothing. Large goats were shot in
the organization that cost shovels of money and the shrinking group of
members may to make up the shortfalls again.
HUMAN AND PIGEON FIND EACH OTHER IN ELECTRONICS
We call that modern pigeon sport. The life ring that they wear all their
live is her registration number which is stored in the computer. In
addition the electronic ring has been added that can be removed after
the pigeon's sporting career (for example when the pigeon goes to the
breeding loft) and can be used for another pigeon. The electronic ring
has replaced the old-fashioned traditional rubber ring. Emptying the
manual pigeon clocks that existed for years was quite a job. After that
the result of the race had to be calculated manually as well. For a
large interplay with more than 5000 pigeons it took a week before the
job was done, now the pigeon clocks itself. The flight data is in the
computer and it is only a matter of automatically entering the times
from the clock into the computer. A national calculation office has
stored the data needed for each fancier to make a result in record time.
What we first had to wait a week for can now be viewed the same evening
on the site of the calculation office. There are already clock systems
where the clocked pigeon is automatically passed on to the central
calculation office. It probably won't be long before we no longer have
to go to the room to empty the clocks but we can do it from home. The
release times come through on the mobile. The first arriving pigeons can
be read on the phone as soon as they have been clocked. By means of the
GPS ring that the pigeon has on it is possible to follow the pigeon on
its flight home, it is unimaginable. All these things make the pigeon
sport more and more attractive especially for the young people among us
who play with electronics like we used to do with marbles. These
innovations must be made known to the layman with which we can arouse
interest especially if we are going to publish this in weekly magazines.
With big headlines like; pigeon from Brussels to Groningen faster than
the super-fast car of the Minister of Finance. With a spectacular photo
of a pigeon and a young fancier there are enough striking headlines so
that whoever reads or sees this is guaranteed read the whole story. You
as an fancier have known this whole story for quite some time. It is my
intention that we all help in our own way to enthuse others for the
pigeon sport. The final word now belongs to the written press.
ONE NIGHT LONGER IN THE BASKET
Wijdewormer May 26 2021. After 2 weeks with a lot of rain and low
temperatures the Dutch fanciers were eagerly looking forward to the
first weekend with two flights on the program. Again the rain was the
big bummer in the first instance. No pigeon sport on Saturdays which
meant that the pigeons had to stay in the baskets one more night.
Saturday there was plenty to enjoy other sports but we fanciers had to
wait until Sunday. Fortunately our pigeons were on their way home before
nine o'clock on Sunday morning. Even now they had to deal with rain on
the way again but the south/southwest wind caused high speeds of around
110 km per hour so that it was still a nice first day of Pentecost. My
preference is for matches with one night basket. I think a pigeon should
be in its loft or in the air but not extra-long in a basket, I have been
thinking that way all my life. I always see images of pigeons fighting.
Then the rooting to get to the drinking gutter or after two nights in
the basket pick up the food in the carrier where 25 pigeons deposit
their excrement. And we scratch or scrape at home to keep everything as
clean as possible. I have never worried about who my pigeons are
basketed with but with two nights in the basket I always think about the
chance that they will get infected. I am very supportive of animal
welfare and know that I really don't have to worry about it. I always
think of the pigeons that participate in Barcelona. They are in the
basket for a whole week and then also have to fly a thousand kilometers
home so what am I actually talking about. Also on Sunday both flights
went very well. Neither of us had participated in that of more than 500
km. The other 240 km was a great success for Marco. I myself played 50%
prize (11 out of 22) but unfortunately there was no early one.
Unfortunately I have seen other much better years. I believe that the
age of the boss plays an important role. Marco did very well with the
same kind of pigeons. Against 537 pigeons he started with 8-9-10 and
with one flight to go he strengthens his lead for the sprint
championship.
OTHER EVENTS
For the fans of Formula 1 there was a lot to enjoy with the GP of
Monaco. The Dutch went completely crazy because of the beautiful victory
of Max Verstappen, who therefore leads the world championship which has
never happened before! In Barcelona Spain dark clouds gather above the
head of the Dutch trainer Ronald Koeman. If Barcelona does not become
champion, you have to fear for your future as a trainer. Completely new
is the appointment of Marianne van Leeuwen (60). She is the first female
boss of professional football of the KNVB. The Giro - Tour of Italy
starts in the last week and what a week. Mainly tough mountain stages
with the exciting closing time trial in Milan on Sunday. There was great
disappointment for the Dutch public who attended the Euro Song Contest
that was organized by our country. Our delegate had to be the 23rd
participant and only gained 11 points making 23rd place the highest
possible for him. In the end Italy narrowly beat France (I thought it
was the best, but who am I).
BIRD FLU
Every spring we have to deal with an outbreak of the contagious bird flu
that was detected last week in the south of the Netherlands on a turkey
farm. All 16.000 animals have now been culled. In the same environment
an infection has also been found on a poultry farm with 60.000 laying
hens. Unfortunately the chickens suffered the same fate as the turkeys.
Furthermore a transport ban has been introduced for eggs, manure and
poultry. Fortunately our pigeons fall under the heading of birds and are
therefore not poultry which means no danger for the pigeon sport.
PLAY OF NATURE
In my long pigeon career I have already bred a pigeon with a deviation
many times. I once had a pigeon that was blue on one side and scratch on
the other. I also bred a pigeon with curled feathers and it was by no
means close inbreeding. Twice I bred a pigeon with 12 flight feathers on
one side and 11 on the other, it was not related to each other. This
year I bred a very pale pigeon from a blue cock and a dark checker hen a
kind of mis color also called an Isabel. Now that she is starting to
molt she seems to be pale while there is no red/pale in her whole
family. By the way I hate red, pale, black, white or very colorful
pigeons. Because I have never bred such a mis color my grandson took a
picture of her. It is a well-built hen. Last year her mother flew 1st
against 2219 pigeons as a youngster, her father is a grandson of the
Europa Boy 1st against 16.222 pigeons and the fastest of 150.000
pigeons. Again a good example of "if it is in it it will come out too".
TWO WEEKS BACK, IT WAS WRONG
Wijdewormer 19 May 2021. Pigeon racing is a summer sport. This means
that the competitions are held under good conditions and that is
precisely what we are not in charge of. Sometimes there are those
weather conditions that the release authorized people get gray hair.
Everyone can unload when the weather is nice which is very simple.
Unfortunately we have had to deal with very changeable weather in the
last two weeks. Heavy showers and low-hanging clouds are not immediately
ideal conditions for our pigeons. If the pigeons are released after
lengthy consultation there is nothing more that can be done. All that
remains is to hope that the pigeons will find out through the bad
weather and if possible with not too many stragglers. How such a flight
goes there are always winners and losers. Often surprising winners, a
lot of wrong pigeons in front and a long race course with the necessary
laggards. Fortunately most of them got through the next day. I haven't
lost one myself but as beautiful as the season started for me the last
two flights were so bad. I can't really say bad because the price
percentages were over 50% unfortunately there was no real early pigeon.
It was exactly the same with son Marco only he thought his pigeons were
not good enough for the last flight so he kept them home. Cleverly
viewed because this weekend we also have the fourth sprint race in
addition to the first one-day long distance flight and that is the game
that suits us best. In our teamwork Marco is in the lead and I am fifth.
Marco has to keep his lead and I still have to accelerate a bit to reach
a podium place.
THAT KIND OF FLIGHTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED
Every year there are some flights that have a surprising course due to
weather influences what gives many fanciers an opportunity to talk
about. Then you will hear comments as; how can they release the pigeons
in this weather or the release committee has no understanding of it, it
is too cold or too hot, there was a thunderstorm in the air and then you
ask for problems. They always know how to find an excuse for their own
failure. You do not hear the men who clock a very early pigeon or make a
nice result. Outsiders who clock an early pigeon on such flights
experience a dream weekend. It is striking that good players perform
poorly on such flights. Why? If I knew I would say but unfortunately I
do not have to answer. Is it a coincidence or do they have their pigeons
too keen? Speed pigeons in top form want to go home with all their
violence. In good conditions they deliver an explosion every week and if
the conditions are not right those drift frogs have to deal with stress
which in turn causes thirst. In short such pigeons get completely upset
while other pigeons remain calm and fly around the showers while those
fierce rascals want to go straight through and often come home
completely flown. Please note in real pigeon weather those speed maniacs
come flying out of a bow like an arrow and follow each other in rapid
succession. Great to see even breathtaking especially the very early
ones that land on the valve unexpectedly. In the past those same pigeons
flew straight in through the open window you held your heart so fast
they came running that you thought they would crash against the back
wall of the breeding loft. Then quickly go inside to remove the rubber
ring from the leg and deposit it in the clock. The electronics have
improved a lot but in the time of the rubber rings it was much more
exciting. The pigeons were carefully handled by the owner when they
returned home. Some did not, they caught a pigeon with both hands while
it was still flying through the loft. They regretted that the following
week when the pigeon hesitated for a long time before going inside. We
no longer suffer from that with the electronic clock.
TRAINING THE YOUNG PIGEONS
Do not wait too long but go out as soon as possible. Pigeons that train
well at home and leave for about twenty minutes are suitable for
driving. Long distances are not necessary it is mainly to familiarize
them with the basket and take them in different directions, start on
time. Waiting up to two weeks for official flights to start can become
problematic. Who guarantees us that the weather will be good for going
out every day, the sooner the better! Years ago when I was still driving
a car myself I always release them immediately. Of course I tried to
release them basket by basket or in small groups several times. Once I
was so crazy to let them go one by one, I was sometimes freeing pigeons
for two hours but I never benefited from that. So everything at once is
fine. As soon as the races begin we no longer drive the pigeons or it
must have been a very tough flight so they don't like to train at home.
Then they go into the basket on Wednesday for a training flight of 40 km
loosening up the muscles. I don't know if it helps but I do have a good
feeling about it and you have to have that on every flight. If there is
even less performance you have to be able to say to yourself that you
have done everything you can. It is a pity that 80% chance of rain is
predicted for the coming weekend. I am not eager to participate
especially not in the French race of 500 km for which the pigeons are
already basketed on Thursday evening. My preference is for flights with
one night basket then you can check the weather at the last minute. It
is now May 19 then it is usually beautiful spring weather. In a month it
will be summer and we still haven't had pigeon weather. So wait and see,
the pigeons look satisfactory in any case.
RELEASE PIGEONS NOT A SIMPLE TASK
Wijdewormer May 12 There was a lot to experience in the field of sports
last weekend. In Turin the Giro (cycling round of Italy) started for the
104th time with a time trial. The finish of this, one of the three most
beautiful stage races, will be in Milan in three weeks. In Spain it has
not yet been decided who will win the national football title. In
England yes, there Manchester City became champion on Tuesday without
playing because fellow townsman Manchester United lost to Leicester.
Ajax became champion in the Netherlands last week. The team from
Amsterdam played against earth enemy number 1 Feijenoord this Sunday and
here too Ajax was (again) the strongest. The KNVB has decided that the
last games of the season will still be played without an audience which
is also the case with us by basketing. The club buildings remain
hermetically closed turned out after the press conference that our
minister Rutte held on Tuesday evening. The catering terraces are now
open from 6 am to 8 pm. The amusement parks, zoos, swimming pools and
gyms may also reopen. Unfortunately the number of corona infections in
the Netherlands remains high but hospital admissions are fortunately
less. Whether that is sufficient for the relaxation that may take effect
on 1 July? We have no choice but to stick to the protocols and then we
will see at the end of June what is possible again on the way back to
normal.
TOO GREAT RISKS
While the rain was pouring down in North Holland on Saturday I received
a message that to my great surprise the pigeons had been released at
2.15 pm. I had already assumed that the release would be postponed for a
day so that the pigeons would come home on Sunday, Mother's Day, but
not! What on earth was supposed to become of this flight. When I heard
at 4.45 pm that the pigeons from South Holland made 2200 meters (132 km
per hour) from another release point I couldn't believe my ears. It
turned out to be true and afterwards the fastest pigeons from
Noord-Holland also achieved that speed while in Wijdewormer there were
still low-hanging clouds from which it rained heavily. Later it turned
out that it was dry and clear on the North Sea coast while I took
shelter with my friend under the umbrella in the pouring rain while
waiting for my first pigeon. It started to get a bit dry and suddenly a
pigeon fell at 5.15 pm. That could be a very early one my friend said.
The speed of my pigeon was nowhere near 2200 meters but you never know
with such heavy rain. When the pigeon was reported the whole world
turned out to be in front of me and after 3 weeks of super results it
was now three times nothing. My son Marco, who played the stars of
heaven for three weeks, was even 3 minutes behind me. We ended up with
the very last. For us it turned out to be a very bad and disappointing
flight (20 minutes after the fastest) with a slow course while on the
west side of our flying area they received the pigeons as if they had
been released around the corner of the door. That evening I missed 2 of
the 24 but luckily those two were also home the next morning. Yet it
appears that a lot of pigeons have stayed behind including several that
performed the first flights top this year. Actually it was not the
weather to release OUR pigeons but that was reasoned afterwards and then
they say here “afterwards you look a cow in the ass”. A chance for the
champion title in the middle distance is immediately lost with this
result.
CONVOYEUR IS NOT AN EASY FUNCTION
In the time that I practiced cycling I never thought for a second what
exactly it meant to organize a cycling race. Later when I became manager
and even chairman I could sometimes get annoyed by the riders who
thought it was the most normal thing in the world to earn final prizes
and premiums. Do you think those men thought about where that money and
everything else that goes into it all came from which makes sense when
you are involved in sports. The same counts for the pigeon sport. All
fanciers know the racing program, know when to bring the pigeons to the
club and read the next day on the site at what time the pigeons have
been or will be released. Hardly anyone thinks about how all this works.
The same counts for transport. In the first place the organization of
the collection of pigeons throughout the province. This is not possible
with the container because various club rooms are virtually inaccessible
with such a large truck. So a pick-up service with schedule must be
made. The pigeons go to the assembly point where all the pigeons have to
be transferred to the large wagons, something like that has to be
organized. On the day of release the release officers are already
gathering information about the flight line at an early stage. Then the
decision whether or not to release. All pigeon fanciers jump in the air
when it is known that the pigeons are out. But oh woe if during the day
it turns out that they were unloaded too early or too late. Then you
should hear them, then in one fell swoop nothing is right from the
organization. It is not surprising at all to think about it all
together. There is a lot to do to keep the pigeon sport on the right
track and that is largely done by volunteers who are available week in
week out. Often these are also the members who do not immediately
deliver top performances, they are real club people. The second middle
distance flight this weekend. The weather forecast looks reasonable,
northwest wind but a 70% chance of rain. Fortunately it is not yet
Saturday and a lot can change with regard to the weather. Our fate is
again in the hands of the release committee on the coming Saturday in
consultation with the con voyeur of our pigeons on their way to the
release point.
LIBERATION DAY
Wijdewormer, May 5, 2021. Today it is 76 years ago that the Netherlands
was liberated with our pigeon as a symbol of peace. Because of Covid-19
no major festivities the liberation was mainly celebrated digitally this
time. Yesterday was Remembrance Day. Everyone was again confronted with
the terrible images from the Second World War, you wonder what the world
has learned from it. For the football fans of Ajax it was a big party on
Sunday because the team from Amsterdam became national champions for the
35th time. The Dutch pigeon fanciers got their money's worth the day
before. The third sprint flight went well in all 11 departments but the
competition duration was not the same everywhere. The Zeeland pigeons in
the extreme southwest of our country had to pull hard, it took 40
minutes before all the prize pigeons were home. More than 150 km further
in North Holland the battle was watched within 15 minutes and in the far
north of our country the competition lasted 30 minutes. Beautiful
weather all along the flight line. Sun everywhere but much too cold for
the time of year. The first middle distance flight is on the program on
Saturday. On Thursday evening the pigeons are already basketed for a
race over 350 km. It is now really serious and the good weather is also
coming. Unfortunately the atmosphere in the clubs is still lacking and
that is what most fanciers miss very much. The chat during the club
evenings is an important social part of our sport. Fanciers are eagerly
looking forward to the new relaxations. Who knows the canteens of the
sports clubs reopen and are fans welcome to encourage all athletes
again. At the moment the street scene in the Netherlands looks familiar
again. The shops are open again and the terraces of the catering
companies are open every afternoon from 12 noon to 6 pm. We are heading
in the right direction even though the contamination numbers are still
quite high.
BREEDING RESULTS
Are you satisfied too? I certainly do. The preparation for the breeding
must have been good in any case I did my very best for that. As most of
you know I have a breeding loft with my son and father is the lucky one
that may take care of them. Not a problem as long as I feel good and
unfortunately that is not always the case. That aging happens one day at
a time but it goes unnoticed very quickly. Coincidentally, while
clearing the cupboard with everything about the pigeon sport, I found a
folder with results from 1953 that is no less than 68 years ago. I was
16 years old at the time and still played with the youth so I do not
appear in those results. When reading the results it turned out that not
one of the participants is still alive while I knew and experienced all
those people. What was even more striking the speed of the pigeons. In
the majority of the results the winning speeds did not exceed 1200
meters. I can still remember very well that the fanciers said to each
other during a slow flight; the fastest reaches at least 1000 meters or
60 km per hour. That doesn't happen anymore nowadays. The competition
duration was then considerably longer and what to think of the number of
pigeons that were played with? Most fanciers played with 4 to 12
pigeons, I could not discover one that had more than 20 with. In the
results of this week I saw various fanciers with more than 80 pigeons,
one of them took the crown with 257 pigeons in competition who had to
wait 5 minutes for his second pigeon. Probably several pigeons kept
flying around because once the second pigeon was clocked it was raining
pigeons. I experienced the time when there were various associations
with more than 50 members. In the fifties most associations had around
10 members. Only in 1960 did the pigeon sport grow enormously one after
another club was founded and when the computer was introduced the
fanciers kept more and more pigeons so much that there was disagreement
about it. It was no longer a fair battle, fanciers s were discouraged
because the number of mega lofts grew quickly. Later still more “bread
players” arrived, they turned their hobby into their profession. In the
winter months there was a hall sale every weekend that fanciers went to
en masse. Those many auctions opened the eyes of those who saw “online”
opportunities. In this way the whole world came into contact with the
pigeon sport and the consequence of this is that nowadays it is
difficult for the common man to buy well-known pigeons. Big money has
taken possession of the once simple pigeon sport. Millions are involved
every year in the sport which is getting fewer and fewer practitioners
especially in the well-known pigeon countries. All this brings me to the
question; what will the breeding results be of all those pigeons that
have changed owners for capital, once research had to be done. I think
it will turn out that the value of a pigeon is still what a madman gives
for it. Large amounts do not guarantee the breeding of usable pigeons.
More bad pigeons than good pigeons are still bred worldwide. They are
often the same ones that pay astronomical amounts and still do not
perform excessively well. It is now always the same who receive gigantic
amounts for their pigeons. In that respect you should switch to the
extreme long distance. Once a top result and your meal is bought.
NOT PERFORMING DOES NOT SAY YOU HAVE MADE A MAD BUY
Read the pigeon newspapers, read the results, look at the championship
positions, they are almost always the same names. These are usually not
the men who spent tons to get good pigeons. It is the enthusiasts who
have mastered it. They see everything a little earlier, make fewer
mistakes and are fully committed. They only do what is exactly necessary
and that does not come from a bottle but because they have very good
pigeons. They are enthusiasts who do everything for it, which means that
they put in a lot of free time, do everything at fixed times. They dare
to select pigeons that do not comply with the flights, even if they
still have such a formidable pedigree. They demand performance from
their pigeons and that is allowed if you do everything for it. I
regularly speak to enthusiasts who perform poorly year after year. They
are pigeon keepers, they enjoy taking care of their pigeons and if they
play an early prize, they are satisfied. There are also those who would
like to and they say they do everything they can and yet it doesn't
work, I sometimes say; I think you are doing everything wrong. I don't
know what to do to perform so badly. It will always be that way, you
have winners and extras in every sport.
FINE FLIGHT DESPITE WINTER TEMPERATURES
Wijdewormer, April 28, 2021. Yesterday the Netherlands celebrated the
birthday of our King Willem Alexander. A beautiful sun-drenched day but
not a real party due to the corona pandemic which is a shame because it
is always a very festive day with music, parades and free markets. It is
one of the nicest days of the year but not now. All catering
establishments were still closed, as were the shops, theaters and
amusement parks. In short people have to enjoy themselves and that is
still not easy. One and a half meters apart, no more than two visitors a
day, the only festive thing is that today the curfew is lifted and the
terraces open from 12 to 6 pm, it feels like we are on the right track.
The strict covid-19 protocol still applies to the pigeon sport, which is
not fun but the races can therefore continue as usual. The first two
flights are now over. Cold and north wind prove to be excellent
ingredients for these sprint races. An excellent course with speeds
around 75 to 80 km per hour and the prizes were earned within 15
minutes. It indicates that our pigeons can tolerate the low temperatures
well.
THE DEMAND TO START THE RACE SEASON LATER
It is impossible to please everyone as appears every winter when
determining the flight program. One wants to start earlier, the other
prefers a later start. The sprint players want more of these races,
others would prefer to see the late races be canceled altogether arguing
that the pigeons are molting too far. The men of the one-day long
distance would like to have one more flight and the fans of the game
with the youngsters think that they should start earlier and 8 flights
is more than enough for them. Nothing new at all that I am telling you,
that is how it was 50 years ago and it still takes far too much time
during the meeting. There are endless discussions while 50 years ago we
had many, many more members and there were many more experts than now. I
often think; people stop it, it has been like this for 100 years and who
cares where the pigeons come flying home from. It is all about the
healthy sporting tension and sometimes you are in the wrong corner and
the next time you are on the first teat. It wouldn't be good if always
the same be for or disadvantage. In addition, the wind always has a
major influence on sprint competitions that are currently in progress.
The shorter the distance the greater the influence of the wind.
TRAINING AT HOME
For years I let my pigeons train at home twice a day. I was in all
states when I could only let them go once a day or not at all due to
rain or fog. I even let them go at the end of the afternoon on the day
of basketing. Now I never let them go on Friday, a day of rest seems
better to me. Since last week I have abandoned my faith. I have decided
no longer release my old pigeons in the morning. Why? My age plays the
most important role in this. I don't get out of bed that early anymore,
8 am is a good time for me. Fifteen minutes later I go to the youngsters
to remove the darkening and fifteen minutes later they go out. Then the
old pigeons are taken care of and the young pigeon loft is cleaned. At
10 o'clock the youngsters are fed, they have been outside for an hour
and a half. By the way they are starting to fly well and because I have
added a second group of youngsters they want to land in the loft sooner.
That is the annoying thing about adding young pigeons. Experience has
taught me that because of this the second round also starts flying
around earlier. They are darkened until the end of June. From now on the
old pigeons are released only once a day, the hens at 4 o'clock and the
cocks at 5 o'clock. The youngsters are allowed out for the second time
at 6 am and are taken care at 7 am. The curtains are closed at half past
seven. The breeding pigeons have now been separated and depending on the
racing results our 5 best breeding couples are paired again. Their
youngsters are then offered for sale after the racing season.
THE RESULTS
For the time being the servant has surpassed the master. Son Marco got
them great in the first two flights. I can't grumble either but he is
absolutely out of category at the moment but the season is still long.
For our kind of players it is important that the pigeons are good from
the start. If you have to catch up at the start that does not feel good.
I don't care about the saying runners are dead runners. As a sprint /
middle distance player you have to be there right from the first
flights. The long distance players can fly their pigeons in the races up
to 500 km that is not possible for us fierce rascals. Not so bad because
all the sprint / middle distance players are after all seriously busy
with the pigeons much earlier. Ours have already flown in well when the
long distance players are still asleep. In any case father and son
Braspenning are very satisfied with the start of the 2021 season.
Together we play almost 90% prize in the first two flights. Marco has
used a total of 67 pigeons on both flights, 56 of which are winning
prizes. I had 46 with in and 40 of them flew prize. With such results
pigeon sport is a really nice hobby.
DREAM START
Wijdewormer, April 20, 2021. It is Tuesday afternoon and just returned
from my daily bike ride. A quick drink and then the hens go out because
it is now 4 o'clock. They are allowed to train for an hour, at 5 o'clock
they come back in because then it's dinner time. When the ladies start
their meal the cocks are allowed to do their thing for an hour. I only
clean the lofts once a day in this summery weather. The manure is mainly
in the 12 breeding lofts which is a sign that the males are relaxing for
a large part of the day. The same applies to the ladies. They sit on
shelves, 4 one above the other with a narrow partition wall in between
them so that they cannot see each other. That is also done to promote
peace. Exercising twice a day for an hour in a row and also resting a
lot is a healthy basis to bring the condition to a higher level.
Beautiful little dung balls and a number of small down feathers every
day is a sign that health is well. By training at home you can see from
the high and fast flying pigeons whether the condition is okay. Pigeons
have to like to train themselves if a flag has to be used to keep the
pigeons in the air the shape is not yet as it should be. But how they
should be is often not so easy to discover. Often the pigeons are a bit
too heavy or there is something wrong with their health. After this
story it has now become 5 o'clock so take a break to take care of the
ladies and give the cocks the opportunity to do their training work.
There will be another press conference in two hours. Hopefully our Prime
Minister will announce a number of relaxation that the entire Dutch
population is eagerly looking forward to. So at the stroke of 7 o'clock
the whole of the Netherlands is in front of the TV.
PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER TO BE CONTROLLED
The press conference is over, it was not disappointing but it was not
easy either. The curfew has been lifted, the shops may open again and
the cafes of the catering industry may open from 12:00 to 18:00 for the
time being. Only 2 private visitors may be received per day one by one
and with that we have to do it for the time being. Corona for a year a
country locked up for a year as with all of us. At last there is some
speed in the vaccination. The nice weather is coming so people want to
go outside. I myself was vaccinated twice and had no problems at all. I
can now go for a beer with a clear conscience I just don't know with
whom. Many of my acquaintances have not yet had an injection and a
pleasant visit to the pub is also not an option for me because until now
only the terrace is open in the afternoon. It will be great if all shops
and catering establishments open as before the people, especially young
people, really need that very badly. That also applies to us pigeon
fanciers. The season has started. I haven't been to the clubroom yet, no
one is allowed in and the bar is closed. So wait outside, hand in
pigeons, wait for the clock and then go home nothing to do.
FOR FATHER AND SON IT WAS A DREAM START
It was a complete surprise that the racing season started according to
the schedule in the first weekend of April. Everyone had assumed that,
just like last year, the start would be postponed for a month. In
addition also the weather conditions were not of that kind that you were
eager to go out with the pigeons. I did not participate in the first
training flight, I thought it was much too cold. My son did and that's
why I go and watch the arrival with him. It was 8 degrees Celsius and
there was a cold chilly northeasterly wind and then it is no fun at all
to wait for pigeons. Contrary to expectations the pigeons turned out
great. A week later the first official flight was canceled due to
expected snow, hail and rain, plus far too low temperatures. Against my
principle my pigeons have been away twice with temperatures that are far
too low and once even with severe weather. It seemed necessary to me to
do that, you still have the idea that you have done the necessary
preparation. Suppose you hadn't gone away and you were clock too late I
would blame myself. I did not have high expectations. In other years I
had been away with my pigeons much more. Then you have a good feeling
and that is not the case this year partly because of the Corona. The
whole week before the first flight I have observed the pigeons extra to
see how their behavior was in the loft and in the air. Good impression
but not completely satisfied. Actually, I thought they felt too weak, I
think there was too little tension on them. Today I took a few in hand
and now I was satisfied. It may also be because we have had higher
temperatures for a number of days with sun every day. It is then
wonderful in the lofts, I could go to sleep in the straw with the
youngsters.
THE FIRST FLIGHT FROM THE TRUTH
We flew from Roosendaal at the Dutch/Belgian border, distance +/- 110
KM. Marco had entered 32 of which 29 won a prize. He starts with
1-7-8-17-18-21-22 against 2579 pigeons. I myself had a perfect result:
22 and all 22 in the result 1:4. Less spectacular I start with 25-27-30
but 100% prize! The pigeon that Marco got in front won the first twice
last year as a youngster! His mother went directly to the breeding loft
as a youngster she never raced herself. It was such an intelligent
creature that I said; this one goes directly to the breeding loft. She
is a granddaughter of Olympic Big Leo, Olympiad pigeon in Poznan
(Poland) in 2010. And now on to the next showdown.
SURPRISING START OF THE PIGEON SEASON
Wijdewormer April 7 2021. It was still exciting whether or not it would
take place. Many fanciers had no confidence in it. In the first place
because the corona infections remained on the high side and also the
weather forecasts were such that it was much too cold for the pigeons.
Still it went on many jumped for joy others took a very conservative
attitude. Despite the fact that it was only a training flight there were
still many pigeons at the start. The North Holland pigeons were released
in two groups one at 9 a.m. the other fifteen minutes later. It was
striking that there were many pigeons in the first group that made a
considerably higher speed than the fastest of group 2 so you can see
that releases, even if only with a difference of 15 minutes, can have a
completely different course. The speeds were not high due to the strong
northwest wind but the course of the flight was certainly good. I myself
did not bring any pigeons. Marco did and he took 10 of the first 25
against 514 pigeons. After such a training flight you go with confidence
to the first match. I don't have that feeling yet. I have not taken the
pigeons away enough and at the moment that is not possible at all. One
moment the sun is shining and a little later heavy winter hail or snow
showers no weather to train the pigeons. Coming Saturday it really gets
serious but I really don't know how I'm going to do it yet. On the
program is a race of 110 km expected temperature 8 degrees with a cold
northerly wind. I will try to drive with the pigeons a few times this
week and if that does not work I will give 12. Only at the last moment I
check whether that will be cocks or hens.
THE START IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE TOO EARLY FOR ME
I had assumed that the start would be postponed for a few weeks partly
due to the corona that has changed our lives little by little. The
annoying thing is that our life is getting very boring there is little
or nothing to do. I spend most of my time watching sports on TV. For me
as a cycling enthusiast there is a lot to enjoy and I also like to watch
football especially Ajax or English football. Yesterday I heard that the
public will be allowed to go to the stadiums again at the end of April.
When the terraces open again we will get back to the level we were used
to. Only now we notice what a luxurious life we had for years. After a
year of suffering I really long for the living pattern of before 2020.
Now we still have to apply the corona regulations in and around our
pigeon club. If that now also expires soon we will be completely where
we want to be. The club evenings during the deployment of the pigeons
are evenings I live towards for years and still do. It is annoying that
we keep getting older and do not realize that we are changing as a
result. I still want to excel with my pigeons but the real motivation is
increasingly lacking. You can't leave anything to chance to win but yes
if you sometimes forget something… Fortunately that's okay because you
don't know. But oh woe if it comes to your mind at the end of the week
then you are not really comfortable waiting for the arrival of the
pigeons.
HOW MANY PIGEONS ARE GOING
Nowadays we are obliged to notify by Tuesday evening at the latest how
many pigeons we are going to use. We have to specify separately how many
widowers, how many nest cocks and how many hens. Great for those who
have to prepare the baskets. I have difficulty with that myself. On
Tuesday evening I cannot say how many pigeons I want to enter. Of course
I am busy all week preparing the pigeons for the race but still Friday
evening when I go to get the pigeons I definitely know which ones will
go and especially which five will be on top of the list of participants
that is an old-fashioned system. Now it is the case that many fanciers
give everything along and that week after week. I think that with this
system the pigeon hardly counts anymore. There used to be a man in my
club who didn't care. He always said; they have wings to fly, so good
weather or not, fly! That goes a bit too far for me. I have been working
with my pigeons for a whole year and then I do not want to ruin them in
one go I would like to enjoy them for a whole season especially now that
I have so few, with 12 pairs of racing pigeons you cannot have too much
setback especially if you want to compete for the championships.
YOUNG PIGEONS
I have to drop another youngster and then I am done breeding for myself.
I have ringed 37 of which I have already lost one. Caught by the bird of
prey that has been eating it in the neighbor’s yard. The neighbor came
to bring me the ring and asked if it was mine. I hadn't missed a
youngster yet but that ring was indeed mine. You know how it goes,
usually it is one of a promising couple which was the case in this. Of
our 20 breeding couples I have numbered the five best in my opinion from
1 to 5. This youngster came from couple 2. From that couple we already
have 3 first prize winners and a champion pigeon. Of course I don't know
whether this would also be a topper but it is always a shame if you lose
a pigeon especially if it has good parents plus 2 good brothers and
sisters. Unfortunately the bird of prey problem is also becoming a
bigger problem. Fortunately the necessary attention is paid to this in
our country. The birds of prey are protected which is a good thing in
itself. But due to the ever-growing population the pigeon sport has
really suffered so much that fanciers stop with their hobby.
VERY SURPRISING THE SIGN GETS ON GREEN
Wijdewormer, March 31, 2021. It is almost unbelievable. The whole world
has completely lost its way because of Covid-19 but in the Netherlands
the pigeon sport will officially start on April 10 who would have dared
to dream this? A year of corona surrounded by all kinds of nasty forced
measures and what progress has we made with it. Everything is still
locked, people are no longer pulling it and the infections are only
increasing. Vaccination in our country is very slow. The only relaxation
is that the curfew starts on March 31 at 10 p.m. which offers some
perspective for the sports clubs. This also makes it possible that we
can start playing with the pigeons again. There will have to be basketed
earlier so that everyone is home before 10 pm. I do not know if I can
say that I am happy that it is starting again because for the time being
we will hardly speak to each other. Only a few members are allowed in
the room at a distance of one and a half meters and the catering area
remains closed. According to the protocol we can hand over the baskets
and as soon as the pigeons are in the big baskets we get the clock and
baskets back and we can go home. This is how it goes the same way a day
later when we come with the clock. Not cozy together, no celebration of
the winner. Fortunately pigeon sport is a sport that you practice at
home so nothing changes there but we just have to miss club life for the
time being. Big question is; how long will it take for now?
ARE PIGEONS AND FANCIERS READY?
All winter there was nothing to do in the field of pigeon sport while in
other years we could go from one event to another every weekend.
Nevertheless despite this lack we ended up in the spring and then many
pigeon fanciers become increasingly nervous as the tension increases.
Every fancier wonders whether the pigeons have been brought to the start
of the season in the right way. After all it was not possible that we
would start on the scheduled time. We followed the reports of the corona
infections from all over the world and they did not look hopeful. That
is why compliments to all those committees that have worked to ensure
that the pigeon sport does not suffer from the corona virus. Belgium and
France are prepared to issue unloading permits of course with the
necessary regulations. Whether Germany will do that is not yet known to
me. The east of the Netherlands has planned to hold their first flights
from Germany. Saturday April 10 is the day. A week earlier there is a
training flight and after that things really get serious. For many years
I have been an ardent but also a fanatic pigeon fancier I like to race
with pigeons even after more than 70 years. But to say now that I am
completely ready is not true. In other years I have been much further
with the preparation. Normally at this time of year my youngsters flew
around the loft for a long time. Now they come out and do no more than
fly a bit off the flap on the loft and back again. Incidentally I like
to look at that. I now have a little more than thirty and I will have to
do with that. In my strong years I never had more than 30 with which I
ended in the top-3 for several years. Marco has more than 50 racing
pigeons but he has the first round of our joint breeding loft. Today I
took the youngsters away from the cocks so that cocks and hens are now
gone widowhood. Today they are also driven about ten kilometers for the
first time and that's how I try to do that every day until 3 days before
the first race. At the moment it is really summery weather with
temperatures of around 20 degrees. Unfortunately for next Saturday only
8 degrees has been predicted and I think that is too cold for myself and
also for the pigeons. My opinion is that you can only hold competitions
at a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 30 degrees. I also know all too well
that pigeons can do much more than we think. Maybe I love my animals I
want to enjoy them for a whole year and that is not possible in extreme
temperatures.
SUMMER TIME
Opinions differ on this too. Daylight saving time started on 20 March.
My pigeons had been on summer time for a number of weeks so nothing
changes for them only the boss has to get used to it. If I were in
charge there would be no daylight saving time. Don't understand the
benefits of that time change either. I do see that the leaves are coming
back on the trees, that the snowdrops have already been in bloom, that
everything is growing and blooming again and that makes me happy I love
the beautiful summer weather. I used to be hard to turn off the ice now
I don't dare it anymore. I hate the cold and thoroughly enjoy the mild
spring weather. We live in the countryside and it is now even more
enjoyable. In the winter it is nowhere nice but in the summer we have a
double advantage here in the countryside. Enjoy the training pigeons in
the garden while you sniff the spring I can keep that up for a very long
time.
TO THE CLUB
That will also change because we have changed associations. Very
unfortunate because I started as a youth member at that club in 1948 and
I would have liked to end there. Unfortunately things turned out
differently. I could no longer agree with the way in which the pennies
were managed and certainly not with the way in which the annual
financial report was presented to the members. Over the past three years
there hasn't even been a cash check and that I can't stand. The fun was
gone and that is why I moved to another club together with Marco. That
club is a bit further away and because I am no longer allowed to drive a
car I am dependent on my wife and Marco. Fortunately I know most of the
members there so I know for sure that I will soon be used to the new
club. It seems to me to be a very nice club, especially when we are
released from the corona measures. I am also very curious what I can
tell all readers about the course of the first matches.
THE NETHERLANDS IS GOING TO ORGANIZE THE 28th OLYMPIAD
Wijdewormer, March 25, 2021. On March 13, the NPO Members' Council
approved the proposal that the Netherlands would organize this largest
pigeon festival. The conditions for participation have been announced by
the FCI so all over the world the fanciers can make their plans to have
their pigeons perform in such a way that they are eligible for
participation. It will take a while before it is that far but I already
want to wish everyone the best of luck to become an Olympiad participant
because within our sport participation in an Olympiad is also the
highest possible. I am already looking forward to meeting many
international friends there. Furthermore it was announced during the
digital members' council that the health declaration prescribed by the
EU is no longer applicable. Broadly speaking it boiled down to the fact
that three weeks before they participate in a flight racing pigeons have
to be quarantined for three weeks. Here it was clearly visible that this
was a regulation drawn up by a layman. Fortunately the pigeon transport
remains the same. As far as the start of the new season is concerned not
everything is definitively known yet but according to planning the
Belgians would start in the weekend of March 20 but unfortunately not.
What is new is that the results will also show the (intermediate)
positions of the loft performances on a weekly basis. Then there was a
heated discussion about cargo and flying pigeons during the Members'
Council. In the Netherlands it is mandatory that every pigeon that takes
part in the competition or in a training flight has to go over the
basketing antenna. This makes it immediately visible whether the pigeon
is registered in the name of the participant. What is new is that the
fancier is free to determine how many pigeons he will participate in the
competition. For example; someone comes with 30 pigeons and 20 of them
participate in the competition, which is possible, but the other pigeons
also go over the antenna. As long as I play with pigeons it was the most
normal thing in the world that all pigeons that were used also took part
in the competition. Nowadays with all those different competitions all
with their own conditions fanciers try to figure it out in order to
achieve the best possible result for themselves. Well, why should we do
it easy when it can also difficult?
WHO IS WAITING FOR THIS?
Many Dutch fanciers were surprised last week with a new edition of the
Dutch Pigeon Organ. Once the only real Dutch racing pigeon magazine that
was read weekly by thousands of Dutch fanciers. Unfortunately that
newspaper disappeared completely from the scene and a few years ago it
reappeared in digital form that represented little to nothing. It was a
great surprise that suddenly this magazine rolled into the mailbox that
will be published once a quarter for free. Old sections are revived but
not by the writers of yesteryear such as the expert Arie van de Hoek or
the famous Belgian Jacq. Tournier. The magazine immediately presented
itself as the official magazine of the NPO but this appears to be an
empty slogan. The NPO board responded immediately with the announcement
that this is definitely not the case so the tone has already been set.
Nobody wants such a quarterly magazine, the existing weekly magazine is
more than enough for the Netherlands.
PRESS CONFERENCE FROM THE CABINET
Unfortunately not much good came out. Everything remains as it was with
a few exceptions. The curfew will go to 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. this
week and Prime Minister Rutte could not put it into words. It would
mainly have been done on the advice of the mayors. Due to the rising
contamination figures it has been advised to spend the May holiday in
own country. There was also no clear answer to the questions why
vaccination is so slow in our country. We pigeon fanciers and of course
the many other interested parties would have liked to hear that the
catering industry and theaters would reopen. No, for the time being it
will remain unchanged for another 3 weeks. Because the curfew starts an
hour later it offers some perspective for our pigeon sport. The racing
pigeons have to be in the baskets by half past nine so the participants
and especially the workers are home in time. It won't get any cozier for
the time being but it is certainly better than no game at all. By the
way I don't have a good feeling about the latter. Next Thursday evening
the national NPO board will announce the latest news. I will be happy if
we can start mid-April.
THE STATE OF BUSINESS AT THE LOFTS OF FATHER AND SON
Marco is ready for battle. His youngsters come outside and make their
first rounds around the loft. Because they are darkened they are already
busy with the neck molt. His old pigeons are separated and are darkened
12 hours a day to stop molting. The youngsters are allowed out in the
morning and the old pigeons only fly in the evening. There is more work
to be done for me. Most youngsters are still with the parents in the
breeding loft or with the racing pigeons. This weekend the racing hens
all go to their loft where they stay all summer and some have their
youngsters with them for a few more days. All racing cocks still have a
youngster to take care of which will move to the young pigeon loft in
the course of next week. My old pigeons are also darkened for 12 hours a
day until the competition season starts. From next week the youngsters
are allowed to go outside from 10 am. They can then walk in and out
because flying is not there yet. My youngsters are darkened for 13 hours
a day from mid-April to the end of June from 7:30 pm to 8:30 the next
morning. During the Easter days the training of the old pigeons is
started which for me are mainly yearlings. They are not paired for a
second time. They are therefore on widowhood from Easter and both the
cocks and hens are raced weekly as soon as the season starts. Provided
that……??? It would be nice that after a year of corona we would once
again get healthy competition tension in our bodies which will certainly
do us good.
BEWARE OF OVERPOPULATION
Wijdewormer 17 March 2021. Just like in other countries everything in
the Netherlands is currently dominated by the elections which makes me
crazy. It's really madness. As many as 37 political parties have signed
up to seize power. They all have something in their program to improve
life in the Netherlands, a commendable endeavor that I have been
consciously experiencing for 65 years. There is always an item that
requires extra attention, this time care and the environment lead the
wish lists. The corona ghost still wanders around all those campaigns.
The number of infections keeps on going. The vaccination had started
well and now there is suddenly a hitch because the AstraZeneca vaccine
would show dangerous side effects, so stop! And now what, how do we
proceed because corona is not giving up the fight for the time being. I
started this column with “overpopulation” because we are at the end of
the breeding season and then many fanciers of various couples want to
breed a few extra youngsters but that is precisely where the danger
lies. In case of overpopulation a disease always breaks out. In nature
no or almost no vaccination is possible which means that the weak have
to suffer from the strong. That is also the case with humanity. I
certainly do not want to compare people with animals but our globe is
full and therefore I think we will always have to deal with new diseases
all the time. A cocktail shot will have to be developed with which we
may have to be vaccinated every year so that we are protected against
those contagious diseases. What a relief it will be for all of us that
the elections and the Covid-19 pandemic with all its variants is over. I
am so longing back to life before 2020. At the moment I am getting a
little more gloomy every day. It's not going to give up hope for the
time being, so head on and try to make every day a good day.
WHEN CAN WE FULLY ENJOY AGAIN?
The new season is about to happen. There is still no certainty and we
have many questions directors want clarity. Fortunately in 2020 we have
gained sufficient experience on how to act in times of corona, the
protocols are known. There are no questions about transport which will
be reviewed in October. Everyone wants to know when the official
starting shot will be fired. I really long for it because at my age I
cannot make a long-term planning every year that I can still play is a
bonus. Of course the plans for this year are ready. The racing pigeons
now all have youngsters. If one young has hatched it stays with the cock
and one of two goes with the hen to the young pigeon loft which will
happen next week. In principle the racing pigeons are on widowhood from
that moment. The racing pigeons now go twice each day off and as soon as
the youngsters no longer need their parents only the cocks are released
twice a day and the hens only in the afternoon from half past three to
five. Once the youngsters are flying around well they only go outside in
the afternoon from 6 am to 7 pm and with that training method I try to
successfully participate in the competitions. That way it has always
gone to full satisfaction so why not this year. Before the races starts
the pigeons are taken away at least five times no further than 35 km and
all released at the same time. During the season the pigeons are not
driven except for the late tour. Those 5 flights are at the end of the
season and then I think it is necessary to keep the pigeons on going
because the big molt then presents itself. You know once the
aerodynamics have disappeared it’s also done winning early prizes.
NO REPORT OF THE NPO
On Saturday 13 March the dots were digitally put on the “I”. I cannot
yet say a sensible word about the decisions. I was not at home that day
so I had to miss the instant digital meeting. One of these days I can
look back and in my next column I will report on the most important
decisions. Another meeting will follow shortly in which the board will
be completed for the umpteenth time. Usually that is not long-term but
who knows? Usually the NPO meeting is the end of the past season and the
starting shot for the new showdown. The winter season was also very
boring just like the competition season. In the winter months no shows,
no champion ceremony, and if there was a ceremony it was improvised.
Hall auctions will soon no longer exist and that is a fantastic change
for the fanciers who keep pigeons for profit. The atmosphere of a full
house with interested pigeon parents will probably never return. When
you see what reach a digital sale has that's huge and the amounts
offered surpass everything. When you see that you think that the pigeon
sport represents a lot. Most of us are concerned about winning one or
more championships for which they receive a nice shiny plastic cup at
the end of the season financial value zero point zero. The sporting
value is only important for the fancier. The professionals are not short
of anything. They cash in several times a year thanks to the bastard
people. Those people come every week with their basket so the
professionals can write that they have a champion pigeon again against
many pigeons. Wonderful but where would they be if the masses soon
realized that the pigeon sport is no longer so nice and cozy anymore.
Times change and pigeon sport too.
REGULARITY IS GOOD FOR CONDITION
Wijdewormer, March 10, 2021. The season is approaching and everything is
now focused on that. Everywhere the breeding is largely ready and in
various lofts the racing pigeons have been separated for some time.
Everything is focused on the matches that will start in the Netherlands
in April. Most of them start immediately in widowhood others first race
one or two more flights with a nest. Many fanciers race total widowhood
with cocks and hens. But there are more and more fanciers who prefer the
widowhood game with only hens. In that respect pigeon sport has changed
enormously. In my early years, early fifties, most fanciers had one loft
in which young and old lived together. Everyone raced the pigeons on a
nest all year round. There were real artists because it is not easy to
keep pigeons well in their feathers for a whole year. Little or nothing
was known about darken and widowhood. In addition nobody had the
opportunity and the financial means to build a large loft and well if
you don't know any better pigeon sport in that form is also quite fun.
In those years it was mainly a hobby there was some gambling and that
was certainly not about large amounts. They thought it was a top
achievement to play the first with the top of the list in front that man
had an eye on it. In those years there was also played for the “king
pool” which was actually the highest you could achieve. The stake was 50
cents you could only put one in front and the person who took it first
could go home with the putty. That was not a large amount but the winner
could buy a bag of food for it and that made the hobby a little cheaper.
I can still remember that the first thing that was looked at was who had
won the royal pool. That happened on Sunday evening when the handwritten
result hung in the village cafe in front of the window and many fanciers
came to it. Everyone is of course very curious about how they played but
also about the results of the competition. In those years it was a
familiar sight that almost all fanciers went to the classroom by bicycle
with one basket on the luggage carrier under the carrier strap, one on
the handlebars and the clock in the other hand and then he also had to
hold the handlebars. It happened more than once that a fancier lay on
the street with his baskets and clock which I also had once. You are
able to go home but in the end you decide to go to the club anyway.
Fortunately, because it turned out to be an unforgettable super result
at the end.
ALMOST NOBODY HAD A CAR
As a child we knew exactly where to play football in the street. Our
street was about 400 meters long and only three people had a car so
enough space to play football or other games on the street every day.
Now there is no room on any street to play outside. And people just
complain that the children no longer play in the street nowadays. Simply
impossible and that is why they are now sitting behind the computer
every day gaming and more gaming. Young people are not interested in
animals because they have not grown up with them. If you used to have a
friend of yours with a rabbit or a dog you wanted something like that. A
pet was part of it and the pigeons also belonged to it. In my street
alone there were 12 boys who had pigeons and our pigeon club had a youth
department with more than 40 members. Most pigeon clubs now don't even
have 40 members. I don't want to say that it was all better in the past
but it was different and much more fun and, above all, more interest in
each other. Every day we came together to see how the pigeons were
doing. Nowadays we hardly get together anymore. It has all become much
more professional and nobody is waiting for a loft visit because they
are terrified of some contamination. No, the fun is completely finished
in that respect. Nevertheless I still enjoy my pigeons enormously
especially now that my youngsters can almost away with their parents.
The young pigeons loft is equipped for the new generation and as far as
I am concerned the game can begin.
YET A LITTLE MORE UNFREEIZED EGGS THAN OTHER YEARS
I think I had prepared well for the breeding. Have a manure test done,
throat smear everything was fine. The pigeons came a little later with
eggs but I have an explanation for that and then it is also clear why
some more eggs were unfertilized. There was nothing wrong with the first
round. The eggs from the second round were laid exactly in that
particular week that it almost froze your ears off your head. As an
experienced fancier you think that nature ensures nothing can go wrong
with the first egg. But …… by temperatures of minus 12-15 degrees there
is a great risk that the first egg will not be kept warm enough. With
that icy cold the pigeons are not so busy with reproduction so it took a
few days longer before the eggs were laid. At night with severe frost
and without heating in the loft you run the risk of eggs freezing or at
least becoming too cold which I had to deal with especially with the
racing pigeons. They were coupled in such a way that the second round of
the breeders could be pushed below them so bad luck! There are enough
for me so I don't despair. Everything else looks hopeful. The youngsters
are growing up well, nice dry manure around the saucer, no squeaky
youngsters and this week the first ones intended for me will leave the
parents. At least where one youngster is located it stays with the cock
and where there are two one goes with the hen to the young pigeon loft.
There is a thick pack of straw there and they will stays there until the
flights of the summer begin. From this week the pigeons come out twice a
day. In the morning from half past eight to half past nine and in the
afternoon from 4 to 5 o'clock and that will be as soon as the end of
March summertime starts from 5 to 6 o'clock. As soon as the youngsters
start flying around they go outside from 9 till 10 and from 6 till 7
hours. Everything now happens every day at exactly the same time
IN ONE WEEK FROM WINTER TO SPRING
Wijdewormer 17 February 2021. The skates can be put away again and the
garden chairs can go outside, I have never experienced before. Last week
–15 degrees and for this weekend +15 degrees is predicted which is a
difference of 30 degrees. No Elfstedentocht, gone skating fun. It was
short-lived and now on to spring to a better life! As of today the judge
has ruled that the curfew must be lifted immediately and the film was
rolled back the same day. As a trial a few theaters are being opened for
a maximum of 500 spectators. Football matches again with public and more
relaxation will probably be announced today or tomorrow. There is plenty
of testing for corona unfortunately the infections are still not over.
Fortunately the vaccination is getting better and better it will be my
turn on 3 March. Let's not think that it will be all over the place
again in the foreseeable future because the economic explosion is yet to
come. Covid19 has created a trail of misery that we are not getting rid
of yet but there is not much we can do but remain optimistic. The next
important step will be that the shops and the catering industry can
reopen. Once that is the case there are few valid reasons left for
keeping other doors closed. We will soon have 1 year of Corona behind
us. Still how long?
LONG ITME NO SEEN JAN SAID
When I drove out of the yard fourteen days ago to go for a bike ride Jan
drove past on his scooter. He immediately squeezed the brakes to have a
chat. Jan and I have known each other from an early age. He was an avid
short-track skater managed to win many competitions and later became a
popular pub owner. Very soon we were talking about the times gone by.
Jan was also a real cycling supporter who knew many names of riders from
the time when I cycled myself. Once he organized a reunion for old
cyclists and skaters in his cafe. At the end of our conversation he
asked if I still had pigeons. I'll never read you again, he said. That's
right I said in winter there are no competitions for pigeons, he knew
nothing about pigeon sport. He was right that he never read anything in
the newspaper about pigeon racing again. For years on Tuesday the
newspaper was full of results from all pigeon clubs in North Holland.
The newspaper sent a stack of stamped postcards to all the secretaries
on which to fill in the results. In this way the pigeon sport came to
the attention of many people. Family, neighbors, colleagues, friends,
relations, everyone read the pigeon results. I was regularly approached
hey Bras I read you again! I knew pigeon fanciers who went home on
Tuesday at noon to read the results in the newspaper and then
immediately knew how the competition had performed. At that time it took
a whole week before the results were known, everything was still manual.
The calculator of the ZCC lived near me and occasionally I went to help
him on Fridays to collect the sheets of the results and staple them
together. The whole family was busy then because on Saturday delegates
from each association came to collect the results. The results were
stenciled on wood-containing paper and blue ink was used which resulted
in the whole family being covered in blue ink at the end of the evening.
It was a hell of a job for the mathematician and his wife and their
daughter which they occupied all weekend and all evenings. At that time
there were a maximum of 3000 pigeons in the battle. Of these 800 were
published and all those names had to be typed on a stencil first. The
good man received a compensation of 2 cents per pigeon (with 2500
pigeons 50 guilders that is now 24 euros). Who oh who would still want
to do such a job. When the man suggested a 1 cent increase I thought
World War III was breaking out. What a luxury that everything is now
done digitally. Unfortunately there is now nothing more about pigeon
sport in the newspaper. Pigeon sport is no longer interesting for any
newspaper due to too few members.
FEED PICK UP
A lot of snow was expected so I decided to do some shopping for my
pigeons that same day. There used to be several shops near me nowadays I
have to drive 20 km first. I am no longer allowed to drive so I am
dependent. This time I went with my grandson. Due to a road closure we
ended up somewhere I had never been before. Even the tom-tom got dizzy.
Finally arrived at the pigeon sport center it turned out that several
fanciers had thought the same as me we could hardly get in. All with
mouth caps, so many are unrecognizable. After we had loaded the car I
stood in line behind Dick. I hadn't seen him for years and was not sure
whether it was him or not. I patted him on the shoulder and he looked at
me, shrugged and looked straight back. I pushed him in the back and
asked if he didn't remember me and he shrugged again. I took off my face
mask and took my cap in my hand said Zaandam and the good man shook no.
If you consider that most say when I med them after a long time; you
haven't changed a bit. Dick's coin would not fall. When I started to
tell an ancient story a smile came to his face. What the hell he said
and hugged me. How bad that I no longer recognize you and then the
stories really started. He said that he no longer played with pigeons.
He still had pigeons but only for fun and that while he used to be one
of the big guns. Since he had moved it was no longer possible to play
well with the pigeons and therefore he stopped racing. I definitely
can't stand my loss I always want to win or have a good result, but
every week a twist around my ears that makes me grumpy. Everything comes
to an end said Dick and when he trudged out of the shop with 5 kilos of
pigeon food in hand I saw that he was no longer so stable on his legs.
Indeed, everything comes to an end also Covid19
KING WINTER RULES THIS WEEK
Wijdewormer, February 10, 2021. A lot of snow and severe frost have put
the whole of the Netherlands under the spell of skating this week.
Temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius make the hearts beat faster
especially among skating enthusiasts of long tours and marathon
competitions. The most famous tour and competition tour is the
Elfstedentocht through the province of Friesland over a distance of 200
km. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic everyone has to adhere to the strict
regulations but it will be difficult to keep the skating-crazy
Netherlands in check. The government is under pressure from all
directions to let go this longest skating race in the world. It is up to
the audience whether or not the “tour of tours” may continue. The last
trip, which was held 25 years ago, had 30.000 participants and 500.000
spectators which is quite a lot to keep them at a distance of one and a
half meters. If all those ardent skating fans promised that they would
follow the game at home in front of the TV there is a small chance that
this great skating party could continue. The tension rises to
unprecedented heights, will it go or will it not continue!
WINTER YOUNGSTERS DO NOT GO OUTSIDE
For our concepts a lot of snow fell in our country last weekend. The
whole of the Netherlands is white at the moment and that will certainly
remain that way for about ten days and that is a cross the bill of all
fanciers who cannot leave their winter youngsters outside. Those who do
not breed in winter and still put the pigeons together last week are
also a bit unlucky and that includes me. At the end of this week my
racing pigeons have to come with eggs for the first time but then
temperatures of -15 are predicted at night. It is desirable that the
pigeons keep the first egg in particular sufficiently warm. You would
say nature does take care of that but we fanciers ourselves cause the
problem by putting pigeons together to raise youngsters completely
against nature. There is not a single bird in the Netherlands that
already needs to build a nest. I have no heating in my loft at all, in
that respect I am still of the old school. We used to say; if it freezes
outside it also freeze in your loft. I still think that way, I don't
want to make greenhouse plants from my pigeons. I will not place them in
an open aviary with such low temperatures. The windows will remain
closed and the sun that is shining now will make it a bit comfortable.
At the moment the lights are on until 8 in the evening in all
departments. I remove the drinking troughs everywhere so that I don't
have to start the next morning to get rid of ice which saves me a lot of
extra work. The youngsters at the breeders are all ringed and look great
despite the cold. Two couples already laid their first egg of the second
round yesterday and that is faster than I expected because it will take
about a week before my racing pigeons will lay their first egg. It is
still the intention that I put as many eggs from the breeders under my
racing pigeons as possible. According to my calculation there will be
enough youngsters ready to be weaned in the first week of March. When I
have 30 I am satisfied. Marco wants some more because he has big plans
and Dad will do his best to beat him a few times. Nice, and it motivates
both of us.
BIRD FLU
I read that the obligation to keep up has been lifted in Belgium so that
the pigeons can go outside again. That is a good report because there
are many fanciers in that country who practice winter breeding and it is
very reassuring that especially the youngsters can explore the area. In
the Netherlands that prohibition was not there and now I read in the
newspaper today that at a distance of 5 km from me all poultry at a
petting zoo was culled this weekend. The disease started in the
peacocks. One got bird flu symptoms and within a few days most of them
died. A veterinarian diagnosed bird flu and therefore all poultry had to
be culled. For all volunteers a nasty activity to catch the animals and
gassed on site. It is not yet known what the consequences will be. If it
stays with this one case the measures may well be better. But oh woe if
there's another outbreak in the neighborhood. It is a good thing that
for the time being we cannot leave the pigeons outside because of the
snow so the risk of infection is small. Still annoying to read something
like this two months before the racing season starts (if so). There is
also still the corona virus and we all know how this virus spread all
over the world has on our health and all sports.
AWARD INVALID
It was very surprising to many Dutch fanciers that the more or less
expelled NPO chairman Maurice van der Kruk was awarded the honorary
membership and the “golden pin” during his last meeting as chairman.
Given his track record the current board does not consider this
appropriate. In addition the former NPO directors appeared not to be
entitled to award this award. The non-cooperation of Maurice van der
Kruk in the investigation of the pension provision for ex NPO employees
will also have contributed to this. The consequences of the incorrect
management of the entire pension file will cost the NPO 300.000 euros.
It has already been announced that the ring price will be increased by
10 cents from 2022. The money has to come somewhere so here too the
members are the victims.
TO WIN YOU MUST LOOK AHEAD
Wijdewormer, 3 February 2021. When I started riding my first club
competitions on my second-hand racing bike at the end of 1953 I was
immediately taught “never look back”. You have nothing to do with what
happened behind you I have never forgotten that. In my further life I
have also understood that looking ahead is much more important. As you
get older you tend to romanticize the times of the past it was all much
better. As you get older you discover that looking back in time is
almost pointless. At the end of March my cycling club, of which I have
been a member for 67 years, will exist for 100 years, great to
experience. When the club existed 75 years I was chairman. It became a
great sporting event and a reunion was also held for old members,
fantastic all those old cycling stories. It was striking that after so
many years almost all old riders still knew exactly what mistakes they
had made in certain races so that they missed a good classification or
even a victory. For example looking back in a full sprint, they have
learned a lot from mistakes like that. Also do not look next to you that
can be paralyzing. Just for you watch the finish line. There the prizes
are divided and you have to press your front wheel over the line first.
Now that the club has existed for 100 years I am already looking forward
to the reunion. In my enthusiasm I have already written a wonderful
story about how I ended up in cycling. It was a disappointment when I
heard that my story was way too long and that it was not even sure
whether there was an anniversary book would come. For me it is almost
unimaginable because the club and the sport have played such a big and
important role in my life that includes an anniversary book.
Unfortunately it turns out that today's members who are engaged in their
sport every day are not at all interested in the past of the club which
is more for old men. Cycling, and not only cycling, has changed so much
that young athletes much prefer to look ahead. Nice if a book with old
stories comes out but no more than that. There is more interest in
innovations or in good training schedules and the right nutrition which
I can imagine. When I cycled I did not wonder how the organization had
managed to organize a fair race for the umpteenth year. How the crush
barriers were put in place I did not think about it and that whole
series of premiums were ridden I thought that was the most normal thing
in the world, right? Until you end up in the organization yourself. Only
then do you know what work has to be done to run a cycling race.
MODERN PIGEON SPORT
That too can no longer be compared with the past. It is nice to be able
to read something about that now and then but nothing more than that.
The pigeon sport has certainly not stood still even though some people
think so. What is very unfortunate is the rapid decline in the number of
members and with it the ever smaller competitions. In the 1980s much
more should have been invested in this. Back then only attention was
paid to the youth that was the future and now it appears that this was
just a waste of money. Pigeon sport is not for the youth. They first
have to play sports themselves and after their active sport it is
important to know that there is a fantastic hobby at home in the form of
pigeon sport. A competition sport with race pigeons that you have to
train yourself and take care of in such a way that they are in the right
condition so that they can participate in a competition successfully.
The electronics ensure that you can follow the entire race progress and
that the result of the race is known when the last prize pigeon has
arrived. That is interesting especially for today's youth who were
raised with electronics. I think the pigeon magazines still look back
too much to the past. We have to get rid of that old-fashioned dusty
image. I still read stories about achievements that I also read twenty
years ago. Perhaps they want to disguise the fact that they can no
longer keep up. It is simply the case that the older you get, with all
your experience and years of strong playing, you cannot keep up with the
absolute top. We should not lose sight of the fact that as you get older
your age is becoming your biggest competitor. Just look at the tribute
photos of the big group. There are no members wearing shorts yet but the
number of members wearing a cap is decreasing. It is predominantly the
fifties to sixties who rule our sport and that is how it should be!
Pigeon sport can continue to be practiced until old age, only the
commitment to keep playing with the best is becoming less and less even
though many think not and that includes me.
ADAPT TO THE POSSIBILITIES
In order to continue to enjoy the hobby there is nothing for the elderly
but to make it as easy as possible for yourself. Keeping fewer pigeons
means a better overview, less work and less costs. That does not mean
that the fun of the game diminishes, you can still regularly make good
results with good price percentages with a small number of pigeons. It's
not just about winning a competition, that's for one person every week.
There is so much other beauty to do with it. Especially the breeding of
useful pigeons from couples that you have put together yourself. Winning
an early prize with a pigeon that you yourself were almost sure would do
this time. An unexpected arrival of a pigeon scares you and that is
usually a very early one too. Getting a good turn around your ears once
is also part of the sport. A setback should motivate you to go all out
again so that the following weekend will be another time when you go
home with the victory flowers. Continue to enjoy and ensure that we stay
healthy so that we can say with pride; pigeon sport, great hobby!
CLARITY
Wijdewormer, January 27, 2021. At this time of the year most of us are
fully engaged in breeding and preparing for the racing season. I cannot
yet say that our youngsters are growing well because they hatched only a
few days ago. The pigeons of which we laid the first eggs under the
feeder pigeons some couples laid their first egg yesterday. The racing
pigeons are coupled on 5 February so that if everything is right many
eggs from the second round of the breeding pigeons can be placed under
my racing pigeons, in that respect everything is arranged for the
further breeding season. After that only youngsters are bred that have
already been ordered (that is possible until the end of February) and a
number of them still need to be bred for those who have purchased a
voucher that we donated. As said before the first round is for son Marco
and the second round for myself so far everything is clear, now it is
about when we can start the matches. If only something was known about
the start of the new season there would be something to live towards. I
am not reassured about that especially after all the riots that have
taken place against the corona policy. As a result everything can be
slowed down considerably. Vaccination is also much too slow (certainly
in the Netherlands). After 11 months of the Coved-19 pandemic people,
especially the young, can no longer be controlled. Every day, despite
the increasingly strict measures, we are still confronted with thousands
of infections and that makes no one happy. The curfew has certainly not
yet contributed to the reduction of infections at least not as it is now
with all those groups of young people who are only out to cause
destruction instead of holding a demonstration against the current
corona policy. It is a pity that things get so out of hand, there is too
much understanding for the young people while hundreds of companies have
been closed for a long time and are now even being looted. This is not
demonstrating but provoking and that is nicely expressed. With such a
way of doing things could it possibly take much longer before our (old)
lifestyle is back and the street scene is back to normal. It will be
wonderful again when we see pigeon fanciers return to the club with
their basket of pigeons in the days before the weekend. That sports can
be watched again with loudly cheering supporters present. Let us hope
that the introduced speed law against rioters has results so that all
people can stand up for the fight against the dreaded corona virus.
PIGEON TALK
I have been talking about the corona virus for weeks and every time
think I don’t anymore. Unfortunately I keep being confronted with it
every day in any way. Our whole life is under the spell of various
viruses so we cannot ignore them. I would much rather write every week
about a loft visit that I did with a friend or a strong playing fancier,
there is always something to learn from a loft visit. Especially in this
period where youngsters are now everywhere in the dish and where
fanciers proudly talk about their new generation of pigeons that are
shining in the nest. This morning I had a telephone conversation with a
fancier who had just started to take his winter youngsters away from the
parents. He said he had never bred so beautifully. When I asked him how
many he had bred he couldn't tell. I already have too many he said and
that will be the case in many lofts. Most of us have way too many
pigeons every year especially breeders. The good man I had on the phone
said that he has 40 breeding couples. He is absolutely not commercial,
all the pigeons he breeds are in principle for himself. If he breeds two
rounds from his breeders, after all you have breeding pigeons for that,
despite a little setback you only have 130 youngsters and when I see
what space the man has it cannot be that he plays strong. He plays his
prize and that says it all. So it must be a pure hobby to keep so many
pigeons. I absolutely cannot stand that.
TIE WITH MY PIGEONS
I like an overview. I like to sit with my pigeons, observe them so that
I know the rags of each pigeon. In this way you also build a
relationship of trust with your pigeons and you can immediately see when
the flight condition presents itself. For me being together with my
pigeons is an important part of my hobby. I have always want to fight
with very few pigeons and achieve good results against the big guns
among us. I often heard the moaning of fanciers who thought it was no
style if they had to compete every week against the men with mega
numbers. It didn't matter to me especially in my prime. Week in week I
played against at least 15.000 pigeons and whether there were 200 from
Jan or 300 from Piet I didn't even look at it. In any case I always
wanted to have a pigeon on the first page of the result and every week I
did my best to achieve the victory. That was certainly possible a few
times a year but not every week. That wouldn't be good for the sport it
has to be exciting. Nowadays, now that we are with far fewer fanciers
and have considerably less pigeons in competition, the large numbers do
have an influence on the course of the competition. Previously the wind
had an important influence, now the migration of the pigeons is
determined by the areas where most pigeons are used. Typical of the
pigeon sport is that there is always something to complain about. Then
it is the wind, then the location, the large numbers, the too early or
late release, inversion, the place where the basket is in the car. Then
we have not yet talked about winning a competition with a generous lead.
Unfortunately this is never discussed with appreciation. It usually
passes; that is not possible or the pigeon has escaped, the fancier uses
something, even the word fraud has been heard one dares to call it. In
that respect you better finish second and be beaten with minimal
difference. It remains a fascinating hobby for me even now that I belong
to the vulnerable group of elderly people in this corona era.
CONFIDENCE IN TIMELY START OF SEASON IS GETTING AWAY
Wijdewormer, January 20, 2021. A third of winter 20/21 is behind us and
whether it is cold, warm, wet or dry weather, the corona virus is far
from being won. Even stricter measures may have to be applied, those
responsible have almost no choice. It is becoming increasingly difficult
to control young and old. After more than nine months of pandemic with
all kinds of variants little light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.
People are getting fed up, there is a need for relaxation but there is
little progress either. Fortunately we fanciers have the opportunity to
relax at home with the care of the pigeons, there is plenty of work to
be done in many lofts. There is or will be paired and in many lofts the
winter youngsters are born and now have their fixed foot rings. For the
breeding pigeons it is now also hard work to keep the heads of the young
stuff well filled. Some fanciers therefore give full throttle during
this period so that the pigeons can eat what they want throughout the
day all to stimulate a good growth of the new champions. Others do this
by feeding at least three times a day, a system that I also use myself.
That way there is no mess with food and that could help to prevent a
mouse infestation. Mice are major culprits when it comes to transmitting
various diseases. The weather conditions for winter breeding are quite
favorable. It is very humid because we have a lot of rain and still. Now
there have been a number of nights with light frost and that certainly
does not hurt. There were still options to bathe the pigeons. When the
sun shines I immediately give a bath and then the sun ensures that the
floor of the racing loft dries up quickly. The breeding pigeons bathe in
the aviary and it is not so bad there if the soil remains moist for a
little longer. Although I don't want to make greenhouse plants from my
pigeons I close the windows of the breeding loft at the end of the
afternoon. Many others don't and talk about oxygen treatment or Spartan
training. Nice idea but nothing but is nothing. I have never seen a top
athlete suffer unnecessarily cold to build up hardness or to get in a
better condition there are other methods for that. Our breeding pigeons
are now brooding for 12 days so in a week the first eggs will hatch.
Last Saturday we checked the eggs together. A couple turned out to have
laid only one egg, one couple with an unfertilized egg and a couple with
two unfertilized eggs. The eggs of 6 couples were placed under reserve
couples or racing pigeons of Marco. Now let's wait and see if the eggs
all hatch on time. My racing pigeons are coupled at the beginning of
February with the intention that a number of eggs from the second round
of the breeders can be placed underneath. That way Marco and I will have
enough youngsters to start at the end of March If only we had a little
certainty. I still don't have much confidence in the start of the new
season. I would like to know how far the NPO has progressed with the
permission for the transport of our racing pigeons. That could become a
hot topic.
VOLTAGE OVER THE APPLICATION OF HIGH VOLTAGE
Local residents and the KBDB have serious objections about the plans for
the construction of 85 km of high-voltage pylons and the associated
wiring across the full width of Belgium. The Dutch, German and Belgian
pigeons that have to go home from the well-known release point Quiévrain
would still fly together in large groups as they approach the area with
the new masts and so there are several examples of which the
consequences are incalculable. In the coming months an independent
agency will prepare a study report on the effect in the environment. The
study is mainly about bird migration.
WORLD NEWS
This was ensured by an American pigeon that would have been left behind
from a race in October and eventually ended up in Australia after a
journey of 13.000 km on Boxing Day. Due to the risk of contamination the
pigeon Joe, named after Joe Biden, had to be killed. That couldn’t and
was not allowed. In the end the ring turned out to be "fake" it could
not be traced. It turned out to be nothing more than a scam in the
commercial world of the racing pigeon sport.
TALK ABOUT COMMERCY
The well-known auction house Pipa regularly sells pigeons from its own
breeding stable. A few days ago a sale of 8 pigeons bred by them ended
which an average sum of 36.225 euros per pigeon. The most expensive went
for 160.000 euros making it the most expensive youngster ever sold
online. The parents are none other than the Golden Prince and New Kim
who recently was also sold online as the world's most expensive hen of
all time. Still nice if you cash 290.000 euros for youngsters with only
a nice pedigree.
A DAY OF SNOW
That same afternoon my grandson emailed a photo of my pigeon loft in
winter splendor. The photo was taken from the adjacent golf course.
Upstairs is the flying area for the old pigeons, below that the breeding
pigeons are housed. At the rear of the loft are three compartments for
youngsters. That was the case but the last two years I have been keeping
fewer pigeons given my age. The back is now completely empty, the front
left are the youngsters, in the middle 12 widowers and right 12 widow
hens. Our house is a former old farm. The cows used to be under the
gabled roof on the ground floor now it is our living room. The farmer
and his wife lived in the house at the front of the stable with five
children. Inside everything has been completely renovated and we living
there for almost 30 years to full satisfaction. So then you know that
too.
PROBLEMS AT THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION LEVEL
Wijdewormer January 13 2021. A new year feels like a new start. We
assume that everything will improve especially if you have an optimistic
character. Vaccination is in full swing in all countries and we are
confident that we will win the battle against Covid-19. Particularly due
to the stricter measures the number of infections must decrease faster.
To be honest I think that the results are too far behind given the
numbers. Then there is also the English version which puts extra
pressure on all measures. Tonight our Prime Minister will give another
press conference but it is already known that the Lock Down will be
extended until February 9 and the introduction of a curfew is not
expected to be forthcoming. For all sports we have to wait and see which
possibilities arise. Professional football continues with or without an
audience. However there is still something more than just professional
football and because this column is intended for racing pigeon fanciers
who participate in competitions with their pigeons in the summer months
I would like to elaborate on that. In the countries around us
preparations for the new season are in full swing as far as possible.
The first youngsters from the winter breeding were ringed at the
beginning of January. Many fanciers find it important that their young
pigeons are about four months old when the old pigeons start their
competition season at the beginning of April. Others are satisfied when
their young can be weaned in early April which will be four months old
when their flights begin. The bottom line is that everything that
happens in the pigeon loft is dominated by the competition season.
Unfortunately we are still living in uncertain times at the moment.
ORDER ON BUSINESS
the time has now also come for the associations to go through the
organization within the club again. We must assume that the competition
season will start at the beginning of April. Gathering together in the
club room is still out of the question. Fortunately there are options
via telephone, mail, app or even via live stream. For the elderly among
us that is still a bit of a struggle. The big question is will we still
get to competitive sports this year? Permission is granted to all
countries to transport the pigeons. We Dutch make use of unloading
points in our own country, Belgium, France, Spain and Germany. How does
the government view the transport of racing pigeons for the
entertainment of their owners. Why take a risk? I assume we will still
not be rid of the infections in April and May. Fortunately we know what
to do when basketing the pigeons and everything that has to do with it.
I am aware that the Covid-19 section of the NPO has already started
working again to make good international agreements.
CLEAR RUBBLE OR HOW WILL WE CALL IT
Within our national organization the NPO quite a lot has gone wrong in
recent years. By not paying any attention to doping control the
Netherlands would not be allowed to participate in the Olympiad in
Romania in 2022 according to the regulations of the FCI. The Netherlands
probably played the pathetic boy and therefore received permission to
participate. Actually strange that an international organization like
the FCI has changed tack so quickly. According to our new national
chairman Ben Geerink Compuclub computing agency has worked hard on the
“provisional” final scores for 2019/2020 for participation in the
Olympiad and despite the fact that it is a provisional final score Mr.
President congratulates the possible participants. Then there is another
tricky point. The pension provision for employees of the NPO has been
neglected since 2016 it now appears. This shortcoming has been
thoroughly investigated with the final conclusion being a disappointing
end result. By transferring 300.00 euros to the insurance company
everything regarding pensions is arranged again. That is easier said
than done because where do you get such an enormous amount from. The
financial report of the treasurer who left not so long ago does not look
too rosy either. Some hidden costs may well emerge. The next problem
that now arises is that the NPO currently does not have a secretary and
with a chairman who has also been elected only recently we can feel a
little sorry for our almost entire new board thanks to their
predecessors. The Netherlands is a leading country when it comes to
pigeon sport, administratively it has been the same for many years as in
our pigeon loft they fly in and out.
GRAND PRIX RACES
New is the name of the long distance flights that will be held from
2021. Each flight is given an appealing name. By holding Grand Prix
races, the Netherlands must be put on the map again. According to our
chairman, we have 15,000 ambassadors available for this. Will he mean
the number of members because this is very enthusiastic. If we look at
the participation in all long distance flights, that number is very low,
we do not exceed 15%. Who knows, the new naming convention will lead to
greater participation, especially if every flight is sponsored.
REAL ENTHUSIAISM IS NOT THERE YET
It takes too long. The fanciers have no certainty about whether or not
our competitions will go ahead. Everyone works towards and everything is
said with that. It is all so uncertain and let's face it there is
nothing more important than good health. The experts also do not yet
know everything about the virus and its variant. Risks may not be taken
under any circumstances and despite the fact that we fanciers do not
want to see it there are much more important things than pigeon sport. I
cannot imagine that little or nothing will come of it in 2021. Our
national meeting will take place on 13 March and hopefully we will know
a little more.
2021 BEGINS DESPITE VACCINATION AS A YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY
Wijdewormer January 6, 2021. The first week of all good intentions is
over and we can already start wondering what is left of the good
intentions. It is an uncertain period in which we live. When I asked my
granddaughter what her good intentions were she answered; grandpa I want
to fall in love. That is wonderful 17 years old and then think that you
are left. You don't know her and not because she's my granddaughter
she's just a very beautiful girl only she doesn't know herself like so
many at that age she doesn't like herself. I've already prepared her for
the worst by saying; this is going to be your year, the boys will soon
be crowding at the door just to get a glimpse of you and that even
though you look stupid and your hair never looks nice. Due to corona I
was not allowed to hug her because it is one to eat. Speaking of
cuddling, in the breeding loft it is a big cuddle party. Not a single
fight, all madly in love and a number of hens too fast with eggs. In
five days I will know which can away because they were actually laid too
quickly and may not be fertilized. To strengthen the breeding team Marco
bought a great performance pigeon at the last minute. He could therefore
be coupled almost simultaneously with the other breeders, of course
against our best breeding pigeon which was our best racing pigeon
before. Two proven clappers against each other where you can expect a
few things. If only we had a little certainty. Unfortunately, things are
not quite right. The hen is completely ready for it. When I enter the
loft she is the only one who comes to me with a tail staring. The cock
does nothing even now that they have an entire loft to themselves. She's
in love and he's a fool so far. In the meantime they are both locked up
in their breeding loft again. He doesn't like it at all and wants to get
out with all his violence while she is calling in the breeding bowl. The
upside-down world I am already starting to get a closer look at him. So
far the new addition only makes me doubt. Locked up If you are with a
nice female then the heat must still splash. I already have no faith in
the youngsters he will produce. Hopefully I will think differently about
that in the course of the year. In any case there are several couples
that I really like to watch and in which I have every confidence. Maybe
I'm wrong but from the start that husband and wife get together they
must be madly in love with each other, then you are curious about what
they will produce. For now it is the way it is. We do not let our
breeding season be spoiled by the behavior of a new cock that should be
an asset to us and maybe it is. For the time being it is a matter of
waiting.
WAITING ALSO APPLIES FOR THE NEW SEASON
The vaccination has started, not only for us, but also for the pigeons.
What will the reactions be like and what are the long-term reactions.
For the time being it is still coffee grounds. Some countries have
relaxed the measures, others have tightened them. Coming week, January
19, the next steps will be announced in our country. Will we continue
with the Lock down, will shops and restaurants remain closed or ……? Wait
and wait again. The number of infections is declining which is finally a
positive sound. How is the pigeon sport viewed worldwide. Is it possible
that we can start in the first week of April, new measures will be
taken, it is still uncertain. Time just keeps on running. The first
youngsters have been ringed in various lofts and at the end of this
month the lofts for youngsters will be filled again and a month later we
see the youngsters of 2021 fluttering around the lofts. If everything
goes as it should we will start again with the old pigeons six weeks
later. We become all a year older it goes one day at a time but it goes
very quickly. A day is nothing, a week is not and a year, despite Covid
19, is also over before you know. It is important that we quickly know
where we stand. Health is the most important thing but if you are old
and you still have some mobility you would like clarity. In any case I
don't feel like taking care of another loft of pigeons while I may not
even be able to play a full year. Then I clean them up or at least I
clean up so many that there are still a few that I enjoy taking care of
and maybe help others with some valuable fry. To be able to play well in
your game the boss and pigeons must be healthy and motivated. Nobody
wants setbacks especially if you belong to the elderly group. Nowadays
this is even called the vulnerable group.
BECOMES THE PIGEON SPORT A SEPARATE SECTOR?
In mid-January a conversation about bird flu and race pigeons takes
place in Belgium. When bird flu is detected measures are taken to
prevent spread as much as possible. The poultry sector is of significant
economic value. It has recently been shown that pigeons cannot transmit
this disease to poultry. That is why the KBDB wants clarity for the
pigeon sport. In times of avian flu it does not appear to be necessary
that the obligation to loft duty also applies to racing pigeons. Of
course we are curious about what will be decided.
20 YEARS AGO PIPA DISCOVERED PIPA A HOLE IN THE MARKET
It was the youthful Nikolaas Gyselbrecht who sold a pigeon via the
internet 20 years ago. That was immediately the birth of Pipa, a new
phenomenon with which you could reach the entire pigeon world. How cozy
all those room auctions were the reach was only small. The brothers
Nikolaas and Thomas plus father Carlo Gyselbrecht changed that. A change
of which they had not yet estimated that it would become the world's
largest pigeon brokerage every year with a turnover of millions. Every
pigeon fancier know nowadays what Pipa has brought about in the
commercial pigeon world. Something of which herself might not have dared
to dream of. Therefore a lot of respect for this Pipa sales organization
with representatives in almost all countries of the world
LET'S DO OUR BEST TO MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL YEAR
Wijdewormer, December 30, 2020. Tomorrow we celebrate New Year's Eve,
for many people a year to soon forget. Unfortunately there are many of
us who will never forget this year. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused too
much suffering and completely disrupted many people. Life as we were
used to it is no longer there. We cannot find our feet, we are
searching. Everyone hopes to get back in, let's call it the old
situation as soon as possible. In many countries vaccinations are now
taking place, the Netherlands is waiting until January 8, WHY? In any
case, let's hope that the right decisions have been made and that we are
on the right track, on the way to what we want whatever that may be. One
more night's sleep and it is 2021. Traditionally people all over the
world wish each other all the best. Wonderful, but when I see what comes
of it every year that is very little. Poverty, famine, refugees, natural
disasters, war, infant mortality, new viruses, environmental change we
can't close our eyes to it, I hope our world leaders don't either.
Whatever the situation let's try to enter 2021 positively and that
positive starts with ourselves.
FROM ME TOO THE BEST WISHES FOR A BETTER NEW YEAR WHAT YOU LONG FOR
A new year means a new start for a new period. The old year with all its
pros and cons has ended and everyone is going to start over with great
motivation and hibernation is behind us. Come on people soon we will all
be vaccinated what should stop us. When I was still actively involved in
sports January 1 was a new barrier that had to be overcome. Training
schedules were adhered to ensure correct race condition on time. In my
time as a cyclist the cycling classic the Ronde van Noord-Holland was
the first important cycling race in our country. A very tough course
over the narrow polder roads where it felt like you always had the wind
against you. This race was organized by my own club (it is the first and
oldest classic in the Netherlands) which started in March and then you
immediately got 225 km for you. Of course a good preparation had to be
preceded and because it was a course of my own club a good result also
had to be achieved. I have always done the same with my pigeons. The
preparation for the breeding and racing season were my first priority.
Just as I wanted to perform well for my cycling club and of course in
the first instance for myself I now expect that from my pigeons. I must
admit that within the pigeon sport optimal preparation was better for me
when I was fifty years old than now that I am eighty years old. I am
still motivated but physically and conditionally I have had to give up a
few things. We all think we don't change much, neither do you but just
look at your wedding photo.
THE BREEDING PIGEONS ARE PAIRED AGAIN
Due to the bad weather conditions plus the fact that I am no longer
allowed to drive a car I have not yet spoken to a single fancier who
already has youngsters. I used to be aware of everything but in recent
years I have increasingly relied on my own territory. The weather is too
bad to make a daily bike ride so I have been messing around in and
around the loft for quite some time. I enjoy cycling and when I can't I
use the exercise bike in my office. Together with Marco we made the
breeding loft cleaner than clean. Finally with the burner through and
yesterday, December 29 a day later than planned, we put our 20 breeding
couples together in the afternoon and we each put a lot of work into it
because new breeders have joined and older breeders have had to make way
for talented racing pigeons who are now allowed to show their skills in
the breeding loft. Before the pigeons were allocated their place in the
breeding lofts we subjected all pigeons to a strict inspection again.
The cocks had a good weight, the hens were a bit on the heavy side and
therefore felt less tense. The cause is probably the lightening so that
the hormone action started a little earlier. This morning I already
found the first egg. A pity because three first prize winners have
already emerged from that couple. However, the year is still a long time
and we have some spare couples so that we can put eggs from the breeders
under them. Today they get their breeding dish and this morning I gave
them all a small bowl of drinking water with a bit of food and grit.
This afternoon the regular couples can go loose in the loft plus two new
couples. Our breeding loft is divided into two sections separated by a
sliding door. The aviary is also in two parts and if everything is
properly paired the dividing in the aviary will disappear and the
sliding door will open again. So far I am very satisfied.
