|
History
Roger & Eddy are really born with a pigeon in their heart. Grandfather Karel was in the 50’s and 60’s a very good short distance racer. More than once he pooled that time for the big money and also won.
When he died in 1973 father Roger started in pigeons sport with the old birds of his father, but football was more important than pigeons. In 1986 grandson Eddy (3rd generation) started to show some interest in the sport and the tandem Roger & Eddy Grootjans was born. In 1989 they moved into another house and raced from there out for 13 years. In 2002 there was another move planned to Broechem, where they started back from the beginning.
A strong base
The base in the earlier 70’s and 80’s were the pigeons from grandfather Karel, who were mainly Houben-based. In the early 80’s pigeons were tossed with a local fantastic short distance racer and by Rene Verdonck who had fantastic results in Union Antwerpen with his famous Van Den Bosch-pigeons. In 1986 the first pigeons from E. Vervoort (Meulemans-base) were bought, who were very dominating in the racing team for many years. The crossings of these birds were very successful. In 1989 the “hard to win” title “GOUDEN DUIF JUNIORS” was won and in the period 1989- 1994,also the title of General Champion youth K.B.D.B. Antwerp.
In 1994 a voucher was bought from Gust raeymakers (Gussy). Eddy got “The Gussy” 6118462/1994 for this voucher, who became very important for the colony. In 70% of the actual colony is “Gussy” 6118462/1994 in the pedigree.
In 1998 the first pigeons were bought with Van Elsacker - Jepsen, Schilde. One of the first youngsters ever bought over there was “Kirsten” 6156404/1998. she was a daughter of the famous “Castor”, 2 times 1st ace pigeon in Union Antwerpen. She formed together with “Gussy” a tremendous breeding pair. They were the parents of several first price winners and ace-pigeons. This pair can be said as the “FOUNDATION PAIR” of the actual colony.
Out of the old base, together with the Van Elsacker-pigeons a new foundation pair was born, “De Goede Donkere” 6260005/1999 and “ Strong” 6240105/2000. A new superb breeding-pair who gave in a very short period several winners and ace pigeons. Some children are “Popeye” 6117019/2003 1st ace pigeon middle distance, “Lore” 6054923/2004 (1st Arlon 144 p, 149th National Limoges 13581 p, 176th National Vichy 11278 p), “Roxy” 6374217/2006 (2nd ace pigeon National middle distance Ave Reg.), “967/03” (5th Quievrain 1314 p, 2nd Melun 1851 p,…)
Another lucky shot came in 2000 with the purchasing of a voucher from Maurice Scheers , Heist o/d Berg. “De Maurice” (6506376/2000) was a fantastic racer. As Yearling, he flew 14 times in the first 5. He became 1st ace pigeon middle distance and 2nd ace pigeon National “Ave Regina”.
His first youngsters in 2003 were already fantastic racers. “De Witstaart” (6116943/2003) became 1st ace pigeon youngsters Quievrain and 1st ace pigeon yearlings on the middle distance. His brother, “The Pantera” (6116913/2003) won 7 times in the first 10 in 2 years time.
A grandson of “Maurice”, “De Rappe” (6054842/2004) was bred out of the nestmate of “The Witstaart”, together with a granddaughter of “Gussy x Kirsten” became in 2004 1st ace pigeon youngsters Quievrain and 1st ace pigeon National short distance “La Colombophilie Belge” (LCB). In 3 years time he won 6 x 1st and 28 times under the first 10 prices.
Another fantastic foundation-pair is “De Goede Donkere” 6260005/1999 x “Het Sterk” 6240105/2000. This couple are responsible for already several first price winners and ace pigeons up to the 4th generation.
In 2001 a couple of eggs were promised by Jef Houben, Itegem, out of “Evert”, a direct son of “Rico”. The “Jonge Evert” 6358144/2001 became father of “Banco” 6054816/2004 with 5 times a first price and 21 times in the top-10. and also from “246/06” who won 21 prices as a youngster and 9 times top-10.
