The beginning.
It all started in Uithuizermeeden where, as a little boy, I was already crazy about everything that had to do with pigeons. In the garden of my parental home, cages were built from waste wood. This was done together with brother Jaap who has also been interested in pigeons for a long time. Our very first carrier/racing pigeons came from an uncle in around 1970, we could often be found watching him training his pigeons. We joined a pigeon club and our first clock was a Standard Toulet. As children we really enjoyed the pigeons that came back from the flight. And we regularly outsmarted the seniors by being the first on the result. After my brother left with the Navy, I was on my own.
In the years of the BeeGees and The Rolling Stones I started dating Veronyka with whom it clicked very well and who (very importantly) was not averse to my great passion “the pigeon sport”.
We bought a house at the Prinsenhof in Roodeschool. The house has a beautiful view and is located on a beautiful large plot which, in my opinion, is extremely important for practicing the pigeon sport. Before even a nail was hammered into the house, there was already a beautiful self-built pigeonry in the back of the garden. Only now, different and better pigeons had to come.
I had noticed Mr. J. Hillenga, a keeper who lived in Delfzijl and was known as one of the best pigeon keeper in the Netherlands.
the "253" champ from 100 to 800km. 100% Hillenga.
A pigeonry from the early 1970s.
The all-round period.
After having made an appointment there, I took a look and was impressed by the quality of the original Janssen and Tournier pigeons. I acquired pigeons from there and I would not regret this choice. Because from that moment on - I started to get noticed in the northern pigeon sport.
The best pigeon I got from this cave was the 370; a hen that came directly from his renowned 238, which still represented the Netherlands in the sport class at the Olympiad in Prague.
These pigeons gave me many top prizes at CC and Department level and several times I was among the best All-rounders of the former Dpt. F. (3rd Emperor Gen. 1990, 4th Emperor Gen. 1993, 4th Gen. 1994, etc.) Several times they were also the best in the Rayon and in the CC de Wadden. And price percentages of 80 to 100% were common. They also made their mark at national level, as evidenced by the 12th National title in the Middle Distance in 1993. In 1995 they did even better and became 7th National Champion in the same category. Great pigeons that gave me a lot of sporting fun.
In the autumn of 1995 I got distanced myself from these pigeons due to personal circumstances. After a winter without pigeons, it was decided in the spring of 1996 to make a new start.
The old pigeonry was partially renovated and a new 10 meter long one was added. And again new pigeons had to be acquired.
7th best keeper WHZB 1998
The new 10 meter long pigeonry.
7th best keeper WHZB 1995
Top pigeon the "283" with among others 1st-1760, 1st-1879, 1st-1268, 4th-2006 etc.
25 youngsters came from the breeders of Tonnie van Dam from Hattemmerbroek with his
Linssen x Huiskens van Riel pigeons. They turned out to be great pigeons. For example the 96-1299897 that made it to the 8th best Middle Distance pigeon in "de Vredesduif" 1997. This son of Tonnies 263 (with his nine first), however, fell prey to the hawk. The 304 (son of the 897) flew 15 prizes from 15 flights as a yearling. The 96-1299899 made it to 1st Ace Pigeon of the CC de Wadden in 1998. The 283 is another son of the 899 and in 1999 he became 1st pigeon champion Vitessein de CC de Wadden. The
96-1299892 became 3rd Ace pigeon in 1998, while a daughter of hers scored a first prize in the entire province 10 with a participation of more than 18,000 pigeons.
These pigeons can achieve great series, as evidenced by the winning of the Herba Cup of the Peace Pigeon in 1998. This cup is awarded to the keeper who has most often been mentioned in "de Vredesduif" in terms of prize percentage combined with the quality of the prizes. In 1998 they also won me the title of 8th Best Keeper in the Netherlands in the Wie Heb Ze Beter competition. In 2000 the 1st cave championship Middle Distance was achieved for the entire province 10.
To the grand distance.
After having won the General title in the CC de Wadden for years, I had the feeling that the enthusiasm was fading. I could feed less and less of everything it takes to compete on the highest level. In other words, I needed a new challenge. It was therefore decided to shift the focus and make the switch to overnight long distance. With one exception, all pigeons present were sold and other pigeons were looked after. One of the pigeons that was allowed to stay was a cock from Koop & Gerda Kiekebelt from Drijber.
I met these enthusiasts in 1995 in Rosmalen. There the National Champions were honoured, and this combination was honoured as one of the champions in the overnight long distance. We had a fantastic pleasant evening and we clicked so well that they offered me to bring a few pigeons to fly with. “Let's see if I can make you enthusiastic about the long-distance flights.” Were Koop's words. I had long forgotten this promise when in 1998 Koop and Gerda Kiekebelt arrived at the door with a basket containing 4 youngsters and they reminded me of their commitment. With these pigeons the 962 was a grandson of their famous Ruffec. (1st Nat. Ruffec 1995, 4th Nat. Limoges 1995 etc.) This 962 was raced in 2002 at National St. Vincent and won to my great surprise the 2nd National in Sector 4.
Koop & Gerda Kiekebelt
98-1947962
2nd Nat. St. Vincent 2002
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98-1947962
2nd Nat. St. Vincent 2002
Notice the intelligent impression of the '962'
In the meantime, more than 80% of my loft stock consists of pigeons from the Kiekebelt loft.
The very best of Koop and Gerda came to Roodeschool. Ao from "de 010" (1st pigeon Marathon); "Rosy" (2nd Nat.Brive, 3rd Nat.Bergerac); "Eagle" (1st Nat.Brive); "Blue Fairy" (1st Nat.Bergerac); "de 80" (brother Ruffec cocks)
The long distance. The sequel.