RACE PIGEONS HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER
The first round of youngsters from the breeding pigeons goes to Marco.
He will also pair his racing pigeons in a few weeks because he also
wants some youngsters from the best ones and because he does not want
the differences in age to be too great. The second round of the breeders
stays with me. I will pair my racing pigeons in such a way that I can
lay the necessary eggs from the second round of the breeders underneath.
This year I have 12 pairs of yearlings to play with. I am so very
satisfied with my youngsters of 2020 that I have every confidence to be
able to perform well on the flights up to 450 km. They have proven it
with Marco, he has performed formidably. For me it also went super, few
pigeons lost, smallpox (own fault, not vaccinated) and coli, but
nevertheless a few fantastic results. We both have a great team of
yearlings ready and despite the fact that I have been participating in
the sport for a long time I am also very curious how it will go this
year. We will first deal with the breeding. I wish everyone the very
best with a lot of fun and the necessary successes within our great
sport.
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2021
Wijdewormer, the last week of December 2020. The first young have
hatched, a new life for a hopefully new year without corona perils. May
the vaccinations help us on our way to our old familiar lifestyle that
we have been used to for many years. After all the year 2020 was three
times nothing, a lot of misery and sorrow. Really a year to forget very
quickly although that is easier said than done. The Lock Down will be
over in the Netherlands on 19 January 2021 or at least that is the
intention. A little more effort and then we know where we stand. Can we
pick up the thread again, can we make holiday plans, are we going to
have an exciting and sporty pigeon year. We can all do a lot about that
and let's do it! Closing the year with cozy festive Christmas days will
be different from what we are used to. The New Year's Eve without
fireworks and in small groups but with the traditional doughnuts can be
quite fun but I will be happy when those days are over. I am not in the
whore mood like other years, I feel like a pigeon that is not allowed to
fly its daily laps. It is my duty to keep up I cannot think of anything
else for this bizarre period.
DECEMBER 28
Then the breeding pigeons are coupled which has already happened when
you see this leaf. The holidays are behind us and it was during those
days that I was always busy with my pigeons. Have I put the right cock
against the right hen on paper? How quickly will it go that all pigeons
know in which breeding loft they belong, how can I prevent fights? The
cocks have known which breeding box belongs to them for quite some time.
It is mainly the older breeding hens who have been forced to change
their breeding loft and who constantly fly to their old breeding loft.
Those old ladies can keep it up for a stubbornly long time. The first
week I will spend a lot of time in the breeding loft to prevent things
like that. I've had that I got so angry that I wanted to bang them
through the wall. Once I made a mistake. It was an old hen that was well
used to her new breeding box. She had only been brooding for a few days
when she found it necessary to visit her old tank. There also happened
to be fresh eggs from a new couple that I expected a lot from. The old
breeding lady didn't pay much attention to this and kept fighting until
the eggs were broken next to the saucer. Of course I was not present so
when I came into the loft the damage was already done. She was a proud
winner in the empty incubator. I was so angry that I gave her a big hit
with the dustpan, she flew out of the cage and when she walked on the
floor I was already sorry. I saw it, her wing hung with it, a day later
and a week later too. She was unable to fly properly. When the racing
season was over it turned out that one of her youngsters had won the
first prize twice and the nest mate even became third champion pigeon. I
kept the old breeding pigeon for another year. She got a breeding box in
the bottom row so she could jump into her breeding box quite easily. I
got rid of her halfway through the year because I definitely don't want
to have pigeons with a handicap in my loft. Since that time I have
sometimes thrown a pigeon that had flown wrong from the breeding loft
but in such a way that it did not hurt itself. You always have to think
about those kinds of things when you start pairing again. The only right
thing to do is to keep calm at all times. There are some who can get the
blood from under your nails and I prefer them much more than pigeons
with little character.
THE DARK DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
That was not the case yesterday. Beautiful sunny weather and a
temperature of 9 degrees Celsius is not winter weather at this time of
the year. I let the pigeons bathe in three lofts and soon they were
drying in the sun. I myself sat on my chair watching and because it was
so good in the loft I was even nodding off from sleep. The young racing
hens that are separated have not had a bath today, they will be next
tomorrow. That was a great opportunity for me to take them all in hand
again, it was really enjoyable all finished with the molt and as soft as
velvet. Really all built to my liking, well-closed coccyx and feel like
a ball of wool. Dry eyes and snow-white nose tips. Nice warm clean legs
and not a feather wrong. In the racing season you dream of them looking
so fantastic. Due to the fairly mild weather the appetite for food in
the breeding pigeons is less which is partly because they are lightened.
I have set the timers from 8 to 8 hours. So 12 hours of light in the
breeding lofts. Especially in the hens you can see that the artificial
light certainly works on the sex drive. As soon as I step into the loft
some of them comes dragging towards me. It is a good thing that my
grandchildren do not see how grandpa is working with his pigeons they
might think that I am demented. I think everything is still functioning
well with this old man. Well, everything?
ANYWAY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, KEEP THE AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE GET
CORONA UNDER CONTROL
THE LAST WEEKS OF 2020 AND THE FIRST WEEKS OF 2021 THE NETHERLANDS WILL
BE LOCKED
Wijdewormer December 16 2020. It was no thunder in a clear sky we Dutch
saw it coming. Despite clear agreements the contamination figures
continued to rise alarmingly so that our government could do nothing but
declare a total lock down of at least 5 weeks with immediate effect.
Very disappointing just before Christmas, luckily most people show
understanding. Hopefully the Christmas wish 2021 corona free will come
true for all people. The behavior of the people and the vaccination will
certainly contribute to this.
RELAXATION
After nine months of corona you start to notice that people are more
than fed up. Regulations have been or will be announced, now a total
lockdown and who knows there may also be a curfew. People are no longer
able to cope with their spare time, nowhere they can go. Sports matches
at the weekend are great relaxation after a week of hard work. Now we
have to rely on TV and radio, people want to go outside but do not know
where to go. Everything is closed, even for a sanitary stop there is
nowhere to go. We really have to be careful not to give up. There is
certainly still room for relaxation by filling in a part of the evening
with board games in a domestic circle, just as before. I can still
remember very well that after dinner at our house the pans and plates
were pushed aside and the “don't annoy you” game came on the table.
After washing the dishes manually with a few family members the radio
was listened to. A lamp hung above the dining table and that was it. We
had never heard of no twilight lamps, no candles and television. We sat
in a group around the radio listening to an exciting radio play. Or we
all sang along the songs that came into the living rooms via the radio.
Hardly anyone had a car. Everything happened on foot or by bicycle and
everyone had to go to work on Saturdays as well. That was normal life,
during the week there was almost no relaxation and everyone went to bed
on time because everyone had to get up on time. Some had to walk an hour
to work. You therefore sometimes wonder whether people have the right to
complain. Of course we are have been used to a luxurious lifestyle for
many years and you no longer want to lose something that you have
acquired. That is why it is so important that we stick to the agreements
and who knows as of January 19 it may be possible that the corona
agreements made can be relaxed again. We are largely in control. The
coming weeks will be a period that we will never forget, by the way we
will never forget the whole year 2020 after all the misery and sorrow.
What 2021 will bring us is for now a bit of coffee. Trust and a positive
attitude take us further than just radiating dissatisfaction. Enough
about it because our pigeon hobby continues. I wanted to say just
continue unfortunately it is not. Older fanciers in particular need a
boost to get to the 2021 season. In the Netherlands the national flight
program is known which will start in the second weekend of April. Not
everyone has already been vaccinated then so the risk of infection has
not yet disappeared. The one and a half meters distance, no large groups
of people together will continue for a while. We will probably have to
forget the cozy club evenings for a while. Pigeon sport in an adapted
form can just as well give the necessary satisfaction and pigeon sport
is mainly a sport that you experience at home.
BREEDING PERIOD
Since the end of November the pigeons have been put together in many
lofts for winter breeding. In other lofts the mating period applies
between Christmas and New Year. There are also fanciers who can show
some patience which include the marathon players. Everyone is looking
forward with interest to how Covid-19 will develop. Can we play with
pigeons or not? At some point you have to start pairing because
otherwise the youngsters are not old enough to compete in the flights to
do. For many years I lived up to January 1. Then you could pick up the
rings in the club and that was sometimes very necessary because there
were always pigeons that laid eggs earlier so that their youngsters
could be ringed with some rooting on 1 January. I have no idea how
things are going now. I can still very well remember that under no
circumstances did our ring administrator hand out the fixed foot rings
before January 1 and that to the disappointment of various fanciers who
were therefore unable to ring their youngsters. There must be a limit
somewhere but whether we should be that difficult? The rings arrive at
the associations in the last week of the year then to avoid
disappointment you can also hand them out in the last week of the year.
Rules are rules, rules are also there to deviate from, at least that's
my opinion.
NEW RESIDENTS
Our breeding loft has been enriched with 6 new residents. Three cocks
and a hen come from my racing loft and an existing couple from the
racing loft of son Marco. One cock has played first three times. One
cock became the ZCC 5th champion pigeon in the middle distance in our
combination and the other ended in the same combination as 2nd champion
pigeon in the sprint races. The hen, a beautiful, robust blue-white pen,
won an average of 10x per season. Because of this addition we have to
say goodbye to some valuable older breeders who come into online sale at
GPS auctions.nl in mid-January. Definitely worth taking a look there.
READ FOR YOU
The reporting about the prevailing bird flu virus appears to be
incorrect. Prominent virologists worldwide have confirmed that the
chance of pigeons transmitting the bird flu virus to poultry is nihil.
The current circulating virus caused by migratory birds is harmless to
humans. That must be very reassuring for us pigeon fanciers. Despite the
bizarre year 2020 it remains for me to wish you a happy, beautiful and
pleasant Christmas.
WILL IT BECOME A WONDER COUPLE?
Wijdewormer November 25 2020. Next week it is Sant Nicholas. The
long-standing children's party that has been discredited for a few years
because of its servant. From my childhood it has been a good habit that
in mid-November Saint Nicholas and his entourage come ashore somewhere
in our country by steamboat from Spain and are sung by thousands of
children. That same evening the children are allowed to put their shoe
by the stove and they sang all kinds of songs in the hope that the next
morning there will be a present. The story is that the servants go from
roof to roof to enter through the chimney to put something in the shoes
of the sweet children. The next morning the children get out of bed
early to see if the good Saint has arranged for a present in the shoe.
The party has been devalued enormously and although it is no longer
allowed to talk about black Piet it remains a very exciting party for
the children where every child hopes that his/her wish will come true.
While I am writing this I am reminded of our Chinese sport friend who
recently bought a hen for 1.6 million and more than a year earlier this
same gentleman bought a cock for 1.2 million. That will of course be a
couple from which the necessary good youngsters will be born. Will that
man, like all Dutch children, hope that his wish will come true? Will it
become a golden breeding couple or …….? For the time being he has the
most expensive couple in the world but whether it will also be the best
couple in the world? Even I and probably many thousands of fanciers are
very curious what kind of pigeons are born from that. We are talking
about a couple of pigeons for which almost 3 million euros have been
paid. There is also a chance that the man has bought both pigeons as a
“gadget”. Well, if you can spend that much for a few pigeons it may not
even be that important whether or not they come out good youngsters. For
such people having such a couple is perhaps more important than they can
say; I have the most expensive pair of pigeons of the whole world. Still
I hope we hear about it someday. Everything is for sale except happiness
which you have to enforce yourself.
WINTER GROWING HAS BEGIN
This means that the preparations have already been completed. Manure
research has been done, vaccination against paramixo and paratyphoid,
timers on to ensure that the loft is light for 14 hours and that the
pigeons are not too heavy. Then they can be put together on November 26
so that the first eggs are laid with Saint Nicolas and the first
youngsters in the dish during Christmas. As of January 1 the first new
champions can be ringed so that at the end of January quite a few lofts
will be filled with winter youngsters from 2021, it all goes that fast.
Most couples are formed on paper which is always a fun activity. Now the
time has come that the couples are in their breeding lofts with a nest
bowl with a nest mat in it and in a few days the cocks will start to
hunt. Some cocks are so fierce that their females barely have time to
eat. That is why I am going to feed them into their breeding loft after
about five days. As soon as the first eggs are there I throw a handful
of nesting material into the loft every day. Always a nice sight when
you see the cocks build their nest. Some make it a towering nest and
others don't bring a straw to their nest. I don't know if it has
anything to do with quality because I never took notes on them. Still, I
like to see that pigeons build a nest instead of empty breeding bowls,
it is as if those pigeons are not really enjoying themselves. Are they
in love with each other because there it goes a little bit. Soon they
will be put on widowhood. The competitions will then start and the
motivation must be present to fly home as soon as possible because the
boss will be working on that for a whole year. It is far from being that
far but time often flies. After 4 months the breeding season is already
largely over and we are at the start of the 2021 racing season. How will
that be? Hopefully the vaccine against Corona will work so that we
return to our old familiar life pattern with another beautiful sporty
and above all a super healthy year for all of us.
MEETING ONLINE
The association years are closed at this time of the year. There are
meetings, new plans are launched and we look back at what the
association season has brought us. Just like the champions honors the
meeting will also be different. It is still not allowed to do this in
the classrooms. It must be done in writing or via live stream. This week
my cycling club is holding its annual meeting and Saturday morning the
general members meeting of the NPO can be followed via live stream.
There is a very extensive agenda and I wonder if it can be completed in
a day. It is mainly about 2021 and a number of new board members have to
be elected. I will include the most important decisions in my next
column.
I WILL WAIT A WHILE
No winter breeding I am no longer fanatic enough for that. Our breeders
meet between Christmas and New Year. They will be vaccinated this week
and will be illuminated from December 12th. The loft is painted on the
outside, everything looks fine again. The breeding lofts are disinfected
with the burner and the pigeons are still treated with the traditional
yellow treatment. The pigeons will not notice it, but Christmas 2020
will be completely different.
THE WHOLE THE PIGEON WORLD TAKEN THE BREATH
Wijdewormer November 18 2020. The rumors have been going on for a long
time. Gaston van de Wouwer was going to sell all his pigeons and that
turned out to be no gossip. Gaston, made famous by his pigeon "De
Kaasboer", has indeed sold all his 445 pigeons online in the weekend of
15/16 November. It will not have gone unnoticed to most readers that
this has become an insane sale. I would also like to mention this. With
an average of almost 21.000 euros per pigeon this became world news. The
most expensive of the sale was a 2-year-old hen that brought in the
sweet sum of 1.6 million euros. The total amount came to more than 9.550
million euros. Never and never has so much money been offered for a
total sale so that the owner became a millionaire in one fell swoop. He
is not the first in Belgium and certainly not the last but whether so
much money will ever be offered remains a big question mark for the time
being. The most expensive pigeons except one went to China. The Dutch
Combination Wakker also bought a gold nugget for which he paid 124.000
euros.
HOW IS IT THAT THE BELGIAN PIGEONS ARE SO WANTED?
There was a time when only a handful of Belgians had a world name. The
best known were undoubtedly the Gebr. Janssen from Arendonk even though
their fellow countrymen thought otherwise. Jealousy among the commercial
boys already existed then. In those years pigeon sport was a village
game a great pastime for working people. Money was played but those
amounts were not that great. Yet there were fanciers who could pay for a
large part their pigeon hobby with the money they earned. An elderly
fancier once said to me; Bert if you break even in a whole year you
played very well. He was right because by far most of them have to bring
money. Commerce began to play an increasingly important role in the last
years of the last century. The mega lofts have been added and all kinds
of organizations even our NPO came up with all kinds of competitions.
There is no sport where so many champions are honored every year it
really makes no sense. It is high time that the winners of the
competitions are honored and only the champion and not the second or
sixth champion or appointed small long distance youngsters. One is one
and the rest lost. CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE NOT IMPORTANT
At least not for commerce. There are fanciers who play their entire loft
empty to receive a trophy in the autumn. They belong to the champions,
have beaten their neighbors and are sometimes honored several times in
front of their sports friends after the season. That is what they are on
their knees for all year round. They are the real hobbyists and there
are many of them. However, it gets a little less every year. Aging
continues to play an important role in maintaining the number of active
members. In that respect the pigeon sport is not going in the right
direction. Certainly not in pigeon countries such as Belgium and the
Netherlands where for years 150.000 fanciers competed with each other
every week. That will never come back which does not mean that we will
no longer enjoy the sport. For us older fanciers it does seem strange
that so few pigeons participate. That is of course easy to explain.
Fewer members means less pigeons. The money game is as good as
disappeared. Fortunately there are countries where the pigeon sport is
flourishing. China in particular is by far the largest pigeon country in
the world with more than 450.000 fanciers. There is played for a lot of
money which is not surprising because we know the Chinese as real
gamblers. The Chinese, like all fanciers, are always looking for better.
Belgium in particular is a very interesting country for China and the
Belgians themselves have taken care of that. Belgium organizes a large
number of national flights every year plus they have divided their
country into 5 national zones. This means that there will be a national
winner but also 5 national zone winners, five times second, five times
third and so on. Each time the result starts with “national” and that
appeals to everyone including the Chinese. In the Netherlands there are
more and more fanciers who have their results with, for example, 2nd NPO
Orleans against 450 pigeons which can be a club result. It is precisely
those three letters NPO that make it appear that it is a national or in
any case an important competition. It's a bit of crowdsourcing. In other
countries it is believed that NPO is an extra value. The same applies to
Belgium. There it starts with for example 1st NAT Bourges, zone 3
against 1600 pigeons. Such a zone winner yields more than a pigeon that
plays the first against 5000 pigeons if it does not include NAT. Let us
not forget that in both countries ALL competitions are held according to
the regulations of the KBDB and NPO and that gives absolutely no added
value in any result.
PUBLIC NOT YET EVERYWHERE WELCOME
The catering industry will remain hermetically closed for the time being
and there is still an entry ban on the sports fields. In the coming
weekends we will have to look for entertainment at the TV. Therefore
don't worry with that nasty rainy weather that we now have in the
Netherlands it is wonderful to follow all kinds of sports from the
living room in the easy chair. The sporting highlights of this weekend
were the first world title in MotoGP of Valencia won by 23-year-old
Spaniard Joan Mir. Then there was the world record of 26-year-old
Amsterdam swimmer Kira Toussaint who swam a time of 26.50 seconds on the
50 meter backstroke in Budapest and that had never been achieved before.
It couldn't go wrong in the Formula 1 races during the GP of Turkey. The
35-year-old Lewis Hamilton became world champion for the 7th time and
can call himself the most successful driver of all time.
BIRD FLU
In Belgium there is an obligation to keep pigeons inside so do not let
go of pigeons. Bird flu is also prevalent in the Netherlands but there
is still no prohibition to let the pigeons fly at home.
RECORDS ARE THERE TO BE BROKEN
Wijdewormer November 11 2020. Today is Sint Maarten. As soon as dusk
falls the children come outside usually with a self-made lantern and
then sing along the doors in groups to pick up a snack. A beautiful
sight all those lanterns and a great children's party for many years.
This year will be different. It is advised to celebrate this party at
home in connection with corona. It is a pity so much is already changing
and it is precisely these kinds of parties that the children live long
in advance. The “eleventh of the eleventh” is also the start of the
carnival season. At the beginning of 2021 little or nothing will
probably come of it safety first! Covid-19 is increasingly affecting our
daily life. Not only Corona especially the people themselves are to
blame. As difficult as it is we will have to adhere to strict
regulations. Yet there is a bit of hope in the distance. In our country
the number of people who have tested positively is declining daily and
this may well contribute to the fact that various measures will soon be
relaxed which would be a great step in the right direction. There is
also shocking news from the pigeon front. We have only just recovered
from the shock when a pigeon was sold online in Belgium for more than a
million euros last year. Amazing, the pigeon sport became world news in
all respects but it can be even crazier. There is currently a sale on
which a bid of more than 1 million 320 thousand euros has already been
made. This means that the old record has already disappeared from the
books and the sale will take another week. Where is the end or is this
the beginning of the end of the pigeon sport?
PANIC IN THE POULTRY SECTOR
I recently read a report that three dead water birds had been found in
the east of our country and that just a few dead geese and swans fell
from the sky near Schiphol Airport. Last week 215.000 chickens were also
culled at two poultry farms. Yes, you read that correctly 215.000
chickens are killed and then the newspaper says a day later that there
is no vaccine against bird flu (avian influenza). For the poultry
industry there is now a ban on housing. The animals must therefore stay
indoors so that they cannot be infected by wild birds such as ducks,
geese, pigeons and migratory birds. For us pigeon fanciers such a
message is just something that we cannot access. Lay people also read
these kinds of messages and you know how it goes. Pigeon fancier’s
neighbors feel directly threatened because people can also be infected.
The disease presents the same symptoms as the regular flu and is usually
mild. The obligation to house poultry and our pigeons do not come under
poultry but under the group of birds and there is no prohibition on
this. The pigeons are allowed to fly outside freely but it was a bit of
a shock at first. CHAMPIONS ARE KNOWN
Sunday afternoon the champions of the ZCC would be honored in our club
room. That will not happen and you know the reasons. The final results
of the 2020 season can be read in all pigeon magazines and via various
sites from various countries and we will have to do it this year. Of
festive celebrations will be this year certainly out of the question.
The balance can also be drawn up within cycling. The Vuelta (the tour of
Spain) ended on Sunday and the international cycling season ended. It
was the season of improvisations. Many games in a short period and it
was the season of up-and-coming young talent. In the meantime cyclocross
has started and no public is welcome there either. Skating Land
Netherlands held its national championships last week and here too young
talent emerged among the ladies. A 20 and 21 year old took gold and
silver on the two sprint distances. The big surprise for the men was
that the Dutchman Sven Kramer, long-distance world champion for many
years, was unable to achieve a podium place. Incidentally a desolate
tournament, without an audience there is little atmosphere.
AFTER THE SELECTION THE ADMINISTRATION CAN BE MADE IN ORDER
The last few days it has been beautiful autumn weather that people and
animals could fully enjoy. It was clear to see from the almost exhausted
pigeons that they enjoyed flying around the loft. The final selection is
almost over, it is known which ones can stay. Now it is about which ones
come into the racing loft and which ones will serve as foster pigeons.
Recently we received all the results of the racing pigeons and they have
now been transferred to the pedigrees. This completes our overview and
the juggling with the pedigree cards can begin. Who is paired with whom?
That counts also for the racing pigeons because we certainly want to
have a few youngsters from the better ones. It is also known which
pigeons will go to the breeding loft and now we also know which older
pigeons will leave the breeding loft, they will be online sold in
January. We want to keep our breeding loft “young”, there is no room for
older pigeons before 2015. It is a pity, but it has worked like this for
many years and with success.
NOT REAL WINTER BREEDING
Traditionally our breeding pigeons are paired between Christmas and New
Year, which is not real winter breeding because then the pigeons would
already come together in the last week of November. The advantage is
that with the use of foster pigeons you will have 6 youngsters from your
best couples ready on time that can participate in the flying program
for youngsters. Of course it also has to do with the space you have
available which most of us do not have. That is not a direct
disadvantage but certainly not an advantage. It is attractive that you
breed more than two youngsters per year from your better breeders. I
advise everyone to only breed several youngsters from the better
pigeons. By breeding from all the pigeons you certainly have a chance to
just get a very good one and that from pigeons that you never expected.
By only breeding from the best you still have a greater chance of
scoring a large number of usable pigeons with even a high chance of a
very good one. I don't dare to guarantee that but who does?
THE ROAD TO CHRISTMAS DAYS WILL BE ONE WITH THE NECESSARY HEADACHE
Wijdewormer November 4, 2020. Our prime minister held his umpteenth
press conference last night. Unfortunately there is still no relaxation
of the corona measures taken. New is that only 2 people are allowed on
the street together, urgent advice not to travel, theaters, catering
establishments, canteens of sports clubs, amusement parks and cinemas
will remain or will be immediately locked. It is determined per region
whether even stricter measures will come into effect in the near future.
So for us pigeon fanciers this year no club shows, no champion honors
and no national manifestations, in other words the pigeon sport is also
closed for the time being.
THE FIRST YEARS OF THE LAST CENTURY.
The pigeon sport has always fascinated me I wanted to know all about it.
I have read tons of books about this, some even several times. I was
particularly interested in the development of the modern homing pigeon.
Great to know that the pigeon was used as a means of communication that
today's youth can no longer imagine. A simple homing pigeon that was
used for many years to convey important and confidential messages. The
armies of various avenues kept pigeons in mobile lofts from which they
could send pigeons to their home port to convey important information.
Soldiers took them to the front in baskets that they carried on their
backs and there are even pigeons that have earned an honorable
decoration. In England there is still a war museum where photos and
important stuffed homing pigeons with a military decoration can be seen.
The world trade in coffee, tea, spices and tobacco also made grateful
use of those pigeons. At the time this was the fastest way to transfer
the last quoted prices. Because pigeons could bridge great distances
they became more and more interesting for conveying all kinds of
messages. That in turn gave others the idea to start holding
competitions. It became a sport for the elite of the population.
Especially after the First World War more and more people came who not
only kept pigeons for consumption but especially for the competition
element. In the thirties, during the great crisis, keeping pigeons also
became a nice form of leisure time at home for the ordinary workman.
Unfortunately the Second World War was almost the death knell for the
pigeon sport. Towards the end of the war the German occupier came up
with a regulation that all pigeons had to be killed. First a list had to
be made on which all ring numbers of the pigeons were noted. This was
necessary in order to obtain feed coupons on which one could purchase a
certain amount of feed. At the same time it was a nice check how many
pigeons were kept per fancier. The leg with the ring had to be handed in
for every killed pigeon which was quite a lot. You had to say goodbye to
your hobby from one day to the next. Various fanciers did not kill all
their pigeons but at the risk of their own lives they kept some of their
precious pigeons in a shelter. These pigeons no longer had a ring on
their right leg. Their back toe was amputated and this allowed the ring
to slide off the leg. That ring was handed in with the leg of a dead
pigeon. In this way, for example, 12 of the 24 pigeons could be kept. A
year after the war I got my first pigeons, there were two without a rear
toe. It turned out that a lot of pigeons were still alive and from
England the Dutch fanciers were helped with the necessary pigeons. A
beautiful and sporty gesture!
A NEW START AND MANY NEW ASSOCIATIONS
From 1946 on daily life got back on track. There was more work and as a
result the spending pattern increased. A lot also happened in the field
of sports. Various sports clubs were established at a fairly rapid pace
including pigeon clubs. It was not so difficult when a pigeon loft was
placed somewhere in a garden. After all many had rabbits or chickens
again, so why not pigeons? The number of fanciers
grew quite quickly, the club game remained, but there were also
opportunities to play against each other with several clubs. Now we even
play against each other nationally and internationally. You had to wait
a long time for a result but we didn't know any better. Now you get it
straight home and the same evening you can read all the results on the
computer from all over the country. The racing programs were more and
more extensive, the number of members continued to increase, the pigeon
sport became more and more professional, it couldn't be better.
Unfortunately the new building held back the growth of the pigeon sport.
People who had bought a new house or moved into a new rental house were
not always happy when the neighbor placed a pigeon loft in the garden.
This meant that children usually did not get permission from their
parents to keep pigeons. Still popularly said that the only thing
pigeons do is defecate on the laundry. All those laymen needed to know
how professional our sport is. There too lies a mistake of the then
directors there is no lack of members so that no attention was paid to
the recruitment of new members. Another problem for the pigeon sport was
that there were more and more sports clubs and every village got a
sports hall, so there were many more opportunities for the youth to do
something other than football. Now it is too late, whatever we do or
think of there really are no new youth members. In my early years
pigeons were something special. We had 30 youth members, now most pigeon
clubs don't even have 30 members. A great pity because I enjoy my
pigeons every day and now it is even exercise therapy for me so that I
keep my body condition up to date. When I was done with active sports
myself I became a passionate and very fanatic pigeon fancier. I put on
it like a goat on the oat box, left nothing to chance and wanted to be
the best. You may wonder which is the best. Like any sportsman I just
wanted to win and preferably every week. I also wanted to participate in
one, two or even three sprint or middle distance flights every week. For
years now I have recognized that such a thing is not feasible. With just
a flight in a weekend you have the chance that everyone will participate
on a weekly basis. Due to the specialization and the large number of
flights the spectacular is over. Almost no participants and no large
numbers of pigeons in a competition, something like that no longer
appeals to the imagination. For years I traveled across the country as a
certified judge. A wonderful time in which the participant still valued
the assessment of the judge is his neatly ironed white coat. It's all
over, there is no more interest in club shows and there is now much more
talk about the administration of medicines and nutritional supplements.
Let us not forget the many, often nonsensical auctions. Great for
commerce but all in all the death knell for our sport.
THAT WAS SHOCKING
Wijdewormer, October 21, 2020. Let's get straight to the point right
away. An absolute low point was the announcement in the weekly
newsletter of our national organization the NPO about quarantine for our
racing pigeons. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
(Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) indicates that from April 21,
2021, the racing pigeons must first be quarantined for three weeks and
that at least 48 hours before the race a veterinarian from the NVWA will
perform a check, after which he will issue a health certificate. The
carrier must be able to show this certificate if he takes Dutch carrier
pigeons to another European country to unload the pigeons there. Suppose
this insane measure continues then this is a direct threat to the pigeon
sport. Fortunately it is not that far yet. A committee has now been
appointed to challenge this measure at the Ministry and the FCI will
intervene internationally. During the nasty Covid-19 period in which we
have been in for six months many measures have already been announced
that have most likely been devised by lay people and therefore cause
unrest among the population. Fortunately it is still far from the level
of April 2021 and the only thing we can do as fanciers is to remain calm
and have faith in the appointed committee.
GREAT SPORTS EVENTS WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE
I still can't get used to large sports events kindly ask fans to stay at
home. No thousands of spectators in the stadiums, no audience on the
side at the major international cycling races. As a result the
atmosphere is lacking but I am glad that I can follow a lot of sports
via TV because there is a lot to enjoy. This is how the Giro enters its
final week. A very tough week with three mountain stages and a time
trial. As a cycling fanatic I am happy with the good starting position
of the Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman who has to make up for 15 seconds to
take the red leader's jersey. He is clearly the favorite but then you
are not sure of the final victory. The Tour of Flanders was held for the
104th time in Belgium last weekend. The whole of cycling-loving Belgium
is totally turned upside down that day because it is the course of the
races that usually attracts many thousands of spectators but not this
time. It was perhaps the most exciting in 104 years in terms of the
phenomenal final sprint. In the final the two strongest riders of the
moment took the lead. Due to a nasty crash world champion Julian
Alaphilippe had to drop out and Wout van Aert and Mathieu van de Poel
could compete to see who was going to win this heavy cycling classic
over 243 km. The two were close to a fiercely chasing group of pursuers.
Van der Poel started the sprint, Van Aart came next to him everyone was
on the edge of their seat, it was so exciting. When crossing the finish
line it was not entirely clear to the public and riders who had won this
breathtaking sprint. With a difference of two belt thicknesses the Dutch
all-rounder Mathieu van der Poel became the glorious winner. Also in the
women the victory went to the Dutch Chantal Blaak who crossed the line
solo. Both can call themselves the lion and lioness of Flanders for a
year.
UNEXPECTED SUCCESS DURING BREEDING
Together with my son we are busy determining which pigeons will populate
the breeding loft next winter. In any case there are six couples that
remain unchanged, we have to say goodbye to eight because of their age.
That means that there are also eight newcomers. In this way we try to
keep our breeding loft “young”. Among the newcomers there are three of 3
years old (all three first prize winners), 2 of two years old who both
became champion pigeons this year and a young hen who became winner in
the department with also 4th provincial against 9900 pigeons. We are
also looking for a couple. We have a few candidates, but we don't know
who it will be yet. Last year we had a similar situation and decided to
choose a young hen only at the last moment. Her parents were sold
because of their age. There is already a cock of them in the breeding
loft and I saw something special in this young hen. Her pupils are in
the corner of the eye which by people would mean that a person is
squinting. I like to see that in a pigeon. She did have 6 prizes but
nothing special. She stood out because she was always tight, always nice
on weight, silky soft plumes, short rear wing, well-built and a bit on
the small side. Her father is the nest brother of top hen Lady Bolt out
of the Super couple Blue Jeroen x sister Fortezza. Her dam is Cleopatra
with 4x1e. She is a granddaughter of my Olympic Big Leo (Olympiad pigeon
Poland) x Petit Blue (sister of Schanulleke best one-day long distance
pigeon in the Netherlands and also Olympiad pigeon Poland. Here is a
good example of a hen that only raced as a youngster and has nothing
special but she has a golden pedigree which makes it possible that she
still produces good offspring. Her son was our best with two victories
and three more top rankings. This year unfortunately we only have one
youngster of hers. Next season she will be allowed with the same cock
show her breeding skills again, she can at least now raise 4 youngsters.
However, that says nothing. The 4 youngsters that we are now going to
breed from her may not be able to do anything. If only we had one that
will do the same as that one of 2020. Nevertheless it is extremely
important that you have pigeons in the breeding loft that have also
performed top themselves because by only breeding from the really good
ones the chances of scoring a good is considerably larger. I once had my
Felle (3rd Ace cock in the Netherlands). With 4 different hens he gave 6
first prize winners against more than 5000 pigeons. Of those 6 there
were two that produced some good youngsters. The other 4 failed of which
2 were sold at the age of 4. Two years later I got a call from England
asking if I had any more of that kind. You will understand why that
question was asked. Growing good youngsters also has to do with putting
the right cock against the right hen and you have to hope that the right
seed will follow the right path. You see it always takes a dose of luck
to get good.
WINTER TIME
Wijdewormer, 28 October 2020. The clock went back one hour on Sunday
night at 3:00 am in many countries. That means light one hour earlier in
the morning and dark one hour earlier in the afternoon. We are now in
the short sometimes chilly and rainy autumn days with a lot of wind.
Some find these pleasant days, I don't like it at all. Certainly not now
that we are in a second wave of Covid-19 and the end is still not in
sight. All countries have now been colored which means that you should
not travel unnecessarily. We know all about it and that is clearly
visible in the behavior of the people. In our country the number of
infections is still increasing every day with all its consequences. No,
it is not fun at the moment especially the youth is rebelling. It looks
like the measures are getting tougher. But we have to keep going and we
can only do that if we stick to the rules, if not it could be a very
long history. Within the pigeon sport we have already noticed this a bit
by the strange measure that has been announced for 2021. Behind the
scenes a lot of hard work is being done to change this by a specially
formed committee. We have to ask ourselves which idiot came up with the
April 2021 quarantine measure, really a measure that is impossible to
implement and could be deadly to our sport. Now that winter has started
the time of care is also changing in many lofts. For me it was 9 am and
6 am from mid-September. Without light it is no longer possible. I try
to take care of the pigeons without artificial light for as long as
possible. The short days also apply to them. Various fanciers will soon
switch to feed the pigeons only once a day. This cannot hurt but I will
wait until the molting is at least 90% over, but I prefer twice a day.
Also twice a day candy seed supplemented with linseed. All my pigeons
are currently receiving the para-coli cure from Dr. Van der Sluis. Do
not be afraid to give that in this riding season, it has absolutely no
negative consequences for the molt.
DEFECTS AT THE LOFT
Someone who wants to achieve good performances during the season always
knows how to think of something to improve his loft. A real fanatic
sportsman is always looking for better, that also applies to the
smallest changes to the loft. Pigeon sport is often about seconds and
every improvement to the loft can contribute to that. There are also
fanciers who let go of the reins as soon as the flights are over. That
is possible and allowed but only opening the door of the loft in the
morning and in the evening to throw in a handful of food is the worst
habit. Believe me such fanciers exist. The grit and red stone tank is
forgotten to clean, the water tank is refilled and not cleaned. Cleaning
the lofts is now done no more than once a week and that causes problems.
Let's not forget that a season lasts an entire calendar year. It is no
problem that the pigeons come outside less. As long as I have pigeons I
release them every day. One day the cocks, the other day the hens. Of
course it must be good weather so that I can leave them out in the
morning. In this period I will not start after noon. They should be
startled by something and when they drift they sometimes fly so far away
that they won't be back before dark. Now that I have separated the
racing pigeons I stay with the hens for fifteen minutes in the morning
and with the cocks in the afternoon. I really enjoy them because you see
them getting more beautiful every day. By putting the loft in the
spotlight again we ensure that our neighbors can also enjoy looking at a
neat looking pigeon loft. Nowadays I don't go to loft visits that much
anymore. In the past I did especially visiting hard playing fanciers. Do
you know what always struck me? Everything was neatly taken care of by
those men both in and outside the loft. On request I also went to look
at lesser gods, there it was almost always a mess. When you came to
those men was almost always the first sentence; sorry but I haven't had
time to clean up today. I could see they probably didn't have time in
the days before either. Another thing that annoys me is that at the
start of the new season club members arrive with baskets that still
contain all the junk from the previous season. This is absolutely not
the case with hard playing fanciers. Once I had to take care of the
pigeons of a club member because he went on a winter sports holiday. His
pigeons were all brooding because he insisted on having winter
youngsters. When I came into the loft the first day, my heart sank in my
shoes. There was not a single mat in any incubator and not a single
straw or a handful of tobacco stems. The first thing you have to ensure
is that your pigeons and their young have a comfortable nest. Such a
thing is a prerequisite and contributes to a good breeding.
FANS CREATE ATMOSPHERE
The season has been over for more than a month, no more fans in the
garden on Saturday. The silent season has begun. Time for us to watch
our favorite sports. Unfortunately no supporters are allowed at all
sports events. Everyone has to stay outside the fence or even outside
the stadium. Something like that arouses aggression and unfortunately we
have to deal with it more and more. Fortunately we have TV and internet
and there is a lot to enjoy every weekend when it comes to sports. The
highlight in international sport this weekend for me was the victory of
the six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the GP of Portugal, a real
record race in the Formula 1 circuit. With his 92nd victory the British
has definitively surpassed the legendary Michael Schumacher. The low
point was the loss of the pink leader's jersey of Dutchman Wilco
Kelderman in the Giro which was won on the last day by the new
25-year-old British round star Tao Geoghegan Hart. At national level the
Ajax football team once again excelled. They took a new Dutch record by
beating their opponent VVV with 0-13. Such a monster victory had never
happened before in the Netherlands. Too bad the thousands of fans could
not witness this.
UPS AND DOWNS
Wijdewormer, October 14, 2020. The whole of the Netherlands was glued to
the tube at 7 last night. Our prime minister again came up with stricter
measures and no one wanted to miss that. Covid-19 is now REALLY getting
serious. Of course it had been for a long time but the problem is and
was that many people did not keep the agreements. Due to the large
increase in the number of infections people are finally starting to see
that this pandemic is difficult to combat. None of us have ever
experienced anything like this in our entire life and that is why it is
so unreal to get. That is why the following stricter measures have been
taken in the Netherlands from 14 October. All catering companies and
restaurants will close, shopping Sundays expire, amateur sports for
athletes over the age of 18 are prohibited, professional football and
other large events without an audience, mouth masks are mandatory in
public areas, supermarkets are no longer allowed to sell drinks after 8
pm. The measures apply for a period of 4 weeks and the interim score is
drawn up after two weeks. We have to do with that in the Netherlands for
the time being. Outside the corona measures there were also the
necessary lows in the field of sports. Our famous national football team
lost to Mexico with bad football and played a draw against Bosnia and
Herzegovina. This Wednesday they have to play against Italy which is
clearly the favorite. So quite a job for our new national coach Frank de
Boer, who once caused furore at Ajax as a player and as a trainer/coach,
to qualify for the final tournament in France. Frank de Boer succeeded
Ronald Koeman who became an interim trainer at Barcelona. Spanish tennis
great Rafael Nadal who won Roland Garos for the thirteenth time provided
an international sporting highlight. 19-year-old Polish Iga Swiatek who
won the women's tournament caused a sensation. For the Dutch Formula 1
fans the 2nd place in the German Eifel was the umpteenth highlight for
Max Verstappen. Even better was the victory of the Briton Lewis Hamilton
who was on par with the legendary Michael Schumacher. There are few
highlights to report about the pigeon sport, our sport is going through
a deep valley. As it looks now no pigeon shows this winter, no Olympiad
and all national events have been canceled or moved to another date in
2021. Also the large series of champions will have to miss their
ceremony, meetings with more than 30 people are prohibited for the time
being. The winter months in pigeon land were often called the silent
season. It could now be a long, boring winter.
THEFT
Every year we are startled by it. Usually something like this happens on
the weekend when a champions ceremony takes place somewhere in the
country, then the perpetrators strike. They know exactly who they will
hit on which weekend. They are almost always acquaintances and know
exactly where the pigeons are where they come for. In recent weeks
pigeons were stolen from two greats in the marathon world. First with
Cor de Heijden and then with Jelle Jellema. The police are investigating
but experience has taught us that stolen pigeons are transported to
another country and then it is difficult to search. Yet it has happened
several times that stolen pigeons have been found and it also happens
that after a short period of time one suddenly returns to his loft. If
you have a tip in one way or another report it to the NPO in Arnhem.
SELECTION
A very difficult subject for many fanciers every year. Pigeon racing is
a competitive sport and if you want to keep up with that you will have
to throw sentiments overboard. It has a great advantage I say to my
friends and acquaintances. If you have a dog, cat or other pet and the
time has come to say goodbye to such a family friend there will be a
great void in the house. After the selection has taken place in the
pigeon loft the fancier still has a loft with pigeons that he likes to
see and that softens a lot. Selecting does not mean that you have to get
rid of the pigeons yourself, you have to be able to afford to put them
in the basket and take them to the poulterer, for example. When I was
young I absolutely couldn't. I couldn't tell who had to leave. It was in
the time that many fanciers ate their pigeons themselves, this was also
the case at our home. I didn't know how many times my father had to ask
which ones had to go. That was really necessary because at the end of
the season there were far too many pigeons in a far too small loft, but
I couldn't! So it happened that one morning I came to my pigeons and saw
at a glance that there were fewer. I cried with tears because several
pigeons
I didn't want to miss for the world anymore. I saw it already, in the
kitchen there was a large pan on an oil set containing 6 pigeons from
which pigeon soup was made. In any case, I couldn't get a bite of it
down my throat. What I did learn from it is that from that moment on I
could tell which pigeons had to be selected and not many years later I
enjoyed the delicious pigeon soup just like my relatives. That is how it
can go in the life of a then very young pigeon fancier.
THE WINTER SEASON WILL ALSO BE VERY DIFFERENT
Wijdewormer October 7 2020. The low point of this week are the stricter
measures that the ministry is pushing down our throat. It looks like our
Minister and their medical counselor don't know what to do at the
moment. The majority of the population thinks that it is just being mess
around. There is now even talk of a curfew which reminds many elderly
people of the terrible war years. If that continues we will not see any
people on the street from 10 PM. In addition no one can attend a
sporting event during the day. Everything is going to take place without
an audience and that has great consequences for the survival of many
sports clubs. People became aggressive because they can no longer and
should not do what has been the most normal thing in the world for
years. Covid-19 what does it bring us? The large number of
contradictions plays an important role in this one is allowed and the
other is not. People no longer understand it seems our leaders are with
hands in hair. It is best to stick to the agreements however difficult
it may be. The mandatory wearing of masks, wherever it is, is getting
closer. After a low point I would also like to talk about a sporty
highlight that took place this weekend in international cycling. The
Dutch all-rounder Matthieu van de Poel showed what enormous talent he
is. Several times national and world champion on mountain bikes and
cyclocross. He has now set his sights on the cycling classics and
multi-day races. The past weekend he mastered the multi-day BinckBank
Tour. By driving a solo of almost 60 km he managed to the finish his
ever-diminishing lead
to hold on. One day later another tough classic over 200 km in which he
again played the leading role. He was only sixth by winning de sprint
from the chasing leading group in which he had to do all the front work
alone. Surprises in the national football sport were also there. The
famous Ajax lost to a very poor opponent. AZ, second behind Ajax last
year, now relinquished a 4-0 lead. They missed a penalty and the final
score was 4-4. For a group of fanciers in the pigeon sport the "pie
flights" are not going to stop. On Saturday there was no release and the
next day they came thundered home by the strong tail wind at a speed of
132 km per hour. Despite the bad weather forecasts quite a lot of
pigeons were used as training pigeons. From North and South Holland
participate only 41 from 2000 members so it is really nothing. Of these
30 men had their clocks set and of these with a price distribution of 1:
4, 21 were the result. However from these pie flights, , all clocked
pigeons are included in the results by our national calculation office,
MADNESS AT ITS BEST! As a result you will not receive a result but an
arrival list and the participants are proud of that too. Our secretary
of the club is such a person, with 27 there were 16 in the result. At
first sight a good result but at 1: 4 there are only 3 and then you can
immediately throw such a result in the trash.
THE MOULT AND THE SELECTION
Cleaning the lofts is really no fun these days. All those feathers that
you have to clean up every day and if you have swept them in a pile and
a pigeon flies on you can start all over again. That many feathers is a
good sign, all feathers have to come out and you can contribute to that
as fancier. Now that in most lofts the pigeons are no longer regularly
outside they use less energy and can therefore become too heavy. Too
heavy pigeons molt badly! A bath twice a week and fresh grit every day
contribute to a perfect molting. All year round my pigeons get the same
mixture and during this molting period I give them a teaspoon of candy
seed every afternoon that I have supplemented with 10% linseed. Oil
seeds are important for silky soft plumage. If all goes well the pigeons
that are not allowed to hibernate are selected. It makes sense to keep a
few spare pigeons, the winter is still long and you never know what will
happen. In this molting period it is not useful to judge the pigeons on
their physique. Molting pigeons usually feel a bit weak. If you do rate
them, make a note and check after 4 weeks what they look like. Often
very large differences and that is why it is important that you have got
rid of pigeons that have not been satisfied before the big molting
starts because they will also look perfect again in 4 weeks and then it
will be all the more difficult to say goodbye to them.
SELECTION OF RACE FLY PIGEONS
That's where performance matters most. In the past my racing pigeons had
to play at least 50% prize with a ratio of 1: 5. Now it is the case that
all results are made in our country with a price ratio of 1: 4. As a
result nowadays we keep pigeons that did not appear in the results at a
price ratio of 1: 5. As a result, we have relaxed the measures for
wintering somewhat. It has been a long time since I was a big proponent
of making 1:10 results only then will everyone's colony become stronger.
It never happened yes it did in my own loft so I had weekends that I
played 100% prize. I have never played with many pigeons because then it
is very difficult to play 100% prize. For years I had 16 widowers and at
the end of the year I had to get rid of pigeons that had won 10 prizes,
no not 1:10 but 1: 5. The physique and also the color have always played
an important role for me. In the 75 years that I have pigeons I have
always done my best to breed good and well-built pigeons. I know
fanciers who don't look at that and still play hard. The question is
whether they also play strong that way for years. It is often the case
that there are three well-performing pigeons in a loft and if they
participate for a few years the performance decreases so that there will
be a year that you no longer read those men. Do not forget to also breed
a number of youngsters from your better racing pigeons. Just look how
many good youngsters are born from two yearlings every year. You cannot
learn to perform well from a book because it don’t exist. That is why
you have to try everything yourself and that is precisely why the pigeon
sport remains so extremely interesting.
ALL SPORTS EVENTS WITHOUT PUBLIC
Wijdewormer September 30, 2020. That was a bit of a shock on Monday
evening when our prime minister announced a number of stricter measures
regarding Covid-19 with an additional press conference. It seemed to be
going in the right direction in our country, unfortunately it turns out
not to be the case. After the many tests that are carried out every day
the number of infections appears to be flying up so that stricter
measures are necessary. People are getting fed up with corona spit after
six months, everyone wants to return to what we were used to for years.
Fortunately the measures were initially relaxed a bit and now suddenly
that is over. Sports events can still take place but without an audience
and that is precisely the relaxation we need. Catering companies must
close at 10 am and sports canteens remain closed. Face masks are
becoming more and more mandatory and working from home is the new norm.
The big question is whether the second wave can be broken with these
stricter measures. There is increasing opposition to our government from
the public. As far as our pigeon sport is concerned we can be happy that
the season is over for us but there are still several countries where
the competition sport is still in full swing. We Dutch can now fully
focus on the many sporting highlights that are coming. All without an
audience so we have to rely on TV. Last weekend the absolute sporting
highlight was the two world titles that the Dutch Anna van der Breggen
won on the road and in the time trial during the World Cycling
Championships in Imola (Italy). An absolute low point is the “pie
flights”, nowadays called autumn classics. That requires some
explanation.
IT REALLY IS NOTHING
There used to be a few pigeon fanciers in the far north of our country
who couldn't get enough of it after the season had ended. They continued
to organize so-called pie flights until the end of October. You can
guess what the prizes to be won were. The flights were a kind of
fairground attraction which in itself is nothing against.
Until a few smart guys came who started using the results for national
championships and participation in the Olympiad. The number of
participants and also the number of pigeons increased more and more, it
became a popular event. The game spilled over to the west of our
country. What was meant to be a little fun became a commercial event for
a number of participants. Those results were used to make publicity. You
could excel on those flights because quite a lot of pigeons went and
very few were clocked. Most of the participants used those flights as a
training flight and did not even have a clock set. This allowed others
to finish many pigeons. The NPO has now intervened and announced that
these pie flights do not count for anything so that it remains a nice
treat for mutual play. There is so much talk about animal welfare, you
may wonder whether playing with old and young pigeons at this time of
the year is not too much to ask of the pigeons, it stops once. As far as
I am concerned they can forbid this kind of nonsense in the interest of
our pigeons.
THE GREAT MOULT IS IN FULL MOVEMENT
I have opened the sliding doors of my 6 departments so that the enormous
amount of springs can blow into the corridor. Every morning, armed with
a vacuum cleaner, I first vacuum the feathers in the hallway because
there are quite a few. There are pigeons that are unrecognizable from
one day to the next because they have dropped so many feathers
simultaneously. Every day I count the number of tail feathers and flight
feathers. I don't know exactly why I do that, maybe it is a bit of a
measure of how the molting process goes. I even keep track of which day
I counted the most large feathers I just see it as a pleasant deviation.
There are now pigeons that, because they are molting so heavily, do not
feel the need to go outside. It is currently beautiful autumn weather so
those who want to go outside can go outside. As far as the racing
pigeons are concerned the selection has been made on paper. This week,
together with my son Marco, I will see which breeding pairs remain the
same and which ones are changed. First the breeders from 2015 and older
are examined, who have or have not complied this year. We want to keep
our breeding loft young because our opinion is that there are also no
children born in a retirement home. We always prefer the youth in the
racing and breeding loft. Of course we look at which youngsters have
performed well according to our standards, only the parents of the very
best youngsters are allowed to stay together. As an old fancier I like
to watch the build of a pigeon. The breeders are all well-built. They
don't have to be beauties but you do need to have a pigeon in your hand
and not a starling. Our breeding pigeons have already passed the
selection several times so that we have every confidence which does not
mean that they will also produce good youngsters. You can let them mate
freely but that is not our system. We choose to put together the couples
ourselves and that is a very nice activity in the winter time. It must
be the case that as soon as you have arranged everything for the
breeding you think that they are all top couples. Even though I will
have pigeons for 75 years next year I have never had a loft with only
good pigeons. Who knows, maybe that will finally succeed in 2021 because
I myself will keep fewer and fewer as a result of which the selection is
becoming increasingly strict. As I get older I have to make it easier
for myself but that brings another problem into play. I am also becoming
more and more sentimental and because of that I have more and more
trouble getting rid of pigeons. Long ago I had a good pigeon friend
living in my neighborhood. We were both judges and have done many
inspections together, he could have been my father given his age. When
he turned 70 or 75 I went to see him and of course also looked in the
pigeon loft. In the loft that was close to the side of the ditch there
were only very old pigeons, you know cocks with those enormous noses.
Impressive to look at but they were very old. When I asked him what he
intended to do with that, he said he couldn't kill them and actually
couldn't part with them. I then arranged it for him and now I am that
far myself. Pigeon sport nice hobby!
PIGEON SPORT 2020 WE WILL NOT SOON FORGET
Wijdewormer September 16, 2020. Yesterday it was Prinsjesdag which marks
the start of a new political year. Our King then reads the bill of
millions, a lot of political talk that never fascinated me. I really
like the ceremonial display. A colorful procession with beautiful
carriages and even a golden carriage and eight horses in front. This
year was completely different. Everything was very sober because of
corona. It was also tropical heat and we Dutch are not set up for that
which was clearly noticeable by all the dignitaries who were present on
the third Tuesday in September. Fortunately the heat is over again in
the second half of this week but it has never been so hot in our country
in September. The windows of the pigeon loft open, the curtains closed
and the ceiling slides open. While I stood in the loft looking at my
lovely pigeons lying on their side the sweat ran off my back. It was so
dry in the loft that I felt compelled to go through it with the plant
sprayer. Some extra moisture and oxygen will certainly not hurt with
this heat. I consciously keep the sun out of the loft because otherwise
all the oxygen will be burned out of the loft. Especially at this time
when the molting season starts too little oxygen can cause an outbreak
of ornithosis (problems with the respiratory tract) and then you are
done with winning early prizes. Because we have our last flight on
Saturday 19 September I want to do it even more this week to get a good
result. If that succeeds you will face the winter with a good feeling.
By the way it was a season of hurdles, the corona pandemic has changed a
large part of our daily lives. All those protocols that have been
devised have not made it any more fun. We have not gotten rid of this
for the time being because massive testing now shows that many more
people are infected than was the case in the first months. We are
getting used to corona which is why many people deal with it too easily.
Sports friends it's not a joke, so let's stick to the agreements. I
certainly don't look it up despite the fact that the need to go out for
a diner or going to the theater is growing. For the time being I still
stay in my own yard in the garden close to my wife and the pigeons. I
can't think of a better quarantine at the moment.
PRECARIUS SEASON
For me anyway. There are always fanciers who play the tiles of the roof.
In my club there is such a man, the last few weeks there is really no
size. He plays a very high prize percentage and every week a whole
series of very early pigeons. He is in a fierce battle with my son Marco
who is also doing well. Our club is currently playing very strongly and
that is partly because we have a few very strong players in our
association. The other members pull oneself up to them. In general we
have always played strong and then you get the situation that the lesser
gods are going to change clubs. Usually they go to a club they think
they can come along which is in my opinion a totally wrong decision. You
better be a member of a strong club, if you have a winning mentality try
to keep up with those guys. If you go to a lesser club you will fall
asleep even further. The season started well for me. The speed game
suits me I finished 5th in the combination of the Zaanstreek and had the
second best pigeon in that discipline. It also went well in the middle
distance unfortunately a lesser performance and then you have been seen
for a champion title. More than a 9th place in the total classification
was not possible this year. My best in champion pigeons ended in 7th
place. I do not race long distance but I did compete with a pigeon in a
race of 620 km and he managed to win generous in the prizes. The
youngsters started very promising but a setback due to coli and smallpox
resulted in a very disappointing season. Now I race the pigeons in the
last 5 sprint races and that is satisfying, unfortunately not a
spectacle. I hope I can take care of that next Saturday. I have never
had my pigeons vaccinated against smallpox and never had problems with
smallpox. So yes this year and I learned that from now on I will have my
youngsters vaccinated. After all you are never too old to learn.
LITTLE LOSS
I still own very few pigeons and then you cannot lose many. You cannot
really compete for the title. You can make some nice results and I did
that again this year. Marco was doing a lot better and, just like his
father, he also had to deal with a number of setbacks. We have found out
that our breeding loft is getting stronger. This year it was mainly the
old and young pigeons that were born in the breeding loft that provided
the appealing results. You also notice that good pigeons grow old very
quickly. After a few good years in the racing loft the best get the
chance to show their skills in the breeding loft. But after three years
of breeding most of them are 6 or 7 years old and then they actually
have to make way for the younger generation. These will soon be very
difficult decisions to determine who may or may not stay. After all they
are pigeons that have given you the necessary pleasure. As far as losses
are concerned it is not too bad. I lost 7 of the 42 and I cleaned 2 of
them myself. Marco also has the same number of youngsters left, so
plenty of opportunities to apply a strict selection soon. I already know
which of the old racing pigeons can stay. There are not many because I
am completely obsessed with the beautiful young pigeons that I have
kept. We will first have a look at how the last flight is going and I
already know that before the big molt is over I know which pigeons will
start in 2021. To be on the safe side I keep two spare couples that I
can use at least during winter breeding to lay eggs from the better
breeding couples.
BIG DIFFERENCES
Wijdewormer, September 9 2020. My season is over, two consecutive
disappointments were two too many. I had no big plans for 2020. I wanted
to keep playing my game with considerably fewer pigeons. You should not
set the performance bar too high and you will have to make a good plan
in advance. Unfortunately plans can fall apart and if so you have to
have the character not to throw in the towel too soon. A good sportsman
never gives up. That is how I have always thought and acted until you
reach an age that you, without you immediately noticing it, become
little by little less fanatic. The alertness decreases and the laziness
increases. The older you get the more sentimental. Getting rid of
pigeons was never a problem now I get more and more trouble with it. Yet
I absolutely do not want to take care of so many pigeons anymore because
it is not going as I was used to for years. To participate in the
absolute top you must have a large number of especially good pigeons and
the boss himself must also be in excellent condition then nothing is too
much. Cleaning the lofts twice a day was a pleasant activity now I am
increasingly dreading it. Lugging bags of feed in or lugging bags of
manure out, it is going to break me up more and more and yet I want to
continue with the pigeon sport. Only at a different level so that I can
enjoy my pigeons for as long as possible. Participating in a big league
for the championships is perhaps a bit too ambitious and I don't intend
to. The point now is to stay ahead of the big boys several times a year.
I managed to do that this year and if this old man feels like he is now
he should be able to do that a few times in 2021. It will not depend on
the quality of my pigeons but it will depend on the efforts of the boss.
Suppose 2021 ends in such a way that I am satisfied then I am sure that
I will sign up for another year. I certainly do not want to look ahead
much further because just like the 2020 season it will end once.
OTHER SPORTS
The Covid-19 contamination has brought about the necessary changes
within our society. We no longer give hands or hug each other. Keeping a
distance of five feet is a rule but it not work. The number of
infections increased but fortunately that is not the case with hospital
admissions. Working at home is becoming normal and partly because of
this everything is changing. A lot of people don't feel good about it we
are being lived too much. This must, that must, that is not allowed,
mouth masks, no masks. Fortunately sports have started again so a large
group of people are distracted again. For the time being on the sports
fields just like in the theaters little or almost no audience but it is
a start. As an avid cycling enthusiast I have been enjoying the many
cycling races for quite some time and there are many more to come.
Currently the entire cycling world is focused on the Tour de France. The
battle for the yellow jersey has started in full force. As a Dutchman
you naturally hope that our fellow countrymen play a significant role in
this. Unfortunately after a week of Tour it is not looking very good.
However that does not mean that I do not enjoy this greatest cycling
spectacle in the whole world. Next month Italy and then Spain, plenty of
time to look because the pigeons require less attention. Fortunately for
many the football competition has also started and there are plenty of
options for the older among us to be able to follow many sports via TV.
Let's hope that in a not too long time the supporters will again be
allowed to go to the stadiums in large numbers because sports matches
with an audience provide more spectacle and that's what it's all about.
QUALITY OR BULK
Is it true that to perform well you only need good pigeons? Is it about
quality or is there something else involved? Is the fancier important or
does the wind have to blow from the right angle, does the location play
an important role, perhaps the migration of the pigeons or ....... This
week I took a look at how the competition was going in the three western
provinces of our country. Zeeland is the southernmost province and
borders the pigeon country Belgium. There they raced +/- 370 km from
Fontenay released at 9.30 am. 2701 pigeons at the start winning speed
1256 meters per minute. The 10th pigeon in the result makes 1215 meters.
Then we go to the most northern province which is Noord-Holland. There
the pigeons came from Pont St. Max. +/- 370 km. Released at 9.30 am 3791
pigeons in competition winning speed 1365 meters and the 10th makes 1340
meters. The province of South Holland is located between Zeeland and
North Holland, their pigeons also came from Pont St. Max +/- 330 km.
Released at 9.45 am don't freak out here 19.142 pigeons at the start.
Winning speed 1417 meters the 10th makes 1411 meters. What does it stand
out? All three provinces fly almost an equal distance. Zeeland was
released a little further south, the other two provinces flew from the
same release point and were released with a difference of 15 minutes.
For all three the wind was blowing from the same angle. The comparison
is not entirely fair because they have not all been released in the same
place at the same time. Each province / department therefore had its own
competition. With their gigantic number of pigeons South Holland was
more likely to maintain the speed longer. Perhaps the number of fanciers
with a large number of pigeons also plays an important role. I counted 5
fanciers with more than 150 pigeons in competition. The fam. Van de
Merwe entered 180/140 prizes; de Bruijn 162/117; Verkerk 225/133; Comb.
Lin 155/93; Roman-Klein 150/86. There is not much you can say about that
other than that they performed excellently. All five won a lot more than
50% prize and then you play in champion style. What was certainly so
striking is that in the first 200 prize pigeons all fanciers were
represented who played at least 50% prize. Noord-Holland played from the
same release point and their winning pigeon made a speed that was 50
meters per minute lower and hardly anyone won a 50% prize. More than 200
pigeons were faster than the first North Holland pigeon. Zeeland with a
smaller number of pigeons in competition made a winning speed that was
more than 100 meters per minute lower than that of Noord-Holland. All
4786 South Holland prize pigeons were faster than the winning pigeon in
Zeeland. It must be said that Zeeland was unloaded at a release point 40
km to the south. Will there be the huge difference? In Zeeland they do
not fly with crows there are plenty of very strong playing fanciers. In
all three provinces the early prizes were won on the front flight. The
law of large numbers plays a very important role in all respects.
Conclusion; a competition is only fair if all pigeons are released from
the same release point at the same time and then location and wind still
play an important role. Actually national play is pointless except for
commerce.
FINALLY
I went to see the arrive of the pigeons by my son last Saturday because
I didn't bring any pigeons myself. Let him clock the fastest of the
entire Zaan region. Isn't that nice to experience as a father and even
better to be able to tell you.
COVID-19 CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE OUR LIFE
Wijdewormer September 2 2020. Before I started feeding my youngsters
last night I first listened to the Prime Minister's press conference.
Not much news but important. Fortunately the corona virus is
increasingly being halted in our country. The 1.5 meter distance will
most likely be maintained until next year or a good vaccine will have to
be made more quickly. According to the Minister of Health hard work is
being done on this and the first developments look positive. Whether we
will ever get rid of this virus remains a big question mark. Fortunately
the government in the Netherlands is very positive so let we keep on
that. As far as pigeon racing is concerned we are approaching the end of
the improvised 2020 season, a season that we will not soon forget. As
far as I am concerned I will not soon forget the results of this
disappointing season. It has not delivered what I expected from it which
is certainly also due to my advanced age and my increasingly poor
eyesight. I am fanatical but still different from when I was in my
fifties. At that age you are at your strongest as a pigeon fancier. The
older you get the easier you become. I think that is not entirely the
case with me, in my opinion I am still a fanatic speed player and
managed to finish in the top five of the ZCC this year with a pigeon
file of 10 couples. Because the care of many pigeons is no longer good
for me it becomes more difficult every year to participate for the
championships. Making choices is then important. Keep even less pigeons
or only participate when the weather is good. Perhaps the game with only
young pigeons is also a good solution. You then only have to take care
of the pigeons for a number of months and then you have to do it
fanatically for 3 months at most. Only the two or three very best
youngsters get a place in the breeding loft at the end of the season and
the rest can go so that you do not have to take care of pigeons in the
winter months. I do have the breeding pigeons from me and my son Marco
so I am not completely unemployed. I can even focus all my attention on
the breeding pigeons and in principle I can sit all day with them. No,
not when it is freezing or icy cold, then everything goes at an
accelerated pace so that I can quickly return to the warm stove. At the
moment I'm not sure what to do. Get rid of all old and racing pigeons or
keep 10 couples of mainly young pigeons from 2020. It is and remains a
quick decision and it will give me some sleepless nights. It's such a
damn fun hobby otherwise I wouldn't have been able to keep it up since
1946 and still enjoy it every day.
DISAPPOINTS ARE PART OF ANY SPORT
I already said it. 2020 was certainly not my strongest season which is
also not possible with so few pigeons. You can make some great results
but to achieve that every week you need more. I maintain that the law of
large numbers will always play a very important role in this. There are
fewer and fewer fanciers the sport is aging. However, more and more big
fanciers are also coming. Men who use 200-300 pigeons a week with the
greatest of ease. That really does not make the other club members happy
and we already have so many clubs in the Netherlands with about 10
playing members. Actually most clubs are not much more. In my club we
still have 18-20 active members and there is not a single big one, with
a maximum of 50 pigeons it will stop. Last year there was a lot to do in
the Netherlands about the number of pigeons that you can give per
flight. A fair game committee was even set up for this. I do not know
whether that committee has now been dissolved, however I will not hear
about it anymore. For the sport it seems better to me that a maximum
number of pigeons is set per fancier with which to participate in a
flight. My disappointment this year was the result of my youngsters.
Several times I have not hidden my enthusiasm. In all the years that I
have pigeons my youngsters were of exceptional class and condition this
year. I was almost certain that no one would beat me but when it really
mattered the bad luck devil came around the corner. On the first flight
a very good result and the same day I saw that it was wrong. The coli
bacteria made my pigeons very sick. The coli treatment ensured that the
pigeons could come along again after two weeks of rest. The third flight
a very early pigeon but a bad result. The fourth flight was canceled due
to the tropical heat. For the fifth flight with a distance of almost 400
km I found the condition insufficient and decided not to participate. I
gave them on a flight of 100 km and that turned out to be a big fiasco.
Both my old and young pigeons performed far below par. I've never
experienced anything like this, so something must be wrong, but what.
Would the coli contamination not be completely gone? Maybe airways or
the yellow. Looks like they had to be okay because they trained that It
was a delight to see. On Monday I looked at all the pigeons and found
smallpox / diphtheria in the mouth of 6 youngsters. That is 100%
certainly the cause of the failure of all my pigeons. The 6 infected
pigeons are in a separate loft and the others who apparently have no
smallpox will not participate in the competitions. They can be infected
without showing anything about them. I do not take any risks and
certainly do not want to infect the pigeons of my club members. Question
is; how do my pigeons get smallpox? I don't know if there are more
members with smallpox in the club, it is still too early for that. I
have not heard anyone about it and that is often a problem with your
sports friends. They do tell you that their wife is ill but they usually
say nothing about their pigeons.
MORE DOUBTS ABOUT BIG SPORTS EVENTS
Wijdewormer August 26 2020. After the third weekend in September the
pigeon sport in the Netherlands is over and the incomplete NPO board can
start preparations for 2021. Are we then rid of the corona measures or
do we still have to take Covid-19 into account? As the situation is
developing now things are moving in that direction or an adequate
vaccine must be developed within a short period of time. Measures are
currently being tightened up again, travel advice to various countries
is being expanded more and more. A situation I cannot get used to but
there is no other choice so we will have to comply with the regulations.
Face masks, I don't want to think about it, I stay at home and am in the
fortunate situation that I have my pigeon hobby that provides the
necessary distraction every day. I look forward with interest to 1
September when the ministry will come up with new measures. May the
major sporting events be held with an audience. It is to be hoped
because people are almost impossible to control. At the moment it is
true that in our country no party with more than 6 people can be held at
home, can it get any crazier?
FOUR MORE WEEKS
Last weekend there was a flight for young pigeons for us and also the
first late tour in which old and young pigeons participate. Son Marco is
doing great with the youngsters. He is currently leading the rankings
for the young pigeons championship. I myself had expected much more from
my youngsters. The bad luck devil throws a lot of spanner in the works
for me. That is why I doubt whether I will still participate with the
youngsters. I probably play a large part of my old and young pigeons in
the late tour. By the way, they start to molt and then it is usually
done with winning early prizes. All hope is now pinned on the old
pigeons which have been brooding for a week now. Last week I had three
more in the top-10 all three were hunting cocks. Now everything is
quietly brooding so I also have a loft less to clean and I no longer
have to let go of the hens at 7 am. The old pigeons are all left at the
same time at 8 am. One cannot stay on the nest so I take the hens from
the nest every morning and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon I do that with
the cocks. They have to train for an hour twice a day or at least the
loft remains closed for them for an hour. Together with the racing
pigeons I also put 6 of our better breeding couples together again with
the intention of selling their youngsters and to keep the eggs and small
youngsters of the racing pigeons warm. The first late tour was also a
great success for our club. Against 1300 pigeons we take 26 of the first
thirty. Marco wins 1 and 2 for the youngsters and father and son start
with 1-2-4-5-7-8-10. The marathon flights are over. The coming weekend
the old pigeons Chateauroux will fly 665 km, young pigeons 387 km and
the late race 155 km, so plenty of opportunities to play.
NORMAL OR ABNORMAL
I like to view the results of other departments. I am looking for
striking performances or other things such as the number of pigeons with
which some fanciers come to the start. What strikes me most is the
enormous number of small associations, so small that you cannot even
call it an association. Clubs with less than 10 members it is bursting
with it. It is high time that many clubs got together especially if they
want to keep costs under control. In those small associations there are
even members with very well-known names who participate with enormous
numbers of pigeons. Father and son Verkerk won the prize at the first
late tour in South Holland. They competed in a club with 14 participants
with, do not freak out, 377 pigeons of which they clocked 48 in 44
seconds. Of the 14 members 7 did not play a prize. You will only be a
member of such a club and play with about 20 pigeons and get a beating
every week, then pigeon sport really does not seem like a nice hobby to
me. In that same club with 6 fanciers in the young birds race plays also
Willem de Bruijn, he came with 160 youngsters the other 5 with in total
248,
come on such is not normal for a fait competition. The last national
marathon flight from Bergerac with 2368 participants who brought 25.321
pigeons to the start. H. Zwiers played the first at a distance of 955
km. He starts with his 1st nominated and takes 21 of the 42 pigeons in
the result. Arjan Beens a well-known long distance player wins 2 and 3
with 46 of the 78 in the prizes. Furthermore a good result for Griffioen
who had 4 with them and takes 4 in the result. That is 100% prize and
those are real top performances. In Limburg Jan van de Pasch and
daughter played play 31 of the 35 pigeons in the result and that against
1380 pigeons. Their result starts like this; 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
-11-12-15-17-18-24-25, in a word fantastic! For most of us such a thing
is only possible in our dreams. Fortunately there is also a lot to enjoy
in the pigeon sport in other ways. The unexpected return of our pigeons
at high speed is a huge experience every week.
WE HAVE JUST BEGIN BUT THE END IS ALREADY IN SIGHT
Wijdewormer August 19 2020. The Cortona epidemic has hit hard. This
virus has caused a lot of suffering and grief worldwide. Especially the
elderly among us belong to the most vulnerable group. Caution is still
required, things are certainly going in the right direction in the
Netherlands and therefore there is a good chance that people will not
comply with the regulations and agreements sufficiently. We cannot
imagine that we again to face such a devastating outbreak of Covid-19
worldwide. Precisely because we are pigeon fanciers, unfortunately
mostly older people, caution is advised. We have no choice but to stick
to protocol. I have to say that works well especially in the club where
I am a member. Corona has brought about a totally changed pigeon sport.
There are several competitions every week, sometimes a bit too much of a
good thing. Yet I still have the feeling that it still has to start but
when I consult the flight program I see that it will be over in 5 weeks.
This week the last 5 sprint flights for old and young pigeons start and
there are still a few flights to be completed especially for the
youngsters. In the third week of September everything is over and we
have to wait and see what 2021 will bring us. Another year older and how
long can we older people keep that up? Yet I am already busy with next
year. Am I going to participate again with old pigeons or am I only
going to play with young pigeons? My pigeon hobby still means a lot to
me, unfortunately club life no longer appeals to me. It has only been a
few years since I started attending Friday night. That was “my” club
night. Nice talking about our hobby, placing a card a beer and a snack,
unfortunately it is no longer for me. This is partly because the number
of members has dropped alarmingly and to a large extent the Corona
regulations have created an anti-atmosphere. The one and a half meters
distance, with or without masks, many fanciers go home as soon as their
pigeons are in the shipping basket and that is because the cozy
atmosphere is not there at all this year. Club life has taken a hit and
when 2021 becomes like this again it could well become that many
fanciers throw in the towel. Despite everything let's try to stay
positive. Our hobby is too interesting to stop. Certainly if, like me,
you have been participating every week for 73 years, unfortunately it
will come to the point that our body indicates that we MUST stop. I
don't really want to think about that yet because last week especially
the youngsters came back great, but that I have to slow down is as
certain as one plus two.
FATHER AND SON BRAS TAGS COMPETE FOR THE HONOR
I announced from the start that I would become champion with the
youngsters. Not a bravado statement, but a statement based mainly on the
behavior of my youngsters during the first months of their birth year.
Unfortunately, things don't always go the way you want them to.
Immediately bad luck on the first flight, my youngsters came home sick.
I saw it immediately, I was afraid of the coli bacteria and I did a coli
cure from Dr. Van der Sluis in the drinking water. All pigeons at home
and the second flight I could not participate. They had to be completely
recovered first. Fortunately the third flight was a very early pigeon,
but unfortunately the others failed to a large extent. The fourth flight
was canceled due to the scorching heat. Yes, and then it will be
difficult to make up for the backlog. The fifth flight yielded a great
result. Father Bert clocked the fastest in our team the ZCC (7th
provincial against 9935 pigeons) and son Marco was flagged third. He is
currently in the lead for the championship. For the coming weekend the
pigeons have to be basketed on Thursday evening to participate in a 315
km race on Saturday. Our pigeons look great so that a good result can be
expected in normal flying weather. Last week we both lost two so that I
can now start exactly 40. Furthermore the late tour starts that same
day, as it looks now I mainly put old pigeons there. If everything is
correct the hens will lay their first egg on Wednesday and if that is
the case they can come along on Friday evening. If that is not the case
I put a number of youngsters on this first sprint flight of the after
season.
YOUNG PIGEONS ON A NEST
There are various methods to motivate youngsters extra. I myself am a
proponent of doing everything accurately to the minute. In this way
young pigeons become a kind of robots their lives are determined by me.
Because of my strict care they sense exactly when it is time to
exercise, when they get food, what day they get fresh vegetables, when
they can bathe and they know they get something extra after every
feeding. That extra is candy seed supplemented with various seeds and
nutritional supplements. From Wednesday evening to Friday morning they
all get a good handful of peanuts and on the day of basketing they get
some candy seed at 3 o'clock, I think they know that they will be
basketed that evening. I talk a lot to my pigeons, don't ask any
questions because I don't get an answer anyway. I always move in “slow
motion” through the lofts and I am always dressed the same. That way I
have a good relationship with my pigeons, most of them I can grab with
one hand plus they like to fight with my hand. If you have shy pigeons
it is not the pigeons but the boss. Achieving good or bad performances
is also largely up to the boss. It is not always in the quality but in
the way the boss treats his winged friends.
NPO RIGHT NOW AGAIN WING LAMB
Wijdewormer, August 12 2020. I have already written it several times our
national organization NPO is like a pigeon loft they fly in and they fly
out. It was only a few months ago that the Dutch racing pigeon keepers
applauded for a new complete 9-member board. Unfortunately it was only
for a short time because last week 4 board members thanked for the
honor. They stopped immediately and it is not until the end of November
that attempts were made to complete the team again. We have to guess for
the time being the reason for the immediate departure. It may well be
that part of the board has worked in a devious way towards the departure
of the four directors. I can't think of anything else at the moment.
Fortunately everything has been arranged for this season. The racing
program is known and that is the most important for the active fanciers.
Despite everything being taken care of unexpected situations can occur
that require changes to be made almost immediately, and however you do
that everyone never agrees. Such an unexpected situation are the
tropical temperatures at the moment. It has been 32 to 36 degrees for
days in a row and in certain places it is even warmer, no Dutchman can
handle it! That is why it was decided to cancel all flights last weekend
and it is again doubtful about the following weekend. Only on Sunday do
we return to summer values for our concepts. We then drop back to 23
degrees but before that we first have to deal with the necessary
thunderstorms that can be accompanied by heavy rain. Monday 17/8 the
training flights for the late tour start and 6 weeks later the season is
already over. Never before have I experienced such a changeable season,
but also never experienced such an epidemic as Covid-19. Horrible what
this virus has caused worldwide and if I listen to the messages
carefully we are far from finished.
BREATHE NORMALLY
I long for it. The tremendous heat of the last days prevents me from
getting out of my easy chair, I can't stand it. Cleaning the lofts, I
don't want to think about it but I don't do it the way I'm used to. Due
to the drought it is also not so important to clean the lofts every day.
I like clean lofts, the pigeons show better and I can really enjoy that.
This weekend the marathon players will again have a calf-biter of a
thousand kilometers on the program. Not for me, but respect for the
pigeons that successfully cover such distances. However, we must not
forget that if there are enough prize pigeons at home 75% is still on
the way. Unfortunately many pigeons have remained behind and due to the
enormous drought it is not easy for them to find water. It is therefore
swarming with strange pigeons. This week I received two from England, a
Belgian and 6 Dutch pigeons. I take care of them as if they were my own
pigeons and as soon as the temperatures are just above 20 degrees I will
release them 5 kilometers from my house in the hope that they will find
their way back to their boss. I no longer register pigeons or it must be
a pigeon from my area. The reason for this is the unsportsmanlike
reactions of the owners. There are those who dare to say; kill him it's
no use anymore. Then I say; if you want to kill him come to the
Wijdewormer then you can do it yourself. No, I was healed of that and so
you see again that the good have to suffer under the bad.
JUST A FLIGHT
Every weekend I check the site of our national calculation office for
the results of our 11 departments. This time I took department 11 which
had a race from Bergerac and that is more than 1100 kilometers for this
most northerly department. The pigeons were released on Friday 7 August
at 10 am. On Saturday 13 of 399 were at home. The race was won by Herman
Brinkman from the village of Tuk. He clocked his pigeon on Saturday
afternoon at 3.11 pm. The second place was also for this famous long
distance player who was clocked 2 hours and 7 minutes later. The
competition closed on Sunday at 3.48 pm and a third (133 pigeons - 1: 3)
of the 399 participating pigeons was at home. I don't know what you
think of it, but for me these are not competitions but hats off to those
who managed to finish in the top of the results.
NATOUR
For those who can't get enough of it the season in the Netherlands ends
with the late season. Those are 6 speed races in which old and young
pigeons participate. As a speed player I love this games. I then play
the old pigeons on the nest. From the weekend of August 8 I left the old
pigeons together for 3 days. I want to race them again on double
widowhood next weekend and the week later on the nest with hopefully two
eggs in it. The last weekend I kept them together for a few days, I do
to help the egg formation start. They will lay the first egg just after
the coming weekend (I assume that) and then at the end of that week they
will be basketed at a nest position of two days. I think it is a bit of
a party for the pigeons after so long sitting still when they are
allowed to be together every day. In winter they had youngsters and now
after so many months they have eggs and youngsters again. That must be a
treat for them and the owner thinks that they are therefore extra
motivated to get back to the nest as soon as possible.
YOUNG PIGEONS
Well before the flights for youngsters started I told my son Marco that
it would be for the competition difficult to keep me from the first
place, everything indicated excellent fitness. The first flight was a
success, also for Marco because he took first place and Dad was right
behind it. My pigeons came home that flight with coli. I saw it
immediately and that same day the coli cure was in the water. The
pigeons recovered fairly quickly and after a week of rest they were able
to return. They looked fine, but it's not just about the packaging, it's
also about the content, which, as it turned out, wasn't great yet. No
flights last weekend due to the tropical heat and the weather situation
for the coming weekend is certainly not optimal. Sunday looks better. I
don't know yet what will happen but my youngsters are great.
INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA 2020 AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK
Wijdewormer, August 5, 2020. Flights of more than 1000 km are not spend
on me but I follow some of them with great interest. I myself should not
think about letting my pigeons participate in often very heavy races. I
don't have suitable pigeons for it either. I once participated in
national St. Vincent in my younger years. I had 2 with it and both were
in the results. In my view it was not that much because I clocked them
on Wednesday and the competition was closed on Thursday and there were
not even enough pigeons at home. Despite the fact that my two pigeons
had not performed top I never forget that I played 100% of one of the
most famous marathon races in the Netherlands. I think that this year
the competition will probably be closed again until Thursday. If so we
must not forget that 75% are still on the way. For a large number of the
14.589 participating pigeons this marathon race was much too tough.
Therefore a lot of respect for the fanciers and their pigeons who have
successfully completed this tough job at least. Friday July 31 at 8.50
am the mob went on the way to the 6 participating countries. It was a
beautiful sight how quickly different pigeon fanciers come to the wagons
getting the necessary eggs from the marathon pigeons out of the shipping
baskets. The international result was not issued because there are not
enough pigeons at home. The speed is internationally known and the
national winners are also known. The fast pigeon of this most appealing
marathon flight is from the German fancier Alin Karscu from Rastatt.
This pigeon was able to bridge the overnight race of 1005 km at a
spectacular speed of 1104 meters per minute. In the Netherlands the
national victory went to the famous long distance player Jelle Jellema
from Nijverdal, distance 1293 km, meter speed 857. In Belgium the
national victory went to Luc Odeurs from Ordingen. His pigeon flew the
1153 km at a speed of 811 meters per minute. Mark Gilbert had met 684
meters the fastest in England. The first French pigeon made 674 meters
and is owned by Toine Sonia from Driscourt, distance 939 km. Very
disappointing that some of the French pigeons have withdrawn from the
competition. The reason for this is that during a check in France 11
dead French pigeons were found in a shipping basket. The cause of death
of which is not yet known. Let's hope that many pigeons still fulfill
because what should be a spectacular marathon race is for now a race
with a disastrous course.
IT WAS SATURDAY AUGUST 1 DEFINITELY NO PIGEON WEATHER
That day was flown all over the Netherlands. Each department had its own
competitions for the old and young pigeons. Especially on the west side
of our country we had very low-hanging clouds and if there is not a blue
piece of sky here and there it certainly becomes problematic for the
youngsters. The competitions for the old pigeons could be closed within
fifteen minutes. Then you’ll see what experience means. The youngsters
are only a few flights away and until Saturday everything went smoothly.
Not all pigeons are at home in most lofts. It was striking that many
strange pigeons landed in the lofts of the fanciers, they were all
looking for water. I strongly suspect that the young inexperienced
youngsters have not had enough opportunity to drink. Many of them are
not yet used to that and youngsters who are thirsty and cannot drink get
stress. Stress causes disorientation and they often fly in the wrong
direction. I miss three more myself while I haven't lost a pigeon all
season. My son Marco also misses three of which one has entered my loft.
Marco lives 800 meters away from me. I delivered the pigeon to him on
Monday and on Tuesday she was with me again. I released another strange
pigeon from the northern Friesland 30 km from my loft and when I got
home she was already in my loft again. I myself start to teach my
pigeons at 10-20-30-40 km and such a strange pigeon that has only come
in to me once you bring it to 30 km and she is with me again. Marco's
pigeon has flown with Marco as long as she is in the world, then comes
in to me once and refuses to stay with Marco. If you think you know
something about pigeons, you just don't know. It is said; if you perform
well you don't know why, and if you don't perform well you don't know.
THE NETHERLANDS HAS ITS HEAT WAVE
Tropical temperatures are an exception in the Netherlands. For the
weekend of August 8 the forecast is that it will be 32 to 35 degrees and
we and our pigeons are not used to that. In addition the wind is
northeast which is exactly upside down (so headwind) and then so
sweltering and bone-dry, that becomes an agony because the wind drives
them to the North Sea coast. When they drink the salty sea water it
looks very bleak for them. The NPO examines the best solution behind the
scenes. Whether or not to continue the competitions? On Wednesday before
12 noon it will be decided which distance the old pigeons will fly. It
is already known that it will be basketting on Friday evening. So due to
the heat only (fortunately) only 1 night basket. On Friday before 10 am,
it will be announced what will happen to the youngsters. Our pigeons are
performing very well for the time being. Marco is in the lead, I had to
skip a flight due to the coli infection and then you are eliminated for
a championship, you will never make up this delay. Last weekend Marco
played 1-6 and I played 5-7-8-9. A club member became 2-3-4 and he
mainly flies with the kind of us. Marco started 2nd with the old pigeons
and I finished 3rd, all in all a good weekend for father and son.
FANCIERS SURPRISED BY HIGH SPEEDS
Wijdewormer, 29 July 2020. Due to the bad weather conditions our old
pigeons in Pontoise (420 km) were only released at 10:00. When the
pigeons were on their way home the sky became more and more cloudy and
an hour before the first pigeons came home the rain poured down from the
sky. The wind was blowing from the southwest which means that the
pigeons had the wind from behind. The wind was not blowing very hard in
our area and given the bad weather a maximum of 90 km per hour or 4.5
hours of flying was assumed so that the first arrivals were expected at
half past two. Because the first pigeons arrived a few minutes before
two o'clock several fanciers were surprised. Fortunately nowadays we
have electronic clock so that many pigeons came home without the boss
waiting. Unfortunately there were also some who still had the loft
closed so that the pigeon had to wait for their boss. Many fanciers do
not have good thoughts about this flight. I was also more or less
surprised. We were in the garden with a group when suddenly a pigeon
dived from a great height at exactly 2 o'clock. It could still be a
youngster of the morning race but judging by the behavior it had to be
an old pigeon. He was knocked half a meter by a member of my club. That
was also the case in the morning when my first youngster also took
second place. All in all this week also a result that I can look back on
with satisfaction.