Racing system
27 Widowcocks are on the loft for racing the middle and long distance races. 18 widowers for racing the middle distance and 9 widowcocks) for racing the long distance races. The cocks are coupled around the end of November for raising up 2 youngsters. The couples are staying together until the youngsters are separated. When the youngsters are separated, the cocks and the hens goes into different aviaries. The cocks are staying there until the beginning of March. At the beginning of March they are moved back to their lofts and than the training can start. At the end of March - the beginning of April the widowers are coupled again for a breeding period of 5 to 7 days. Also the eggs of the birds who are breeding for 2 or 3 days are removed at the same time. Than the widowers are raced on the traditional widowhood system. Before entering for the middle distance races, the hen is showed for about 5 minutes. The entering of the long distance racers is totally different. They do not get their hen or neither a nest - tile. The birds are simply taken out of their sections without showing anything. I do it this way for entering the birds as quiet as possible. At the arrival, the cocks are staying together for 1 hour to maximum 2 hours. At the long distance racers this can last until the morning after.
The youngsters for the short and middle distance always are on 2 separate lofts. They are already separated from the beginning. This is very easy, while the middle distance racers are entered on the Friday-evening and the short distance racers already are entered on the Saturday-afternoon. It is always possible that when we have to enter for the short distance, the middle distance racers haven’t been arrived.
Cocks and hens are separated after their first 100 km race. Than they are raced on the sliding-door system.
Before the entering, the youngsters are coming together for about 15 minutes up to maximum 1 hour. When they have arrived, they are always staying together until the next morning.
Very important in this youngbird racing system is that the birds are taken away every day for about 40 km. They practically NEVER train at home. Training every day raises the pressure for coming fast at home on the Sundays.
The second round is always well trained and the hens are expected to participate on the National and Provincial races in August. Here the same system is used as with the youngsters from the first round on the short-and middle distance.
For racing the birds until the end of August, beginning of September, we put every bird in the darkness. The darkness system is used from the beginning of March and last for the short distance youngsters until the 1st of May, for the middle distance youngsters until the 15th of May and for the 2nd round (hens) until the 15th of June.
Medical
Before the racing season starts, all the birds (young and old birds) are having a cure against an eventually paratyfus-contamination (Parastop - Belgica Deweerd). With the widowers it usually happens in the month of February, with the youngsters during the month of March. Also the widowers are having a cure in the month of March against cancer (B.S. - Belgica Deweerd), so they can start in the best health on their first training-flights. At the end of March the veterinarian (Henk Deweerd) can make a total check-up and on his advice a cure against respiratory-diseases can be given.
The youngsters are having their first treatment against cancer (B.S.) about two weeks after they are separated. This is repeated every 4 weeks for 5 days until the birds are well trained.
During the season, old and youngbirds, are disinfected every week with a combination-preparation (B.S.), delivered by the veterinarian (Henk Deweerd). This system prevents a lot of misery during the racing season. When necessary, a short respiratory-cure is given in the beginning of the week for 2 or 3 days during the racing season.
After the season, when the moulting-period is about to end (end of September, beginning of October), again a second cure against an eventually paratyfus-contamination (Parastop) is given. In the winter-period the birds do not get any other medication until the end of February, when everything restarts.
HIGHLIGHTS 2007
·1ST GENERAL (OVER ALL) CHAMPION K.B.D.B. PROVINCE OF ANTWERP (8000 MEMBERS)
·2ND PROVINCIAL CHAMPION K.B.D.B. MIDDLE DISTANCE YOUNGSTERS
·5TH PROVINCIAL CHAMPION K.B.D.B. MIDDLE DISTANCE OLD BIRDS
·10TH NATIONAL CHAMPION K.B.D.B. MIDDLE DISTANCE YOUNGSTERS
·1ST NATIONAL CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE YOUNGSTERS “DE DUIVENKRANT”
|