LES J. PARKINSON'S
NEWS-REPORTS-ARTICLES
Breeding a high-priced pigeon.
Stories and come and stories go, a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the highest priced pigeon in the world purchased through an on-line auction. My mate Mike sent me a link to what is the world record priced pigeon and is was only sold a few months ago in China. Some may know but many will not know the actual holder of the world record price for a pigeon, that honour goes to a pigeon called “James’s Legend” purchased at a charity sale for 2.78 million euros by James Huang a Chinese businessman. This is an up to date award that was announced on the 1st November 2018 in the Pioneer Club, Beijing, this being the elite pigeon racing club in China. This club is regarded by many as the most prestige’s pigeon racing club in the world, as far as reports go, they are reported to have the highest club prize money in the world. In this club “James’s Legend” won the premier award is the Ace Pigeon, which was won in 2018 by James Huang, a Taiwanese businessman, based in Shanghai and in the Pioneer Club represented by Taiwanese top fancier Chen Yong-Shan, who races the pigeons bred by James. In 4 consecutive weeks “James Legend” won the following from 321 miles 500 km. in different weather conditions. During those 4 weeks he won 7 cars throughout the competition, including a Mercedes G63 worth ?150,000. The "Champion Loft" Pioneer 2018, it doesn’t stop at 7 cars, in total “James Legend” is the winner of different cars, what a pigeon. Then on the 20th November 2018 the auction of the Prize winners from the Pioneer Club took place. There was competition in the bidding and eventually James took home his Ace Pigeon for the unbelievable amount of 22 million Chinese yuan (renminbi), when converted it is ?2,788,000 without doubt a record for a racing pigeon. Yes, James Huang thought so much of his Ace Pigeon he bought it back, so this was an Ace who was returned to his own loft. The sale was via a charity auction of all the winners with a part of the proceeds being donated to various charities. It makes me wonder to what costs some pigeon fanciers will go to obtain racing and breeding pigeons. We are aware that there is a lot of money on pigeon racing but that is the case with many sports/hobbies nowadays.
This kind of money obviously takes most fanciers out of the market but there are far better pigeons available here in the UK. I was talking to Gerry Clements and he was telling me the National performances of one of his pigeons and they are far better performances in every way than nearly all the high-priced pigeons we see sold. I have to ask the question, “Why do pigeon fanciers buy the pigeons they do” There are many top-quality pigeons on the market that have a great deal of potential, you don’t have to pay thousands of pounds for pigeons. Yes, you can go into 4 figures but 6/7 figures for one pigeon is unbelievable. We regularly here fanciers saying that they made a good purchase for less than £100, pigeons that go on to breed winners. I remember sitting on the gearbox section at Fodens when the late George Stubbs from Sandbach joined the conversation about prices paid for pigeons. It started over someone paying £10 for a pigeon, George joined in to say, “I thought I paid a lot when I paid 7/6p for a pigeon” For those who don’t remember the days of the old money, 7/6p is about 35 pence in todays money.
I have to say the breeding of “James Legend” is genuinely good being based on the Gerard Koopman family that have produced so many good pigeons over the years. In the breeding are such pigeons as the famous “Kleine Dirk” “Annelies” “Ermerveens Hope” “Athena” “Royal Dream” “Mighty Man”. When you start to look at these pigeons, they have a lot of winners in their breeding, not just the odd ones there are many winners on both sides. For instance, look at the world famous “Kleine Dirk” who has many winners bred all around him, he is responsible for generations of winners. “Kleine Dirk” being bred from the super breeding pair of “Gentil” & “Golden Lady”. We have the famous racer/breeder, “Farah Biba” 1st National As-Duif etc. she, being out of “Tips”. The dam of “James Legend” is out of “Athena” 1st 2,900 birds. 12th National 17,017 birds. 12th National 13,885 birds. 18th National 19,782 birds. 33 National 21,180 birds Etc. When you look at such breeding is it any wonder, they produce winners year after year.
There are fanciers in the UK who do pay well into 4 figures for top quality pigeons but when they come to sell them most UK fanciers don’t entertain buying from such fanciers. Those same fanciers who will not buy from them will go to the continent and pay far more for inferior pigeons because they are the latest fashion. If you are going to establish yourself as a winning modern-day fancier there are plenty of pigeons that go under the hammer at working man’s prices. I have often spoken to fanciers who have had sales and cannot understand why their pigeons have gone for so little when they are genuine bred quality pigeons from winning lines. I have to say I am at a loss for words myself at times, and in my business, I shouldn’t be, but I am a pigeon fancier through and through and like to see fanciers buying pigeons that will take them forward. Always remember the likes of the late George Stubbs from Sandbach never looked-for high-priced pigeons, they had to be bred right and close to the winners and breeders. The latest fashion does have pigeons close to the winners, but most are a couple of generations further down the breeding chain.
Les J Parkinson. 11 Rushton Drive, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0NJ. 01606836036 Mobile 07871701585. Email