THE RESULT OF THE YOUNGSTERS WAS INSUFFICIENT
After the coli outbreak my youngsters were not outside for a whole week
so that they could not participate in the second race. After that they
trained around the loft twice an day throughout the week. They looked so
good that I thought it safe to enter them on the third race. When I
picked them up on Friday night to take them to the club they
disappointed me a bit. They felt weak when they looked so good on the
surface. They still suffer more from the coli infection than we think.
Of the 44 one has not returned. After such high expectations this was
the second turnoff, first the coli outbreak and a bad result two weeks
later. If my first arriving pigeon had gone straight in I would have
been first by far but now she lost at least three minutes. She just kept
flying around and once she landed on the flap she was shocked and went
back into the air. That is really something for a fanatic pigeon fancier
to have a heart attack. Then 6 pigeons came at the same time but that
was 10 minutes later which is downright bad. This week we are going back
to work with the intention of giving the whole club a sporting beating.
Both the old and the youngsters go to the same release point and are
simultaneously released for a race over 190 km.
THE MARATHON PLAYERS HAVE THE FLIGHT OF TRUTH THIS WEEKEND.
The pigeons were already basket on Sunday 26 July for the international
race from Barcelona. Internationally this is the most important flight
of the year. Especially the Netherlands and Belgium are present with
large numbers of pigeons. Whoever wins Barcelona has gained eternal
fame. The pigeons are scheduled for Friday July 31 unloaded at 1 pm.
They may then spend the night somewhere with the intention of returning
home as early as possible the next morning. There are pigeons that fly
at night because it is not completely dark at this time of the year.
Especially with not too high temperatures and the wind on the tail it
happens that pigeons arrive in the Netherlands in the early morning.
Often the rear flight then has the advantage. It can even happen that
with a strong southeast wind the French pigeons manage to reach their
loft that same day.
STAIN ON INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA
At the control of the French pigeons in Chereng a basket was discovered
containing 11 dead French pigeons. The cause is not yet known exactly
but it is thought of poisoned drinking water. In any case the French
Association has withdrawn most French pigeons from the competition. The
pigeons from the eastern part of France are participating they have been
checked at a different location. Very unfortunate for the competition
and for the French participants whose pigeons were prepared for this
monster flight and it still had for some sort of darker reason had to
pay with death.
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL BARCELONA LOOKS AS FOLLOWS
Belgium takes the crown with 6179 pigeons, the Netherlands follows with
4480 pigeons, France 2580, UK 281 and Luxembourg closes the row with 43
pigeons. The total participation is 14.589 pigeons, in 2019 there were
16.051. The number of French pigeons withdrawn from the competition is
currently unknown. Of course we are curious who will write this marathon
race to his name. It is expected that Belgium and the Netherlands will
be very successful. There is respect for the English pigeons who have to
bridge a considerable distance over the sea. The Irish pigeons have an
even harder time because they have to cross the Irish sea after they
have flown over the channel. So plenty of excitement in the weekend of
August 1
BELGIUM ALSO PLAYS NATIONAL SINT VINCENT
Last week was in the Netherlands National St. Vincent flown, for years
the most important marathon flight in our country. This time there were
12.255 pigeons at the start. The race was won at a speed of 1343 meters
per minute by W. Gielen from Breda in the south of the Netherlands. He
had 10 of which 7 won prize. The second pigeon in the result flew more
than 100 meters per minute slower. Friday July 31 the Belgian pigeons
are released for their national competition with a participation of 6066
pigeons.
NOT CHEERING TOO FAST
Wijdewormer, July 15 2020
From the moment that the breeding and racing pigeons were together to
start the breeding season everything went by itself. No fights, all
couples had one or two eggs in the nest within 14 days. Only 2 eggs
unfertilized and one egg with a dent in it. The first round of the
breeding pigeons grew up beautifully and were for son Marco. The second
round went to Dad and they also looked great. Son Marco had a fairly
harmless outbreak of the coli bacteria in March, no problem by me. From
the beginning it was enjoyment for me every day. My youngsters trained
super. An hour twice a day and when I called them she rolled in over
each other. I don't remember a year that I enjoyed my youngsters so
much. Several times I said to my wife and Marco; I hope it turns out
fine. They did it so well that it even scared me a bit. Scared in the
sense of if they don't fail. Last week on the last training flight I
clocked 24 within a minute and with Marco it was exactly the same. Later
in the day we heard that quite a few pigeons had been left, ours were
all at home. I had not lost one yet, but Marco handed in three during
his own drop-off. Last weekend we started with 92 youngsters, 45 from me
and 47 from Marco. The expectations were very high because our pigeons
looked like golden roosters. They were released on Saturday morning at
7.45 am for a race of 110 km. I got two at the same time and had not
seen a pigeon yet so I thought to myself "that could be two very early".
That was correct, but Marco had two that were even faster. However, I
noticed something about my pigeons, they did not really rush but flew to
the loft and were not in a hurry to enter. Some remained and sat down
and pecked. Everything went through me, I realized that something was
wrong and immediately thought of the coli infection. Sure enough, it
really hit the spot. I had 21 out of 45 in the prizes, they were all
home and that same evening I already saw some pigeons throw up. That day
I gave them a little bit of food and immediately put the coli cure in
the drinking water. The next day one of my favorite youngsters was dead
in a corner of the loft. A beautiful shale cock that I expected a lot
from because he always came to my first three pigeons during the
training flights. On Sunday I could clearly see that more than half were
sick and now the disaster is complete on Tuesday. No appetite, sitting
together, drinking a lot and very dirty manure. Really no fun to go to
your loft and to think that I went whistling to my pigeons every morning
and afternoon for months. I had incredible fun and now it is horrible, I
have never been so disappointed. As soon as I have finished writing this
article I will give the pigeons some small food and refill the drinking
trough with the coli cure. The pigeons will not be released for the time
being and next Saturday I will not be able to participate in the second
official flight very unfortunate. Now it is about staying calm, taking
good care of the pigeons and trying to keep them eating by providing a
small portion of food three times a day. This afternoon I do all the
youngsters in one of my vacant departments. I will then clean their loft
very well and then work the entire loft with the burner because no
bacteria or vermin can withstand the burner. I hope that after three
days I can see that there is some improvement. I know from experience
that as soon as the pigeons get better the appetite increases. They will
regain their strength and after five days of rest I will release them.
How it can be from one day to the next!
I ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT CONTRADICTOR
A few years ago it was accepted by majority vote in my association that
the youngsters are divided into as many baskets for each race as
possible. That was then assumed because we had transport baskets whose
flaps burst open when unloaded. It also happened that the valves of some
baskets remained closed so the pigeons could not get out. Especially on
short flights that can be a big disadvantage if your pigeons happened to
be all in that basket. So sharing as much as possible was not wrong.
However there is a difference between dividing and dividing. Not
everyone is the same with their pigeons. There are very serious fanciers
and there are also those who see it all as a treat and are therefore not
so concerned with the health of their animals. I have always been a
Pietje exactly and still. This first flight for youngsters my pigeons
were divided into 12 different baskets and I was not happy with that.
Why my youngsters are now sick is nothing to do with it. Maybe it was
already a bit under. I could not notice because even on the day of
basketing they trained formidably so my expectations were very high. I
did make a good result and have all pigeons back but for now I can no
longer participate. Besides the distribution is no longer necessary
because we have a different discharge system, no valve can be stuck
anymore.
SON MARCO WAS THE GREAT STAR
How would Marco pigeons perform this first flight? They showed to be in
great shape. At his loft was also more or less a problem on Saturday. He
went on holiday to the south of France with his family a week before the
first official flight. Father Bert took care of the pigeons every
morning and a friend of his did that the end of the afternoon. So we
were curious about the performance and they were great. In our
association went as follows: Marco 1-2-5-6-10 and 14 in the first 20. I
started with 2-3-7. Mine are now seriously ill from the e-coli infection
and Marco's are all right even though they were spread over several
baskets. So next Saturday we have a race again and tension but mine will
stay at home.
EXCELLENT WITH DREAM RESULTS
I looked at who in the Netherlands were the stars of last weekend. In
Zeeland (1) Gebr. Dekker with 2-3-4-6-7 against 3224 pigeons; East
Brabant (3) M. van Erp against 5600 pigeons: 1-2-3-5-6-7-8. In South
Holland (5) the van der Merwe family made a crushing result against
17.629 pigeons. Peter started with 1-2-5-8-10, Naomi 3-4-7-9 and Gwen
6-11-12-13. In North Holland (6) another victory for father & son Kat
they are really “out of category” this year. They start with 1 and 2
against 6300 pigeons. In the Eastern Netherlands (10) the Comb. Van
Rooij against 7300 pigeons: 4-5-6-9-11. The Comb. Vredeveld-Leemhuis
speak for themselves by starting against 8100 pigeons with 1-3-11-13
with 43 of the 59 in the results and their first signed first. In a word
formidable.
IT IS ALMOST THE SAME AGAIN AS WE WERE USED
Wijdewormer, July 8 2020. You notice from the people that the relaxation
concerning the Corona epidemic is a welcome surprise for many. From
mid-March, life was no longer as it was. Everything suddenly became very
different, people also changed and partly because no sports event was
allowed to go on people became isolated. All kinds of emergency measures
were taken. It was three grim months that we will not soon forget. The
great suffering has left its mark. The economy, the forced layoffs, the
necessary financial aid to keep companies going and it is annoying to
have to conclude that we are not yet out of worry but…. we are going in
the right direction. Daily life as we were used to is slowly getting
going again and when I look at the pigeon sport it is now high season.
The pigeon mill is running at full speed again. The canteens in the club
buildings are open again but the one and a half meter distance will
still be maintained and the basketing protocol will probably have to be
maintained for the rest of the season. In any case there is pigeon sport
every weekend. In Belgium the first two national competitions were
already flown last week, one from Limoges and the other from
Chateauroux. Two classic release points for those who love the one-day
long distance races. In the Netherlands there is only a national
competition but in Belgium they trade in it. I myself am not a long
distance fan so I think it is a pity that the series of Belgian long
distance races skews the picture with the Netherlands. It is as if the
Netherlands has no national winners and Belgium does. In Belgium it is
soon a national or semi-national flight. For the Honor or for commercial
purposes you can fill in yourself.
THE YOUNGSTERS ALSO START
Today we had the first and also the last training flight with our entire
department. Our department consists of 5 sections and the pigeons were
released per section today. Next Saturday all North Holland pigeons will
be released at the same time. The distance they have to travel is an
average of 110 km, so it will be very exciting because the whole crowd
will arrive for a large part at the same time so getting in quickly is a
prerequisite. It concerns tenths of a second and the competition is
closed in a few minutes. The wind will be northwest (obliquely) on
Saturday which is favorable for me. Furthermore dry weather and a
temperature of 20-22 degrees. Great pigeon weather also for the old
pigeons from Pont St. Max France they have 400 km ahead. The training
flight for the youngsters last Saturday was a flight of less than 60 km.
The weather conditions were fine, they were released at 9.45 am and
after 40 minutes of flying a whole cloud of pigeons hung above my loft.
In one minute 24 of 45 invaded. Actually too beautiful or too easy, they
will have learned little from it. However it gives confidence for next
Saturday then it matters and if you get them as today you live with a
clear conscience towards the first real showdown.
FANCIERS COMPLAIN
That is actually nothing special it is usually the same that has
something to cry about. It is never good with these men or it is not
good. If it does not go well it is always someone else's fault and that
is the mistake that most fanciers make. Always look for it yourself.
Give your eyes good every day and observe everything you can observe,
you will learn an incredible amount. You can see from the pigeons how
things are going. Pigeons that are tight, have chalk-white noses and dry
eyes are all right. If there is no feather wrong, it is even better.
Also take a look at the breast meat which should be flaky and have a
nice pink color. Feel equally at the legs, if they feel warm it is fine
with your pigeons. The pigeons like to train around the loft and when
they land they should not sit still like statues no they should be
lively and they certainly are not if they are too heavy. Young pigeons
are easily given too much food. I have written before that a great
champion once said to me; write with big letters POISON on your feed
silo because you give oh so soon too much of it, he is still right.
There are various types of food, one is heavier than the other. Most
young pigeon flights are under 450 km so they really do not need very
heavy food. I have been choosing a versatile type of food for at least
40 years. The greater the diversity the better I like it. Feeding is a
serious matter for me, as it were I hand out the food bit by bit I
really take time for that. With this way of feeding I have achieved
great successes but also made bad results. However I do not deviate from
my system because on average I am more than satisfied with the results
that my pigeons have achieved in the past 50 years. A common mistake is
if the results are disappointing to deviate from your feed and care
system especially if good results are often obtained. If the results are
disappointing from the start of the season action must be taken. It is
good advice not to play for a doctor yourself but rather consult an
expert specialized pigeon doctor. Be careful with pigeons that are late
a few times while they performed well before. They fail something and
there is a good chance that they will be left behind.
DARKEN YOUNG PIGEONS YET MOLTING
This occurs in almost all lofts. I have seen that in other lofts it was
striking that those men completely darkened their lofts, you could not
see anything. Darkening does not mean that it really has to be
completely dark. Dim is sufficient and with a little good will you
should even be able to read the newspaper in the loft. As in previous
years until the first weekend of July I darkened the youngsters. I do
that to prevent the pen molt and I have good experience with it I even
think that I keep out the coli bacteria. When I took a critical look at
my youngsters this week I was surprised to see a youngster who had
already thrown five pens. That pigeon had been away for two days and
therefore probably started the molt and just continued. There are
several that already have a new pen and have remained stationary
afterwards. Whatever the case we will start on Saturday with a full wing
or not they have to come along.
FLIGHTS WITH EAST IN THE WIND ARE ALWAYS SURPRISING
Wijdewormer, June 17. I had already predicted; on the first official
flight of this season no early classification and unfortunately that
came true. Northeast winds were forecast throughout the week. That
changed on Friday to south and finally the pigeons went on the way on
Saturday at 8:00 am with a calm to moderate southeast wind. The release
took place in the world famous Belgian release place Quievrain, for me
more than 240 km. The weather was beautiful, not too warm, blue sky,
white clouds but then the sneaky southeast wind. As long as I play with
pigeons, and that has been for a long time, I have not seen anything
else that southeast wind causes losses and often despite the high speeds
a long competition duration with surprising arrivals. This is partly
because our department chose the flight direction for the southwest line
years ago. Due to the southeast wind our pigeons fly over the North Sea
in record time and that can have unpleasant consequences. Because most
of the pigeons in our department live on the west side the migration of
the pigeons is predominantly on that side. So clearly the law of the
largest numbers applies here! This was clearly visible on the first
flight. We eastern fanciers were completely played away. Due to the high
speed, not as high as many people had previously thought, the
differences in arrival times were not so great. Our competition duration
was 20 minutes this time and that has sometimes been different in a SE
wind. We old rotten know only too well that SO wind is often fatal
especially for youngsters, massive losses! We never get used to that and
yet we always fall for it because the game is so much fun.
WIND DETERMINES THE PULL OF THE PIGEONS
For example this week I watched the South Holland competition where
37.800 pigeons were at the start. The SE wind ensured that the fastest
pigeons fell on the shortest distance on the North Sea coast. The
competition duration was 31 minutes which means that there are 9500
pigeons at home. It also means that there are still 26.000 on the way
and a large number were missing on Saturday evening. That was also the
case in our department. However there is a difference in the pigeons'
pull with SE wind. In early spring it is crystal clear on the coast, the
further we go in the year the more chance of sea vapor making the
migration more inland. So it happened that as an east-living fancier in
the second half of the season I clocked the fastest three times within
four weeks with southeast wind. Reason? Top condition and …… on the
coast there was very poor visibility due to the cooling warm seawater.
As a pigeon fancier you can sometimes have luck on your side. For me the
competitions with north west wind are the most favorable to get nice
results. However, it would not be good if there was always north west
wind. The more different weather types the more different winners and
that is important for our sport. Nobody is waiting for flights with a
disastrous course but then you see names at the top of the results that
you would never read otherwise. So best sports friends never complain or
grumble when you get a good clap around your ears. Then remember that
people are very happy that day because they had an early pigeon in the
clock. You undoubtedly know the expression; different weather, different
winners!"
LOTS OF WORK FOR A FEW PEOPLE
Wonderful feeling that our pigeons fly their races again every week.
However, it is still very laborious to get the pigeons in the baskets.
Only three workers are allowed in the room and especially now at the
beginning of the season they get a lot of pigeons through their hands. A
job that is very time consuming due to the Cocid-19 protocol. The other
members have to wait outside and go home immediately after his or her
pigeons are in the basket. The fun is not there yet and I wonder if it
will come back this year. We can do a lot about this ourselves by mainly
complying with the regulations and helping where possible. The
competitions with youngsters will also start soon. There are still a lot
of them and hopefully it will stay that way. Currently all fanciers are
busy training their new champions themselves. They dream of a good
season especially when their youngsters behave in such a way that they
are confident. Unfortunately I have also spoken to several fanciers
where it does not go as they would like to see. I got a phone call from
the far north whose pigeons don't want to fly at all. They have to be
chased out of the loft and that already says a lot, then there is
certainly something wrong. When the flap of the young pigeon loft opens
they should all be out within seconds and if you want to check them a
little later, you should not see a pigeon again. If they come back above
the loft after half an hour, you know that it is all right. As soon as
the pigeons are out, I will immediately see how the manure is doing. At
a glance I look at all the seats and when I see all beautiful little
dung balls with a single feather on it, I fall to my knees and start
whistling clean the loft. Unfortunately this is not the case everywhere.
The coli bacteria also strikes again, often in lofts where darkening has
stopped. They are often the same lofts. The cause is that the colony is
not strong enough to produce antibodies. Is this due to carelessness, is
hygiene one of the causes or is it perhaps messing too much with
antibiotics? Can you get rid of coli annually by strict selection? It is
still puzzling. I myself keep in mind that by observing the pigeons
closely a lot of misery can be prevented. Immediate responsible action
is a prerequisite, not wait until tomorrow but tackle the problem a la
minute. That is why it is good that we can distinguish which disease is
involved. By that I don't mean that we are going to be playing too much
of a doctor ourselves. But being able to quickly see that something is
wrong must be a characteristic of every fancier. Knowing when or not to
go to the pigeon doctor immediately. All that medicine use has not made
it any better. A few years ago it was normal for us to conduct manure
research with the entire association. We did that twice a year. The
first time well before the season started with the old pigeons and the
second time before we started with the youngsters. The vet's results
were posted on the bulletin board so that everyone could see who was or
was not okay. After all we also tell each other when housemates are sick
why not say anything about the pigeons. Due to the manure research there
was plenty of time to administer medicines so that we started with the
whole club with healthy pigeons at the beginning of the season. The
fanciers were much more serious about their pigeons due to the
compulsory manure test. Manure research is not a saving measure but
remains a snapshot at all times and that is always better than doing
nothing at all.
MEMBERS COUNCIL CHOOSES NEW NPO BOARD
Wiide Wormer, June 2. It is 9 pm on Tuesday evening, ex-chairman Maurice
van der Kruk has just closed his last meeting as chairman of the NPO.
The main point of this hour-long meeting was the board election. The 3
new daily directors were voted in writing and of the 23 votes cast there
were at least 21 for the candidates nominated by a selection committee
each time. Before the vote took place the strong decline of members and
the significantly fewer rings ordered were discussed. The National
Manifestation had not become what was expected of it and the
transparency within the board, committees and members' council was hard
to find. In short, there is a lot of work for the new directors who,
according to the new chairman Ben Weerink, are buzzing with energy. They
will certainly be the first to start tackling last year's unrealized
points. Furthermore, there were of course questions about the 2020
flight program or what could continue. Unfortunately, nothing concrete
could be said about that. However, it was announced that the Covid-19
committee will meet on 3 June to determine to what extent a (national)
flight program can still be realized. After that lift a fairly small
group, due to Corona, the glass and left everything as it was for the
time being. In any case the Dutch Pigeon Holders Organization has a
complete nine-person board. We are going to experience it….
BELGIAN PIGEON FANCIERS STAND ON THEIR REAR LEGS
In my view they are right. Plenty of training flights are currently
being organized in the Netherlands. Distance can be determined by each
department. The south of the Netherlands has the problem that they have
to enter Belgium immediately and so far no Dutch pigeons can be released
there. The Belgians themselves may not go further than 25 km while the
Netherlands may enter neighboring Germany and the Netherlands may even
drive the pigeon transport trucks through Belgium to France to release
pigeons there. Belgium sees the pigeon wagons as a transport and whether
it contains cardboard boxes, wooden boxes or pigeons does not matter.
You can imagine that fanciers from pigeon country number one be
extremely disappointment in the Belgian government. Consultations are
currently underway to get the Belgian pigeon sport started as soon as
possible. Given the control of the Corona virus this may very quickly be
possible. In that respect our neighboring countries are far from
aligned.
LIST OF ARRIVALS OR RESULTS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE FOR THE FANCIERS
Official competition flights are still not allowed in the Netherlands.
Every week there are training flights from which an arrival list is
made. The basketing is done according to the corona rules, three workers
in the room and the rest must be outside. As long as we keep this
beautiful weather that is no problem but showers are expected for the
coming weekend and then the fanciers can wait in their car or go home
immediately. I understand that it is not yet running smoothly at various
associations. As a result people are ready too late and the collection
car has to wait too long so that they arrives too late at the meeting
point. If we are a few weeks later everything will run smoothly again.
It takes some getting used to and hopefully we have started the battle
for the championship points and the pool money. The southern Dutch
fanciers unloaded last week in the northern French town of Niergnies. We
were in Roosendaal for the second time, for me 109 km, and this week the
pigeons are also going there. An arrival list is made of all these
flights so it is a normal course for everyone. It is not about anything
but it is mutual battle. The media pays attention to it and that is
important for our sport. We can use some extra positive reporting. It is
doubtful whether new members will be added as a result. In the circle of
acquaintances of all fanciers it is in any case also talked about again
and only then you notice how many people there are who read the pigeon
messages.
EAST, SOUTHEAST OR SOUTHWEST LINE
Now that every department in the Netherlands, we have 11, can determine
its own flight direction on the training flights there is also no
crossing of convoys. The extreme north still flies within the borders of
the southeast, that is a straight line to Groningen and Friesland. The
eastern divisions do this from Germany. The south held a flight from
Germany (east line) but that was not a success. The pigeons seem to
remember very well from which direction they have been trained. West
Netherlands keeps the southwest line so that the pigeons do not suffer
from pigeons that have to move to another direction. Especially on the
speed flights this can influence the flight development. The longer the
distances become the less trouble the pigeons have of each other. At
national releases where thousands of pigeons go into the air at once,
they have enough time to navigate in the right direction given the
distance. We have also flown from England in the past which was not a
success. Yes for the winners, otherwise it was only but surprising
arrival times. The smart pigeons did not directly cross the North Sea
from England. They flew to the narrowest part which is the canal, then
landed near Calais and then had to find their way from northwestern
France to the west, middle and east of the Netherlands. Fair flights
like that didn't last long.
WILL THE YOUNGSTERS START ON TIME?
As it looks now our young pigeon program will start in the first weekend
of July. That would still make up for all fanciers of this severely
disabled season. If the government insists that pigeon racing belongs to
major events we will be able to start on 1 September at the earliest.
You shouldn't think about that! Many fanciers are currently hopeful that
the program for the youngsters can be completed normally and that is
very good for the motivation of the fanciers who are currently doubting
whether they will continue. After all in the Netherlands 70% of the
members are above 70 years and perhaps 80% above 60. That age category
is eager to play with their pigeons every week. Most are too old to
choose another hobby and a season that we are now in is reason for many
to throw in the towel which also applies to me. In addition there are
fanciers in the south of the Netherlands who have to deal with the great
mortality of their youngsters. If that happens to me then ... .. I don't
know yet. A good pigeon friend of mine called this week to say that he
had released 115 young pigeons 20 km away. That same evening he still
lost 85. The characteristic of the whole story is that he has collected
more than 20 youngsters in the village where he released his youngsters.
A fancier even had four and now his counter is over 80 which means 30 in
one fell swoop. Fortunately he is still quite young, for a pigeon
fancier then, and you can still absorb such blows somewhat. Fortunately
pigeon fanciers are very positive. Every week they come faithfully with
their basket of pigeons whether they have performed well or not, they
come. Certainly that the pigeon hobby is something special otherwise
people of my age cannot play with pigeons every week for 50 years in a
row or even longer. I still enjoy it and not just a little bit.
WE'RE DEPARTED BUT NOT REAL YET
Wijde Wormer, May 27. Last week finally a training flight where the
pigeons went into the baskets according to the corona protocol and that
was very different from what we were used to for many years. Anyway, if
you want something you will have to add water to the wine. We can be
happy that we can train our pigeons at club and even department level.
It turned out to be a very easy flight with speeds of around 100 km per
hour. There were several fanciers who you could see that they have been
doing very well for a while. The training competition in my area ended
within a few minutes. I saw that there was an fancier in South Holland
who clocked 72 in exactly one and a half minutes. He had 194 with it and
his distance was only 60 km. You will only have two or three of those
men in your club and you will run away running. To clock 72 in such a
short time you may have 20 entry holes otherwise it will not work. It is
actually not nice that such a mega player takes on to men who have about
twenty with, have a loft of no more than 5 meters with two sputniks
where at most 3 or 4 pigeons can enter. I had to think back to the time
that we had to remove the rubber ring from the leg every week and if you
happened to get five pigeons at the same time you definitely needed two
minutes to get them and clock them. In which time it was all better does
not matter, also then there were men who rolled up the whole competition
and they still are. I find much worse those men who have a pigeon
auction several times a year that yield huge amounts because they have
occasionally made a very good result on a marathon flight. Thousands of
euros bring in those animals. In my view these are all yearlings who
have served as a feeder pigeon and then leave. Otherwise I would have no
reason to throw out yearlings at this time of year if it were due to the
corona pandemic. Let's stick to our sport. Many people are eager to
start and the real sports boys are now completely uninterested in
auctions and certainly not in auctions where the ordinary man is not
involved. The fanciers who are really involved in the sport are
currently full. In most lofts the breeding pigeons are already separated
and the racing pigeons are now in widowhood everywhere. They are well
trained so that especially the yearlings know why this game is about. It
would be great if we can cross swords again soon.
ARRIVAL LISTS.
If only the animal has a name. Luckily the pigeons can be trained again
unfortunately no competition. That is why we do not have results now but
an arrival lists. So there is a battle for the fanciers which is very
important because then every fancier knows how it is with his colony.
The results (arrival lists) are made and published at the NPO's national
audit office so that there is still a mutual showdown. Even the Dutch
carrier pigeon magazine “Het Spoor der Kampioenen” will report weekly on
all these training flights. In by far most clubs are according to the
new protocol preparations made for the 2020 season last week when that
may start. There was a competition again and therefore plenty of
discussion about everything that had to do with the flight.
THE PROTOCOL
Washing hands, disinfecting, three people in the room who do the work,
everyone else stays outside. The canteen and toilets also remained
closed. Yes, that is what the Dutch pigeon sport looks like at the
moment. We must adhere to all that is prescribed. Not fun! When the
pigeons were in the baskets you could go home after first chatting
outside (at a distance of a meter and a half away) but when it started
to get chilly later in the evening most of them went home. That is not
fun but that is also part of it at the moment. It was well organized in
our club that may be said. According to our secretary, the board would
even have received a compliment from the overarching board. It is a pity
that he was so strongly against that a result (arrival list) of this
first training flight would be made in our club. That was not allowed
and if there was a result it could not be used for publicity because it
would damage the pigeon sport. When I visited the site of the Compuclub
on Sunday evening (our national accounting office) there were I don't
know how many results to read So we are not yet competing for the
various titles that can be obtained every year but there is sport and
that is what we all want. However, if we have to wait until September 1
before we really start go to battle again we have had some battle even
though it was completely different than we have been used to for years.
That's just the way it is!
I HAVE NOT YET PARTICIPATED
My pigeons have now been away six times, today it was the seventh time
and Thursday the eighth. They will join the club for the first time on
Friday and we will be able to see where we are currently on Saturday. I
am not yet completely satisfied with my hens. They do not eat their
fill, they are all madly in love which is because I let them with their
cock every time they are trained. Because I train them very regularly
they want to go to the cock loft every time I open the sliding door.
Like all my other pigeons they get the same food. Maybe that is a bit
too heavy for widow hens. They will also have to perform soon and they
cannot do that on dry bread. It is a hassle, after every feeding there
is still food in the bowl which I have to remove. It is a bit puzzling.
They do not eat well in my eyes, actually insufficient and yet they feel
too heavy plus that there is no real tension. The cocks are doing fine.
Then about my youngsters. You know that I have been playing with pigeons
for more than 70 years but I cannot remember a season when my youngsters
train so formidably at home. From the moment they started training I saw
at them that they wanted to fly and within a few weeks they trained a
full hour twice a day without problems. They also leave for half an hour
twice a day. I've never experienced that before. Now let's see that we
manage to keep this rhythm until they really have to work. Would you
believe that I'm starting to get a little nervous because I think when
they do they have already shot their gunpowder. That a 83-year-old man
can still get nervous. The pigeon sport has a lot of beautiful sides and
how wonderful that kind of tension!
A DELAYED START OF A SEASON OF WHICH WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT ENDS
Wijdewormer, May 19. The TV speech of our Prime Minister Rutte has just
ended. New relaxations concerning Coved-19 would be announced. The whole
of the Netherlands was therefore glued to the television. We are going
in the right direction as of 1 June we will take another big step
forward. I will not tire you with everything that will soon be possible
again but for us pigeon fanciers it is important that we can start
again, although with hands full of measures. Whether that will get used
to? We have to. Last night our club building was approved Corona. This
means that our members can bask in a responsible manner. Washing and
disinfecting hands are important conditions. As for the pigeons we are
allowed to basket the club this Friday May 22 for a training flight of
100 km. The following week we fly the same distance and then it matters
and we get serious again. We will see what our further flight program
will look like this week. Today our members had to report how many cocks
and hens they participate on Friday. Based on this information a
timetable is drawn up so that not all members come at the same time.
There may only be three officials in the clubhouse, the other members
must wait outside until it is their turn. Which means; hand over your
basket and wait until the pigeons are in the shipping boxes, tackle the
clock and then go home because the catering part of the club may not be
open yet. So it is pigeon sport like no one has ever experienced before.
In mid-June our government will come up with other (relaxed) measures
and hopefully we will be one step closer to the living habits before 15
March.
NOT EVERYONE CAN START EQUAL
We in the province of North Holland can hold domestic flights for the
time being. We have the ability to hold flights up to 250 km. This does
not apply to our sports friends in the southern Netherlands of Brabant,
Limburg and Zeeland. They are close to the German and Belgian borders
and it is not yet known when these countries allow foreign convoys. The
North and East of the Netherlands can easily hold their matches from
Germany. Everything depends on what is and is not allowed in our
neighboring countries. The Northern Netherlands had a first flight from
Germany last weekend and it went perfectly at speeds of around 100 km
per hour. In other words the pigeon sport has started again and now we
can see if we can knit some nice things. It looks like we will continue
until mid-October provided the Corona virus remains under control. It is
therefore important that we can, and above all continue to stick to the
agreements made in the long term.
FINE WEATHER TO TRAIN THE PIGEONS YOURSELF
Precisely with the fantastic weather that we currently have in the
Netherlands we pigeon fanciers are eager for impatience especially now
that there’s announced our sport may start. Our pigeons have now been
away 5 times, furthest distance 35 km. On Ascension Day they go into the
basket again and then Friday for a joint training flight with all club
members. I haven't lost pigeons yet but I do have one that was already
three times late. Everyone else fell into the loft at the same time but
he didn't. It is a yearling cock that has broken its ninth pen from its
left wing. I doubt whether that is the reason for the late arrival. He
gets a chance a few more times but if it doesn't improve, he will stay
at home. He has a promising hen in my opinion. She is a daughter of Blue
Jeara who won the first prize five times. In a next paragraph I will
describe her and her family in more detail. It is a family that makes us
extra happy when it comes to good performance. They can do some!
“BLUE JEARA”, TOP RACER AND NOW A 6 YEAR BREEDING HEN
If you were in the happy possession of four such absolute top pigeons
you would certainly be a very big champion. Wouldn't that be the case
with all top players? If all those champions that we look up to throw
away their best four pigeons then little of their glamor would remain.
The point is that you have them in the loft and know how to handle them
responsibly. You should not be reckless with such pigeons that give the
boss a happy weekend every week. Of course it is nice that they tap
early every time, it is also important to look a little further than
your nose is long. You can build a whole champion loft with such
pigeons. Luck is always involved. By observe the pigeons a lot and view
their performance from an early age you will quickly discover that such
pigeons, even though they are mediocre in many respects, can be of great
breeding value in some other way. So do not start breeding when they are
four or five years old. With such pigeons, which also have a valuable
pedigree, you should immediately breed youngsters as a yearling. See how
we went with “Blue Jeara”. It soon became clear that our super pair had
produced yet another good youngster. Like her sisters she was a little
on the small side, felt like a ball of cotton wool, silky smooth and
very thoughtful. Everything matched her typical feminine appearance and
she was also blue and that is a color that we like to see in our loft.
Her grandfather comes from the very best breeding couple of Willem de
Bruijn (Kleine Blauwe x Ganieda). He became the 4th Best cock in the
Netherlands in 2008 and was paired against Blue Favori from Olympic
Zeus, best cock in the Netherlands in 2002. Blue Jeara's father is Blue
Jeroen who gave a dozen top pigeons together with “Zus Fortezza”. Sister
Fortezza is daughter Sprint Koppel, parents of 12 first prize winners,
2x 1st teletext. Blue Jeara finished 10x in the first ten of which 5x1st
and that were against average 1600 pigeons all rankings in the top-20.
She became champion pigeon over all flights due to her excellent
performance. She has only been able to show her sports skills for a few
years and she has now emerged as a great breeding mother. Four of her
children have already played a first one, isn't it a picture? This year
will with Marco and me 6 of her children participate in the races for
old pigeons and 5 for the youngsters. I will keep you informed. In
connection with Coved-19 there is not much pigeon news to report yet,
this time a short story about Blue Jeara. Next time an overview of the
training flight that hopefully heralds a beautiful and sporty season.
Let's not forget the most important thing; Stay healthy!
WILL PIGEON SPORT EVER BE THE SAME?
Wijdewormer May 13 2020. In the Netherlands we are allowed a little more
every week. Many fanciers after two months of house arrest very longing
for the start of the racing season after the relaxation of important
measures that had to be taken because of the global corona pandemic.
Fortunately the doctors and virologists are gaining ground which gives
us more opportunity to resume the life we are used to step by step. It
is clear to see that it is doing people well. But please don't get too
excited as we are not yet where we want to be. Our one and a half meter
society will certainly pose the necessary problems. But sports friends
we remain positive and stick to the agreements made as much as possible.
New agreements have also been made for our sport and when I see how we
should use those agreements it is a different pigeon sport than I was
used to for many years. In the first instance it will certainly be at
the expense of fun and that is part of our hobby. As of May 1 we can
train our pigeons again and also in an association it is now allowed
however only with the intention to train the pigeons. The pigeons can /
may be clocked but no results may be made, so no competitions in the
early days. If we do fight each other soon we will have to adhere to a
prescribed protocol that we have never experienced before, something
that makes me rather sad than happy. For the sake of clarity an
information film has been made of the new way of basketing. The first
impression is that it is very time consuming, it is mainly about washing
hands and disinfecting baskets and clocks. Furthermore, very impersonal,
away the pleasant contacts in the clubroom which, like the house arrest,
is almost impossible to maintain. But if we want something there is
currently no other choice. What I do find an advantage is that the
administration of every fancier must be in order. Vaccination and loft
list hand in. Pigeons that do not appear there cannot be flown are
therefore not entered in the computer/clock and the pigeons must be
registered in the name of the fancier. Currently each of the 12
departments is working hard on a different flight program. The starting
date is not yet officially known, it may be necessary to divert to
Germany with regard to the flight program because Belgium and France
have not yet given permission to release pigeons there. Today I heard
that the Germans have now been allowed to release their pigeons in
France. Then the transport. Depending on the start date there will
probably be quite a few flights or double flights which means a lot of
pigeons. Do we still have so many transport options to transport all
those pigeons or do we also hold competitions during the week or perhaps
on Saturday and Sunday? A lot still needs to be arranged. Then the big
question; may or may we not use our club room as we have always been
used to. This becomes almost impossible due to the 1.5 meter measure.
The video clearly shows that everyone has to wait outside and is called
up when it is their turn. Only then you can hand over the basket and you
have to stay outside yourself. Yes, even when it rains, you are told to
sit in your car. Nice for me who has ridden all his life and now that I
am in my eighties I have to do everything by bike because of my bad
eyes. Those are those little problems. There are people who want to pick
up my pigeons, such as my son, beautiful, but it is that part of the fun
in the club on the eve of the flight. You know fanciers among themselves
with many strong stories.
PIGEONS BRING IT YOURSELF
Looking back at years past that was a fun social activity. Just a whole
group of fanciers by bike to Amsterdam which is about 12 km for us. We
went no further hardly anyone had a car. Now many people drive so much
that is almost no longer normal. There are those who go as far as 150 km
(like their car is running on water) while 40 km is more than enough.
Anyway, everyone is free to do whatever they want. It does indicate that
the fanciers looking forward to it especially because of the beautiful
weather we have had in recent weeks. Today my clock was prepared for the
coming season and this afternoon I turned it on so that after the
pigeons had returned from their training hour I could see that
everything was fine. The youngsters still have to be imported, they were
vaccinated last week. That list is also ready so as soon as our man from
the association has time to introduce the youngsters again he can start
immediately. Last week I also covered all my baskets with a layer of
newspapers, straw on top and stole tobacco on top to prevent the straw
from sliding. Then injected everything against lice and other scum. All
breeding trays are clean and stored because the 2020 breeding season is
already over with us so the season can start.
WHAT ABOUT THE PIGEONS
The old pigeons that are separated are no longer darkened. They are
released twice a day which also happened to the youngsters. My hens
could eat a little better, they are more in love than they eat. Because
they are allowed to gather all day once a week I have not yet found eggs
and are therefore better paired. I am not waiting for horny hens because
that spoils the game and we still have to start. Because the ladies do
not eat well enough they also train less but perhaps there is something
more going on. I would have them examined last week because I took the
youngsters to Dr. Van der Sluis had to. That was canceled at the last
minute because he came to me as always. Marco's youngsters are also
vaccinated with me so examination was not possible we're going to see
him tomorrow night. We take some pigeons for a throat swab and some
fertilizer. Furthermore we take condition mix home plus any medicines if
something comes out of the study. The cocks behave well and the
youngsters show great shape. Training a full hour twice a day is really
no problem for them. When it is feeding time I show myself. I do not
have to whistle they all fall on the loft at the same time. A number
immediately falls on the fallboard of the sputnik which is not very
large so a number fall next to it. You get scared with so much violence
they all want to go in at once. Only Sunday morning was a little
different. Some had still some problems that morning from the injection
they had had the day before, but now everything is top again it is
really enjoying. Can you imagine that I am eagerly awaiting the start of
their racing program with youngsters in this condition? If everything is
correct that will be the first weekend of July, we will see.
I BEGIN TO BELIEVE AGAIN
Wijdewormer May 5. Today we celebrate 75 years of liberation and I have
experienced them all. The first time I was 8 years old and a year later
I got my first pigeons. Never have I been without pigeons for a day and
never before have I experienced a worldwide virus infection that caused
everything to be paralyzed or locked, just give it a name. Much has been
said and written about how all this could have happened and we still
notice the consequences every day. In the Netherlands we are going in
the right direction when the number of infections gets a little less
every day. Not only does that sound positive, it is. Fortunately we can
do a little more every day and we were allowed quite a bit in our
country compared to other countries. I dare not say whether it will all
go back to the way it was but it can and should be a little less. For
the time being we will be compelled to keep the precepts and the better
we do that all together the closer we come back to the life we so long
for. More and more shops are allowed to open making it more fun on the
street and so we go step by step towards a changed society and that need
not be less than we were used to. We are probably too spoiled and it is
quite difficult to take a step back. We are also moving in the right
direction regarding to pigeon sport. In Belgium and the Netherlands we
can train the pigeons again and that gives confidence for the second
half of this year. I think it is that we can start the first speed
flights the first or second weekend of June. It is hoped that it is well
thought out how the continuation of the modified flight program will be.
I have already read several protocols and with a mix of these there will
almost certainly be something that we can (almost) all be satisfied
with. If only we start soon after all the suffering that Covid-19 has
brought. That is probably the greatest wish of all pigeon fanciers.
PER 2 MAY EVERYTHING IS IN SHARP
I am currently optimistic and that is because I think we will start the
games in June. Maybe I am wrong and then there is still nothing to worry
about. I have stopped darkening the old pigeons, with the youngsters I
just continue until the end of June, everything happened now on time.
The cocks and hens fly 45 minutes every morning and each one hour in the
afternoon. The youngsters also go out twice a day. Wednesday is the bath
day and on Tuesday cocks and hens are allowed all day together. In the
meantime I also started training the old pigeons. I still have patience
with the youngsters, I think they are still a bit too young. They left
every morning but now that I release them twice a day they no longer do
that I think because of the change. I assume that after a week they will
pick up the thread and pull away every morning. All pigeons are doing to
my liking. Tomorrow the youngsters will be vaccinated against paramixo.
I go with Marco to Dr. Van der Sluis. Usually he comes to me but the
roles have turned because of the corona crisis. I will then immediately
take medicines home if an illness breaks out this year so I can
intervene immediately. Together we have 100 youngsters, Marco has 55 and
I have 45. In June we have 100 youngsters in the race. We are each
other's competitor every week because Marco plays at his loft and I play
at mine. The difference in distance between our lofts is about 800
meters, Marco has the shortest distance. I was with him yesterday to
view the youngsters. They are 3-4 weeks older than mine and you can
clearly see that. They are further through the molt and therefore look
more mature. Several youngsters already have those beautiful shiny necks
while mine are bare. At the beginning of July mine look perfect too I'm
sure and then see who's strongest. I am increasingly looking forward to
the official start.
THE BLUE TRAIN
It is well known that I prefer light blue pigeons. In 1970 I had a year
with only blue youngsters I called them the blue train. Some of them had
the beginning of a third band in addition to their two blue bands on the
wing something I like to see. Why? I ones had a year two nest sisters
that looked like this. Of one I always thought that it was a cock but
that turned out not to be the case. They were a bit (too) small pigeons
but at the races they hung on each other's tail. It wasn't always my
first two it was only once. They did win prizes from all 7 flights,
became 1st and 2nd pigeon champion and if one was there the other was
right behind it. The hen performed best and as a yearling the cock did
fine. At that time I only raced with cocks on widowhood and the hens
came back into action on the late race. The hen I named Bianca named
after my only daughter, once again became champion pigeon. Last month my
daughter turned 50, no party because of the corona, I had to think about
those two. A nice story but 50 years ago. Where has the time gone? Now I
have all blue again with two such pigeons as 50 years ago. Also a bit on
the small side and maybe there is a cock again, who knows. Their mother
is also a little one but did finish 5 times first, the father managed to
be flagged first three times. It cannot therefore depend on the
pedigree. We all know that good come from good, but we all know that
they don't automatically give good but from two toppers you are always
more likely than from two so-called soup chickens I think you agree with
me. Now we just have to wait and see what our Prime Minister has to say
on Monday 11 May about the relaxation of measures regarding the corona
virus. I trust that he will not disappoint us.
YES OR NO PIGEON SPORT
Wijdewormer April 28. Two months ago there was no problem at all in
pigeon land. In China an infection with the corona virus which was far
from my bed show was the first thoughts in the Netherlands. That was
true but no one realized that this contagious and life-threatening virus
would conquer the whole world in a short time. That is how far we are
now and we all have to deal with the terrible consequences. The most
unsympathetic measures that are taken out of necessity so that our whole
life is now completely upside down. We are aware of the consequences and
know the figures. Fortunately the measures are being relaxed in several
countries. No major events until September 1 and probably until next
year says enough how serious this pandemic still is. All sports will be
stopped until that date. Also within my cycling club, the card and
pigeon club, all activities have been canceled or prohibited. How to
keep it one and a half meters apart? No more shoppers, theaters,
museums, catering companies everything is closed. If this remains the
case life will become very boring, but solutions are diligently sought
because no one can handle this. A miracle must happen if we are to
accelerate this impasse. Take courage, take good care of yourself is
always said but that easier said than done. And to think that we have
already had three flights in a row with ideal pigeon weather here in the
Netherlands, unfortunately it should not be. Despite this enormous
worldwide setback the pigeon fanciers still have the courage. They
really want to go out with their pigeons all this with the intention of
being well prepared to come to the start. If the start will only take
place in September we can speak of a failed season, then on to next
year. However, it is not that far but if we cannot start in the first
weekend of June our hearts sinks. This weekend I was again very shocked
by the announcement that corona contamination has broken out at two mink
farms where there are more than 20.000 minks. Recently it was said that
animals could not get this infection but they were probably infected by
their caretakers. Wherever the cause lies it is not good for sports
where animals are processed, including the pigeon sport. This
announcement was a huge letdown for me. Especially because I think our
pigeon sport may be the victim of this and June is very close
THE STORIES COME FREE
In this time it is fun to read how well-known and less known fanciers
are busy with their pigeons while nothing is known about the start of
the racing season. I myself have switched to the irregular release of my
racing pigeons. I let them out at times that suit me. I keep to the
feeding times because regular care ensures a good condition and that is
quite different from a sublime flight condition. I darken all racing
pigeons 13 hours a day. The inspection takes place in the morning. I
then look at the amount of down feathers, unfortunately I also find a
single quill pen but the manure is beautiful in this dry weather, all
small balls. As soon as I open the curtains the pigeons wake up and I
see them stretching. When I start feeding them half an hour later they
are not really tight while their behavior is fine. But as soon as I look
half an hour after they have eaten they are lively, are tight and
several cocks know that I want to fight with them. Not all of them
benefit from that, some crawl into a corner of the breeding loft and a
few even fly out of their box witch I hate. They are shy but that is
because I gave them too little attention from an early age because you
can make pigeons as tame as you want you can even do a circus number if
you want. In any case in this corona time we can read the most diverse
methods in which you can take care of pigeons all with the intention
that we will hopefully perform well with them this year. Today is
Tuesday and then the old cocks and hens can be together all day. This
time an exception I only left them together this afternoon and they can
therefore stay together overnight. Tomorrow morning all together outside
and then the ladies go back to their own department.
VARIOUS PROTOCOLS
In the country many well-meaning fanciers are thinking about what the
pigeon sport will look like in the “one and a half meter society”.
However resourceful they are me as an old fancier am used to a fixed
protocol. I hope something like this can count on understanding because
I have for the past 70 years basketed the pigeons, read clocks and
everything else that was seen as normal with the pigeon sport. How it
should go is still unthinkable for everyone but if you want to play with
pigeons we will have to adapt the rules that are prescribed by each
country. In Belgium fanciers can individually train their pigeons. Not
in groups and no pigeons from different lofts in a car. It is further
advised not to go further than 25 km from home. This relaxation has to
do with animal welfare. It is a training for the pigeons to prevent them
from losing their orientation ability not to improve the flying
condition. So in Belgium they are a small step on the right track. But
after what I saw on TV this evening in response to frequently asked
questions by the people I unfortunately have to assume that the pigeon
sport has almost no chance this year. There is currently no vaccine for
people but there may sooner be the use of an already existing drug. But
that too has to be tested first and it takes months. If we are allowed
to play with the pigeons it will change enormously socially. In the club
room the bar facility may not be used, that space is closed or off
limits. The fanciers must wait outside with their pigeons until they are
picked up by a designated employee in order to be registered for
participation in the flight. Having a nice drink in the room with
everyone and talking about our hobby will probably not be possible this
year. Despite everything I would like to end with; make sure you stay
healthy, take care of yourself and others.
NO EVENTS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1
Wijdewormer, April 21 2020. Frankly after the press conference that our
Prime Minister held I was not really happy. With me millions of TV
viewers will have hoped that the measures taken in connection with the
corona virus would be relaxed today. This is partly true as schools for
primary education will reopen on May 11 with the necessary adjustments.
Secondary education has to wait until June 1. Fortunately the youth can
also start their sports training again. There was a huge damper for the
football fans. No professional football will be played until 1
September. This also applies to larger national events such as the Four
Days Marches, a walking event in which 10 thousands of walkers
participate. No pop concerts, no big and famous cycling races, in short
we are not there yet. No visit to grandma and grandpa, no cozy group
formation with neighbors or acquaintances. Terraces remain closed, one
and a half meters apart something I probably will never get used to. We
are increasingly moving in the right direction so that gives us hope to
see what our prime minister has to say in the third week of May.
Children up to the age of 18 are almost not susceptible to the corona
virus. For anyone who is older it would be great that a vaccine is
developed in the short term that will get normal life back in motion.
With everything else that has to do with this pandemic I don't want to
tire you. You read that in the newspaper every day and you see it on the
TV. After 5 weeks of house arrest I am really fed up and I will
certainly not be the only one. Nevertheless I remain hopeful about our
pigeon sport. With some adjustments it should not be too difficult to
put our pigeons in the room in baskets in a responsible manner. Various
solutions are possible for the other activities. Who knows June 1 is a
date to live with a good feeling. Or is that too optimistic?
APRIL 11 WE WOULD START
In previous years it was certainly no pigeon weather in early April and
now that we are in the middle of the corona pandemic we have the most
beautiful weather in the world. No wonder that pigeon loving Netherlands
is eager to start the racing season. Unfortunately 2020 will be a
completely different pigeon season. That may not apply to all countries
because the flight period in other countries does not start and end at
the same time. It would already be very important for the pigeon sport
if we could once again talk about pigeons in the room knowing for sure
that there is a great need for it. We want to tell each other how we are
doing with our pigeons, how beautifully we have bred and how fantastic
our old pigeons look. Mine are darkened for 13 hours and come off once a
day. The youngsters are also in the twilight for 13 hours. The breeding
pigeons are separated they have done their best. They will not be paired
again this year and that is actually not so much fun for them. They were
paired between Christmas and New Year and four months later they were
separated again. What a life! Fortunately they have a spacious loft with
a spacious aviary. My youngsters are doing great, flying fast and long,
eating well but not listening yet because I am not busy with that yet.
As of May 1 I will teach them that they will get food after an hour of
training, by keeping them short for a few days they will realize that
very quickly. It is a pity that we cannot go out with the pigeons. I
don't make a problem of it myself. I assume that we will get on time
when we start and then there will really be some time to bring the
pigeons away a few times. I don't want to think about the fact that
we're not going to compete this year. If that were the case our sport
could cost a lot of members and we already have so few.
FANCIERS BEG FOR CLARITY
Nothing is more annoying than not knowing where you stand. Little is
expected from the corner of our national government. There is currently
no complete board. We have a chairman who does not leave while he is
voted out. There are also three directors from the old board. It is said
that there are sufficient (skilled) candidates to form a full board. I
wonder if an emergency plan is being worked on. In the corridors I have
heard that behind the scenes some well-meaning members are working on
it. Officially nothing is known including whether or not there is a
complete board, only then you can hit nails with heads. Then you can
work on a national plan that will take effect from June, July or August,
later I think it makes no sense at all. Probably the fun will be over by
many fanciers if it is not possible to start until August. I don't like
it much anymore because I have no idea what the possibilities are. I
even feel that our well-intentioned directors also lack the insight to
put something on paper. Doesn't matter but tell us that we are sure, for
example, there is no pigeon sport before 1 July. Now it is just
guessing, hoping and waiting, something like that cannot be sustained.
IN THE YOUNG PIGEON LOFT
Every day I spend quite some time with the youngsters. I like to observe
them, take them in hand and look at the ring numbers list. That way I
already know about several youngsters from which couple they come. I
didn't need a list like that before, I knew them from the moment they
were weaned. By doing so, you almost automatically get some favorites. I
make one of them annotation on the ring number list just to see if the
boss still has a little look at it. By giving your eyes a bit longer you
can also see that there are sometimes youngsters who behave a bit
strange. For example I can be very annoyed with a young pigeon who walks
back and forth on the food bowl like a fool while the others are eating
and he or she keeps running so that the sucker falls short. At first I
let him eat something out of my hand until I got bored with that too.
The ring number is noted which means that the pigeon must come from a
good home to be allowed to hibernate. Then there are two, not directly
related to each other, who only eat small seeds. They peck like crazy
but that doesn't fill their crop. Their numbers have also been marked
with a cross. Then there is one that I still have to chase out of the
loft. When he walks out through the sputnik and I turn around she is
already inside. She probably escaped the bird of prey. At one point I
came out and I saw that my pigeons were flying so high as a dot. They
did not dare to land and when they were finally on the roof they wanted
to go in because it was getting dark there was one that flew up several
times and as soon as he walked onto the fall board it was as if there
was power on it she was so scared. I didn't write that number down
because I didn't know which one it was. It is probably that the pigeon
who does not want to go out yet but I am not sure. As for the others it
is a pleasure to watch. As soon as I open the sputnik they are out in no
time and when I come out a little later I do not see them anymore. They
do not stay away because they have not been flying around for so long
but the ten minutes that they are out of sight tells me enough about
health and that is the most important thing to play well with young
pigeons if only it were so far. We agree that we will comply with the
measures the sooner we will meet in the club room.
OH AMSTERDAM WHAT ARE YOU BEAUTIFUL
Wijdewormer, April 14 2020. This is the beginning of a well-known Dutch
song about our much sung capital. That I did not lie a word of it, I
discovered yesterday (Easter Monday). My wife got the bright idea to
drive through Amsterdam for an hour. Finally something different,
because you do not stay on top of being in the house all the time. Do
not think that we do not comply with the regulations, certainly we do,
but just as a small trip does you good even if there is no catering
opportunity open to have a drink on a cozy terrace. From our house it is
a fifteen minute drive to the center. Usually there is no getting
through but now that we are in the middle of the Corona crisis it was
terribly quiet in this large metropolis. Almost no traffic it was even a
bit frightenedly quiet. I have never seen Amsterdam like this before and
you only see how beautiful the Amsterdam canals with all their beautiful
different canal houses are. In other times you have to have eyes on your
neck so to speak. I was reminded of the much sang Jordan. This is a very
old neighborhood in the center of the city where it used to be all
poverty and it is precisely there that almost a few hundred pigeon
fanciers lived house to house who had their loft on the roof or in the
house in the attic. Now there is not one anymore.
EVER AMSTERDAM WAS A PIGEON BASTION
With a large number of associations and more than 1200 members Amsterdam
formed its own department. The clubs were located throughout the city,
each region had its own pigeon club. I went to many clubs in the winter
months to judge the annual club shows which was always very nice. At the
end of the winter season the Amsterdam champions show followed for many
years in “Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky” on the Dam behind the resistance
monument. Director Staal was also an avid carrier pigeon and was one of
the better players in the city. For a number of years I judged the honor
class in “Kras” as the hotel was popularly called, which included the
pigeons of the great champion of the past season. Amsterdam became
busier and busier, in particular making the many clubs that were located
on the “canals” almost inaccessible, plus that there was no parking
space left. The pigeon sport disappeared from the city and with it a
large part of the fanciers. I can safely say that our sport in the big
city has dropped to an absolute low. The same applies to the whole of
the Netherlands where we have gone back from 80.000 members to +/-
14.000 members of which 8000 are probably still participating in
competitions.
WHEN WE GET STARTED
That is currently the big question but it is not the most important
question. A large number of Corona patients die every day worldwide and
new patients are admitted to hospitals every day. Hence a lot of respect
for everyone who works many hours under high voltage every day to keep
everything running smoothly. We citizens must cooperate in this by
adhering to the imposed rules of the game and the longer the
contamination lasts the harder it becomes for all of us. There is no
other choice than to stick to the rules. So questions like when the
racing season will start again it is better to be left out. If necessary
we should forget the games this year but I don't want to think about
that. That would be a huge damper for all pigeon fanciers especially for
many elderly among us. When I look at myself I don't have much of a
future with regard to sport. Next year I'm 84 years old and there are
very few of those who participate every week. We are also dependent on
what our neighboring countries will decide. In Belgium where pigeon
racing is almost the national sport many fanciers are eager to start.
Even there still applies that even the individual training of pigeons is
strictly prohibited. And I would rightly say public health is paramount
in every way. It is a great pity that there are no other sports because
many of us need that. Relaxation is a great medicine against any disease
but it must be possible and responsible. For the time being we must wait
until April 28 in the Netherlands before new or other measures will be
announced. Every day we are kept informed about all kinds of things that
have to do with the corona contamination and luckily there are more and
more positive messages. However if you ask me we are not there yet. If
the current measures are relaxed somewhat people will probably think
about it a little easier with all the associated risks. Security is
paramount!
PIGEON SPORTS AT HOME
Let's be happy that we have our hobby at home, staying in the pigeon
loft creates distraction. Because many of us are very old they no longer
participate in the labor process and therefore have the opportunity to
pay extra attention to the pigeons. However the immediate environment
and family must then be free from the corona virus. But even if the
virus does occur in your circle of acquaintances distraction is very
important. I see a hobby at home as an important advantage. I now spend
much more time on my pigeons. I think it is not better for the pigeons
but for myself. Sometimes I just sit between the pigeons for half an
hour, every now and then I grab one in my hands which is not wrong
especially for the youngsters. They become familiar with the boss and I
would rather see that than they all fly away from their seats when I
enter the loft. In the season I only come to the racing pigeons at set
times. I have the breeders as a distraction but they are now separated
so there is not much fun to do there. Before the corona contamination
was there we were hit with the weather conditions. It was ideal for
breeding and many fanciers with me are very satisfied with the breeding
results. It is as if my youngsters are smoother than in other years. I
did not start breeding early and now (mid-April) the youngsters fly that
it is a sweet treat. The sputnik opens every morning at 10:30 and I
close it a few hours later. When the hens leave at four o'clock almost
all the youngsters are inside. As of May 1 everything happens at set
times and that is already the case with the old pigeons. I still assume
that we will get some flights in the middle of this year. For the long
distance and marathon players I see it gloomy. There is so little
preparation time left for them and if we do not get to the competitions
this year we will soon have to deal with the selection. What do you do
with all those youngsters of which you know nothing. It will just depend
on the pedigree, I assume that everyone breeds from pigeons in which he
has full confidence. However if they have not learned anything in their
birth year there is a high risk that you will lose them as a yearling
especially on flights with a difficult course. That would be a pity
especially because I am as big as a monkey on my beautiful group of
youngsters. I had imagined 2020 very differently but I assume that this
is the case with many. We continue to be brave and follow the rules.
Until next week.
THERE WAS NO INTERNET AND THERE WAS NO PEDIGREES
Wijdewormer April 8 2020. Now that the pigeon sport is on the back
burner my thoughts go back to the past. I was reminded of the world
famous Gebr. Janssen from Schoolstraat number 6 in the Belgian border
village of Arendonk. It was 1952 when for the first time in my life I
took with two older fanciers to the little guys as they were popularly
called. I don't know what it feels like to have an audience with the
king but I think this felt much more exciting. I only knew the stories
about their father who was first a canary breeder and about the brothers
by name, not to mention mother Janssen and daughter Bertha. Although I
was only 15 years old I thought how is it possible that such nice simple
people are so well known by their pigeons. Not many years later they
were even world famous. I was not used to much, yes I had clocked the
accelerated provincial pigeon on the first best flight in 1951 when I
was 13 years old. I still know exactly how it went. I was a member of a
club that played on Saturday because that club was the only one with a
youth section. There were so many youth members then that many pigeon
club would be jealous of nowadays. The pigeon sport was in bloom, one
club after another was founded. It went so well that there were even
clubs that had a member stop because their room was too small. At that
time there was not so much talked about known fanciers or pigeon breeds.
The first visit to the Janssen brothers has not lasted an hour but the
impression I got there has stayed with me all my life. I was crazy about
their beautiful light scratches and light blue and then those
silver-gray eyes, to never forget! I had and should have had such
pigeons and they got there. More than 50 years I mainly played the
Janssen pigeons very strongly in the short distance and long distance.
After that the Janssen story was over. In 2000 Louiske passed away. He
was not the best pigeon connoisseur he was more about the finances. In
the early nineties I brought in my last Janssen pigeon, a three-year-old
for which I had to pay a lot. I was very happy with it. The story is not
yet complete. At a certain moment I wanted to show the pigeon to a
friend but I couldn't find her anywhere she had escaped. She had seen an
opportunity to move from her breeding loft to a section where a number
of young pigeons stayed. My wife probably chased her out of the loft.
Every morning she released that group of youngsters and I had told her
that not a single pigeon should stay in the loft. When she heard my
story she said that a pigeon did not want to leave, I chased her of the
loft she said. You can imagine that there was a bit of panic. It was
late autumn, short days, could she find her way from Wijdewormer (120
km) to Arendonk? They had flown out there in the Schoolstraat and when I
called Louiske he had the same thoughts as me, she might have been lost.
That same week Louiske called me back to tell me that the pigeon was
back. Party in the Braspenning house and two days later she was back in
mine breeding loft. Unfortunately I have not bred a real topper from her
but two daughters of her did. Nice story or not? After that the direct
Janssens became too expensive for me. This was partly due to the
craziness that was mentioned on pedigree by others (especially
commercially minded fanciers). Later through the professional sales
sites the internet took it a step further and ensured that the pigeon
sport of today has become MADNESS AT ITS BEST in a word. The whole
pigeon world was crazy about the super-fast Janssen breed and now twenty
years after Louiske's death it is no longer talked about. It can go that
fast in the big human world. Several times I was in Arendonk and usually
I went home with only one or no pigeon. It was a miracle if you could
buy several at once. I owe a lot to their excellent pigeons and just
like them my lofts also contain mostly light scratches, light blue and a
single shale. That is definitely an important part of my hobby for me.
The only thing that still gives us the world famous Gebr. Janssen
recalls the almost identically recreated living room in the museum of
the Natural company in the Belgian village of Brecht. Most fanciers
disagree about my predilection for color, they only talk about first
prize winners and the color is unimportant. They just have right when
they have won more first prizes in their careers than I have. Nowadays
it is only about the pedigree with a beautiful photo and an even better
story. They are all good because they come from the best racers and
breeders. You just had to know what kind of junk is being dumped from
the so-called best breeders and kites on the market. Which madman now
sells his best pigeons or it should be a total sale.
THE SITUATION IN THE WORLD.
I didn't want to start my weekly column with the Corona virus. The whole
world is infected with it, there is no worse at the moment. All
countries have taken their measures and everyone, with the exception of
none, must abide by them. We will very cautiously gain ground but
according to the specialist doctors we are not there yet. Caution is
still required and let's stick to the rules. You can expect the pigeon
season to be overcome this year with obstacles. Perhaps it would be even
better to decide in early June whether or not pigeons can and should be
flown in 2020. I don't feel good about it. Because there is so much
attached to it that I leave it to others to put all the pros and cons on
paper. Stay at home and that also applies to your pigeons.
IT IS SPRING AS SPRING SHOULD BE
There was no winter this year at least bot in the Netherlands. It was
very long autumn weather and now it is only a few days spring and see
the heat record has already broken today April 8. It has never been as
warm in the center of our country as it is today. Cause? Hole in the
ozone layer, CO2 emissions, environment, climate change, fill it in. For
us ordinary people who do not delve too deeply into what could be
possible it is fully enjoy especially if you are lucky to have a garden.
It is completely different with all those families with young children
who are more or less under house arrest and have to stay in their
apartment with the entire family. It is not fun at all. Fortunately we
pigeon fanciers have the necessary distraction by taking care of our
pigeons. It is simply wonderful to stay in the pigeon loft for a while
regardless of everything that is going on in this world. Daydream about
any results that the pigeons may achieve this year. I myself currently
enjoy my youngsters that have only been outside for a week. They look
like to get through a ring I enjoy to the fullest. Other years I was
regularly in the loft with friends bragging about the beautiful
youngsters, oh what a wonderful hobby it is. I do wonder if the world
will look like it did before the corona crisis. I have my doubts there
about what might be because I am an elderly man of 82 and then you do
not have much future. I wish you and yours good health and continue to
think positively in everything you experience no matter how difficult
that may be.
EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT
Wijdewormer, March 25, 2020 beautiful spring weather, yes. However,
there is much more going on and who could have imagined that two weeks
ago. The corona contamination. Some made it a bit laughable, others
immediately saw the seriousness of it. Increasingly stringent measures
are announced worldwide every day. Our prime minister and our king spoke
to the whole people via TV and then it really is serious. Those speeches
were much appreciated, it did people very well. The government also
provides almost daily information on how best to combat this rapidly
spreading contamination. That should succeed if we all participate in
this and if we all meet the agreements made. More I can and won’t say
about it, I willingly leave that to the experts and we must have
complete confidence in that. Furthermore we will have to support each
other as much as possible in every respect. Do not just nod yes but also
do!
WE NEED TO CONTINUE
The messages in all types of media do not make it more fun. Every moment
of the day we are extensively informed about the situation in all
countries. It doesn't stop, so I wonder if we don't scare people more
and more. It is a very serious matter, that we all know, but it would be
very soothing if something positive were reported. Even if only a little
bit, it gives people a little confidence again. Despite the many nasty
messages I think we are on the right track again. We should probably not
count too much on April, which is the date that is provisionally seen as
a possible turning point. A lot of organizations and also companies are
very concerned. Because of the corona contamination our whole life has
changed completely. Large sport events are canceled which means that
millions of people have to miss all kinds of small and especially very
large sport events which are just so important for the necessary
relaxation on the weekends. However, it is also about the small sport
events where spectators are almost never present but which are greatly
enjoyed by the athlete himself. This relaxation is urgently needed to
function well during the working week. When we look at our great hobby,
the pigeon sport, it is especially a lot of fun and distraction for a
large group of elderly people. I must honestly confess that I am
especially happy now that my hobby is keeping racing pigeons. Last year
I planned to quit, I'm glad I didn't.
OUTSIDE IT IS COLD BUT IT’S SUMMER IN THE LOFT
Autumn lasted very long this year, we have not had winter and spring has
started with a lot of sun. However, in the Netherlands we currently
suffer a lot from a vicious cold east wind so that the wind chill feels
like it is freezing. From the wind you notice that the sun already has a
lot of power and in the loft it is so wonderful that the boss has
already fallen asleep on his chair several times. The newly weaned
youngsters were on my shoulders, on my cap and in my food bucket. All
youngsters are now weaned and every now and then I have to keep one with
his head in the water which is quite easy to see when I have to. Those
who are squinting or blinking are thirsty and do not yet know exactly
where the drinking bowl is and then the boss has to step in by holding
them with their cup in the drinking bowl. You can almost immediately see
that they are improving. Furthermore, they have full boxes all day. So
they can eat when they want, the disadvantage is that they mess a lot
with the food. That is why I stop feeding with a full bowl of food after
two weeks. I prefer feeding at fixed times. I once discovered that in
the Amsterdam zoo. A beautiful zoo where many wild animals live in
captivity. They are also taken care of at set times and you have to see
how active they get by then and even though they live in captivity they
look nice and sleek and shiny a sign that their physical condition is
okay. That is also how I see it with the pigeons. They already know that
when I enter the loft fresh food is thrown into the boxes. Check them
out if they are allegedly on ration. It's the same song every year. When
it is feeding time I stand outside next to the sputnik and even though
they fly so high, as soon as they see me they dive like comets in the
loft and are inside within seconds. If they don't something is going on.
That is not so much fun but it is nice to know that something is not
right because then you have to intervene. Eating and flying appetite are
very important measures that indicate the condition of the pigeons.
BREEDING SEASON AS GOOD AS BEYOND
The racing pigeons are ready for battle, they have been separated since
Wednesday. My racing pigeons are in the “upper loft”. A department for
the 11 hens, one for the 11 cocks and a larger department with 43
youngsters. The other three departments are empty and that was also the
intention. Less work and who knows, just as much fun. Our 20 pairs of
breeding pigeons are sitting downstairs and as you know the first round
went to Marco and recently the same group has joined me. The breeding
went very well, apparently all beautiful youngsters. None that did not
come up well and if they stay healthy they can all participate in the
competitions. Well or less well built they can all show their skills.
The breeding pigeons are now working on their last job and then they are
separated, then cocks and hens can each run in an open aviary of 3.5 x
2.5 meters. Only the roof is closed, they can enter at night.
WAITING IS NOW FOR THE START OF THE FLYING SEASON
The big question for many fanciers we will be competing this year.
Normally it is true that at this time of the year the speed players are
eager to start, that is not possible. In that respect, we will have to
wait quietly for all developments regarding the corona virus. There is
no sensible answer yet. Tonight at half past six in the Netherlands we
will receive the very latest news about the state of affairs and any new
agreements. If we could start the first flights in June would that be a
very surprising and very favorable sign because that would mean that we
are on the right track. I can add a little supplement to this article
before it goes to the printer. We are waiting for the speech by our
Prime Minister. This meant that, in general, little changes except for
the people who behave antisocial. Failure to comply with the regulations
may result in a hefty fine. Those who do not want to hear should feel.
WHAT MAY CHANGE WITHIN A WEEK
The infection with the Corona virus started in China. Everyone thought
that is far from my bed. Many ordinary citizens thought it would not go
so fast. The media provided a lot of information but nevertheless we all
shrugged a bit. Washing hands many times a day, well if that's all it
will be fine. However the reporting became increasingly concrete causing
a kind of hamster panic break out. The supermarkets were looted. Carts
were loaded with toilet paper, bread, long-life milk, paste and so on.
However, we do not solve the Corona contamination with that. All kinds
of emergency measures were announced. Unfortunately it is not the same
in every country. The Netherlands has been largely locked up for a few
days. Hospitality, museums, restaurants, canteens of sports clubs,
everything is and will remain closed until April 6. The pigeon season
also does not continue until further notice. Well, there are worse
things to think of than the temporary ban on pigeon racing. The big
question is how people will react if the bans are extended a few more
times a few months. You don't have to think about all the consequences
and yet you have to. It is a very serious matter when we had to smile a
bit about it two weeks ago. It is desirable that a vaccine is developed
quickly so that normal life can start again in the foreseeable future.
Let's not think about it too easily and stick to the agreements made.
ALL MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS CANCELED
Actually unimaginable, no entertainment for millions of people around
the world. Then you must agree that we are in a terrible period. Our
health is at stake. No family visits, no shaking hands, the nightlife is
completely stopped, we will have to entertain at home. Unfortunately
that has not fully penetrated by many, especially the youth is still
going on. But how long, the weekends will change completely and daily
life will not be as it was for the time being. We pigeon fanciers were
busy preparing for the new season a week ago. The Belgians are said to
have already started the speed races for old pigeons. First the weather
throw soot in the food and now the worldwide Corona infection. I am
currently not very positive about our pigeon sport. The start may be
longer than we think. Nevertheless, I will continue to prepare for the
time being. The 2020 season will certainly be different from the way we
were used to. That is not to say that it is therefore less fun.
ARE PIGEON BROOKERS AND BREEDING STUDS IN TROUBLE?
That could indeed become quite a big problem. Because everything is
locked, including the export of pigeons, all those name pigeons with
beautiful pedigrees will get the same value as the pigeons from Jan with
the cap. Names of pigeons written upwards will not matter that much
anymore. The Asian fanciers who still buy the vast majority of European
pigeons will keep their hands on the money if they know in advance that
it is not known when they will be sent their bought pigeons at
ridiculously high amounts. The pigeon brokers and breeding stations will
soon be stocked with lofts of pigeons that cannot or should not be sent
and if there is no more income they will have to fire staff. In short
all the troubles are not yet completely clear. The mass breeders among
us who hold a few sales a year will, like many companies, be forced to
lock things up. You can see how quickly something can change. Who of the
mass players who practice the pigeon sport commercially will ever have
thought of this, nobody right? They are all fully breeding again to
strike immediately after the racing season. “It may be wrong” Brederode
once said.
OUR YOUNGSTERS
This week I was on a loft visit with my son Marco, he has the first
round from our joint breeding loft. I had only seen them once since they
left me. They now fly and look perfect. Nice sight, a couple of 50
youngsters. Some are already molting in the neck and this weekend he
will start darkening. His old pigeons will come with eggs at the end of
this week, all with the intention that they will be in widowhood before
the original start date. Marco has 18 pairs of racing pigeons with which
he will play double widowhood. However, it is now known that the start
of the season will be moved to a later date. We will start bringing the
pigeons away from 25 March. I hope Marco will take mine too. I have 11
couples, mostly annuals. This weekend March 21/22 my 40 youngsters are
leaving the parents. Their loft is super clean, disinfected, processed
with the burner and on the floor is a thick layer of pea straw. Two
drinking bowls are about a meter and a half apart, a bowl with grit that
is refreshed every day. The first two weeks only fresh water and then
from time to time "something" goes into the water. I have no secrets, it
is interspersed with garlic, yellow cure and condition mix from Dr. Van
der Sluis, then again a two-day course against ornithosis. I start
darkening in mid-April and continue until the end of June. For me, the
eclipse runs from half past eight in the evening until half past eight
the next morning.
BEAUTIFUL CULTIVATED
Of course the mild winter weather has had a positive effect on early
breeding. The early youngsters for Marco were shining in the nests,
producing nice solid manure probably because I fed them three times a
day. I did the same with the youngsters who are meant for me.
Furthermore they got everything I thought would be good for them,
mineral mix, fresh vegetables, grit, garlic, brewer's yeast and vitamin
mineral. Every now and then I take a young pigeon in my hands during
cleaning, they feel the way we all like to see it. Even though they are
still quite young you already have a pigeon in your hands if you know
what I mean. I'm proud of it. The vast majority is light blue, no bold
blue I don't like that. Has nothing to do with quality but with my
hobby. I also have more white pens than in other years. I don't want to
have that whole motley. The breeders are now almost all on the third
round of eggs and after that it is over so end of the breeding season.
Let's hope that we can all get back to normal life in the near future
because it is now very boring on the street. That should work if we keep
to the agreements because good health is still the most important thing
for all of us.
METEOROLOGICAL SPRING IS STARTED
That sounds nice anyway. The word spring alone makes for a better
feeling because the beautiful spring weather is coming. Unfortunately
there was no sign of that yesterday. But this morning the sun was
shining and we had not seen it for a long time. What a luxury and then
to think that the real spring does not start until March 21 and fourteen
days after we will start. The latter is difficult to imagine. Yes in the
loft it is noticeable that we are on our way to a hopefully beautiful
fight under good conditions. The weather does not always have to be
nice. Sometimes it is for the exciting pretty good they have to root to
get home on time. The good results must be made naturally. That does not
mean that there are just beautiful or easy flights as long as they are
not flights with a disastrous course. During the selection we all did
our best to keep pigeons that have met the test of criticism. Nothing is
so bad then losing your with great care chosen pigeons. That something
like this will happen to some fanciers is almost certain. You must also
be able to handle setbacks in sport and we fanciers can certainly do
that. Setbacks belong by every sport similarly with ours. However a good
sportsman does not let himself be knocked out of the field and knows how
to deal with this. Do not think that you are the only one who sometimes
gets a hefty twist. It is very important that the pigeons have gone
through the winter without any problems because of the good care of the
boss which can be seen in the breeding results. Eggs laid nicely on
time, little or no unfertilized eggs, youngsters that hatch from their
eggs simultaneously, nice dry manure around the dishes, no squeaky
youngsters. These are situations that indicate that the condition of the
pigeons is good. Consider the compulsory vaccination (s), a final manure
check can certainly not hurt. Now something can be done about it, you
will be late in two weeks. You then essentially complete a round and try
to make it up again. There are those who succeed but most have to let
go. In that respect it is just like a cycling race and you know that in
a cycling race no one is waiting and that is also the case in the pigeon
sport.
IN MARCH THE DOTS ARE PUT ON THE I
For many fanciers spring month is the month in which matters are tackled
even more seriously compared to the competition season, including me.
From March 1 all my pigeons sit on summertime that start at the end of
this month. The clock then moves forward one hour. As a result the days
become longer which means that those who still work can also release
their pigeons in the evening. This way everyone is on the timetable that
is used during the season. My racing pigeons that are still sitting with
newly ringed youngsters now only go out at 8 o'clock in good weather (9
o'clock summer time). If they are separated in April the hens will not
come out in the morning, the cocks are allowed out at 8 am and 5 am. If
the young pigeons are weaned later they may be out from 9 to 12. As soon
as they start fluttering in April they go outside at 9 o'clock in the
morning and are fed at 10 o'clock. In the afternoon the hens fly from a
quarter to four to five, the cocks from 5 to 6 and the young from 6 to
7. Only at the end of April do the hens also go outside in the morning
and are allowed to train for half an hour from 7.30. The boss will also
have to get used to all of that because he himself is still in winter
time. If the weather is good in the afternoon I will cycle as much as
possible every day for an hour and a half and then I see youngsters fly
in pairs with various fanciers while mine are all still in the dish
which will be weaned at the end of this month. I was not supposed to
take that many but in the meantime there are 40 again. Everything is
going so well. Every day I go to the pigeons with pleasure and to think
that I was planning to stop last year. I was not feeling well at the
time but now I feel much better. The years do start to count. The drive
is no longer the way it was for years. But I still have angry plans so
hopefully I will provide some surprises.
DURING THE 25TH SPRING FAIR THE STARTING SHOT SOUNDED
The crowds showed that many fanciers are really looking forward to it
again. Although the weather was fine during the early breeding many
fanciers were interested in the large selection of young pigeons. Very
good business was done and many sellers was sold out on Saturday. The
more than 250 exhibitors were also more than satisfied. Of course the
organization had given ample attention to the corona virus. You
regularly came across the sign washing hands. More than 7000 paying
visitors had passed the checkout of this very successful spring fair
last weekend. Whether or not it has something to do with it I cannot
determine but in the night from Saturday to Sunday 12 of their 14
breeding pigeons were stolen from father and son Murk from IJsselstein
(NL). By making a hole in the mesh from the entrance door to the
breeding aviary the perpetrators managed to gain access. Really typical
that something like this often happens when a big event is held in the
pigeon field. Let's hope the perpetrators get caught in the neck. We
also have the NPO meeting on 14 March with the most important points
being the election of the board. It appears that an entirely new board
will be elected with the resignation of the current chairman under point
7.2. Also under point 8.1 the vote on whether or not to organize the
racing pigeon Olympiad in the Netherlands. If it does not go ahead it
seems to me an international downfall for the NPO and a huge loss of
face for Chairman Van der Kruk (also a member of the FCI board) because
they had definitively taken on the organization. You can also be
premature. Regardless of how it ends in April we are all empty-handed at
the start for a new, hopefully sporty and exciting showdown.
SILENCE FOR ANOTHER NEW STORM
The Dutch Weather is a completely upset. For weeks with fairly stormy
winds and heavy rain showers the temperatures are fairly mild for the
time of year. Storm Chiara and Dennis have made a name for themselves
and today there is another strong wind. All in all a pretty good period
for the winter breeders but now it's coming. Some winter breeders sit
with hands in the hair because from the end of January the earliest
youngsters had to go outside. I beg so the wind is a big breaker. Almost
no fancier dares to leave his young pigeons outside and in the meantime
it’s the end of February. Maybe it sounds worse. I know enough fanciers
who release their young pigeons when they have thrown the first pen but
that is not my system. We have to take risk. The youngsters can
sometimes blow through the gust of the loft which does not mean that you
immediately lose everything. I live in the polder and have only rest
around the loft. At the moment I don't have any youngsters that have to
go outside. Mine have just crawled from the egg so I have until the end
of March. If it’s then better weather we have to wait. There have been
years when quite a lot of snow fell at the end of March but that was an
exception in the Netherlands. Unfortunately we now have more and more to
do with air climate change and we and our pigeons have to deal with.
Today it is a sunny day a strong wind is blowing again. However another
(fierce) storm is coming. That is predicted for Saturday March 14 namely
then the postponed general meeting of the NPO is being held. If you ask
me much too late. Two weeks after our new racing season starts and then
it is hard to imagine that the severely disabled NPO board has required
everything to the last detail. It would be a good thing that there would
be more information from behind that board table to the followers. In
fact fanciers now nothing yet about changes. Probably little will be
changed because there’s no time for it. Rest in the room is currently
the most important thing. The still amps 7000 flying lofts now want to
know how 2020 season will look like. The race program is largely known.
For us the race season is started, we are there all year round busy
with. The majority is not so concerned with the national organization
and only want to play with pigeons. It’s now about capable managers who
see that their members keep pigeons to participate in competitions. That
is their hobby and that is why they are associated with the NPO.
Unfortunately the NPO didn’t bake much of it.
Various managers have resigned and there is a chairman who simply does
not want to leave while he has been asked several times to make his
position available. It leaves him cold, he pretends that nothing is
wrong while pigeons loving Netherland really want to get rid of him.
Then he also loses his face and his jobs at the FCI and he was just so
proud of that. It is now quiet before the storm. It is even anxiously
quiet and in the corridors people wonder if everything is arranged on
time. The confidence in chairman Maurice van de Kruk who likes to hear
himself talk is completely gone although he still does not realize that.
AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam was once an independent department with more than 1200 members
on a small number of square kilometers. Especially in the much sung
Jordaan it was crawling of fanciers. That is why the letter sent this
week was a complete surprise. Amsterdam was no longer an independent
department for quite some time and went further through pigeon life as
District Amsterdam with considerably fewer members. Now the message came
through that the district of Amsterdam has also been discontinued. The
reason given was the ever-decreasing number of members, too little
participation in events and the annual festive championships. Really
incredible. I have experienced the big parties in Grand Hotel
Krasnapolsky and in the Hilton hotel, unforgettable evenings! For
several years I have been able to judge the pigeons at countless clubs
and I also keep good memories of the annual departmental exhibition with
their class of honor. And so the Dutch pigeon sport loses an icon again.
A pity and a pity.
ONE LOFT RACES
I have never been in favor of it because this type of competition has
nothing to do with the pigeon sport that we know in the Netherlands for
100 years. Taking care of your pigeons yourself and participating in
flights is a real hobby at home. From the time that the pigeon sport
gained worldwide fame smart people arose who saw it as commercial. There
are simply a lot of gambling people in this world. The one loft races
were gaining more ground worldwide. Large amounts of money could be won
by our standards and that made several fanciers think. Many got an
aversion to this gambling game with pigeons because the participation
costs are much too high for the average fancier. Another much more
important point in my opinion is the pigeons themselves. They are put
together in large numbers which is extra difficult to keep them healthy.
Releasing many pigeons at the same time from the loft makes absolutely
no sense because those pigeons don't really train. They do not move away
and therefore remain as stupid as the horse of our Lord and that was a
donkey. In other words a lot of pigeons are lost as a result. In
addition we may ask ourselves what the condition of the pigeons must be
to make them eligible for participation. At home we determine ourselves
which pigeons can and cannot participate and we do our best to get them
to the start with extra motivation. How does that work in the money
races? Do they all fly off the shelf or may they also have a litter. I
still don't have a good feeling about it. It is not allowed in the
Netherlands. That does not say everything. For some fanciers races like
this are a solution. Not long ago I had contact with a fancier from
Hawaii by email. Pigeon racing is almost impossible there. That man had
a loft of breeding pigeons whose youngsters were released in the "one
loft races". That was that man's big hobby. A few days ago I received
the very comprehensive overview of the One Million Dollar Race in South
Africa, very professional for sure. For the 24th time the 600 km race
was held on 1 February. At 6:05 am the remaining 1548 pigeons from 34
different countries were released at a temperature of 19 degrees
Celsius. The pigeons had the wind on their heads and during the day the
temperature rose to 32 degrees. The largest international participation
came from Germany 403; USA 228; VK 100; Belgium 46 and the Netherlands
59. Our South African sports friends had deployed 284. The pigeons were
expected that day at 4 o'clock in the afternoon which meant 10 hours of
flying at a speed of 60 km per hour. That calculation was incorrect. We
had to wait until 6.32 pm for a Slovenian pigeon to report at a speed of
802 meters per minute. The pigeon thus earned 300.000 US dollars for his
boss. Later the winning pigeon was sold for 118.000 dollars. If you read
something like that many people get the jitters to take a chance. At
7:48 PM an American pigeon arrived for $ 150.000 and at 7:27 PM a Dutch
pigeon arrived that collected $ 100.000. Then it became quiet. The
fourth pigeon had to wait until 5.58 a.m. on Sunday morning and number 5
arrived at 6.49 a.m. On Sunday evening 447 were home and Monday evening
at 7 p.m. that number had grown to 590. So after three days of the race
there were a thousand (two thirds) young pigeons en route and that is
precisely the reason for my aversion to the one loft races.