At the beginning of 2006 there were, among others, the: "Blue Fame" (3rd national ace pigeon 2006 extreme long distance) and the super breeder "Gert Jan" who already produced great champions. I am therefore indebted to them. They have given me a great push in the right direction on my way to the extreme long distance.
Despite the short run-up period, the Kiekebelt pigeons have already shown to me that they are cut from the right wood, which resulted, among other things, in the 3rd championship of the Fondclub Noord Nederland (R. n) 2006.
In 2006 the 486 got a 25th national St. Vincent and a direct cock from my 2nd nat. St. Vincent a 10th Perigieux prov. 10. The latter, however, lagged behind Bergerac.
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The “486” in 2006 3 out of 3 with a 25th Nat.St Vincent out of the “80 ” 100% Kiekebelt. In 2007 4 out of 4. Topper.
In addition to the Kiekebelt strain, late 2004 drawers were purchased from the breeders of J & R. Corstjens from Thorn in Limburg. Grandchildren of the “Casartelli” and the “Marmeren” came to Roodeschool. The “Casartelli” was the best overnight long distance pigeon in the Netherlands in 2004. It turned out to be a bull's eye because the Bordeauxtje is a real Corstjens product, she won 1st in district north of the Fondclub from the very tough Bordeaux. NN Only 2 pigeons came the same day in Groningen.
A son of the Bordeauxtje 07-4744661 takes the 8th Nat.Limoges 2009 S4 against 4401 pigeons from the very tough Limoges at the greatest distance.
The blood of the Bordeauxtje currently flows in almost all my current top pigeons.
the "Bordeauxtje". 1st Provincial 2007 on very tough Bordeaux.
The 07-4744661 takes the 8th National Limoges 2009 S4 from the very tough Limoges.
He is a son of the "Bordeauxtje" x the "Prins" from Koop & Gerda Kiekebelt, the champions from Drijber.
Recently on the long distance.
From 2010 onwards I have seen my stock of pigeons improve tremendously through a few very good purchases. On a party evening of our Delfzijl / Oude Pekela teamwork at the end of 2009, a late pale cock was presented by none other than E. Glasburg from Winschoten with ring number 07-4747418 (old ring). I saw something in this cock and bought it.
He comes directly from a cock with 2x top 10 National 2007 and he also descends on mother's side from the famous "dream couple" Evert Glazenburg. Coupled with 00-4733972 (sister Hawk Kiekebelt) they became the parents of the cock of my "Figokoppel" (10-1004616).
The hen of the Figokoppel (10-4783660) comes from the aforementioned stock father 98-962 x Bordeauxtje 05-625. The Figo couple was created purely by accident because both pigeons (10-616 and 10-660) that were ordered by a German fancier named Figo were never picked up by him. They stayed in the breeding loft as beepers and coupled to each other as yearlings, after which they were initially used as feeding couple.
At some point I let some youngsters grow up and this turned out to be a bull's eye. Several children and grandchildren of this couple are top marathon races. In 2011 a few youngsters were also purchased from Tonnie van Dam from Hattemerbroek and this also included the 11-4702330 which I succeeded very well with.
This hen comes directly from Tonnies "Laura" who has flown a 1st of more than 10,000 pigeons. In the pedigree of the 11-330 we find, among others, the "Orhan" from Gebr, Bruggeman and the "Dreampair" from Harm Vredeveld.
 13-4721785 Prachtige duivin uit Figokoppel. o.a. 7e Nat.Orange 2016, 9e Nat.Dax 2018 en 7e NPO Cahors 2017. |  |  14-4743135 Prachtige doffer uit Figokoppel. o.a. 7e Nat.St.Vinc. 2017, 8e Nat.Cahors 2016 |
|---|---|---|
 15-4760171 dochter 09-871 (broer Figoduivin) x 11-330. vloog o.a. 3e NPO Bergerac "18, 16e Nat.Orange '17 en 12e NPO Bergerac '16 |  16-4790911 "Stipje" 7e N.P.O afd. 10 Perigueux 2018 Kleinzoon Figokoppel. Prachtige doffer uit de 14-135. |  13-4721787 dochter 09-871 (broer Figoduivin) x 09-006. 7e NPO St.Vincent'17, 10e NPO Dax '18, 18e NPO St.Vincent '16. |
 18-4724294 5e NPO afd.10 Limoges '20 1211 d. Kleinzoon Figokoppel. Komt uit de 14-128 x 13-785 (zie foto boven) |  17-4710407 "vale Bergerac" 1e NPO afd.10 St.Vincent '20 358 d. Tevens 3e Nat. S4 810 d. (Kleinzoon "Laura" 1e Int. Bordeaux Tonnie van Dam). |  18-4724291 7e NPO afd.10 Perigueux '20 1136 d. Zoon Figokoppel. |
The latest acquisitions include a few cocks from Coen van Haarlem Terborg and directly from Coen his super breeder. Very strong birds that I hope will give a positive impulse to my stock of pigeons. They are currently (2020) paired to 13-785 (see photo above) and 11-330 (see text above) respectively. Only time will tell.
What I am already successful with is a cock (16-1056720) purchased from Fabian Wendel from Assen. The father of this cock is a cousin of Red Bullens, which in turn is the absolute stock father of the marathon pigeons from Gerard Koopman Ermerveen. The 16-720 had as partner the 11-330 and together gave the "vale Bergerac" (see photo above).