THE CARDS ARE SHAKED
By that I do not mean the cards for bridge or another card game but
about the pedigree cards of our pigeons. I spend a lot of time on it in
the quiet winter months after the pigeons have been selected. All this
with the intention of putting together breeding couples from which I
expect good results. It is a fun activity because you can read the
necessary information about parents and grandparents from every breeding
pigeon. You can see at a glance whether the pigeon is a cross product or
whether it comes from lines or inbreeding. For me this is important
information when forming the new couples. You also have immediate global
information about the performance of the entire family especially if you
work on it. Try to capture as many important notes as possible such as
the quality of the feathers, physique, size, sturdy and well-closed
coccyx. Very useful because in practice it appears that you forget more
than you think. By putting couples together on the basis of the pedigree
cards you are in any case careful. If after a lot of shifting I come to
a definitive link I usually feel satisfied. In my mind I see the pigeons
in front of me and even after so many years of pigeon sport I am still
so naive that I think they are all sublime couples. For me they are
especially after all the preliminary work I have done. However, it does
not mean that the breeding results of the couples are sublime. We are
all pigeon fanciers enough to know that such a thing is impossible.
But……. if you manage to breed an "extra" once you know that a pigeon
that taps three or maybe four times very early in its birth year gives
that enormous sense of satisfaction especially because you yourself have
determined the parents. I also like to talk about usable pigeons.
Pigeons do not necessarily have to be winners, you also need pigeons to
make a nice result. Just winning a first prize with 50 pigeons doesn't
tell me that much. I prefer to go for a result such as 1-5-6-8-9 etc.
with the same number of pigeons. That is what I work for every day and
luckily for me many times in my long career I succeeded. That is
especially nice because I have never flown with a large number of
pigeons. Until three years ago I had a maximum of 24 couples to fly and
the same number of breeders. The latter was very much but the demand for
my pigeons was very high for me. Now that I am an old man and have only
played 12 pairs of pigeons in the last two years the results are less
spectacular. In the corridors I sometimes hear "Bras is old and doesn't
have the good ones anymore". That's right, I am indeed old and without
you noticing it change you a little every day. You become a bit easier,
it doesn't have to be that way anymore, you become more sentimental and
less driven in. In short it all becomes too much. This year I have not
(yet) succeeded in completely giving up my pigeons. In 2020 I would only
play with young pigeons. But if from the end of March until the
beginning of July I only have to care for young pigeons then I might as
well keep a dozen couples of racing pigeons so that I have a game every
week from April. So the men are not completely rid of me yet. In
addition I care about our 20 joint breeding couples that are housed with
me so enough work.
YOUNGSTERS ARE READY
They really came up beautifully and at the end of this week 32 go to son
Marco. A score of 80% (32 out of 40) is definitely good for this time of
the year. It is a shame about the two, in our eyes, important couples
had unfertilized eggs in the first round and now happily sit on their
newly born youngsters for a few days. The cocks are already hunting hard
and the youngsters from those eggs are for me. So from the end of March
I also have my team of youngsters. In addition, there are also a few
that I breed from the racing pigeons that have just been together for a
week. A little too late because the breeding pigeons already have eggs
from the second round. We will see how it goes, 35 youngsters are more
than enough for me. Dr. van der Sluis will soon be coming to vaccinate
against paramixo as soon as the breeding and racing pigeons are brooding
again. Also the young pigeons that are now sitting with Marco get then a
shot. Now we have to wait and see what the quality of the youngsters is
like. Breeding a loft full of youngsters is not that difficult. In that
respect they are just like mice, you have in no time a loft full of what
is not intended. It's not about quantity but about quality. There are in
our country so-called eye inspectors and even fortune-tellers who tells
everywhere they go the best stories about pigeons that can win a club
competition or even perform so well that he gets a teletext mention. I
must say that those men do ensure a pleasant pigeon evening. They
sometimes have a good story but in my eyes it is still a story or even a
fairy tale that they are tell people. They also breed a loft full of
youngsters every year. If they knew so well they would have had enough
of two breeding couples. No, it is and remains very difficult to breed a
topper every year and that is not even possible with most. Recently I
read in a column written by a very good fancier that he had a special
pigeon 20 years ago. It was not only a winner during the competitions
but also as a breeder he was worth his weight in gold. The pigeon would
certainly have produced a dozen national ace pigeons. In itself
incredible but absolutely true. The man is not only a great champion, he
is also a fan of a very large number of pigeons. There are a good number
of foster pigeons which are therefore not raced with. He only has it to
hatch eggs from his top pigeons and to raise them further. That is one
of the reasons that he has bred several top pigeons from his champion
pigeons. He did say that from 2000 onwards a total of 207 were bred so
only 5% really top. Can you see how difficult it is to breed a few good
ones from very good pigeons apart from the fact how many fanciers in the
world can realize such a breeding method? Every year he breeds around
300 pigeons for himself and then to think that someone in the southwest
of the Netherlands wants to start with 1000 youngsters. Very spectacular
but not a good thing for the pigeon sport. Within the NPO there is a
"fair game" working group that came up with four proposals at the last
meeting to establish the maximum number of participating pigeons that
can be used per fancier. It remained at point 4 and that meant; leave
everything as it is. Which means that everyone can use as many pigeons
on every flight as they want. Pigeon sport has never been a fair game
and therefore it never be.
CODE ORANGE
We notice more and more that the climate is changing. As far as we know
there has never been such a severe storm in the Netherlands as Sunday
February 10, even the name Ciara was given to it. We are really used to
wind rain and high water. This time it was extreme and therefore the
population was warned with code orange. That meant very turbulent
weather with strong gusts of wind up to 140 km per hour and very heavy
rain showers. Well, we knew that. As a precaution 140 flights were
canceled at Schiphol Airport. There were no trains on certain routes.
Trees went round and all sports events were canceled for the entire
Sunday even the Dutch Championship against wind in cycling could not
take place. Furthermore a lot of damage to houses and buildings which
means that the insurance companies must certainly work overtime.
Sunday's damage is estimated at 150 million and even on Monday the storm
had not disappeared. Beastly weather is predicted for the coming
weekend. This powerful storm is called Dennis. Due to such turbulent
weather you also extend such situations to the upcoming racing season.
After all we are pigeon fanciers and our hobby has a lot, if not
everything, to do with weather conditions.
FLY SEASON TO ANOTHER PERIOD?
The pigeon sport is changing. Not only individual commerce plays a very
important role in maintaining the membership but climate change also
plays an important role. The real Dutch winters no longer exist. It is
becoming an exception that natural ice can be skated for several weeks
in the months of December to February. It looks like the once famous
eleven cities tour with a distance of 200 km over the frozen Frisian
waters will never be ridden again. This year in the Netherlands even the
hottest January month ever! It is early February and due to the mild
weather conditions, 8 degrees Celsius, the birds are busy making their
nests in order. Do you remember the saying "in May all birds lay eggs"?
Forget that, the birds don't wait that long anymore. It is much too soft
for the time of year. The crocuses, tulips and daffodils fly out of the
ground. On the climate change pigeon sport will also be forced to play.
I can still remember that during the winter meetings it was almost
begged not to start the racing season that early. There were winters
that there was still plenty of snow in mid-March and training flights
with snow showers along the way also occurred. It is as if the real
winters in our country no longer exist. Would that all be over for good?
It is as if the seasons are shifting. We are therefore more or less
obliged to start our racing season earlier or later. A summer break may
have to be introduced. Whatever the case a racing season such as we have
been used to for a hundred years will almost certainly have to undergo a
change. We will certainly have to be guided by climate change experts
and not by the benevolent administrators who cannot see beyond their
noses.
WINTER BREEDING
Is winter breeding still a necessary evil? It was devised by fanciers
who wanted their young to grow up before the fields started to turn
green. With this they wanted to prevent the pigeons from moving to the
field to look for what they could not find in the loft. The farmers
started working with fertilizer to ensure a good harvest. The nasty
thing is that fertilizer contains toxic components that kill birds and
therefore our pigeons. In the winter months there is little or nothing
to find for our pigeons in the field which is why winter breeding was a
great invention. Just as important with winter breeding is that you can
breed several youngsters from the better pigeons that can participate in
the young pigeon program. Not everyone, like many large fanciers, has a
number of foster pigeons that hatch the eggs of the breeding pigeons.
The pigeon game is still based on the ordinary
Fancier with a stock of no more than 50 old pigeons including a couple
of breeding pigeons plus an equal number of young pigeons. By the way,
it would be very nice if we all had an equal stock of pigeons. A "fair
game" commission such as we have in the Netherlands would then not be
necessary. Now that it has been decided in our country that everyone on
a flight can still use as many pigeons as he or she wants there is still
no question of fair play and it will unfortunately never be. By the way
it remains a very nice game. It is a shame that so many fanciers have
thrown in the towel in recent years and it doesn't stop there.
WHIT REGARDS TO BREEDING IT’S NOW HIGH SEASON
If the pigeons are well cared during the winter months and are super
healthy for breeding it must now be enjoyed by the new generation. There
are lofts where the pigeons are not yet coupled (mainly with the
marathon players) where they sometimes only sit together for a week.
With those who started between Christmas and New Year the youngsters are
now ready and with the winter breeders who have already put the pigeons
together at the end of November the youngsters are now coming outside
for the first time. We couldn't have done better with regard to weather
conditions. To date I have only heard favorable messages about the
breeding. Few or no unfertilized eggs is a good sign about the health of
the pigeons. Don't wait too long with grafting against paramixo, the
sooner the better. Don't wait too long to vaccinate against smallpox and
paratyphus and when the pigeons come to eggs for the second time a
yellow cure won't hurt either. The point is that you feel good about
yourself. You must be able to say to yourself "I did everything to it".
Soon when the season is only a few weeks old the first sounds come "it
is not possible while I have done everything about it". Maybe everything
you've done is wrong. Because it is always the same ones that moan.
There are always the same who have a subscription with the vet and there
are always the same who play well, year after year. All this has to do
with the fancier's will commitment and mentality. We are on our way to
the start it goes faster than we think. Make sure that you are well
motivated and the results will come almost automatically.
THAT’S HOW IT GOES AT THE BRASSEN
I feel better than last year and that's why I go to the pigeons with
more pleasure. I hope it stays that way and then I can make the
competition smell another shit. The youngsters from our breeders have
now all moved to Marco's loft and he has now ringed the youngsters from
his racing pigeons. If they can leave the parents in two weeks he will
be ready and will have a young stock of around 50 pigeons. I poor father
☹ have no young ones yet. The breeders are breeding for the second time
and my 11 pairs of racing pigeons for the first time. I can submit
various eggs from the breeders to the racing pigeons, all of which can
only raise a young. If everything goes well I will easily get 35
youngsters and that is more than enough for me. For now everything is
going well, father and son are increasingly looking forward to the 2020
racing season. I hope you do too!
LATEST NEWS
The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture has acutely announced, February 11, a
poultry house obligation (do not let out). This has to do with a bird
flu infection in Germany. In 4 weeks it will be reviewed whether the
chickens can go outside again. This duty does not (yet) apply to
pigeons.
75 YEARS LIBERATION
When I awoke yesterday afternoon from my afternoon sleep the impressive
commemorative service at the gate of death in Auschwitz concentration
and extermination camp in southern Poland began on the TV. The Holocaust
is commemorated every year on January 27 because on that day in 1945 the
Red Army freed Auschwitz. 1.3 million people were detained there during
the war years. Of these 1.1 million were horribly murdered in gas
chambers, including more than 55.000 Dutch people. I myself was 8 years
old when the Netherlands was liberated so I was still a child. Yet my
thoughts often go back to that time. Especially if planes come over low
or if the sirens roar on the first Monday of the month. As a child I can
remember the liberation very well because the people were very excited.
They danced on the street, celebrated and everyone was happy I had never
seen anything like it before. I had never seen images of what happened
there in Auschwitz and other camps. I am now an old man and despite the
fact that we have been liberated for 75 years I could not keep it dry on
the TV during the service. Auschwitz remains an eternal monument. What
took place there during the 5 war years is incomprehensible and cannot
be described with a pen. Everyone thinks and says that something like
this should never happen again. We all probably agree with that. But if
we look at today's world events I wonder what we have all learned from
it.
THE PIGEON AS A PEACE SYMBOL
I don't know if it has anything to do with it but as a pigeon fancier I
am a bit proud that our pigeon is the peace symbol. Pigeons have made
themselves deserving in wartime and are still seen as the messenger of
peace during every war commemoration. Keep it that way I would say. In
the loft, especially at this time, they are not that peaceful.
Especially when it comes to their territory they sometimes fight until
they drop. Already in 1946 I got two pigeons for my 9th birthday who had
no more behind toe they were amputated. The occupier demanded from each
pigeon holder a list with the ring numbers of their pigeons. They wanted
to know because the food was becoming scarce and feed vouchers were
provided based on the number of pigeons. In retrospect that turned out
not to be the real reason. After a while a decree was issued that all
pigeons had to be killed and that the leg with each ring had to be
returned. That blow came very hard. Some kept their pigeons at the risk
of their own lives while others kept them with friends and
acquaintances. The situation did not improve and the controls became
stricter. Soon it became known among the pigeon farmers that you could
easily amputate the rear toe, rub the leg with soft soap and then slide
the ring off. That meant they only had to kill half of the pigeons.
Shortly after the liberation the pigeons that were still alive were
given a close ring. There were not many of them, pigeons were then a
rich possession. Halfway through the fifties there was already plenty of
racing with pigeons. The number of fanciers grew rapidly and one pigeon
club after the other was established. It became a real popular sport
with many supporters. The new building threw a spanner in the works.
Where new houses were built it was not allowed to just place a pigeon
loft in the garden, it was even forbidden. That was the first death
blow. Despite that, the pigeon sport flourished and grew. They were
golden times with every week of sport fun. The pigeon sport did not
stand still, the clocks were improved, the transport became more modern,
there were factory lofts that are a jewel in every garden, newspapers
paid full attention to the pigeon sport. There were national
championships, even a homing pigeon Olympiad and several competitions.
Unfortunately they did not lead to more members. In the new decade in
particular individual commerce entered the pigeon sport. Who would not
even want to win a car with his pigeons. The hobby became professional
with all its consequences. Fanciers grew older, stopped investing and
certainly not against those stupid amounts. As a result many of them
quit the first hour. Certainly due to old age but currently more likely
because the prices are rising in every respect. We are certainly in a
very difficult period in the Netherlands and Belgium. Dissatisfied
fanciers administrators who can no longer do good. As strange as it may
sound, within pigeon sport it is no rest and peace, it is war. Please
keep the idea that our pigeons are still the peace symbol.
THE MEMBERS COUNCIL
Last Saturday the members council of the NPO met to as far as possible
complete the agenda with all kinds of proposals for the coming racing
season. The whole event could be followed live stream. It was a long
session including a break and suspension, it took 5.5 hours and that is
far too long. Traditionally speaking speakers were regularly speaking
and I think the rest of the delegates were just thinking; how long will
this take? A very important point was the motion of no confidence in the
chairman. That is why a day chairman was hired to lead the meeting.
Incidentally it was a sleep-inducing show and at the end of the show the
current chairman was still sitting behind the board table as if nothing
was wrong at all. The voting behavior of the representative of the
Noord-Holland department in which I play was striking. He voted
differently than had already been decided at our department meeting, as
happened once before. The issue of doping was also discussed. A comment
was made that doping controls had not been conducted for a very long
period of time, while doping controllers were trained within our
organization. The chairman of the day unfortunately did not know that
our current chairman within the FCI manages the doping portfolio. None
of the delegates elaborated on this, also NPO chairman Van de Kruk kept
his jaws tight. Why didn't he bring light into this dark matter? A lot
of hard work is being done behind the scenes to invite new skilled
directors to sit on a new NPO board to be formed. On March 25 everything
will have to be arranged or arranged so that the new board can get to
work with a new impetus to remove the NPO administratively from the
impasse.
AT OUR OWN LOFT
The racing pigeons will be coupled this week. I think it is really
necessary because I saw a few breeding cocks chasing their hen again. I
have calculated everything well to place eggs from the breeding pigeons
partly under my racing pigeons. It looks like I'm a little bit late. Is
certainly due to the fairly mild weather. A few days with sunshine last
week and then it is immediately pleasant in the lofts. The ladies need a
partner. They are cuddling and now and then I find an egg. The
youngsters with the breeding pigeons are doing very well, I can now see
what color they get. Not that it is that important but I just like to
see very light blue or light scratches with an even lighter head, also
called "ice head". The most important thing is of course the quality but
also the construction counts. Beautiful and good is possible but also
difficult. I have been working on that as long as I have pigeons. But
still the prettiest are not always the best.
FORTY THOUSAND
Yes you read correctly 40.000 is a lot but that is the number of members
we have lost the in the Dutch pigeon sport over the years. I assume that
you have all been to a stadium where the same number of people were
present. When that sporting event is over and everyone goes home you see
that 40.000 people are a large crowd. We now miss a large number of
active fanciers in the Netherlands. One of the leading pigeon countries
like the Netherlands now only has 14.000. This also includes
combinations that consist of two or three members who play from the same
location. Also included are the members who no longer have pigeons but
who have remained members of their club. According to my estimate we can
still speak of 8000 "flying lofts". When we get to the national
organization point we will be shocked how many (especially older)
fanciers are still interested in our NPO which is shockingly low. The
large group wants to play with their pigeons from April to September and
for the rest it will be a concern for them how that will be arranged.
The older fanciers say "it will take my time". Try to set up an
organization for that in which all noses point in the same direction
seems something almost impossible to realize. Benevolent members of the
board receive so much opposition that administrators step up every once
in a while. The number of members is increasing rapidly which is not
only due to the aging population. The dissatisfaction and envy is
getting bigger and the associations are getting smaller. There is
already a proposal on the table that an association must consist of a
minimum of 15 members and that basketing may take place in its own room
if a minimum of 8 members participate. In my eyes a great decision but I
am sure that not everyone agrees with me. In this way we continue to
muddle a little the safety of the competition is compromised, the number
of participating pigeons in the club is little more. With me in the
Zaanstreek there are three club rooms next to each other. Yet people
still can't manage to make it into a club. How short-sighted you have to
be to stop that certainly because it is only a few members who stop a
merger. Organically things are not going well in the Netherlands. The
national administration has resigned or has been asked to resign. The
board of Noord-Holland has also given up and it is no longer a unity in
my own club. Nevertheless the new season in the Netherlands starts on
April 12 and that is what many fanciers are eagerly waiting for. However
a lot of work still needs to be done for the (new) directors. My fervent
wish is that they will succeed.
THE 24th MILLION DOLLAR RACE
Also called the Olympic Games of the pigeon sport. Saturday 1 February
is the final race over a distance of 525 km. A nice prize of 300.000 US
dollars is waiting for the winner. A total of 3632 pigeons from 36
different countries were entered for this race. As I heard of on January
17 1756 participated so there are a lot less. That it will be an
exciting race on February 1 is certain.
ROMANES ACCUSED OF PIGEON THEFT
It has been almost 4 years since 50 well-known pigeons were stolen from
the well-known Belgian long distance fancier Frans Bungeneers from
Ranst. The names of the three suspects are known but no pigeons from the
police officer from Ranst were found during house searches. However
other stolen pigeons of Dutch and Belgian descent. Frans had not
sufficiently insured his pigeons so he only received 900 euros. He has
submitted a claim for damages of 700.000 euros to the court. The court's
claim is 2 years in prison plus a fine, the judgment is on 3 February.
NATIONAL FLY PROGRAM 2020
In the Netherlands we will start on April 11 with a series of 6 speed
flights for the old pigeons followed by 7 middle distance flights, 11
flights for young pigeons and 5 after flights for old and young pigeons.
Then it is in the meantime 12 September. The young pigeons start on July
4. The program for the one-day long distance flights consists of 6
flights and the marathon players can choose from 8 races. Every week
game for the program players, they can participate in 35 races. What the
program looks like in the Ladies League is not yet known. Last year they
started this competition with a lot of tame, it was still a bit of
scanning. Hopefully the ladies will go full steam ahead this year.
BLACKPOOL PIGEON CITY NUMBER ONE
It is known worldwide that in the United Kingdom the second or third
weekend of January The Show Of The Year is held in the English seaside
town of Blackpool on the Irish Sea. Really the entire resort is that
week full of pigeon sport. I was there for several years and it was
unforgettable weekends. This year too a crowd of people were on the
move. Blackpool is becoming an increasingly international event that
attracts many fanciers from a large number of countries. Especially the
sales that are held in the many hotels attract a large audience. Again a
lot of pigeons changed ownership often against hefty amounts. It is a
good thing that there is no survey about the results achieved by the
very expensive pigeons and their children. Many pigeon friends would
probably fall from their seats in surprise. Blackpool is and remains a
great event. Next week it will be the turn of Fugare in Kortrijk,
Belgium on 8 and 9 February. It is already the 10th time that this
international pigeon fair is held. Many fanciers from the surrounding
countries are also attracting visitors there. After that a number of
national honors will follow and then yes, it will all start again.
JUST THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE BREEDING ON OUR OWN LOFT
Almost all 36 young are ringed. One has been submitted to another couple
so that the couple who no longer have a youngster can start again.
Furthermore there is little to say about the new generation. They grow
well and that is certainly because I feed the pigeons three times a day.
The youngsters then lie all day with a well-filled head. The manure
around the dishes looks great. Thursday 30 January my racing pigeons
will be coupled so that I can place a part of the second round of the
breeders under the racing pigeons. Incidentally I only have 1 young
brought up because we, as their young, can be weaned on the eve of the
new racing season. As soon as my racing pigeons are on eggs in
mid-February, they are immediately vaccinated against paramixo,
according to Dr. Van der Sluis can't hurt that. I'm actually a bit late
and since this morning also a bit shocked, read….
IN SHOCK
This morning I read an extensive article about bird flu (paramixo) that
is getting closer. The economic interests in the Netherlands are
particularly large within the poultry sector. The Netherlands has a
little less than 100 million chickens and nineteen slaughterhouses that
employ more than 10.000 people. The Minister of Agriculture has been
asked for a shed duty (keeping poultry inside). This time the H5N8 virus
comes from the Czech Republic and now that more and more cold is coming
from Eastern Europe the migratory birds are the possible transmitters
through their droppings. People do not want to take any risks and that
may therefore also relate to our racing pigeon sport. We have
experienced something like this several times. Do not panic, it will not
be the case that our new racing season is in danger? Just to be sure,
let's light a candle.
75 YEARS LIBERATION
When I awoke yesterday afternoon from my afternoon sleep the impressive
commemorative service at the gate of death in Auschwitz concentration
and extermination camp in southern Poland began on the TV. The Holocaust
is commemorated every year on January 27 because on that day in 1945 the
Red Army freed Auschwitz. 1.3 million people were detained there during
the war years. Of these 1.1 million were horribly murdered in gas
chambers, including more than 55.000 Dutch people. I myself was 8 years
old when the Netherlands was liberated so I was still a child. Yet my
thoughts often go back to that time. Especially if planes come over low
or if the sirens roar on the first Monday of the month. As a child I can
remember the liberation very well because the people were very excited.
They danced on the street, celebrated and everyone was happy I had never
seen anything like it before. I had never seen images of what happened
there in Auschwitz and other camps. I am now an old man and despite the
fact that we have been liberated for 75 years I could not keep it dry on
the TV during the service. Auschwitz remains an eternal monument. What
took place there during the 5 war years is incomprehensible and cannot
be described with a pen. Everyone thinks and says that something like
this should never happen again. We all probably agree with that. But if
we look at today's world events I wonder what we have all learned from
it.
THE PIGEON AS A PEACE SYMBOL
I don't know if it has anything to do with it but as a pigeon fancier I
am a bit proud that our pigeon is the peace symbol. Pigeons have made
themselves deserving in wartime and are still seen as the messenger of
peace during every war commemoration. Keep it that way I would say. In
the loft, especially at this time, they are not that peaceful.
Especially when it comes to their territory they sometimes fight until
they drop. Already in 1946 I got two pigeons for my 9th birthday who had
no more behind toe they were amputated. The occupier demanded from each
pigeon holder a list with the ring numbers of their pigeons. They wanted
to know because the food was becoming scarce and feed vouchers were
provided based on the number of pigeons. In retrospect that turned out
not to be the real reason. After a while a decree was issued that all
pigeons had to be killed and that the leg with each ring had to be
returned. That blow came very hard. Some kept their pigeons at the risk
of their own lives while others kept them with friends and
acquaintances. The situation did not improve and the controls became
stricter. Soon it became known among the pigeon farmers that you could
easily amputate the rear toe, rub the leg with soft soap and then slide
the ring off. That meant they only had to kill half of the pigeons.
Shortly after the liberation the pigeons that were still alive were
given a close ring. There were not many of them, pigeons were then a
rich possession. Halfway through the fifties there was already plenty of
racing with pigeons. The number of fanciers grew rapidly and one pigeon
club after the other was established. It became a real popular sport
with many supporters. The new building threw a spanner in the works.
Where new houses were built it was not allowed to just place a pigeon
loft in the garden, it was even forbidden. That was the first death
blow. Despite that, the pigeon sport flourished and grew. They were
golden times with every week of sport fun. The pigeon sport did not
stand still, the clocks were improved, the transport became more modern,
there were factory lofts that are a jewel in every garden, newspapers
paid full attention to the pigeon sport. There were national
championships, even a homing pigeon Olympiad and several competitions.
Unfortunately they did not lead to more members. In the new decade in
particular individual commerce entered the pigeon sport. Who would not
even want to win a car with his pigeons. The hobby became professional
with all its consequences. Fanciers grew older, stopped investing and
certainly not against those stupid amounts. As a result many of them
quit the first hour. Certainly due to old age but currently more likely
because the prices are rising in every respect. We are certainly in a
very difficult period in the Netherlands and Belgium. Dissatisfied
fanciers administrators who can no longer do good. As strange as it may
sound, within pigeon sport it is no rest and peace, it is war. Please
keep the idea that our pigeons are still the peace symbol.
THE MEMBERS COUNCIL
Last Saturday the members council of the NPO met to as far as possible
complete the agenda with all kinds of proposals for the coming racing
season. The whole event could be followed live stream. It was a long
session including a break and suspension, it took 5.5 hours and that is
far too long. Traditionally speaking speakers were regularly speaking
and I think the rest of the delegates were just thinking; how long will
this take? A very important point was the motion of no confidence in the
chairman. That is why a day chairman was hired to lead the meeting.
Incidentally it was a sleep-inducing show and at the end of the show the
current chairman was still sitting behind the board table as if nothing
was wrong at all. The voting behavior of the representative of the
Noord-Holland department in which I play was striking. He voted
differently than had already been decided at our department meeting, as
happened once before. The issue of doping was also discussed. A comment
was made that doping controls had not been conducted for a very long
period of time, while doping controllers were trained within our
organization. The chairman of the day unfortunately did not know that
our current chairman within the FCI manages the doping portfolio. None
of the delegates elaborated on this, also NPO chairman Van de Kruk kept
his jaws tight. Why didn't he bring light into this dark matter? A lot
of hard work is being done behind the scenes to invite new skilled
directors to sit on a new NPO board to be formed. On March 25 everything
will have to be arranged or arranged so that the new board can get to
work with a new impetus to remove the NPO administratively from the
impasse.
AT OUR OWN LOFT
The racing pigeons will be coupled this week. I think it is really
necessary because I saw a few breeding cocks chasing their hen again. I
have calculated everything well to place eggs from the breeding pigeons
partly under my racing pigeons. It looks like I'm a little bit late. Is
certainly due to the fairly mild weather. A few days with sunshine last
week and then it is immediately pleasant in the lofts. The ladies need a
partner. They are cuddling and now and then I find an egg. The
youngsters with the breeding pigeons are doing very well, I can now see
what color they get. Not that it is that important but I just like to
see very light blue or light scratches with an even lighter head, also
called "ice head". The most important thing is of course the quality but
also the construction counts. Beautiful and good is possible but also
difficult. I have been working on that as long as I have pigeons. But
still the prettiest are not always the best.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS?
Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise more, you know all those good
intentions. It is about whether you actually maintain that. Practice has
shown many times that when we are six weeks later there is very little
left of all those good intentions. Well, that's been going on for years.
Everyone should do what he feels most comfortable with. Worse is all the
violence in the world. The demolitions of beautiful buildings and
especially houses that make many people flee. The uncertainty and
corruption make people fearful, no one feels really safe anymore. Now
that I am writing this we will be celebrating New Year's Eve in a few
hours, enjoying the family together with plenty of food and drink. It is
a party and at 12 o'clock we wish each other all the best for 2020.
There is hardly any thought of those people who do not have a pleasant
evening. Very bizarre, or not. Fortunately many people do what they can
to support people who have been driven from their hose and fireplace.
This can be done in many ways and it would be good if we would start
thinking about it again tomorrow when we start living normal life again
and add the deed to the word. Although there is much to wish I am happy
that I live in the Netherlands because we are not so bad. Compared to
many other countries we lead a luxurious life. So far my New Year's
meditations. A healthy, happy, successful and prosperous 2020 for all of
you.
WHAT DELICIOUS IF YOU HAVE A HOBBY
Another year has passed. Was that a shame or were you happy that it was
over? Everything has to do with the health of the boss, his family and
the performance of the pigeons. If that is good, one can fully commit
one hundred percent. If that is not the case then you see that by the
performance of the pigeons. I experienced that myself last year. In the
middle of the summer I went through a bad period. I was not motivated at
all and that was due to physical problems. I always went to the pigeons
with pleasure but then I could no longer afford it. I was convinced that
I would stop pigeon racing. Also all the peripheral phenomena within the
organization of our beautiful hobby did not make me happier. As far as
the national and regional organization is concerned it is still a mess.
Fortunately I feel good again and finally decided to continue with my
pigeons. However, it will be different. I'm going to start with only 10
couples to fly. Together with my son Marco we have a joint breeding loft
in which 20 couples. Furthermore it is the intention that Marco takes
the first round of youngsters and I the next. I will pair my racing
pigeons when the youngsters are with the breeders for about 15 days so
that a number of eggs from the in our eyes best breeders will lie under
my racing pigeons. All breeders are now breeding for the first time. In
the meantime I have stopped lighten and the last few days the windows
are open during the day so that the pigeons that are not on the nest can
fly around nicely. I am not in favor of always keeping the windows open.
That has to do with the large free space in front of my breeding loft
that faces east and in this time the cold wind comes from there. I
definitely do not want to make greenhouse plants from my breeders but
for them to breed in the full, often cold east wind it is not necessary
for me. I think they get worse rather than better from that. However I
did ensure that they all have a well-filled nest, which is nice for the
young ones that will hatch later perhaps with temperatures below zero.
For them it also applies that they will grow better in a cozy nest than
in a bare nest dish filled with a few tobacco stalks.
NEW YEAR'S EVE IS OVER
For us a very pleasant evening in the middle of a large part of the
family. With a very nice game and the necessary snacks and drinks it was
soon twelve o'clock. Everyone flew around each other to wish each other
the best for 2020. Around twelve o'clock the TV went on and whatever
channel you watched it was everywhere party with beautiful fireworks,
how beautiful it can be. But again this year it was "appearances
deceiving" because not much later we were confronted with images of the
necessary riots, arson, eye damage and even more of that misery. Even
now last year's records were broken again. It gets worse every year. A
general ban on fireworks would certainly help to restore peace. When I
came to the pigeons that morning (a bit later than normal) the breeders
were quietly breeding and the other pigeons were waiting in front of the
sliding door because they were hungry. A quick clean here and there, all
supplied with fresh water and soon inside to the warm stove awaiting the
visit of the children / grandchildren who wish ma/grandma and pa/grandpa
a happy new year. We will resume the thread of normal life from January
2. I will then start with the racing pigeons to let go of the day. At 9
o'clock they are all taken care of and if the weather permits a team of
pigeons may go outside at 10 o'clock.
MEETING
The new year has only just begun or I have already seen a letter sent to
our national organization on behalf of a number of departments. A sharp
letter in which not much of our national government was left. That sets
the tone. There is no longer any faith in the current directors. But
what next? I am sure there are enough skilled managers in our country.
The disadvantage is that most of them are (too) old. Young impetus must
come with the support of a number of older experts. Easier said than
done. In the meantime, it has been decided to hold an extraordinary
members meeting in our department on January 17 in which the agenda for
the meeting of January 21 of the national administration (NPO) is
discussed. Our departmental board is also under fire because they
threaten to stop and then want to continue. However, there is still a
lot of work to be done in the near future to have everything arranged
for the new season in time. Stop pointing the finger and getting going.
I long for the moment that we are all on our way again with the pigeons
to the classroom. Most of the time the powder fumes will be lifted and
we will focus on the upcoming competitions. I assume that everything
will work out and that is only possible if we continue to approach
everything positively.
PIGEON SPORT FINE HOBBY
A hobby at home there is no more beautiful. It is a time-consuming hobby
and the fancier have made it themselves. Because more and more
professionals have come, the social players do not want to be
slaughtered every week by the men who have turned our hobby into a
profitable company. Sport cannot do without commerce, but that is a
different form of commerce than what professional players are involved
with. They try to turn every not worth mentioning performance into a
commercial story. Understandable, because there are some who in this way
have grown from a normal workman to a fortunate citizen with incomes
that the managements of large companies cannot match. That is not a good
thing to maintain the simple pigeon sport. Where did the time go when
fanciers had to arrange everything by bicycle? It was a beautiful street
scene when you saw the pigeon fanciers on the bike ride to the room.
Basket on the back, one hand on the wheel and in the other hand the
clock. The joint training of the pigeons also went by bike, very
pleasant with all of them on their way to the release which was never
further than 15-20 km. Along the way was talked about the pigeons and
once arrived at the release site before the baskets were opened a few
more pigeons were first viewed, it was fun trump. And now? Everyone goes
their own way, everyone has a car at their disposal. Often there are
driven several days a week sometimes to distances of 150 km. Apart from
the time it takes something like this cannot be achieved by an ordinary
workman. In this way there is little to be gained for working people and
for many years retired fanciers. They drop out and although a hobby at
home is so much fun it is ultimately about the pigeon game. The
difference between fanciers is getting bigger. Then it can be said that
it is awarded to them but that is not the case. Why do you think so many
fanciers stop? Partly due to commerce. It would be better for our
national organization to get the NPO the much needed commercial
injections from the business community and certainly from their members
who know how to enrich themselves more or less at the expense of
socializing players and the large group of volunteers. By the way where
is the fair play proposal from 2020 onwards? Did those men fall asleep?
TRUST IS TOTALLY GONE
The NPO board, which was operating not so long ago, is unfortunately
severely disabled and has been completely lost for quite some time. What
should it be in 2020? The belief in the board is declining more and
more. Great dissatisfaction in Belgium. In the Netherlands a new board
must be elected, currently four directors must arrange the matter.
Unsuccessful work in a jungle of proposals that must be accompanied by
far too many committees, sectors or working groups. Only from that you
get all the jitters. Managers have also left the province of
Noord-Holland and others are in danger of stopping. There may be a
meeting but the members don't get anything. It's just a mess and then it
becomes critical. Expert people MUST now arise who are willing to remove
the NPO from the impasse. By drawing up a list of priorities you can
start with the most important points that will be realized first
otherwise our pigeon game that we all love so much will go to the
Philistines. That should absolutely not happen. But yes, where do we get
drivers from whom we can say the right man in the right place, it seems
like that is impossible. It is true that the NPO board has called itself
all the misery within our organization. There are still more than two
months to get everything back in the right direction and all those
better-informed delegates from the departments must want to cooperate
fully with 100%. Only with cooperation can you reach a goal!
FAVORABLE TEMPERATURES FOR WINTER BREEDING
Our breeding pigeons were put together on the 16th, no problems this
year. No fights and the connection went smoothly. A hen lay already
after 6 days. That is a bit fast so we have to wait and see if those
eggs are fertilized. After 8 days 5 couples have their first egg and
that is probably also due to the mild winter weather for this time of
the year. On Christmas Day it looked like spring. No cloud in the sky
and plenty of sun. The breeders lay wonderfully in the sun outside in
the run. Fantastic for those where the first eggs hatched. Even though
things are not going so smoothly within the national organization we
pigeon fanciers continue with everything that our hobby has to do with.
We are on the way to a new season and probably all on the way to better
performance. We are very curious how our breeding will go. We can, as it
were, look at the eggs from our new acquisitions. Let us not focus
solely on the results of our new acquisitions because our own pigeons,
of which we know much if not everything, are much more important. It is
hoped that the Dutch who have paid a lot of money for their new
acquisition will also be successful. However there are very few Dutch
fanciers who have bought very expensive pigeons. I have a surprise for
them. Because of my age I have decided to dispose of half of my
breeders. They will be sold at the end of January on
www.gps-auctions.com Before that time 5 January a sale of a round summer
youngsters 2019 from the breeders will start on the same sales site. I’m
sure that there’s something right and affordable with it for everyone.
So take the opportunity to get pigeons to your loft with which I and
many others have achieved top results for more than 50 years. It is
crazy to say that more than a ton is counted for some young pigeons that
have never been in the basket. The value of a pigeon in the Netherlands
is still 1 euro, there is no poulter who gives more for it. So how crazy
should you be to pay astronomical amounts for pigeons from what most end
up with the poulter. Please let's keep it a bit cozy. The funny thing is
that often very good breeding results are achieved with two gain
pigeons. The quality of a pigeon has nothing to do with the amount that
is paid for it and every fancier must ensure the success. Wishing all
loyal readers a fantastic 2020 with many highlights within our sport, an
optimal health so that everyone can fully enjoy his or her pigeons
again. Good luck!
NOW YOU MUST HAVE THEM "BEAUTIFUL", IN THE RACE SEASON YOU MUST HAVE
THEM "GOOD".
From the end of November to the end of January the exhibition season is
running at full speed. The local shows in particular attract a large
audience from the immediate surroundings. They are often very pleasant
weekends especially because fanciers who do not see or speak to each
other all summer have the opportunity to hear each other's "strong"
stories and, which is certainly so beautiful, that they are able to
admire each other's pigeons whom they a whole year to play against. For
the associations such shows are in many cases a nice side effect to give
the clubhouse a financial injection. The largest contribution usually
comes from the sale of vouchers or pigeons donated by strong players.
For visitors it is often attractive to purchase something nice at such a
local show for a reasonable amount. In this way many fanciers have
succeeded very well with their new addition. I have been a judge for 40
years and have actually traveled all over the country and even been
invited outside the border to judge pigeons. I liked to do that mainly
because in the early years I usually got very good pigeons in my hands.
It was at the time that fanciers were still curious about the judge's
judgment. Now they think in the Netherlands that they can decide for
themselves. I became a judge because I wanted to know everything about
pigeons, at the end I was almost a pigeon myself. In the summer I went
to lofts a lot to write reports of fanciers who had a remarkable
performance or because they always played well and you have to be with
those men to buy something to improve your own colony not by a one-day
fly. There are examples of mostly long distance players, and especially
the marathon flights, which can get or ask such an enormous amount of
money for their pigeons because they have once won a national victory.
Anyway, nowadays that is also pigeon sport. I prefer to talk about good
pigeons and those are often not the nicest. My goal has always been to
breed beautiful and especially very good pigeons. Fortunately I have
always succeeded. I specialize in flights up to 500 km and because of my
good performance I was even called the "King of sprint". To be honest
that is slightly less but I think my collection of pigeons is of such a
quality that I don't have to step aside for anyone. Do you want to know
what my biggest competitor is? What actually applies to all readers and
that is our age. At a certain point you come to an age when the fanatic
goes over, you become sentimental. You enjoy your pigeon, you find them
all great and you can hardly renounce. If you are that far, even though
the quality of the pigeons is still so good, then it is done with weekly
leading.
FEED IS POISON
It has been 60 years since a great national champion once said to me;
when you get home you have to write in large letters on every bag of
pigeon food: POISON.
Because you give oh so quickly too much. He was and still is right. You
can do feeding in different ways. You can always give them a full bowl.
In the beginning they are much too heavy, later they eat much less and
are then well on weight. You can compare it to a child who can eat the
cookie jar empty. If you keep hold on for a few days in the long run
they shudder of cookies. I see feeding more as art, you have to take the
time for it. When I start feeding my pigeons I know exactly how much
they all need. I give half the amount at once, on the floor or in the
food bowl, it doesn't matter. I give the other part to the floor bit by
bit and when one or two starts drinking I stop it. In the morning I give
less, they stay a little more active during the day. I always feed at
set times, the pigeons become attuned to that and know exactly that if
they have trained for an hour it is dinner time. I then stand next to
the sputnik and as soon as they see me, even though they are still
flying so high, they come without me whistling or stand with the food
van rattling directly down. I saw that once in the zoo. Everything is
being fed there at set times and half an hour before dinner time you see
all the wild animals getting restless, they know the food is coming.
Although these animals are in prison they always look perfect because of
regular care. Their condition is always good and so is the pigeons. As
the flights get longer I feed a little more candy seed and three peanuts
every day. The day before the pigeons travel they can eat as much as
they want in the afternoon for half an hour. I do the same on Saturday
evening when I take the hens away at 7 am. Then all my pigeons,
including the youngsters and breeding pigeons, get food almost at the
same time. Every Wednesday a bath and a hefty hand full of soup
vegetables does them well. In total they receive 35 grams of feed per
pigeon every day. The breeding pigeons are fed three times a day when
they have young. After every feeding the parents feed their young so
that they always have a well-filled head and that is good for growth.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
The more often you do something, the easier it goes. Exercising or
training ensures good fitness and therefore often good health. My old
and young racing pigeons train for an hour twice a day. I live in the
polder, I only have a few houses in my immediate area so my pigeons do
not have the opportunity to roam with the neighbors to sit down. They
fly or they are in my own loft. A pigeon can also sit in another place
and that is the basket. So fly, in the loft or in the basket. In the
beginning I sometimes have to chase them but they quickly realize that.
The loft remains closed during training time. After an hour I show
myself and then the pigeons flash inside. The pigeons do not train in
fog or heavy rain. The pigeons are currently trapped, they have not been
outside since the end of September but 23-12 I have released the cocks
again for the first time. There are 10. Yes you read that right, I have
made the decision I do not want to have so many pigeons anymore, I have
to make too much effort to be able to properly care for a large group.
Then a bit less and with 10 cocks and 10 hens I have to be able to come
along well every week. Together with my son I own 20 breeding couples,
actually too much. The first round goes to my son Marco and the second
round is for father Bert. We will therefore both start with 35
youngsters. We start training with the pigeons as early as possible.
Before the first flights we have been away several times with the
youngsters. The proverb learned young is done old is still in effect. We
never go further than 40 km. Pigeons know how to find their way home
better than we do. We fanciers can only help them by familiarizing them
with the basket and by repeatedly bringing them, often to the same
release location, the flight rhythm comes in. We cannot do more with
regard to training. During the racing season they only go once, usually
on Tuesdays. It is important that the pigeons leave for 15 minutes in
the morning. We won't get away with them as long as they don't. We are
ready for the battle, at the beginning of January another round of
youngsters from our breeders will be sold on GPS. A few weeks later it
is the turn of a group of breeders. Then this old man has an overview
and he even plans to keep his son and all other competitors behind him.
Interested in the Brassen? Check out www.gps-auctions.com
THE DARK DAYS FOR CHRISTMAS
December is the nicest and most atmospheric month of the year for many
people. Unfortunately that is not the case worldwide. In that regard,
even after WW II, the great world leaders still do not understand what
peace and freedom means to all people. Money, power, corruption and war,
we will never get used to it and yet there will never be an end to it
but enough about it. We pigeon friends, however much we would like it,
with the best will in the world, cannot change these inhuman conditions.
Then we sometimes worry if there is an egg next to the shell !! ?? The
world just goes on and on and then it's Christmas. Feast of light, of
new life, of peace on earth, festive days in the home and socializing
above all. For many, this is a dream or even unimaginable. With us, the
first youngsters are in the dish in many lofts during the Christmas
season.
CHRISTMAS CHILDREN
We have not yet paired. As you all know my son Marco and I have a joint
breeding loft in which 18 excellent couples at least we think so.
Together we decided that we would put the breeding pigeons together on
15 December. The first round is for Marco and the next round for father
Bert. Our breeding loft consists of a few except proven pigeons. It is
already known that a number of usable pigeons have been produced. The
older breeding pigeons had to make way for the youth. We have now
started preparing for the matching date. The days are now extended until
10 o'clock in the evening, the lamp stays off in the morning. The
pigeons now get a bit heavier food, not too much we try to prevent them
from becoming too heavy. If the pigeons are too heavy the chance of
unfertilized eggs is greater and hens that are too heavy can get laying
problems. Furthermore some hemp and linseed is added to the feed. They
have had the cures. They like to eat and bathe are all through the molt
and I find enough small feathers every day. Our breeding pigeons do not
come outside at least they do not fly around the loft. They do have
access to a large aviary. At the moment it looks good and if they all
have the first egg in the dish 10-12 days after pairing then we have
prepared things well. We have to wait a little while, at least we have
good hope. Everything is paired on paper and experience has taught me
that even on the day of pairing there are still some changes taking
place. The point is that both partners accept each other quickly so that
all come with eggs almost at the same time.
TOO MANY BREEDING PIGEONS
A breeding loft with 18 breeding couples is a bit much and despite the
fact that we have ensured quality in the loft, this season will again
show disappointing breeding results. If that is the case there will also
be windfalls and that is what it is ultimately about. We both don't like
to own a lot of pigeons we have to be able to oversee it. I myself have
plenty of room for that matter, I can accommodate 100 youngsters. This
year 3 departments will be empty for the first time because I can't take
care of so many pigeons anymore. I can now pay full attention to the
breeders who are housed with me and I am even looking forward to that.
As an avid pigeon man I can sometimes sit with the pigeons for hours.
With my racing pigeons I never did that with the youngsters. I also
wanted rest in the loft and everything always happened at set times.
With breeding pigeons you can be a bit easier plus you can go there at
all times of the day. We do not need to discuss eggs under fly or foster
pigeons because we would get too many again unnoticed. With both a round
of youngsters from the breeders we have plenty of opportunities to test
the youngsters. In the past I have almost never left breeding couples
the same simple to prevent that I would get too much of the same and if
I had ever bred a super then I could always put the parents back
together again. My experience is that you almost never breed two supers
from the same couple I have tried that several times. One year two
youngsters from a couple, one of whom was excellent and the other as a
youngster didn't mean much. The following year six youngsters from that
couple and all of them a big insufficient. So I don't care which couple
gives a very good one if I have a couple that gives a very good one
every year you can keep it up with a bit of luck for a long time.
DISSATISFIED WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
That is the reason why the secretary and the treasurer of the NPO have
stopped abruptly and now it is probably the turn of the chairman because
he is under considerable fire. It has to do with the failure to comply
with agreements made, the failure to send the meeting documents on time
which means that decisions with the supporters cannot be made. Too much
talk and too little is done. Furthermore it is believed that chairman
van der Kruk, who likes to hear himself talk, unnecessarily aspires to
international positions that are of little or no use to the Dutch pigeon
sport. The organization of the Olympiad that will be held in the
Netherlands in 2023 has also raised many questions particularly about
the way in which the NPO board wants to get the affair financially
closed. The general meeting of members from December 21 has been
postponed to January 25 by necessity. The financial situation within the
NPO, the flight program and the proposals of the sections that have been
created will certainly be discussed. In my opinion our NPO has gradually
been over-organized. There are so many people who want to have a finger
in the porridge that makes managing not easier. Much must be arranged by
the end of January because then it will only be two months before the
start of the new racing season.
START THE NEW YEAR WELL WITH A VISIT TO THE SHOW OF THE YEAR
Traditionally in Blackpool the weekend of 18 and 19 January is the "BHW
Show of the year". A formidable pigeon event where I was present for
several years as a visitor and also as a judge. The Winter Garden is a
unique opportunity to experience everything about the pigeon sport. A
show with more than 2000 pigeons, more than 100 different stands,
various pigeon sales and on Saturday evening the BHW Gala Evening. The
whole of Blackpool is dominated by the racing pigeon sport that weekend.
Nowhere else did I see such a big event. I will not be there again this
year because of my age the journey and stay are too tiring but I will
miss it. Unfortunately it all stops once. For those who are there I hope
they will have a very nice weekend.
REEDING HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE RACE SEASON
Especially the Belgians practice winter breeding in large numbers. The
Netherlands follows and possibly afterwards the Germans and English.
Especially breeding as much as possible from proven pigeons is very
important. I still assume that the chance to breed a good pigeon is
greater from your very best pigeons. Of course there are also examples
that a great pigeon is sometimes born out of less performing pigeons
fortunately. We can then speak of a fluke. But to get ahead my
preference is definitely to breed from the very best that you own. The
very best you have are the pigeons that have recently won several top
prizes in their own environment. I consciously say "in their own
environment" because then everyone has the same circumstances. A top
prize in an ensemble that is more than 75 km away from you is not a fair
showdown. I have written about it before. It is possible that today you
are the first in the club, winning the teamwork, provincial or even
national. Without doubt a top performance especially if you even have
several pigeons in the muzzle of the result. It may just be that you
with the same pigeons in the club and the combination excel again a week
later but that you provincial be completely eliminated. Are the
excellent of the week before suddenly no longer good pigeons? Hopefully
you know better. The wind largely determines the migration of the
pigeons and that can be disastrous. That is why it is not easy to play
every week in a large context. That is possible in the club and in the
regional combination. During the selection period assume that the
performances achieved in your own environment are the most important and
make a requirement for your pigeons how well they must have performed in
order to be allowed to hibernate. You can set the performance bar as
high as you want. I know that there are many countries where we cannot
compare pigeon sport with Belgium and the Netherlands. In these two
specific pigeon countries many fanciers live close to each other which
is often not the case in other countries there is another way to play
with pigeons. The speed flights that are most influenced by the wind can
hardly be played if the fanciers live too far apart. The longer
distances will have a more honest character. Pigeon competitions are
most fair when many fanciers live close together. If that is not the
case then by breeding a lot and also playing a lot with those pigeons
you will have to come to a species with which you can enjoy the pigeon
sport in your home country and that is not an easy task.
WHEN BREEDING
The start of the breeding season is not the same in all countries. This
is mainly due to weather conditions and the start of the racing season.
I can still remember when I was still playing with my father with
pigeons we usually started breeding around 18 February. We did that with
our racing pigeons there was almost no one who owned specific breeding
pigeons. Our racing pigeons were therefore also our breeding pigeons.
The start of the breeding was planned in such a way that the first
youngsters were away from the parents when the racing season started. At
that time the vast majority played nest game. Only at the end of the
fifties did the widowhood game get off to a good start and that changed
the way pigeon racing. Still later the total widowhood got off the
ground. The advantage was that you needed fewer pigeons. If you first
played with 24 widowers you now had 12 couples enough to start with the
same number of pigeons. Even better was the performance of the hens. It
was always thought that they could not beat the cocks. That is why in
Belgium even today hens are raced separately in a competition. Practice
has shown that the ladies often do better than the men and that they
also recover faster from strenuous efforts. That is why when I buy a
pigeon it is almost always a hen.
THE SEASON START FOR OLD PIGEONS IN THE NETHERLANDS BEGIN APRIL
I pair my racing pigeons for the second time at such a time that they
are brooding for about 8 days a week before the first official flight
they all go along. A day later I remove all eggs and another day later
the hens go to their loft where they stay all season. That I first
remove the eggs and one day later the pigeons from the cocks I do for
the hens are quiet because they know that there are no more eggs in the
nest. The first official flight they go on widowhood. The evening before
I let them together for an hour and the same also happens for the next
three flights. Then I leave them together for about 10-20 minutes and
with a two-night basket I don't show the hens. I do not darken the
pigeons in the spring. That is partly because at the end of the season I
do not participate in all long distance races. So I don't have to take
the pen molting into account.
OUR YOUNG PIGEONS BEGIN IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY
If you want to start with several youngsters from certain breeding
couples winter breeding is almost mandatory. Another possibility is to
keep foster pigeons that hatch the eggs of the breeders and further
raise the young. Most fanciers do not have room for that or do not find
such a thing necessary. The advantage of winter breeding is that the
young pigeons are five months old when their races start in July and
that they then have the teething problems behind them. You don't have to
darken winter youngsters to keep them in good shape. They molt the small
feathers and hold the flight feathers. There are also fanciers who pair
the fly and breeding pigeons at the same time. The first eggs from the
breeders then go under the racing pigeons so that the breeders can
quickly start their second round. For most fanciers that is enough
because they do not have that much space. Furthermore breeding is not
that difficult. In that respect pigeons are just like mice you have a
loft full of them in a short time and that seems to me not the
intention. After all it's not about quantity but about quality.
HOW TO GET QUALITY
Only the very best is good enough to breed from. Brother x sister or
mother x son to each other is too close inbreeding but is sometimes
attractive to hold on to. Sometimes you can breed a usable pigeon from
such close inbreeding pigeons. To fly with it I like line breeding or
crossing. Grandfather to granddaughter, cousin x niece, half-brother x
half-sister are links that I have every confidence in. Assuming that the
pigeons themselves and preferably also the parents and grandparents have
proven that they can play at the head. In most cases the best pigeons
come from cross-breed products but from a cross between two totally
different well-performing families. The basket will show which of their
young are satisfactory or not. I myself do not attach too much value to
the performance of young pigeons. Young pigeons must satisfy me when I
have them in my hands. Of course I keep a young pigeon that has
performed well. My experience is that young pigeons that fly a prize,
even though they are not very early prizes, as a yearling are better
than young pigeons that even became champion pigeons as a youngster.
Pigeon performance can never be predicted in advance but only
afterwards. That is why it is never possible to determine in advance
what a good breeding couple will be. You know something like this later
and in many cases it never becomes a good breeding couple. The person
who can determine in advance what a good breeding couple is would have
enough for about six young pigeons to become champion. I do know them
who claim that they can see from the eyes if pigeons have an extra
breeding value. They are fortune tellers that I have never met at a
champion's ceremony.
NATIONAL BOARD GETS CONTRADICTION FROM THEIR DEPARTMENT BOARDS
Within the Dutch Carrier Pigeon Organization (NPO) it has not often
happened that all 11 affiliated departments agree with each other. The
cause of the dissatisfaction lies with the NPO board that would not
adhere to agreements made. For the planned general meeting of members of
December 21 the documents arrived (again) too late at the departments so
that it was not possible to meet with the members in time. The
agreements made were confirmed again on 8 September, unfortunately
without result. A proposal has now been made to move the meeting to
mid-January 2020 provided that the documents are received by the
departments on 1 December. In addition there are a number of things that
are still unclear so that there are serious doubts among the supporters.
The departmental boards wonder whether the NPO is still a professional
organization. It has been requested to indicate by 27 November at the
latest which meeting dates suit the NPO board. To be continued.
NORTH HOLLAND DIVISION MANAGEMENT IS ALSO RATCHING ON ALL SIDES.
A number of board members already announced this summer that they would
stop at the end of the season. In fact they would all stop, but
(luckily) a few are left. Now we have to wait and see if there will be
new candidates and whether they want to collaborate with those who stay
behind. The fewer members that remain the greater the problems become.
It is already known that the carrier has raised its prices for 2020
again and those prices were already so high. It would be normal to ask
for a price from at least two other carriers. Maybe that has happened
but nothing has come out of it yet. It is to be desired that the board
will be quickly complete again because a lot has to be arranged before
the start of the 2020 season. Much will depend on the general national
NPO meeting where the necessary decisions will be taken. Consider the
flight program for which the necessary negative comments were made in
2019.
STARTING TODAY NOVEMBER 27, INNUMMERA BREEDERS ARE TOGETHER AGAIN
Winter breeding is of great importance for many fanciers. Most of them
would like to start with young pigeons that are six months old. Moreover
it is assumed that the winter youngsters will have the teething problems
when their season starts. Others do it to breed two or three rounds
youngsters from their better couples. You won't be bothered by flying
breeding pigeons going to the field during this period to pick up
anything and everything because there is nothing to be found at this
time of the year. I still remember the time when we said to each other;
we cannot give them what they get there. When more and more use was made
of fertilizer many fanciers changed their minds. Then the field of
flying became very dangerous and many fanciers became the victims of
poisoned pigeons even resulting in death. I have also experienced it
myself. One evening the pigeons (the racing pigeons) stayed away for a
very long time. I played with the thought that they might all be able to
walk on the field. I called them and I already noticed from certain
movements that it didn't look the way I was used to. After most had
drunk something the misery started. They puked, tumbled over each other,
were struggling on the floor and there was great panic. At that time it
was told that you had to squeeze the heads empty and then rinse with
milk. There was really no start to it. A number of deaths and fun on the
eve of a new season were clearly over. The results were disappointing
and I also had to remove a number of youngsters because I did not want
to take the risk that they would suffer damage and might not return from
the races. I played with 5 young pigeons and one of them was actually
too young to give. Still I did it and when I went with the clock to the
room the latecomer fell into the loft. The following week I saw him
coming home but he did not win a prize. He did not once miss the flights
that followed and also the last five natour flights. Even became 5th
best young bird in the strong ZCC in which more than 300 fanciers
participated every week. Winter breeding has advantages and
disadvantages. The disadvantage is that shortly after the season you
soon find yourself in a loft full of young pigeons and that in May the
breeders are completely finished with their work and they are sitting
there. If you do not want to disturb the racing pigeons you can look for
some entertainment among the resting breeding pigeons but you will soon
be bored with it. The advantage is that they are perfect through the
molt when they are re-coupled at the end of November. Also there are now
more and more breeders who prefer the financial rather than the sporting
event and if that is going to work out they will keep more and more
pigeons to meet the request. It is doubtful whether the quality will
improve. Everything is bred from as long as the cash register is
ringing. Then there are nowadays fanciers who make a name for themselves
through a striking national achievement. Especially in the long distance
a national victory is enough to upgrade an entire loft while that
performance was only delivered by 1 pigeon from that loft. Nowadays it
is more about name pigeons than about performance.
PURCHASE OF PIGEONS
Never before have so many pigeons been offered for sale. In the first
instance they were mainly performance pigeons. Then it was the turn of
the so-called breeding pigeons. Young pigeons were not interesting in
the beginning and now you only see offers from young pigeons with great
grandparents and you can buy everything that has two wings. Great if you
are among the group of lucky ones who have made a name for themselves by
usually 1 super result or a wonder pigeon. I see various fanciers who
have an auction several times a year. Sometimes more than 40 young
pigeons that raise more than 2000 euros each. We must not forget the
exceptions. Recently another record was broken. A young pigeon for
164.000 euros! How should you see the quality/price ratio of that? Or
how crazy do you have to be? Because I have been writing about our
pigeon hobby every week for many years I regularly receive emails asking
if I want to provide addresses where you can buy good pigeons for an
affordable price. You will understand that I will never do that. In most
cases it ends in disappointment. That does not mean that the seller is
unfair or not sporty, it is more often the buyer's ignorance. I always
tell people who buy a pigeon from me; I hope you leave the yard with a
happy feeling and that it is a pigeon to your liking. I always show the
parents and when I get rid of it it is always out of the breeding loft.
Not that they are automatically better but it does indicate that I too
have faith in those pigeons and they usually sit there because they have
performed well. But…. I say, you go home with the pigeon and I stay
here. I can give you all the required information but you will have to
do it all yourself. Trust and patience are also a good thing.
SPORT PIGEONS JUDGE WITH A CHAT
The championships are in full swing, every organization is trying to
come up with something new. Here in Noord-Holland they are a bit loose
in that regard. They mean well but we completely miss our goal. The
committee of the Noord-Holland department held the champions day on
Saturday which was not so well-chosen because that afternoon the arrival
of Sinterklaas was held in a large part of the Netherlands. Whether or
not with the black helpers there is a large children's festival every
year that many fanciers want to attend with their children or
grandchildren. On that champions day the children had been thought of by
placing a large bouncy castle. The ladies could go there to make
bonbons, floral arrangements or perfume. The fanciers who had a champion
pigeon this year were allowed to exhibit it so that the public could
marvel at these toppers. The committee thought it would be a good idea
to have these pigeons judged by pigeon fortune teller Gert Jan Beute in
the presence of the fanciers. A risky piece in itself but the smart Gert
Jan is not worried about that, he is wise enough not to underestimate
such pigeons. His accompanying talk appeals to many fanciers especially
if you have never experienced the man before. Yet he once went astray by
saying that a certain cock was a great short distance pigeon. Let that
be exactly the champion pigeon of the whole of Noord-Holland in the
one-day long distance. Everyone laugh of course. He tried to get out of
it to say that long distance pigeons can also fly fast. A day later
something like that was invented by the ZCC. In the morning the same
inspection. A qualified judge would judge the pigeons on flight value
with a corresponding chat and he turned out to be quite wrong. He was
really struggling and no meaningful word came out of his mouth. He told
about a pigeon with a flat head, about a pigeon with two old pens, a
farmer's pigeon, an old-fashioned pigeon with a broad back, pigeons with
wide pens what do you do with that kind of stuff? Not once did he say
anything about well-muscled, nice fast rear wing, short powerful forearm
plus that it would have been nice if he expressed his preference for
certain pigeons that he thought could win early prizes. Or something
about a good pigeon for the sprint, an excellent marathon pigeon but
none of that. In the end there were three prizes to be awarded. A pale
pigeon was awarded as the winner. The judge loved this speed pigeon
while he came from the loft of the best long distance player in our area
who naturally had to laugh heartily about it. Sinterklaas was also
visiting who was able to present the prizes of the champions for the
2019 season in a playful manner. Given the public interest two of these
consecutive days was probably a bit too much of a good thing.
NATIONAL DAYS
Kassel is already again behind. In St. Truiden the National Days were
held in one of the halls of the local football club last weekend. Again
nothing but praise. Coming weekend November 29th and 30th it's the turn
of the Netherlands. For the first time in its existence these days are
on Friday and Saturday in Nieuwegein. So on Sunday there is nothing to
do in the field of pigeon sport. The winter breeders can devote all
their attention to the newly assembled breeding pigeons.
WHAT WILL THE BREEDER GET US
All very exciting. The best racing pigeons, newly formed couples,
purchased pigeons, they must all ensure that important acquisitions are
born. In a little while everything comes back to life in the breeding
loft. Whether or not to educate the pigeons in a condition so that they
want to accept their new partner without too many difficulties. It is
important that the cocks have been on the bin for some time that avoids
the unnecessary fights. The first day no breeding bowls. Some cocks
chase their hens so fiercely that they stumble over the breeding bowl
regularly. Personally I only put the pigeons together when it starts to
get dark. Most of the pigeons are paired well the next morning. Where
that is not yet the case the placement of the breeding bowl can
sometimes help. If it still does not work then put them in a separate
empty loft for example the young pigeon loft and you will see that it is
done quite smoothly. Especially during winter breeding I have a mat in
every breeding bowl with some straw or tobacco stalks over it. The eggs
and also the newborn young pigeons must lie in a comfortable nest. I
have sometimes been to someone who did winter breeding where there were
only clothes pegs and nails in the nest. With such a careless behavior
of the boss you do not earn a good breeding. Also in the breeding loft
everything should treaded very carefully. A check a few days after the
eggs are laid is advisable. If there are too small or deformed eggs they
can be removed immediately. If that is the case add a plastic or stone
egg. It sometimes happens that they stop breeding when there is only 1
egg in the nest in severe cold. Furthermore that plastic egg is a good
support for a newly born young. Keep an eye on the drinking trough in
the frost and you know that ace pigeons drink a lot so fresh water twice
a day is not a luxury. Before the eggs are laid treat the dishes against
vermin. Supplementing the feed with some hemp and linseed is excellent
at this time of the year. That the pigeons are ready for breeding now
seems normal to me. Where that is not yet the case a round is behind.
Putting the pigeons together is just as important as deploying pigeons
for an important flight so the condition must be optimal. Extending the
days with artificial light is good rather than bad. How many hours you
do that is not really important. I do not switch on a light in the
morning but in the evening the light stays on until 10 am. We wish you
all a good breeding
BAKED AIR
The racing season is already six weeks behind us and everyone is taking
stock. Should new blood be purchased or have their own pigeons performed
in such a way that it is not necessary to immediately add a new
acquisition. If you have to look for better material it is different
than when you are interested in reinforcement. Those who seek
reinforcement have plenty of choice through the many sales sites.
However, you have to pay attention. The photos of where offered for sale
always look equally attractive. However, you must be able to read well
what is written about a pigeon. Compiling sales stories is an art in
itself. I recommend everyone to visit some of those sites once in a
while. It is all top quality, whole zippers performances are listed with
each pigeon. Those who can read well will be confronted with hot air
every time. In most cases the pigeon that is involved has not achieved
anything at all while it is teeming with top prizes on all levels. Often
there are no numbers of pigeons and sometimes a pigeon has won five
first prizes but if you read well you will soon see that it all relates
to the same flight. I can be very annoyed by that. In my opinion this is
not correct information especially if there are entire rows of victories
that have been achieved by brothers, sisters, father, mother,
grandfather and great-grandmother and often there are fencing with
places of honor achieved by other fanciers. Where has the time gone that
you could go to a room sale every week? Cozy with fanciers among
themselves. You could view the pigeons, you could take them in your hand
so that you could see what you were buying. Now you have to go for the
photo and you even have to pay money if you want to view the pigeons in
your hand. If you came to the poulter years ago at this time his aviary
was full of slaughter pigeons. Now they are on the internet and are
sometimes sold for record amounts and that while the owner does not want
to keep them. We are hopefully not so naive that we believe everything
that has been fantasized together in order to be able to sell the pigeon
for the highest possible amount.
RETURN OUR ORDINARY GAME
I am fortunate to have experienced the golden years of pigeon sport.
From the last weekend in March to mid-September every week game mainly
short-distance flights. Mid-distance did not exist, it was added. The
pigeon sport consisted only of short and long distance flights. Every
week of play all year round and there were also 4 or 5 one-day long
distance races in which almost everyone participated. Now it is crawling
with such flights and less than 15% of fanciers are participating. On
such a flight you only have to put down a good performance once and you
can immediately participate in the sales madness. It is just like in the
football. A youthful talent who gives a good assist in professional
football twice every three weeks immediately receives a weekly wage for
which an ordinary pigeon fancier has to work for a year. I read an
article about a famous football player who plays in the English premier
league. He would earn 290.00 pounds a week and one has built up assets
of more than 40 million. In the pigeon sport we also go pretty well in
that direction. Last year a pigeon was sold for more than 1 million and
there are several fanciers in the Netherlands who have several sales
each year with which they earn tons. I wish them and sometimes I am also
a bit jealous. But if we look further then our nose we see that this
cannot go on. The ordinary fancier who have to go all out to pay for
their hobby are increasingly recognizing that they are more or less
abused. They come every week faithfully with their basket of pigeons and
the commercial bag fillers among us play nicely again until the moment
comes when there is nothing to "cash" anymore. That time is fast
approaching. Then the big boys can only play against each other and then
there will be very few pigeons in the competition so that they are no
longer interesting for the men in the land of the rising sun. Our
national administration will do well to bring the pigeon game back to
the way it has been played for years. With me, partly because of my age,
the fun is gone. Even the club game is no longer fun because most clubs
no longer have twenty members who still participate every week. This has
also changed the atmosphere in the club. A few steps further and we only
have to go to the room to bring the pigeons and nothing more. Everything
will go via the internet with the risk that older fanciers will drop out
more quickly. A pity for our sport because despite the fact that the
pigeon sport keeps up with the times there will be no new members. The
youngsters (fortunately) have many other opportunities to enjoy
themselves.
THREE DAYS WHEEL SPORTS
Last week a three-day cycling event was held on the cycling track of the
well-known North Holland cheese town of Alkmaar and I wanted to be
there. Cycling remains my favorite sport alongside the pigeons. We were
presented with a very entertaining and exciting program. For me it was
also a kind of reunion plus that some good riders from my club
participated. The best known of the whole stuff was Niki Terpstra. When
I was the chairman of the club I saw him coming as an 8-year-old and it
soon became apparent that he had talent. This cycling gala was won by
him and his teammate by force majeure and do you know what I liked best?
His father, whom I had just spoken to shortly after 25 years, was just
as enthusiastic raising his hands as when his son won his first victory
at the age of 8. Is that nice sport or not? Another club member asserted
himself behind the big engines. He was also a total winner and was even
European champion staying last year. I did not want to miss this event
for free also because my son and grandson accompanied me which made it
even more beautiful.
THE BREEDING PIGEONS ARE READY, NOW THE LOFTS
While the old and young racing pigeons are still fully engaged with the
pen molting the breeders are as it were waiting to be paired again.
Because I now have a breeding loft with my son there is a surplus of
valuable breeders for us. How valuable they are they will be able to
prove in other lofts in the coming season. Because I will take care of
the breeding pigeons we have decided to reduce the number of breeding
couples to 18 and that has been a difficult job. We have come out of it
anyway. In the first instance there are always a number of pigeons that
have to leave the field due to poorer breeding results or age. But then?
There are two more breeding boxes available for 2 young cocks and two
for 2 young hens. That's how I did it every year and that's how I want
to keep doing it. The 4 best racing pigeons and 4 young pigeons go to
the breeding loft. That way we keep the breeding loft young. The best
results on the flights and in the breeding loft are in most cases
achieved by younger pigeons. The cocks that have earned a place in the
breeding loft have now chosen their breeding loft that will occur later
when the pigeons are coupled with the necessary fights. The breeding
loft will be cleaned extra in the coming week, everything must be
dust-free again. Especially on the ceiling it is necessary to clean it
is full of cobwebs and I like to see that because that is a sign that
the ventilation is good. You will not see cobwebs when it’s draft and
draft is bad for the condition. Last but not least I go through it again
with the burner which is still the best remedy for all kinds of vermin.
Two weeks before the pairing date we start to light up to give the
pigeons the feeling that it is getting a little spring.
THE QUIET SEASON BEGINS
Unfortunately a quiet season no longer exists. The pie flights for
fanciers who don't know when to stop are also over. What once started
out as a nice thing has become an important conclusion to the active
pigeon year. Important flights for those who use the manipulated results
to put their performance in the spotlight again. Competitions with a
good number of participants but half of whom use these flights as a
training flight and therefore do not clock their pigeons. These pigeons
get a rubber ring or go over the basket antenna into the basket so that
they count what is interesting for those who do clock. Some therefore
make very good results because the large group of participants only
participate for fun. They are not interested in the result, they do not
play for the cakes or other prizes. These fanciers are only busy
practicing their pigeons. Some think that they lose fewer pigeons at
this time of the year. Others participate because the birds of prey are
less active. There are even participants who want to use their
performance from these fair flights for possible participation in the
Olympiad. Less than 2% of Dutch fanciers participate in this circus. 103
fanciers participated in the last pie-race above the big rivers, 58 of
which were in the results. It would be crazy that such results can be
used for I know a lot about competitions but enough about this. It must
be admitted that the basketing evenings went very well and that is in my
eyes the most important argument to join in but for the molting pigeons
it is far from ideal. Now the time has come for meetings, all kinds of
honors, national events and the start of traditional exhibitions. There
are a lot of them probably too many, so there is absolutely no question
of a quiet winter season.
WINTER PERICTIONS
It is molt time. In the past fanciers said; the prizes for the following
year are earned at this time of the year. I assume you know what this
means. A bad molt causes poor performance. So it means that our pigeons
now need to be cared for just as carefully as in the high season. The
pigeons are having a hard time and some of them are very heavy because
quite a lot is happening. When I see how many feathers I have already
cleaned up that is unprecedented and we are not there yet certainly not
with the old and young racing pigeons. The breeders are almost ready.
That is also necessary because in four weeks they will in many lofts put
together again. To help the pigeons a little during the molt can't hurt.
There are numerous fanciers who put buttermilk in the drinking water
during the molt season. I have done that for many years but I have not
done that for a long time because I see no difference. Then the cure for
various diseases. I have never been in favor during this period. Over
the years I too have been dragged along and cure the pigeons against
paratyphus in October. Then another vitamin cure, soon the traditional
mandatory paramixo injection, then another injection against smallpox
and perhaps also against head diseases. Are we doing that right? We used
to do nothing when I was still playing with my father. Pigeons that fail
something went away because my father was very hard at it. He was right
but perhaps there were no adequate medicines then so there was little
else to do to get rid of the "weaklings." Not only the pigeons that
might have had a problem were gone but also the ones that did not
perform well. We regularly ate pigeon soup at home and that is nice too.
I don't do that anymore. Nowadays you can buy a nice soup chicken for
little and that is easier than slaughtering about five pigeons every
week. In the past there were almost no veterinarians, people arranged it
themselves. They had a pig, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, and pigeons to
eat. In that regard people were less sentimental. Now there is a vet for
every animal and you can even take out insurance because it costs quite
a lot a visit to the vet. There is even a political "party for the
animals". That is not wrong because there are many things that cannot be
passed through, which is why it is good that there is control. Back to
the pigeons. Do you not think that because of all that fuss with
medication we make our pigeons weaker. For every problem there is a
powder, pill or drink, the pigeons become greenhouse plants and that is
one of the reasons that the losses are increasing. At that way we get
away the mordant, the resistance and the character from our pigeons.
TRANSPORT
We used to talk about farming pigeons. With that was meant strong
pigeons. These days the pigeons are much faster. Competitions close
earlier because many pigeons manage to achieve higher speeds. We used to
say that with strong headwinds the first pigeons would make at least
1000 meters per minute (60 km per hour). Nowadays they fly with the
greatest ease with headwind 80 km per hour. We work with modern
transport specifically tailored to the transport of our pigeons. Cars
equipped with the latest gadgets such as air conditioning, automatic
drinking water supply but with aluminum shipping baskets of which
sometimes more than 220 with an average of 20 pigeons (is +/- 4500
pigeons) are in a room. Isn't that too much? Maybe wicker baskets were
better? How does that work with the transmission of diseases, drinking
water temperature, temperature in the moving or stationary car, food in
contaminated shipping boxes, loading the car, driving behavior. Most of
us do not realize that. The pigeons are on their way and the fanciers
are preparing to be in the loft on time the next day to wait for the
pigeons. We think it's normal that they all come home undamaged and that
not one of them stays behind. The pigeons do not know that they are
participating in a competition. They may suffer from stress because
their cock/hen or children are waiting at home or because they have had
too little or no drink. They certainly don't think about their boss. The
fancier does think of his pigeons and an early arrival and that makes
him nervous. That is why he is sometimes so strange when the pigeons
stay away a little longer than he had calculated. He becomes restless,
often has to go to the toilet and if his neighbor gets a pigeon sooner
than the nerves roar through his body. It seems that every minute that
he has to wait longer for his first pigeon lasts an hour. Pigeon sport
remains a wonderful hobby despite everything!
CHANGE NEVER ADDRESSES TO FANCIERS
It is increasingly apparent that fanciers are people of tradition. That
is because the Dutch pigeon sport consists mainly of gray men. That does
not mean that nothing has happened in our sport in 60 years. Certainly,
the sport has not stood still. The hot topic is the flight program every
year which is something that almost all fanciers are involved with all
year round. Again it appears that all proposals submitted by a series of
sections become or be referred to the famous trash can. Many hours of
endless discussion preceded this. In the Netherlands a section has been
created for each part of the game. A section consists of a group
fanciers who are committed to , for example the short distance races.
Others do that for one-day long distance or the young pigeon game. The
reason that sections have been created is due to the specialization. A
few years ago that was a hot item. It was advised to keep the pigeon
game affordable and then it might be a good solution to specialize in
for example the short, middle distance or young pigeon game. As a result
that the proponents of those game components started to compile their
flight programs. That of course became much too much for the real
program players who want to participate in everything. In practice it
appears that the majority would like to participate in the entire flight
program but that must be feasible. That was how it was 60 years ago and
it still is today.
THE NPO IS COMPLEYTELY LOST THE WAY
The NPO board consists of directors with little or no managerial
experience. In addition the delegates from the 11 different departments
of the NPO are more meeting beasts than they are knowledgeable. As a
result the NPO board has hired a sports professor to steer everything in
the right direction. He has come up with the proposal to work with
"sections". It already appears that the members are not waiting for this
type of renewal. At the beginning of October there was a meeting where
all sections were present except for the young pigeons section which was
not a good thing in itself. During that meeting an employee of the
pigeon magazine the trail of champions was also present to explain the
survey conducted by the magazine. That was just not the intention. The
members could have their say and not a representative of the newspaper
who is himself a marathon player. For the time being people have to get
used to meeting in sections. Proposals such as fair play and the
introduction of sectors for the long distance game are referred directly
to the trash. The NPO flight program adopted last year appears to be too
much for the participants, the volunteers in the club and the pigeons.
After a lot of squabbling it can just happen that we go back to the
flight program of 60 years ago.
SIXTY YEARS BACK
Very coincidentally I was reading this week the Neerlands Postduiven
Orgaan of December 1958 which contained the flight program of 1959, so
sixty years back. What does my surprise sketch? 6 short distance
flights, 6 middle distance, 5 one day long distance, 8 young and 5
natour for old and young pigeons. After the last twenty years of endless
discussions we come back to a flight program of 60 years ago when we had
many more members and many more managers with a good view of pigeon
sport. Once started as an elitist sport/hobby and then turned into a
beautiful affordable form of leisure at home for the working man. The
pigeon sport grew enormously. One association after the other was
established. The simple money game ensured that the quality of the
pigeons jumped up and even those who did not participate in the money
game did not want to be slaughtered weekly and started with a better or
heavier selection method. The Netherlands grew into one of the most
popular pigeon countries. As a result there was a market for our
pigeons. So much market that there were professional players who saw
more in the sale of pigeons than in the performance. More and more
advertisements about the sale of pigeons appeared in the pigeon
magazines in the Netherlands. The cozy room sales are almost
non-existent, everything is digital. There are many fanciers and pigeon
brokers who immensely enrich themselves with the once simple hobby. But
the fact is that pigeon sport still exists today by the grace of all
those gray men who come every week faithfully to the club with their
pigeons. It is a shame that commerce is getting the upper hand. Our
sport is gradually becoming unaffordable so that only members drop out
and no new ones are added. The pigeon sport will soon be an elitist
sport where there is only room for the professionals. The ordinary man
who has made the pigeon sport great has already dropped out for a long
time. It is a shame to say so but the pigeon sport has no future.
ENJOY AS LONG AS IT IS POSSIBLE
Now that the season is over and the pigeons are in full molt it is a
good thing to make plans for the following year. In many lofts the
breeding pigeons will come together again at the end of next month. It
is therefore important to determine which may or may not remain.
Breeding pigeons that have performed well but from the moment they have
found a place in the breeding loft have not produced any good youngsters
will have to make room for new talent. It is a good thing to have faith
in the pigeons that have secured a place in the breeding loft but again
the performances count for them. They will have to perform through good
breeding. Once a great champion told me that you can already speak of a
good breeding couple as long as they have produced one good youngster.
The most important thing is that we enjoy our hobby and we are already
busy pairing our pigeons on paper. Always a wonderful activity for me.
For 70 years I think before the breeding season starts that I have all
good breeders. Couples who will certainly produce the necessary useful
pigeons and every year it turns out that I am wrong. Fortunately I breed
a couple of pigeons every year that I can keep up well with on the
flights. Unfortunately every year there are a few breeding couples who
have not brought what the boss expected of them. That's a good thing
otherwise new breeders would never be added. The trick is to achieve
good breeding results with fairly young breeding pigeons that have
performed well on their flights in their young life. Even though we have
made such a strict selection and have thought long and hard about which
cock gets which hen there is never certainty and without luck nobody
will sail. There is no one who can say in advance what a good breeding
couple is. Yet there are figures who say they can. I wonder why they
still breed as many young pigeons as you and I do.
A LIFE LONG PIGEON SPORT
From 1946 I was never a day without pigeons. Also during my period that
I was active in cycling I had pigeons and that was also the case when I
had to do my military service. I did get help from my father then.
During a cycling race I occasionally looked up to see if I saw pigeons
pulling and everywhere I rode I looked from the corner of my eye to see
if I saw a pigeon loft somewhere. Later when I was older and became a
father I looked when we were going for a ride with the children to see
if I saw a pigeon loft somewhere. My children grew up with it but only
my oldest son Marco started pigeons at a later age. He has been flying
with the best for many years now. I was unlucky that in the period with
school children I had no pigeons at home and therefore often not at
home. I was with the pigeons and that is something children will never
forget. From experience I know all too well that in many families the
sport of father had too much influence on family life. Dad's pigeon
hobby often went for the family. Holidays were a problem in almost every
pigeon family. A Sunday to the beach, father came later because he first
had to wait for his pigeons. I heard even more lamentations after I had
written a book about 100 years of pigeon sport in the Zaan region. Many
children and grandchildren bought that book because their father or
grandfather appeared in it. I spoke to many of those children personally
and by far the majority did not have good memories of the pigeons. When
the pigeons had to come home father was usually not approachable.
Children were not allowed to play in the yard and he was able to go to
the neighbors if they dared to hang out the laundry. He would prefer
that everyone stay inside if his pigeons were to come and if one came
then everyone would have to remain stiff because oh woe the pigeon could
just sit outside. I experienced it when I went to see another fancier.
Before the pigeons came home I always had a conversation about the
pigeons and most of the time I asked what I should do if a pigeon came
unexpectedly. Oh nothing special the pigeon is right in, no that's no
problem. Suddenly there was one, pats so unexpectedly at once directly
on the fall board. The man was startled and shouted "cover". I didn't
know what to do and then I just sat down on the floor. The good man who
had kept so calm was now in all states. He went in tiger sneak to his
loft and while crawling through the garden as a well-trained soldier,
the pigeon flew to the ridge from the loft. He whistled as hard as he
could and rattled so hard with his feed van so that grains were
scattered everywhere in the grass. When the pigeon remained seated like
a statue he started to throw a handful of food on the lid, it didn't
help. Then he started throwing food in the loft. Those staying at home
were fed up with the large amount of food thrown in through the window.
After a while the pigeon came in. The fancier had become so nervous that
he had to reach for the pigeon several times. The feathers flew through
the loft and after some keeper work the pigeon could be stripped of the
rubber ring. When I called him in the evening and asked about the result
he said that he did not appear in the results and that he had discarded
the pigeon the same evening. You will be married to such a pathetic man.
So I know many stories. I can write a book about it and I have been
planning that for a long time. Who knows, maybe it will happen because I
have enough documentation about all those pigeon fanciers who are never
nervous when the pigeons of the race have to come home until you are
once "live" with those men. I know stories from fanciers who didn't come
home to eat. They continued to stare into the air on the stairs of the
pigeon loft while the whole family sat at the table. Then the stories
about fanciers who were surprised by the arrival of an early pigeon.
They ran to the loft to clock the pigeon and then discovered that the
clock was still in the house. Or from fanciers who were not nervous but
still had to go to the toilet before the pigeons arrived. Suddenly there
was a pigeon and father sat on the toilet with his pants on his heels.
The whole family shouted that there was a pigeon and often he did not
believe it until it turned out that it was really true. With the pants
half up, he came stumbling over to clock the pigeon. That is almost all
over now everyone has an electronic clock system. With that a chunk of
romance has disappeared because the clocking of the rubber ring was the
highlight and for that to reach the pigeon must have entered the loft
first. That sometimes did not work because the pigeon was caught a
little too wild the week before and so now first had a look at the cat
from the tree before it went inside. Beautiful stories that are now
almost non-existent. For me 70 years of pigeon sport has been an
important part of my life. It was a golden period that I enjoy thinking
about almost every day. Too bad that our sport is going downhill so
fast.
THE YOUNG PIGEONS ARE ADULT
My passionate young pigeons are now in the molt. Unbelievable so many
feathers there are on a pigeon. My first daily job is cleaning up the
large amount of feathers and every day I just count the number of tails
and flight feathers that are in the loft. In that respect the molt goes
as it should. You see the pigeons change, they become adults physically,
they grow a little bigger and the cocks manifest themselves as real
guys. I removed all the nest material a few weeks ago. Breeders and
racing pigeons have been separated for some time and the young pigeons
are still together. They no longer need to make another litter. That is
different with the breeding hens. These are almost done with the molting
and different ladies are making love to each other in a corner. I don't
make a point of it. I must not think that the racing hens are going to
do that. I definitely do not want that because then they do that even
when they are in widowhood and then they ruin your entire season. As
soon as I see two hens lying together in a sitting area in the winter
period or together on the floor I remove one of the two. She first gets
the chance to cool down in another loft. After three weeks she is
allowed to be with the other hens again and when they start to caress
each other again it is over with the fun and one of the ladies is
permanently removed. For now I demand rest in the loft and at the end of
November the breeders get the opportunity to reproduce again. I will
certainly do everything that they are in good condition when the time
comes. First a paratyphoid cure this month. I will continue to feed them
twice a day. In the morning at half past nine a little bit and at four
o'clock they get twenty minutes full. The lamp stays off, the pigeons
have to get used to the fact that the days are very short for now. In
mid-November I will extend the days by the breeders by turning on the
lamp from half past eight until ten in the morning and the same happens
from four to eight. That is a great system for the breeding pigeons
because I know from experience that there are youngsters everywhere in
the dish around Christmas time.
SUMMER IS PAST
Today, September 23, the astronomical fall begins. The sun is exactly
above the equator and the days will be shorter from tomorrow. Sunday
September 22 in my birthplace Zaandam, the Dam to Dam run was held for
the 35th time. A running and walking event over 10 English miles from
the Amsterdam Dam to the Zaandammer Dam with no less than 60.000
participants of which 4000 were no longer allowed on Sunday afternoon at
3:00 pm to start. The heat ensured that the ambulances drove on and off
to pick up the heat-struck participants what has never happened before!
Very unfortunate for the organization. It fitted in well with the news
that the average temperature on earth has never been this high in the
last 5 years. Scientists reported this on the eve of the New York
climate summit. Too little attention would be paid worldwide to this
climate change. Probably not everyone is convinced what all this change
can bring. Fortunately more and more is spoken and written about.
Undoubtedly pigeon sport will increasingly have to deal with this. As an
old hand in pigeon sport I am convinced that the ever-increasing losses
of in particular insufficiently trained or not well-trained pigeons have
to do with it. It is not only sick or pigeons of a lesser quality that
stay behind. There is more behind the dark clouds or the clear sky than
we think. The pigeon sport will have to respond well to this in the
coming years. We can talk for hours every winter about flying programs,
release places, national championships or the Olympiad, the most
important thing for our sport is still the weather conditions and that
is not just about rain, strong winds or tropical temperatures. It is
mainly the atmospheric disturbances that we cannot perceive as humans
but that cause a great deal of nuisance for the pigeons.
SMALLER SCALE
To save the pigeon sport and to retain the members we may have to go
back to the past when the pigeon sport was no more than a pleasant
village game. Everyone was then satisfied with the game in the club
where in some cases more than 100 members participated. At the moment
there are less than 50 playing in a district or what kind of name we
want to give to an ensemble. These days it all has to be bigger with
even more flights and that while the members disappear like snow in the
sun and the Dutch newspapers are no longer interested in posting pigeon
results. In that respect the pigeon sport is almost dead. That more and
bigger has been conceived by the pros among us, for them it is big
business. Let us not forget that 95% of the members compete for the
sporting honor just like before. When I only started with the pigeon
sport I could play in the club, in the CC and in the department
(provincial). Everyone participated in the club every week and almost
everyone participated in the CC and no more than 10% of the members
participated in the provincial game. Why so few? Because back then the
fanciers realized that this was not a fair game. It was fairer then than
now. There were 1500 fanciers in Noord-Holland at the time and the
spread was much larger than today. As a result, an early pigeon could be
clocked everywhere. Competitions with more than 20.000 pigeons were the
most normal thing in the world. Nowadays our professionals with
sometimes more than 100 pigeons in the battle make the necessary
publicity with a victory against 1200 pigeons, they should be ashamed!
They ruin it for many others. Not because they perform better, in most
cases that is not even true, but because they come with baskets full of
pigeons. There is a lot of work for the volunteers in the club. It is
the large numbers of pigeons that discourage members from participating.
In many games the first clocked pigeon counts for the championships.
That is entirely in favor of the mega lofts. With us there must be
clocked for every 10 pigeons in competition one. With a participation of
63 pigeons the fancier must have 7 clocked. Of these the points earned
are added together and divided by 6.3, and those points count for the
championship. The mega fanciers do not initially play for a
championship. They want to take several pigeons on the first page of the
result which impress particularly Asian sports friends. In all those
years I have been able to sell pigeons because of my strong game. Who
would not want or do that? The people who came to me did not do that
because I had become champion in certain areas. They came because of my
strong game and the many good results that I made with my champion
pigeons. I still remember very well that Mr. Louis Massarella from the
English breeding stud Louella Pigeon World came to my house for a loft
visit. In my breeding loft I handed him one winner after the other in a
big context. Full of surprise he said; I have been to many strong racing
lofts but I have never seen so many winners and ace pigeons. You can't
get a bigger compliment while at the time I played with no more than 16
to 24 widowers. That were the days!
THE LATEST CONVULSIONS
The season is over and most fanciers have peace with it. Some
have been looking forward to the end of this tropical heat-ridden season
for weeks and there are also a number that can't get enough. The men who
played strong are ready. They see that their pigeons that have caused so
much sporting pleasure are due for their well-earned rest. Rest between
brackets because after a much overloaded flight program the pigeons
start the big molt and that does not happen automatically. Some pigeons
are pretty upset about that, we call that molt sick. That requires good
care and that is lacking in many lofts. Season is over, then it is also
done with care. Feathers in the drinking trough, feathers in the grit
trough, feathers everywhere. The molt calls for the necessary hygiene
and that is often forgotten. For those who just can't get enough of it a
number of years ago the so-called "pie flights" were created in our
country. Primarily intended to play against each other with late
youngsters. This game has become increasingly professional due to
sponsorship which can be seen in the large numbers of old pigeons that
are used. There are (according to say) attractive prizes to be won and
it means nothing at all. The original fun game has turned into a
commercial event. Of these meaningless flights attention is even paid to
the site of our national accounting office, it should not get any
crazier. I even saw in the first result a participant with a distance of
31 km and also one with a distance of 136 km. You can't let them play
against each other and that while the whole of the Netherlands is
concerned about "fair play". Eighty fanciers participated in this kind
of fairground attractions, 40 of which do not appear in the results and
a man from the organization even dares to give it the name "Autumn
Classic". It is even claimed that these manipulated results also count
towards participation in the Olympiad that will be held in the
Netherlands the next time. I have never experienced greater nonsense
before.
PIGEON SPORT 2020, HOW WILL IT LOOK?
For the umpteenth time this year I did not bring any pigeons, something
I will probably never get used to. My whole life I play along, very
often with success but sometimes with serious setbacks that is part of
every sport. Not taking part in the races is not due to the pigeons but
the boss, it takes me too much trouble. The will is still there but
unfortunately it is all too much for me and without 100% effort it will
not work. Taking a step back is not easy especially if you are used to
playing with the best. I am busy looking for a different solution and
that is not as simple as I thought. I will never be without pigeons,
that's for sure. I will keep a small number of breeders and continue to
take care them as long as it goes myself. Past Saturday was the last
flight and I went to see by son Marco. Beautiful pigeon weather, calm
southeast wind and veil clouds. We had assumed that they would make 90
km but that estimate turned out to be a little too high. At half past
eleven one of them suddenly appeared directly over the roof of the house
on the flap. That had to be an early one because he was in such a hurry.
Well that was right because in the club it was the earliest and in the
ZCC good for a 4th place. A nice closing of the season with the first
signed in front and with 14 of 27 in the list is without doubt a great
result. It turned out not to be an easy flight because from a distance
of 280 km it took 37 minutes before the prizes were earned. It is clear
at this time of the year that the molting plays an important role. As
soon as the loft is full of small feathers every morning the
aerodynamics are over and with that the winning of early prizes is
practically impossible. In a week, when all nest positions have been
broken, the pigeons will "fall bare" at a record pace. This has been the
case with me for some time. The first thing I start with every morning
is to clean up the large amount of feathers in the corridor. I
consciously leave the sliding doors ajar so that all springs are blown
into the corridor. The breeding pigeons that have been separated since
the beginning of July are almost through the molt. That was also the
intention because at that time there was no question that I would stop
the competitive sport and that is now almost certain. The breeding
pigeons that are allowed to stay are coupled at the beginning of
December, the youngsters go to son Marco and also the second round is
for him. The winter youngsters are adult pigeons when their flights
begin so that they can be raced in nest and / or in widowhood. I have
always been a huge proponent of flying young pigeons that are at least
six months old. To keep the flight feathers in place I kept darkening
all the young pigeons until the beginning of July and you will have
benefit the last and also most beautiful flights. Young pigeons that
manage to win early prizes from the races of more than 400 km will be
among the better pigeons as a yearling or at least that has been my
experience for years. What did shock me this year is the disappointing
national participation in the last young pigeon races with the longer
distances. Incredibly so little enthusiasm was there. Is it due to the
large losses or would it be due to the large number of flights. In my
opinion the young pigeon flights must start mid-June and they have
deviated from this because it appears that the losses are greatest in
June and July. It will but in the 70 years that I have been playing
there have been more beautiful competitions than disastrous ones.
Nowadays many Dutch fanciers play their youngsters on the last six speed
races of the season, there would be fewer lost. I have never heard
greater nonsense. In my opinion the young pigeons have far too little
experience. There may well be a few heavy ones where they have to go to
the extreme to get home. A little Spartan school can certainly do no
harm. Then there are also fanciers who think that the old pigeons will
take the youngsters home on those flights. When the weather is difficult
you will see that the old pigeons are home in no time and that the
youngsters stay away much longer. In that regard the pigeon sport is
unpredictable and if you think you know it you suddenly get the lid on
your nose. Our sport is simply dependent on the weather and when
compiling a flight program you can never know in advance when the
weather is good or not. Sometimes the beginning of March is so beautiful
that everyone is eager to get started. I have also experienced that
heavy snow showers fell during the same period. Just like our sport the
Dutch weather is unpredictable and we have to deal with that.
YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY
Last winter I once again let myself be tempted to attend a department
meeting. Of all associations there are often two delegates present of
which only one has voting rights, which has to do with the number of
members. The most important point was of course the flight program. For
the first time they agreed to the flight program proposed by our
national association the NPO. It took a lot of time before all the noses
were heading in the same direction. Everyone is happy that the season
started and ended on the same date throughout the country. People did
not easily agree on the release sites. Dissatisfied sounds came from all
corners of the season. The program would be too long and too heavy. So
next winter, just like 50 years ago, we are going to come up with a new
program. Certainly know that next year, after the end of the season,
there will be endless discussions if at least there are enough members
left because it is going completely the wrong way. I was shocked by the
disappointing participation on various flights and especially the last
young pigeon flights made me decide to consider how many members still
participated in each club. I opted for the South Holland department. A
department with many members some with a mega loft. I almost fell off my
seat in surprise. There was no association with more than 10
participants, most of them had five or six. My own club only had two
participants and if you don't have seven you have to take your pigeons
to another club in the area. I've always been used to playing in a club
with 40 - 50 members. Always plenty of fun, something that you will not
easily manage in a club with fewer than 10 members. That coziness is
something that I miss the most.
ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WILL CAUSE DIVERSITY
Three more weeks of pigeon sport and then the 2019 season in the
Netherlands is a thing of the past. A season that could not to tie a
rope. For the first time a national flight program. It looked promising
but unfortunately little or nothing came of it. Yes, many dissatisfied
fanciers and major problems for those who were responsible for the
releases. You don't have to be jealous of those men for that matter.
They have received buckets with comments, rightly or wrongly…. For many
fanciers the program was too much of a good thing and that will set the
tongues in motion again during the coming winter at the meetings. Our
rapidly declining pigeon sport association is more or less
over-organized. We are gradually having more board members than regular
members. I am thinking of committee members, boards at departmental
level, then all those boards of the many playing together and every
association also has its board. Our union is bursting at the seams
because of the wide variety of committees, platforms, pilots, it makes
you dizzy. How does Maurice van de Kruk want to steer this in the right
direction? I think that is impossible and that is why there is a good
chance that all those good-looking committees will work alongside each
other. Almost all people of good will with unfortunately also several
figures who are absolutely not capable of their position but who like to
hear themselves talk. In Noord-Holland the department directors have
already indicated that they will resign at the end of the year. Too
pathetic for words but that's how it goes in an amateur sports
association.
NEW SECTOR FORMATS
This will be the hot topic this winter that will have much to do about
it. I still remember that under the leadership of former chairman Jip
Pancras all flying areas/departments were adjusted. That did not go
without a struggle but it went on. It was necessary because the
departments were too large in relation to the number of members. What
was then hammered out was that the departments and districts had to be
maintained in the longitudinal direction as much as possible. The strong
western and also eastern wind would have far too great an influence on
the course of the competitions if it became latitude flight areas. And
see there ... a group of smarties have now figured out that latitude
districts, or whatever you want to call it, is the solution for better
and fair competitions. Dear pigeon friends, that will again cost members
and so we continue to dig deeper and deeper. Of course we will now again
have to deal with supporters and opponents. When there was such a hammer
on flight areas in the longitudinal direction we still had 40.000
members who had not all fallen on their heads. Guaranteed there were
many more experts than now in that group that still consists of 10.000
members, if they are still there?
ALL CHANGES ARE NOT ALWAYS IMPROVEMENTS
Within the strongly aging pigeon sport there are many members who love
traditions. These are the old-fashioned fanciers who want to participate
with their pigeons every week. The club evenings are sacred to them,
they don't want to miss the social contacts for the world. They like it
when they occasionally make a nice result in their club and feel honored
when they receive a cup in the winter. Those people are not trying to
become national or Olympic champions at all costs. If they succeed it is
a nice bonus but nothing more. They want to play every week and that is
only possible if there is a flight program for traditional fanciers
consisting of a flight every week. They are not commercially oriented,
they do not belong to the permanent group of professional players who
put everything in their power to end up with the champions at national
or even international level. Because of all those extra competitions a
lot of money goes into the pigeon sport. Fine but that is not important
for the majority of the members who are still there. They do not come
with cart loads of pigeons to play as many prizes as possible. Those
scrapers still do not realize that it is they who are the pigeon sport,
and in particular the fanciers hugely victimize. This cannot go on for
long.
PIGEON CLUBS
It burst out of it. Each village had its own club. The larger towns had
two or more and the large cities such as Amsterdam had 30 associations
with a total of 1200 members. There where I live, the Zaanstreek, were
15 pigeon clubs with almost 500 members. In Amsterdam no more 30
fanciers live in the city itself. They all live in rural areas and there
are no more than 200 members total. In the Zaanstreek there are still 4
pigeon clubs with perhaps a little more than 100 members and 36 of them
participated last week on the fifth young pigeon flight. Despite that
the existing clubs just want to continue. Usually it is because of a
single very old member who keeps fighting to keep his club within
walking distance. Then he can go to the club every week with his basket,
very nice. If that is no longer possible it is also no longer possible
for members of that kind to play with pigeons and in this way we lose a
good number every year. To maintain the pigeon sport you would say; let
the existing clubs merge with each other within a certain area. From an
organizational point of view that is by far the best solution. The
necessary mergers have taken place in recent years unfortunately that
has only cost members.
MORE FLY AREAS
To keep the pigeon sport interesting it might be a good solution to
greatly expand the number of flying areas, also known as playing
together. So, for example in departments where there are now 5 circles
or playing together there can be made 10 of them so you automatically
get more winners. You play against fewer pigeons but that is not the
most important thing for most. In the pigeon sport it is important that
you defeat your best sport friend and that you at least have a pigeon in
the clock sooner than your neighbor. That is pigeon sport and that is
what it is all about. I know those who say that everyone can sit in
front of them as long as I leave my neighbor behind. That is nice or
not?
NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED
The pigeon year 2019 goes into the books as the year of failures. For
the last four flights with young pigeons I had everything in focus. My
young pigeons look like to get through a ring. Tight in the feathers,
healthy, nice on weight and they feel like they've been pumped up a bit.
In addition, most of them have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Some already
have a young in the nest, some only sit on eggs for a few days, others a
little longer. An almost ideal situation for an extra flame this season.
I have done my best to create this situation and then the following
happens. There would be a race of nearly 400 km last Saturday for which
the pigeons had to be used on Thursday evening. I was completely
satisfied and was ready for the fight. But what is my surprise? Because
so many young pigeons were left behind most members in my club no longer
wanted to participate. As a result they had to move to another club. I
was not happy with that and certainly not when I heard that no
association in the region could process my Tipes clock system. That's
why there was only one thing to do; I had to take the basketing antenna
and the atomic clock from my club. I was not in the mood for that either
even when some members offered to take my pigeons and the Tipes supplies
away. To make matters worse I soon heard the weather forecast and my
decision was final; I would not participate. Very terrible weather was
predicted for both Saturday and Sunday. The disappointment was great
especially because I thought the pigeons looked so perfect. After I had
unsubscribed a message came through that there would be raced Friday
instead of Saturday. I have never experienced this as long as I have
been playing with pigeons. A flight was planned for that same Saturday
in which many inexperienced young pigeons would participate. Despite the
predicted "animal weather", it would continue on Saturday. End of the
song; a beautiful flight on Friday with a disappointing participation.
My chance for the championship is gone. On Saturday the pigeons could
not get away and was decided that same afternoon to bring the pigeons
back to the premises while on Sunday it was excellent weather for the
flight to continue. It looks like I will not be able to basket again in
my own room for the coming weekend and that is why I am not
participating in the races for youngsters. Everything done for nothing
but it is my own choice not to participate. The main cause is that I
cannot basket in my own club room and I have never experienced that. For
me the fun is completely gone. So now I bet my old and young pigeons
four times on the last speed races of this season and that is nice again
because then I am certainly waiting for the arrival of some forty
pigeons and that is still one of the most beautiful parts of our sport,
namely the arrival of the pigeons. It will be 27 degrees with east wind
and that is less fun.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT BIG LOSSES
That is very different from playing hard. I still remember the time when
almost no young pigeons were lost. Of course there were also bad flights
at the time of which not all pigeons returned but those were exceptions.
Nowadays many fanciers breed twice the amount they would normally grow.
They all assume that they will lose at least a quarter of their
youngsters. Many fanciers would be happy with a quarter because usually
there are many more. Even so much that many stop early because otherwise
they are afraid not to be able to select strict enough. There is nothing
so annoying to keep pigeons in winter that you don't really like. There
is nothing so annoying to be forced to keep a collection pigeons that
you can’t trust. Nevertheless I still maintain that we can do a lot
ourselves to prevent massive losses. It is certainly not only about
quality if young pigeons are left behind. Health is the most important
thing but there is more to this globe. Because many pigeons are left
behind we breed more. That in itself is a very good system. A lot of
breeding and flying with it is very important, the basket will tells you
more. The mistake is that from everything that has two wings are bred.
Breeding from good pigeons gives more chance of usable pigeons. Two
toppers do not automatically give toppers even though all those stories
do believe that. There is still a bit of craftsmanship involved. Look at
the men who always play well. They own a strain of pigeons that they
know through and through. Every year they see characteristics of
grandparents who have put down a good performance. They have developed
their own model pigeon. They know their pigeons from head to toe, just
the external characteristics often tell them enough to determine whether
or not they will breed from them. It is not always the most beautiful
athletes that perform the best. In the sports world there is also a
clear difference between sprinters, medium-distance runners and marathon
runners. Sprinters are important in cycling, but also climbers, time
trialists and all-rounders. Whoever wants to be one of the great
champions in the pigeon sport will have to have a loft of pigeons that
possesses a variety of capacities and then you are not there yet. You
should not be too scared to let the pigeons participate in the flights.
With caution you will not get any further and we are certainly not
allowed to turn it into greenhouse plants. The boss himself must be in
control of the game. So dealing with his pigeons, a well-thought out
training system, the method of feeding and what extras he should
administer to his pigeons. The method of selection, the loft and, to a
lesser extent, the use of all kinds of medicines are just as important.
NOT SO SATISFIED
A very old saying that is also important for young pigeons. I even want
to start with the egg, it must be nice in shape and smooth. Is that not
the case, they are also from your best pigeons, away with it. Both eggs
have to hatch at the same time, a young that hatches a day later can
leave, such a pigeon will always be late. Young pigeons have to be full
and full all day long, so feeding three times a day is best, even better
than "full body" every day. After every feeding the parents start
feeding their young at full capacity they do so irregularly. Youngsters
who try to stand on their legs early on can leave. They are wrong and
will never be a good one. Squeaky youngsters can also leave quickly,
they can only squeak when fed and furthermore they have to sleep a lot
during the entire growing up period, then they grow best and the boss
will look at it with a good feeling. As soon as they can leave the
parents, they have to lie tight. Their feathers must shine, nice solid
manure around the dish then they will certainly feel good too. It must
be a party to wean such a boy. We will continue this next time.
NEVER THERE WAS SO MANY MUTATIONS IN THE FLY PROGRAM
We are probably working on the most difficult season ever in the
Netherlands this year. Everything is upset, the weather, the release
committee, the managers, the fanciers and even the pigeons. From the
start of the season there is something special going on every week. That
way the fun gets a bit off. In addition there are also the losses with
the youngsters. The pigeons are having a hard time but this week they
had it very easy with the wind in their sails, at least you would say
that. Unfortunately that turned out not to be the case. With a speed of
more than 130 km per hour they came rushing home. The annoying thing is
that it is precisely because of this that again a lot of young pigeons
flew past their lofts and ended up in the high north of our country or
maybe even further. The program for the young pigeons is now running at
full speed and unfortunately fanciers are already stopping because
otherwise they will no longer have any young pigeons. Despite the high
speed the competition was open for more than half an hour. A day later
there was another flight where they again had the wind on their tails.
There was a less strong wind and yet the pigeons made speeds of almost
110 km per hour. The strange thing is that this flight was open for 7
minutes and the losses were nihil. The program for the old pigeons is
over but they can still participate a number of times in the natour
where old and young compete against each other.
THE NATOUR; SEVEN SPEED FLIGHTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG
Originally those flights were created to train the later youngsters. It
has been many years since someone came up with the bright idea to
include those flights in the overall (general) championship. That caught
on so much that enthusiasm of the fanciers was great and the number of
participating pigeons became huge. Even today many fanciers are still
playing at the cutting edge. In the early years I only played my hens
who had served as a widow hen all year round. So at this time of the
year they had another nest and the hens that had been sitting still for
a long time without a nest turned out to be extremely motivated. Most of
the time I played with 16 hens and experienced it several times that
they all won prizes. The trick is to keep a good eye on the hens and by
playing them in the nest it works nicely. Yet it is true that especially
on the last flights the darkened youngsters beat the old ones. The
natour is loved by many fanciers in the Netherlands. At the end of
September it is over and that is a good thing because then it is almost
impossible to stop the big molt and it is high time to give the pigeons
rest.
YOUNG PIGEONS
When the last middle distance flights start, you can see the number of
participating pigeons run back quickly. This is because many fanciers
who no longer have a chance at a championship will focus on the young
pigeon game. A game where previously everyone could come along well or
to satisfaction. The game with the young pigeons is no longer fun
either. The whole bag of tricks opens to show as well as possible. A lot
is being demanded of the young pigeons while they have to work in the
toughest period of the season. Often very hot and that is not an easy
task for not well-trained youngsters. This year and also last year the
juniors have a very difficult time. Despite everything, the losses are
not that bad for me. Every now and then pigeons come home again. I am
happy with that while I actually have no use anymore. Practice is that
as soon as you give them again on a race a number stay away. A few weeks
ago I picked up a young cock that looked so great that you could
immediately play it again. I didn't do that he was able to train for
three weeks around the loft. I think it was enough for him for the time
being but I lost him again. His father is my best yearling this year and
his mother was my best young bird last year. You see, it doesn't say
everything either. Still I look forward with interest to the remaining
flights. The young pigeons are increasingly forming a pair, are cuddling
somewhere in a corner. Others already have eggs and a couple gave birth
to the first youngster two days ago. Nice nest positions for the coming
races. Performing well with young pigeons does not have everything to do
with good nesting positions. Health in particular is of the utmost
importance. Furthermore, two young cocks that hate each other can
perform incredibly well and also a young pigeon that sees other pigeons
caressing from its seat can rush away in such a way that it thunders
home at a record pace. By carefully observing the pigeons you can see
these kinds of things and that can be important to put the right pigeons
at the top of the list of participants.
FAIR GAME
In the past winter there has been much to do about this in our country,
a committee has even been set up for it. A lot has been discussed about
it and a long list of all sorts of ideas and proposals has come out are
of no use to us. Fair play is simply not possible in the pigeon sport.
Of course it was initially only about the large numbers that are used
weekly by certain members. I can imagine that such a thing discourages a
lot fanciers in advance. There was talked about pros and amateurs, that
would also be unfair. I know enough amateurs who play much better than
the pros who owe their name to the performance of one of their pigeons.
What to think of all those commercial players who think of everything to
get in the picture while they are perform far below par. Older
aficionados look up to men like that while practice shows that they
themselves play considerably better. Those men with big names sell
several times a year and always work with youngsters from only their
best breeders. The more you write that, the more fanciers will believe
that. Because we never had many pigeons at home we soon realized that
you should not breed too much from the same (good) couples. You got too
much of the same kind and that was why there was a good chance that you
would grow too closely. With long-term too narrow inbreeding you often
get the most beautiful pigeons, the annoying thing is that the speed is
grown out of it. So we broke all breeding couples every year (we only
had six). Every year the two best racing pigeons went to our breeding
loft where two older breeders had to make room. That way we only had
breeding pigeons that had won a first prize at least once and yet it
happened several times that our best young pigeon came from the racing
pigeons. All the knowledge that we think we have appears to be more luck
than wisdom.
JULY 2019 HOTTEST MONTH EVER
In the Netherlands heat records have been broken with some regularity in
recent years. For example the past month of July was extremely hot and
also the hottest month ever. Where's that going? Fortunately it receives
the necessary attention worldwide. The high temperatures are far from
ideal for our pigeon sport. We can gradually ask ourselves what
influence that has on our sport. Large losses are partly due to these
tropical temperatures and you know as well as I do that it makes no one
happy. Unfortunately we cannot influence it at all but we will
increasingly take it into account. Fewer pigeons are being used, we are
becoming more careful so that our pigeons are less able to resist high
temperatures. I myself can also not stand it if I have to hand in a few
pigeons every week, I never get used to that. At the moment many
fanciers have lost so many young pigeons that at the end of the season
there is little to be selected so they have to keep pigeons that would
otherwise be selected. I would never use such a system, I would rather
have a few empty breeding boxes. I absolutely do not want pigeons in my
loft that I have no faith in or do not like as a pigeon. Fortunately the
worst heat is now out of our country so that we will hopefully get some
nice and exciting flights before the season ends on September 13.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MAIN FLIGHTS FOR THE YOUNGSTERS ARE ARRIVING
The speed flights for the young pigeons are over. They have met well
with regard to the race for the championships. We are now going to start
on a series of four flights with two nights in the basket, which means
that the distances will be somewhat larger. The point now is that the
pigeons know where to drink when they are on their way to the release
location. If they do not drink it is fatal, in any case the chance of an
early arrival is then gone. So it's about them drinking in the baskets.
Fanciers who have made work of it don't have to worry. I myself am a bit
too easy to do that. The only thing I did years ago to teach them to
drink is to place a 70 cm long drinking trough in the cage where they,
just like in the shipping baskets, have to put their heads through the
bars to drink. Furthermore I assume that when they are in the basket for
two nights they are so excited about drinking that they will soon
imitate their fellow drinkers. I have never put young pigeons in the
basket overnight to teach them to drink. I cannot judge whether I have
lost pigeons as a result. It is true that the last flight I got a young
hen home who had been drinking for a long time. The pigeons were
released at noon so they had to stay in the basket for quite a long
time. She had probably not drunk a drop and when she returned home she
had lost a lot of weight. Now it was my third pigeon and two weeks
before my first and then she sensed that she had not left. Next weekend
they will go to 315 km, a nice distance for young pigeons. The following
week 350 km and then 400 km. My experience is that youngsters who win
early prizes from such distances as yearlings are often among the better
ones. For the coming weeks I am confident. Marco has stopped with the
youngsters. He didn't have enough time to prepare them properly which
meant he had to surrender far too much on a flight. This was followed by
a fourteen-day holiday so he decided to race the young pigeons on the
after tour. These are six speed flights that will also start this coming
weekend in which the old and young pigeons compete. Perhaps it is also
an advantage that old and young are released simultaneously so that the
young can use the experience that the old pigeons have already gained
this season so that losses among the young pigeons will be kept to a
minimum. The plans that we both had with the young pigeons fell apart.
We will try again with the natour to jointly make some nice chain
results. But those thoughts will live with multiple fanciers. In any
case we go "full" against it.
IT IS NOW ABOUT THE AERODYNAMICS
The season is nearing its end and that means that in many lofts the big
molt appears. Fanciers who have taken this into account have darkened
their old pigeons in the spring so that they have only thrown two and
maybe three pens at most. As a result, the widowers can simply be raced
in widowhood and the widow hens that are not raced will perform great as
a nest pigeon with a full wing. Those who start the after-flight with
three days of eggs can play the season 6 weeks in a row on that litter.
First week three days of eggs, then 10 days, then 17 days or bald
youngsters, then youngsters of one week, then two weeks and the last
week it is about who still has a good grip on his pigeons. If that is
not the case then the aerodynamics are gone and it is over with winning
early prizes. This time of year playing with pigeons in the nest has the
advantage that as soon as youngsters come into the dish the molting
stagnates. The pigeons can also be paired in two groups so that the
first group at the end of the season can be used to reduce the
youngsters so that the old pigeons hold their feathers and have a better
chance of coming home at full speed. I have been playing that game for
many years with great success. The pigeons have to get out twice a day
including those who are sitting on the nest at that time. They must
train for at least half an hour if necessary with the flag. After 45
minutes they can go inside and 15 minutes later they are fed.
YOUNG PIGEONS ARE STILL COMING BACK
We complain that so many pigeons stay away, indeed it is. Possibly due
to the fairly good weather conditions I sometimes get a lost son or
daughter back in the last two weeks. It is striking that they look good,
they have probably been so wise to enter a different loft and have had
food and drink there. I also received several telephone calls which I
picked up with my wife. However, the best thing is if they come back on
their own, there are pigeons that I have lost for several weeks, I like
that. Practice has shown that the returned pigeons, after having flown
around the house for a few weeks, are left behind after a short training
flight. I am convinced that it is not always the quality that young
pigeons do not come home. Weather conditions and health play an
important role in this. My team of young pigeons grows bigger every
week. In each case I have enough to make a strict selection. Whether
they are all useful pigeons that will be in my loft this winter, I hope
so. However, I have enough experience to know that they are never all
good. I also never know for sure what the bad and the good are. We must
all have made many mistakes in that regard.
CONTINUOUS HEATING SETBACK FOR PIGEON SPORT
In the Netherlands we are used to strong and sudden weather changes and
our sport is often the victim of that. The past weekend was a wise
decision to cancel all flights. We fanciers had a free weekend but that
was not entirely true. The international flight from Narbonne where 6
cars with a total of 18.094 pigeons were at the start went ahead.
Already on Wednesday the pigeons went on a journey and due to the
scorching heat with thunderstorms and heavy rain the pigeons could only
on Monday morning at 7.15 on their way home. I would like to stand still
on the international race from Narbonne. In my eyes no more than a
laugher. What the hell suggests such an international competition. The
French entered with 5438 pigeons and won all the early prizes. If you
see what kind of accommodation the winner lives then I am ashamed to
death, what a mess! Fortunately a pigeon does not look at it, it is
often satisfied with a cardboard box in which he or she can lie with her
buddy. However, you will have a neighbor with a loft that is about to
collapse and a garden as if a bomb has been hit. Furthermore the
participation was as follows; Netherlands 3835; Belgium 7465; Germany
1160; England 75 and Luxembourg 121. Monday evening at 10 p.m. 1487 of
the more than 18.000 pigeons were reported internationally, that is 8%!
The newspapers will soon be full of the most beautiful stories about the
national and international winners. You will win the first national in
England against 75 pigeons. I do not know when it arrived, but I do know
that it was not home on the day of release. In the Netherlands, Zeeland
fanciers who live in the southwest of our country, came out the best.
The fastest Dutch pigeon fell four hours after the first international
report at 8.49 pm (963 km) and became 61st internationally which in
itself is a top achievement. The first international report took place
at 4.52 pm at a distance of 717 km. With the best will in the world I
cannot understand what is so great about such an international race. The
commercial guys certainly understand that otherwise they would not
participate! As far as I am concerned; this type of unfair races soon
forgot about the big difference in distances.
SOMETHING SO INCOMPREHENSIBLE
Our international board the F.C.I. is busy with the world championship
that will be held in Argentina in May 2020. The pigeons that participate
in this race are kept in quarantine in Belgium and can/must be delivered
in September. There are still 20 places available for interested
Dutchmen. The participation fee is 120 euros. Fancy an Argentinian
adventure? Jo Vos ?? !! is the man who can show you the way. Whether
there are still places available for participants from other countries
has not been announced. All in all an unclear report about a World
Championship for racing pigeons. By the way, I don't know what to think
about a World Championship for racing pigeons. Yes, commerce and nothing
more. Well, a festive dinner for the international bobos will no doubt
be arranged.
THE HEAT RECORDS ARE EASILY RESPONDED
The past week has been tropical in the Netherlands, which is not fun at
all for many people. Temperatures of more than 40 degrees do not
normally occur in our country. The KNMI weather station has been
accurately tracking the highest temperatures since the end of the
nineteenth century. 1943 and 1947 had also a number of tropical days,
but yes, that is already 70 years ago. It is true that the average
temperatures are becoming a little higher and scientist all over the
world are working on that. Nature is not doing well and we humans are to
blame for that. Nature cannot be regulated, certainly not by humans. For
the races with racing pigeons in Europe every year we see that the
weather conditions have such an influence that our beautiful and
exciting pigeon game is regularly put in danger. Delayed releases, poor
visibility in the early morning, heavy showers, tropical temperatures
are becoming more frequent. We and certainly our pigeons are not geared
to that. Perhaps we are too careful with our pigeons. In the Netherlands
we really only have nice weather pigeons. We will certainly have to look
for the big losses with young pigeons in that direction. It is not only
the high-voltage cables and the birds of prey that cause great losses. I
know that many fanciers are very serious about preparing their young
pigeons and yet they lose at least a third every year including me!
A SEASON TO FORGET SOON
We already say that a for a few years but whatever we do the losses
remain large and that causes disappointed fanciers. Most of us are gray
or bald and already quite old and have experienced a few things. It is
precisely that aging that makes us more sentimental. We cannot stand to
have to surrender too many pigeons a year, plus our national government
is pretty busy spoiling our game. There are now so many flights that it
is no longer fun. Every week a flight is still the best, everyone will
participate. The specialization has certainly not produced any new
members in the Netherlands. Worse, it has made many members decide to
stop pigeon racing. With a shorter flight program of 5 vitesse flights,
5 middle distance, 5 long distance, 7 young pigeons and 5 natoer sprint
races where old and young pigeons compete against each other, everyone
will find what they are looking for. That is the game that has been at
the base for years. All those marathon flights and too many one-day long
distance flights are only interesting for a handful of participants.
Today's board members who are retiring too quickly cause unrest in the
organization. When existing board members resign, new ones must come and
they will usually reinvent the wheel. Well intended but it has not
gotten better over the last few years with regard to powerful drivers.
We desperately need them, I doubt if they still exist.
THE NETHERLANDS ONLY HAS ONE OFFICIAL NATIONAL COMPETITION
You can ask yourself what the purpose of a national competition is. It
must be fun to play against each other in a country with all fanciers
together. Let us not be mistaken. Playing all of the same release place
against each other is not fair anyway so actually not fun either. Yes,
for those who achieve good results. Unfortunately the pigeon sport has
more losers than winners. The differences in distance are too large even
in a small country like the Netherlands. It is generally known that the
wind influences the course of short flights. Nationally the wind also
has (much) influence on flights of even 750 km or more. On the day of
release it is easily predictable in advance on which side of the country
the earliest pigeons will arrive. With a northwest wind the first
arrivals will be in the southeastern part of our country. With a
northeast wind, Zeeland, which lies in the southwest of the Netherlands,
will clearly have an advantage. Of course a victory, especially a
national victory, is something that many long distance fanciers dream
of. You must have luck on your side on that day. This is also the case
on all other flights of different distances. The big and most important
difference is that we play per department and we have 11 of them in our
country. The 11 departments are also divided into different games and
the club game comes first. If you are not there early then you can shake
it in larger games. Pigeon sport is a very nice game. I have been
working on it all my life and I mainly look at the results in my own
environment. They are also of the utmost importance to me during the
selection period. Pigeons that achieve a victory in their own
environment can be completely eliminated in a larger combination and
that has almost nothing to do with quality. The wind and therefore the
migration of the pigeons determines a good or bad result. If your
neighbor picks up well you must pack well. If that is not the case then
something is wrong with the health of your pigeons. It is important that
you can see for yourself what is not right. If you are not yet that far
advanced consult a pigeon friend or visit the vet. Pigeon sport is not
that difficult, we make it too difficult ourselves. We look too much
behind it, suspect others of secret means or even unfair play. Stay
sporty at all times, we can all run fast but not all equally fast. This
also applies to the racing performance of our pigeons. If they are
healthy they must regularly play a prize. With me the performance of
young pigeons does not count. A young pigeon that comes home early every
week, even if it has a hump or a crooked breastbone, remains.
Fortunately we all have more pigeons in our loft that do not all
regularly win prizes. The most important thing for me is the first
impression when I take a pigeon in my hands. For yearlings I have set
the performance bar at 50%. They must achieve that minimum percentage.
If not there will be no room for them in the loft coming winter. If we
demand performance we have to take care of the pigeons optimally and
also dare to select strictly. Certainly know that you will experience
considerably more pleasure with your pigeons. Whether you will also
achieve a national victory? Don't count on that, certainly not in the
Netherlands where there is only 1 national flight per year.
SECTOR FLIGHTS, THERE ARE MORE OF THEM
The Netherlands is divided into 4 sectors, they are usually flights from
500 - 700 km. Here you can clearly see that you cannot all play against
each other from the same release location. Sector 1 played from
Chateauroux, 1003 fanciers had brought 7494 pigeons. The winner had a
distance of 540 km and made a speed of 1350 meters per minute. Sector 2
played from Blois, 688 fanciers had brought 5877 pigeons. The winner had
a distance of 549 km and made a speed of 1343 meters per minute. Sector
2 is a combination of South and North Holland. The first North Holland
pigeon starts in place 25. Sector 3 and 4 played from Chateaudun. There
was a joint participation of 1742 fanciers who had brought 13.568
pigeons. In sector 3 1411 meters (491 km) was enough for the victory. In
sector 4, at a distance of 668 km was 1.407 meters enough. That is an
"over flight" of 1777 km compared to the shortest distance. The winner
of sector 1 would have started in 218th place with his speed in sector
3. Respect for every winner but here we see that pigeon sport is
definitely not a fair game. Our national board tries to fool us that we
still have 15.000 fanciers in the Netherlands, I think 12.000.
Unfortunately, these are NOT 12.000 lofts but members. A total of 3433
members participated in the flights sector. I don't know what you think
of that, but assuming 15.000 members, that is just over 20%. With the
best will in the world I cannot find that a great participation. You can
therefore wonder whether sector flights are worthwhile and the same
applies to that one national flight. You can talk about a national or
sectoral victory but if only 20% of all members participate, which is a
good performance, but let's face it the number of fanciers participating
in a national competition unfortunately does not represent that much. I
give you to guess what amount Asian fanciers want to pay for such a
pigeon.
THE LADIES LEAGUE
A lot of tam-tam was made at the start of the new setup for female
pigeon fanciers. I understand that there are more attractive prizes to
win than the men which is certainly not wrong. What matters to me is the
sequel. I hear little or nothing about it and have only once read an
article about a flight that was held in Noord-Holland. I couldn't find
anything special in it and am already afraid that the women's
competition will disappear just as quickly as it came. I hope I am
wrong.
5 AUGUST NATIONAL BURGES
I can still remember that in Belgium the national Bourges for young
pigeons was really the top of the pigeon sport. Gigantic participation,
a competition in which all Belgians really participated. At the then
Houben family in Itegem, dozens, perhaps a hundred supporters were
waiting for the pigeons. Only when the first pigeons had fallen were the
supporters treated to a cold beer, great to see. The pigeon sport was
incredibly popular in those years. In the Netherlands too, the villagers
in particular took part in the pigeon sport. The newspapers were full of
the best stories about the national winners. Also in the Netherlands we
have had several years that the fanciers were looking forward to the
Derby competition for youngsters from Orleans. There was even talk of
the Orleans fever that had burst out. Dozens of gold watches were to win
on that flight and you can imagine what it meant if you won a gold watch
at that time. If you said that you had won that with the pigeons most
people would not believe that. Unfortunately that competition is long
gone, it would be too far. Certainly the Dutch pigeon sport owes its
good name to this world famous competition for young pigeons with
150.000 youngsters at the start. I had hoped that the race would be
restored this year. Unfortunately that will never come back and when it
comes back it will never be that spectacular again. There are far too
few fanciers and few fanciers also means few pigeons. The fairy tale is
over and the once-popular sport has dropped almost to the last step of
the sporting ladder. Unfortunately! Perhaps the national race from
Bourges on Saturday August 5 brings the pigeon sport in a positive image
again.
SPECIALIZATION DEATH STITCH FOR DUTCH PIGEON SPORT?
When I ended up in the pigeon sport, that was a long time ago, the
flight program consisted of 6 speed flights. 6 middle distance flights,
5 long distance flights, 6 young pigeon flights and 5 after flights. The
old and young pigeons played against each other. The long distance
consisted of 4 one-day long distance flights and 1 overnight flight from
Bordeaux. With that flight the season for the old pigeons ended. For
many fanciers that was a sort of "clean up" flight. Almost all pigeons
that had not met were put on Bordeaux and that race was usually won by a
speed player, that's how it can go in the pigeon sport. Those who
grabbed an early pigeon on that flight were the King too rich. It was of
course very special that a pigeon that had performed poorly the entire
season now managed to get it off to a successful marathon race. For many
fanciers that performance was of great significance, as a result of
which the pigeon was usually given a place in the breeding loft. Whether
that is a good choice I do not entirely agree or, rather I do not agree
at all. Pigeons that conquer a place in the breeding loft must have
performed very well or it must be a pigeon purchased (for a lot of
money). For me, a breeding loft must consist exclusively of own
performance pigeons or what I just said, it must be a purchased pigeon.
You expect something from a purchased pigeon so I always put it against
my best breeder I had.
A FLY PROGRAM FOR THE MODAL FANCIER
What I want to talk about now is the national flying program made by the
NPO that, incidentally, came about on the recommendation of the
fanciers. I started this column by giving an overview of what the flying
program looked like for many years. One flight per weekend and in
exceptional cases sometimes 2. I must admit that in my younger years,
when I was driven to the bone, I was as fanatical as a young dog. I had
to win and would rather have 5 flights in a day than 1. In those years I
played with 16 widowers. The hens only competed in the last 5 races of
the season. I also had 4 breeding couples that raised 2 rounds and I had
1 young from each of my 16 flying couples so that if everything went
well, thirty young pigeons could start. That was pretty much because
considerably fewer pigeons were lost from the sixties up to the
eighties. A lot has changed in the meantime, not only for me but
especially nationwide.
THERE ARE ALMOST NO MORE FANCIERS
Youth is hardly ever added, they are busy with completely different
things. They have so many possibilities that they do not embark on a
time-consuming and expensive hobby such as the pigeon sport. The sport
is aging, the largest group of fanciers are the pensionados and they are
certainly not waiting for all those changes. They want to play their
game every week. They have been used to this for many years so we should
not change that. Yet that happens. The number of members is declining
and that is not only due to the aging population. All kinds of working
groups have been formed by the NPO for each type of game. The people who
have taken part in it come up with all kinds of novelties for their
category, especially more flights. People should have thought that 40
years ago when there were enough members. There were even associations
that had a membership stop. Unfortunately the managers at the time did
not think of aging, after all it went well and everyone was
enthusiastic. Because of the working groups there are far too many
flights and after only one year playing the national NPO program there
are already many dissatisfied fanciers. I know you don't have to
participate in everything, nothing is required. But in the past it was
true that everyone participated because it was a racing program that
fanciers with a small number of pigeons could play every week. The sport
for the common man was affordable, now the prices rise out of the pan.
It is no longer fun and that is why more and more fanciers throwing the
towel in the ring. The pigeon sport is becoming too professional and
commercial. The professionals with their mega lofts taking advantage
from all those older fanciers who come to the room every week with their
pigeons. They ensure that there are still quite a few pigeons
participating in the competitions for the glory of the pros. The same
professionals can then compete for the national titles and participation
in the Olympiad which is held once every two years. Ridiculous, every
Olympiad is once every 4 years. Not in the pigeon sport. There the
commercial men can make a lot of money every two years for the pigeons
or their youngsters. Fine, but that should not be about the heads of all
those old gray males who often achieve a much better prize percentage
than all those mass players. Those who can read a result know that. Our
national board, the NPO, is contributing to this. They have forgotten
what it was like or perhaps they have never experienced how cozy the
pigeon sport was. Now a pigeon club consists of an average of ten
members. In the golden years there were many associations that had 80 to
100 members and some even more. Then there was a fight within every
club. Now it is often the same two or three that make up the service and
they dare to advertise with it. They must be ashamed of themselves. No,
there is not much fun left. You have to find the pleasure on your own
property and that has nothing to do with whether you are a member of a
club with 10 or 50 members. Pigeon sport is sport at home and the whole
family can enjoy it.
IT IS WHAT IT IS
In the Netherlands, the golden years are over. I am very happy that I
was able to experience those years. Now we are struggling on a little.
The game with the pigeons is still great fun. Every day I enjoy the care
to get a good result at the weekend. Just relax in your loft, shake off
all worries and be busy with your animals. The time that I wanted to
play multiple flights in one day is far behind me. I don't have to think
about going to the club several times a week. Friday evening is the
nicest evening for me everything else could be done online. Money play
is gone, so what does a result say. What matters now are the champion
points, there is nothing more. We can forget large numbers of pigeons in
competition, that will never come again. It just gets a bit pathetic.
This week we had in my club with 22 members 6 participants for the third
one-day long distance race and 3 of them did not appear in the results,
it really means nothing anymore. In a little while we will no longer
know in an affordable way how to take the pigeons to release places of
500 km and beyond. I don't think the NPO board is working on that. They
are busy with the organization of the Olympiad to be held in 2021 in the
Netherlands. That costs a lot of money while the event is only
interesting for the bobos and that can never be the intention of an
Olympiad. Still I hope to be there in 2 years, then I have to become 84
years old.
HANDBOOK FOR PIGEON SPORTS DOES NOT EXIST
Many wise words have been written over the years. By highly trained
fanciers, by strongly playing fanciers by everyone who cares about
pigeon sport. There is (fortunately) still no manual for the pigeon
sport which describes what you have to do to become and remain a
champion. So it comes down to whether an fancier is a type of winner,
whether he is very passionate, whether he works systematically and
whether he has it in it’s fingers. If you have no aptitude to become a
strong playing fancier then it will not work either. Everyone can enjoy
the pigeon sport in their own way. However most of us want more. It is a
competitive sport and I think everyone wants to participate every week
with the intention of achieving good results. 100% effort is needed for
this and a good pigeon fancier always has a good loft and good pigeons
otherwise it would not be a good fancier. A visit to the loft and a
conversation with a crack that has played a leading role for many years
can be very enlightening. Good listening and reading makes you a lot
wiser. Do not do everything that different players claim, make your own
choice about care, type of game, number of pigeons. We can want
everything, but it must also be feasible also for the wallet. Certainly
within the Dutch and Belgian pigeon sport I know a lot of small fanciers
with a simple loft (cozy for the pigeons) and they play price
percentages that the mega lofts cannot match. They are all men who make
very strict selections. They dare to put away pigeons and only then look
at the pedigree. Names are completely unimportant for them. The only
thing that counts are the performances and only then does the pedigree
play a role. This is not so difficult for men who have been playing in
champion style for years. They have been using a fixed care schedule for
some time and if they do not do so well it certainly does not depend on
that.
DO ONLY WHAT IS NECESSARY
My feed supplier stopped. A pity, because I have been coming there for
years. There is now a new owner who has drastically changed his range.
He has listened (too much) to all stories about food. Our pigeons need
food every day and with a very varied mix good results can be achieved
on almost all flights. However the fanciers want to have a wide choice.
Almost all the same grains are present in all the mixtures. I cannot see
whether my pigeons eat all 28 different grains and how much of them they
eat. What I mean to say; all the mixes are thought out for commerce and
have nothing to do with better performance, breeding or molting. Stick
to a versatile mix and the rest is totally unimportant. An old fancier
once said to me; write in large letters POISON on your feed bin you oh
so soon give too much of it. Then we haven't talked about the prices
yet. Look and compare then you soon find out that you often pay way too
much. The pigeons need fresh grit every day. No grit, no prizes. To win
prizes you definitely do not need all the resources that are used to
advertise so much. Keep it simple then you get the furthest. Remember
that the pigeon engine runs on fat, linseed, hemp seed and 2 peanuts per
pigeon each day ensure a well-filled fuel tank with the necessary
reserves. Once I came to a well-known hard-playing fancier. He had 6 or
7 different bags of food. Every day he threw a canister of food out of
every bag into a bucket, he shook it well and that was his secret. Laugh
or not? With this he threw the expertise of the feed manufacturers
overboard, he left the choice to his pigeons and they are expert enough,
just like your pigeons.
BELIEVE IN YOUR PIGEONS AND NOT IN BREEDS
I often smile when reading reports and advertisements about varieties.
They know how to handle this, especially abroad. I read about Hansenne
(who died more than 100 years ago). How dare you write about the pure
Hansenne breed. Someone asked me what I thought of a pairing Raoul
Verstraete x Gaby Vandenabeele, both have no race. They mainly bought
the best pigeons in their own environment, bred from them and only keep
the best. There is still no one who can tell in advance that cock on
that hen will give good results in the assembly line. With lots of
breeding and play the basket will tell you which ones are the best.
Great breeding couples exist, that is for sure and because of that they
also get those beautiful names like Super Couple, Golden breeding
couple, Marathon couple and fill it in. Not one of all these couples got
their name when they were first put together. Maybe only 2 years later
they got such a beautiful name, do you understand what I mean?
Afterwards it is always easy to talk. Although breeding couples still
have such a nice name and even though they have given a super once, that
couple also gives more bad than good pigeons. There come fanciers to me
who have ordered young pigeons. There are those who ask me which food I
give. If I tell them that I always give the same food to all pigeons
throughout the year they also want to take a few bags of food from me.
Dear people, that is not the case. I sell pigeons and hope that the
buyers have a lot of success with it and that they will return home
happy. However, I stay at home and the buyers have to do their best at
home to get results. That they are not all good pigeons they buy from me
is certain, but who is that the case with? Because you are never sure
you have to be a huge optimist to spend many thousands of euros for a
young from a couple with a beautiful name. Fortunately we have not all
fallen on the back of our heads.
WAITED A LONG TIME BUT FINALLY IT IS SUMMER
What a horrible spring this year. For the people, but certainly for the
pigeons, it was heavy. But then it became June 21 beginning of summer
and really true, the Dutch weather changed and how. We don't know where
to look because of the tropical heat. At first it was always too cold,
too much rain, poor visibility but with a lot of art and racing work the
pigeons were released every week. Not always nice competitions but there
was not a single reason for grumbling. Finally there is the long-awaited
summer weather. However, it can also be too crazy and we knew that last
Saturday. The one-day long distance flights were excellent and the same
counted for our speed flight of 110 km for the old pigeons.
Simultaneously with the old pigeons the youngsters were also released at
the same place. It was their first official race and it didn't go so
well. East wind with a crystal clear cloudless sky is deadly for
inexperienced youngsters. In addition, many young pigeons have actually
been too little in the basket for a training flight. Most do not drink
and when the pigeons were allowed to go home at 8 o'clock on the way
home the temperature also rose quite quickly. Nervous youngsters who are
experiencing a massive release for the first time and have not been
drinking get stressed. We all certainly know the result of this in the
Netherlands and Belgium. That costs feathers we say and this time it
came out again. Large numbers of young pigeons are not yet home, where
they are is not yet fully known. Two days after the race several pigeons
were registered. I myself have lost 10 of the 37 and one I just received
a message that he is about 50 km away from me. I'll go get him with Cora
tomorrow.
THE HISTORY
I told everyone who wanted to hear that my young pigeons looked so
great. Smooth as an eel, good appetite, trained as it should. Not just
laps around the loft, no they are sometimes fifteen minutes completely
out of sight. If your young pigeons behave this way too you can sleep
peacefully because they are super fine. Unfortunately the coli bacterium
came to visit me. I realized it fairly quickly and immediately did coli
cure from Dr. Van der Sluijs in the water. I know from experience that
the cure is getting on quickly and after a few days I saw them
redecorating. A day before the basketing day of the first official
competition I was away with it. All back so no problem. Yet I made a
huge mistake. Against my custom I gave in young pigeons while I knew
that there would be east would with a clear sky. Participated anyway,
stupid, stupid and again stupid. So now 10 are gone and I enjoyed my
perfect team of youngsters for months. There is nothing sensible to say
about pigeons that are gone, I know which breeding couples they come
from and nothing more. Though I can tell you that there was not a young
pigeon in my loft that you would say; for God's sake what should you do
with it. They all got a good enough from me. Don't get me wrong that
doesn't mean they were all good. You can read those kind of comments on
the internet sales sites. Only youngsters from the best breeders are
sold there and it is suggested that they are all good ones. That is why
there are still so many fanciers who pay a lot of money for it. It is
striking that almost no pigeon is bought on those sites by the Dutch.
Would that be the Dutch stinginess or do the Dutch fanciers know all too
well that with a sale of 100 young pigeons there is at most a handful of
usable and most likely no champion pigeons, it is that difficult to
breed good ones.
FAIR GAME
Last winter there was a lot of talk about fair play in our country. A
working group has even been set up by the NPO to find a good solution
for unlimited use of large numbers of pigeons. Now that we go to the
club room every week with a basket that is no longer discussed. Nothing
has changed at all. Because the first young pigeon flight with us went
bad to very bad with regard to the many who stayed behind I went to see
how the flights in other departments went. Almost exactly the same
image. At one point I came across a department in which three big and
also good fanciers play. I was shocked because of the mega number of
pigeons that these three had used. These men had no fewer than 500
pigeons at the start and that in an association where 13 fanciers
participate. In the Netherlands you can give as many pigeons as you
want. So there is nothing wrong with the regulations. I have to think of
all those small, often older, fanciers who compete with such numbers
to record. I used to say that I didn't care how many pigeons by who is
used. I flew with at most 30 youngsters against 15.000 pigeons. I wanted
to win and did my very best, you can't do more. Those 15.000 pigeons
were used by an average of 1000 fanciers. The spread was much larger
than today. In the Zaanse CC where I have been playing all my life were
only 46 players last week while 20 years ago just a little 400
participated. If such a small number of participants have a set of those
mega lofts then you will be despondent in advance. You can then catch a
few pigeons well on time but the big boys run around 20 in front of you.
This does not make any mortal happy and I think that something urgently
needs to be done about this so that the fun of the game is not taken
away in advance. I am convinced that the pigeon sport is digging its own
grave in this way and that pit is already quite deep. The atmosphere is
lost, the national organization is busy with the Olympiad and with
national championships. Do they know that this is only interesting for
commerce and not for those 15.000 Dutch fanciers who come faithfully
with their pigeons every week. Unfortunately 95% of them play an
figurate role so that the other 5% can fill their pockets. Pigeon sport
is still a great hobby / sport, no sport can do without commerce. By
this I mean sponsors who make it possible for the pigeon sport to
continue to exist. That is different from the sale of pigeons, only that
select group of commercial fanciers is wiser and not the national
organization.
CHANGEOUS WEATHER MAKES FANCIERS DESPERATE
Of course I have experienced all kinds of bad flights in my long career.
By bad I do not mean a bad result but bad weather. But I cannot remember
that we had such terrible weather in spring. Too bad for our sport
because losing too many pigeons makes fanciers drop out. The majority of
Dutch pigeon sport consists of older people. But the older you get the
more you get attached to your beasts and the harder the losses of
pigeons you've been working with all winter and where you have every
confidence for a good racing season. We are all working on that. We
spend all our free time on it. Costs and effort are spared to optimally
take care of our pigeons to bring them into the right condition every
week. This year the fanciers are not bothered by the competition but it
is mainly the heavy rain showers with poor visibility, thunderstorms and
strong winds that are the major spoilers. Almost every week I have to
write about it, it even gets annoying to complain about the weather over
and over again. We are dealing with it and we will have to take it into
account more and more. Unbelievable to read that it has not been so dry
in Africa for the last 38 years affecting millions of people are being
threatened with famine. If you think about that we have no right to
speak.
YOU WILL BE RELAESE FUNCTIONER
Fortunately they are there, you don't want to know what kind of misery
these men are currently experiencing. The pigeon sport (may we still
talk about sport) consists of all individual practitioners who all have
an opinion and all want to pull the sheet. There is not one that thinks
about the public interest. It is everyone for themselves and that is
understandable too. On flights with a disastrous race the club does not
lose, it is the members who get the blows. Their hobby is threatened and
they don't accept that. As a result, rightly or wrongly, very ugly
comments are made to the board and, in particular, to the release
committee. I assume that those people are prepared for their task. That
is why I always give pigeons (if they are in good condition) because I
assume that the baskets are not simply pulled open. It is not like that;
weather or no weather out with those pigeons! Sometimes I have the idea
that too much risk is being taken. Last weekend National Sint Vincent
was held. One of the most famous marathon flights in our country.
Minimum distance around a thousand kilometers. Those who have studied
the weather maps know that the pigeons have had to deal with heavy rain
showers en route. The same was the case in the middle distance so that
the flight was open for more than five quarters. You may wonder whether
this can all be viewed from the one-day long distance. In the small
Netherlands we sometimes have to deal with four different weather types.
Marathon or one-day long distance flights almost never have the same
weather type on the entire flight line. I don't like those flights and I
hardly ever play on them because I think it are risk flights. I have to
be able to see what time the pigeons arrive and that is almost
impossible to do on those distant flights. In addition I hate to wait a
long time for pigeons, I am far too impatient for that.
SETBACK
Setbacks are there to be overcome. But please no setbacks in the racing
season. One of the major culprits that many of us are dealing with is an
outbreak of young pigeon infection with the e-coli bacteria. There are
various methods to prevent an outbreak. In the meantime there is
something to be done about it. You often see the outbreak only when it
is too late. It starts with sitting outside of some, especially young
pigeons. A coli infection with the old pigeons is also possible but
fortunately not so often. In any case, I am now one of the victims among
the young pigeons who have an outbreak of the e-coli bacteria. Sometimes
you have to deal with it if they have been vaccinated against paramixo.
I usually put two days in the drinking water a week after the
vaccination. It also sometimes happens a few weeks after you stop
darkening. I thought I had the leak because I have not had any problems
with this nasty contamination for several years. Young pigeons in
particular can be very sick of it, have no appetite, drink a lot and it
is as if they have lost their wits. Young pigeons that have been
infected and have flown in and out the loft many times suddenly find it
impossible to find the entrance. I feel sorry for the poor animals and
something that is certainly annoying is cleaning the lofts. Dirty green
slimy manure that is almost impossible to get rid of your scraper. A
sufficient means to prevent further infection is to burn out the loft
every day. Do you suffer from this young pigeon problem do not leave the
pigeons outside. Feed less than half a diet and cure the coli in the
water. You should see them redecorate after three or four days. They are
not all sick at the same time and not all at the same time better. My
experience is that once they are healed they will not have any adverse
effects. It is unbelievable that I am fully in the shit just before the
start of the season. Fortunately I see them getting better. They start
eating well again, the manure is getting firmer, some are still a bit
'fat' and most of them start training at home. It starts Saturday and
the Wednesday before I go away with them again. Friday evening in the
basket but not all go yet I think. For both the old and the young there
is a flight of 100 km and that suits me very well in this case.
IT STARTED SO GOOD
Both for me and for son Marco the start of the season was certainly
good. Once a real spectacle and on all further flights always a ranking
within the first ten. With Marco the old pigeons are doing very well
even though the price percentage could be a little higher. In any case
he is among the top three in sprint and middle distance. I myself did
not participate last weekend. The pigeons were not in order and then you
better give them at least a week's rest. In the standings for the
championships I am in 6th place on the short distance and in the middle
distance I was even first. Pity! Hopefully the youngsters will be okay
in time. This also applies to Marco, because he too was infected with
coli a few days after me. He is still young and very passionate for a
pigeon man, then you can imagine that he is very sick of it and I am not
cheering either. Let's hope for better weather and good results with
little or no losses.
DELAYED RELEASES AND A NEW DUTCH RECORD
The changeable weather in the Netherlands does not make things any
easier. The Saturday before Easter I had the feeling that it was autumn.
Hard southwest wind with gusts of wind above 120 km per hour. In
addition heavy rain showers and hailstones as large as pigeon eggs. It
was decided early in the morning to postpone the two flights for a day.
Others were more patient. After the afternoon the weather improved and,
despite the strong wind, it was still possible to unload. For me
postponing the flights on Saturday was a very good decision. But it
meant that agreements fell apart because the pigeons had to come home
that day. Such decisions do not do the pigeon sport any good. Many women
of pigeon fanciers find that terrible and they are right too. The
pigeons that were released on Saturday were blown home by the hard wind.
It was important to cover the entire route. With such strong gusts of
wind a pigeon only has to bump into a branch and the consequences cannot
be foreseen. In the Netherlands the speed record was in the name of Coen
Kat from Amsterdam until Saturday. His pigeon flew in 1957 from Orleans
(550 km) with an average speed of 143.04 km per hour (2384 meters per
minute). After 62 years it is broken. A pigeon from the Kamerhuis
brothers from Sibculo (NL) flew 2387 meters per minute on Saturday 8
June, or 143.26 Km per hour. To improve a record you must also be lucky.
That was the case that day due to the stormy southwest wind. Yet there
was only one pigeon faster than that of 1957. For me it also became a
record but then a depth record because my pigeons made a bad result. Our
flight of 155 km was completed within 4 minutes and I clocked 2 minutes
after my son who did very well and then you are halfway through the
competition and that is an absolute low point for me. I am a sportsman
enough to know that you cannot always win and these kinds of setbacks
are also part of it. The point is that you quickly find out why they
could not go along with the best on such a fast flight that day.
MANAGEMENT CRISIS
The disadvantage of amateur sports organizations is that managers do
everything on a voluntary basis. They introduce themselves and are
elected in writing at a general meeting. I doubt if sufficient
information has been obtained in advance about the candidates concerned.
Usually they are figures who can stir their mouths nicely as
representatives of their association. They are usually well-behaved and
that has absolutely nothing to do with expertise. If such people are
chosen on the board you are stuck with it. Within the pigeon sport it is
more or less a good habit that managers who get a little bit of headache
also make their function available again fairly quickly. In that respect
very appropriate for our sport, the board is exactly a pigeon loft, they
fly in and out. If we look back to the past there were managers who were
distinguished for their long-standing commitment to the sport. These
days I cannot name one who has been a board member of an umbrella
organization for more than 10 years. Our current board has already
announced that they will leave at the end of the year. They are still
finishing this season and do not make any effort to arrange anything for
the 2020 season and there is still so much to do. Their big mistake is
that they all work together. Unfortunately, the incompetence also drips
off, consultation with other directors is almost impossible for them. It
is all too pathetic for words. They are not men with balls and the
pigeon organization can use them very well. Especially since the pigeon
sport in my eyes is already arranging his own funeral. Decreasing the
number of members due to an aging population cannot be helped but your
commitment to keeping greyish men up to date as long as possible is a
prerequisite. Spending extra time on youth is meaningless to me. The
youth no longer plays outside. The youth is inside and I don't know how
much time is spent gaming. They don't know how to deal with animals.
Scooters, they are interested in and a car can be done as quickly as
possible. It is not only the pigeon sport that is on its last legs but
many other sports have to do with far too little supply from youth
members. A large number of football clubs have now merged in my area. It
has not been so long ago that the football clubs had fields too short,
now there are far too many. The same is the case with sports halls.
There was a huge lack of them, now there are two in each village and
most of them are empty. At the moment it is more about gyms. The
characterless youth now goes to the gym to build up a little fitness. Is
because they are not used to anything. They no longer know what it is to
walk or cycle. Father and mother take them everywhere by car. No, it is
not going well but luckily that is not entirely true because they still
exist the real go-getters who want to achieve something within the
sport. I've said it before, real athletes are born, you can't make them.
The real fanatic athletes call their leaders several times what time
they leave and what they should think about. You have to call the
weaklings several times to say that they have to make sure they arrive
at the clubhouse on time and they will hear where they have to go.
Unfortunately, most have never heard of pigeon sport. The big problem is
that especially the national and regional newspapers no longer pay
attention to it. In my home environment a weekly door-to-door newspaper
appears and they are happy to post a weekly report with a photo of the
winner. That way publicity is created. Whether as a result one or two
new members are added each year? I think we can forget that. Despite the
huge decline in members and therefore also the number of pigeons that
participate every week, it remains a nice game that in the Netherlands
still some 12.000 fanciers enjoy every week.
PREPARATION OF THE YOUNG PIGEONS
It is against all sides. The Dutch weather is not cooperating. We would
officially start on Saturday 15 June but luckily the official start was
postponed for a week. Many fanciers have not had the opportunity to
train their young pigeons themselves. The organization has planned two
training flights and they have both been canceled due to bad weather. On
Saturday 22 June the young pigeons will start for the first time for a
110 km race to my loft. I hope that I have been away with the youngsters
seven times. For the time being the counter is at five. The last time I
left was Tuesday June 11. It would be bad weather that day but suddenly
he was there, the sun! Waited for an hour and then all the pigeons in
the basket and set off for a training flight of 35 km. A large group
came together at the same time and then it trickled through all
afternoon. In the evening I was lost 4, the next morning another was in
the loft and the others are still on their way. It took the pigeons a
long time to get home. That was good to see because they were certainly
not refreshed that evening. The condition is so important for young
pigeons. If something is wrong you will lose them. Their season is often
very tough, they have their races in the hottest period of the year.
This year not yet but what is not can still come. We can probably use a
bit of luck. Good luck!
WIND OF BIG INFLUENCE ON THE SPEED FLIGHTS
Nothing really new. We pigeon fanciers have known for a long time that
the wind has a great influence on the shorter distances. It is almost
always possible to determine in advance in which corner the early
pigeons arrive. However, there are exceptions. I am an example myself.
Once I won the first prize against many thousands of pigeons with a
strong southwest wind. Everyone thought that was logical because I have
one of the most easterly lofts in my playing area. Exactly a week later
I hit again but now with a strong east wind. This flight was also a
super result with 7 pigeons in the first 25 and you can't call that a
coincidence. It indicates that our pigeons know better than we do where
and at what height they can fly best. Exceptions are also the flight
days with beautiful pigeon weather, at least we think so. Still we had
to wait very long for the first arriving pigeons, not an easy flight
because despite the nice weather and a distance of only 250 km the
flight was open for more than half an hour. A few weeks ago it was much
too cold for the pigeons and when they arrived it was finished within 7
minutes. The pigeon sport remains a bit unpredictable, therefore very
fascinating and often very exciting. The Netherlands is a country with a
lot of water, often wind from the westerly direction, no high
temperatures and heavy showers regularly. At least it was like that for
many years and that is now changing. The environment, the weather and
the increasing temperatures are subject to change. Especially last year,
many temperature records were broken and a striking amount of wind from
the east and when it rained once it really rained. Yesterday, Easter
Monday, another heat record was broken, more than 28 degrees. Since
measurements have been taken, it has never been so hot during Easter.
Our pigeons also have to deal with all these changes. Whether that's a
disadvantage, I don't think so. Our pigeons are flying faster and
faster. Top speeds of 130 km per hour have still not been broken,
although the average speed is considerably higher than 20 years ago.
Then we said to each other that with a strong north wind the fastest
pigeons would always make 1000 meters per minute (60 km per hour), which
we can forget in recent years. With head wind the winning pigeons easily
reach 80 km per hour. On the other hand there used to be many more
competitions that ended within 5 minutes. The typical thing is that we
almost never experience this again.
RESULTS OF THE OLD PIGEONS
By reading it well there is much to learn. You can see how Jantje or
Pietje has performed, that is nice but you will not get further. Read
from which angle the wind blows and see at which angle the fastest
pigeons arrived. Read how many pigeons a fancier have brought along and
see how many pigeons or rather how much percent prize they play. Also
pay attention to which signed people take the lead. The little fanciers
are more likely to grab a signed pigeon than the crowd. Grabbing a
signed pigeon does not say everything, it must be in the results early.
A designated championship used to be very highly regarded. In my eyes it
doesn't mean much. A "regular" pigeon is almost always at the top and
there are still fanciers who do have a number of regular pigeons and
they are hard to beat for a designated championship while it has little
or nothing to do with knowledge. As strange as it sounds I am still in
favor of the non-designated championship. To achieve that you have to
catch an early pigeon every week. In the ZCC where I play it is made a
little bit harder. There you must for every ten pigeons clock one. So 13
with it 2 clock. The champion points that the two pigeons have achieved
are added and divided by 1.3. If a fancier has 24 with then he must have
3 clocked and those points are divided by 2.4. The person with the most
points at the end of the ride may call himself a champion. There are
more champions in Belgium than in the Netherlands, but beware of that,
it is not in better pigeons but in more game possibilities. We know
short distance game, in Belgium they play short distance short and short
distance long. They also do this with the middle long distance. The
one-day long distance, the young pigeons and then there is also a
difference in old pigeons and yearlings plus that previously they also
raced separately with hens. From a commercial point of view that is a
good system because in Belgium they therefore have many more regional
and also national champions. In addition there are considerably more
national flights in Belgium than in the Netherlands and it is generally
known that a pigeon has added value if the letters NAT (national) can be
placed for the performance. By reading the results well you will
increasingly find out how relative all those extra terms are. In this
way we see that commerce is playing an increasingly important role in
our pigeon sport and that is actually a strange matter with a
hobby/sport that gets fewer and fewer practitioners and therefore
considerably fewer pigeons in the competitions.
IT IS ABOUT THE PIGEONS AND THE REST DOES NOT MATTER
It just depends on how you view the pigeon sport. Do you want to enjoy
your pigeons or are there dollar signs in your eyes? I am a fan of the
old stamp. I can intensely enjoy a beautiful pigeon that also regularly
performs well. Others think directly about selling opportunities when
achieving good performance. This is not how it works in practice. Only
those with 100% commitment, a strict selection and good performance will
play a role. That gives a very good feeling. It is a reward for a year
to put everything in order to reach the top. Fortunately there are still
fanciers who fully enjoy their hobby if they occasionally grab a pigeon
at the top of the result. Dealing with pigeons, taking care of them,
trying to breed valuable young ones yourself gives satisfaction. Our
hobby is dealing with your pigeons for a whole week. At the end of the
week the probability calculation for the coming flight and then on the
race day the tension can sometimes be cut until the first pigeon
arrives. That is often a spectacle that give you goosebumps. Certainly
if it concerns a pigeon that you did not suspect he would come home that
day first and even very early. Or it is the pigeon that you first
expected. That is an experience in itself. From now on we will be
working on the flight every week and everything that goes with it.
Remember, nothing goes without saying, so if everything goes well the
rest will (almost) come naturally. Good luck!
WE HAVE STARTED
Even though it was just a training flight it is always exciting the
first time. The Dutch weather was not satisfactory on Saturday, the
visibility remained insufficient and yet they intended to release the
pigeons at half past one. Unfortunately, by that time the sky closed
completely and the flight was postponed until Sunday. Sunday in the
early morning it was foggy especially in the south. As a result people
had to wait until half past ten and then the crowd set off. There was a
strong cold north-east wind so that the pigeons had to pull it hard this
first race. The fastest pigeons were on the west side with winning
speeds of well over 80 km per hour. In the Zaanse CC there were 1152
pigeons of which I had 18 of the 24 in the result, son Marco took 20 of
the 36. In the club against 374 pigeons we had 20 together in the first
40 starting with a third place . The cock that achieved this was as a
youngster 1st pigeon champion and as a yearling he also played a first
in a large context. It was a super-fast flight, the 288 prizes were
earned in 5 minutes. Despite this easy flight 7 of the 18 fanciers in my
club did not win a prize. Fortunately we have an A and a B group in the
club which means that a number of members are still in the B-result.
After all it is not a good thing that almost half of the members do not
play a prize and this time it was certainly not due to the location. The
west side was in favor, furthermore early pigeons were clocked
throughout the region. So everyone has a chance to get into the results.
Next Saturday the first official flight.
IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME
This season too, the same names will often take the lead after 5 weeks
of play that's how it has been for many years. Fortunately a new star
presents itself every year and often it disappears just as quickly as it
came. They are also always the same who visit the vet almost weekly,
they are always the same who complain. They are always unlucky while
trying so hard. You probably know the expression of; I do everything to
it and it still doesn't work. I sometimes say; maybe you are doing
everything wrong. If you hear what they all give their pigeons for
remedies then it cannot go well either. Those who play the worst do a
lot more about their pigeons than the men who play strong all the years.
The lesser gods make it far too difficult for themselves and think that
the champions have secret remedies. No, those men keep it very simple.
They dare to throw away pigeons without looking at those complicated
pedigrees. I remember the time when it was about the pigeon. Now it has
not been important for years, it is now a pedigree that has been printed
in 4 colors that is also full of meaningless names and then in the
fourth or fifth generation you finally see the pigeon you have heard
about before. But what do we do with such a pedigree. There is also
someone like that in my club who has pedigrees that go back to
Napoleon's days and he knows them all out of his mind too. Maybe that is
also a hobby. We also know the fanciers who are always unfavorable. They
find fanciers who play with a large number of pigeons unsporting and so
on. The most important thing is that you have to be in control of the
game with pigeons and that you show 100% commitment. The best is fixed
care time which is also nice for your pigeons. Everything at set times
brings optimum condition. Don't get too much fuss. Beware of
overcrowding especially with the young pigeons. Warm dry lofts are fine,
too much sun is dangerous. Close the curtains because too much sun burns
oxygen from the loft. The pigeons get nasty noses and breathing problems
so that you can no longer play a noteworthy prize. Pigeon sport is
really not that difficult, do what is necessary and put your ear to the
ears of strong players. The men at the bar often have nothing meaningful
to say, but while enjoying a beer they can often tell very strong
stories. Remember that they are stories and you don't get along with
that or do you still believe in Sinterklaas?
A GOOD BREEDING IS VERY PROMISING FOR THE COMPETITIONS
For most of us the breeding season is almost over. The young pigeon
lofts are filled and then it is better at this time of the year to add
nothing more. I myself have them all of the same age and it is a feast
for the eyes to sit there for twenty minutes a day. I enjoy it immensely
and I did that even when they were still in the nest. What a beautiful
sight all that youngsters was when they were between two and three weeks
old. Full heads and they are glistening against you. This year I didn't
have a nest with thin or weak manure. The first round a few unfertilized
eggs, but not one after that. You can notice that early breeding is
certainly not natural. At this time of the year almost everything
succeeds and when we have high summer the eggs will even hatch in the
pocket of your dust coat.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Also in time when most of us didn't have a car the pigeons were trained
several times. We went with a few fanciers on the bike to bring pigeons
away. Never far, we went by ferry across the North Sea Canal to
Amsterdam West, at most 16 km and that was it. We did that several times
and all those times we usually took a cup of coffee on a terrace and
soon afterwards another drink followed and then back on the bike, it was
a good time. Now we all have our own car and way of training pigeons. I
know those who go more than 100 km from home, that is not for me, not
now and never been. Now I am not allowed to drive a car anymore, my wife
does that and she really does not go further than 35 km, is also more
than sufficient. This week I spoke to someone who had bred no less than
25 summer youngsters in the summer of 2018. Why I did not understand and
he probably did not. In any case he brought them all with him last week.
They had never been in the basket of their short lives and now he also
had the misfortune that they had to stay two nights in the basket
because of the bad weather. The old pigeons came home everywhere as
fighter jets except for the inexperienced pigeons who had a hard time.
Probably not drunk in the basket, then they will irrevocably have to
deal with stress. The latter is very bad for the orientation ability.
They go looking, don't fly in the right direction and you guessed it,
twenty out of 25 away. You've been watching that all winter. You have
cared for them and in one fell swoop everything is gone. Stupid, stupid,
that's all I can say. If you say something about it, they get angry too.
There are those who unfortunately never learn!
ARE WE READY?
We are going to start. No apologies such as no time or other excuses,
whoever does not have the affairs in order is lagging behind and it is
not easy to make up for the delay. Are the pigeons in the right
condition? I don't want to talk about an optimal condition yet because
the season is still long. Have you been to your pigeon doctor with a few
pigeons to have manure tests done? A throat swab and perhaps some
contraceptive drugs brought along to intervene immediately if something
is not right. I myself always have medication from Dr. Van der Sluis at
home against ornithosis and cancer plus condition mix that I do in the
drinking water every Wednesday and Thursday. My old pigeons have not
been darkened which is why I have already found some flight feathers
among the hens. Furthermore, I am not so satisfied with the hens. I
should have kept them a little tighter. They fly well but come in too
slow. When they see me they fly towards me, walk around as if they want
to mate with me. They are too lush if you understand what I mean. So
they have been put on ration since otherwise eggs will come in a few
weeks and we are not waiting for that. If that happens later in the
season I don't mind, I even have good experiences with widow hens that
have eggs. I certainly do not encourage it and try to stop it for as
long as possible with less fat-rich feed because hens that are going to
mate with each other also upset the other hens and that is definitely at
the expense of performance.
TRAINING
If you want to be one the first flight immediately then you must have
prepared everything to perfection and that is easier said than done.
Because I am no longer allowed to drive a car I have to rely on my
wife's help. She has been away with the pigeons three times and that is
not enough. To bring them farther away, so more than 50 km, is not
necessary. The pigeons know much better than we do what the fastest
(shortest) way home is. It is about getting used to the basket again and
also gaining some flying rhythm. Often in the Netherlands the weather is
the big breaker. My plan was to take the pigeons away several times, but
rain, fog, low temperatures and cold north wind make sure that we have
to adjust the plans many times. Pigeons can do more than we think, but I
am in favor of being careful, especially at the start of the season.
YOUNG PIGEONS COME OUTSIDE.
No winter youngsters this year. My young pigeons have been outside since
a week. I have made a runway for them and it is full of young pigeons
every day. I have 35 and they cannot all sit on the sputnik at the same
time. Most of them now fly to the roof of the loft. In the morning they
get food at ten o'clock, I do because they will soon be allowed to go
outside at nine to train for an hour. Now I leave them outside all day
and don't look back. Next week Dr. Van der Sluis approached me to
vaccinate all youngsters including Marco's against paramixo. A month
before the young pigeon season starts (mid-June) I have the manure
examined so that I can intervene if something is wrong. I used to panic
when some young pigeons flew to the roof of the neighbors. I was able to
go up on the roof so scared I was going to lose them. Over the years I
have become much easier in that. I now also live freely, few houses in
the immediate vicinity, so little can happen. A few years ago I was
bothered by the birds of prey that many young pigeons have eaten.
Fortunately that was already a few years ago. I no longer see them and
it is almost certain that it is because of the many magpies and jackdaws
that nest in my immediate surroundings. I am very satisfied with my
young pigeons, they are beautifully tight and produce nice dry manure.
Today, April 3, I am going to start darkening because I found two pins
this morning and that is not the intention, I want to keep my youngsters
under good care for as long as possible. At least they can now start
molting the small feathers, but they must hold the flight feathers. I
darken from a quarter to eight in the evening to a quarter to nine the
next morning. Thirteen o'clock twilight/dark and I will keep that up
until the end of June. In a week it will be done for them, then they
will no longer be allowed outside the whole day. I then switch over to
an hour of training twice a day and a few weeks later the flag goes on
and they have to train twice an hour in full every day. A few weeks
later the flag is no longer needed, they know exactly what is expected
of them. In the morning from 9 am to 10 am and in the afternoon from 6
am to 7 pm they go out, then eat after training and 45 minutes later the
curtains close.
SATURDAY APRIL 6
Then the start of the Dutch season. It is still a training flight, the
clocks are being tested and there are some nice prizes to be won in the
club. The first clock flight is very important. After all, it is
immediately tested whether all basketed pigeons are on the vaccination
list and whether the pigeons are in the name of the participant. If that
is not the case then the pigeons will not get into the basket and
certainly not in the results. Safety is therefore very important.
Previously, so-called "in fly pigeons" were allowed. They were then
simply put in the basket. The NPO quite rightly put a stop to that. It
is now no longer possible to use pigeons that are not registered by name
and the organization now also knows that all pigeons used have had the
compulsory vaccination against paramixo. Flight pigeons are placed in
separate baskets but go into the basket via the antenna so that those
pigeons are also checked.
BAD LUCK
Often we Dutch have to gamble to take the pigeons away in certain
weather conditions. Some fanciers dare to take very large risks with all
the consequences that that entails. For example, I have already spoken
some fanciers who have already suffered some losses. Cause still brought
pigeons while the visibility was not good. Others resolved between the
showers and then you ask for problems. I even spoke to one who lost 7 in
one day, his other pigeons came home throughout the day. I myself had
two late comers on the last training flight of 20 km with my best young
hen from last year. She flew against something this winter, breaking her
breastbone. I always let her go separately so that she could fly around
in peace, even if it was only a few minutes. She has been cured for
several months but you can clearly see that her breastbone has been
broken. She is a beautiful hen who won twice a first prize. I paired her
with a young cock who also won a first prize twice in 2018. Of course I
have two youngsters. The question now is, will I play her or not. If she
can't handle it, it is quite possible that I will already have lost her
on Saturday. I certainly give her, I take that risk. If she's home late
again I don't know what to do with her. I hate pigeons that fail
something. There is actually no place for me for the disabled, not even
in the breeding loft.
GOOD TRAINING ENSURES FLY RHYTHM
In my younger years when I was still active in cycling we agreed to make
as many kilometers as possible from 1 January. That in preparation for
the season that started at the end of March at that time. My club was
the organizer of the oldest cycling classic “De Ronde van Noord-Holland”
over 225 km and to be able to ride that one-day classic well I wanted to
have between two to three thousand kilometers in my legs. This
preparation cannot be compared with the current method of care, eating,
training, resting and so on. We did our utmost but it didn't really make
sense, we just fiddled around. However, the way we train also led to the
condition and the Netherlands had many good riders. The same thing
happened with the pigeon sport. Everything is more and more
scientifically substantiated and pigeons are also the first requirement;
make miles. I like to keep the pigeons outside for an hour even in the
winter months. Now that we are on the eve of the new season the
regularity is used, everything in and around the loft happens at set
times. In the meantime I have started bringing the pigeons to a maximum
of 40 km. In the coming period the weather forecast looks good so that
the pigeons can be taken away several times so they get better and
better in their flight rhythm. On Saturday April 6, we have the first
and last training flight is in which all members of the club
participate. The clocks are then tested and there are some nice prizes
to be won. The following week is the official start where especially the
speed players live to, to strike on the first the best flight right
away.
WIDOWHOOD WITH COCKS AND HENS
Because I started breeding later this year the start of the new season
looks slightly different. I used to pair my pigeons for a second time. I
figured it out that on the last training flight I had eggs for about 6
days. When the pigeons came home that Saturday the nests were empty so
that the pigeons knew it was done with breeding. The next morning I
brought the hens to their loft. They were less nervous because they knew
their eggs were gone. If you don't do that they will hang on the door
for the first two days because they want to go back to their breeding
loft where the eggs are in the nest. Now they are separated for more
than a week and will not meet again. From the first flight they go on
widowhood. Because of the training with own car they have been shown
several times so that they know how the widowhood game works. What I
have noticed is that the pigeons touch down at once on the sputnik of
the old pigeon loft. If they come home from a training flight then they
touch down on the sputnik of the young pigeon loft. It can be explained
somewhat because they are almost all yearlings and so as a youngster
they had to enter last year all flights the loft of the youngsters. They
have not simply forgotten that. We all know the situation of a pigeon
that has sometimes been somewhere else for two years, than being placed
in its old loft and flying back into its old breeding loft without any
problems. In any case I also leave the sputnik of the young pigeon loft
open during the first flights so that they can enter wherever they want.
With me they must first enter before they are registered. By most
fanciers the antenna is under the flap so that they are registered
immediately as soon as they arrive. My own is therefore somewhat
disabled. I often tell my friends; then they have to fly a little harder
to stay ahead of the competition.
FEED: MAIN OR SPECIAL
Or is it just a matter of the right amount. There is often something
mysterious about food and feed. Both are in any case parts of the pigeon
sport that do count. It seems logical to me that every fancier
know that a pigeon that makes many kilometers per race also needs more
and heavier feed. Fats are especially important on those flights. On the
speed flights of no more than three hours of flying no reserves are
called to account for, which means that the pigeons need a less fat-rich
feed. The art of feeding lies with the fancier himself. I once gave my
pigeons feed of 10 guilders (4.5 euros) per bag of 25 kilos. It was
certainly not a nice food. To the surprise of many my pigeons flew every
week at the top. I kept them tight until Wednesday morning. In the
evening I added a lot of candy seed supplemented with hemp seed. The
following morning they received a double portion of food. The same
evening they got a full bowl and were allowed to eat what they wanted
for half an hour. Friday morning half a ration and in the afternoon a
few more hands of candy seed on the floor. They felt like bullets and
arrived like rockets on Saturdays. At that time I only played with cocks
in widowhood and even had a year in which I played 100% prize for six
consecutive weeks. Now I give the most expensive food there is.
Nevertheless, I do not make such results as then and that while there
are now also far fewer fanciers and therefore fewer pigeons in the race.
Everything can change that quickly or is it be because the boss changes?
I really can't complain and am certainly satisfied with the results as
it has been in recent years. My pigeons look perfect and if I
occasionally read the pedigree cards then it should be a good year this
year. There is no other way with such pigeons that have several first
prize winners in their pedigree! However, there will be more people who
feel that way. The most important thing is still good pigeons and a good
coach. Everything else is a side issue.
SAFETY IN ADDITION
At the KBDB (Belgium) 22.000 transactions have already been processed
this year. Why? The renewed sports regulations state that pigeons may
only be entered in competitions registered in the name of the
participant. In the Netherlands the NPO has decided the same. All
pigeons that go into the basket must have over the basket antenna. All
pigeons are entered in the clock from the graft list. The proof of
ownership has also been checked so that the organization knows that all
participating pigeons have received the compulsory vaccination against
paramixo. The last three years my son and I have ordered a series of
rings for both of us. Because of this I am now obliged to put my pigeons
which are now in the name of Marco's in my name which has since
happened. According to the new method it is now impossible that a
fancier can play with other pigeons.
WE WILL START IN THE SECOND WEEKEND OF APRIL.
In that respect not much has changed in the pigeon sport. Everything has
to be arranged at the very last moment. For example, there was our club
members' meeting last week. The next day the Noord-Holland department
met and another day later it was the turn of the members' council with
the entire NPO board. If you ask me a little too much of the good
especially for directors and delegates. In my club nothing has been
arranged yet for the new season, incomprehensible but true. Nevertheless
I am convinced that maybe with some improvisation we will start on 13
April. At our department meeting the first hour was only debated about
the greatly increased freight rates. No one is really happy with a price
increase of 30% especially the elderly among us, and most of them are.
At the national meeting it was mainly about the long distance and
marathon flights, every year all kinds of changes have to take place
there. I can understand that somewhat the annoying thing is that only
15% of Dutch fanciers participate in all those distant flights. I even
heard that the province of Limburg did not participate in some flights
because they did not get their way. It is true that most votes apply and
then it is normal for people to accept that. Organizational problems
have arisen between the South and North Holland departments during the
winter season, there would no longer be any question of cooperation.
Noord-Holland now wants to do a few flights together with the Central
Netherlands but North Holland fanciers are not happy about that. The
central part of the Netherlands is too eastern and that would give too
many advantages for fanciers there because in the Netherlands the wind
mainly blows from a south to northwest wind. Here too it is about
one-day long distance flights. Another important point was the debate
about the minimum number of members that an association should consist
of. More than 25 years ago there was even a membership stop at our
association with 40 members because our room was not big enough. Now
clubs have to be on their knees and pray and beg to get new members.
There are currently clubs that only consist of about 6 members and that
is not enough for the safety of a competition. Clubs are therefore more
or less forced to work together or even to merge, not in itself a bad
thing that must be realized by 2021 at the latest. In any case with the
new national flight program there are plenty of opportunities for all
members to participate in all kinds of flights over a period of six
months. At the end of the season, everything can be evaluated so that
changes can be made from October to February and not, as it has now
largely gone, everything at the last minute. Just talking is not enough,
decisions must also be made.
THE WIDOWERS NOW HAVE ALL ONE YOUNGSTER
After a few setbacks I have to say that we are extremely satisfied with
our breeding results. The youngsters of the first and second round came
up nicely. They looked beautiful especially at the age of more than
three weeks. Two youngsters in the nest with well-filled heads and nice
dry manure next to the dish. They were fed three times a day so that
they did not lack food all day and night. My racing hens have been
transferred to the young pigeon loft with one of their youngsters and
the hens are leaving at the end of next week and will no longer be
coupled for a second time. From March 22 the racing pigeons are in
widowhood and if the weather permits the cocks are released twice a day
and the hens once. From May all pigeons are released twice a day. The
hens at 7 o'clock, the widowers at 8 o'clock and the young pigeons at 9
o'clock, the ritual starts from the beginning at 4 o'clock the hens, at
5 o'clock the cocks and at 6 o'clock the young pigeons that will be from
mid-April darkened 13 hours a day. The curtains remain open 24 hours a
day from the longest day. All pigeons are allowed in the bath every
Wednesday. The pigeons are fed every day after training and get fresh
water twice a day. There is always something extra in it from Monday to
Thursday. Do not imagine too much of that, we do it because we have been
doing it for years and have a good feeling about it. Especially if the
pigeons perform satisfactorily nothing but nothing is changed.
ADDITIONAL ATTENTION FOR THE NEWLY WEANED YOUNGSTERS
The young pigeons are currently in the young pigeon loft with their
mothers. It is unbelievable how many times some hens feed the young and
yet there are always a few hens who no longer look after them or the
other young. All the young are lying close together in the straw in a
corner. The food and water trough are placed against the layer of straw
so that the youngsters quickly understand where they can grab water and
food. The first days I keep an eye on them all drinking. Those who do
not can be recognized by blinking eyes, that indicate they are thirsty.
Youngsters that
not or insufficient food have bad luck because I do not help them. My
experience is that young pigeons eat independently much earlier than we
think, they really don't die that fast. If the others eat well then
those who do not eat will not be that smart and we do not need such
pigeons. Everything has to be right and luckily that is currently the
case. Soon they will be vaccinated against paramixo what you can do best
at the age of four to six weeks, then they will suffer the least. In the
not too long time they will use the wings more intensively because
pigeons basically hate sitting on the ground. I keep a close eye on
which pigeons are first at the top of the seats. They are all of the
same age, with a difference of three days at most. I even note the ring
numbers of the pigeons that are first at the top and my experience is
that they are usually the better ones. So don't think I remember that,
write down everything that you think might be important. We forget more
than we remember.
LATEST NEWS
The board of the Belgian pigeon sport the KBDB is just like a pigeon
loft, they fly in and out. The then elected national government has not
survived for a year. A few days ago at the national meeting two more
important managers flew out of the KBDB loft. New drivers were already
ready so there seems to be intention in the game. In any case not a good
thing at the start of the Belgian sports season. Yes, you read that
right in Belgium the season has started. At least on paper, the first
speed races would be held in the weekend of 10 March. Unfortunately the
weather did not cooperate. Rain and strong winds with even gusts of wind
of more than 100 km per hour ensured that the Belgian pigeons were given
a week's rest. In administrative terms it is just as bad as the weather.
The internationally renowned Dutch fancier Jan Hooymans (known for his
sadly deceased top pigeon "Harry") will measure his strength at European
level on various on loft races. He also tries to conquer the Netherlands
by placing an extra loft under the name "Team Hooymans NL" with
Christian van de Wetering in Wijk and Aalburg, who has been making
furore with pigeons from his boss Jan Hooymans for many years.
WE WILL START IN THE SECOND WEEKEND OF APRIL.
In that respect not much has changed in the pigeon sport. Everything has
to be arranged at the very last moment. For example, there was our club
members' meeting last week. The next day the Noord-Holland department
met and another day later it was the turn of the members' council with
the entire NPO board. If you ask me a little too much of the good
especially for directors and delegates. In my club nothing has been
arranged yet for the new season, incomprehensible but true. Nevertheless
I am convinced that maybe with some improvisation we will start on 13
April. At our department meeting the first hour was only debated about
the greatly increased freight rates. No one is really happy with a price
increase of 30% especially the elderly among us, and most of them are.
At the national meeting it was mainly about the long distance and
marathon flights, every year all kinds of changes have to take place
there. I can understand that somewhat the annoying thing is that only
15% of Dutch fanciers participate in all those distant flights. I even
heard that the province of Limburg did not participate in some flights
because they did not get their way. It is true that most votes apply and
then it is normal for people to accept that. Organizational problems
have arisen between the South and North Holland departments during the
winter season, there would no longer be any question of cooperation.
Noord-Holland now wants to do a few flights together with the Central
Netherlands but North Holland fanciers are not happy about that. The
central part of the Netherlands is too eastern and that would give too
many advantages for fanciers there because in the Netherlands the wind
mainly blows from a south to northwest wind. Here too it is about
one-day long distance flights. Another important point was the debate
about the minimum number of members that an association should consist
of. More than 25 years ago there was even a membership stop at our
association with 40 members because our room was not big enough. Now
clubs have to be on their knees and pray and beg to get new members.
There are currently clubs that only consist of about 6 members and that
is not enough for the safety of a competition. Clubs are therefore more
or less forced to work together or even to merge, not in itself a bad
thing that must be realized by 2021 at the latest. In any case with the
new national flight program there are plenty of opportunities for all
members to participate in all kinds of flights over a period of six
months. At the end of the season, everything can be evaluated so that
changes can be made from October to February and not, as it has now
largely gone, everything at the last minute. Just talking is not enough,
decisions must also be made.
THE WIDOWERS NOW HAVE ALL ONE YOUNGSTER
After a few setbacks I have to say that we are extremely satisfied with
our breeding results. The youngsters of the first and second round came
up nicely. They looked beautiful especially at the age of more than
three weeks. Two youngsters in the nest with well-filled heads and nice
dry manure next to the dish. They were fed three times a day so that
they did not lack food all day and night. My racing hens have been
transferred to the young pigeon loft with one of their youngsters and
the hens are leaving at the end of next week and will no longer be
coupled for a second time. From March 22 the racing pigeons are in
widowhood and if the weather permits the cocks are released twice a day
and the hens once. From May all pigeons are released twice a day. The
hens at 7 o'clock, the widowers at 8 o'clock and the young pigeons at 9
o'clock, the ritual starts from the beginning at 4 o'clock the hens, at
5 o'clock the cocks and at 6 o'clock the young pigeons that will be from
mid-April darkened 13 hours a day. The curtains remain open 24 hours a
day from the longest day. All pigeons are allowed in the bath every
Wednesday. The pigeons are fed every day after training and get fresh
water twice a day. There is always something extra in it from Monday to
Thursday. Do not imagine too much of that, we do it because we have been
doing it for years and have a good feeling about it. Especially if the
pigeons perform satisfactorily nothing but nothing is changed.
ADDITIONAL ATTENTION FOR THE NEWLY WEANED YOUNGSTERS
The young pigeons are currently in the young pigeon loft with their
mothers. It is unbelievable how many times some hens feed the young and
yet there are always a few hens who no longer look after them or the
other young. All the young are lying close together in the straw in a
corner. The food and water trough are placed against the layer of straw
so that the youngsters quickly understand where they can grab water and
food. The first days I keep an eye on them all drinking. Those who do
not can be recognized by blinking eyes, that indicate they are thirsty.
Youngsters that
not or insufficient food have bad luck because I do not help them. My
experience is that young pigeons eat independently much earlier than we
think, they really don't die that fast. If the others eat well then
those who do not eat will not be that smart and we do not need such
pigeons. Everything has to be right and luckily that is currently the
case. Soon they will be vaccinated against paramixo what you can do best
at the age of four to six weeks, then they will suffer the least. In the
not too long time they will use the wings more intensively because
pigeons basically hate sitting on the ground. I keep a close eye on
which pigeons are first at the top of the seats. They are all of the
same age, with a difference of three days at most. I even note the ring
numbers of the pigeons that are first at the top and my experience is
that they are usually the better ones. So don't think I remember that,
write down everything that you think might be important. We forget more
than we remember.
LATEST NEWS
The board of the Belgian pigeon sport the KBDB is just like a pigeon
loft, they fly in and out. The then elected national government has not
survived for a year. A few days ago at the national meeting two more
important managers flew out of the KBDB loft. New drivers were already
ready so there seems to be intention in the game. In any case not a good
thing at the start of the Belgian sports season. Yes, you read that
right in Belgium the season has started. At least on paper, the first
speed races would be held in the weekend of 10 March. Unfortunately the
weather did not cooperate. Rain and strong winds with even gusts of wind
of more than 100 km per hour ensured that the Belgian pigeons were given
a week's rest. In administrative terms it is just as bad as the weather.
The internationally renowned Dutch fancier Jan Hooymans (known for his
sadly deceased top pigeon "Harry") will measure his strength at European
level on various on loft races. He also tries to conquer the Netherlands
by placing an extra loft under the name "Team Hooymans NL" with
Christian van de Wetering in Wijk and Aalburg, who has been making
furore with pigeons from his boss Jan Hooymans for many years.
PIGEON SPORTS A FAMILY SPORT?
Everything is possible but it is certainly not easy. It is just how you
want to experience the pigeon sport. The start is usually wrong but
moving. Many fanciers have started with a stray pigeon. Nice to feed
such a creature so that she keeps coming back again and again. It would
be even more fun to grow a few youngsters yourself, so for the stranger
a male or female is sought. To breed a few youngsters little knowledge
is needed, the pigeons go their own way. They build a litter and after
17 days of breeding the young come out of their egg. After 4 weeks the
pigeons are mature and will explore the area. After some time they will
keep flying around the loft for half an hour. That's fun and the whole
family lives with it. There is usually one in the family who will then
go deeper into the pigeon racing event. Most family members have heard
that pigeons come back home from afar. This is of course tried with the
parents and their young. One of the family members then occasionally
takes the pigeons to school or to work and when they return home the
pigeons have also been home for a long time. That is fun and the pigeons
are getting further and further away and the whole family is amazed that
the pigeons come back again and again. It is great that the pigeons
always know the way home and they are thinking about the speed at which
they will do so. If there is now so much interest, in many cases is
thought to become a member of a pigeon club to participate in the
competitions and see if their pigeons come home as quickly as those of
the other members. It often turns out that their strangers legion speed
is too short. If the ambition remains, it must change and people look
for other faster pigeons and that is the beginning of a new family
hobby. It would be nice if the whole family stays interested. The
practice is often different because after some time pigeon racing does
not seem so easy.
OTHER PIGEONS AND ANOTHER LOFT
From a pure hobby it becomes more and more a sport. It usually appears
that participating in the races is the best, the most fun and the most
exciting. Care is intensifying so that not all family members remain
equally enthusiastic. The others will read more about it, within the
family there will be a conversation about the pigeons as if it is the
most normal thing in the world. Especially against the competition
weekend it is about the probability calculations. On the competition day
the whole family is on the lookout and waiting for the arrival of the
first pigeons. Because each family member has given up the ring number
of his or her favourite pigeon they are all waiting for their winning
pigeon. That way there is always a race within the family. The tension
can then be cut because it is about who his pigeon is first at home.
Then comes the moment that a pigeon emerges from the airspace like a
comet. Everyone holds their breath because now she has to go inside.
Nowadays the pigeon clocks itself because the electronics have also
entered the pigeon sport. On the display of the clock the ring number of
the pigeon can be read and at that moment it is known who of the family
that day is the winner. In this way many sportsmen started. There are
those who continue to see the pigeons as a hobby, there are also those
who want to win with all their might, they want to perform better and
better. Pigeon sport was in the seventies and eighties in the
Netherlands even a general national sport with more than 100,000
members, all with their own supporters. The once popular sport has now
changed into top class amateurs, specialists and professionals. There
are currently worldwide professional fanciers who have considerably
enriched their pigeons through the internet. For the layman
unbelievable, especially because for many our sport is an unknown sport
and we owe that to ourselves. Pigeon sport is that old man with a cap
on, slippers and wrapped in a grey dust coat. It is only old men who
still keep pigeons. Unfortunately it goes that way and that is why it
would be nice that the "old bite" try to interest their grandchildren
for the pigeon sport. Unfortunately practice is completely different.
The youth has other interests, they have much more possibilities than
when we were young.
IS PIGEON SPORT STILL INTERESTING FOR YOUTH?
I think so and we as older fanciers can do much. When I was young and
very passionate I kept my children away from my pigeons. A lot of time
and attention went to the pigeons and when other children went to the
beach with their parents on Saturday or Sunday those of me stayed home
because the pigeons had to come. In their eyes pigeons were definitely
not fun. I once wrote a book waiter the racing pigeon sport in my region
and I mentioned many names of old and deceased pigeon breeders. Because
of the advertising that was made for my book children and grandchildren
came to buy the it because their father, grandfather or uncle came in
for it. When I asked them what they thought of the pigeon sport I did
not get a positive answer. Most people found the hobby of dad terrible.
Not only me, others also kept their children away from the pigeons.
Understandably that there was such a reaction. The strange thing is that
my grandchildren were allowed to come into the pigeon loft and then I
realized that we fanatical pigeon fanciers have placed the importance of
our hobby above that of the family and now that we have found out it is
(almost) too late. However, salvation is still possible.
THE COMPUTER WITH ALL ITS GAME POSSIBILITIES
A lot of fun for today's youth but in reality it's a disaster. What is
happening in the electronic age is almost impossible to follow for many
elderly people. The youth, even the smallest, have no problem with it,
we the elderly are even a bit afraid of the computer. The youth does not
move anymore or at least far too little. They have insufficient
knowledge about keeping and caring for animals. This is partly due to
the fact that animals can no longer be kept at and in many homes. In a
following article I would like to describe how my son Marco has become
enthusiastic about the pigeon sport and how we now practice the pigeon
sport together and how I used to do that with my father. It is and
remains a nice hobby at home, even now I am almost 82 years old I still
have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I have no grandchildren who are active
within the pigeon sport. There are a few who now live on their own and
then the time is ripe to give them a few pigeons for their children. Who
knows, then they will have the same thing with them as I started this
column with. TO BE CONTINUED.
SPRING FAIR
In the weekend of 2 and 3 March the now traditional spring fair will be
held in Houten near Utrecht. This will unload the unofficial starting
shot for the new flight program established by the NPO which will start
in the first weekend of April. This means that a considerable number of
folds have to be smoothed out in the month of March. The exhibition
itself attracts many foreign visitors every year. The last purchases can
be made to get well prepared at the start. A large number of young
pigeons will also be offered for sale. The attentive reader has often
seen that every year the necessary successes are achieved with a "Dutch
pigeon from Houten" purchased at absolute friends prizes. Furthermore,
of course, all known suppliers are present in the field of the pigeon
sport. A must to visit this fair though it would only be because of the
reunion-like character. In Belgium two weeks ago a sort of equal fair
was held under the name Fugare and a week later the tribute of the
"golden pigeon competition" was organized by the famous Belgian pigeon
sport magazine De Duif of Jan and Rik Hermans. To get a podium place
there is definitely not a simple task. To score the first three
nominations must finish in the top of the results every month and that
is not a sinecure, especially for the men who use large numbers of
pigeons. As gold winners came on the scene; Sabrina Brugmans, Halen (B)
with 7 mentions; B. Martens & Zoon, Elsloo (N) 6 mentions; Comb. Fuchs &
Wolf, Hochheim (Ger) and John Crehan (UK)
SELECTIVE BREEDING
For a good number of years Dutch and Belgian fanciers have been
struggling with great losses during the young pigeon races, and for the
same number of years we have written about this life-size problem for
us. Yet there are fanciers who know how to get back the big losses in
their loft. Losses will always stay there, it's just like falling during
a cycling race at the sport but we should not find it "normal". Partly
due to the large losses many fanciers have decided to breed from all
pigeons. Why not? They have all come through the selection so they are
also worth growing from. The only risk we face then is the large number
of young pigeons that may have to be accommodated in too small a loft.
There must therefore be good ventilation, certainly no draft or moisture
because then there will undoubtedly be another problem around the corner
and that is overpopulation. For youngsters health is of the utmost
importance, in this case more important than quality. With strict
control, regular care and training at fixed times, an observant fancier
should be able to see daily that the condition is right or wrong. Make
sure that the sun does not burn too much oxygen out of the loft so the
pigeons do not like to train and there is a chance of an ornithosis
outbreak. By observing the pigeons daily you reach more than with shit
crabs. I make every year a selection which we will breed because
breeding couples who only give good are not that much. Most breeding
couples can produce youngsters, but the point is that every year we have
enough usable pigeons. Especially in the breeding loft is bred quite
regularly from pigeons that have not produced anything special for two
years. I absolutely do them away, it's just time and money waste. Of
course I like to keep a few couples of youngsters because I have 100%
confidence in the parents, even though they are still young or because
they have a flat head or a crooked sternum. We must always keep trying,
you must dare to take a chance. It is important to breed from pigeons of
which we know a lot. Especially from pigeons from a family that have
given us useful pigeons for several generations. It is also important to
adjust the number of young pigeons to the loft capacity and we will have
to learn to live with the fact that there are now considerably more
pigeons behind than older fanciers used to be and then also had the
advantage that there is also no big population of birds of prey existed.
THE BREEDINGLOFT BRASPENNING
The breeding is as expected and of course a number of setbacks have been
taken into account. This week almost all of the eggs from the second
round are coming out. I say almost because unfortunately only two
youngsters were born with two major racing couples. A hen had only laid
one egg and the other couple had an unfertilized egg. From an old
breeding couple already two unfertilized eggs, so we must assume that it
is over and out. With another couple a dented egg and when the others
come out I'll have already too much to my liking. Marco wants to have
something more like his father so that is not a problem. Long ago I
wanted to have a lot of youngsters. I had the space and thought it was a
beautiful sight when a large couple was training around my loft. I had a
friend then, who unfortunately passed away last year, who did fly 300. A
beautiful sight, but that was a bit too much for me. Now I have enough
in 35 or so. Last year I became champion youngsters. I started with 31
and ended with 28. really a result to be proud of. The annoying thing is
that I did have to do some away. So what is more fun, that they stay
away from the flight or that you have to do away with a set that is
actually worth it to stay, it is always something. Halfway through the
week my first youngster can be ringed so that they can get away from the
parents in the middle of March. According to our planning everything is
ready on time and we can start focusing on the first speed flights that
I am a huge fan of.
THE CAGE
The first week of March is another deadline to put the last dots on the
I. All departments in the loft are completely clean and treated again
with the burner. My racing loft consists of six different departments.
On the southeast side three for the hens, cocks and youngsters. The
other three departments on the northwest side are empty and remain
empty. Previously I had the youngsters there. I could pitch three rounds
in a separate loft and when they all flew around I opened the sliding
doors and usually also left them open during the racing season. Now that
I have kept fewer pigeons I have three empty lofts. On the ground floor,
underneath the racing loft, the breeders are in a 5 meter loft with 24
breeding boxes. The windows are usually open so that the pigeons can
spend the entire day in the indoor aviary that is even 1.50 meters
longer than the racing loft. Space enough so and yet I will not keep
more pigeons than I have now. At Marco's home there are 18 racing
couples and 50 youngsters. With me 12 racing couples, about thirty
youngsters and a beautiful collection of breeding pigeons. Many of them
are descended from the best Olympiad pigeons from the Netherlands and of
course my own old Gebr. Janssen species has now been crossed with the
best of the best of Willem de Bruijn that he got by Leo Heremans in
2005.
STILL SIX WEEKS
It is mid-February. In the past my father and I coupled our pigeons on
February 18th because then you could release the pigeons when you came
home from work. In that respect, a lot has changed. It is now the most
normal thing in the world that the pigeons are put together on November
26, not only the breeding pigeons but also the racing pigeons. The
phenomenon of darkening and updating did not yet exist. At the start of
the racing season we were happy when the pigeons dropped their first
pen. It was a general understanding that the form was coming. Everyone
was happy when the pigeons started to moult. Now they make every effort
to stop the moulting. Logical because a pigeon season runs from the
first weekend of April to the third weekend in September. So there is
still some demand from the pigeons. Especially the hens now have a hard
time. They are played every week in many lofts. They could easily stand
there. I really do not know why and have never tried it myself. In the
past the cocks were seen as better, now it is exactly the other way
around. In Belgium they flew (even now) with cocks, hens and yearlings
in separate competitions. That means they all went at the same time,
however, separate results were made for those three categories. It was
thought that the cocks were stronger than the hens and the yearlings
still had to learn a lot so according to the Belgians it was a fair
system to make separate results. About honestly, in the Netherlands
there is a separate committee that should promote the "fair game" within
our national pigeon sport. Whatever happens, fair play never comes. That
does not mean that it is all unfair now, certainly not. It will always
remain so that none of our pigeons have to cover the same distance. When
swimming, running, cycling, each participant completes the same course
and they all have the finish as redeeming finish line. Imagine that we
are going to cycle and when I am at home you still have 40 km to go,
that will be a difficult task. So you should also compare our pigeon
game. How we turn it or turn it, it cannot be fairer. Once a few years
in the Netherlands a competition was held from the Norwegian Skagen, a
long distance flight from the north. This was done to accommodate the
northern fanciers. They had the longest distance on every flight from
the south and that generated the necessary resistance. Unfortunately,
the flight from one of the Scandinavian countries was not successful and
therefore has since long since disappeared from the race calendar.
WHETHER THE NECESSARY WILL CHANGE?
I have my doubts, especially if we continue to hold on to the subject of
"fair play". To make it fairer, a separate commission was set up in the
Netherlands last year that will work to meet the wishes of the fanciers.
Various proposals were submitted throughout the country. These were
discussed in the committee and put on paper for the fanciers. I think
they better should not have done that. What should fanciers do with the
whole jumble of various changes and improvements. Most fanciers really
have no interest in that. When I look at myself I think so too; what do
I have to do with all those proposals. It would have been better to
elucidate some of these well-intentioned proposals and implement them in
2019. In my opinion there is still talk and nothing happens and that
while we start the new racing season in six weeks. I occasionally read
nice stories from our new enthusiastic chairman Van der Kruk. The man
meant it all well but there is little sensible behind the board table.
The fanciers want concrete information about the flight program, the
collection and sending of the pigeons, the total freight costs and
whether in 2019 a maximum number of pigeons can be used per fancier. We
want to know that but not everything is published about it. However, I
have read that our NPO chairman has been appointed as chairman of the
international doping committee within the FCI. What do we have? After
all, there is so much right to be set up in our own organization. It
would be much nicer that he, in consultation with his committee, told
something concrete about "fair play". This count not only for our
national administration. In my department is about the racing season,
that starts in six weeks, nothing exactly known, how and what will
change in 2019 and what the fairer game will look like. As I look at it
now there is a lot of talk behind the national board table and that is
largely the case. It is high time that there is now clarity, the
fanciers want to know where they stand. The compliments about the
successes achieved have already been expressed many times. The
festivities are as good as over, it is now about further matters. Now we
have to hit nails with heads, otherwise I see that the board is under
attack. I say the board because unfortunately I do not know one. Only
chairman Van der Kruk who is always in the picture, perhaps he is even
too much in the picture. There is still a short period to go, time is
pressing and to this day we still do not know how it will go. What
exactly will change, what will be improved? If you ask me what I expect
from it, I can only shrug my shoulders.
THE FIRST YOUNGSTERS ARE RINGED
No, not with me yet. The first eggs went to Marco and they have all come
out except for a few, we have experienced it differently. This breeding
season could not be better and also the second round of eggs that lie
with me are all but four fertilized. If it continues like this we will
have far too many pigeons again and I want so much less. With little
pigeons give the competition many times a beating is sporting the best
thing that exists. Let's not go too far ahead of things. The youngsters
are not big yet, so anything can happen. Fortunately, the days are a bit
longer and I feel good about that. I have really seen very much against
the winter but that is all improved because we really have not had real
winter. I am now motivated to take care of the pigeons optimally. They
come off every day, the temperatures rise a little and the coming
weekend they even predict 15 degrees. That is already a temperature for
us Dutch to sit in the sun for an hour. Also the pigeons feel well, they
like to fly and I see every day the necessary down feathers in the loft
and that is a sign for me that it is good.
SATISFIED ABOUT THE BREEDING RESULT
The first month of 2019 is already behind us and still it was not really
winter here in the Netherlands. Whether we ever get a real winter the
scholars doubt it. The biggest winter event in our country is the world
famous eleven cities tour, a skating race over 200 km. Some people think
it will never come again. The warming of mother earth is the cause of
this. Fortunately a great deal of attention is being paid worldwide to
this life-sized problem. Meanwhile, we are in the second week of
February, occasionally night frost from -2 to -4 degrees Celsius and
that represents very little. However, the past weekend our country was
again a world champion richer. During the World Championships in Norway,
Matthieu van de Poel became world champion in professional racing and
the day before two Dutch ladies finished 2nd and 3rd. In the highest
category the Netherlands picked up gold, silver and bronze which does my
cycling heart very well. In that same weekend the first youngsters of
2019 was born in my loft. There are not many because most of the eggs
have been transferred to the loft of Marco who had to deal with a true
baby boom that weekend. The planning to put the second round of eggs
from the breeders under my racing pigeons was completely correct so that
the eggs of the better breeding pairs, at least that we think, could be
placed under my racing pigeons. As far as the weather conditions are
concerned, it looks fine for this time of the year. In the coming days
the temperature in the Dutch cold frog country will rise to 10 degrees.
Actually that is not normal, but for those who do early breeding it is
ideal. I have already spoken to several fanciers who are very satisfied
with their winter youngsters. I have even seen flocks of youngsters
flying around. I do not have to think about having a loft full of young
pigeons again. I have been a bit calmer for a couple of months now.
However, the loft for the youngsters is already ready to put in forty
youngsters and hopefully there will be enough to give the boss a
satisfied feeling. For me the first eggs are there from 2 February and
on 6 February all 12 flocks were brooding so that my youngsters will be
born from 19 February. The coming weekend will see if the eggs are
fertilized and then we will determine which eggs come under which
flocks. From the third round a number of youngsters are raised, again
from the better breeders, who all get a new boss. This week Hans van der
Sluis comes to our association to vaccinate the pigeons against paramixo
and possibly smallpox and paratyphoid. Both old and young from 2019 can
be vaccinated. It is even very good to have youngsters vaccinated at the
age of 6 weeks. Our old pigeons are already vaccinated in the second
half of December. Our first and second round both at the age of 6 weeks
because they have the least problems. What do we pay attention to when
the youngsters are away from their parents in the first few days. I
always make sure that there is a bed of straw on the bottom for the
first two weeks. Usually they crawl close together and are wonderfully
lazing in the warm straw. I also experienced that no youngster in the
straw were lying while the temperature was around freezing point. I can
only guess why they did not. Straw maybe too old, not fresh or too hard,
it could be. Maybe too little sun in that spot, but what do you do when
the sun stays hidden behind the clouds for a few weeks? A stove or
heating plate is not in my loft because I have beautiful bone dry lofts.
Of course there is the possibility that the soil is slightly damp, which
is because it is rainy weather, or fog or snow. They have to save
themselves, I do not want to make greenhouse plants from them under any
circumstances. Experience has taught me that even weaned youngsters can
easily withstand low temperatures, perhaps better than the enormous
tropical heat of the past year.
ONCE THEY ARE SEPARATELY TWO WEEKS
If all goes well, they look exactly like when they were almost grown up
in the nest dish. At that age I can really enjoy the shiny young guys
who is lying close to each other with a full head enjoying their first
days of life. As soon as they are away from the parents they can
retrograde the first few days, they have to get used to the environment
that is foreign to them. In addition, they now also have to eat
independently without the help of parents and what is so important that
they have to find the drinking trough. The first days I place it near
the bed of straw and do not put a lid on it. I clean that bin three
times a day because they crawl in and sometimes do their needs. I also
sprinkle some fresh grit every day in the vicinity of the young stuff.
After two weeks the straw is gone, the water and the food bowl are in
their usual place and that also applies to the jars with grit and
minerals. They are vaccinated around that time. It is then mid-March and
hopefully the sun will shine regularly so that they can go outside every
day to explore the area. It is therefore time to take all the pigeons in
the hand again to view them more critically. Are the plumes well
ingrown, feels the pigeon well, you must have a pigeon in your hand and
not a starling. We must not forget that they are still babies. If I
think they are in good health, they can stay even if they have a small
deviation in my eyes. After all it takes a long time before we go out
with them and before that time I have already looked at them several
times. I only want complete pigeons in my loft and I also happen to have
a nice type of pigeon. There are fanciers who do not look at anything. I
do so because a pigeon that I do not like to see get no chance to get
into the results. With this I certainly do not want to claim that I have
the wisdom in lease. Because in all those years that I play pigeons
several times I have pigeons in my hands that I would not want in my
loft. But when I saw the results of such a pigeon I had to scratch my
ears and thought to myself; Bras you also knows the balls.
THE OLYMPIADE
I have not been there but for years I was a regular visitor and
sometimes a participant. The last times I fail, the reason is the age
and less and less interest. The latter is because I do not think it is a
real sport event anymore. Commerce has also struck this wonderful event.
Most visitors are mostly people who want to be seen, the real pigeon
fanciers have little to look for. You notice everything that the
enthusiasm of joining is sinking to an absolute low point. This is
especially the case in the standard class. Internationally, but
especially nationally, this sporting event, which is the highly
achievable for us, is hardly or not given attention in the press. Is
there no one in the NPO who can and wants to take care of the publicity
needed for our hobby? As an Olympiad participant you are as proud as a
monkey with seven tails but the layman who hardly knows anything about
the pigeon sport, let alone from a racing pigeon Olympics, gets no
information from the national press. It is also strange that "our"
Olympiad is held once every two years while all other Olympiads are once
every four years. There are plenty of options for devising game rules so
that absolute top pigeons of any age can participate once every four
years. Maybe then there is more attention for our Olympiad. Now the
pigeons are standing, where everything revolves, just to stand there.
The best and most beautiful pigeons in the world can be viewed from very
close, actually a pity that the commercial stands still claim the most
attention. With which eyes we view the Olympiad it is and remains a
great honour to be able to participate.
THE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
Fanatic as I am I was curious on Friday morning how the inspection had
gone. Would the Netherlands have won? Wherever I looked, there was no
result anywhere, not even on foreign sites and not even on Pipa. If you
want to know something about pigeon sport Pipa is often the first site
to be consulted. Nothing, even now no letter about the Olympiad.
Suddenly I discovered the Dutch results that, frankly speaking, were
hard for me. The Netherlands, for many years one of the leading pigeon
countries, managed to achieve a podium place with 5 of the 44 pigeons.
With the yearlings even on the highest step of the honorary pot.
Meanwhile the pigeon has been renamed in Olympic Janneke owned by the
father / son combination Yong and Jiabin Lin, truly absolute world
class. Her mother was previously Olympiad participant in Brussels and so
we see that the good still come from the good. By the youngsters,
yearlings and the marathon pigeons a 2nd place plus a 3rd place with the
youngsters. In a response from NPO chairman Van der Kruk I read that he
was extremely satisfied with the excellent result of the Dutch
delegation. You can also be too enthusiastic! With the 20 standard
pigeons a complete departure and that while we have expert judges and
beautiful pigeons in our country. Would it still be true that there is
no interest in joining? In the country classification the Netherlands
finished in a modest 7th place. I have not been able to read a letter
about the international result at the moment. From the Belgians I know
that they have no interest in the standard pigeons. I hope that in the
short term we will be able to read somewhere about our southern
neighbours and also the other participating countries.
WORTH KNOWING
It is striking that more (almost) total sales are being held. This week
293 pigeons from the Belgian Team Freddy de Jaeger will be sold via the
internet. All pigeons from 2017 and older, that is another number! With
a week to go the counter is well above the thousand euros on average.
And next year they just join again. There will be more because the sales
season will definitely continue until April. In the Netherlands it is
currently mainly about the Ladies League. As it looks now there can
certainly be talk of a huge success. Now first have to wait and see if
the success also continues during the races with the youngsters because
then the ladies start. Their pigeons are clearly recognizable by the
striking pink chip rings. I wonder how many times a lady is taken on the
shoulders after a victory, can pigeon sport still be cosy. The good news
comes this time from the FCI. During the congress in Poznan the
Netherlands was appointed as the candidate organizer for the Olympiad of
2023. Forty years ago the Netherlands organized the Olympiad in
Amsterdam in the halls of the beautiful RAI complex. About 25 years ago
the Olympiade was held again in the Netherlands, this time in Utrecht in
the halls of the Royal Trade Fair. I can still remember very well that
during the gala evening it looked like a complete migration of people.
There was not counted on so many public, so chairs and tables had to be
brought from all kinds of halls. After all pigeon stories a short
article about my favourite cycling sport. In Belgium a young rider is
discovered that is predicted to win the Tour de France a number of
times. Those kinds of stories are not new to me. In all those years that
I have been involved in cycling I have seen several talents come and go.
Young boys who managed to win one course after another until they meet
the real opponents. Suddenly it was not so easy anymore and the
enthusiasm of those guys got considerably less and suddenly they had
disappeared from the battlefield. Too bad because there were drivers who
won every race with two fingers in the nose. In any case, I continue to
follow the predictions of this young talent. Today he was 19 years old
and this weekend he makes his debut as a professional at Quickstep. He
crushed the competition the previous World Cup for juniors. Despite a
fall he drove them in minutes. Remember his name; Remco Evenpoel.
IN THE WIDE WORMER
Yesterday a wonderful bike ride, sun but cold. In the evening I felt
like I had been on the ice all day. Now it looks completely different,
heavy clouds and light snowfall. So the pigeons and I do not come out
today. After I had cared the pigeons I armed with my notebook again
entered the loft because I had seen yesterday that there were already
some hens for the second time laid. Also with my racing pigeons, that
have only been together for a week, I already saw an egg. Everything is
accurately noted because as soon as they are brooding for a day or five,
the necessary eggs have to be laid among other couples. Youngsters are
not there yet but that will not last long, the first eggs will come out
on February 1st. Our hen who had not laid for two weeks is no longer
there. It looked like she was soon to lay, but unfortunately she could
not get rid of her egg. We could not help her either and then rescued
her from her suffering. Setbacks are part of every hobby but so far we
are satisfied. Have seen with one of our older couples that the eggs are
not fertilized. It will not have come through the cold because that was
not so bad, here the cause is old age and maybe too early in the year
paired. Can you imagine that I am not so fond of old stuck breeders? If
there are setbacks it is usually with older pigeons.
JANUARY MONTH OF OVERVIEW AND SEE FORWARD
A little optimist sees that the days are getting longer. This means that
in the afternoon there will be a little longer light and that is where
we have been waiting as pigeon fancier for quite some time. With the
longer of the days more and more life comes in our lofts. Several
fanciers have already deposited their first young. Others have not been
coupled so long ago and so we are all working on the preparations for
2019. Looking back to 2018 is as good as over. Most champions are
honoured and have a few more months to enjoy their achievements. Looking
ahead happened already in the first weekend of January when the national
days were held in Dortmund. In the meantime Blackpool is once again a
thing of the past. For me still the most fun days of the international
pigeon sport, what good memories I have of that! My age is causing me to
have failed in the last few years. The next weekend is the pigeon
Olympiad in Poznan (Poland). In 2011 I was there myself with my Big Leo
who was the best young cock in the Netherlands. It was a perfectly
organized Olympiad so that everyone can now again confidently look
forward to this important international event. The Olympiad the highest
achievable in every branch of sport! The best and most beautiful pigeons
in the whole world can be admired there. More importantly, you are
represented as a pigeon man on behalf of your country because one or
perhaps two of your very best pigeons have performed in such a way that
they qualify for participation. A great honour and a sincere
congratulation worth.
SNOW
While studying the national flight program 2019and drinking coffee it
snows. King winter has turned our polder into a beautiful white
landscape. Very nice to see, careful taking some pictures and then
quickly back to the warm stove. At half past ten the pigeons have had
food and now I go back to the lofts to clean up the stuff for the
umpteenth time in my long life. A cold job but you have honour of your
work when everything looks neat and tidy again. With these winter
temperatures the pigeons look beautiful. A couple does not have any eggs
yet. On Saturday the 26th they are together for 14 days and as I watch
now they have certainly laid then. We used to say to each other; if you
have everything on eggs within 14 days it’s a sign of a very good
health, let's just keep it up. On the 17th there really was a true
bombardment of eggs. Our plan is now that Thursday 24 January the eggs
of the breeders will be transferred to the racing pigeons of Marco. My
racing pigeons come together on Wednesday January 23 so that a part of
the second round of the breeders can be placed there. In the night still
lightly frost but not yet once in the morning the water tanks were
frozen. I do not have heating on the loft but I had closed the cranes
for certainty which until now was not necessary. Until yesterday I have
left the cocks every other day and then the hens are left outside for an
hour. Now that everything is white, I keep them in for security until
the snow has disappeared and as it looks now it will not take that long.
In the night a light frost and during the day more and more chance of a
few hours of sun. Before we go put over the eggs we will first hold them
piece by piece against the lamp light to see if they are fertilized.
Always an exciting activity. If all the eggs are occupied you can sleep
on two ears, if that is not the case then you can speak of a problem.
The breeding has failed in part and there is no good feeling for the new
season. Fortunately there is still time to intervene but ideal it’s not.
BREEDING FROM YEARLINGS
Yes, why not? In conversations with other fanciers I sometimes hear
contradictions. One does not start because he knows too little of his
yearlings. Another says he does because he regularly breeds very useful
pigeons from his yearlings. Would it not be the same with yearlings as
with breeding pigeons? Maybe with some older breeding pigeons there is
more certainty, but with me, who regularly changes the breeding couples,
there is no certainty at all. The only certainty we have is that we have
breeding pigeons and yearlings that have come through the selection.
They are all pigeons that we would like to have in our loft. The
yearlings are usually born from the breeders or they are bred from
racing pigeons that meet all requirements. Personally, I do not have a
problem at all of which couples get the better ones. If it is not that
the breeding fails because something is hidden under the pigeons. That
can be all kinds of things so that the growth of the youngsters does not
go according to wishes. Irregular care, quality of the feed, too little
attention to fresh grit, minerals or some extra nutritional supplements,
pests, humid lofts or even contamination while the manure looks good. In
a good loft with healthy pigeons the breeding is smooth without any
problems even though the quality of the pigeons is not quite great. The
breeding remains a very important part of our hobby and it is a pleasure
to enjoy when the youngsters in the dish are shining at you. Quiet
youngsters in the nest, nice dry manure around the dish, well-stocked
throats and also the parent pigeons have to look perfect. You can hardly
see at the parent that they feed youngsters and hear them beep. An
exception is that they can be heard during feeding time because they
have appetite for food.
LAUGH MOVIE
Recently there was something about racing pigeons on TV. If I know that
I will definitely look. The pigeon sport has my great interest. It
turned out to be a very enthusiastic young fancier, one who calls
himself a "pigeon coach" and also aspires a position within the NPO. I
immediately have a look at such foreground figures. In the Netherlands
and also in Belgium someone who has racing pigeons as a hobby is called
a "pigeon fancier", for me still a name to be proud of. Pigeon fancier
is a long standing concept and then suddenly figures come to invent the
word "pigeon coach". Our image as a pigeon fancier is not too high, but
it is a concept. So let's keep it there and just continue to do it. This
young fancier also occasionally tries to put something on paper that we
have read thousands of times. Fine, but act as nothing performing pigeon
fancier as if you have the wisdom in lease. This same mischief, I cannot
say anything else, ran like a fool screaming and waving with the Dutch
flag in his hands through his garden. It was not really to be seen and
many would have wondered; what is this fool doing? We pigeon fanciers
know that, he was busy keeping his pigeons in the air. They did not want
to train and that is why the flag was needed. That is not so bad if you
have no close neighbours. Those neighbours see that behaviour perhaps
every day and then you do not immediately build up an intelligent name
as a pigeon coach. The nice thing about that movie was that the female
reporter asked the wife of this man; how does it feel to be married to
such a man?
THE EMERGENCY CLOUD IS LOUDING
Of course we are going to 2019 with the best intentions. Fortunately I
hear a lot of positive sounds, but we cannot put our head in the sand
for the negative sounds in the international pigeon sport. In the first
place I was shocked by the news that in a large Belgian ensemble there
is a significant decline in participation on their 9 middle long
distance flights compared to 2017. Then 25.500 pigeons were still
starting, in 2018 there were 9000 less . The decline in the number of
participants is alarming. In 2017 another 4500 and in 2018 there were
only 3400 which is almost 25% less. Positive or negative, it is just how
you look at it, is the message that many rich Chinese, and there are
many, little by little Belgium and the Netherlands buy empty when it
comes to (good) pigeons from fanciers with a famous name . It is
unprecedented how many pigeons move weekly at idiot high prices to the
country of the Rising Sun. Technically it is not good for the survival
of the high quality pigeons within the two famous pigeon countries which
are Belgium and the Netherlands. It is of course very attractive for the
commercially minded fanciers who keep each year in the winter period
several sales of their, as they say, best breeders or champion pigeons.
That candy store is once emptied, appealing fanciers are no longer
there. That also applies to the pigeons, because within a few years they
will only race in competitions with very few pigeons so that their
market value will drop sharply. Our Asian pigeon friends will surely
become wise once. Furthermore you read every so often that fanciers with
a commercial good name sell totally or almost totally. These are men who
can still collect the necessary euros because if the current development
continues this way other prominent countries will take over the
commercial top positions within the foreseeable future and where we
Belgians and Hollanders will have to go on hanging paws to be able to
purchase some reasonable pigeons at an affordable price.
ALSO IN BELGIUM COMES A LADIES LEAGUE
Good example does follow well is a well-known saying. Only recently the
ladies league in the Netherlands has been accepted. For the ladies 5000
fixed foot rings and the same number of chip rings in the colour pink
have been ordered, what a treat. Where is the emancipation and gender
neutral in the pigeon sport? However who knows what nice contacts there
arise when a pigeon with a pink ring with a male opponent walks into the
loft. It is not yet known whether the ladies will receive a separate
champion honouring. In any case in the wake of the Netherlands there is
now also the opportunity in Belgium to compete against each other as
female fanciers. It is to be hoped that the ladies will feel at home in
the grey men's world. Certainly know that for the ladies a Netherlands -
Belgium title will also be created. In every branch of sport matches
between these two countries are always super exciting, so NPO and KBDB
think of something nice. Furthermore the KBDB has decided that ALL
pigeons participating in competitions are registered in the name of the
fanciers. Only the proof of ownership is therefore no longer sufficient.
If this is not met the pigeon will be removed from the result and the
prize won will be declared forfeited. An exception is made for pigeons
that stay in the breeding loft and are NOT played.
REGIONAL PIGEON SHOW
Sunday January 13 I once again let myself be tempted to visit a regional
pigeon show where there was also the opportunity to wish sports friends
still a healthy and successful season. For me it was an old-fashioned
friendly pigeon afternoon. We drank a beer and talked to some old people
from the trade. As usual the pigeons received little or no attention
again. The afternoon was mainly about fun and it was not lacking. In
between selling the boards for the rotating wheel I also got a diploma
in my hands. A plasticized sheet of paper with an image of a dark pigeon
(I do not like that at all) and in large letters the name of the
department in which this title was achieved and in very small letters it
also stated that I was 2nd champion become with the youngsters. No
signature on it from two managers because it is a department without
managers. Maybe it is modern or is it still poverty? Among the sportsmen
it is known what has to be done in order to achieve a title against more
than 150 fanciers. For half a year there is a 100% commitment to this
every day and then you get by chance an award in your hands and that’s
it. A great example of how it should not be done. It shows how nothing
saying the pigeon sport is becoming. Where did the full rooms go during
the champion ceremony? The stage was always full of luxury prizes won by
the fanciers in the last season and all champions were given their won
sports prizes by the chairman. Nowadays a sports prize is a
self-assembled piece of paper that one of the well wanted has made on
the computer. Poverty trump, I cannot say anything else!
AFTER A WEEK
I can say that after a week that the pigeons are paired I am still very
satisfied with what happens in the breeding loft. Everything is well
connected and also cock and hen know where they live. On Saturday, so 1
week after the pigeons are put together, 2 hens have laid, the day after
that 3 hens, another day later 5 and today, 15-1, it is the tenth day
and I cannot say how much have laid. However I can say that today the
remaining hens will lay because they were all pretty tight on the nest
this afternoon. In total we have put 30 couples together including
feeding couples. The eggs that we cannot place under the feeding couples
go under the racing pigeons of Marco. As it looks now I'm going to
assemble my racing pigeons next Monday so that some eggs from the second
round of the breeders can be covered. More I cannot say at the moment
just that we are both happy and that is enough for the moment.
THE BREEDING PERIOD
Pigeon racing is a competitive sport and when it comes to participating
in sports the will has to be there to win. Winning does not happen
automatically, a lot has to be done. We are currently in the middle of
the breeding season which means that we are working to make our colony
stronger. All attention has been paid to putting together the breeding
couples. This is certainly an interesting activity that requires the
necessary professional knowledge. Putting the best pigeons together is
in my view the most important thing. Because we can think that we all
know about it unfortunately that does not seem to be entirely true. It
happens all too often that the better pigeons are born from two pigeons
that we did not really expect. It is even more common that out of two
pigeons that have performed formidable not a single usable youngster is
born. But how often it has already happen that from two yearlings from
the racing loft a real whopper I born? We can still select so strict it
still gives no assurance for good performance or for a good breeding.
Books and newspapers are written with all kinds of methods and ways to
perform well. Theories are built up to arrive at a good strain of
pigeons. Fortunately, that has succeeded in many lofts. But also more
pigeons are born that do not live up to expectations than that real
performance pigeons are born. The pigeon sport depends on so many facets
that no rope can be tied to it. The happiness factor also plays a very
important role in our hobby.
CONVERSATION OF THE DAY; GOOD MUST YOU HAVE
They are there for sale enough, at least they are described but no
vendor wants or can guarantee that it is indeed a real good one even
though the pigeon comes from such good parents. Another problem is that
the pigeons are much too expensive for us Dutch. It is completely
irresponsible to spend so much money because there is nothing more to be
gained in our country. When I see how many pigeons are sold weekly it
appears that only a few of them stay in the Netherlands and that while
it is suggested that they are all youngsters from the best breeders. I
wonder how many best breeding couples are on such a champion loft. It
may well be best breeders but I have nothing to do with that. Everyone
wants them from the best breeding couples and that is a completely
different story but enough about that. What remains is how do we get
pigeons to which we have something, pigeons with which we come forward
and then you can select as strict as you want you will have to have
quality. When I look at my own loft I think every year that I have a
great bunch of breeding couples. The practice is that every year there
are only a few and that after 70 years of pigeon sport! One year the
breeding results are a bit better than the other and I am happy when in
the next three years I will still have 5 out of the 40 pigeons I will
breed. If so, I have nothing to grumble because then I have had a good
breeding. Is that because I dare to clean up pigeons, is that because I
select very strict? But what do I pay attention to? Performance of young
pigeons do not tell me everything, others only select on the basis of
achievements. I also do not do that with youngsters. I do not want big
hens, others choose that. I want to see clearly the difference between a
cock and a hen. I already have so many well-performing cocks in my hands
that I would not want to have my pigeon as a pigeon. They would be
selected by me as a youngster. I sometimes wonder; how much good will I
have disposed of in my life? Fortunately I have not always done it
wrong. Recently I had two pictures in my hands from two hens with a list
of numbers of pigeons that you no longer see. One managed to bring it in
1999 to 3rd National Ace Pigeon sprint with the following performances:
1st - 1757; 2e - 3612; 2e - 4029; 1e - 1208; 2nd - 4439 and 2nd - 3486
pigeons. The other was in that same year 1st Provincial Champion pigeon
natour against 2000 fanciers with: 5th - 4572; 1e - 4439; 1st - 3486 and
7th - 4032 pigeons. Those are two pigeons of which we all dream. From
the champion pigeon natour I did not breed anything noteworthy and the
other gave at least a first prize winner with three different cocks. You
have to have that luck! And as far as that strict selection is concerned
that does not make sense. It is normal that you do away a deformed egg,
it is still normal that you take away young pigeons that only produce
watery dung. What do you have to do with youngsters that are all day
long are squeaking and so I can continue for a while. Everything has to
go naturally during breeding, everything has to be right. Young pigeons
have to lie shine in the nest and when they leave the parents they have
to feel "full". You have to have a pigeon in your hands that you think
"Yes, that's one" is not that way get rid of it.
WE HAVE PAIRED THEM
The intention was that this would happen between Christmas and New Year
but that was not succeed. On Saturday January 5 we spent almost the
entire day there. The lofts are burned out once again, filling the
scales, replacing a hinge of the breeding loft doors here and there,
repairing a grit bin and cleaning the drinking bowls. The cocks had been
in the breeding lofts for some time so they knew where they live. Almost
all hens were given another breeding loft. Two hens that were paired on
paper were set aside because they were not liftable, they seemed like
flopped chickens. Actually strange because the other hens were fine on
weight. One of those hens had a place in the breeding loft for the first
time but if she still go along with that I have my doubts. The other has
been bought for a lot of money (not via internet) and in 2018 and gave a
young bird that won 6x prize including a first against 1400 pigeons. It
is that I have paid a lot of money and because she has given a good
young otherwise she had already gone away. She now first gets a slimming
treatment and afterwards we will decide whether she should disappear. It
is now Tuesday evening and all pigeons are loose in the loft. No fights
yet, but what is not is can still come. To date we are very satisfied. I
hope to say that in six weeks.
SUCCESS WITH ALL GOOD CONCEPTS
The same song every year. On the last day of the year we wish each other
all the good but what comes of it. World leaders hold beautiful
speeches, politics tells us that the economy will move forward,
unfortunately I cannot see little or nothing let alone understand
because on 2 January everything will become more expensive and there is
little added. The Dutch gas prices are slowly rising, the care becomes
more expensive, the VAT goes up and I as a pensionado can only give in.
While I entrust my letters to the paper I notice that I am working on a
real Dutch story that conveys a little dissatisfaction while I recently
wrote that everything in our country is as well arranged as it is😉.
Together with my son Marco we have arranged everything well for our
pigeons for 2019. The question is what will come of our national pigeon
sport. At our own loft it will go, we are completely ready for it.
Another important question is how will it go nationwide. Dark clouds get
together if it goes about game pleasure and the survival of the more
than 250 pigeon clubs. Transport has also become a hot issue due the
strong decline of members. This week I was traditionally visiting a
large pigeon sport center. As always there were the doughnut and apple
turnovers. It was the last time because the owners stop, the shop is
sold. Many pigeon fanciers from the wide area gathered there weekly
shopping which was always very pleasant. With another owner you have to
wait for that. I have been there for 40 years because there is no pet
store in my area that sells pigeon feed. There used to be six but it's
all over. Champion ceremonies, always crowded halls and the whole crowd
stood on the dance floor. Now we are old, we dance once in a while and
we can not resist that hard music. We only want to talk to each other so
that we no longer have a party. We old men enjoy the sport in our own
way with a drink and a snack then most of us are already very satisfied.
A few days ago in our Country there was a sale of 75 summer youngsters
offered by the well-known player Willem de Bruijn. The first of the sale
was also the most expensive and went for 26,000 euros to his new boss.
Total the sale brought 250.000 euros or 3000 euros on average. A
wonderful result.
SATURDAY 5 JANUARY WE GO PAIRING
It is indeed high time that the breeding pigeons are put together. The
mild weather for the time of the year makes the hens start to get
interested. We have been stopped for a while with light and have the
hens in the open aviary all day long. They look perfect but their
behavior shows that they need to be paired. The cocks all have their own
territory. I can tell by the manure that they are too crowded, they are
not quietly in their breeding loft but fly too much in and out, leaving
only trampled manure and I do not like that. Fortunately I know what is
the cause of this. The next Saturday is reserved to clean the breeding
lofts even more, the burner and the vermin syringe will be used again
and then the pigeons can go into it. The hatching bowls have been ready
for a long time, everywhere a mat and some tobacco stalks. Now we hope
that we will be free of the necessary brawls. My experience is that you
can prevent a lot of trouble with good guidance. On Sunday evening the
first couples are allowed to leave the loft and my experience is that
two days later all pigeons know exactly where they live. Because I have
enough time I will stay alert the first week and after that they will
check it out. Marco also pairs his racing pigeons that day so that a
large part of the eggs of the breeders can be placed under those
pigeons. When the breeders are brooding for three days my racing pigeons
are coupled and after 5 days of breeding the first eggs from the
breeders go to Marco. Two days before the eggs go to Marco I couple my
racing pigeons so that the second round of the breeders can be placed
underneath. In this way I try to get my racing pigeons and the breeders
back to eggs at the same time.
A GOOD BREEDING IS A KEY MEASURE FOR THE NEW SEASON
If the preparation for the breeding season is good there are two eggs in
the nest within 14 days. Maybe there should be a little longer waiting
for too young pigeons or too old pigeons. Actually it is not good to let
youngsters or very old pigeons do winter breeding. Winter breeding has
more advantages than disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that the
youngsters of the second round can also participate in the youngsters
program. The other advantage is that they quickly start to moult the
small feathers and hold the flight feathers. Darkening did and I do from
the end of March and end at the end of June. Now first wait and see how
good or bad the pigeons come on eggs. Already then begins the selection.
Small eggs or deformed eggs I do away immediately. After that remains to
see whether most eggs are fertilized and whether both eggs are similar.
If that is not the case I keep an eye on that youngsters. After a week
the difference is still clearly visible, then the smallest goes away. I
think you can not be strict enough in that. After all it is not about
quantity but about quality. Besides good breeding I wish you all a good
health and a successful 2019.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO MAKE OF IT IN 2019
The holidays are already over so fast it all goes. The whole month of
December everyone is busy with Christmas and before we realize it we
want to wish each other a Happy New Year. When I look back at the days
before Christmas it looked like we were going to have a white Christmas.
When I opened the curtains of the bedroom one morning everything was
fairytale white, would we still get a white Christmas? Unfortunately
that same evening all the snow had disappeared. It is now even 9 degrees
and now and then the sun shines. Certainly not a winter image but ideal
for the breeding pigeons. In many lofts the early youngsters have
crawled out of the egg but there will also be lofts where it does not
run as hoped. Too many unfertilized eggs indicate poor health and
therefore poor preparation. The fairly mild weather has contributed to
the fact that there are already enthusiastic fanciers who tell rubbing
hands that their winter breeding is particularly good, at least almost
no unfertilized eggs. Their first youngsters are growing so fast that
they will have difficulty to ring them January 1. Always very exciting
because many fanciers like to ring the youngsters of their better
pigeons with the same final marks as their superior father or mother in
the hope that they will be just as good or maybe better. Every fancier
is of course very curious about the growth of the babies and especially
the youngsters of newly purchased pigeons or the with great care
compound couples that have performed top in 2018. All in all an
important part of our hobby. Someone who is not interested in the new
young talent is not doing well with his hobby. In my younger years I was
able to watch the first youngster from the breeding scale so curious I
was about my new champions. Our breeders have to wait a little longer.
The idea was to put them together between Christmas and New Year, but
due to the Christmas rush this was postponed for a week. Everything is
arranged on paper, all the cocks are on the bins. Because of the mild
winter weather it is time that they are coupled because there are
already a few hens who love each other and I just do not wait for that.
They can ruin the game in the summer months because they start cuddling
again. That is why I have always a few hens to use a reserve hen in case
of need. Of hens who like each other certainly one of the two has to
disappear because they ruin your game, at least there are always a few
hens that will perform less well
THE CLUB LIFE
Is it because I am getting older or does it happen that the modern day
managers think and act completely differently than we did before. A
quiet season did not exist, there was going on and everything was
organized. In my club, it is a pity that I have to say it, is gathered
once after the racing season and that is it. Nothing but nothing is done
there, nice and easy, a lot of members find it quite so and that way
everybody is asleep to wake up in the first weekend of April because
then it starts for them. They do not realize that they already have a
round behind that they can no longer make up for. That is why I have to
laugh when it is written that someone is the champion of 200 members,
that sounds nice but it becomes a different story if only 40 of those
200 participate. If I see how many members the NPO has and who regularly
participate then that is to cry. The sprint still has the most
participants and just to those races is often a bit inferior looked at.
No, the one-day long distance that is, it will be, but nationally only
15 to 20% of the members participate. I sometimes wonder why so few of
the 17.000 members participate. The pigeon sport is inflated too much
while it does not represent much more in terms of participation. The
strange thing is that for the attraction flights after the official
racing season is more enthusiasm than for the last five speed flights
with which the racing season has been closed for many years. It becomes
more difficult each year to get sufficient participants in the club so
that for each discipline in their own club building can be basketed.
There are still more than 250 pigeon clubs in the Netherlands of which
at least 200 have to deal with the aforementioned problem. Furthermore I
understand that in 2019 will be cut in the collection schedule, this
means that in the Netherlands the pigeons are not picked up anymore or
because too few members have to join them to another club. Partly
because of this the number of participants goes back even more because
the older ones among us have problems with this. Not because I am also
an old male but the old greybeards may be a bit more cherished because
the pigeon sport currently owes much of its existence to the large group
of seventies or even older.
LARGE LOSSES WITH YOUNG PIGEONS
We are on the eve of a baby boom youngsters 2019. In my opinion far too
much is being bred. I know you can be lucky enough to breed an "extra"
out of two moderate pigeons. Actually this also applies to two
high-quality pigeons that do not breed well on the conveyor belt. What
matters to me is that it is now very normal to breed from all pigeons.
There is less attention paid to the quality of the old pigeons, it is
more or less necessary for many to breed as many youngsters as possible.
Why? The problem is the large number of youngsters who for some reason
can not find their way home. That can not only be on the high-voltage
wires, not even on transport or birds of prey. It has a lot to do with
quality and health. For many money purchased pigeons still has nothing
to do with quality. Poor fanciers who have been influenced by well
thought-out sales texts. Just this week I once again studied a number of
pigeons that were offered for sale with a lot of fuss. By far the most
pigeons that are beautifully photographed have done nothing but nothing
at all, while there are wonderful results. The attentive reader must be
able to see that they are being led around the garden. What tells me the
description of the mother who has put 10 first prize winners in the
world and that sisters and brothers of the pigeon have achieved great
results, of the pigeon that is offered for sale is nothing. Yes there is
a long story with super performance but not one that is achieved by the
pigeon offered for sale and because she has an appealing name thousands
of euros are added to it. Then there are now also the necessary sales of
youngsters from the best breeders. Just a meaningless story, what do we
do with this? Oh poor pigeon sport, where does that go? A good advice;
breed only from the very best you own and dare to select strictly. Do
not be afraid that you are clearing up a good one because everyone has
no more than a handful or even that.
TO PUZZLE AT OWN LOFT
The preparations for the new breeding season are getting more and more
started. Some have already put their breeder together at full moon,
others wait a bit because they are afraid that they will no longer get
the rings of 2019 on the legs. Still others find January early enough to
start breeding and the long distance players have more patience because
most of them are not so concerned about the fanatical game with the
youngsters, these men go on with their hibernation. What matters now is
the composition of the couples. With us in the loft the couples are
changed for at least 80% and we do that mainly not to get too much of
the same. Also the proven couples are changed after two years together.
In addition there is always the possibility to re-link them which seldom
happens. As soon as our racing pigeons are three years old (have
participated in the races for 4 seasons), we look at the performances
and possible breeding results. Based on this it is determined whether
they deserve a spot on the breeding loft. Our selection method looks
like this; the performance of the youngsters is not decisive. A
youngster we should like to see. This is often the first impression when
you take the pigeon in your hand, the look is also very important. For
me, the color is also important, I like blue and light scratches (that
is also a hobby) while my son Marco also accepts other colors in his
loft. I still hold on to the Janssen tradition, those guys also had
mainly light and blue pigeons. I will often tell other fanciers; do not
pay too much attention to the color. An ugly pigeon that arrives with
the first every week is getting better and better. A good friend of mine
once had an unsightly measly little fat-blue hen, that pigeon would not
have had a chance with me in the loft. But he got the change with him
and that was also because he possessed many more pigeons than I did. I
told him from the beginning; get rid of that thing what do you do with
such a bantling? As a youngster she came home on the last two races of
over 300 km so she could hibernate. In the following spring I saw her
again and made the comment; do you still have her? He had looked better
than me. Unbelievable as that animal has performed, just incredible but
true. When I returned to him in the summer months he told me about her
performance and made the comment; Bert you have to see that pigeon
through my glasses then she looks very different. I assume you
understand what he meant.
HOW WE GO PAIRING
The first thing I do is look at the 5 best breeding couples and with
best I mean the couples with the best breeding results. Do not think
that these are couples who only fly headers on the world, such exist but
not with me. I sometimes read something about such couples and usually
on a sales site. The strange thing is that you do not read anything
about a youngster of that couple who performed well above average. A
very famous fancier from earlier years once said to me that you can
speak of luck if you have a breeding pair that has given only 1 good
young, but then a real good one. Still I was fortunate that I had
breeding couples several times that only gave us useful pigeons, which
regularly became a real topper. If you are in those happy circumstances
you always belong to the great champions but that was another time. Just
look at the famous names of now, they all have their name from a super
performance of one of their pigeons while they have a few hundred. I
already made a study of the breeding pigeons in my own way, I was
working on it all winter. That changed many times even on the day of
pairing I changed at the last moment 1 or 2 couples. When everything was
together I thought it was all very good couples. It could not have been
wrong because one pigeon had performed even better than the other and
that's also how it was with their construction. Beautiful in the hand
because I love beautiful and especially good pigeons. I have succeeded
in my entire pigeon career, it did not matter which couple gave good
youngsters the most important was that there were always some couples
who did what the boss expected from them. Frankly, most did not do what
the boss expected from them. I always thought I had a nice look at
pigeons, I thought I would get the best out of whatever loft I came
from. I did not completely misunderstand but to get the real topper out
of it I usually do not succeed. Top pigeons are always well built, you
actually do not see much. There is much more to see on a badly built
pigeon and even then it can be a good racer. In my breeding loft is
never a badly built pigeon but that does not mean anything about the
breeding value. They have performed well to very good in my eyes, they
have come through the selection and yet best people the majority of
their youngsters are completely unsuited to perform well. What is
wisdom?
BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD CAN GO TOGETHER
In the 70 years that I have pigeons I am still looking for even better
while I also breed my entire life out of pigeons that meet everything
and yet I am never satisfied. I really enjoy my pigeons, I have always
been a very fierce rascal with a preference for the speed races and the
small middle distance I count on that too. I won many hundreds of first
prizes, most of course in the club, but I also often played the first
violin. Most probably due to age the intensity has largely disappeared.
Because of your age you change a little every year without being aware
of it. Suddenly there is a period that you notice, especially the
condition and the perseverance are the reason that you become easier
every year. The "must" touches a little bit away, I do not want to see
that, I cannot believe it. I am definitely motivated because the plans
for 2019 are already largely completed. A joint breeding loft with my
son, 12 couples to fly and 35 young pigeons have to ensure that I play
with along with the best and even a single victory in a big context
should certainly be possible. Next week I will continue to review the
breeders who may meet between Christmas and New Year. This weekend I
will go to the national days of the NPO, next time I will tell you what
I thought of it.
IS THE SINKING SHIP STILL TO SAVE?
Everything is possible but then there must be a will. It is as if the
Dutch pigeon sport has completely lost its way. In my opinion that is
the case and the reason for this is the strong decline of members. There
has never been invested in, the pigeon sport runs for many years as a
well-oiled machine. So why should people (the board) worry about
something? Plenty of members, lots of pigeons, a national fleet with far
too large transport wagons, an increasingly extensive flight program, it
could not be done. If everything runs smoothly within a sports
organization this often goes hand in hand with too little attention for
a future-oriented policy. That is how it also went with different
branches within the business community. Very well-known national
companies have thus disappeared from the scene. The pigeon sport also
goes that way, it is too late to turn the tide. In addition there is
also the difficulty that our national board itself cannot take any
decision. They are completely dependent on their supporters who make the
service. As a result our national administration is the same as a pigeon
house, the managers fly in and out. Unfortunately there is no rest in
pigeon land and I fear that it will never come back. The national board
has created a number of working groups with the best intentions for
every discipline within our sport. In itself an ideal image for a
perfect organization. The annoying thing is that the short distance
players do not speak the same language as marathon players and among the
fanciers of competitions with youngsters play different things than
within the group long distance players. I think that we can all
understand how difficult it is to get everyone in the same direction.
There are far too many different interests in the way of sports
experience. There are sports friends who experience their sport very
professionally, others have their pigeons their club and participate
weekly in the game they like. They have never thought about the
organization before. That can be seen during the club meetings. There
are always the same ones who have immersed themselves in the matter,
which are usually the spokespersons and the rest looks in silence.
OLD AND GRAY AND THEREFORE NO LONGER INTERESTED
Because old and grey forms the largest group gives that often a
distorted image within the result of a vote. Many elderly people think;
it will take my time off and I think it's fine what their club decides.
They assume that in 2019 they will be able to use their pigeons once a
week and that they will be picked up. That they on their way to the
unloading place be cared, that they are released on time, that a weekly
result is made and so they live from one week to another. Nice and easy
but that's not how it works in practice. To make sure everything runs
smoothly a lot of manpower is needed. Despite the automation there is
still a lot of manual work to be done and the group that has to do that
is getting less and less motivated and unfortunately is getting smaller
and smaller. Now that several working groups have been created will also
be new life in the brewery, especially by the "fair play" working group.
They called on all members to express their wishes in relation to fair
play. Of the approximately 15.000 playing lofts (I do not think there
are more), just over 200 responses have arrived. Within a sports
association where there is so much movement we can speak of a
disappointing result. Those who have taken the trouble to read the
overview of all those reactions become dizzy. It is true that the large
majority of Dutch fanciers want to get rid of the unlimited number of
pigeons that can be used on every flight. The majority prefers maximum
numbers. The preference is for a maximum of 25 old pigeons and 35 young
pigeons. With those numbers there is competition for the championships.
It is now the case that a number of internationally known fanciers come
to lugged weekly with baskets full of pigeons and that discourages the
modal fancier. Certainly know that within the Dutch pigeon sport it will
be or will change in 2019. There is certainly the maximum number of
pigeons that can be played for the championships. After all we also play
football eleven against eleven. We should not lose sight of the fact
that all changes are not improvements. The pigeon sport as it was will
never come back.
NATIONAL MANIFESTATION
Our annual event will be held on 1 and 2 December in Nieuwegein this
year, a different location. Admission is free and that has been made
possible thanks to the fact that leading fanciers have donated a pigeon
for sale. On Saturday there is also a pigeon day organized for the
youth. Furthermore everything is in the sign of the pigeon sport.
Hopefully many national and international sports friends can find their
way to the NPO days. I hope we will meet each other in large numbers.
Here the address: De Beursfabriek, Symfonielaan 5, 3438EX - Nieuwegein
near Utrecht.
WINTER BREEDING
Pairing at full moon. Many fanciers believe in that, especially if you
have been doing that for several years and the breeding results speak
for themselves why would you deviate from that. I am also a herd animal
because I have tried it. The first year was great as my youngsters
performed, the next two years it was three times nothing. One year it
was remarkable that I bred several pigeons of which two toes had grown
together as it were there was a kind of fleece between them. I really do
not know what the cause was in any case not too close inbreeding. I
blamed the full moon and then I paired the breeding pigeons between
Christmas and New Year and never looked at the moon again. This year on
the 23rd of November it is full moon again and I know that there are
again a lot of fanciers who will pair the pigeons. Scientifically there
is nothing proven but if you have success with something you should
certainly not depart from it at least that is my opinion. It will not be
the case if you put together two pigeons at full moon that have never
won a prize that you then breed prize winners. I still look for it in
the quality and still assume that you have a higher chance of breeding a
top pigeon from two top pigeons even if you put those summers together
at half-moon.
WE DUTH DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHINH ANYMORE
Or maybe it is. In our eyes the pigeon world is completely runaway. What
has happened in the past two weeks is almost unbelievable. Daily
newspaper De Duif held their annual Golden Ten sales for the umpteenth
time. A number of super commercial fanciers were invited to make six
young pigeons available for a hall sale with a lot of tam - tam. The
organizing newspaper spoke of a great success. In all simplicity we can
ask ourselves; For who it was a great success? Does it add anything to
the popularity of the pigeon sport? No Belgian or Dutch citizen gets it
in his head to start with the pigeon sport after reading all
astronomical amounts paid for young pigeons. Pigeons that have never
been in the basket and will never come in the basket are immediately
destined for breeding. Why? Especially because they are so expensive but
that has nothing to do with breeding value. A proceeds of 1.179.000
euros for 168 youngsters (average 7020 euros) are madness at the top. It
got even crazier on the internet sales of the famous Belgian Gaby
Vandenabeele. This very sympathetic fancier had more or less forced his
pigeons away because of a pigeon lung. Gaby has through his appealing
achievements built up a very good reputation over the years partly
because others are also very successful with his pigeons. We know Gaby
from his strong game with a not too large number of pigeons in the race.
Great was the surprise when the sale was announced of no less than 815
pigeons. Where does he suddenly get that? Others who are forced to stop
can bring half or even more to the poulter. A professional pigeon broker
company known as Pipa thought differently. They really got everything
out of the closet to prepare a spectacular internet sale. Something that
you can leave to this company with a clear conscience. The end of the
story is a record yield of an average of 8000 euros per pigeon, or a
total revenue of 6.5 million euros. The most expensive of the entire
circus went to China for 376.000 euros where more than 60% of the
pigeons (482 units) went, the other 40% went to 30 different countries.
Of the old pigeons that were sold 2 went to the Netherlands and that
says something for a leading pigeon country. It is unfortunate that
there is never mentioned anything about the breeding results of all
those pigeons that are sold to all kinds of sales sites for breeding.
Just look at your own loft how much good, I mean real good, be bred
there. Count only the 4 year old and once you know exactly how difficult
it is. It must be said that it was fantastic to be able to follow this
sale on the Internet for three days especially because I think this will
never happen again. But…. Never say never!
MILLIONS TRADE WITHIN A SPORT THAT NEVER GETS ATTENTION IN ANY NEWS
PAPER
It is so sad with the Dutch pigeon sport. At the time that there were
still 100.000 fanciers in the Netherlands there was half a page of
pigeon news in every self-respecting newspaper at the beginning of the
week. That is over. The sharp decline in the number of pigeon fanciers
is also the cause of this. Pigeon sport is no longer a national sport.
In the past years the pigeon sport also had a large number of supporters
who wanted to read weekly in the newspaper who had the best
performances. That was talked about at work, in the family and by
friends and acquaintances. Now people ask me if I still have pigeons and
if there is still pigeon racing because they cannot read a letter in the
newspaper anymore. That is something that our national sports
administration should discuss with the writing press. Without publicity
the pigeon sport sinks further and further into anonymity.
PREPARATIONS ON THE BREEDING SEASON
It does not take so long for our pigeons to start a new breeding season.
The winter months are ideally suited to purchase (valuable) breeding
material. Nowadays certainly not a simple matter especially if you read
all those dizzying amounts that are counted for a pigeon. I consciously
say a pigeon because many pigeons do not deserve a place in the breeding
loft. Nevertheless in our sport all pigeons that enter the breeding loft
are called breeding pigeons. With all these pigeons are every year a
number of purchased pigeons, received, exchanged, bought for a lot or
little money, everyone dreams of a good breeding result. Personally I
spent a lot of attention on pigeons that earn a place in the breeding
loft. Each pigeon that won first prize in the ZCC entered the breeding
loft. That did not mean that they immediately ended up after winning a
victory. No, that required more. In any case they had to play the entire
season. Sometimes there were pigeons that had won a first prize three or
four times or a first plus some real top prizes. I think that is the
only good method. Of course I also purchased at least 1 pigeon every
year. At that time there always had to be one with at least 50% blood
from the world-famous Janssen pigeons. Honestly those pigeons have given
me a lot of sports fun. More beautiful and better pigeons did not exist
in my eyes. There were also other good and beautiful pigeons but Janssen
pigeons made the crown. I have never understood that they were not
appreciated in their own country. Jealousy perhaps? The real Janssen
pigeons are now eliminate all over the world, there is little or nothing
left of it. I still own the kind of the Belgian brothers, they still
look the same but they are crossed. However to cross has chosen for
another champion loft. I certainly do not get them anywhere. Meanwhile I
have together with my son built up a beautiful breeding collection their
youngsters performed excellently this year. The breeders are not all
first prize winners or champion pigeon yet but this year there are still
five added plus 2 new acquisitions. We have, just like all those buyers
of the Vandenabeele pigeons, every confidence. But as an old hand in
racing pigeons I know very well that most breeding results will not be
as good as we hope. I have had years that I thought I only had top
breeding couples, unfortunately that turned out not to be the case.
Despite that I have played at the top for many years and now that my son
Marco has been added I am motivated again on the bone to the bid and
that for an 81 year old. That promises something!
THE WORLD CHANGES
How we turn it or turn it we are on our way to the cold winter months.
At this moment not to believe because the high temperatures for the time
of the year continue. Cause are the hurricanes far away from our country
causing a lot of misery and grief while in the Netherlands the beautiful
holiday weather continues. Our beaches are full of sun worshipers every
day, you hardly dare to watch the news on TV in the evening because
there is a lot to see differently than we are used to. The one natural
disaster follows the other, the annoying thing is that we humans cannot
control nature. The only thing that remains is to help as many fellow
sufferers as possible, no matter how difficult that is in many cases.
The world is changing, it is the conversation of the day. We ordinary
people cannot influence that, war, violence, sadness, disasters,
corruption every day we are confronted with it. Unbelievable that there
is so much fuss in the Netherlands about the old Sinterklaas feast,
without doubt a fantastic children's party that is celebrated on 5
December. Action groups are busy because Sinterklaas has a sooty black
servant with large earrings and scarlet lips. It would go back to the
slave time. No child knows about it, at the schools all children have
been taught that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are big children's friends
and therefore on 5 December when the Sint celebrates its birthday to all
children will bring a gift. I remember the day of yesterday that I was
surprised in 1947 on Sinterklaas evening with 2 racing pigeons and
despite the fact that we have been taught that Sint and Piet come from
Spain the pigeons did have Dutch rings. I thought that was strange at
the age of 10. Not so long after that I found out that both did not
exist, now I am 81 and still enjoy the party especially when I see all
those happy little children's mussels.
CONTACT WITH SPORTS FRIENDS IS GOOD FOR MOTIVATION
When the molting is over pigeons are paired again in many lofts.
Preparations for this are already receiving extra attention from many
fanciers. Old breeders who have not provided good breeding results for
some years have to make way for the younger generation because the youth
has the future. We are now in a period that we can only watch how
everything goes in the loft. Come the pigeons well through the molt and
remain free of diseases, more is actually not to experience. It is the
quiet season and then you have to be well motivated to continue to pay
full attention to the ups and downs in the pigeon loft and that is not
always easy for many older fanciers, I just look at myself. I do not
really feel like it anymore, it gets too much for me. The days that I
went whistling to the pigeons every time are less, many of my old pigeon
friends are no longer there. A few times a week visiting a pigeon friend
has not existed for a long time. Club life is getting less because there
are almost no members left and worse there are no new members. Yes,
sometimes one who does not like it at another club but that does not
stand up either. I have to really pick myself up while it used to go
automatically. If you hardly speak to anyone who has the same hobby the
pleasure will go away especially if the care starts to weigh too
heavily. That is why I have decided to make more contacts, yes also in
writing, to talk more about pigeons. It is mostly about the past but
that does not matter, the sport becomes more lively and makes it a bit
more enjoyable. Even now I am still dubbing to do everything away and if
someone happens to come along and wants to take over the chance is there
that I will do. But what if they are gone and I regret, you fall into a
hole. Fortunately that is not quite so because my son has the breeding
pigeons so if the need is the man I can always start with a few
youngsters. At the moment I am a bit more cheerful because in a short
time I have had some nice conversations with old friends, two of whom no
longer have any pigeons. One does not miss them, the other can no longer
keep them because of relocation but would want to return to the old
situation. Keeping pigeons is a great hobby at home, yet it turns out
that it is definitely not a hobby to experience at home alone. Keeping
in touch with sports friends brings more pleasure to the hobby,
exchanging ideas with each other, talking about the past and making
plans for the future is something you do just with each other.
WHO ARE DELEGATED TO THE 37th OLYMPIADE
The battle to participate in the racing pigeons Olympiad has been
fought. The sport pigeons that will be from all over the world have
finished their matches. The regulations set by the FCI apply in all
participating countries. Of course there are still some beauty flaws
attached to it but in general it is now; equal monks, equal hoods. Also
in the pigeon sport participation in the Olympiad would be the highest
possible. I totally disagree with that but it feels like a great honor
to be honored especially in the sporting class. I have also been allowed
to experience that once and that gives you a bit of a feeling that you
have delivered a sporting performance. In the Netherlands no fancier has
to submit the best performance of his best pigeon himself. This is
provided through our national accounting agency so that only those
entitled are invited. All kinds of champion pigeons will be shortly
presented to us. There are all kinds of titles or championships to think
of. They are very strong at Pipa. In almost all cases it is not about
the performance but about the commercial value. Within the pigeon sport
it is teeming with championships and championships that actually do not
represent anything at all. There should be only one title and not a 2nd,
3rd, 4, 8th or 10th championship. Get rid of that fooling! If we all
together, I better can say with a number of compatriots are in the
Polish city of Poznan, because who are going there? you will see that
pigeons on an Olympiad get a lot of international interest . At other
events these are the exhibitors, at an Olympiad the fanciers will marvel
at all those pigeons that are present according to the same sporting
conditions. The organization can safely be left to the Poles. In 2011
they were allowed to do that once and that looked great. Poland has
become a full-fledged pigeon country which they prove on all sides. It
still takes 3 months which seems to be very far away. We are so there
and in many lofts there are already big youngsters in the dish and in
some lofts the first youngsters are already weaned. All honors are
behind us, yet all the greats can enjoy their achievements in 2018 and
then we all start with a clean slate again.
SPECIALIZATION
That was a number of years ago a new concept within the pigeon sport. It
had a bit to do with unfair play back then. It was created by our
national organization. The directors at the time realized that our sport
was going the wrong way. At that time our country had many fanciers
especially small socializing players. The flying programs became more
extensive, there were more possibilities for play for everyone. The
problems also came with the expansion of the flight programs. Sometimes
three flights in a weekend. For a lot of players that was fantastic, I
belonged to that group. Rather four flights than one I thought.
Wonderful waiting for the pigeons on Saturday. That day was my pigeon
day and the whole family plus friends knew that I was occupied on
Saturday, then the pigeons went for everything. When I got older I
started to notice more and more that due to the amount of competitions
the hobby became very expensive. With school-age children and a little
more pigeons because there were more flights, that turned out to be no
feasible for me. At that time I could not spend 50 guilders per week on
my pigeon hobby and with me many others. With great regularity was
written in the pigeon magazines about specialization. If you belonged to
the category of socializing players it was better to specialize on one
or two parts of the pigeon sport. You did not want to measure yourself
with the big men who owned many more pigeons. In itself a very good
idea, and so it happened. Fanciers enough so no problem.
LESS PIGEONS
Due to the specialization came fewer and fewer pigeons after a while. A
new phenomenon were the "fly in pigeons". Those were the pigeons that
were used to practice or to train but did not participate in the race
and therefore were not clocked. Then you got situations of a
participation of 400 pigeons of which only 150 entered the race and that
was not the intention either. Because of the specialization you got
fanciers who only played short distance, others played short and middle
distance. Some only youngsters, others only one-day long distance and
others preferred the marathon races. There was therefore a possibility
for everyone to play until at a given moment it became clear that the
number of pigeons per discipline fell sharply and that is how it is
still today. In some clubs it is even the case that due to too small
participation one has to switch to another inventory room especially on
the one-day long distance and the last middle distance races. At first
the specialization was to let everyone play their own game. The strong
decline of members shows that the specialization at many clubs becomes
problematic in connection with the survival of the club. There are no
participants enough! What would be a good solution?
OTHER FLY PROGRAM?
For years the flight program consisted of 5 sprint, 4 middle distance, 4
long distance of which an overnight flight, 6 youngsters and 5 natour. 1
flight every week, no specialization and everyone participated weekly.
Now it will be clear why the general championship in those years was so
important and currently because of the specialization nothing more
because almost no one participates in ALL competitions or can
participate. Over the years so much has changed we start to wonder why
those changes were well thought through. Reducing the current extended
flight program to 1 flight per weekend is likely to cause major unrest
but we should have to go a bit in that direction. The pigeon sport will
become more attractive less time-consuming and perhaps also less
expensive. Of course it is also about keeping the existing group of
members together. If there is more drop out we will come closer to the
end of the pigeon sport as we know it.
WHAT IS OUR TARGET GROUP?
For years there was no target at all. Members enough so why worry about
the future. With such an ill-considered policy many companies and sports
clubs have gone to the buttons. When people realized that the pigeon
sport was starting to age important managers awoke from their sleep.
Based on the decline of members people started to calculate how long the
pigeon sport could continue. The outcome of the calculation did not look
rosy so action had to be taken but in what way? Almost all arrows were
aimed at youth. That took a lot of energy but not shot is always wrong.
They started by placing a free pigeon loft with a number of children who
had chosen for the pigeon sport without parental help. The same was done
at schools, playgrounds and a single petting zoo. It did not deliver
anything, that is money thrown away. Suddenly somebody came up with the
luminous idea of a making a promotional film. Everywhere in the
Netherlands the film could be screened, every club had access to it so
they could go on to promote our sport. 40-50 were thought of. They had
finished their own sports and the pigeon sport would be a welcome
addition to that. Also for this form of promotion was heavily tapped in
the pouch. Final conclusion once again wasted money, goal not achieved
or no extra members can note and so muddled through. No real vision, no
substantiated proposals, but in a short time several goodwill board
members and unfortunately that did not deliver anything either. Still
people are fighting to win the youth for our sport. However let us not
forget that despite the fact that the youth of today will always exist
there is now a youth of today who looks completely different. They have
so many opportunities to spend their free time and in that list the
pigeon sport does not belong. Just too expensive and too time-consuming.
Those who visit the national days in early December will again meet
large groups of children at the event on Saturday. Youth members who can
also bring their friends. Very well intended but what matters .........
I think no new members are listed. If children come home
enthusiastically and tell their story to parents who know nothing about
pigeon racing, they start to shatter when they realize what all this
will cost and what will the neighbors say about it. No, that is
absolutely no simple matter. There is little promotion via newspapers.
There are still a huge number of weekly magazines in which the pigeon
sport can be promoted in a professional way. Within our pigeon sport the
expertise is available to work on it. A nice start is perhaps the
attention for the pigeons that participate in the final selection for
the racing pigeon Olympics in Poland, also a nice item for a sports
program at TV. After all the Netherlands is a world-wide leading pigeon
country and we have to show this in a positive way as much as possible.
WHY?
In the Netherlands, or better said by the Dutch pigeon fanciers, there
is more and more talk of the proliferation in the large number of
pigeons that is used by more and more fanciers every week. That
discourages many fanciers and therefore there is dissatisfaction. The
fanciers now finally let their voices heard, they revolt and insist that
playing with an unlimited number of pigeons is restricted because as it
is now it is absolutely the wrong way. The game for the common man has
grown into a gigantic large commercial event. It is no longer a
household price or a small amount of money. In many departments money is
not even played anymore. The hobby fanciers play for a championship
title and the mega lofts play for chain results because that is big
business for them. Championships are not interesting for the mega lofts.
For them are champion pigeons and especially results where as many of
their pigeons as possible occur important. It is a pity that the
hobby-moderate is disappearing more and more. The amateurs still want to
take up against the professional players but with equal weapons and no
more 100 against 10. That is an unequal battle that the little man can
never win. So something has to change.
FAIR GAME
That is what it is all about in the Netherlands. The hobby fanciers
certainly does not have to set aside for the mega lofts that have made
their hobby their profession. The little man can definitely clock a
pigeon for such a professional which fortunately still happens very
regularly. The bread players should not think that they only have the
right to display top prizes and nice results. Those who can read a
result know better. But to organize competitions where 100 against 10 is
the most normal thing in the world must be put an end to very quickly.
Only then can we speak of fair play. The pigeon sport is far too
expensive for many fanciers while the pros can enormously enrich
themselves thanks to the participation of the hobby players and with the
cooperation of the sales sites. Within such a potty hobby as pigeon
sport that is too crazy for words. The day and weeklies are barely
interested in the pigeon sport while millions are involved every year.
Soon there will be a total sale of star player Gaby Vandenabeele. I have
read that there are just over 800 pigeons under the hammer. Certainly
know that they will pay a dizzying amount mainly thanks to the victories
against Jan with the cap. The frustrating thing is that Jan with the cap
is not able to buy a pigeon from such a famous loft. No they can only
basket their pigeons so that the ever-growing group of professional
players can shine with performances achieved against a respectable
number of pigeons. Especially fanciers from other countries kick in
there. They absolutely do not know what an unfair game is being played
especially in the Netherlands and Belgium. Fortunately more and more
fanciers in Belgium are revolting against the absurd situation that the
mega lofts or unsportsmanlike pocket fillers bring about.
DO NOT BE AFRAID FOR THE BIG FANCIERS
That's how it was years ago. In the first place years ago not such
nonsensical numbers of pigeons were used by a fancier. If someone with
40 pigeons came he was laughed at. Certainly afraid that you go under
was soon said. It was during the time that only the first pigeon counted
for a championship title. So 40 against 10 were found unfair at that
time. At that time there was also clocking with rubber rings and that
took much more time compared to electronic detection. I told in that
time that I did not set aside for anyone although they came with 200. I
would not say that now because the decline of members, the far too large
flight areas, the smaller number of participating pigeons, the
electronic detection and the mega big fanciers has changed the pigeon
game completely. It is said flat finally out of the clutches. The big
men make the service and it will not be easy to change that in no time.
Yet it will have to!
WHAT WILL BE THE OBJECTION
The season is over and the meeting season is coming again. From my
department I have already received the first proposals to change all
kinds of things. After reading everything I immediately sat with my
hands in my hair. All of those proposals that have been on the agenda
for 50 years. Ideas conceived by one or two diligent club officials who
think they are going to invent the wheel again. What would it be nice if
our national sports association would prescribe it? This is how we will
do it and not otherwise. What should be the problem if we all start and
end on the same date. What will be the problem if we start at least 100
km and end up at 600 km. An exception can then be made for the handful
of marathon players that we have in the Netherlands. What will be the
problem if we all play through a homogenous championship system. What
could be the objection that we all participate weekly with a maximum of
25 pigeons, the ring numbers of which are specified before the start of
the season and still add 5 reserve pigeons in case a few pigeons are
lost. Fanciers of many pigeons can keep 500 without problems but to
participate 25. Then see if the professionals have such a good look that
they weekly play everything on firewood. In Malta they are allowed to
use up to 10 pigeons. In Portugal they mostly play with yearlings and in
China with youngsters. I assume that in those countries they enjoy the
pigeon game as much as we do. What would be the problem if we all basket
centrally, as a result of which a large part of the collection costs
will be canceled. What could be the objection if more and more will be
transported centrally? What could be the objection if we work together
more and more (in not too long time) instead of working against. What
would be the objection if there were smaller flight areas through which
no one is played away and no one has any extra advantage. More and more
ideas will be able to be launched especially now that a committee is
working in the Netherlands with the main goal FAIR GAME!
ONE LOFT RACES
At first I thought that this could be of vital importance for the pigeon
sport. I soon came back to this because it is impossible to keep large
groups of pigeons healthy and also give good training. Large numbers
always stay together, do not pull away and remain as stupid as the horse
of our dear Lord and that was a donkey. No, one loft races are not in my
opinion either. Coincidentally, I recently read a report of the "Derby
Costa del Sol" which was held for the 6th time. 1200 pigeons were used
of which 827 participated in the final race. According to the report the
organization had everything down to the smallest detail that I
immediately believe. However, I am always very curious about the end
result. The pigeons were released at 7.40 am and the first 6 pigeons
registered at 2.22 pm which means they have flown for 402 minutes. The
winning speed was 1,112 meters per minute so the distance must have been
plus minus 447 km. So far it looks promising, but now it comes. On the
day of release 35 pigeons from the 827 were at home, yes you read that
correctly. What is so great about such a race? I do not know how it
ended in the end but I cannot see such a flight as excellent. For me
this is a disastrous course and maybe it ended in disaster, but my
information does not go that far. Unfortunately it is not just the case
at the Derby Costa de Sol in the southern Spanish city of Malaga. In my
opinion one loft races are casinos for gambling pigeon fanciers. The big
winnings are very important and the pigeon ......? Unfortunately that
does not count. At least that is my opinion.
THE WORLD CHANGES
How we turn it or turn it we are on our way to the cold winter months.
At this moment not to believe because the high temperatures for the time
of the year continue. Cause are the hurricanes far away from our country
causing a lot of misery and grief while in the Netherlands the beautiful
holiday weather continues. Our beaches are full of sun worshipers every
day, you hardly dare to watch the news on TV in the evening because
there is a lot to see differently than we are used to. The one natural
disaster follows the other, the annoying thing is that we humans cannot
control nature. The only thing that remains is to help as many fellow
sufferers as possible, no matter how difficult that is in many cases.
The world is changing, it is the conversation of the day. We ordinary
people cannot influence that, war, violence, sadness, disasters,
corruption every day we are confronted with it. Unbelievable that there
is so much fuss in the Netherlands about the old Sinterklaas feast,
without doubt a fantastic children's party that is celebrated on 5
December. Action groups are busy because Sinterklaas has a sooty black
servant with large earrings and scarlet lips. It would go back to the
slave time. No child knows about it, at the schools all children have
been taught that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are big children's friends
and therefore on 5 December when the Sint celebrates its birthday to all
children will bring a gift. I remember the day of yesterday that I was
surprised in 1947 on Sinterklaas evening with 2 racing pigeons and
despite the fact that we have been taught that Sint and Piet come from
Spain the pigeons did have Dutch rings. I thought that was strange at
the age of 10. Not so long after that I found out that both did not
exist, now I am 81 and still enjoy the party especially when I see all
those happy little children's mussels.
CONTACT WITH SPORTS FRIENDS IS GOOD FOR MOTIVATION
When the molting is over pigeons are paired again in many lofts.
Preparations for this are already receiving extra attention from many
fanciers. Old breeders who have not provided good breeding results for
some years have to make way for the younger generation because the youth
has the future. We are now in a period that we can only watch how
everything goes in the loft. Come the pigeons well through the molt and
remain free of diseases, more is actually not to experience. It is the
quiet season and then you have to be well motivated to continue to pay
full attention to the ups and downs in the pigeon loft and that is not
always easy for many older fanciers, I just look at myself. I do not
really feel like it anymore, it gets too much for me. The days that I
went whistling to the pigeons every time are less, many of my old pigeon
friends are no longer there. A few times a week visiting a pigeon friend
has not existed for a long time. Club life is getting less because there
are almost no members left and worse there are no new members. Yes,
sometimes one who does not like it at another club but that does not
stand up either. I have to really pick myself up while it used to go
automatically. If you hardly speak to anyone who has the same hobby the
pleasure will go away especially if the care starts to weigh too
heavily. That is why I have decided to make more contacts, yes also in
writing, to talk more about pigeons. It is mostly about the past but
that does not matter, the sport becomes more lively and makes it a bit
more enjoyable. Even now I am still dubbing to do everything away and if
someone happens to come along and wants to take over the chance is there
that I will do. But what if they are gone and I regret, you fall into a
hole. Fortunately that is not quite so because my son has the breeding
pigeons so if the need is the man I can always start with a few
youngsters. At the moment I am a bit more cheerful because in a short
time I have had some nice conversations with old friends, two of whom no
longer have any pigeons. One does not miss them, the other can no longer
keep them because of relocation but would want to return to the old
situation. Keeping pigeons is a great hobby at home, yet it turns out
that it is definitely not a hobby to experience at home alone. Keeping
in touch with sports friends brings more pleasure to the hobby,
exchanging ideas with each other, talking about the past and making
plans for the future is something you do just with each other.
WHO ARE DELEGATED TO THE 37th OLYMPIADE
The battle to participate in the racing pigeons Olympiad has been
fought. The sport pigeons that will be from all over the world have
finished their matches. The regulations set by the FCI apply in all
participating countries. Of course there are still some beauty flaws
attached to it but in general it is now; equal monks, equal hoods. Also
in the pigeon sport participation in the Olympiad would be the highest
possible. I totally disagree with that but it feels like a great honor
to be honored especially in the sporting class. I have also been allowed
to experience that once and that gives you a bit of a feeling that you
have delivered a sporting performance. In the Netherlands no fancier has
to submit the best performance of his best pigeon himself. This is
provided through our national accounting agency so that only those
entitled are invited. All kinds of champion pigeons will be shortly
presented to us. There are all kinds of titles or championships to think
of. They are very strong at Pipa. In almost all cases it is not about
the performance but about the commercial value. Within the pigeon sport
it is teeming with championships and championships that actually do not
represent anything at all. There should be only one title and not a 2nd,
3rd, 4, 8th or 10th championship. Get rid of that fooling! If we all
together, I better can say with a number of compatriots are in the
Polish city of Poznan, because who are going there? you will see that
pigeons on an Olympiad get a lot of international interest . At other
events these are the exhibitors, at an Olympiad the fanciers will marvel
at all those pigeons that are present according to the same sporting
conditions. The organization can safely be left to the Poles. In 2011
they were allowed to do that once and that looked great. Poland has
become a full-fledged pigeon country which they prove on all sides. It
still takes 3 months which seems to be very far away. We are so there
and in many lofts there are already big youngsters in the dish and in
some lofts the first youngsters are already weaned. All honors are
behind us, yet all the greats can enjoy their achievements in 2018 and
then we all start with a clean slate again.
IT IS AS IF IT IS HIGH-SUMMER
I just came out of my pigeon loft with the sweat on my forehead. I
thought it necessary to clean three departments well today. Because of
an inflammation in my arm I neglected that for a while. Now that the
suffering was almost done I just wanted to clean the lofts well and
halfway through the afternoon I thought it was enough. Tomorrow I will
continue because today the weekly column must be written and from
tomorrow on I will continue to clean the lofts every day. In a clean
loft I enjoy my pigeons much more. They are heavy molting and that is
how it belongs in this period of the year yet I will be happy if I am
rid of the large amount of feathers. Everything is dry, in that respect
we do with the weather. It is likely that Dutch records will be broken
again because I cannot remember a year with so many sunny days and such
high temperatures at this time of the year. It is autumn and many plants
are still in bloom, it is as if the seasons are changing. The racing
pigeons from different departments come out every two days but they do
not have a lot of sense to fly. They still miss too many feathers and
when they fly to their seats in the loft from the floor you hear that
they have to make extra effort to rise. Once they are through the molt
they float up as it were but it is not that far yet, so be patient. From
next week I start all pigeons a two-week paratyphoid cure through the
drinking water. From experience I know that it has no wrong influence on
the molt. It is now ideal again to refurbish the loft, here and there
some needs to be repaired and a lick of paint does not hurt either. A
sputnik must be completely renewed and the fence around the balustrade
is also in need of renewal. There is also a lot of pruning work in the
garden but I do not do that myself. By the way I am no handyman at all,
painting, carpentry and all that kind of work is not spent on me.
END CYCLING SEASON
Another cycling year over. I have been involved in cycling for many
years and I still cannot get enough of it. I have not been active in
sports for a long time and I also said goodbye to the organization a
while ago. The sport itself continues to fascinate me enormously.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that I do not agree with in
amateur sport but that problem may be solved by others. Two weeks ago
the first team of my club DTS - "strong by training" was second during
the National club championships on the road, they had to give 16 seconds
to the winning team. In the last six years they finished first three
times and twice as second, "we" are the best cycling club in the
Netherlands. On the first Saturday of October the Noord-Holland cycling
season was concluded with the fairground round of Assendelft. There was
fought for the Dutch Championship Criterium, you know them the famous
circles around the church. The victory went to one of our promising
members, his father has already won that title and his grandfather even
has been world champion behind the big motorcycles. Professional cyclist
Nikki Terpstra, member of DTS, became second in the autumn classic
Paris-Tours on Sunday. A week later, the Tour of Lombardy follows and
then the season for the cyclo-cross starts. For now I have again enjoyed
the many beautiful and exciting cycling races.
FAIR GAME
For a long time there is a lot to do about "fair play" within the Dutch
pigeon sport. Our national organization the NPO finally sees that the
sport is not going in the right direction. What matters most is the
unlimited use of pigeons on all flights of the official flight program.
The number of fanciers who play with a lot of pigeons is increasing
enormously and it is precisely there that the shoe wriggles, the members
do not accept it anymore. There are examples of fanciers who use more
than 250 pigeons while others participate with a tenth of that number
and get a good beating every week. That does not make a person happy, it
spoils the mood in the club, the enthusiasm to join goes back and the
appreciation for the "big" winners is noticeably less. Commerce within
the sport can no longer be ignored, that is where most sports clubs are
running, unfortunately the Dutch pigeon sport is not getting better.
Within our sport and a number of other countries, it is all about a
number of individual fanciers who can enormously enrich themselves by
selling their pigeons. On the sales sites it becomes more and more
nepotism. Those commercial fanciers sell a lot of pigeons at huge
prices, they do not because they have achieved championships, they do so
because they play with large numbers of pigeons which gives them a
better chance to catch some early pigeons in the results. Here too the
law of the big numbers counts or the more tickets the more chance of a
prize. That is why it makes no sense. Tha’ts why it does not make any
sense at all to let the first 35 pigeons of the basketing list count for
the championships. This gives even more advantage to the big men because
they come every week with 35 random pigeons so that most titles will go
to them and who can play with 35 pigeons every week? With me sports
friends have never come to buy pigeons because I won championship titles
they only did that because I made remarkably good results in my younger
years. After all we all want to improve our pigeon colony and you can
only do that by buying good pigeons. You can buy a dog, but not wagging
his tail.
PIGEON SPORTS FOR EVERYONE
That’s how it was but that has been a long time ago. Why do not new /
young members join? First of all the reports in the newspapers about
idiotic prices paid for pigeons. A new starter or youth member must
invest far too much in order to be able to get along fairly quickly,
even so much that almost no parents can afford that so that his son
cannot keep pigeons. The sport takes too much time and is much too
expensive while there is nothing to do with it. All older players and
those who have been participating for years and never win anything worth
mentioning are encouraged every week to participate but for what? But
still there are every week a reasonable number of pigeons in the
baskets. But for whom? Only for the ever growing group of commercial
fanciers who can show results and do business the rest of the
participants are extras. Our national administrators are all volunteers,
they spend a large part of their free time on the organization, question
is with what purpose?
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND OR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE OLYMPIADE
It makes no sense at all. It is a game but not a fair game. You cannot
play against each other under 500 km, there are too few fanciers and
therefore too few pigeons. There is not enough dispersion while the
flight areas are too large so that weekly large groups of fanciers are
played away by weather influences or enormously favored. Middelburg
cannot play against Groningen and Den Helder cannot play against
Maastricht, or ZW Netherlands cannot play against NO Netherlands and NW
Netherlands cannot not play against ZO Nederland which distance
differences are far too big. The best thing is to go back to smaller fly
areas, we will have to get used to it in the Netherlands and certainly
in Belgium that we will play against each other with fewer members and
fewer pigeons. It is no different, but fairer!
ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION
A fantastic invention in the beginning. Then a fancier who gave 50
pigeons a very big one. Nowadays they come with a variety of lashes.
Those men take 30 minutes in a minute and that is also mentioned with
large letters in a pigeon magazine. Who are we in the name of God for
busy? Not for the little fancier who is allowed to put the mega numbers
of the big men in the basket every week. The NPO board will take steps
to change the above. I sincerely hope that they will succeed together
with the members. I am now 81, if they do not succeed I will experience
the demise of the pigeon sport.
WHO MAY REMAIN
Our lofts indicate how many pigeons we can keep. Because of possible
losses we determine how many youngsters we are going to breed and
because of the space it is already determined during this period how
many pigeons we can keep in the winter and how many pigeons will be bred
for the next season. That is a given whether we have to decide to build
a smaller or larger loft than the numbers change. Most of us are
inclined to breed more young than we can store. That is where the first
mistake is already made because overcrowding can have serious
consequences for health. I always go from; better a couple of seats too
many than a few too short. At this way you also achieve that the
youngsters will stay healthy more easily, the losses will also be less.
Few young pigeons can also cause a luxury problem. I use as much as
possible that I start in the spring with about 50% yearlings and as many
old racing pigeons. This year the youngsters performed extremely well
and then you are usually in the fortunate circumstance that you also
lose less, so you have too much to spare. In other words, losing a lot
is not fun, but having too much is also not always fun. We all want to
keep a lot of pigeons because it is better to select from 30 pigeons
than from 4. The commercial lofts will think differently, for them there
cannot be enough for the sales. I do not believe that they sell their
best and keep the lesser ones, but that is my opinion. Now that my
youngsters have performed so formidably we will probably be able to keep
more of them this year and that will be at the expense of the old. So
one year you can be one of the favorites of the loft and the next year
have to make room for another well performing and promising youngster.
That is how it will always go because we are always looking for even
better ones. Being able to make a wide choice from a well-performing
group of youngsters gives a considerably better feeling than having to
keep a number of young pigeons. But you do not just have enough of good
performing youngsters there is a little more involved.
THE BASKET IS THE BEST SELECTEUR
We all know that it is not self-evident that a well-performing youngster
will also be a good yearling. There are plenty of examples that a real
top performing youngster is totally failing as a yearling. This
preseason I spoke a strong playing fancier who had one of the best
youngsters in the entire country a year earlier and until the moment I
had spoken to him that same pigeon did not win any prize. Of course
there are also plenty of examples of young pigeons that did not win a
flat prize and played the stars of heaven as a yearling. That is why I
ask the question; is the basket the best selector? On the other hand you
can say that if the basket is not what then? I think we are all the best
selector in our own loft. We know our pigeons because we are busy with
them daily, take enough time to observe them, study their fly and
breeding results and what is very important, what is the health and
flight condition? Are we also able to determine top condition and
recognize diseases in the loft. It is not necessary that we are a pigeon
doctor but it is important to be able to quickly see that something is
stumbling on the pigeons. That is why I became a judge many years ago. I
traveled all over the country to judge pigeons at all kinds of
exhibitions. That was a great time but I mainly did a lot to learn about
pigeons. In the early years many fanciers with their better and
especially beautiful pigeons came to the show so I often got the cream
of the crop. Those years are unfortunately over, I am too old and the
fanciers have no real interest in what judges think of their pigeons.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIGEONS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST
Look at other branches of sport, the most beautiful athletes are
certainly not the best and look at your own loft, there you discover
exactly the same. On a show it is less difficult to point out the best,
in your own loft it is almost impossible to appoint only valuable
pigeons. Nevertheless we have to work on that in the coming period. If
all goes well the first pigeons have been selected in many lofts, you
can notice that at the sales that are starting to come again. Those
pigeons have already received a cross behind their ring number or name
in the past season and that is a good thing because in a few weeks they
will be nice again and then it will be a lot harder to get rid of them.
Which can we do best? I think the first and the best choice is to only
keep pigeons that you like as a fancier. You know those pigeons that you
say, yes that is one! You can feel the compactness, the soft plumes, the
firm carcass, the tightly closed coccyx and the model of the pigeon. We
all have a predilection for a pigeon and that is usually a model or type
or even the color where you have achieved the necessary successes. In
addition, the descent comes as an important argument in which important
pigeons from ourselves must occur. Do not look too much at the extensive
descendants of pigeons for sale, which can be made so tempting that you
think that the guy who sells the pigeons is not good at his head
otherwise he would not do away such top pigeons (?). The practice is
very different. Especially keep it with own bred pigeons. Your pigeons
that have performed super remain without any doubt and are also worth
breeding in every way. The other pigeons that do not have a lot of good
to tell about can best be kept or discarded at own intuition. You will
always have to make your own choice somewhere or in a few cases you
could ask for help of a good sports friend. My advice is; dare to make
your own choices because with damage and shame you will quickly become a
lot wiser
OTHER CARE TIMES
The season is (finally) over. We can let the reins be celebrated because
the "must" is now over. Fortunately, because I really have the end in
the mouth. It was not even that many years ago that I did not want to
stop. As far as I am concerned, the pigeon game could continue until
Christmas and then start again immediately after New Year. I was so
obsessed with the pigeon sport. Fortunately I have come to a different
insight over the years. Many times I have written a pigeon year lasts a
whole calendar year and not only in spring and summer. For many of us
that is the most important period but the best fanciers do not think too
easily about the period immediately after the racing season because even
then the care requires attention. The big molt has started, the lofts
are full of feathers. Large amounts of feathers are found in every nook
and cranny, also in the drinks and grit trays. So paying extra attention
is more or less a must. To prevent the feathers from blowing through the
entire loft I place one or two baffles in each corner at an angle
diagonally against the wall so that the springs blow behind and can be
taken away in a grip. I have now stepped off from the accurate care and
feeding and releasing of the pigeons at fixed times. All pigeons now get
almost simultaneously between nine and half ten food and water, in the
afternoon that happens around five o'clock.
WHAT NOW
Today I have by the 10 pairs of racing pigeons, after they have been
brooding for 12 days, all the eggs removed and the hens have been
transferred to another loft. The breeding pigeons have been separated
for a long time so that they are in the right condition at the end of
November to be paired again. We are already working hard now at least on
paper but from experience I know that these links will change several
times. We almost ended up in the same situation as in the late
eighties/early nineties when our breeding loft consisted only of first
prize winners and champion pigeons with some pigeons purchased. The big
difference with that time is the number of pigeons that are played every
week. Now that the flights are over I sometimes read the old results, it
is shocking how the number of participating pigeons has dropped and with
the number of pigeons, of course, the number of fanciers. We will have
to learn to live with that, even if it is not easy. For example; I was
the prize-winner last Saturday at the prize-giving ceremony of the North
Holland Golden Rings race. But it was good that in the days before I
inquired where and when the prize-giving ceremony was because the
organization had forgotten to invite me and that while I am even the
owner of the 1st Ace pigeon of this competition. A beautiful young light
blue hen who achieved her performance on a small youngster. When I
entered the room at half past six there was about 30 men and that was
it. You will understand that you will not immediately achieve a real
party mood and despite the good intentions of the one and a half
organizer who was there I think we experienced the funeral of the NH
Golden ring race. Again another nice event away. You are gradually
wondering what the fanciers still like. I am convinced that in the
coming winter months we will see more things that we will be shocked
about.
HOW WAS IT
The season 2018 enters the books as a year with excessively high
temperatures and on most competition days wind from the east. No simple
circumstances, especially for youngsters. Nevertheless, the losses in
our region generally fell very badly. There was a member in my club who
only participated in a few races because he lost too many youngsters
from the beginning. Let's just say that I belong to the lucky one
because I have lost 3 over the entire season and the old 2. Yet I keep
saying that many fanciers do not seriously deal with their youngsters.
They have to accompany them every week, which means that they do not pay
attention to their condition and health. Of course quality and weather
conditions also play an important role and in some areas the birds of
prey cause even greater problems. Only we pigeon fanciers know what it
means when a promising young bird is caught by a bird of prey. By the
old it happens several times that a real top pigeon is caught. People do
not know what an emotional value can be attached to that and then I do
not even talk about the financial value. It is said so easily that we
have to learn to live with that. Perhaps we may ask to keep the
ever-increasing population of different species of birds of prey a
little more in control. It really runs out of spools now even so much
that large numbers of pigeon fanciers have stopped their hobby.
Next time I will go into the selection, unfortunately I will not succeed
now. I go to the doctor first, I think I have a nerve infection in my
left arm and that is too painful to sit in front of the computer for a
long time. Unfortunately!
Till next week
NATIONAL ORLEANS YOUNG PIGEONS IN 2019 BACK ON THE CALENDAR
For the older fanciers among us a complete surprise. For years this
competition was called "the flight of all flights" and suddenly it was
over and out. A committee of wise men ensured that this national
competition was banned, it would be too far. A decision made by people
who understand little or nothing of the game with youngsters. The Dutch
fanciers were extremely disappointed, the biggest young pigeon
competition in the whole world no longer existed. A competition that
lived enormously, the whole Dutch pigeon sport was working on it, there
was even talk about "Orleans fever" so exciting this flight was. In the
golden years 180.000 youngsters came to the start, a number that will
never be reached due to the enormous decline of members. It is great
that the NPO has come up with a national proposal for youngsters. The
start and the end of it is the same for all Dutch, the program consists
of 12 flights. Of these the first two do not count for the national
championship, furthermore the program consists of 5 sprint and 5 middle
distance flights. In order to qualify for the national championship the
four best results count on each component. The National competition from
Orleans will, as the majority of Dutch fanciers agree, take place on
August 31 2019. For now it is only a proposal that must be ratified at
the general members meeting of November 10th.
JURISDICTION OF THE NPO
I am convinced that not everyone agrees with the above proposal.
Whatever one thinks up will always remain for and opponents. In itself
that's fine, everyone should be able to express his opinion. When the
mood is over the minority will have to stand by the majority, that is
democracy, unfortunately easier said than done. Usually then the
conversations along the street and in the clubs start again which in my
opinion would be very unfortunate. What would it be nice if we as pigeon
fanciers once completely agree. Actually it is a pity that a well
thought-out proposal must be voted on. In other large sports federations
the national administration writes how it is going to be and everyone
should stick to it. Within the Dutch pigeon sport the national board has
little say, the departments generally make the service. In this case it
would be nice if the proposal for 2019 is simply implemented, excluding
discussion. Only a blow with the chairman's hammer and with that the
case is settled. We'll know more in two months.
IT IS OVER
The season and a long hot summer are behind us. Almost all pigeons have
started the big molt and a large group of fanciers have the end in the
mouth so to speak and are happy that it is over. For the great
champions, or rather the men who still have a good pace in the hall, it
may continue for a while. Most have given up the courage that was
evident from the participation in the ZCC (my game area). On the program
was the semi national competition from Fontenay, around 500 km. This
flight also counted for the young pigeon championship in the ZCC. Last
winter that was decided but experience taught me that this flight does
not appeal to most fanciers. Why? Probably too late in the season and
there is a big difference between semi-national and national. Semi
national means that four different sectors are flown, or rather four
flights each with a different release point. In the ZCC 17 fanciers
participated who brought 238 pigeons to the start and 7 fanciers did not
win a prize. That same day there was another flight with 47 participants
and 16 of those did not appear in the results.
INSTEAD OF
Because the national competition from Orleans was withdrawn for
youngsters from the calendar the four sectoral competitions were
replaced. The past weekend it was that far again. In Sector 1 704
fanciers started with 8527 pigeons, sector 2 had 738 participants with
14.516 pigeons, in 3 there were 1044 fanciers with 14.422 pigeons and in
sector 4 there were 12.019 pigeons from 999 fanciers. In total 3485
fanciers participated, that's a nice number and the more than 57.000
pigeons is something that appeals to the imagination. Suppose they were
in 1 competition that would be even better. A national competition from
the same release point will appeal to the participants even more so that
the participation will be considerably higher. Despite these nice
numbers I have to conclude that only 20% of all Dutch fanciers have
participated in these sector competitions. That is very little and says
enough.
WHAT ARE OUR BIGGEST ENEMIES
You would immediately be tempted to say that the birds of prey or
perhaps the high voltage wires, the weather, the air pollution, the
tropical heat or all sorts of other things, it will all be. Without you
realizing it you will discover more and more that our biggest enemy is
the age, I am experiencing that more and more. For years I flew through
the lofts as it were and at a record pace I had everything clean. I like
clean lofts because the pigeons look even more beautiful. Now that I am
getting older, or rather old, the enthusiasm drops to clean the lofts
every day, even though I have decided to keep fewer pigeons. However, it
is the case that within the pigeon sport the law of large numbers counts
enormously. I saw that last weekend again on a result of a sectoral
flight. As a fancier I usually only look at the first sheet of the
result and then I see again and again that the men with many pigeons are
the most eye-catching. That is no longer possible for someone with 15
pigeons in the race. The electronic observation also contributes to
this. Give a bath every week and at least once a week fresh vegetables,
it keeps on increasing. It is all a bit too much and that is absolutely
at the expense of the results. The point is therefore that in old age
you still have to invent a proper care system so that with a minimal
effort you still occasionally have a pigeon in the top of the result.
That keeps you going and also ensures that you stay motivated. The aging
process continues and without noticing we go back a step backwards every
time unfortunately. Most important is to continue to enjoy your hobby.
However, if you are used to always playing with the best and that less
and less succeed the fun ends. Conclusion; growing old has more
disadvantages than benefits, at least that's how I think about it.
SURPRISED
Frankly I like surprises but there is an exception and that happened to
me during the third natour race. On Thursday it was decided that the
pigeons should not be basket on Friday but on Saturday. Throughout the
summer we enjoyed or had trouble, it is just how you look at it, of the
often tropical temperatures. This time Pluto was bothering us, heavy
rains and thunder caused our managers postpone the flight for a day.
Saturday night we had to go to the room and that's why the pigeons came
home on Sunday. It turned out to be a good decision afterwards despite
the fact that several flights were still going on Saturday. On Sunday we
had the most beautiful weather in the world but there was a catch. It
was indicated that it was windless during the release and also in our
garden you could not see a leaf on the trees. This time no influence of
the wind so it became a race of which we say "own speed" that comes down
to around 80 km per hour. My supporters were not there yet and because
the weather was nice and sunny I told my wife that I was already sitting
in the garden. I did not count ten times when, according to me, there
was a pigeon in the loft. Because I could not see it properly I decided
to look up. There were already more on the loft and there were also some
in the loft. Early in the morning I had turned on the clock, the valves
open and everything else in order. I could not believe my eyes, they
were barely one and a half hours away and the distance was 155 km. How
is it possible I ran into muttering myself, incredible, cannot and even
more of those surprised cries. But they were there and the boss was
clearly surprised and at the same time disappointed. There were eight in
a minute gone inside. Big question that always will remain unanswered
what time would the first have been. I sat almost four minutes after my
son who was first and flies 1 km shorter. So I did not care much I
thought but that was wrongly thought. It was an incredibly fast flight
with speeds of just over 100 km per hour so they must have had the wind
on the tail. Against 13.060 pigeons I started with the 697th place, then
you still have more than 12.000 behind you. Who thinks so deceives
himself, in competitive sports it is about how much you have for you. If
you are second you have delivered a great performance but you have lost.
The flight that I expected so much was a huge damper for me. Soon
forgotten and the natour championship I can also forget now that we have
only two flights to go. A disappointing end of the season 2018.
Fortunately there are also plenty of nice memories so I can look back
with satisfaction on a super sunny year with and a number of absolute
highlights. You must remember that and forget the rest soon.
THE BIG MOLT
For a large part of the racing season I have been busy braking the molt
which keeps the aerodynamics intact. That has succeeded for a large
part. My youngsters are now still on 7 pens, the old birds on 4 and the
breeders on 2. The racing pigeons have only dropped some cover feathers
when they were only paired for the last five races. After 10 days of
breeding that is stopped and now they have bald young in the nest the
molt is as good as quiet. If the youngsters is away in two weeks they
will start the tail molt immediately. The middle feathers let them fall
first and when the one outer is fully grown they are also ready with the
big molt. With the youngsters that will take some time, I assume that in
December that job will be done. Maybe there are some who have an old
flights, my experience is that it goes out as soon as they have been
brooding or even during breeding. The person who observes his pigeons
well can see whether the molt is going well or not. Young pigeons become
adults and usually become somewhat stronger. Unfortunately it sometimes
happens that youngsters have problems with the molting. I see that as a
kind of weakness, perhaps too reckless or too much played. Pigeons that
struggle to get through the molting I absolutely do away. Last winter I
decided to keep fewer racing pigeons. I started with 12 couples and
there are 11 of them, in that respect a nice result. However those 11
couples have not all met the demands of the boss. There must be 5
couples away and that while I am so glad that I only lost two pigeons.
It is never really good, you lose a lot of it, you are disappointed, you
do not lose a lot then you are faced with the problem that you still
have to clean up some. It is my intention that in 2019 I will start
again with 12 couples, divided into 12 yearlings and 12 years old.
SELECTION IS NOT SIMPLE
My youngsters took the champion title just like last year and pigeons
that perform well and are therefore in a good condition are not easily
lost. I still have 30 but only 12 can stay. Maybe 14 but that means that
only 10 old can stay. I absolutely do not deviate from my point of view,
breeding boxes add certainly does not happen. With the youngsters there
are about six or so which I can say goodbye quite easily, but then. Then
a number of sleepless nights will follow, because who else needs to get
out. Maybe there are still a few who can get a place in the breeding
loft. Breeders who have not given anything for years is not that
difficult the problem is that I have been working on it for years. This
means that Marco and I have breeding pigeons that we are keen on,
despite that some older ones will have to leave the younger breeders
often have our preference. So there is an end to a season with very few
losses, in other words we have (a lot) too many pigeons but certainly
not all good, I wish I could say that. Selecting is always based on
intuition with help from the result list. In our breeding loft are
pigeons that have performed in such a way that they are well worth
breeding and if that is not possible this year we will have to change
some couples. When I had only a few breeding couples I changed them
every year. I was never a fan of many pigeons and if you do not give the
breeding pigeons a different partner you get too much of the same strain
in your loft which makes it very likely that it will be too closely
inbreed. You can breed the most beautiful pigeons in this way I think
the quality will deteriorate in the long run and I have always been
careful. Just a little longer and we do not have to worry about
performance anymore, the period that will soon come is even more
difficult. Who may and may not stay on. I wish you a lot of wisdom.
SUPER WEEKEND FOR SPORTS LOVERS
Wembley treated us again to top tennis, even a game of 6.5 hours just
stans up. The Tour de France with two days in a row the Hollander Dylan
Groenewegen as winner. The World Cup football with the highlight of the
match France - Croatia. The gold heads have rightly won but Croatia was
a revelation to many. The battle for the third place was won by
neighboring Belgium who sent our English friends home empty-handed. And
now it's a few days in a row enjoying the tough mountain stages in the
Tour that finishes on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday. In addition
the competition program for our pigeons is running at full speed,
several races in a weekend and that each time with tropical temperatures
and wind from the east so that the western resident fanciers are already
in the advantage from the beginning of April. Fortunately, but we cannot
control the wind and the weather conditions what would it become a chaos
in the pigeon sport, you are most likely agree with that.
BLACK PROSPECTS FOR THE YOUNGSTERS
I think I have never experienced such a long period with so many summer
days in my life. It is unprecedented and then you go on thinking at a
given moment. We hear and read almost daily about global warming. The
North Pole ice melts faster than ever before it really gets serious now.
Even in the watery Netherlands the prolonged drought causes a lack of
water. Something we Dutch can only imagine and because the Arctic ice
melts the dikes in the Netherlands have to be raised because we live
well below sea level. The Netherlands has always fought against the
water, we have expertise enough. It is now a world problem and then we
pigeon fanciers are busy when there is a dulled egg in the nest. How
crazy do you have to be? Despite the tropical temperatures there are
weekly flights for the youngsters until mid-September. The organization
is gradually don’t know what to do with it. A flight has already been
canceled and I wonder how we should proceed. Perhaps the only solution
is to organize flights of up to 150 km. On the other hand we cannot be
too careful either. There are countries where at temperatures of 30
degrees it’s normal to play and there are also countries where they only
start play with pigeons when we are skating. It is as if the seasons are
moving up and the pigeon sport will have to respond to that. Maybe there
should be a summer break if the temperatures remain so high in the
middle of the year. In any case there are planned for 2018 young pigeon
flights until mid-September, we will see where the ship is stranded but
with all these losses we cannot continue this way.
ABOUT MY YOUNGSTERS I AM MORE THAN SATISFIED
We now have three competition flights. In the weeks before my wife took
them six times and between the flights they were taken away every
Wednesday which I have never done before. As soon as the matches started
it was done with bringing them away I then have absolute rest on the
loft. For many years I have been darken young pigeons until the first
week of June, this time to the first week of July. Last year I did that
too and then and now (yet) I did not suffer from the coli contamination
and that is a nice feeling. I find it terrible when the youngsters get
coli they are really sick of it. My experience is that once they are
better they can come with the best. So they do not suffer from it only
in the period that they are ill they are really sick, vomit, dirty bad
green oil like thin manure, poor appetite and drink far too much. Loft
cleaning is then a very dirty job but I do it twice a day and then I go
over there with the burner. I put the sick pigeons apart and give them
only very little food and of course the coli cure from doctor van der
Sluis in the drinking water. After a few days the suffering has been
suffered again. The third flight on July 14 I had 30 with which 22 price
to start with 6-7-8. If I manage to keep them as they are now it could
be a very nice season. The losses are not too bad, only 2 old pigeons
have not come back and to date I only lost 1 young pigeon. Let me beat
that because we have just started the season is still long.
MORE DAY FOND
A very good acquaintance of mine from my time that I was a cyclist did
running with a preference for the marathon. You do not want to know what
a training job involves. I would not be able to do that maybe because I
really dislike running/walking. Riding a bike for 6 hours is not as bad
as running for 1 hour. Despite the heavy training of a marathon runner
they only do two or three matches more is almost impossible to make.
That is why I watched with great amazement at the flying program with
which the marathon player can participate with his pigeons. In my
opinion just absurd and if you want to participate in all these flights
you have to own lofts full of pigeons. Most of these men also have lofts
full, the big question is how many pigeons are involved that can handle
such long distances. Coincidentally last week I saw two results of two
marathon races that were held in the same weekend. Then the first thing
I do is look at the names you read a lot in advertisements or on sales
sites. It is sporadic that you encounter those greats in the head of the
result. I did see one who had more than 80 pigeons on both races and did
not play 15% prize. There was one very early and we will soon read a
comprehensive report about y because of the top performance of that one
pigeon the other loft mates have to raise a huge amount in the coming
winter. I do not want you to withhold the marathon program, here they
are; 15/6 St. Vincent; 22/6 Bordeaux; 23/6 Pau; 29/6 Agen; 6/7
Barcelona; 7/6 Dax; 14/7 St, Vincent and Agen; 20/7 Marseille; 27/7
Cahors and Perpignan. A number of flights are unloaded in the morning
and the other in the afternoon. I assume that marathon pigeons can
finish a maximum of 2 and at most 3 of these races. No one is obliged to
take part in all flights, there are those who do. Perhaps there will be
more participants if the number of flights is drastically reduced. When
I view the results the number of participants is shockingly low. A good
friend once said to me; do you know why some of those men have such a
good name on those flights? I would not know, I said. That is because we
program players do not participate, he said. Maybe he spoke the truth.
HEAT BRINGS PIGEONS IN PROBLEMS
What a great spring we have had and also summer spoils us with radiant
weather. High temperatures, plenty of sun and occasionally a strong east
to north east wind. Great to sit back in a comfortable chair in a shady
spot in the garden. That is enjoyment and we do not experience that
often in the Netherlands. Rain is often a game breaker of various fun
events. The world is changing, we have never had such long periods with
beautiful summer weather. However this also has disadvantages because it
has never been so dry. From above it is even asked to no longer spray
the garden and to use water sparingly. Normally everything is in bloom
and now the grass is as dry as hay, plants dry out and the fresh green
is slowly disappearing. For the major sporting events it is especially
for the spectators sublime again unfortunately for those who have to
perform in different sports not so ideal. But unfortunately for the
athlete that is also part of it.
EVEN FOUR COUNTRIES ARE IN THE RACE
The World Cup is the tournament of the surprises. Favorite countries are
home now it is still between England, France, Belgium and Croatia. If
you see this article it is known who will play the final. Frankly I
award them all four titles but it does not work like that. We will fight
until the last game. If I can make a forecast is the final between
France-England. But who am I, because I have never won the football pool
so to say that I have some view certainly not. If it is a nice final a
lot of neutral supporters are satisfied and that's what’s is about.
THE TOUR DE FRANCE
There is still little to say about this. What struck us was the unfair
behavior of the French by expanding Chris Froome. Unfortunately we know
that the behavior of the French certainly when it comes to a foreign
rider who has a chance to win the final victory. In the first stage it
only became interesting in the last 10 km. Due to a crash, a number of
favorites were already running a little behind. World champion Sagan
showed in the final of the second stage that he behaves like a kamikaze
pilot and does not move aside. After the team time trial the Belgian
Greg Van Avermaet came in the yellow leader's jersey and that
classification will certainly look very different now. Last Tuesday they
went into the mountains after the first rest day and then the entire
classification is turned upside down. Those are the stages in which you
watch at the tip of your chair without you noticing it yourself.
VERY HEAVY CLASSIC FROM BARCELONA
Friday was not released. On Saturday morning at 9 o'clock the 15.000
Barcelona racers were allowed on their way home. Under ideal
circumstances for the real long distance pigeons it became a murderous
flight. For most pigeons it was not a simple task. The distance, the
heat and the north-easterly wind prevented any pigeon from reaching the
loft on the day of unloading. It became a race for the real go-getters.
None of the participating pigeons could realize a speed of 1000 mpm. The
international victory went to Belgium. Team Freddy de Jaeger from
Knesselare clocked their winning pigeon LLOYD, a 3-year-old cock who
arrived on Sunday morning at 10.14 and made a winning speed of 952
meters per minute (57 km per hour). In England it was again a national
victory for Mark Gilbert, Windsor. In the Netherlands it was J.L.de
Bruin from Nieuwerkerk who had the fastest and in Germany the national
victory went to Peter Nitsch from Boppard. At the moment it is not yet
known what the outcome is of the world's most appealing multi-day long
distance race. Very deep hats for all pigeons who have accomplished this
heavy task.
YOUNG PIGEONS COME FROM THE START BLOCKS
The first official flight took place on 23 June. An early release was
necessary to give the inexperienced pigeons the opportunity to be home
for the worst heat. That only partially succeeded. The flight was not
bad, but it was true that many pigeons came home over a large part of
the day. A week later people did not dare to continue the flight. Again
too hot for the youngsters who have already suffered much from the trip
to the release point. The specially equipped pigeon trolleys are
equipped with all modern gadgets. It is the inexperience of the
youngsters who play tricks on them. The biggest handicap is drinking in
the basket. Most of them have not realized yet. Added to this is the
necessary stress because if you suddenly have to go home between
thousands of pigeons some things have happened. On the first Saturday of
July, just like the first flight, it was discharged at a distance of 110
km. Again early so that the pigeons were already home about nine. Very
well done, for the beautiful it is for the fanciers something too early
at least that is my opinion. I like to have the loft extra clean on
Saturday morning, read newspaper, drink coffee and then take a seat in
the garden and wait for the arrival of the first pigeons. There was no
opportunity for these first flights. Too bad for me but good for the
pigeons.
IT IS DIFFENTE THAN WE HAD THOUGHT
Marco was full of fire at the start of the season. He had it in his head
that he would fly the whole competition during the speed races. It was
not what he had counted on. Wait, he said as soon as the middle distance
races begin. That too was not what he expected. For me it was about the
same song. More than the 2nd championship on the speed was not there,
also some nice results in the middle distance but I did not get the
pigeons in the condition they need to get into the spotlight. Both we
were going to shift our focus to the game with the youngsters.
Unfortunately it was so warm that it was irresponsible to drive with the
pigeons. Only a few days before the first flight it was, in my view,
justified. Marco had no opportunity to do so because of busy work and
skipped the first flight. We both participated in the past weekend. I
played the first flight the 2nd and on the second flight even 1 and 2
while Marco claimed the 3rd place. Tropical temperatures are also
expected for the coming flight. I have already proclaimed it several
times; young pigeons have a harder time than the old ones. In any case,
it is the case that they have to race in the hottest period of the year.
Yet I participate because everything they learn in their birth year will
benefit them later.
PIGEONS AND CYCLING
On Saturday 7 July the Tour de France started. The world's largest
cycling spectacle for the 105th time and that same day were the arrivals
of the Barcelona racers. For most of the 15.707 international pigeons
(in 2009 there were still 27.669) this very difficult course is over
while the 178 riders (22 teams of 8) still have three weeks of top sport
which is certainly no fun at all but much to abandon. The World Cup is
also nearing its peak. Surprises were enough, known football countries
have long been home. As things stand at present probably Brazil is the
biggest favorite and we Dutch are of course very curious what our
southern neighbors the Belgians are going to bring and let us also our
English friends do not forget because they are still in the race for the
world title . France, Uruguay, Brazil, Belgium, England, Sweden, Croatia
and the organizing Russia have qualified for the quarter finals that
started last Friday.
THE PRESS CAN MAKE OR BREAK EACH SPORT
You cannot open the paper or turn on the TV the press only pays
incredible attention to the major international sporting events. Other
sports hardly come into play. Regardless of which station or newspaper
they write all the same, one tries to outdo the other with even larger
letters which is actually a pathetic spectacle. Why in regional
newspapers do not pay extra attention to regional sports. Here too
football gets the most attention and other sports are a bit more
involved. Does the editorial staff of the regional newspaper not realize
that their subscribers are very interested in the regional region and
sports news? Every sports association and of course other associations
can certainly use some extra attention. As a pigeon fancier I get
annoyed green and yellow in the attitude of my regional newspaper.
Previously there were two and there was competition, now that they have
merged the newspaper has the display right. For years there was a
half-page every Tuesday in the newspaper with pigeon results. Everyone
read it because everyone had a neighbor, family member, colleague or
friend who was a pigeon fancier. So those results were read by a lot of
people and they were talked about. The pigeon sport lived and knew many
supporters. The newspaper no longer considers it important to report on
this increasingly smaller group of pigeon fanciers. The youth has other
possibilities, they are not interested in pigeon sport partly because
there is no publicity anymore. The youth is inside the computer every
day. The youth no longer moves, they become more and more robots become
totally dulled. No, it goes completely wrong with many sports. In my
environment one after the other merges. Clubs are becoming too small due
to aging and insufficient accretion. For many clubs break even more
difficult times. The flourishing club life unfortunately does not exist
anymore and what have we elderly people enjoyed a lot of fun. That will
never come back and what comes in its place I would not know. Probably
everything will play out on the internet soon. Shops are closed, club
buildings are being demolished and there is a new generation coming that
do their shopping and all sorts of other things via the internet. I must
not think that it will come this far and hope never to experience that
situation.
PIGEON SPORTS BECOME LESS AND LESS FUN
The law of large numbers also applies in pigeon racing. It is still the
case that the person who buys the most lottery tickets is also
theoretically most likely to win a prize. It is no guarantee that the
person who bets the most pigeons also wins the match or has the most
pigeons in the result. What matters is that we fight each other with
equal weapons in every branch of sport. I think more attention should be
paid to that. Participants who use a lot of pigeons do nothing wrong in
the Netherlands. The regulations do not provide that a maximum is bound.
For many fanciers it is and remains an unfair feeling when you have to
play 10 against 50 or 20 against 100. There are countries where this is
arranged. Is not there a clean task for the FCI? Coincidentally I saw
this week the club results of the Snelvlucht from Bodegraven. That is
the club where Gerard and Bas Verkerk and Willem de Bruijn are members.
Father and son Verkerk and also Willem de Bruijn are good acquaintances
of mine, plus I have great admiration for them because they have played
a leading role in the Dutch pigeon sport for many years. While looking
at that result I had to think of the fanciers who play against these
greats and get a beating every week. It was about the middle distance
flight Melun. 12 members of this club had jointly deployed 336 pigeons
and only 4 members managed to win a place in the result. Verkerk had 135
with it and had 46 in the results, the Bruijn played 35 prizes of the 87
pigeons, a member with 14 pigeons became 52nd and another member with 11
pigeons was 64th and 66th. The other 8 participants did not play a prize
and that is often the case week after week. How will those 8 feel? What
kind of fun do these people still enjoy in the pigeon sport? Something
like that does not keep a person full. I then continued my search and
came to a startling discovery that nearly 50% of the participating
members won no prize in almost all clubs. Why do you think the
membership is declining so fast. That is certainly not just the bird of
prey.
WHERE ARE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE STAYING?
In the early years when we still had several pigeon weeklies in the
Netherlands there was a regular section every week "Where are our
pigeons?". In that respect not much has changed. At that time there were
many more fanciers and also many more pigeons. That has changed
considerably. Our group is getting smaller and with that the number of
pigeons. Flights with a disastrous course have always existed and that
will remain so despite the modern equipment. Nature cannot be arranged
so that this always remains an uncertain factor. Everyone is doing his
best to stop the big losses of now only we do not know exactly how, it
remains a big mystery. We cannot say that all the pigeons that were lost
were not healthy. We cannot say anything about the quality or the
transport, who knows it has something to do with the food or with the
stay in the metal boxes or with the wrong ventilation in the cars. Air
pollution is probably one of the biggest causes and we don’t now know
what we can do about it. Pigeon sport, it does not get any easier.
SPORTS LOVERS ATTENTION
For the club of long await this week the multi-day classic Barcelona is
on the program. The cycling fanatics get their money as the Tour de
France starts and football fans now get the most important and hopefully
also the most exciting matches of the World Championship held in Russia.
In addition the races for the youngsters started in the Netherlands plus
the competition program for the old pigeons is in full swing. All
sporting events that interest me enormously. I do not participate in
Barcelona but I follow this appealing race from the beginning to the
end. I have a lot of appreciation for the pigeons that are in the basket
for almost a whole week before they can start their homeward journey.
For days on end in the car eating and drinking and also for almost a
week to do their needs in the basket, not just stretch their wings,
maybe here and there a fight and then comes the day that they all have
to cover more than a thousand kilometers for several glory of their
boss. Let's not forget that somewhere on the way home you have to stay
overnight and where do they do that. Not in a four star hotel, perhaps
somewhere on a roof of a house on the silent heathland where life starts
only late or they take place on a high church where every hour the clock
strikes so that long sleep does not end up. Those pigeons are chased
away so they can take an important advantage over many competitors. The
weather plays an important role at this time of the year, it is never
completely dark at night. With that clear weather and the wind from
behind it is possible that many pigeons fly a large part of the night.
Mist and rain are also possible because once they have been unloaded
little more can be done. All elements that can make Barcelona so
exciting. For me this kind of flight is far too far, I will sleep well
that night, for sure that most Barcelona participants do not close their
eyes that night. Am very curious who will write this marathon on his
name.
THE TOUR THE FRANCE
I am already looking forward to that, three weeks of cycling at the
highest level. Without other big rounds shortage remains the Tour de
France the world's largest and most appealing cycling event. Cycling has
become a real TV sport, something has to be done and it is immediately
visualized. Niki Terpstra (NED) starts as one of the leaders. Once he
started as an 8-year-old at the cycling club DTS where I was then
chairman, you will understand that I am proud of him. He was already
three times Dutch champion on the road with the professional cyclists,
he is not a Tour winner but is capable of very much. However there are
so many other toppers and, like other years, the battle to bring the
yellow jersey to Paris will at most go between 5 participants. I can
predict who that is, but there is no point in that. I am convinced that
there will be several stages were the viewers sit on the edge of their
seat.
WC SOCCER
Now that the first and second place are known in every group it really
becomes serious. The chaff is so to say separated from the corn which
means that the lesser football countries are home. Surprises were
enough. The Moroccans have disappointed me the most and the Belgians
have ended up in the list of contenders because of their two big
victories. Argentina, England and Germany are still in the race and
Croatia is doing extremely well up to now. I've seen most of the matches
and in between there was time to take care of the pigeons. They behave
as they should and I consider them great things in the coming weeks.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE-DAY AND MORE-DAY FOND
Last week, Chateauroux was on the program for me 668 km and I think
that's too far. When I looked at the results I noticed that many
fanciers who made their name on the overnight races had a lot of pigeons
on this one-day classic. It was a fairly easy flight because within an
hour all prize pigeons were at home. What stood out was the performance
of the overnight players. Large numbers of pigeons and the big crowd did
not qualify until the second half of the result. Some of those men
clocked their first pigeon only 45 minutes after the winner and then I
wonder how that is possible. Can these pigeons do not make high speeds
at these distances, do they orient themselves so badly or do they really
get going after they have 500 km behind them. The difference between
these men and the program players is that they never ask each other what
time they have clocked, they usually ask how much they have at home.
Program players have nothing to do with homecoming, in principle every
pigeon comes home. You have to have those who know how to class
themselves several times on the first sheet of the result. But yes,
tastes differ, let's keep it there.
EXCELLENCES
There is so much talk about good pigeons, if you do not have them you do
not count. I think there are a number of good pigeons in each loft.
Pigeons that occasionally race in the list or even regularly do so are
good pigeons or do I see that wrong? Most fanciers among us entertained
weekly because some of their pigeons play a prize. For many the arrival
of their pigeons is something to get goose bumps. However pigeon sport
is a competitive sport and among the practitioners there are a lot that
want to win at any cost. They even have a lot of money to achieve that.
Too bad for them, but results and championships are not for sale, they
are not in a box or bottle. To a large extent it is still the mental
doping and that is the interplay between boss and pigeon. If that is
good the results will come almost automatically. In addition you must
have "excellent" in your loft. These are pigeons that can win at least
three victories and the necessary top prizes in a season. Unfortunately
there are few of them and you are a lucky if you have one or two of
these supers in your loft. For many of us a dream but there are those
who have a few of those clappers almost every year. I've had them too,
but having had is an ugly word you have to have them now. I have enough
good pigeons frankly I have been waiting for two years for one or two
extras and I do not have much time anymore but it remains a fantastic
hobby for me.
AFTER 10 WEEKS OF PLAY
The season is running at full speed and like previous years there are
more losers then winners. Fortunately there are also who play the tiles
from the roof but I hear from different sides they also have to deal
with setbacks. This means that there are already several fanciers who
have given up the courage to play with old pigeons. They have already
focused their arrows on the game with the youngsters. Even there,
unfortunately, it does not succeed with the right preparation cause the
high temperatures and the easterly wind. I write that for several weeks,
believe me for our untrained youngsters that is far from ideal. Those
who have driven the pigeons themselves have all had to deal with a huge
setback at least once. Four, five times it goes well and then there is
just one day that they come home all day plus a number is not coming
back at all. I also hear those comments about the old pigeons and it is
very striking that so many proven pigeons stay behind. Today I happen to
speak to two fanciers who both lost their pigeons last Saturday that won
the first prize against more than 2000 pigeons the previous week. Last
week was the first training flight with the club for the youngsters. The
weather was of that kind that only in the afternoon could be released.
The course was abominably bad, many pigeons on the same day not at home.
Today, Tuesday the second training flight and again it is so bad weather
that the pigeons are being released close to home this afternoon. I did
not give pigeons myself because I did not trust it again. My pigeons are
ready in the basket so that I can immediately leave when the air breaks
open. I will not drive as long as that is not the case. I say that I'm
not going to drive but that is a bit of a big speech because I still
cannot drive so as soon as the weather improved my wife Cora goes with
the pigeons away. It is the first time and she does not go further than
8 km. Hopefully tomorrow again and also the following days I hope we can
ride with them. Saturday the 23rd of June is the first race and I hope
they are gone once or 7. After the first official flight there is no
more driving. Then it is every Saturday race and through the week rest,
but they go out twice a day for an hour. With me the youngsters look
perfect while I hear from all sides that there is a lot of problems.
Especially ornithosis and that is because every day the sun shines
brightly and then especially the lofts with a lot of glass get problems.
The sun burns all the oxygen from the lofts so I leave the roller blind
on the south-west side. I shut out the sun just like in the southern
countries. Sun is fine for humans and animals but can also be crazy.
People should not lie too long in the sun and the pigeon loft better be
a little darkened when the sun shines so brightly.
SECOND ONE DAY FOND FLIGHT BACK TO A SHORT DISTANCE
I am absolutely not a fan of the long distance flights. I follow them
and have respect for the fanciers and their pigeons who perform well at
great distances. My experience is that if something goes wrong it is
mostly on the long distance races. In my opinion these flights get too
much appreciation from the writing pigeon press. Is that because those
pigeons know how to bridge large distances or because participation is
so big or does commerce play an important role. The fact that these
pigeons are able to bridge large distances is in my view not at all
sensational. They are bred for it, at the short distance races they
always come home much too late. They have a better endurance than the
speed pigeons. Speed pigeons orient themselves faster and cause an
explosion on the shorter distances and are soon return home. In my view
the flights up to 450 km are undervalued in the press. There is always a
bit of inferior talk about it, while those flights have the most
participants. Last weekend the long distance players had the bad luck
that on Saturday and also on Sunday they could not be discharged at the
planned release point. Low-hanging clouds and mist were the cause. What
to do? The board decided to go back Sunday to a distance of (for me) 335
km. There it was such weather that it was safe to unload the pigeons. It
was also decided that the flight would count towards the long distance
championship and that was against the agreements made. The agreement was
that if it was not a good weather at the unloading place one would drive
back to minimal (for me 387 km). Now I saw a fancier in the result that
played 298 km, such distances you cannot count for the long distance.
Long distance officially starts at 500 km. Anyway it is also not nice to
let the pigeons fly for nothing.
Here we see again that in the winter months good thought has to be given
to making arrangements because it has already happened several times
that one regrets it in the summer months
YOUNGSTERS
A little while and then the game starts. Many fanciers look forward to
it because they assume that everyone can play with young pigeons. So it
was many years ago but also the game with the youngsters has become a
specialized game. Look at the results later, then very different names
come forward as we could read weekly in the snout of the results with
the old pigeons. With me I see the youngsters becoming more and more
mature. The young cocks try to court the ladies, nice to see how they
dig out. The disadvantage is that the length of flying around the loft
is less. The young stuff wants to enter the loft where they can lie down
in a seat or on the ground to court. Only when the flights have started
for them I will encourage them by creating some dark spots, the small
breeding boxes will remain closed until then. Throughout the season,
cocks and hens stay together and they can nest as much as they want.
Nevertheless there are always a few unpaired youngsters that can achieve
prefect results. Often they jostle themselves by being jealous of a
couple that is somewhere to cuddle. As the weather looks now the
youngsters will be basket again this afternoon for a short training
flight.
MOST ATTENTION FOR GIRO AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
This was preceded by the superhuman achievement of Chris Froome (UK).
He, the big Froome went off on Saturday 26th May as a hare to wear after
80 km solo the rosé leader's jersey. After two weeks of tough races only
one could win and that was Simon Yates (UK). Almost two weeks the rosé
around his slender shoulders who could do something about it. After the
individual time trial of 34.5 km Yates came completely deserted across
the line. I told everyone who wanted to hear that the candle by Yates
was burned out. Very sorry for him the fit was out of his body and two
days later he was a big disadvantage and it became clear that there was
nothing more to win for him. From that moment Froome became the biggest
contender for the overall victory after Tom Dumoulin. Sure enough he
performed it and nobody but no one could do anything against him either.
Now he is one of the greatest people who managed to write all three big
rounds on their behalf. Last year's winner had to settle for the second
place. Let's see who is the best in the Tour de France. First the World
Cup in Russia where the Netherlands is the big absent. In another big
sporting event the decision was made that same weekend. Real Madrid and
Liverpool had to decide who would win the Champions League. Real Madrid
succeeded for the third consecutive time. Tasteful moments in that match
were the blunders of the German Liverpool goalkeeper and the formidable
nick of the Englishman Gareth Bale. An incredibly nice kick was a goal
that the whole world has passed.
LONG DISTANCE SEASON GET INTO GEAR
It is now June and that means that the fans of the long distance races
are wide awake. Last weekend the first long distance races were on the
program in the Netherlands. In Belgium a national long distance flight
was started immediately from the famous relocation center Bourges. For
me the distance is 620 km and that is a nice average distance for a
national flight. The Belgians like to play nationally and do not take it
so closely with the distances. On this first national Bourges the
victory went to the Family 3D, a combination of three different
fanciers. It was their hen Beatrix who was too quick to finish all
20.280 other competitors. They covered the distance of 390 km (in my
view much too short for a national flight) with an average speed of 1275
meters per minute. As second came the famous champion formation Kurt and
Raf Platteeuw, they had put 103 in. What did not work last year did
succeed this time. The national results could be read on the internet
two days after the race and that was fun for our Belgian sports friends
because last year we had to wait for the right results for weeks.
Hopefully the National Board members of the KBDB have gained some more
friends because of this quick result.
WAR IN THE CLUB OF LONG WAITERS?
The neutralization time has been a hot topic in the multi-day long
distance races in recent years. I can still remember the time when
people told us that pigeons cannot see anything in the dark. Then came
the time that a pigeon arrived in the night hours. That could and did
not exist, it was an incredible achievement. Those nocturnal arrivals
occurred more and more. Was it cultivated or were the pigeons trained in
the dark? it will certainly have something to do with it. An arrangement
was made that was called "neutralization time". This wanted to prevent
groups of fanciers from being completely eliminated. The world changed,
small villages where a lamppost used to illuminate the village center
are now much more and what to think of all the brightly illuminated
advertisements. That is not only the case with the small villages, the
big cities are a sea of light and it is therefore never dark in the
summer. The quality of the pigeons is also getting better and in the
summer months when most long distance races are being held, more and
more pigeons continue to fly at night. Try to come up with an
arrangement that everyone agrees with. It has gone (reasonably) well for
a while until more opposition came. Another arrangement had to be
devised. Many proposals have been submitted and the end of the song is
that despite all good intentions the fans of the multi-day long distance
are not next to each other. It will be quite a job to get the noses of
the ZLU and KBDB managers in the same direction. This mouse certainly
has a tail, so ... .. will be continued.
TROPICAL TEMPERATURES
For Dutch standards we have beautiful weather every week. It is full
enjoyment of the fresh green, everything is in bloom and the
temperatures are sometimes not to last. Around our house is water and
every day mother ducks with their children pass by. There are those who
have started with 12 youngsters and now there are only 2 left. The
herons and pike eat a good number of them every day, those little ducks
are a real treat for them. Nature is hard on that matter. There are also
many fanciers in the Netherlands who have lost the necessary young
pigeons to the birds of prey. In our country there are absolutely too
many birds of prey, beautiful animals that many people don’t get bored.
As far as pigeon fanciers are concerned more urgent measures must be
taken to keep the bird of prey population under control. As long as
there is allowed to place nesting boxes for these killers in all kinds
of places we are not at that problem for now. Why are pigeons not as
protected as all birds of prey? Today finally a heavy rain shower and
that was badly needed for our garden.
HOW IT LOOKS FOR THE COMING PERIOD
The old pigeons do it as desired but to be honest I expected more from
them. In the club they are doing fine because every week at least two in
the first ten is a dream for many. In the ZCC I still participate with
the best, the long distance I skip. I now focus more on the game with
the youngsters that starts on 24 June. Today I have them by Dr. Van der
Sluis all vaccinated against paratyphus. They got a little bit of it. I
did not release them that day and also the next day they stay inside.
Next week the last speed flight and two weeks later the youngsters
start. I currently have 35 to play with, that must be enough to resist
at the highest level. The old pigeons get a few middle distance races to
finish and now it is already known which pigeons get their last chance
on the last five natour races. They are no longer on the old pigeon
program. I do not leave them because they provide atmosphere in the loft
and maybe the poorly performing pigeons are good enough to keep their
neighbor sharp so they continue quietly with good performance.
WHIT SUNDAY FALL BY A LOT OF FAMILIES BY THE PIGEONS IN TATTERS
I cannot speak for all Dutch pigeon fanciers but I can say how things
are going on the west side so far. The weather will not let us down
until last Saturday. However, this year every week east wind and you
know everything about it because I've already written so many times so
that it is annoying at the end. I have already written that we can
arrange a lot in our sport except the weather, the wind and the
location. Unfortunately the majority of the Dutch pigeons could not be
released on Saturday May 19th. Especially in Belgium and the south of
the Netherlands it was outright bad, with such weather you would not
even leave your dog outside. The annoyance of all that was that all
pigeon fanciers families who had made an appointment to do something fun
on whit Sunday that had to blow off. However there was enough time on
Saturday to follow the tough mountain stage of the Giro d'Italia. It was
a magisterial victory for the great English champion Chris Froome who
showed that he certainly is not without a chance and that he is most
likely going to make a throw at a podium place. Today 22-5 in the 34.5
km long time trial he clearly showed that he was still among the
contenders. It is going to be an exciting last week with three more
mountain arrivals. Biggest contender is Simon Yates, although I thought
he was over the mark today after the time trial. However he is in super
shape and therefore still the big contender for the final victory
although we certainly cannot write off Tom Dumoulin, Pozzovivo and
Froome. On Sunday it was again for the cycling fans to enjoy Simon Yates
who drove the entire peloton on his own. On Monday there was a day off
and that was also a great opportunity for the fanciers to lick the
wounds. There were quite a few stayed behind and from different sides I
heard that the pigeons were very thirsty. Here and there even pigeons
were fished out of the water, thirsty and then no more power to fly up
again from the water. My son Marco missed 7 hens in the evening and I
still 3. Typically that it was predominantly hens. From a good friend I
heard that his best pigeon was not back on Tuesday. A pigeon that
already won two victories against a few thousand pigeons this year, you
do not want to lose such a pigeon. In my opinion the pigeons were
unloaded too late. At 10.30 am for a race of almost 400 km with a hot
north wind turns out to be too heavy task for many pigeons. To the
pigeons that were on time at home you could clearly see that they should
have put on a lot. Even on Tuesday morning I had to drive two cocks out
of the loft and that says something.
DISAPPOINTMENT
The middle distance races that can be so beautiful have many
participants but among them there are already some that will throw the
towel in the ring. In that respect we fanciers must have a very strong
character to participate in the next race after such a bad race. I had
secretly thought to participate in the one day long distance but still
look away from it. In the first place because I only participate with
very few pigeons, secondly because I lost three hens and thirdly I find
520 km with again north wind and very high temperatures not a flight
that I look forward to. This weekend the one-day long distance races
start and we also have the last speed flight of about 220 km. That
should be good, especially if the pigeons can get out early. It is not
that warm yet and usually the wind is not that strong either. I do in
any case participate to keep my second place for the speed championship.
How Marco thinks about is to guess if you have handed in 6 hens on a
flight. It is not an excuse but he is currently too busy. Fortunately
his own home furnishing business requires a lot of time, then he has
been in the middle of a renovation of his own house for a long time plus
that he has a family and is also crazy about his grandchildren. I used
to be so fanatical that the pigeons almost always came first. It was a
nice time but if I have done it all just right that you should ask my
wife.
YOUNGSTERS
I currently enjoy a lot of fun with my youngsters. They are as healthy
as a fish and therefore they do things that every pigeon fancier likes
to see. They eat like madmen, they train like idiots, when I call them
they call in as kamikaze pilots, the manure is to eat so nice, they are
still darkened 13 hours a day. If that remains the case the competition
will find people at home. For the moment I am very enthusiastic. We all
know that something can happen from one day to the next. I am already
hesitant to cancel the eclipse because a few weeks later you can have a
chance of a coli outbreak or even worse. Those who read other pigeon
magazines know that they have a lot of problems with the adeno virus in
some countries and unfortunately that is often fatal for youngsters.
When I release my youngsters in the morning and I go out of the loft to
see where they are I do not see one anymore. This morning they returned
in small groups. On the one hand I like that but on the other hand you
have a problem with feeding. It did no harm to them because tonight they
flew again that it was a sweet delight. What is pigeon sport than a
wonderful hobby, unfortunately our sport also has to deal with many
setbacks. You know those situations, fully enjoy the pigeons and then
suddenly a sickness outbreak or a heavy flight so that a number of
pigeons have become totally out of shape. This week my youngsters get
their chip ring and on June 4 we start in the club with the first
training flight. Before that time I have been away with them for at
least three times. I certainly do not go further than 30 km. All very
successful but you know nothing goes spontaneous
PIGEON AND CYCLING SPORTS
Both have my interest and I like to compare them. Currently we are with
the pigeons at the 8th stage and in the Giro d'Italia they have today
the 10th stage. The Englishman Yates rides in the rosé leader's jersey,
the Dutchman Tom Dumoulin who defends his title is in the general
classification in second place and the great English favorite Chris
Froome is still looking for his right form. As for the pigeons we cannot
grumble about the weather. So far fine weather to wait for the pigeons
and that is also an important part of our hobby. Cozy with all in the
garden enjoying the beautiful spring weather with the tension of the
arrival of the pigeons. Every afternoon I watch the Giro match report if
possible. As far as cycling is concerned I leave no possibility
untouched to follow the many races that are present today. Cycling has
become a real television sport. If anything happens it is broadcast
immediately, which can be a demurrage, a crash or great nature shots of
the beautiful Italian landscape. Especially the mountain stages are
fascinating and attract a lot of public. Do you know that the
possibility exists to follow the pigeons during their home trip. I doubt
the pigeon sport become more interesting by that the surprise element is
completely gone. However, it is important that you continue to research
the behavior of the pigeons during short and very long flights. The
pigeons and cycling have a lot in common. We pigeon fanciers are the
team leaders of our pigeons, but also the mechanic and the doctor. Just
like in cycling we have to ensure that some of our team's athletes are
among the first. The different distances in the pigeon sport are
comparable with the stages in important cycling races. For example in
both sports winners can arrive solo or in a leading group and it can
also be the case that the winner has to come out of the bunch sprint. In
both branches of sport weather conditions can play a very important role
on the game element.
THE MIDDLE DISTANCE RACES HAVE STARTED.
These races with distances of 300 to 500 km are seen by many fanciers as
the most beautiful distances and have the largest participation. Last
Saturday we had the first race in a series of six. For me the distance
was 334 km, the pigeons were released at half past eight and there was a
calm southeast wind that usually produces a surprising race. This was
also the case this time. On the North Sea coast the pigeons made a speed
that was 100 meters per minute higher than on the eastern IJselmeer
coast. The speed that the first pigeons made was higher than we expected
because in the garden the weather seemed very calm. There we noticed
nothing of the wind and therefore wet had the speed wrongly estimated.
We expected that the fastest pigeons would arrive at about a quarter
past eleven at my distance. None of these, at 10.53 am the first ones
were there and made a speed of 100 km per hour and within 20 minutes all
prize pigeons (that is 25% of the participating pigeons) were at home. I
got a hen in front who was my second pigeon the week before. I do not
play with her cock, that is a summer youngster of 2017 who has never
been in the basket. Perhaps here a proof that it is important that the
pigeon knows that the partner is waiting when he comes home. I have the
idea that hens are better off that the partner is not there when they
come home from the race. With cocks it is as if they are disappointed
when the wife is not there. Fortunately there are plenty cocks that
perform well on widowhood and set several times a good performance.
FOR THE FORTH TIME ANOTHER RELEASE PLACE
In the winter months the flight schedules for the next season are
determined. I have the feeling that they throw the cap in North Holland.
Last year relocation was changed with great regularity. Now that is the
case again, of the seven flights we have already been unloaded four
times at another location. The last time it was really laughable. This
time the unloading place was not changed because there was an annual
fair or fun fair at the unloading place, no one changed because on
Saturday sometimes an east wind could blow and then there is the
possibility that there are pigeons above the sea with all the
consequences. In the UK and Ireland the pigeons fly weekly over the
English Channel and the Irish Sea and then I do not even talk about the
Canaries islands where many fanciers live and the pigeons are discharged
at sea each week. This is also often the case with the pigeons that live
on the island of Malta. They have a really hard time because there are
no other options. My experience is that in the Netherlands pigeon races
with east or southeast wind always have a strange course and in young
pigeons races it is even the case that the losses are gigantic. But to
change flights for old pigeons because of predicted easterly wind that
is going too far. Despite that change it turned out to be a strange
flight. We can arrange a lot inside the pigeon sport except for the
weather conditions and the pigeons' traits that they do themselves. This
Saturday is the second middle distance race and next week we have the
last speed flight and also the first one day long distance race.
MANY FANCIERS SURPRISED
Because of the beautiful weather and the calm south-easterly wind the
pigeons were earlier in the lofts than their bosses. Many fanciers had
gone wrong by the speed. I started extra early cleaning the lofts in
short I had everything ready in time for the pigeons to come. From a
sun-drenched garden I called my son Marco to talk about what we could
expect from this game. Frankly my expectations were not so high because
I found that the pigeons from mid-week did not pick up the food quickly
enough. Pigeons have to be able to eat quickly and at the end of the
week that may be slightly less because they are well prepared for the
upcoming race. Their behavior was fine, the manure was nice there was
down in the loft but eat they did very badly. I imagine that I have
pigeons long enough to know how to feed them and I was not satisfied.
While on Saturday morning I had my son Marco on the phone there arrived
a pigeon in his loft. He had not seen her come and when the clocks were
emptied he turned out to be justly beaten for the first prize. I then
had to wait two minutes before I got a pigeon. For me it was not so bad
because both of us got two in the top ten and that's all weeks. I do my
best to get an old-fashioned beautiful series, I'll keep you informed.
HAS THE WIND ALWAYS THAT MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE CONTEST
During the competition season there is every week a lively discussion
about location and wind it is a hot item. In the case of westerly winds
the east side has the advantage and the west side in the east wind. If
the wind comes from the north there is benefit for the for flight
(shortest distance) and in the south wind there is benefit for the most
northern (longest distance) living fanciers. In most cases that is true
but we never have security. On the 5th of May we had a flight where all
theories fell apart. There was nothing to be said about the weather. In
Belgium the wind was blowing from the south-east and in the Netherlands
he was right east and certainly not the fanciers from my playing area
are happy with that. Our pigeons that often come home on the western
side of the Netherlands have a beautiful orientation line on the Dutch
coast. It has to blow very hard the pigeons want to blow inland so that
our western participants so to speak often lie on the first teat. Last
Saturday nothing of that theory was correct. While we and some fans were
waiting for the pigeons there was of course a lot of philosophizing
about how the flight would take place and where the fastest pigeons
would arrive. Speed was also discussed extensively. If it was correct
that the pigeons in Belgium were discharged with southeast wind then
speeds of 120 km per hour were possible. We were informed that the wind
in the south of the Netherlands was east and that is pushing the speed.
Because of the beautiful weather with a cloudless sky, I think that is
not ideal for pigeons and certainly not for youngsters, our pigeons were
already released at 8.15 am and the distance for me was 243 km. I took
into account 90 km per hour which was estimated too high. The
temperature rose very quickly and the humidity was very low. The boss
got soon a need for a soda during the wait, it was still too early for a
beer. The pigeons were facing the same problem. In short, in our opinion
it was an ideal situation for the western living fanciers. Soon the
place name Zandvoort fell a beautiful seaside resort on the North Sea
where at one of the shortest distances live strong fanciers. We soon
agreed that the fastest pigeons would arrive there, I do not think so!
It became a race in which many fanciers had the opportunity to clock an
early pigeon. How that is possible is still a mystery to me. Relatively
speaking in my playing area most early pigeons fell while we live in the
middle of the province. Even the eastern fanciers achieved excellent
results. The story that with the east wind the western fanciers the
whole competition pulling towards itself went this time not on. We see
once again that theory and practice can sometimes be very far apart.
ON THE ROAD TO THE MIDDLE DISTRANCE
The speed flights are almost over. There will be one on the program for
26 May, the same day the first one day long distance race will take
place. This weekend the middle distance flights will start of which we
also have 6. My son Marco has his mind set on the middle distance but
also on the short distance, he knows how to play his game well. He beat
his father last weekend. Marco started with 1 and 3 and Dad had to
settle for the 4th place against 333 pigeons. Pa takes second place in
the intermediate classification. In place 1 is a fancier who has three
absolute top pigeons. Every week the pigeons are there and very early
too. It must be an experience to have a few of such toppers in your
loft. Honestly I do not have such pigeons the last two years but ......
the season is long and who knows which pigeons are still in the
spotlight. I have seen it more times that in the middle distance only
pigeons emerge that at the speed only a few mediocre prices flap
together. The miracles are not yet out of this world and I have the idea
that two hens are still going to surprise me. I am not dissatisfied with
the results of my pigeons. Every week Marco and I catch two or even more
at the top 10, the series should in my eyes be much better. The pigeons
look good so I think they should follow each other faster. Unfortunately
I do not succeed with that but also with most fanciers, the price
percentages are too low. There are also a couple that rattling quickly
behind each other in a row but that has to come with me. Also because I
play with much less pigeons now and the law of the big numbers always
plays an important role, also in the pigeon sport.
KBDB PROVINCIE ANTWERPEN MAKES CLEAR AGREEMENTS WITH THE NPO
On 26 April a conversation took place between the Province of Antwerp
and the NPO at the KBDB office in Halle (B). Point of discussion was the
unloading of pigeons within the Province of Antwerp for which no
permission was granted. That agreement has been running for a long time
but in practice it appears that the Dutch fanciers, playing together and
things like that do not adhere to it. There is an agreement that only on
Wednesday Saturday and Sunday may be released. There must be a permit
issued and there may only be released in the presence of a mandatary
(director) of the Belgian Federation. So-called wild discharges (without
a license) have caused losses of Belgian youngsters many times within
the Province of Antwerp. Belgian fanciers are asked as soon as they see
a truck unloading pigeons somewhere to take a picture of it including
the license plate. Appointment is appointment so do not do it anymore.
AN ICON WILL LEAVE THE PIGEON SPORTS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
Through Pipa we heard that at the end of the year a total sale will take
place of the well-known Belgian champion Gaby Vandenabeele due to health
problems (pigeon lung). The season 2018 is finished and then the canvas
falls. Very sad because we cannot miss such champions.
STRANGE COURSE
I cannot say that it was a gamble to unload the pigeons last Saturday.
At the release place excellent weather but the closer the pigeons came
to the house the worse it became. Heavy low-hanging clouds and heavy
downpours caused the competition remain open for too long despite the
strong southwest wind. Races of 180 km must be completed within a few
minutes. Now it took 25 minutes before all prize pigeons were at home
and that is far too long. The fastest pigeons went 108 km per hour or
1790 meters per minute. It was all in all a typical flight. Most
fanciers got the wrong pigeons in front and their signed pigeons failed
in many cases. Some fanciers clocked more than 50% of their pigeons in
the results but most did not. Fortunately there were few to no
stragglers. Because the flight has a strange course you start thinking
about what it can be. Could it be the loading of the cars? The agreement
is that our entire department resolves all the pigeons at once. No
problem but it can become a problem if all pigeons are distributed over
the available space so that it is possible that the pigeons living on
the east side come in the car where most of the pigeons are from the
west side. It is precisely on the short speed flights that this can
adversely affect the competition. Another possibility is the weather.
For Sunday was very bad weather predicted with great chance of heavy
gusts of wind, rain showers that could cause a lot of flooding, hail and
thunder. That all came true because in Belgium and southern Netherlands
the police and fire brigade fell short because of the enormous flooding
and burning houses that had been struck by lightning. I am not saying
that as a result the flight from Saturday was a strange course. However,
I have already experienced several times that we were waiting for the
pigeons with good weather and that it was a flight with a disastrous
course. There are then situations in the atmosphere that we as humans
cannot observe while our pigeons have major problems to orient
themselves. Who knows that the predicted weather for the Sunday already
on Saturday the pigeons confused.
A VICTORY BUT NO GOOD RESULT
On Saturday morning our pigeons were already on their way to the
Zaanstreek at 9.15 am. The release point was the same as the week
before. The release message indicated that the pigeons had a quick
departure and there was a moderate southwest wind. In my area it was
completely windless so I assumed 90 km per hour which meant that the
pigeons could arrive at 11.15 hours. It was a good thing that my regular
fans were on time to watch the arrival of the pigeons because at 10.57
o'clock a yearling cock was diving at a huge speed inside. It had to be
an early one, you can just see that in the enormous haste that a pigeon
has. I was completely surprised but then it took 8 minutes for my second
and third pigeon to burst into the loft at the same time. Then it was a
long wait again. The winning pigeon was no fluke he had already
registered twice this season and now he took the victory against 1569
pigeons. As a youngster he was also the best and became a champion
pigeon. Let's hope he can continue his good series. His sire is a
grandson of my famous Sprint Pair who won 12 first prize winners and his
mother is a granddaughter of the European Cup couple who won 16 first
prize winners.
BELGIUM IS THE LAND OF THE WICKER BASKETS
In the early years of the pigeon sport the pigeons were transported in
wicker baskets. That tradition is still being continued in pigeon
country Belgium. They are baskets that are still being pulled open by
hand. But also in Belgium they do not sit still and go along with modern
developments. Because the pigeons are no longer shipped by horse and
wagon but with modern trucks they have also switched. Especially for
pigeon transport developed cars equipped with the latest gadgets become
from now on only on plastic boxes allowed. In the Netherlands these are
still the aluminum boxes where about 25 pigeons can be sent. Belgium
opts for the unit of transport so that the fancier cannot feel
disadvantaged when their pigeons are not placed in plastic boxes.
Hopefully a problem less.
PIGEON MARKET IN LIER (B)
The pigeon market in Lier is probably known about the entire pigeon
world. For years thousands of pigeon friends went to the market in Lier
during the first winter months of the new year. In the freezing cold
thousands of youngsters were offered and from many countries fanciers
traveled by bus to the biggest pigeon market in the world. Bird flu and
the declining number of fanciers sometimes caused panic situations. It
sometimes looked as if the Lier market no longer had a right to exist.
Fortunately there is an initiative to place a bronze pigeon in the
middle of the big market in Lier. The Municipality agrees but does not
guarantee that it will pay the 20,000 euros that the bronze statue has
to cost. As a result, "de Heren van Lier" founded in 1973 started with a
nice initiative. They place in one of the most famous pigeon cafes a
large glass bottle in which the pigeon friends can lose their loose euro
cents so they hope to be able to finance the statue. The last market day
of 2018 took place on April 29 and the slogan for the bronze statue is:
"Give your copper money, you will get a bronze statue".
PIGEON SPORT IS OFTEN A SECOND GAME
To perform well in any sport an unbridled effort is required. Those who
cannot deliver that are as good as hopeless. Real toppers have no
problem to use the full 100%, with that deviation they are born. Nothing
is too much for them to achieve their stated goal and that is also
within the pigeon sport. Here the condition of the fancier may be a tad
less bad he must be in the right form to take care of his pigeons
perfectly. For those who do not want to win at all costs it is not so
precise and unfortunately most of them. Not bad at all, maybe they still
enjoy more of their pigeons than the ones who go every week for the
victory. They have to, others are already happy when they occasionally
catch an early pigeon. I have always been enormously driven, actually
still but a bit different. In order to perform well you must be able to
tell yourself that you have done everything to put the pigeons in an
optimal condition so that you cannot blame yourself for a disappointing
result. As soon as I made a result that was not to my liking I went
harder against it. Yet you always remain dependent on a number of
factors. Especially on the speed races everything has to be in order to
finish in the snout of the result. We all know how important this is on
flights with a short distance, location and wind direction play a very
important role. But also the place in the car and with whom. In my game
area we drive with fairly large cars in which up to 250 boxes with 26
pigeons can be loaded. They must be equipped with a perfect ventilation
system. It is a huge difference whether your pigeons are in the top of
the car or at the bottom. If you have ever been in such a large pigeon
container you know how warm it can be there especially at the top. The
+/- 5000 pigeons that are transported produce a huge amount of heat.
They already have a body temperature of 42 degrees and since the warm
air rises upwards the pigeons can sit better at the bottom.
Unfortunately that is not possible, but it is advisable that this is
taken into account when loading the transport trolleys so that the same
associations are not always above or below the car. It even makes a
difference whether you are in front or behind the car because the
baskets do not all open at once and since every second is one, in the
short races it counts. However let us not make that problem bigger then
it is. What is very bad what happened to my association. In the
Zaanstreek, that is the area where I live, we have a beautiful ensemble.
This year it appears that on the first three flights the baskets of our
association are loaded in another car than the other ZCC associations.
Something like this makes you almost without chance on flights up to 200
km.
Obviously there was a lot of commotion about this unfortunately a
correct solution has not yet been found
BERT FIRST AND SON MARCO SECOND.
Whether the baskets of our club may or may not at the other ZCC cargos
are in the car makes fortunately for the club result no difference. This
time there were 310 and father and son take the two fastest of them. A
nice result for which we are working all week. You see, commitment is
rewarded. It was a nice flight, unfortunately my first signed failed. In
the evening I saw that he missed his half tail. Cause? Probably a bit
faster than the bird of prey. Within 8 minutes the prices on this 180 km
flight were earned, despite the northeast head wind the fastest pigeons
still made 77 km per hour. The next weekend we will go 50 km further. It
is to be hoped that not too many fanciers keep it up. Once we had 450 in
the ZCC, this year only 74 participated on the first flight, a week
later 70 and this time 68. Too bad, it is a pity that in this way the
once beautiful pigeon sport dies a slow death. Who knows, this year the
fairly new national board will come up with a good plan to interest
several people for the pigeon sport, I heartily give it to them.
NPO CONTROLLER; PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR NEWSLETTER WILL NOT BECOME A
SCHOOL PAPER
Some time ago our national board (NPO) started its own newsletter. A
great initiative to pass on the (important) federation notifications to
as many as possible members digitally. The members are given the
opportunity to subscribe to this newsletter by just passing on their
email address. It is a shame that at the head office they are screaming
for a copy. Volunteers are asked to pass all kinds of news from the
associations. With this I think they have missed their goal. A
newsletter from the national central administration should not be filled
with data from all kinds of exhibitions or reports from youth members
who have visited lofts. With this the effect has disappeared and the
national newsletter has been written with club activities and that is
not why he was created for. The name of the newsletter is UP TO DATE,
which means that the NPO board keeps its members informed of new
developments at national and international level. What they are doing
now I do not like, but who am I? I wanted to drop this anyway because in
my opinion were the gentlemen started very well and now with the changed
newsletter slip just like the number of members into the abyss.
INTERNATIONAL AGEN / BORDEAUX UNDERGO SMALL CHANGE
This year the ZLU exists for 60 years. This Dutch organization has been
successfully working for the extreme long distance game all these years.
Partly because of this jubilee and because the international race from
Agen / Bordeaux is held for the 40th time, this race gets a festive
character. The pigeons are released on June 29. The release point is now
17 km to the south and will take place at the Hippodrome Beaumont de
Lomagne.
FINE INITIATIVE
The manager of the high-voltage wires in Belgium is going to make a big
change in marking these dangerous wires. The bulbs applied for air
traffic do not serve as a warning mark for birds. Every year 170.000 to
500.000 birds fly against the high voltage wires including many racing
pigeons. The new marking is a kind of large spiral that can be mounted
on the wires at a short distance from each other. This will take some
time. An attempt is made to first provide the wires on the important
flight paths with this new marking.
ALL TIME LOW
In our ensemble the mighty ZCC played plus minus 450 fanciers against
each other. This was for the Zaanse fanciers a very important game. A
few thousand pigeons flew each week in a fairly small area. The short
and middle distance game, not to mention the youngsters, had the most
participants. Because all those fanciers lived close together it was
about seconds. Three laps around the loft cost at least 50 places in the
result. Playing 1-2-3 was almost an impossible task, I'm talking now
about the time we clocked with the rubber rings. Before you had stripped
three pigeons off their rings just thirty seconds had been tagged away.
Now there are mega lofts that tackle 20 or more in half a minute, tackle
is not the right word because we do not need to do anything about it.
Every week we had 15 winners within the ZCC because we had 15 clubs at
the time and there was an extensive report in the regional daily
newspaper every week. Now we only have 4 winners every week because the
number of clubs has dropped to four which is not interesting anymore for
the newspaper and that is a shame. In the time that we had 14 winners
there were also the same number of second and third prize winners and
all that was read by family members, neighbors, colleagues, friends and
acquaintances. There was a lot of talk about the pigeon sport. It was a
popular sport that had many admirers. It is all over, it is as if the
pigeon sport is being ignored by the press. There is only 1 pigeon
magazine in our country and those people are doing their best to make
something of it. Unfortunately the news coverage does not go beyond its
own members. The layman will not know anything about pigeon racing in
the future. The youth is not interested, they have many more
possibilities that are not so expensive and time-consuming. With
astonishment I watched the results of the first flight of this season.
Only 74 participants in the entire ZCC. I could not believe my eyes, I
read it three times but it stayed 74 and not one more. The second flight
there were that still 70 and how will it look in six weeks. Will we
still get the 50?
LOTS OF SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS HAVE TO DEAL WITH RUNDOWN
In the whole of our country is probably golf the only sport which is
increasing. Several other clubs have to forced merge with as result
renowned clubs disappear from the stage. You wonder what all those
members do who have said goodbye to their sport. I read in the newspaper
today that only 15% of youth regularly play outside. In the time that I
belonged to the youth that was over 70%. In today's youth, also called
back seat generation, there is not that much spirit. They are taken
everywhere and picked up again, walking or cycling is no longer
possible. They are massively at home behind the computer and are upset
with all kinds of lugubrious game games that make them far too little
physical exercise. This is becoming a big problem worldwide. Far too
many children eat wrong become way too heavy, have no sense, become lazy
and lose their condition. If we do the same with our pigeons not much
will end up. Healthy eating, a regular life and sufficient exercise
every day ensures a good physical condition. Then you do not need a pill
for anything, that will come later when you really get very old.
THAT MAY ALSO BE SAID
A known pigeon doctor in the Netherlands is Dr. Hans van der Sluis from
Kockengen near Utrecht. As long as I have pigeons he is my vet. He has
his own medicine line and because I have every confidence in him I use
his medication. Do not ask me what those medicines are made of, I know
nothing about it and do not want to know it either. If my pigeons have
coli I use his medication, against paratyphus he vaccinate my pigeons,
against ornithosis I give his cure. In short he has developed medicines
against all pigeon diseases and if necessary I use them. Fortunately
there are some specialized pigeon doctors who can protect our pigeons
against various diseases and they have medication against almost all
diseases that can occur in our lofts. This week I noticed the wonderful
result that Hans van der Sluijs and his assistant Stefan Gobel have
achieved on the first speed flight. From the Belgian Minderhout with a
participation of 2007 pigeons, whereat 56 of both white jackets, the
result was as follows: 1-2-3-4-5-7-14-16-22-23-24 total 34 prizes. What
is more beautiful to have a pigeon doctor who also plays fantastic.
KBDB WARNS ITS MEMBERS
All members and affiliated associations of the National Belgian pigeon
organization (KBDB) have been informed that Article 56 of the national
sports regulations is strictly applied so that everyone must meet the
set requirements. Fanciers who own several clocks must offer them all
during basketting. The clocks must be provided with the stamp recognized
by the KBDB. Pigeons that are clocked on clocks that are not provided
with that seal are not included in the results. Clocks whose seal cannot
be identified must be presented again for inspection.
PIGEON SPORTS HERITAGE.
In the Netherlands is last year pigeon sport recognized as a national
heritage. This means that our sport is protected for posterity. In
Brugge (B) a national heritage day was organized on 21/22 April which
the pigeon sport also received the necessary attention. Furthermore
there was a continuous exhibition about everything that has to do with
the pigeon sport. Interesting lectures were also held on the pigeon
sport now and in the past. Good idea to organize something like that in
other countries. The pigeon sport can use some extra publicity.
THE SECOND SPEED FLIGHT
Saturday April 14 had to wait until half past one before the pigeons
were allowed on their way home. Heavy clouds and mist at the unloading
place. The wind was blowing from different directions. Yet, just like
last week, it was the most westerly lofts that made the top rankings. In
the big interplay of the ZCC with almost 2000 pigeons it went reasonably
well. In our club son Marco had the fastest, I had to settle for a 7th
and 11th place against 340 pigeons.
EASTERN LIVING FANCIERS WERE COMPLETELY PLAYED AWAY
The first speed flight of this season showed huge differences. This
winter it was assumed by majority vote that the pigeons from
Noord-Holland (section 6 of the NPO) all flights would be discharged
together. The first flight was hardly over or the disappointed fanciers
let their voices immediately hear. It was not a style to unload 20,000
pigeons at once. You should not nag afterwards. This decision has been
passed by a majority and if that has to be changed it will be possible
to vote on it again in the coming winter. I am convinced that if the
wind direction had been north west or north east this would be better
for this first speed flight. Now the pigeons were blown massively to the
North Sea coast on this short distance and that means that the western
fanciers, and there are quite a few, almost all early prizes picked up
and a large number of pigeons in the result knew. This means that the
eastern fanciers have got a huge turn around their ears. Question is;
what can we do about it? It has been known for a lifetime that the wind
acts on this kind of flights. In addition, it was certainly not a normal
flight. The competition duration was almost 30 minutes in many places
and that for my distance of approx. 110 km. In the vast majority of
cases it is viewed within 10 minutes. The speeds between west and east
were also considerable. The west side made 1876 mpm at the shortest
distance, the longest distance made 1863 mpm. This indicates that the
western fanciers all had a chance to win early pigeons. On the east side
it was a lot more difficult, the fastest pigeons went 100 mpm slower.
The last prize pigeons made 1350 mpm more than 500 mpm slower than the
fastest. What is the cause of the much too long concours duration is in
the first instance the southeast wind. On such a short flight the still
inexperienced pigeons are flying after each other and have all by no
means the idea to leave the peloton in time so that they will cross the
finish line too late. The coming weeks there will be some more regular
income but if the weather is east or southeast wind this will not go
well for the eastern fanciers again and the chance of a provincial
championship has already become very small. Perhaps something was
released too early with a view to inversion at a height of 70 m. Also
there appeared to be quite dense fog in some places. However we will not
let ourselves be discouraged. The season is still long and there are
still plenty of opportunities to make a long nose to the competition.
Who knows it’s already the case this weekend.
NOT QUITE SATISFIED
With an 8th and 9th place against 350 pigeons you cannot be dissatisfied
and 11 of the 20 pigeons in the result is not bad either. Due to the
strong southeast wind my expectations were certainly not high and at the
arrival of my first two pigeons I could already see that they came all
the way from the wrong corner it could not be a super result. I too
belonged to the group that had to deal with a big bang. It could not be
the condition of my pigeons. They are in a good condition, that I can
see in the morning when I come to the lofts, all neat little dung balls.
The hens and especially the cocks gleam at you. They also like to train,
so if we move on for a week or six we'll see how the fork is in the
handle. I have a lot of confidence in it despite having only a small
number of pigeons. However last Saturday I lost a promising yearling
hen. I understand that there are considerable losses here and there and
that is always a shame at the start of the racing season but that is
also part of the sport. I am very satisfied with the youngsters, that is
fine, although I have more than the intention. The counter is now at 38
and that's it, it can be less, but certainly not more. The youngsters
look good, they are darkened from 1 April and are already beginning to
molt. Some start to fly around the loft longer and longer, others stay
in the loft with the younger ones. In two weeks the ball will go on
regularly and they will have to stay in the air for a bit longer.
Tomorrow the last youngsters picked up by their new boss and then it is
over with the breeding.
LOVELY TEMPERATURES
We are increasingly heading in the right direction with the spring
weather. May also because it is already 3 weeks spring. Nature is coming
to life more and more. The birds are busy with nests and because in my
area there are many chew and magpies I have absolutely no problems with
birds of prey. That is a wonderful feeling and just by writing this I
know that a lot of fanciers are very jealous of that. I have experienced
too for a couple of years that the birds of prey flew on and off. I lost
some old pigeons but especially young ones to those animals. There are
too many of them and they are still protected from above. We pigeon
fanciers would like something to be done and that is now also true. The
NPO has good contacts about that, so ...... who knows.
PARIS-ROUBAIX
Did you also enjoyed this tough cycling classic? Almost 300 km of
splattering over the cobblestones, the audience is enjoying it. The
riders love this race very much even though it is a torture for many.
Kilometers long the bicycle lurches away from you in some areas.
Blisters on the hands of the vibrating steering wheel. The luck was the
riders at their side because in the early morning it had rained and then
the cobblestones were very slippery with a chance of falling. The big
men in the race soon realized that quickly made sure they were in the
front of the group because then the chance of falling is the smallest.
In Paris-Roubaix you cannot escape the necessary falls. That makes this
very heavy classic so special. This year a blemish on the course because
of a serious fall that a Belgian rider of 23 years made. Later it turned
out that he had a cardiac arrest and everything that was done could not
help, in a word horrible. The race was won magisterially by world
champion Sagan. My big favorite Niki Terpstra had to do the heavy work
for a large part on his own. Yet he managed to demolish so hard in the
last 2 kilometers that none of his fellow pilots could keep the wheel so
that Niki came solo as 3rd on the track of the beautiful cycling track
in Roubaix. Now see what he is doing next weekend in the only Dutch
classic the Amstel Gold race.
THIS WEEKEND WAS THE CYCLING SPORT YET MORE IMPORTANT
Football I like to watch, unfortunately more and more footballers no
longer behave nicely, not in or outside the field. They are over the
horse lifted "losers" who earn far too much money for their age. No this
has nothing to do with jealousy. Unfortunately they forget that
hard-working people have to pay a lot of money to watch an entire season
to their home club. Respect and appreciation unfortunately our football
boys understand not. My heart is more in cycling because I know what you
have to do in order to become a professional cyclist. Those who are not
able to ride up quite easily today are hopeless. Only a real sprinter
would like to be included in a team. But there are also riders of "out
of category" and Niki Terpstra is one of them. The year 2017 was
dramatic for him. Three heavy falls made 2017 a disaster year. Among the
pigeon fanciers are many supporters of cycling. I know that many of my
pigeon friends watch as much as possible the spring classics and the big
rounds. Certainly know that internationally many cycling supporters have
been watching "our" Niki Terpstra with great respect. Two years ago he
won the cobblestone classic better known as Paris-Roubaix and this year
he came solo about the meet in the E3 prize Harelbeke (B) and two weeks
later the same stunt in the most important classic of Belgium the Tour
of Flanders about 300 km. Niki just drove the competition out of the
wheel, what an engine should be in that body. I still see him coming as
an 8 year old boy at our Zaanse cycling club DTS where I was then
chairman. Now at the age of 33 it is one of the biggest riders we have
in the Netherlands and beyond. Already three times National Champion at
the professional cyclists on the road and then a beautiful honors list
in the one-day races. You will understand that I am very proud of him.
NO WEATHER FOR THE PIGEONS
The season is about to begin and the nice weather is coming. In recent
weeks it was always too cold for the time of year unsuitable to learn
the pigeons yourself. Saturday was the first and last training flight
for the entire club. The weather forecast was not optimal and so I
thought it would be better to keep the pigeons at home. Well I had
misjudged that and that I have already once. The older I get the more
careful I become. The pigeons were released on time and the wind ensured
that they were home in record time. That day it was once again clear to
see what influence the wind has on a speed competition. This does not
only apply to the wind and the location, the time of unloading can also
cause major differences in speed which was also the case on Saturday.
The organizations that dared to unload in the early hours had the best
concours and especially in the back flight the altitude speeds were
achieved. The ZCC where I and Marco play in flew 20 km per hour less
fast than those who live at the farthest distances and the eastern
fanciers of mine were there for another 10 km short. On the 7th of April
the real start of the season and then all pigeons from the province of
Noord-Holland will be released at the same time. In the past it was
always group unloading’s that were mainly done to prevent losses from
young pigeons. Practice has shown that this does not matter. So the
total release is still the best of all unloading’s. The wind will again
play an important role now. As it looks now the wind blows from the
south-west on Saturday so the fanciers on the east side of their playing
area have the biggest chance to clock one or more early pigeons.
However, it is not Saturday yet!
THE CLOCK IS LOADED
That means that he is up-date. The pigeons that are no longer in the
loft are also removed from the clock. Only the racing pigeons that will
participate in the 2018 season are in it and there are only a few. With
11 cocks and 11 hens I will fight against all fanciers from North
Holland. There are men who play with a lot of pigeons but there are also
many who, like me, only participate with a small number of pigeons.
However it does not mean that you cannot win an early prize, certainly.
The advantage is that you cannot get rid of that much but a disadvantage
is that you cannot get too much in the list and that is a lot to look
at. Especially the fanciers from the Far East want to see many pigeons
in the results because they are used to playing a lot of pigeons. With
22 pigeons in the battle it will not be easy to catch a couple of
pigeons in the top 100 against a few thousand pigeons. I keep it that it
should be possible to regularly play with 1 or 2 pigeons at the top,
just look at how many small lofts have a number of champion pigeons.
That is why I have always bought a few pigeons mainly from this kind of
fanciers. But I also deviated from that. Marco and I have also been to
Willem de Bruijn and with the pigeons that come from this very big
fancier we have also succeeded very well.
SUCCESSFUL BREEDING
We are basically done with the breeding for ourselves. Now it's time to
deliver the youngsters for whom Marco donated a number of tickets for
various charities in the winter months. The first round went almost
entirely to Marco, the second round was for me. Now there are only
youngsters for people whom have been placed orders. It is our intention
to stop breeding this year in time with the intention of doing winter
breeding at the end of November. We skipped this winter. The youngsters
did a great job with me in 2017 so you could say; why grow early? My
opinion is that you can do more with early youngsters. They are usually
brought up in a cold period which does not seem wrong to me. They are
mature when the important races start and you can play them in
widowhood, it is just what you like. On the basis of the performance we
will see if we will breed another half round (with each breeding couple
1 young), during the season there will always be requests for young
pigeons. Only if that is the case some will be bred. If not then our
breeding pigeons are separated from the end of May and all attention can
go to the game with the old and also the youngsters. Next week I hope to
tell you with some pride how the results from Marco and me were on the
first flight, but if there is no good result I will tell you that too.
IT WILL BEA DIFFICULT START THERE IS NO OTHER WAY
The weather forecast for our pigeons does not look good. When I went on
vacation it was 14 degrees and you think when I come back the
temperature will still be slightly increased, but not. During our
holiday the Netherlands was cold, wet and foggy. Unbelievable when you
are at 30 degrees with no cloud in the air at the edge of the pool in
Egypt. The intention was that after returning from vacation I would
drive daily with the pigeons. To date, nothing has come of it. Every day
mist and far too low temperatures. In addition I have a disability that
I still do not dare to drive my car due to my poor visibility so I
mainly depend on my wife to go out with the pigeons. If I look at the
weather forecast daily, which pigeon fancier does not, there is no
improvement for the time being and next Saturday (March 31) is our only
joint training flight. I hope that the board will not allow this flight
to continue. If they do not participation will probably be minimal and
the shipping committee will have to pay a lot of money. In Belgium
several flights have not been continued during several weekends. Very
annoying but better than that the pigeons come home totally in a state
of disrepair and probably there will also be those who are not at home
anymore. In that respect pigeon sport is certainly not a simple game. We
are dependent on the weather every week and that can be very changeable
with us. Because the weather predictions for the rest of the week are
totally unsuitable for pigeon sport I have already decided to skip the
training flight. Should the weather still improve then I do not
participate. I prefer to drive myself so that I can view it per day. How
it all developed I have no idea but I do know that Saturday April 7 the
launch will be released for the official start of the season 2018. It
will be the 72nd season that I play with pigeons. In all those years
quit a lot have changed.
A BIT OF NOSTALGIA
It was in the time that old and young pigeons were together in a loft.
Nobody had breeding pigeons and in most of the cases were played on
nest. Most fanciers had at most 24 old pigeons and 15 youngsters.
Pigeons lost and the bird of prey problem did not exist yet. I can
remember it as the day of yesterday that we (my father and I) started
with 16 youngsters and that we certainly had 14 left. It was also in the
time of the rubber rings, that was much more exciting than now with the
electronic clocks. If you used to have 3 pigeons at the same time you
need almost a minute before the rings were in the clock. Now the mega
lofts get 40 in half a minute. Then it can be said that those big
fanciers do nothing wrong, certainly not. You can use as many pigeons in
the Netherlands as you want. However it is becoming more and more an
unequal struggle. I have never had trouble with it and still not to take
it with my 36 racing pigeons against anyone. From the moment the
electronic clock was introduced in 2000 the big fanciers are able to
clock up striking mega series. Despite this every fancier regardless of
the number of pigeons he gives has the possibility to win a first prize
or to qualify at least at the top. But oh woe if such a mega player that
day has a favorable location and get about twenty in a few seconds at
home than he runs at a record tempo so that you as a small player
becomes nauseous and dizzy. That’s just the way it is this film cannot
be turned back. Whether it has improved in the interests of the pigeon
sport is not so sure. The little fancier here is the child of the bill.
So it will become a lot clearer why so many older fanciers stop and we
still have the most of them. Just assume that this will not take that
long. What then remains are the big ones and they can only play against
each other and the fun will soon be over.
DARKEN
In the Netherlands summer time started. This weekend I will start by
darken the youngsters. The last 7 youngsters are still added and they
are immediately darkened it is no different. My other 27 youngsters were
away from the parents before my holiday. I have no real early winter
youngsters this year. The first round went to son Marco and only after
that it was Dad's turn. Not bad at all maybe even better because I've
experienced so often that youngsters of the 2nd or even 3rd round at the
end of the young pigeon races perform better than the very early ones.
Maybe it is a bit of coffee because in the pigeon sport it is often
await you never have certainty. I have never darkened my old pigeons. I
may only play the first two or three one-day long distance races and
then it is not really necessary to darken the pigeons. At least that is
my experience but I must also say that I have never been a fanatic long
distance player and not yet. My preference is still for flights up to
400 km and we have enough of that. I am going to darken the youngsters
in the months of April and May that is more than enough. From the first
weekend of June, the curtains stay open day and night.
GOOD YOU HAVE TO HAVE
How often we read that its all about good pigeons. But the point is that
you as a fancier can go well with pigeons. A strong remark statement is
extremely important. You should be able to see at a glance what is going
on in and around the loft. What matters is that you can see that pigeons
behave differently. You must immediately see that they show an extra
condition but also that something is wrong. Pigeons that behave very
well you have to keep an eye on they are the ones that can surprise you.
Fortunately there are very good pigeons which we can see during the
season at the intermediate positions of the various competitions. We
also all know that there are only a few real good pigeons. You would not
say that to the prices paid for pigeons. On sale sites it looks like
there are only good while most birds are not good enough for the boss
and therefore are sold. There are plenty of examples of pigeons that
just make a super performance because they just have a boyfriend or
girlfriend. There are performances put down because some males cannot
stand their neighbor so they are motivated and come very rapidly home.
So let's not only talk about good pigeons there's a lot more to it.
THE BATTERY IS CHARGED
With my health it did not go very well from the beginning of this year.
Finally my wife and I decided to go to the sun for a week and that
really did me a lot of good. Our choice had fallen on Egypt. Nice days
in the sun on the edge of one of the beautiful pools, close to the bar
and lazing on the lounger which was prepared every day by our regular
lifeguard. Every day at least 30 degrees and in the evening it is great
to have a nice dinner outside and then a drink. In our opinion a must
for those who want to be assured of super sunny weather and do nothing
but laze in the sun. The wind ensured that it was also fine in this sun.
With a tanned head we are now back home and I immediately started to
take care of everything according to the summer time. The day after our
homecoming was the first walk to the pigeons. What would the youngsters
look like? The old cocks and hens had not been outside during the
holidays as I understand it could not be. It was very cold in the
Netherlands with lots of wind and rain. You cannot imagine that it only
rains 5 to 6 minutes per year in Egypt. I think Egypt is becoming a new
popular holiday country but to live in that immense sandbox seems to me
nothing at all. In two weeks the new season will start while the pigeons
are not really ready. They look really good and that is a compliment to
my sons Marco and Michel who have provided the pigeons during the
holidays and also during my illness period. This morning it was a
cloudless sky but it looked white outside because it had frozen again
tonight and at this moment it is half cloudy. The coming weekend I hope
to be able to start with bringing the old pigeons away. From experience
I know that they become very fast in their flying rhythm and also the
punctual care at fixed times contributes to a good condition. They have
to take care of the flight condition themselves and they get it when
they have to do their training work twice a day at set times.
RUNNERS ARE DEAD RUNNERS
That is a well-known saying in every branch of sport in the Netherlands.
Many fanciers quietly build up the performance curve on what does not
apply to the speed players, at least not to the Dutch speed players. In
Belgium that is another story. There they can play a speed or a middle
distance race every week from the end of March until the end of
September. In the Netherlands we start with 6 speed flights. Then the
same amount of middle distance races and then the one-day long distance
races have started. At the end of June we start with eight young pigeons
flights, then finally a series of 5 speed races in which both old and
young pigeons are allowed to participate and then it's over again.
Coming back to the fast starters I also like to hear. If you make the
first flight a good result then you know that the condition is right. It
may also be because you were in the right corner on that flight because
as we all know in the short races the wind plays a very important role.
So do not immediately cheer after a first good result. It is true that
after the first flight I prefer that the crowd has to go after me than
that I have to make up for the lost gap. It is also true that when you
want to end with the champions you will have to finish in the snout of
the result from the very beginning. Among us there are guaranteed to be
a number with whom this will succeed but even more certain is that the
group with whom it will not succeed will be greater. So put it on and
just do your utmost to never cross the line in the last group.
COLOUR
For many years I am a big fan of light blue pigeons. This year I am
forced to deviate from it, the reason you know. Marco and I have a
breeding loft together and there are not only blue pigeons, there are
even quite dark pigeons and I now have some youngsters in my racing
loft. Marco says I should not complain about the colors. I used to mix
everything and then I said to everyone who wanted to hear that ugly
pigeons become more and more beautiful as they win early prizes,
whatever they are. It may be due to the years that you get other
preferences. Now I say it is my hobby and I decide what happens in my
loft. I should probably assume that the time of blue alone is over.
Given my age I do not have that many opportunities anymore. I do not
want to say that I have had my time just think about it now and then. I
still intend to count but I notice that it is all more difficult.
THE CLOCK
One of these days my electronic clock is being updated. The pigeons that
are no longer there are removed from the clock and a single pigeon has
to be added so that I can use the clock next weekend to see how the
pigeons have come home from their first training flight. On Saturday 31
March there will be a training flight for the whole club. It is a kind
of attraction flight and because it is a day before Easter the prices
consist of eggs. In the past when I had a family with small children I
thought it would be nice to win a few boxes but now that we are still
two I do not have to think to eat all those eggs. Yet it is always nice
when there is something to be gained. That is just like playing card
games, if nothing is going on there is not being played seriously but as
soon as it is a penny everybody wants to win. The will to win must
always be there, without any interest you get nowhere and have always
respect for the winner. Once that is known, shake hands and congratulate
him on the success achieved. Who knows you might be next weekend.
THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN
With most fanciers the breeding is largely completed. With a large
number of fanciers the early youngsters have been flying their daily
laps around the loft for some time. In others the hens were transferred
to the loft for youngsters with a youngster. With other fanciers,
especially the long distance men, it has all just begun. If all goes
well the program players and the speed men are already well advanced
with the preparations for the first strength measurements. Of course it
must all start with caution. Especially now that the severe frost and
icy cold from the Dutch air has disappeared there is more and more
opportunity to ride with the pigeons. The temperatures are about 8 to 12
degrees and that is a good temperature for training flights of 20 to 30
km. I have seen several groups of pigeons flying over, you could clearly
see that they were on their way home. Now pray that we keep this type of
weather for a long period so that we get a good start of the season and
also wants to apply for the further course of the coming season. With
me, although I still do not feel 100%, the regularity is very nice. The
pigeons are currently released twice a day. Today they have had a bath
again and tomorrow the hens with each a young go to the young pigeon
loft. The cocks remain with their youngsters for a week in the racing
loft. If I go on holiday for a week the youngsters the cocks and also
the hens are separated and then get a 5 day yellow cure in the drinking
water. They have to do with it they have had all the vaccinations so
what medical support concerns they are ready. When I looked at the
racing pigeons this week I was very happy with them. The weight was
fine, they felt good and you could hardly see that they feed big
youngsters. I hate it if you can clearly see that they have feeders
beak. Still I have ones, yes that was a very long time ago, a hen who
won 12 times the first, was always played on nest and with such a beak
he won the first several times. She also won the first twice on an empty
breeding dish. Her young had been moved to the young pigeon loft for
more than a week and she still had not been laid. She went along just as
well and believed it or not she was back and gave up the competition. It
was a little fat-blue hen, just an unsightly creature but in my eyes she
was terribly beautiful. I will never forget that animal. The crazy thing
is that in the last twenty years I did not have such a pigeon in my loft
because they would not pass through the selection and therefore get no
vhance to perform. Now there is a small pigeon in our breeding loft
again. It is a bit party colored too and I do not like that either. She
has, also because of her formidable descent last year got the chance to
raise a few youngsters. A large shale cock was found dead on the golf
course next to our house. The nestmate, a small fur hen, did not miss.
No, they were not all top prizes but when she played eight out of nine
with twice in the first ten she is good enough for us to show her skills
in 2018 as well.
CONSIDERABLE YEARLINGS
Last year was not my strongest season. The breeding did not go well and
that was reflected in the performance. The strange thing was that the
youngsters did performed to complete satisfaction, in the club they were
not even beating and the champion pigeon was mine. I have bred a few
youngsters from a number of these yearlings and all other youngsters
come from our joint breeders. That is why I will also have to get rid of
my faith. I prefer to see all blue pigeons in my loft but that will
change now because not all breeding pigeons are blue. Color is also a
part of my hobby, red, pale, white, black, very colorful, I do not want
them. Other fanciers do not care whether their pigeons are green or
brown with them it is about performance. Also with me, but preferably
achieved by beautiful light blue pigeons with possibly a single white
pen. The racing pigeons for 2018 are all blue, the youngsters will have
a number of other colors in between and they will have to come from a
good house otherwise they will not come through the selection. When I
talk about selection I am already busy with 2019. In that year I will be
82, will I still have pigeons? Let me not go too far ahead first 2018
and then we see further. It is indeed very unfortunate that the number
of active fanciers decreases so quickly. Our national organization
devises everything but unfortunately I do not see a bright spot that I
think; yes, that might well have a chance of success. There has been
worked with all kinds of committees for so long. Youth has long been an
important target where a lot of time and money has been invested in. The
number of members continues to decline further despite the unbridled
efforts of our managers. No, the dark days for the pigeon sport are
still there and if I see how many peers still are active then the
downward trend in the number of members will be of increasing influence
over the next two to three years. Associations will lose their right to
exist and if the last club from the village or city ceases to exist more
members will drop out because many older fanciers do not want to have to
cover a large distance with their pigeons to basket. I would like to see
it differently but this is the reality. In addition the mood in a small
club can be very quickly influenced if some members do not agree with
each other. In a club with at least 50 members you will not be bothered
by that. How many clubs of 50 members will still be there? In my opinion
not one and then to know that in the golden years there were several
clubs with more than 100 members. Unfortunately this time I cannot knit
a cozier end. Fortunately the season is approaching quickly and then
there are to discuss completely different matters. Let's keep it that
everyone in their own way will fully enjoy our hobby again.
DUTCH OLYMPIC TEAM HOME AGAIN
More than two weeks of Olympic winter sports on TV was a bit too much of
a good thing. Especially for the Netherlands because for us only skating
was interesting because in the other sports we had a single participant
but not really a contender. Our skaters have met the expectations, it
could not be better. For me as a viewer it was all too much of a good
thing. From the early morning to the midnight Olympics, I cannot see
them anymore. On Monday evening in the Olympic Stadium of Amsterdam,
where in 1948 the Summer Olympic Games were held, our athletes were in
the presence of several hundred supporters and relatives in the icy cold
honored. The announcer did not know how hard he had to scream to
announce our Olympic champions. It became a shabby and anti-social
display. That could have been much better and more stylish. This week
they are invited to the King.
IN MARCH THE SPRING CLASSICS STARTS
Cycling is done throughout the year. In the past years there was a
winter break and there was room for track cycling. Nowadays the first
cycling classics start right after the turn of the year. In the past it
was only in March and Belgium was the first to take part in cycling, now
it is the warm countries like Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and so on
where the first races have already been held. Last weekend the first two
classics in Belgium started in the icy cold and the next weekend "the
drive to the sun" or Paris-Nice starts. Now it is freezing in the
Netherlands the skating sport gets the most attention. Today the first
marathon skating race on 200 km is held on natural ice. The skating fun
is probably over at the end of the week. Too bad, because for the skate
enthusiasts it could have lasted a week and then just rain hot water.
But what do you get for weather, you better have dry weather with nice
clear freezing than occasional sun and then rain again. Fortunately we
do not have that in mind.
SPRING IS COMING
Despite the cold in our country it is fine weather to let the youngsters
out. This is not the case with me yet they are only more than 14 days
old. The first round is to Marco and only then it’s father's turn. After
the bad luck with unfertilized eggs in the first round everything went
well after that. The big problem was with our two better breeding
couples. We had unfertilized from both the first and second rounds. The
third round of the one couple is again not good but from the other
couple it is. The youngsters who sit at Marco look perfect and with me
they are shining in the nest. Beautiful manure around the dishes partly
because of the cold and during the day a lot of sun it’s almost ideal
for the growth of the youngsters. Not only the spring is coming the
racing season is approaching with great speed. As I have seen it
everything is ready on time. Second half of March we go to the sun for a
week and when we come back we have 14 days left for the first speed
flight. The pigeons can therefore still be tossed five times depending
on the weather and that must be enough. The pigeons are still being
cared by my sons Marco and Michel, I go only there at noon. Then you can
see that the sun gets more and more strength, just wonderful to be with
the pigeons for an hour. I hope that if it gets a bit warmer soon I will
also become a bit more active. With my condition it is not worth
anything at all after two months sick and quail. If I do something I am
tired and to my age that will not so fast restore anymore.
IT WILL NOT BE TRUE
I was really shocked when I read the news that there was an outbreak of
bird flu in Groningen (North Netherlands). All 36.000 chickens have been
culled and a transport ban for poultry is in the immediate vicinity. We
as pigeon fanciers do not like that at all. It has happened several
times that on the eve of the new racing season an avian flu outbreak
took place so the start of the season was pushed up for several weeks.
It was then also in the period of the spring fair and immediately became
a ban announced that no pigeons from different lofts could be placed
together in a room. Think of all the young pigeons that have been bred
especially for the weekend of this weekend and there is a prohibition
proclaimed you should not think about it anyway. Now the outbreak is
still in the far north of the Netherlands the control is becoming
stricter throughout the country. There only needs to be an outbreak in
the south and Belgium will close the border and how will it go with the
famous pigeon market in Lier (B) and the spring fair of this weekend in
Houten (Utrecht). I will not go there would not know what to do.
Fortunately, there are many fanciers who think differently about this.
There is even more risk, because fanciers in Belgian Limburg have been
diagnosed with adeno virus and the risk for the young pigeon disease is
very high. Because of the infection with adeno the e-coli bacteria in
the intestinal system get the upper hand. The pigeons get sick of it,
the appetite goes away, drink more than usual and produce that slimy
green smelling manure and the end of the story is that those poor little
animals to pay for death. Away nice breeding results. In that respect
our hobby depends of disappointments to each other. The strange thing is
that never all youngsters get sick. Are they the best, the strongest or
is it coincidence? If these symptoms appear on the loft consult your
veterinarian at all times.
THE NETHERLANDS VERY SUCCESSFUL DURING OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
The whole international sports world is currently under the spell of the
Winter Olympics held in South Korean Pyongyang. Already from the first
day on the Dutch skaters committed an attack on the highest achievable
the gold medals, but silver and bronze are also not safe for skating
land the Netherlands. The Dutch are both for woman and man in all parts
of the long track skating and short track Lord and Master. It started on
the first day with gold for Sven Kramer on the 5000 meters. Also in 2010
and 2014 he won gold at that distance and that has never been achieved
before. A day later gold, silver and bronze for the ladies on the 3000
meters and so it continues every day. Irene Wust took gold at 1500
meters and that was her tenth Olympic medal. Never before has there been
a lady who has won so many Olympic medals at the Winter Games. The
presence of King Willem Alexander will certainly have contributed to
this, wonderful to see how he behaved like a fan of our skaters in the
stands, great enthusiasm! And it does not stop. The skating mile
produced a gold medal for Kjeld Nuis with outsider Patrick Roest as the
winner of the silver medal. If this continues it will be an
unprecedented success for the Netherlands that has no chance of
competing in the other parts of the Winter Games. Is not bad at all
because we are a skating country and we have once again clearly shown.
RACE PIGEON OLYMPIAD ONCE IN THE TWO YEARS.
Why the racing pigeon Olympiad is held once every two years is not clear
to me. If that happens in all sports once every four years why then for
the pigeon sport an exception. There are so many exceptions in our sport
in the far too long series of championships. Only for commerce and
nowhere else is it interesting to hold an Olympiad every two years. It
does not take a year and we have again a race pigeon Olympiad in Poland
that will be held in January 2019. Also in 2011 the Poles were allowed
to organize the Olympiad in Poznan. A bit of a good thing don’t you
think? The Netherlands is not only a skating country it is also a pigeon
country par excellence and that means that, just as with skating, it
should be possible to strike in the same way. We still have a race year
to go so there is still everything possible. The pigeons that have
performed strongly in 2017 can be used with some caution this year, do
not take too much risk, but especially the latter is easier said than
done. Even on the most simple flights a good pigeon can stay behind and
locally the danger of the birds of prey remains. You do not have to
think that an Olympiad candidate will be caught by such a robber.
A LIGHT LUNG IGNITION KEPT ME A WEEK AWAY WITH THE PIGEONS
If you come back after a week to the pigeons you see how much has
changed. The youngsters who were then a day or twelve are now so old
that they can almost get away from their parents. Where two eggs lay in
the nest are now bald youngsters. Those are the first impressions I have
gained this morning. Furthermore I have only fed them, the drinkers
refreshed, everywhere new grit in the jars, fresh minerals and they
needed it because in no time the pigeons had eaten the jars empty. They
are also ready for a nice bath, it is cold but otherwise nice sunny
weather. They still have to wait a while because the article must be
ready first and then they will have a bath in the afternoon. The racing
pigeons are allowed outside for a while and then I can clean the lofts.
As far as I am concerned the condition is completely back to zero. A
week of being really sick is a real attack on your body especially if we
look at the figures that are for the age.
THIS WEEKEND IS TAKING THE FIRST YOUNGSTERS ARE WEANED
Other years that happened already in the third week of January. This
year we consciously waited a bit longer with pairing. We have this year
more preferred to our breeding pigeons. Most of the eggs from the first
round are placed under the racing pigeons so that Marco and I both have
two youngsters from the breeders. There were also the necessary setbacks
so that I cannot immediately say that I am very enthusiastic about the
start of the breeding season. By my racing pigeons I had four couples
that I wanted to have youngsters from. Of the 12 couples there were 2
unfertilized and that was exactly 2 out of 4 that I wanted to keep. We
have chosen to submit as much as possible, a choice that I think
afterwards; we should have done that differently. With that I indicate
that I am not really satisfied. Now do not panic because it is of course
also how the total breeding results are going to be. After all, it is
about quality and not about quantity. In general I hear from different
sides that the culture is going well. Those who did winter breeding all
have the youngsters outside and in addition the weather helps a little
hand as well because until now all days are fine to let the young
pigeons out every day and number of hours. Unfortunately I have been
informed that there are again the necessary victims because of the
predators. It is a pity that this problem cannot be solved for us pigeon
fanciers. There is a lot of work done, such as registering places where
the bird of prey strikes. If it stays that way it does not really help.
I also known the problem for three years in a row but fortunately the
last three years no longer. I live on the edge of the golf course, in
some places pretty many trees. The number of jackdaws has increased
enormously in recent years. In the evening there is a huge swarm, a
beautiful sight and a huge noise when they finally land in the trees to
go to sleep. It does mean that I have absolutely no problems with birds
of prey. It seems that the jackdaw keep the birds of prey away. Let me
not be too enthusiastic because something can change. From an Irish
pigeon friend I received a photo on which one of his pigeons was caught
by a hawk. He takes care of the pigeon that has a gaping wound, they are
the real animals lovers doing something like that. You may wonder if it
makes sense. We have pigeons to play with and we have to be careful that
we do not make a hospital out of our loft. Despite the fact that I have
been possessed by pigeons for a while it goes too far by me to care
seriously injured pigeons. I'll do them away, maybe very hard but you
have to wonder if it will ever be okay with such a pigeon. No, I would
rather save them a longer period of suffering.
BEAUTIFUL WINTER WEATHER
The weather forecast looks fine for this week. At night light to
moderate frost, during the day plenty of sun and temperatures slightly
above freezing. If this stays for another day or four we can skate in
the Netherlands. As most of you will know the Netherlands is the skating
country par excellence. That will also be noticed in the coming weekend
when the Olympic Winter Games take place in South Korea. Naturally the
Netherlands is also represented there primarily for the skating sport.
In the other winter sports we Dutch people do not have much to look for.
But who knows suddenly a Dutchman dives into skiing which would be a
huge surprise. In any case there is a lot to enjoy on the TV for the
sports enthusiasts next week. That's what we thought last week. Then the
world cyclo-cross championship was held in our own country. Our biggest
favorite was Matthieu van de Poel. He had already won 26 games this
season and according to insiders he would also take the rainbow jersey.
Well not, it was clear to see that it was not his day, it became a
complete agony. It was a very heavy course but that counts for everyone.
Our national star had to settle with the bronze and our representatives
in the other categories did the same. The youngest of all took by the
youthful ladies gold and that made the surprise complete. Now wait and
see if our skaters win gold and who knows the whole of the Netherlands
is on the ice at the end of the week. Because skating we do prefer and
the pigeons cherish themselves in the winter sunshine.
COLD NIGHTS
There are fanciers who already have their first round of youngsters
outside, there are also those who have recently paired. In any case we
are now in the middle of the breeding season. Some long distance players
have postponed the breeding for a while but it will not be long before
they will start. My oldest youngsters are now about twelve days and the
coming weekend the eggs from the second round of the breeding pigeons
will come out. Even now unfertilized eggs from our two best breeding
couples. I do not want to say that Marco and I are becoming despondent
but we are certainly not happy about it. Last Sunday the necessary eggs
have been transferred so that the breeding pigeons can start on the
third round. Maybe a bit too soon after each other but we have breeding
pigeons for that. This season also shows that early or winter breeding
is not conducive to older pigeons. Nothing new, annoying if it does not
run as we had hoped. We thought that we would breed from our two top
couples soon each two youngsters but we do not have one. At this moment
there are 39 ringed and there is will come the same amount and then we
have enough. Marco a 50 or so and I around 30. That should be enough to
get the necessary good results if we do not lose too much before the
price flights start.
ALWAYS UNNECESSITY WITHIN THE BELGIAN PIGEON SPORTS
The period from October to the start of the new season is also called
the quiet season. Nothing is less true. That used to be the case but now
it is teeming with awards, champions days, local exhibitions and last
but not least the great diversity of all sorts of meetings. Especially
the latter sometimes runs into crap. For example there was the fraud
case in the Belgian East Flanders which has chairman Dirk Schreel of the
National Sport Committee has cost the head. Now there is again the
necessary commotion in Antwerpen so a new board has to be chosen. The
name of provincial chairman Alfons Buurs is already mentioned as
National President and is also associated with chairman of the National
Sport Committee. Most likely he is not eligible for both positions
because he is not perfectly bilingual. In Belgium in the southern part
is spoken French and in the other part Dutch or Flemish. At this moment
there is still no clarity as to how the two new boards will look like.
More will be known during the meeting of 28 February.
LAST CHANCE
To be aware of the latest developments concerning the pigeon sport there
is still a possibility for Belgian and fanciers from the surrounding
countries to visit the International Pigeon show "Fugare" which on 10
and 11 February for the 8th time will be held in Kortrijk. Also there
will be the prize ceremonies of the one-loft races from Zimbabwe, Spain.
Portugal, Tenerife, Romania and Bulgaria have been held.
QUIET PIGEONS
If I hate something then it is shy pigeons. You sometimes have one that
when you enter the loft immediately flies from his seat, I can live with
it a little bit. There are also those who fly out of the breeding loft
and I absolutely cannot stand it. I always do my very best to keep the
pigeons quiet. You can do a lot of it as a fancier. Do not make
unexpected movements and walk through the lofts in slow motion. Let your
voice be heard and I think it is also important that you are always
dressed the same way. Take the time to feed the pigeons. While they are
eating you can safely take one in your hands once in a while and put
them down again shortly afterwards. The pigeons must not be afraid and
if they are it is usually up to the boss. Sometimes it is not easy to
stay calm. Especially if the pigeons are just paired and are allowed to
leave the breeding lofts for the first time. Especially young cocks can
sometimes uncontrollably fly into several breeding loft. They are
sometimes so passionate that they fly everything that moves. They can
also take care of the necessary brawls if they fly into the wrong
breeding loft again. If they do that multiple times you are able to
swing them against the wall. Do not and never do! You can really ruin
them forever. You deprive them of an urge to come home and what is worse
they also refuse to come in. Usually the first arriving pigeons are not
shy or afraid. A matter of poor entry always lies with the boss. He has
made the pigeons so because he behaves completely different when they
arrive home than when he does the whole week. I have been with fanciers
who went in tiger creep to the loft when a pigeon arrives. The pigeons
are not crazy and stay if the boss does not behave like they are used
to. When the pigeons return from a flight behave always the same as you
do during the week. Some fanciers want the pigeon quickly inside and
throw hands full of food into the loft while they never do it during the
week. Some fanciers start to whistle like an idiot when they see a
pigeon coming at a high altitude. Assume that pigeon has seen you before
you see the pigeon. The pigeons have to be happy when they see the boss
so do normal then you do crazy enough!
HOW WENT WINTER BREEDING
It is like less and less fanciers do winter breeding. There may be
several reasons for this. As far as I am concerned the reason is I now
belong to the older fanciers and I was very happy that the season was
over, finally a period of absolute rust. Others are waiting for breeding
because in a number of departments the young pigeon season starts later.
For years I have done winter breeding, wonderful to look at the newly
weaned youngsters in the second half of January because what are they
beautiful when they are just weaned. Then there is a short period of
some relapse but that will all be fine if they first start to eat a lot.
I always say when they are beautiful in the nest the will become later
on also beautiful. Of the become usable or even good ones I cannot give
a good answer. However I do think that the chance to breed a good one is
greater if the parents have performed well. Every fancier gets a good
feeling when a couple of pigeons are born that care in the racing season
for pleasure certainly when that youngsters comes from a couple that he
has paired himself. But how did the breeding for the young pigeons have
been before they were weaned? By me from the first day I put the pigeons
together everything went smoothly. The pigeons were well prepared by me
for the breeding period. Ten days lighted and daily a little bit of hemp
seed for each pigeon. I have also started to give a breeding mixture,
not too much because locked up pigeons fats very quickly and that is not
conducive to a smooth leg. When I pair the pigeons I always try that
they look like they go into the basket during the racing season. I have
written before that, despite the good preparation and the smoothing of
eggs, a number of things can go wrong. In older pigeons unfertilized
eggs, young cocks if they are paired well still visit the neighbor’s
with consequence fighting and broken eggs. That is even possible yet if
there is a small youngster in the dish and I also got to deal with that.
FIRST YOUNGSTERS ARE RINGED
That means that the first youngsters will be weaned the last week of
February. That are not too many because most of the breeders' eggs went
to my son Marco and he will have more than me at that time. This is the
case with father and son who play against each other and have to draw
from the same breeding loft. Still I had two unfertilized eggs from two
different couples each and with Marco there were two trampled youngsters
dead in the nest. To date no problems with the growth of the youngsters
that is going well. The pigeons from which the eggs have been replaced
have almost all been around the 25th laid and are now brooding for the
second time. The youngsters that are born out of it are for the most
part all for me. If I have about forty I am satisfied, that is a nice
team I have hardly ever had more. I have tried in my wild years to breed
a hundred that I could fly with. I have never completely succeeded, 80 I
think is the largest number I have ever had. I was and am absolutely not
a fan of many pigeons. This year I am going to play double widowhood
with 12 couples, that's what I have to do with it and why that will not
work out. You only need one for victory. I stopped to leave the light
on. I currently feed all pigeons at six o'clock and half an hour later
the lights go out. In the morning at 8 o'clock out of bed. Eating a
sandwich, quick read the newspaper, at half past eight to the pigeons
and then I start cleaning the breeding loft. There are 22 couples and
there is the most manure. At 9 o'clock all pigeons get food. It is then
light enough so there can be eaten without a lamp.
THE OLD PIGEONS COME NOW AND THEN OUTSIDE
I have moved away from my religion. Last week it was such nice mild
weather that I could not resist keeping the pigeons in. I left them at
11 o'clock and they could go in and out all day. At 3 o'clock the
sputnik were put in such a way that they could only get in and before
they were all inside they could still enjoy a bath in the open air
between 12 and 1 o'clock, something they really like. Yesterday it was
cold and in the afternoon it started to rain, I had left the sputnik
open (forgotten) and when I came up most of the pigeons lay in the
pouring rain, not to believe because I was flapping with my old body
from the cold. So most had to get soaked into the night. I do not know
if they have been cold, in the morning they all still lived and looked
fine. In the racing season I would get nervous of death, supposing they
would perform badly on the first flight you can hit yourself in front of
you. It does not mean that I now every day let pigeons outside that I
view every day. I have noticed that since I let the pigeons outside the
down molting has increased, sign that the outside air does the pigeons
well.
JUST A SECOND ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL BREEDING.
In the winter season you usually have more outages than in early spring.
A small number of unfertilized eggs, eggs with a dent or an egg with a
young in it that was not strong enough to get out of the egg. They are
all matters that have no influence on the racing season. It will be a
completely different story if half of the eggs are unfertilized or if
too many youngsters die after about ten days. Only then will the chance
of a good racing season become very small. The fault lies with the
fancier himself. The preparation for the breeding has been insufficient.
Too easy, forgot to let the pigeons vaccinate in time and failed to do
manure research. By making time to observe the pigeons once in a while
you can avoid a lot of trouble.
NEVER WAS JANAURI 24 SO WARM
When I get up in the morning it is a regular habit of me to read
extensive teletext. That has to do with my deafness. The whole day the
radio is on but for me too soft to be able to follow the spoken word
well. However in order to keep up to date with the latest news I use
teletext and only later in the morning the newspaper is read during
coffee. I also read teletext in the evening before going to bed. So I
read this morning with amazement that since the beginning of the
measurements in 1901 it has never been so hot in the Netherlands. The
day started with a temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius and the
expectation is that it can be as high as 14 degrees. For Dutch standards
these are spring temperatures. Normally it would be that at this time of
year is skated, there is snow and there is plenty of ice fun. It seems
that this is going to be a thing of the past for our country. It will be
the books where our grandchildren can read how it used to be in the
Netherlands. The Netherlands the country of skating, the big question is
how often will we experience the fact that ditches, canals and lakes are
frozen so that long skating trips such as the world famous
Elfstedentocht of 225 km can be organized. Fortunately a lot of
international attention is being paid to global warming, a pity or
rather incomprehensible that certain countries do not worry about it
because it will have major consequences for the whole world. When I read
this great news about the record high temperature in the Netherlands I
also had to think about the possible consequences for the pigeon sport.
We and our pigeons live in the Netherlands a country with often huge
differences in weather types, we have been raised there and we do not
know better. That is the same with the inhabitants of the southern and
other warm countries and for the Eskimos. All those people are used to
their climate. The same applies to the pigeons. We Dutchmen panic when
our pigeons have their matches with temperatures of around 30 degrees
while such a thing in the hot countries is the most normal thing in the
world. In any case, it is important to think about how in the future
(does the pigeon sport still have a future?) our sport will look like.
For example; let us stop for a moment on the period in which pigeons are
played in the Netherlands. Normally from the last weekend of March to
the second half of September. Is that still possible if the temperatures
get higher every year and that is not the only thing, including the
increasingly large rain showers play a big role in this. In the
Netherlands I hear more and more the call to start the racing season
later, there are a number of well-founded reasons for this. If we
especially look at the weather for our sport there is probably something
forced to change. Who knows, maybe we will play until the end of
October. Or maybe the racing season should be shortened to just over 4
months. It is all still looking at coffee, that something is going to
change is as certain if twice to is four. In several southern countries
a summer break is very common and necessary.
SMILE FOR A BIT
We pigeon fanciers are all champions. There are so many different titles
that you can gradually see the forest through the trees. So this week my
eye fell on a report about a prize ceremony held in Belgium. If a lay
person reads something like this the wrinkles in the forehead will
abruptly more than double and, if present, the hair will stand up
spontaneously. The pigeon sport makes himself ridiculous on all sides.
Or has everything been done with premeditation? I am still of the time
that there were no middle distance races, everything under 500 km was
sprint and above was the long distance. One day and multi-day long
distance plus marathon did not yet appear in the pigeon dictionary. A
designated or demonstrated championship did exist, why did I never be
able to understand. It would be something for the real connoisseurs
among us, do not make me laugh. It has nothing to do with a match. At
the time it was all about the two top pigeons from the participation
list. The one who clocked these pigeons first or in time was eligible
for the title. Well, well what an achievement. The title was and still
is won by fanciers who own some regular pigeons and they are always at
the top of the list, that is not that difficult after all? It would be a
different story if everyone can give up a small number of pigeons that
are at the top of the list all season. Why such a title? We mostly play
every week in the Netherlands with a fixed number of pigeons that
compete for a championship title and that too is spreading sand in the
eyes of the average fancier. The large and mainly commercial fanciers
laugh at a lump, they can draw from a large number of pigeons every week
while the average fancier usually have no more than about thirty old
racing pigeons. They have at least the chance to rank among the
champions. By the commercial boys it’s about the total result where all
their entered pigeons can occur even though they are in their first ten
clocked pigeons no pigeon of their 25 or 30 pigeons that count towards
the championship it remains the same to them. They do not sell any
pigeons because they have become champion, in that world it is the
number of pigeons in the results. We will stop because there is enough
said about it. I am still for 1 champion and the ones that follow are
finished as 2nd or 3rd and so on, but under no circumstances may they be
called champions. Get rid of that fool! Despite the fact that we are
bursting with titles more and more commercial inventions are made, such
as the best Bourges pigeon or the best Chateauroux pigeon all with the
intention of selling pigeons where not only the boss something on. Here
is a summary about the "championships" about which this report started;
general champion, small speed youngsters, small speed yearlings; small
speed old pigeons, big speed youngsters, big speed yearlings, big speed
old pigeons, small middle distance youngsters, small middle distance
yearlings, small middle distance old birds, big middle distance
youngsters, big middle distance yearlings, big middle distance old
pigeons, grand middle distance old and yearling pigeons, long distance
old pigeons, grand distance old pigeons, in addition there are still in
18 different disciplines at least 3 ace pigeon (ace pigeon) titles to
win. There are games where up to 15 championships can be won per
discipline. Should go crazy if someone does not know how to classify
them in one way or another and then he may call himself champion. I've
been laughing for half an hour already.
HOW IS IT WITH THE GOOD INTENSIONS?
More than 1 week and then the first month of this new year is already
over. Fortunately it is a little longer light because I hate darkness. A
little while and then the wild birds start to make a new nest. Nature is
getting under way and the first drop-outs of good intentions have
already been reported. There is still a large group that cannot stay
away from their familiar cigarette and every day a little more exercise
appears to be too difficult for many people. Healthier eating is an
almost impossible task for young people in particular. A pizza and a
fries with a coke or a hamburger with extra sauce are dishes that are
still being served in large quantities in the beginning of this new
year, this is the time in which we live. The developments in the
electronic world are also continuing. You can count on it that the
coming 25 years will change a lot. In the car world we go to computer
send with fully electric motors and a step further and we drive on
hydrogen. The new cars are all equipped with a reversing camera, one
step further and they are equipped with a front camera and then it is
boarding and the car does the rest. And then we have not even talked
about all the possibilities that us all mobile phone has to offer in the
near future. For us elderly people it is even a bit creepy while our
grandchildren just consider it as a toy. In this new year I had decided
to give myself a little more insight into the use of the mobile phone
but I still have not got it and I'm afraid it will stay with the good
intentions. Every one's hobby, I keep it with my pigeons but it does not
mean that I close my eyes to the new developments. Can I keep it up? I
do not think so.
SETBACKS ARE THERE TO OVERCOME
Easier said than done. Today the eggs of the breeders have been laid
down for as many as possible with the racing pigeons of Marco. First of
all it was checked whether the eggs were fertilized and whether there
was a dulled egg in the nest here or there. When I arrived in the
breeding loft this evening there was a broken egg on the ground which
was the first setback. On paper we had recorded everything which eggs
would be placed under which flying couple. By one of the most important
pairs there was a dented egg in the dish. Bad luck, but that can be
overcome. We all know the expression "whether the devil plays", that
expression was very appropriate for what we were doing. Marco checked
all the eggs and then it comes; of exactly our two proven breeding
couples all four eggs were unfertilized. Unbelievable, isn’t it? We will
certainly not be the only ones where such a thing happens but it is and
remains very disappointing. You can talk about that for hours that does
not make any sense. The couples whose eggs are gone or unfertilized may
make a restart. At the same time I have put my 12 pairs of racing
pigeons together with the intention that a few eggs from the breeders
can be accommodated there in three weeks. I must confess that I was very
impressed with the condition of the hens, beautiful on weight and super
tight in the feathers. You would say that cannot go wrong but practice
is often a bit different. Tomorrow we'll have a quick look at whether
the couples have accepted each other and a day later we will cautiously
start letting the couples loose in the loft. The cocks have been "in the
box" for some time as we call it so they know where they live and the
hens will soon fly after hubby. We started by the breeders with the
6-day traditional drinking water cancer cure from dr. van der Sluijs.
THE SOAP OF THE FIXED FOOTRINGS
What name should we give to this blunder. I cannot name it anything
other than a blunder. Where that blunder is made I do not even want to
know. It has created a lot of conversation material. Many ugly words
have been used, perhaps not serious but intended as something of
powerlessness, anger and an expression of disappointment. It is
incomprehensible to us pigeon fanciers that something like this can
happen. Especially because it is not the first time that we as a Dutch
racing pigeon organization order a large amount number of rings. Many
fanciers have been panicked, fortunately a solution was found by
providing those who urgently needed rings emergency rings where it is
not possible to apply the chips. Hence emergency rings, admittedly a
solution but not ideal. It is to be hoped that hard work is being done
behind the scenes on a method whereby it is never possible that rings
are not delivered on time. I assume that NPO board and supplier are sick
of this extremely unpleasant situation. Only tranquility can save us. As
I understand the suffering has been suffered. I have read that I can
pick up the rings and also the golden rings on Friday night. What
matters now is that the golden rings are pushed onto the right pigeon's
foot because with this golden rings race an interesting amount can be
won. I like a bit of extra tension.
BLACKPOOL
I have written it so many times, the annual English manifestation in the
famous resort of Blackpool is unique in its kind. Unfortunately I was
not there this year either. I used to think that if I were not there
that it would not go on! It gets busier every year. More and more
visitors from the mainland of Europe know to find the way to Blackpool.
That's where it all happens. An unprecedented number of sales in
different locations, from a football canteen to the most luxurious hotel
where thousands of pigeons change owners. All large commercial boys are
present there personally or through their sales organization. It is very
unfortunate that commercialism is increasingly dominating. In that
respect it is absolutely no fun anymore. What is really fun the whole
city of Blackpool is dominated by the pigeon sport and until the small
hours there is plenty of fun. I cannot afford to go to Blackpool for a
weekend. From the Netherlands you are there within two hours, but then
...... you're going to beat that weekend especially if you like me also
like socializing which means that the days in the weekend of January 20
are very long and the nights very short. I am very happy that I have
been there several times because of the great contacts I had with mister
Louis Massarella. You may know that I'm a bit jealous of all those who
were there this year. You never know, if health permits I might risk it
again in 2019.
PIGEON SPORTS ALL YEAR ROUND
Fairly new within the pigeon sport is the game with the late youngsters.
The fanciers who are doing that have their youngsters, who were born in
October, flying around for quite some time. Despite possible problems
with the birds of prey these late youngsters have to go outside. They
have to train and therefore also have to deal with the hardness of
nature. Birds of prey must also eat and as we all know they prefer a not
to be scorned pigeon's bolt. The late youngsters are therefore more
attentive and keep a close eye on everything. Once they have been
introduced to an unexpected attack by a bird of prey they will soon
realize that the loft is the safest place. The boss does well to let
them train with an open loft. The winter breeders have seen the first
eggs come around the Christmas days so that their young acquisitions
could be ringed in the first days of 2018. Hopefully that has not caused
too big problems. Why problems? It has been a good practice for years
that in the Netherlands the rings between Christmas and New Year are
delivered to the administrators so that they can deliver the rings on 1
January to those who need them urgently. From that years of use had to
be deviated because the rings manufacturer could not deliver on time
which is definitely a bad thing. According to the reports the last rings
would be delivered on January 12 and the fanciers who urgently need
rings could submit a request to receive at least 1 January a number of
rings. I do not know if that has caused major problems. For us it is no
problem at all. We have put together the breeding pigeons on December 28
and when the eggs hatched the rings will be delivered. The pigeons came
well on time with eggs. After 12 days two couples had not yet laid, big
question is whether one of the hens is still laying. She has been stuck
on the nest for several days but not an egg, she is open but I fear with
great fear that things go wrong. The other couple let themselves chase
out of their breeding nest in the beginning, that cock has already a
cross behind his name. I certainly do not like that pigeons let
themselves chase out of their breeding loft, it is a newly formed couple
and the cock is only 1 year old. It is a grandson of the famous "Harry"
but that does not mean everything abvious.
A PART OF THE EGGS GOES TO THE RACE PIGEONS
We do not have any foster pairs so if we want to have more youngsters
from the breeders we will have to use the racing pigeons. My son Marco
has put his racing pigeons in line with the breeding pigeons that are
all with me, of that a number go to Marco. As soon as that happens I
will pair my racing pigeons so that part of the second round of eggs
from the breeders can be placed underneath. In this way we get a few
youngsters from the best racing pigeons plus that we have four
youngsters from the breeders in a short time if everything runs at least
as we hope. Yes, that is how we are all working in our own way with the
intention to breed a number of usable pigeons again this year which we
will enjoy and with which we can strengthen our colony. I have been
working like that for 70 years, I am still not a world champion but
despite the necessary setbacks I have been enjoying my pigeon hobby all
these years. Unfortunately there is now the first setback of this
breeding season. With a new breeding couple consisting of my best
breeding hen who is now eighth year paired with a one year promising
cock the neighbor has visited. What I have not experienced before with
that neighbor happened now. He apparently had such a need for brooding
that he tried to sit on the eggs of my best breeding pigeon. That was
obviously not accepted and that was fighting. In the morning the two
eggs next to the breeding dish were both with and dent so I could do
nothing but throw them away. I did put two stone eggs directly on it and
they are now brooding. The neighbor cock is locked up and that is also a
situation that I do not want to know about, but for the time being I
leave it that way. As soon as part of the eggs go to Marco I will also
remove the stone eggs so that a number of breeding couples start the
preparation of their second litter simultaneously. Now it is waiting a
few days to see if all the eggs have been fertilized. I must tell you
that my racing pigeons are also clearly ready to be coupled. That will
most likely be on Sunday the 14th of January. It gives me a good feeling
that the breeding pigeons are now coupled, no problems with fights and
yet it happens that a cock, otherwise a very good breeder, has destroyed
the nest of his left neighbors. In spite of the cold I can still afford
to stay with the breeders for a bit longer and also get a little more
pleasure in cleaning the lofts. It lives on the loft again and we need
some more time for the care. As of January 1 everything goes a little
more at fixed times which is good for the pigeons and certainly for the
boss. In the morning when I get up everything feels stiff, but when I'm
done with the care of the pigeons I feel a bit fitter.
THE CARE
I already know that it will be different than before. The hens do not
come outside in the morning. In the racing season I started at 7 o'clock
in the morning. I definitely do not do that anymore, it's just too early
for me. I decided to release the cocks at 8 o'clock as soon as possible,
then I'm ready at half past nine. In the afternoon the hens leave at
half past four and I hope that they can keep their training labor up for
an hour and a half. They get food at five o'clock and the cocks are
allowed to go outside for an hour. When the youngsters are away from
their parents they may spend an hour outside in the morning. As soon as
they are older and fly around the loft they go out twice a day. In the
morning from 9 to 10 o'clock and in the afternoon from 6 to 7 o'clock
but then we already live in April. Until that time I will see it per day
but for now all pigeons stay inside. They have not been outside since
the end of October and this is how it will be until mid-February. As of
March 1 everything will be accurate again. My son sometimes says; "Dad,
how the hell did you last this 70 years!"
A NEW YEAR WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.
When I still actively practiced cycling January 1 was the start of a new
road season. That was at the end of the fifties, the cycling calendar
indicated that there were almost no competitions. The months of November
and December were the night of entertainment for us and we almost did
not train. The weather conditions were often bad and we had never heard
of a foreign training camp. But as soon as the calendar gave January 1
it was done with the fun and was seriously lived again. We started
fitness training and as soon as we could we sit on the bike. The club
that I was a member of and am still (next year 65 years) already
organized in March the cycling classic De Ronde van Noord-Holland over
225 km. Now that the sport is much more professional and work is being
done with sophisticated training schedules it’s in the early spring not
even allowed to driven a course of 225 km at that time it did! Cycling
has always been a tough sport and certainly in those years. Everyone had
to figure it out for themselves, we trained like madmen and did not
really know whether we did it right or not. We must and would have at
least 2000 km in the legs before the Tour of North Holland started. In
any case it was a wonderful time that I still think back to with great
pleasure. Within the pigeon sport it is just like in cycling. Everything
starts much earlier and the programs are getting heavier. Throughout the
year there are cycling races and also the pigeon calendar shows a
crowded program with sometimes three races in a weekend. Not surprising
that there is more and more specialization in every branch of sport.
Within the sport of cycling it is now the six days that demand attention
and also the cyclo-cross is running at full speed. For the pigeon sport
the time of the honors of all kinds of national competitions breaks up
and there are also a number of big shows of which I still think
Blackpool is the most beautiful and spectacular. Next year also for the
very first time the tribute of the VERY BEST pigeons from the
Netherlands. This is a competition with the same conditions that the
F.C.I. is prescribed for participation in a racing pigeon Olympiad. The
competition the "very best" is organized by the Neerlands Postduiven
Orgaan.
THE "VERY BEST" ARE KNOWN
Immediately in the beginning of the new year is started the presentation
of the 10 best pigeons completed with their performance list achieved in
the categories speed-middle distance-one-day long distance - marathon -
yearlings - old pigeons - all-round pigeons and last and certainly not
as unimportant the youngsters. No less than eight categories with the
best pigeons in the Netherlands. It is almost unbelievable what our
pigeons are capable of so it is not surprising that the Dutch racing
pigeon is highly regarded all over the world. After the presentation of
the very best pigeons on our site has taken place there is obviously a
worthy and stylish ceremony. There is plenty of work behind the scenes.
The final date will be announced very soon.
WINTER BREEDING IS NOT A JOKE
Now the first youngsters to be born it is important that everything in
the loft is set accordingly. In this time of the year it can be cold and
therefore a well-filled brooding dish with a mat underneath is not a
luxury. When the fancier spends all the care on the new generation he
will be amply rewarded from the summer. I've known fanciers where the
winter youngsters just lay in a bare stone bowl, I do not understand how
someone is capable of doing that. They are fanciers who wanted to
participate in winter breeding as well but had not prepared anything and
did absolutely did not want to do anything for it. They were winter
champions with strong stories at the bar and in the summer they were
invisible. Our pigeons should not lack anything especially now that they
do not come out at all and everything is focused on a good breeding.
Fresh vegetables, minerals and fresh grit are a prerequisite. Drinking
water is also something like this, the pan must never be empty and as
soon as it freezes the boss must ensure that there is no ice on it. As
soon as the youngsters are about ten days old I feed the pigeons three
times a day and I give water three times a day when the weather is cold.
Maybe that's not necessary at all but it gives me a good feeling and
that's why I do that. I hate if something fails during the breeding
where I can blame myself. No, it all has to be correct and if you then
have a nice team of youngsters running that gives a good feeling. It is
still the intention that our breeders come together between Christmas
and New Year. However, there is still a problem and these are the mice.
I have tried everything, put clamps and put glue paper everywhere, I do
not catch one. I sometimes see one or two run away, they are very dark
in color, I think it's not the gray house mice but field mice. Possibly
I have more knowledge of pigeons than of mice. I hate those little
rodents an because they are ideal disease transporters. They also
disturb the rest in the loft and as soon as the pigeons are brooding and
they get a visit at night of those scum you even have a chance that the
pigeons will run from the eggs. Mice are even able to crawl under the
mat that lies at the bottom of the breeding bowl. I do not want to pair
earlier than the mice in my loft have been exterminated. For the time
being that seems like an almost impossible tasks
PLAYING WITH LATE YOUNGSTERS
It is becoming increasingly common for fanciers to play with youngsters
that were born in the period August / September. It is not new and there
are more and more fanciers who try it because here and there fantastic
results are achieved. It is a game that costs quite a lot of pigeons. I
myself have played with some late youngsters and I will have done it
wrong because I did not have one left. I also did not have that much
with late youngsters, they just walk in the way and to breed with you
have to wait more than a year and I did not feel like it. I know
fanciers who are formidable with late youngsters and I even know that
late youngsters in the long distance of the best pigeons of our country
have ended. To achieve this these pigeons have to be taken away many
times and that also happens, even in such bad weather conditions that we
do not think about going out with them in the summer months. It is just
what you love it is not for me and maybe I would also do it if I was 40
years younger then nothing was too much for me.
PARTY MONTH DECEMBER IS BEYOND, EVERYTHING IS AS USUAL
In the first place I want to start by wishing you all a very prosperous,
healthy and successful 2018. After all the fun that the month of
December had to offer us it was a nice feeling to pick up the thread of
all days again. We are going in the right direction, the shortest day is
already a few days behind us. We are on our way to spring but we are not
there yet we have two cold months ahead of us and in March we can have
plenty of snow fun. The situation in the world is still not rosy but we
are concerned about a dent in an egg of a bald young lying next to the
dish. What the hell are we talking about? Last weekend we had our annual
club exhibition, it became a top-class debacle. Never has there been a
year that I did not participate in my more than 70 year old pigeon
career. It is first and foremost a fun weekend in the quiet winter
period and it is fun to look back and of course to the plans for 2018
with sports friends. Curious about the results of the judge is almost
nobody. It is mainly about commerce in our sport. It predominates
unfortunately the overtone which through fanciers do not spontaneously
talk anymore about their hobby. The large lofts are increasingly
dominating and little fanciers are increasingly taking off against the
big boys. Maybe not quit right but it happens and that goes ten expense
of the atmosphere in the club. In our club we have no big boys and no
commercial boys. In that respect matters are in balance which is not the
case with the performances. Fortunately we have an A group and a B
group. In the A games we play with 8 men and the rest of the members
play in the B. In our show 13 members join and the rest failed and that
is especially disappointing for the organization. Fortunately I have
experienced very different times, as far as social life is concerned
"golden times". It is no more, most of us are old we are not anxious to
go on the dance floor. Yet it happened much more disciplined in my
younger years. We felt obliged to participate in everything the club
organized, we were real club people. That seems to be a dying kind. More
and more clubs are defunct, we have to get used to the situation that we
are with lesser fanciers and therefore play with fewer pigeons. That is
not to say that it is less fun that is why it is important that every
club has an active board because there are lots of things to think that
are good for an atmosphere. Then the members must see that something
only can happen as if each member cooperate
WILL CHRIS FROOME COME SOON IN THE LIST OF USERS OF BANNED RESOURCES?
This summer the Dutch pigeon sport was startled by a fraud case. A
manager from the province of Noord-Brabant had seen opportunities to
cheat the things and he still managed. Until a day came when he fell
through the basket. Worse than to bug your sports friends is not there.
I understand that the man is now suspended for 5 years and what else is
attached to him I do not know at the moment but I'm going after it! Only
a penalty of 5 years for what he has on his conscience is insufficient.
The next important question that needs to be answered in the cycling
world is; "has the English top cyclist Chris Froome also found his way
to the candy box?" Would be a great pity if that were true. For the time
being where there is smoke fire is usually also present. We cannot do
anything else then wait and see and this is almost certain again a rider
ends up on the list of fraudsters. Riders who have ensured that we have
been sitting on the tip of our seat several times to watch the
incredibly exciting moments in the big cycling races. The American Lance
Armstrong took care of that, the Dutchman Michael Boogerd, the Belgian
Freddy Martens and what about Tommy Simpson and that way I can name 50
more without much effort. Commerce and doping / fraud, we will never get
rid of it within the sport. Unfortunately!
FLIGHT PROGRAM 2018 KNOWN
For years there is too much time spent on that. Recently a national
program has been adopted and now it is all about keeping our 11
departments there. In my department there is a speed flight added and
further the whole program is equal to 2017. In itself I think it's a
great program, I honestly did not go into that in depth. That time is
behind me and now the youngsters (unfortunately there are almost no
longer) are allowed to commit to this. I have seen that there are game
opportunities for me every week and I can live with that. Just as the
ideal car does not exist, the ideal flight program will probably not
exist. Yet every year there are a number of those smarties who think
they know better. That is how it has been for so long I am a member of
the pigeon organization. In any case, on 7 April we will start with a
series of 6 speed flights and on 7 September we will be ready. A week
later there is still the possibility to play a joint competition with
our sports friends from South Holland. So everything is arranged that
there is opportunity for everyone who wants to play with pigeons every
week.
NEW YEAR RECEPTION
A nice start in the new year. Our club has that on Friday evening
January 5. Then the rings for 2018 can be collected. I have the idea
that several members on January 1 at the ring administrator have been at
the door because they urgently needed their rings. If you pair November
26 then you have the first youngster on Christmas and they will be on
January 5 too big to be able to ring them in a decent way. There are
fanciers who can ring them so to speak when they are 3 weeks old. This
has to be done with a lot of art and flying work and I think it is with
a lot of pain and effort, I just do not like it. Unfortunately, there
are fanciers who have almost forgotten that their pigeons are living
creatures and that they have to be cared in a good way and that includes
rings in time.
DUTCH POST PIGEON SPORT ON LIST OF IMMATERIAL (CULTURAL) HERITAGE
The signing of the certificate took place on Sunday 10 December during
the national days of the NPO held in Rosmalen. This is an important step
for the preservation and future of the Dutch pigeon sport. The NPO thus
has the obligation to consciously and actively set in to keep its
immaterial heritage alive and to give it a future. The NPO has made a
good care plan for this. Even Monday night in the TV program Hello
Netherlands attention was paid. Heritage is the term used to indicate
what one inherits from ancestors (inheritance). The importance of
heritage is determined and supported by a society. In other words the
term heritage is awarded to matters that people value, identify and want
to preserve for future generations. As a foundation of a society works
the matter also in a future-oriented way.
INBREEDING OR CROSSING
A part of the pigeon sport is the breeding period. At many lofts this
period has started. This means that many fanciers have determined how
they will or will have coupled the breeding pigeons, inbreeding or
crossing. Both are done with the intention to breed a number of usable
pigeons again. It is inbreed as soon as twice or even several times the
same pigeon occurs in the pedigree of a pigeon up to and including the
great-grandparents. Niece x cousin is the lightest form of inbreeding
and often gives the desired results for a usable racing pigeon. Too
close inbreeding, brother x sister, parent x child will not produce the
desired result. Why would you do something like that? After all pigeons
cannot pass on what they do not have in themselves. Inbreeding can only
be done with the very best you have in your loft and then especially to
keep up the good quality you have in the loft. Those breeding products,
provided they meet the strict requirements of the final selection, can
be used for a new breeding couple in crossbreeding. The children from
that couple can be put back against their own kind. Certainty to breed
better quality is almost never there but it is a good method to try to
build up your own tribe. Beginners can best start with pigeons from two
different lofts that have a good inbreeding family, so a well-bred
strain. Those two lines against each other give a greater chance of a
good after-breeding. In my own loft I have tried everything in the 70
years that I have pigeons. I made so much work of the breeding that I
sometimes could not sleep. With what I described above I still had on
average the best results. But ... best fanciers there are so many
examples of all kinds of coincidences that you just as well cannot make
a study to form the right couples. Why would you? Too close inbreeding
is not advisable, free pairing is just a bit too far away. This week I
heard a story from a leading fancier who probably has the best middle
distance pigeon in one of the national competitions. The mother was a
good racing pigeon but because she had a so called "lay butt" she got a
place in the nursery loft. A lay butt occurs in hens who feel as if they
have to lay an egg but there is nothing, but the coccyx is completely
wide and her ass feels fat. That hen was courted by a young cock who had
never been in the basket. She lay one good egg but there arise one of
the best middle distance pigeons in our country, so more luck than
wisdom! For example I was once with a fancier who had put his pigeons
together that same day. There was another breeding loft available and
there were still about thirty pigeons running on the floor. At the last
moment a dark hen was chosen and a dark cock with a number of white tail
feathers. The man had so many pigeons that he hardly looked at the
pedigree of the pigeons. Two years later the pair of the white-tailed
male turned out to be by far the best breeding couple, one good after
another rolled out. I have put together two champion pigeons several
times and the breeding results were not immediately to write home.
Occasionally it was the case that their nothing-performing nest mate
produced much better youngsters. Try to discover something like that,
what do you have to look at? Are that the eyes, the feathers, the
temperament, their strong coccyx, their limp at the top, the short rear
wing, the broad chest, the short or long sternum, the narrow flight
feathers, the breeding feathers under the wing. We can look and do what
we want, we can think we understand it, forget it! The late Jos Klak
once said it; we all know absolutely nothing about it. And yet we keep
looking in the eye, pull out the wing and name it. It is all hobby and
does not make any sense. There are fanciers who do not look at anything.
They keep every year all the remaining youngsters and bring their older
or lesser pigeons to the poulter or to the sales because they bring
something more than with the poulter. You wonder how you get better
pigeons that way. In any case I will go to the fancier himself.
THE STATE AT THE LOFT
There is more and more overview on the loft. Not all pigeons that can be
gone are gone. However the 24 breeding couples that I now own together
with my son Marco are paired on paper. Almost certainly we put them
together on December 28 and then the party can begin. The cocks all know
their own breeding loft which prevents the necessary fights when they
are allowed out of the breeding lofts for the first time. The first two
days they remain locked up and then they can turn loose in the loft. I
am then often in the loft to be able to intervene if there are heavy
fights. The days are currently extended with artificial light. The hens
are nice on weight but the cocks are a bit too heavy but that will be
reduced as soon as they are coupled because they will pay more attention
to the female than eating. My son Marco pairs the racing pigeons with
the breeders at the same time so that eggs can be placed under his
racing pigeons from certain breeding pairs. I wait for a while I am glad
that I have a little more overview. Because a large part of Marco his
pigeons were with me now I finally get some more air. I pair my racing
pigeons so that I can lay a number of eggs from the second round of the
breeders. At the moment we are on a mouse hunt, they are mostly field
mice that pull through the cold to the houses. Those sorts do eat the
bags of food and I would not have any of that. Everywhere there are
clips with a piece of cheese, peanut butter or bread. I only caught one
in five days. I used to have glue to catch those critters, that always
succeeded because even though they were stuck with a whisker they never
came loose again. That glue can no longer be sold, I have now let myself
be told that there are sheets of paper with a layer of glue on it. I'm
looking for that now because the sooner the rodents are gone, the
better. I'm still worried that mice can transmit diseases, they urinate
in the grit and food bowl and they play water polo in the drinking
trough, away with it!
THE DOWN MOLT IS THE INDICATOR OF A GOOD PIGEONS LOFT
A well-known saying within pigeon sport is; "in the winter the prizes
for the following year are earned". That expression is based on the
molt. All birds are subjected to this natural phenomenon. A good molt
gives good health and is for our pigeons of the utmost importance for
good breeding and flying results. With good breeding results is meant
the growth of the young pigeons. It has nothing to do with quality. Even
the worst pigeons can have beautiful youngsters in the nest. We do not
know what the flight performance of the young guard will be until the
end of the season and we do not know everything yet. It happens all too
often that youngsters who perform more than well in their year of birth
do not make a difference as a yearling. The opposite happens even more
often and you only will know if you keep pigeons that have performed as
young moderately. It regularly happens that they play the stars of
heaven as a yearling. Usually this is done by pigeons who the boss like
and have not come through the selection on the basis of performance. The
molt of our pigeons lasts the whole year and that is just as well. The
boss can see how it is done with health. Every morning when I come into
the loft the first thing I do is check if there are a few tufts
everywhere. Especially in the racing season with the widowers it is
enjoyable to look in the breeding lofts and see beautiful little dry
manure balls on which there are a few tufts. Then you start whistling
with the general care of your colony because you have seen that it is
good with health. The big molt normally starts in August. The season for
the old pigeons has been done and in fact it would be good for the
pigeons not to play them anymore. But other interests also play a role
in that period. Especially nowadays with all those different (national)
competitions commercial interests. That is why every effort is made to
slow down the molt. Or if that has a good or bad influence we can see in
January then all pigeons must have passed through the molt. Those who do
winter breeding can do so only with breeding pigeons that are already
separated from the beginning of August. It would be even better to have
the eggs of these pigeons hatched by feeding couples and that means we
have to keep more pigeons. The season has only just ended but we are now
already busy with breeding and at the end of January all lofts are full
again. I never have had any problem with that but now I do not have to
think to care for so many pigeons and caring is something more than
throwing a handful of food into the loft every day. We can do that to
keep our chickens to the leg but pigeons where performance is expected
require a different treatment. They are all top athletes, they may lack
nothing and for that you have to establish a complete training and care
schedule. A lot of work but if everything goes as the boss has in mind
the effort is not for nothing and that gives a more than satisfied
feeling.
THE FIRST EGGS ARE THERE
Not by me yet. Our breeding pigeons, indeed our breeding pigeons,
because from this year Marco and I have joined forces by making use of
our joint breeding loft. Between Christmas and New Year the 24 couples
are put in the way we recorded it on paper some time ago. Certainly know
that something will be changed at the last minute. Maybe because a
couple does not want to know anything about each other or that we think
that the particular cock can be better placed against another hen. All
events that belong to our hobby. Free pairing we do not accept. You also
have more honor from your work if you have bred some very good pigeons
that you have put together yourself. I used to pay attention to the fact
that I did not put two pigeons together with the same eyes. I do not
want to say that it is silly but I do not look at it anymore and breed
just as much bad and good as before. When forming the breeding couples I
paid attention to the fact that I put as much as possible a large one
against a smaller pigeon this with the intention to breed a type of
medium size. Do you know what happened? Whether large or small types
came from that couple, compensation breeding is almost impossible at
least that is my experience. Obviously you put the two best pigeons
against each other and if you can you must try to breed at least four or
even six youngsters from that pair. In itself very good but it does not
guarantee the quality. It regularly occurs that a top pigeon is bred
somewhere in the racing loft of two yearlings who have not yet produced
any noteworthy flight performances. That is why I have always bred out
all my pigeons. Pigeons that, according to the boss, are worth a place
in the racing loft are in my opinion also worth breeding. The problem is
that we all have too many pigeons. In most lofts there are too many
breeding pigeons (at least that is how they are called), that is why
only two youngsters are bred from most of the pairs, in fact this would
have to be at least four for that we have breeding pigeons. If you only
breed two youngsters every year you will never find out what the
breeding value is. If we breed four youngsters from all breeding couples
and also keep a few pigeons from the race pigeons the lofts will bulge
out. Then we come to the point of how many good pigeons come from one
and the same breeding couple. Usually not one and sometimes one and
fortunately there are also examples of breeding couples who regularly
put usable pigeons on the world. It shows how difficult or complicated
it is to breed a number of pigeons by a minimu